Black Moon Draw

"You have large breasts and ass. You would fetch more than the horses."

"Large ass?" My mouth drops open and a pang strikes my heart. Jason used to say the same. This guy's a total asshole, no doubt comparing me to Disney Princess. Finally, I manage some sort of comeback. "Awesome. Glad to hear I'm worth more than a stupid horse."

"The horses of Black Moon Draw are the best in the realm. Merchants pay gold for them. 'Tis not an insult to be compared to one."

"Where I'm from, it is," I say, dismayed. Does this dress make my ass look bigger? I never thought to check, maybe because I had hoped to have a new start here in this world. Anger builds inside me, along with hurt and embarrassment, both of which are scars from three years with Jason. "We also don't sell people or chop off hands to prove a point."

The Shadow Knight is wearing a trace of a smile and considers me as if he's trying to figure me out. I start to think he's teasing me, but it doesn't make much sense that a man this intense has a sense of humor.

So much for a romantic interest. I can't even get a man in fiction. I really do hate my life sometimes.

"Anyway." I read my hand with a sigh. "I guess Green Dawn Cave is going to launch an attack from the east in . . . what is a candlemark?" I look up at him. "Is that time or distance?"

"East?"

I nod.

He ducks his head out of the entrance. "Horses!" he belts to the nearest soldier. Retreating to the depths of the tree, he opens a trunk and snatches a small sword before turning to me. He holds it out.

"You don't want me in battle," I tell him, refusing the weapon. "I'm uh . . ."

He's glaring at me, eyes turning gray.

". . . not really sure how to use that thing."

"You will learn."

"No, no I won't," I reply. "I would rather not kill people and just go home."

"You will not leave this kingdom and you will learn." There's an edge to his voice that scares me.

I'm afraid to move when he approaches, his tension warning me of how serious he is about battle and me never going home. It makes me want to run or cry or eat two pans of brownies to get him out of my system.

He stops too close to me and I stare at his chest once again. Without any sort of ceremony, the Shadow Knight reaches around me to wrap a belt around my hips and attaches the sword to me.