A small smile crossed his face. "You're really committed to this partnership, aren't you?"
"You said it yourself, I'm smart. And smart people don't walk into danger unprepared." I met his eyes. "I may not have chosen this marriage, but I'm choosing to survive it. Whatever that takes."
"Then we'll start lessons as soon as we reach Shadowmere," he promised. "You'll learn magic, politics, combat"
"Combat?"
"Did you think I'd leave you defenseless?" He raised an eyebrow. "You need to know how to protect yourself, Elara. How to use a knife, at minimum. Maybe a sword, if you're strong enough."
I'd never held a weapon in my life. The thought was both terrifying and thrilling. "My father would have a fit if he knew."
"Your father isn't here. And in Shadowmere, a woman who can't defend herself is a liability." He pushed aside another branch. "Besides, I think you'd be good at it. You have the right instincts, when that shadow beast attacked you, you didn't freeze. You tried to move, tried to fight. With proper training, you could actually be dangerous."
"Is that a compliment?"
"In Shadowmere? Absolutely."
We reached the village around midday. It was small, maybe twenty buildings clustered around a well, but it had what we needed. An inn, a stable, a general store.
People stared at us as we walked through. We must have looked like we'd survived a war. Kael's clothes were torn and bloodstained. I was barefoot, in nothing but a thin slip and a borrowed cloak Kael had wrapped around me. We were both filthy, exhausted, and clearly not from around here.
"Keep your head down," Kael murmured. "And let me do the talking."
He led me to the inn, a squat building with smoke rising from its chimney. The innkeeper was a large woman with shrewd eyes. She looked us up and down, taking in our condition.
"We need a room," Kael said, placing coins on the counter, more coins than I'd ever seen in one place. Gold, not copper or silver. "Food, hot water for bathing, and discretion."
The innkeeper's eyes widened at the sight of the gold. "Of course, my lord. Right away." She didn't ask questions, she just took the money and led us upstairs to a small but clean room.
"Food will be up shortly," she said. "And I'll have my daughter bring water for the bath."
The moment she left, I collapsed onto the bed. Every part of my body hurt.
"Stay awake," Kael said. "You need to eat first, and we need to check your injuries properly."
"I'm fine."
"Your shoulder isn't. I saw how you've been holding it." He sat down beside me. "Let me see."
Reluctantly, I let him examine my shoulder. His fingers probed gently, and I hissed in pain.
"It's not dislocated," he said. "But you've got a bad bruise and possibly torn muscles. I can wrap it, but you'll need to rest it for a few days."
"We don't have a few days."
"We have today, at least. Tomorrow we'll get horses and continue, but today you rest." His tone left no room for argument.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of food, bread, cheese, meat, ale, and a girl who couldn't have been more than fifteen, carrying buckets of hot water.
"For the bath, my lord," she said shyly, not quite meeting Kael's eyes. She poured the water into a wooden tub in the corner of the room, made several trips, then scurried out.
"Eat," Kael commanded, pushing food toward me. "Then bathe. Then sleep. I'll keep watch."
"You need rest too."
"I'll rest when we're safe in Shadowmere." He moved to the window, looking out at the village below. "For now, one of us needs to stay alert. And you're injured worse than I am."
I wanted to argue, but I was too tired. I ate mechanically, barely tasting the food. Then I dragged myself to the bath, not even caring that Kael was in the room. Modesty seemed pointless after everything we'd been through.
The hot water was agony and ecstasy at once. It stung every cut, every bruise, but it also washed away the blood and dirt and exhaustion. I soaked until the water turned cold, then climbed out and wrapped myself in a rough blanket.
When I emerged, Kael had moved to a chair by the door. He had a knife in his lap and was watching the hallway through a crack in the door.
"Bed," he said without looking at me. "Sleep."
"What about you?"
"I told you. I'll keep watch."
"Kael"
"Sleep, Elara." His voice was gentle but firm. "You're safe here. I promise."
I didn't have the energy to argue anymore. I crawled into the bed, lumpy but clean, and pulled the blankets over me.
Sleep came almost instantly, pulling me under like dark water. And for the first time since my wedding day, I didn't dream of shadows and monsters.
I dreamed of gray eyes and gentle hands and a voice promising to keep me safe.
When I woke, it was dark outside. I sat up, confused, and saw Kael still in his chair by the door. He'd moved at some point, now he was actually sleeping, his head tilted back, the knife still in his hand.
He looked younger when he slept. Less dangerous. Almost vulnerable.
I watched him for a moment, this stranger I'd married. This cursed prince who'd torn apart shadow beasts with his bare hands and then gently wrapped my feet in cloth. Who'd promised to teach me how to survive and called me his partner.
Who was Prince Kael of Shadowmere, really? Beyond the rumors and the curse and the fear?
I didn't know yet. But I was beginning to think I wanted to find out.
A sound outside made me freeze. Voices in the hallway. Moving closer.
Kael's eyes snapped open instantly, all traces of sleep gone. He pressed a finger to his lips, warning me to be silent.
The voices grew louder. I caught fragments of conversation:
"saw them come in earlier"
"reward for information about the prince"
"King's orders"
Kael was on his feet in seconds, moving silently to the window. He looked out, cursed under his breath.
"Get dressed," he whispered urgently. "We need to leave. Now."
"What's wrong?"
"My father's men. They've found us." He started gathering our few belongings. "There's at least a dozen of them surrounding the inn."
My blood went cold. "But we're married. Why would your father send men after us?"
"Because he wants you under his control, not mine." Kael grabbed my hand. "Remember what I said about you being used as a weapon against me? That starts now."
More footsteps on the stairs. Heavy boots. Weapons being drawn.
"The window," Kael said. "It's our only way out."
I looked at the window. We were on the second floor. The fall would hurt, possibly badly.
"Can you make it?" he asked.
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
"Then I can make it."
He smiled grimly. "That's my girl."
A loud knock on the door. "Prince Kael! Open in the name of King Aldric of Shadowmere!"
Kael threw open the window. "Go. I'll be right behind you."
I climbed onto the sill, my heart hammering. Below, I could see the dark street, the hard ground. This was going to hurt.
The door burst open. Guards poured in, weapons drawn.
And Kael's shadow, his shade erupted from his body like an explosion of darkness.
"Jump!" he shouted.
So I did.
I jumped out the window into the night, falling, my scream caught in my throat.
And as I fell, I thought: This is my life now. Running. Fighting. Falling.
Welcome to Shadowmere.