Black Moon Draw(41)

“It’s beautiful,” I say.

“Mine is larger,” the Shadow Knight grumbles.

“Men are the same in every world,” I stifle a giggle. “Besides you all sleep on the ground. This seems like a palace after that,” I add. “So why meet at the Red Knight’s, if he goes around defiling everyone’s witch?”

“He normally refrains from taking sides with any of us. He is usually an honest mediator,” the Shadow Knight replied.

By the note in the Shadow Knight’s voice, he’s already ruled the Red Knight out as an ally anymore. He pulls the horse to a halt, and we wait. Moments later, a familiar form in a long, red cloak appears from behind a thick wooden door.

The Shadow Knight growls at the sight of the blond knight, a purely animal sound.

“You’ll take care to inquire quickly,” he says to Wolfie.

“Aye.” Wolfie dismounts and leads his horse away.

“Maybe it’s not what you think,” I say quietly, watching the Red Knight approach us with a confident smile on his face, as if he’s going to play this off like nothing happened.

“You are quick to defend the betrayer.” The Shadow Knight isn’t happy.

“You are just as quick to assume the worst about a man who is going to be your brother by marriage soon.”

“I preferred you when you were laughing madly.”

“Maybe if you didn’t randomly declare war on everyone, you’d find some people aren’t that bad!”

“’Tis not random, witch. Were you a normal woman . . .”

“You’d sell me. I know.” What an *.

Pissed at me, the Shadow Knight dismounts and takes the reins as he moves to meet the Red Knight. The horse starts prancing nervously and I hang onto the saddle.

The exchange between him and the Red Knight is curt and brief. The Red Knight wisely doesn’t look at me, as if suspecting he’s already in trouble with the Shadow Knight who has no qualms about lopping off body parts to prove a point.

The Shadow Knight drops the reins and starts back towards me. Before he can drag me off the horse, I slide off on my own and groan.

My god – my legs have never hurt like this. I don’t think I can walk straight and am grateful for the dress that prevents people from seeing the fact I can’t hold my legs together. They’re quivering and burning, my ass hurting from the uncomfortable travel.

“How can you ride around like this?” I grumble at the Shadow Knight.

Ignoring me, he reaches over one of my shoulders to grip the pommel of the saddle and nudges me aside to reach the saddlebags. Trapped between his thick arms with his wide chest close enough to touch if I’m not perfectly still, I can’t tell if I’m going to stop breathing or hyperventilate. His scent and warmth affect me too quickly, and I work hard to suppress the fire in my system.

I don’t dare look at him when he’s this close and wait silently for him to finish. He’s not remotely aware of what’s going through my mind or the tremor of anticipation heating my blood.

He stops moving. When he doesn’t start immediately, I look up to see he’s gazing down at me.

Or . . . Maybe he’s very aware of his effect on women.

As if hearing the thought, amusement warms his eyes briefly. “Come, witch.” Slinging a satchel over his head, he stalks away.

I release the breath I’ve been holding, pull the messenger bird off the horse’s mane and follow.

The sun is going down. It’s suddenly darker. Looking up at the dusky sky in annoyance, I make a mental note to send LF an email when I get home and tell her to get a grip on her concept of time.

We walk into the hold, and my attention is instantly arrested by the incredible scene before me. It’s almost like going back in time: servants in white scurry around in a foyer with a ceiling thirty feet high. The wooden beams supporting the stone structure are visible and a wrought-iron chandelier holding blazing torches hangs from one of them. There are torches ensconced on the walls as well and one of the three doors of the foyer is open to reveal a great hall with some combination of herbs lining the floor. A monstrous table stretches the length of the banquet hall. Burning hearths punctuate the wall every fifteen feet or so.

I smell mint and . . . basil. Comforting, refreshing scents that make my stomach growl more loudly.

Where the fourth wall would be is a hallway four people wide and twenty feet tall that leads into the interior of the fortress.

Breathing deeply, I turn around completely to take in the scene, loving this place. I mean, who doesn’t want a castle? I knew the Red Knight had something good going for him.

Except for keeping a poor kid prisoner and accepting bribes from the Shadow Knight’s enemy. Then again, who am I to take sides?

“The Shadow Knight will not be pleased that you do not follow him.”

I turn to face the Red Knight. He’s keeping his distance, but he’s got a look on his face that says he’s as interested in talking to me as I am him.

New start. No more cowering wallflower for me.

“He’ll get over it,” I proclaim.

The Red Knight says nothing. He appears to be trying not to smile.

“Hey, can we talk?” I ask, closing the distance between us. “I have some more questions.”

His blue gaze is on the hallway, as if he doesn’t want to get caught talking to me. “We may. I have questions for you as well.”