Black Moon Draw

Don't think of the kiss. It's too late. My eyes go to his full lips, and I recall what it was like having him on top of me and his mouth pressed to mine. Any truce I thought I had with my body is instantly gone, boiled alive under his intensity.

"Do you understand?" he whispers.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

He releases my neck before wrapping an arm around my waist and hefting me before him. I shiver as our bodies meet. Each touch is getting harder to ignore.

The horses head away from the castle, following a dirt road leading along the foothills of the mountains.

"The answer to your question from earlier is nay," he says for my ears only.

"What question?" I reply.

"This is your home, Naia. I will do everything in my power to show you that." His hand slides to my lower belly, and he presses me more firmly against his hips. "You belong to Black Moon Draw. You belong to me."

"So we're back to that," I manage somehow to keep my tone even. My pulse races and I'm overly aware of his strength and heat, the width of the hand on my belly, the way he nudges my head aside with his chin. "Did you forget our deal already?"

He says nothing.

The men around us move away, spacing out as we ride along the foothills towards a break in the mountains.

"Naia," the Shadow Knight's voice is almost too quiet for me to hear. "My master-at-arms did not have a brother."

My eyes go to Jackie, who leads the procession, followed by other men whose faces are conveniently hidden by their animal heads. "Then who are they?" I ask, uneasiness trickling through me.

"I imagine Brown Sun Lake warriors. The Desert Knight is a wily enemy."

"Do you have a plan?" I ask.

"Do not leave my side. I fear he speaks the truth about the armies of Brown Sun Lake being at the other end of the pass."

He has no weapons, yet I feel safer in his arms than I ever have in my cave at home. "That's why you're making me ride with you."

"You are mine. You would ride with me either way."

I roll my eyes. I kinda like the possessiveness of the alpha knight. It sends a thrill through me to be wanted. A glance at my hand reveals another note from LF.

Post-Fire Swamp scene.

I dwell on the reference, recalling one of my favorite movies of all time, The Princess Bride.

"They're after me," I murmur. "And you're in great danger."