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  She ignored him as he grumbled about rocks in his boots and focused on Kade’s back as he led them downwards. Grass began to sprout out of the side of the dusty pathway, then as the ground levelled out some, and the pathway merged with a road, Hadley released a tension-filled breath.

  Kade carried on until the roadway was wide enough for her to come alongside him. He waited, an uncertain smile on his face as she led her mount beside his. “Remind me not to come back this way, eh?”

  Hadley laughed, more from relief than anything. He looked better than she’d expected. A little tired, travel weary and covered in grime but no more than any of them.

  Carl was the first to haul himself atop his mount and peer down at them. “Where you want to camp for the night? We’re still a few hours out from Ramshead; it’ll be dark by the time we make it.”

  Kade shot a look at her before his eyebrows raised slightly and the makings of a grin formed. “Scared of the dark, eh, cuz?”

  Carl sneered at him then affected a shrug. “I’m not the one who’s scared of ghosts.”

  The smile vanished from Kade’s face, and he avoided looking at her as he remounted. “Fine, we’ll push till Ramshead; there’s a tavern on the water. We stay the night then head inland to the Stormers camp; should be there by the end of the week now the snow isn’t slowing us down.”

  Carl nodded vaguely. “Sounds good.”

  Kade glanced at her before he sent an amused glance at his cousin. “You know, we could detour a few hours north, catch up with Rose?”

  Hadley shot a look at Carl. He met her eye and gave her the slightest of shakes of his head. “Maybe on the way back; we should make for the camp as quickly as possible.”

  Kade frowned and sent a curious look her way before he shrugged. “Whatever you say; just thought maybe you could invite her to the wedding.”

  Carl’s jaw worked as he fixed his gaze ahead, leaving Hadley wondering why he didn’t just come clean and tell Kade Rose was no longer his fiancé. Was he embarrassed or ashamed Rose had called the wedding off?

  The thought rolled around as they made their way along a dusty road. The river now lessoned somewhat into more of a burbling stream alongside them. Maybe Carl should take the opportunity to visit Rose? Offer his apologies for treating her so poorly?

  If he could just be honest with her, explain he wasn’t ready for children, and explain he had a job that left no room for a wife?

  The thought stopped her cold, and her eyes found Kade again. He smothered a yawn before sending her a smile that sped her heart and made her stomach flip.

  She forgot Carl’s romantic woes as she considered her own predicament. She’d started this by kissing Kade; now she had to make sure she wasn’t investing in a man who by his own admission seemed to court trouble.

  She frowned at herself, and how erratic her thoughts had become. This wasn’t about her and Kade. It wasn’t about Carl and Rose.

  This trip to the south was about solving the mystery of who had hired Jax, who had been stealing boys and about finding Thomas. And hopefully, along the way, finding a better future for them all.

  With dusk falling quickly and his body twinging with aches, Kade was relieved to see the outlines of buildings come into view on the horizon. They needed a meal, a good night’s sleep and the animals needed to rest for the night.

  The tavern he had in mind was simple, which was all he could afford since Cester was insisting he pay for Hadley out of his own pocket.

  He frowned as they plodded through wide mud roads. One kiss, and Cester had decided Kade was responsible for her. He stole a look at Hadley as she covered a yawn, and somehow it didn’t seem to matter he was forking out for her to be here.

  If that was what it took to convince Cester, he’d do it. And more if it comes to it. The thought surprised him, and his frown deepened as he forced his gaze away from her.

  One too-long look and Carl would be on to him. His cousin would find out soon enough. But the last thing he wanted was to tell Carl now and create a problem that would most likely rear its head at the worst possible time.

  Better to wait until they found whoever was responsible for hiring Jax; if Kade’s suspicions were correct, that man was probably the reason for the disappearances.

  “You think the guy we’re looking for is a blueblood?” he called to Carl.

  Carl nodded without turning. “I reckon. Makes the most sense. Still not sure how the princess fits in though.”

