Loving the Forbidden Prince

ETAN

An hour later they rode slowly through the forest, saving the horses, who'd had less rest, and were now working again in the heat of the evening.

The sun was slowly sinking behind the mountains to either side of the forest. Soon they would reach the road into the City of Anvor—the only direct path through the mountains. Assuming they passed through safely, tomorrow they would leave it and pass into the Kingdom of Finete—a neutral territory that would likely ignore their passing, or simply not help either Etan or Ayleth, should they be discovered.

The Finete's prided themselves on remaining politically moderate—and in doing so, earned the indignation—and in some cases, outright loathing—of the other Kingdoms.

But the Zenithrans would know that this was Etan's passage back to his home—and that they could rely on Etan gaining no aide after the Fortress City.

It was the last territory fiercely loyal to Zenithra. Ayleth's parents would be eager to lay their hands on her before she passed into Finete.

But they'd had no interference at all. Etan only prayed his parents and the cavalry were faring as well.

He understood his mother's urging for him to go ahead, but whenever he imagined the Zenithran's catching his father's convoy... his stomach went cold.

"Are you well?" Ayleth asked quietly.

They rode knee to knee, their horses accustomed to each other now and always keeping them close. Falek followed twenty feet back, and Borsche was ahead, patrolling for the road to ensure there was no one waiting for them.

"I will be," he said, watching the forest around them carefully. "Once we're through the Fortress City."

Ayleth nodded, but her forehead was lined with worry, and her eyes were dark. She'd been very quiet this evening, since her dream, he realized.

Etan turned to look at her then, found her toying with her mare's mane, her pretty lips turned down in a frown. "Are you well, Ayleth?"

"I think so," she murmured.

He waited.

His wife's throat bobbed, then she looked up at him, her beautiful eyes pinched with concern. "Etan, is there any chance, do you think, that you... misunderstood my mother's motives in the conversation you had? That when she threatened me she was deceiving you. Or that perhaps you only read a threat in the... tone of her suggestions. She can be very manipulative that way so that you hear what she wants you to hear, rather than—"

"She spoke very plainly, Ayleth," he said sadly, holding out a hand to take hers because he wanted to touch her. She gave it, both of them riding with only one hand on the reins.

"You're certain?"

"Absolutely. Can I ask why you've brought this up?"

Ayleth frowned down at her horse's shoulders. "I just... I dreamed about her and she was in that place. I think talking about her made her come alive in my mind. But it also reminded me..." She dropped her grip on his hand to rub her chest, right between her breasts.

Etan was immediately worried. "Are you ill, Ayleth? In pain?"

"Not exactly," she murmured, which wasn't comforting. "I just... I remembered something," she said, then looked up at him again. "I remember her casting that spell... after I was kidnapped. I hadn't really thought of it for so long, it was foggy in my mind, but the dream brought it back, because... it gave me the same feeling," she said.

Etan was horrified. "What... what are you talking about?"

"I... I don't want to believe my mother would ever murder me in cold blood, Etan. I just... she loves me. I can't believe she'd ever do that. But I do remember the protection she spoke over me. She took some of my blood and hair and..."

Etan's stomach churned.

"I had forgotten," Ayleth said in a small voice, her eyes on her horse again. "At the time it made me very ill and I was anxious for days. I'd forgotten," she repeated.

"Ayleth—"

"But it isn't a real threat, right? It was dark, Etan, I will grant you that, but I rejected that from her. It couldn't have a hold on me anymore. She was only using it because she wanted to frighten you!"

Etan sucked in a breath.

"I rejected it, Etan. All of that... sorcery. I did! I wanted nothing to do with her power. She knows that. I cannot see how that spell could hold when I reject it!"

Etan felt cold. "It's why I want to talk Quwan," he said to have an answer that wasn't the real answer that she clearly didn't want to hear. "He used to deal with these spells. He will know if it could still have a grip on you. But I do fear, Ayleth... your mother was... very clear about the intentions of the spell, and her willingness to use it. That she didn't have to be next to you to use it. She was very certain—"

Ayleth shook her head, her face dragging towards the dirt. "No, she said it frightens you, I'm certain of it."

Etan sighed. "Ayleth, my love... she held my eyes and threatened your life—with contempt and hate in her eyes. She stated clearly that she would rather lose you herself than see you as an asset in the hands of my Kingdom."

Etan shuddered. "I may not have made the best choice in how to deal with that, Ayleth. But let me reassure you, my intentions were good. For your protection, and out of love. Whatever emotion your mother holds in her breast that she describes as love, it is not equal to how I love you. I will hurt myself to keep you safe. She will hurt others—and you—to win. I fear how far she would go if she was pressed to desperation." His stomach turned over at the thought.

Ayleth squirmed in her saddle, her face twisted in deep thought. He left her to think, praying that she would see the truth of all this and not be tempted to deny it.