Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1)(82)

Cohen remains silent.

There is no way to break the bind on the king as well as save Cohen’s brother. Not when his brother is marching to his death. Time is up.

Leif said, No one’s strong alone. We need each other.

I bite the inside of my lip, considering a new plan. If Cohen continues into Brentyn with me, there’s a good chance Finn will die. Cohen wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he let that happen.

It will be a struggle to continue without him but not impossible.

“You should go.” My voice shreds through the padded sounds of the woods.

Cohen blinks out of his stupor and stares at me, emotions uncharacteristically clouding his face. “What do you mean?”

“We’re hours from the border. You have enough time to get to Finn if you go now. Who will save Finn if you don’t?” He shakes his head, but I won’t let him talk. “You gave your word to your mother.”

“I gave my word to you as well.” His words are spoken like a growl. His eyes flash ready with an argument. Can he not see there is no way to help us both? If he won’t choose, I’ll do it for him.

“Listen to me.” My fingers whiten around my bow. “Enat and I will go on to Brentyn. I’ll disguise myself in the dress and bonnet like in Celize so no one will recognize me. When we get to the castle, Enat can help me discern where the guards are. Then together, we’ll find our way to the king.” It may not be entirely sound, but it’s the best plan I have.

Cohen sweeps his head side to side so chunks of sable and molasses-brown hair fall across his brow. “No. No way. There are too many risks. You cannot go into the castle blindly. You’ll get caught.”

I set my bow and arrow down and cross through sage bushes to reach him. “I have Enat. Finn needs you. If you don’t help him and he dies, you won’t be able to let that pain go. I know you, Cohen. You are loyal and true. You would never forgive yourself.” I take in a great gulp of cool mountain air to steady my rapidly beating heart. “If you live the rest of your life blaming yourself for Finn’s death, we won’t ever be happy together. And . . . and.” My voice is small. “I want that. I want to be happy with you.”

He drops his chin to the top of my head. “I want that too. But what if this doesn’t work?”

“It will work.” I rest my hands on his chest. “It has to.”

Cohen steps away from me. Now that we’re no longer touching, I can see how ravaged his face looks, smudges lingering beneath his eyes and worry lines creasing his brow. “I cannot leave you.”

If only the consequences of his choices weren’t so devastating.

What I don’t tell Cohen is how scared I am to watch him go. He left me once and didn’t return. But this decision isn’t about me. It’s about his family needing him. “You cannot leave Finn out there alone,” I say.

Cohen slams his hand into the nearest trunk. “I know.” His shoulders slump. “I know, Britt,” he repeats, quieter, subdued. Cohen looks off into the distance, pain and indecision flickering across his face like the dance of a flame over darkness. Out of the trees, Siron slips between us, a black cape covering his owner.

“How will you cross the border?” Cohen’s voice is so quiet, I can barely hear him behind his big horse. “The guards—”

“I am the only watchman in this section of the woods right now,” Bernard interrupts. “I’ve adjusted the other men’s schedules so no one is to come near my post for hours. If they travel quickly, they’ll be fine getting into Malam.”

If what he says is true, our only obstacle now will be traveling from the border to the castle. I’m grateful to Bernard for his help.

“Enat and I will be careful,” I tell Bernard.

With a hand on Siron’s neck, Cohen moves so he can see me. His face is anguish and worry and anger. He sighs, and the sound nearly breaks me because I know he’ll leave. And I want him to go. But fear reminds me that any goodbye may be our last.

Cohen will come back.

It won’t be like last time.

He’ll return to me.

“This isn’t goodbye,” he says, as if he can read the niggling doubt in my thoughts. “I’ll find Finn and then I’ll meet you before you reach the castle. Promise, Dove. In three days’ time, meet me at our tree in the Evers.”

Hope floats inside me. Everything will be fine.

“Three days,” I confirm. “And you’ll come back to me.”

He releases Siron and crosses the distance between us, clutching me to his muscular frame. My arms circle his waist while his wrap my shoulders in warmth. “I will always come back to you.” His nose presses into my hair as he plants a soft kiss on my temple. “Trust me, Dove.”

It doesn’t take long for the men to load up. It’s much quicker than I anticipate.

What seems like only moments later, Cohen is riding away on Siron.

I wave and then turn my head so he cannot see the emotion in my eyes or the errant tears that trace my cheeks. Cohen said he will return, and I believe him. I do.



We ride hard for two days to put space between the border and us, only slowing when the climb from the lowlands steepens. Frost covers the leaves on the forest floor and the white-capped mountains in the distance. We’re lucky the snow hasn’t covered this pass.