  Hadley spoke from where she rode in between them. “If the king sent someone to retrieve her because he’d arranged a marriage, doesn’t it stand to reason the person who wanted to intercept her wasn’t the same person the king wanted her to marry?”

  Carl’s jaw slackened before he pulled his shoulders back, feigning understanding. “Of course, that’s what I was saying; there must be two bluebloods wanting to marry her.”

  Hadley nodded, a thoughtful look on her face as they passed shop frontages now closed for the night. “Possibly more: there must be a few wanting the throne?”

  Kade nodded, his eyes on Hadley. “You think that same person decided to build an army too?”

  Hadley chewed on her lip, and he almost groaned aloud. Carl was watching her a little too closely, and he fought the impulse to tell Hadley to stop it.

  “The princess has been in Amaria for a while now, correct? Maybe this person knew she was missing and decided to start an army in case she didn’t come back?”

  Carl shot him a puzzled look before he nodded slowly using the patronising tone he used when confused. “Uh huh.”

  Hadley shrugged, her tone too flippant. “What do I know?”

  Kade covered a smile and wished just for a moment he could tell Hadley she knew a lot more than most people he knew. Carl included.

  Instead he bobbed his head and kept his eyes straight. “I think you just figured everything out. Maybe you should be in charge?”

  He allowed himself to smirk at his joke. Hadley narrowed her eyes, her lips tugging into a smile before her words wiped the smirk off his face. “I’d rather follow you.”

  Hadley stared at him, and her lips pursed ever so slightly. He knew what she meant. And the gods help him, he wanted her to follow him. Wasn’t that why he was here? Wasn’t that what had consumed him the month she’d been absent? He wanted her with him. When she wasn’t, he felt like something vital was missing.

  It wasn’t about duty, or promises, or about making each day count. It was about so much more. Hadley had seen him at his weakest, and she’d nursed him back to health. Still she hadn’t given up on him. Oh, bloody hell.

  Kade’s pulse increased, and he forced himself to look away before he said something stupid in front of Carl.

  And before he wrecked his chances with Hadley before they even had a shot.

  Chapter Six

  After ascertaining that Luna was welcome inside, Hadley helped the freckle-faced, red-haired teenaged girl named Amy, who’d sprung out and coyly introduced herself as stable hand, to untack their mounts while Kade and Carl saw to the rooms.

  After a few wide-eyed gawks at the Stormers, she’d relented and allowed Hadley to assist her. She helped the girl feed and water the horses, making conversation as they worked and noting how the girl’s accent was full of the twang southerners seemed to have.

  At the rapid speed the girl was talking, she wondered if she wasn’t grateful to have a girl of similar age to chat to. “You’re not from around here then?”

  The girl shook her head. “Me Ma married a fella after Da ran off, but he died, so she sold up everything and moved inland to buy this place.”

  Hadley nodded. It wasn’t unusual to find women in charge where the men had been taken by sickness. “I heard things are looking a little better down south?”

  Amy nodded amicably. “The crops started growing again, and we don’t have the bad snow like you do.”

  Hadley carried on the conversation until she entered the tavern. The warmth from th
e crackling fire and the smells of cooking wrapped around her.

  Amy’s gaze landed on Kade as he chatted to an older woman with fiery red hair and a wry expression on her face, leaning on the other side of the countertop. “Are Stormers really just murderers for hire?”

  Hadley shook her head quickly, hoping Amy wouldn’t be put off by either of her travelling companions. “Not at all: they just retrieve things that are hard to find, that’s all.”

  Amy didn’t seem convinced as she kept her eyes on Kade as he spoke to her mother. “Not bad to look at though,” she giggled.

  A spike of jealousy shot through her as Amy cocked her head and made no effort to hide she was examining Kade. If she knew the girl better, Hadley would have confided in her, but what was there even to say?

  Maybe if she introduced Carl, Amy would quit staring at Kade? Amy carried on asking questions about why she was with them both, the constant burble making her head start to hurt a little.

  “We don’t get many interesting visitors come through. Sorry if I’m talking too much. Me ma says I do it too much, but oh, that one, my word, that one has a very nice smile.”

