Forbidden Honor (Dragon Royals #1)(93)

“How you suffer.” Morick nudged her shoulder with the toe of his boot, and she crinkled her nose.

“You’re not easing my suffering, Morick. You’re standing in my moonlight.”

“I know you two think you’re hilarious, but a thousand people are counting on us to save them from starvation this winter,” Briden reminded them both.

“It’s more like nine hundred. Don’t be dramatic, Bri.” Nora said, even as she accepted Briden’s hand to boost her to her feet.

“We’re totally serious,” Morick said. “That doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun along the way.”

Briden snorted. “I don’t consider listening to the two of you prattle on to be all that fun.”

“And yet, that’s part of what makes it fun for us.”

We moved to our positions along the road. When the tax collector’s carriage came along, with two guards riding horses on front, Briden shouldered his shield, then shifted into a rabbit and hopped into the road.

“I can’t watch,” Nora whispered, then promptly turned into a bird. She flapped her wings a few times as if testing them, then soared toward the driver.

He let out a screech as the bird dive-bombed him, pecking at his eyes, and tossed the reins.

Briden exploded upward suddenly, transforming from rabbit to man just as the carriage passed, the wheels narrowly missing him. The shield slammed into the bottom of the carriage, and a blast of magic raced across it, unseating the carriage from its wheels. He was already rolling away as the thing slammed into the ground.

Morick ran in, still in his human form, and hacked the leather harnesses that connected the horses to the carriage.

As soon as the horses were free, I charged at them in my wolf form. I bumped my head against their hindquarters to terrify them until they raced off. Then I turned on the driver, who froze, his face terrified, then ran into the woods.

I didn’t bother to chase him.

Morick looked across the expanse of greenery that led toward the sand. “We’ve got further to move this thing than I like. This road didn’t seem so far from the sea when we planned.”

Nora landed lightly on her feet, her bright red wings snapping back into her shoulders. “Best get to work then. None of us can help you.”

“That’s for sure,” Morick muttered.

He concentrated, his hands stretched out toward the sea. Slowly, the sea seemed to ripple, white-capped waves rising and crashing against the beach rebelliously, until finally they began to move our way.

The sea touched the carriage then lifted it, carrying it out. Morick’s teeth gritted, his eyes closed, as he focused all his power on keeping the heavy vessel floating.

I put my hand on his shoulder, guiding him ahead of me to make sure he reached the edge of the sea safely.

His ship was anchored there.

Nora flew out, but Briden and I had to swim. The ship’s crew was busy lifting the treasure out of the broken carriage, hastily spilling gold coins and other treasures over the damp deck. I crouched and picked up someone’s necklace, turning it over in my hand. A wedding ring was attached to the chain.

“He’ll take anything in taxes, won’t he?” I muttered

It seemed like my father taxed the people endlessly to pay for the war against the Scourge, but spent far less on our wounded and dying soldiers than anyone would have expected.

I was done with the war. I was done with losing friends. And I was done with my family.

But tonight, we would divide the taxes we’d just stolen and re-distribute it to the villages. Villagers would be able to afford the food and supplies they needed to survive the winter when my father had just claimed virtually everything these people owned.

Rebellion was coming.





Honor



That night around the fire, Jaik stayed awake long after the others had rolled into their sleeping bags, his elbow propped on his knee, the flames reflected in his amber eyes. Even though I was yawning, I stayed awake with him. Something inside me ached about how we’d left things, even though I had to remember I was Lucien now, not Honor.

Because it was Honor who wanted to lean over to him and soothe whatever tormented him as he watched the fire.

Jaik’s gaze flickered up to mine. “You should get some rest.”

“I’m not tired. Trying to get rid of me?”

Jaik rolled his eyes. “You didn’t grow up that much in that dungeon, did you?” He reached for his sleeping bag.

“It seems like you got rid of Honor. So, you thought that she would ruin things between the five of you?”

“You want to talk about Honor,” he said, a disbelieving note in his voice. He certainly seemed wide awake now.

I cleared my throat, having second thoughts. “I’m not doing anything with her.”

“How can I possibly believe that? What would she be doing in your room?” he demanded.

Stubborn, jealous prick. I raised my chin. “If you think she’s so terrible, you shouldn’t care.”

“I never said she was terrible.” Then he muttered, “She certainly does have terrible taste in men.”

“Because she loves you or because she loves me?”

His eyes flashed, reflecting the flames between us.

“I’ve seen the way she looks at you, you know. Whatever’s between the two of you is real, even if it’s so ill-advised.”