With the possibility of more assassins showing up, Rick and Ava decided to leave the comfort of their home and travel south, no plans to return for weeks. Once safely back at the palace, Dexter intended to send soldiers to patrol the area to ensure no further harm came to the couple.

Armed with daggers, knives, and bread, Dexter and Reid set out, heading southeast.

“Are you sure you can walk?” Dexter asked for the tenth time in less than thirty minutes.

“If I said no, what would you do? Carry me?”

“Hmmm,” he murmured. “Possibly.”

She glared at him over her shoulder, making him chuckle. He’d insisted on remaining behind her in case she stumbled or slowed.

“Head more to the left,” he said.

“How do you know where we are?” Everything looked the same to Reid. With the trees towering around them, it was hard to keep track of the sun’s position.

“I’ve studied Axian’s land and terrain all my life. Aren’t you intimately familiar with your county?”

“The land around my castle, yes. But not all of Ellington.”

“I suspect that’s because your father was hiding you. If you’d been a normal male heir, you would have traveled throughout Ellington. You’d have ended up knowing most towns and lakes.”

Every step sent a sharp pain shooting through Reid’s torso. Each breath made her cringe. How could one little broken bone hurt so badly? She focused all her concentration into putting one foot in front of the other.

When it became too dark to safely travel, they stopped. Since neither had a traveling bag, they’d taken one blanket from Ava, who’d filled it with bread. Dexter untied the blanket, then handed Reid half a loaf. After eating, they nuzzled next to one another, trying to stay warm. Instead of spreading the blanket on the ground, they used it to cover their bodies.

“We shouldn’t be in this position,” Reid mumbled as she tried to get comfortable. The leaf-coated ground was damp, a trail of ants not far away. Closing her eyes, she tried not to think about what else could be crawling around nearby.

“I know,” he said, his whispered voice tickling Reid’s ear. “I should have had more guards with me. I apologize for our predicament.”

“I meant we shouldn’t be next to one another like this.” The back of her body pressed against the front of his, every inch of her touching him. Although, it was easier being this close to him when she didn’t have to look at his face. For some reason, when she noticed him watching her, it made her breathing speed up, her stomach clench, and her face warm. His gaze was too piercing, he saw too much, and he noticed everything.

“Since we’re already in a compromising position, this shouldn’t matter.” He wrapped his arm over her hip, resting his hand against her stomach.