  Amy’s eyes near popped from her head as she spotted Carl, his eyes locked on Amy as he carried a handle of ale.

  The red head sucked in a breath as he grinned, and Hadley winced at the look on her face. Did she really want to inflict Carl on the poor girl? Just out of petty jealousy?

  Carl sidled up and took a sip of his drink, his eyes locked on Amy as she blushed. “Now you most definitely weren’t here the last time I came this way: I’d have remembered such a pretty girl.”

  Amy blushed even more, her eyebrows rising as she gave Carl a shy smile. “I’m Amy.”

  Carl nodded sagely, his voice far too smooth. “Would you care to have a drink with us?”

  Before she could answer, Kade broke away from the counter. Every set of eyes followed him as he joined them.

  Amy’s gaze shifted to a scowling Kade, then travelled down to take in the exposed tattoo on his forearm and the daggers strapped to his chest. She gulped and looked back at Carl. “I need to make up your rooms first, but maybe later?”

  Carl grinned at her as she scurried off, stopping by her mother before taking the steps two at a time in her haste.

  Carl chuckled and gestured to the nearest table. “I think I just found reason to stop by here a little more often.”

  He slumped into the chair, a satisfied grin still on his face. Kade shook his head and pulled out the chair beside him. As she took her own seat, Hadley used the opportunity to check out the other occupants.

  The tavern wasn’t full, only a handful of older villagers who, judging by the mud-caked boots and sturdy clothing, were probably farmers.

  From what she’d seen as they passed through, Ramshead was named for the large amount of sheep farms in the area.

  Kade’s eyes moved to the darkness beyond the window, the candle flickering in the reflection. “You can’t see it from here, but around back there’s a pond that joins the Azetary.”

  Hadley nodded, wondering at the look on his face. Her stomach tightened as he turned his attention to her. “It’s a great place to have swimming lessons.”

  Hadley dipped her chin, prickles of fear covering her body. “I don’t think so.”

  Kade shifted back so he was angled back in his chair. “I was talking to Amy’s mum; she said Amy’s a strong swimmer and a great teacher.”

  Hadley shook her head, ignoring the half smirk Carl was giving her. “We don’t have time.”

  Kade raised his hands. “Actually, we kind of do. Boys have been taken from here too; I’d like to go check on someone.”

  Carl slid a glance sidelong. “I heard that too. I bought one of the old timers a drink, and his mouth didn’t stop running about some hermit who lives in the forest.”

  Hadley glared at him, then at Kade. “You want me to take swimming lessons? Why? Because I’d be in the way?”

  She folded her arms across her chest and waited for Kade’s excuses. He cocked an eyebrow as if amused. “Nope. I want you to use the time to see if Amy knows anything.”

  Carl snorted then a smile crept over his face. “I’d be happy to chat to Amy.”

  Kade shook his head, expression hopeful as he turned his gaze to her. “You don’t have to. But it’s an opportunity to ask questions. She might relax a little more around you.”

  Hadley held his gaze, trying not to allow her emotion at being pushed aside to come through. “I just assumed if you went somewhere, I’d go too?”

  Kade’s lips twitched as though fighting a smile, then he shrugged. “You can’t follow us everywhere.”

  Carl chugged back more of his drink, seemingly oblivious to the way Kade had purposely added emphasis to the word us. She held Kade’s gaze for a moment longer before huffing out a breath. “How deep is the water?”

  Carl cocked an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stared hard at her. Kade’s triumphant smile was barely concealed. “You can reach the bottom, and it’s flat: I asked.”

  Hadley’s face contorted slightly as she remembered the last disastrous time she’d been in a pond. If Kade hadn’t been there, she’d have drowned. Maybe he was right? Maybe it was time she overcame her fear and learnt to swim?

  Carl finally seemed to catch on, his lips turned downwards as he spoke. “You can’t swim? Not even a stroke?”

  Kade shook his head and turned a pointed look her way, making her squirm. “Not everyone gets the chance to learn: we only did because Cester insisted.”

  Carl nodded thoughtfully, then he seemed to lose interest. “I’m going to get another drink; supper isn’t for a few hours yet.”

  He pushed back from the table, and Hadley’s heart thumped about as Kade met her eye. A smile brushed his lips. “So, since we have about one minute, tell me something I don’t know about you.”

  Hadley pressed her lips together as she tried to think of something interesting to tell him. The way he gazed so openly at her made it hard to breathe, let alone think.

  What could she possibly tell him in such a short space of time? Her thoughts scrambled until all she could think about was saying something she probably shouldn’t.

  She cleared her throat and stared at her hands rather than face him. “I didn’t expect you to be so nice.”

  Kade’s reply was torturously slow in coming. She risked a quick peek at him, heat blazing over her cheeks at the ridiculous declaration. Surprise was etched on his face, and her embarrassment grew as she realised that wasn’t what he was expecting her to say.

  Why hadn’t she just told him she liked to read books or bake? Something simple. Why had she been so honest? Her mouth opened to apologise, when Kade’s chin dipped slightly as he leaned forward.

  His fingers stretching over the table top to snag hers sent heat wafting up her arm as he looked into her eyes. His voice was soft when he spoke. “I don’t think anyone has ever called a Stormer nice before. But coming from you, I’ll take it as a compliment.”

  Before she could say anything else he released her hand. The slightest of smiles brightened his face as he shifted back in his seat. His eyes roved to Carl as he approached them, another tanker of ale in his hands as he retook his seat.

  Carl’s eyes drifted from her face to Kade’s, and for a moment she thought he’d seen them. She held her breath as he leaned forward as though sharing a secret. “You two will be on your own for a bit.”

  Kade eyed him. “What are you up to?”

  Carl shrugged, before his gaze landed on her. “I want to spend some time alone with Amy. See if she has any information.”

  Hadley exchanged a look with a frowning Kade, ready to say she didn’t think so, but Kade shook his head. “Leave her alone Carl. Hadley is going to talk to her tomorrow.”

  Carl sat back and downed more of his drink before wiping his mouth. “Why? Because of Cester’s weird rules? Why should I suffer and never have any fun just because of his
stuffy religion?”

  Kade’s frown deepened. “It’s not about Cester’s rules. It’s about being a decent human being. Something you obviously know nothing about.”

  Hadley sucked in a breath at the irritation on Carl’s face. His tone was cold as he chided Kade. “Not everyone is perfect. Not everyone wants to miss out and die old and full of regrets. Not everyone is prepared to waste their lives just because they’re too cowardly to take a chance.”

  Kade’s jaw worked, but he stayed silent, staring at his fingers as he thrummed them on the tabletop. His voice was cool as he pushed away from the table and rose to his feet, his cheeks flushed with anger. “I just need a minute. I’ll be back before supper.”

  Luna, who’d been curled under the table, lifted her head, and Hadley stroked her soft fur in a fruitless effort to soothe her own blooming anger at Carl as Kade stormed away. “Why are you making things so difficult?”

  Carl pulled a face at her. “What are you talking about? Aren’t you tired of being treated like a child? We’re all grown: why can’t we make our own choices? Cester either trusts us, or he doesn’t. It makes no sense. He’ll send us into Amaria, no questions asked, as long as we bring back what he asks for, but then he comes up with these stupid rules saying we can’t be alone with you because you’re a girl. That’s not just insulting to you, it’s insulting to us!”

  Hadley swallowed at the intensity of Carl’s feelings. His face was coloured, and though he was being careful to keep his voice low, he was dangerously close to losing his temper. He narrowed his gaze at her. “I mean, what’s up with that? Kade’s the straightest laced guy I know. Cester must know that! None of this makes any sense: if that’s what Cester’s religion is all about, he can keep it. A bunch of rules that just makes everybody miserable like Cester.”

  Hadley frowned at him and released a sigh. “Cester doesn’t seem miserable to me.”

  Carl only frowned harder, and she realised he wasn’t going to be swayed no matter what. She didn’t want to be the voice of reason when he just wanted to rant.