TRUST IN LOVE (Lovemark #2)

7. Farrow

7

Farrow

“Damnation,” I muttered, setting my hands on my hips and turning in a slow, aggravated circle as I scanned the trees.

But where the hell was that secret entrance?

I knew I’d been blindfolded when the princess had led me from the castle and out here into the forest five years back, but I’d seen her and her guard disappear into the trees somewhere in this general vicinity just a few hours ago to return to the castle. It had to be nearby. Somewhere. And I should’ve been able to locate it by now.

Except I couldn’t. This was one aggravatingly well-hidden passageway.

If I’d been smart, I would’ve snatched her earlier. Except I would’ve had to take out her protector in the process, which I could’ve done with no hardship. I just hadn’t felt like killing anyone today. And besides, I’d been certain I could simply follow them back inside through their handy secret tunnel that I knew existed under the moat and then take her the first moment she was alone.

Like she was now.

Except I couldn’t figure out how to get inside.

Through the window just outside her bedchamber and across the calm waters, I’d watched her guard hug her, kiss her cheek, and depart from her at her door, where she’d paused to gaze out at the horizon almost directly at me before she’d gone into her room by herself. Now was the best opportunity I had to go in there and steal her away.

Except the stupid entrance kept eluding me.

Except, except, except.

I was definitely full of excepts, wasn’t I, while honestly, all my setbacks were just excuses. If I’d been that determined to kidnap her, I would’ve done so by now. I had no one to blame for all these failures except myself.

The problem was I didn’t want to do this at all. But that really had no bearing in the situation, so it was time to end the excuses and just do my job already.

“We could be hours away from the castle by now,” I scolded myself, knowing I should’ve done more no matter how loathe I found the task to be. My sister’s life depended on this. “One dead Donnelly guard would’ve been nothing.”

A deceased Sable, on the other hand, would be more than I could take.

“She’d been right there, half a dozen trees separating us. God! I’m such an idiot.”

And now it was too late to search anymore tonight. The sun had set nearly an hour ago, making darkness swallow the outlines of trees and bushes, preventing my eyes from cataloging anything correctly.

Except I didn’t want to wait until morning. By morning, I wanted to be halfway back to Far Shore. Returning to Sable.

Kneeling next to a bush, I swept out my hand and felt around the forest floor, hoping to uncover a hidden panel that opened into the ground.

Behind me, a scraping sound—like stone grinding against stone—echoed through the trees. Halting, I c****d my ear as scuffling and human grunts followed.

Shit. Someone was coming.

Since I was already on my knees, I dropped the rest of the way to my stomach and rolled under the bush. Briars scraped my arms and face as I settled myself out of sight and went still. Waiting. Listening.

A dozen paces away, the newcomer panted and swore, shuffling foliage and earth around as if they were dragging something heavy across the ground. I squinted, wondering what the devil—

“Oh bother,” a feminine voice muttered. “No way in God’s name am I going to be able to carry all this by myself.”

Curious, I ducked my head out from under the bush, but it was impossible to see anything through the darkness, and the woman—whoever she was—wasn’t carrying a torch.

Blowing out a settled breath, she stood without moving before she timidly called, “Farrow?”

My eyes flared with shock. But had she just said…?

I must’ve misheard her. No way could she have said my name.

Except she repeated it a little louder and with more certainty this time. “Farrow? Are you out here?”

She stumbled uncertainly in my direction before pausing and exhaling through a small gasp, as if surprised. “Yes, you’re definitely out here. And close,” she revised, talking more to herself than me before she lifted her voice. “Don’t be afraid. It’s just me, Nicolette.”

Nicolette.

My entire system buzzed with a mixture of danger and delight: danger because this had to be a trick. Somehow, the Donnelleans had learned of my mission to steal their princess, and they had sent out some imposter as bait.

But also delight, because what if it wasn’t a trick?

No, you’re right. It had to be a trick.

“You can come out from wherever you are. It’s okay. I made sure I wasn’t followed. We’re quite alone.”

Definitely something a fake princess would say if she wanted to lure her Far Shore kidnapper into the open so the three hundred guards lying in wait could tackle him to the ground and kill him posthaste and without prejudice.

Her shuffling came closer until she must’ve tripped and stumbled across something in her path.

“Ouch. Damn, I never realized how uneven these bloody woods were.”

Aha. A princess would never swear like that.

Except, I often heard Bricklynn—Sable’s older sister—curse worse than sailors at port, so of course, the stranger’s language was no way to discern who she really was.

Hell fire.

The pretender was coming unbearably close, though, and heading straight toward me.

Weird. Could she somehow hear me? I wasn’t doing anything to make a sound.

When she plowed into the bush I was hiding under, I winced through her cry of pain. And then I believe she toppled backward and hit the ground.

“Ow, ow, ow. That hurt. Bush. There was a bush there.”

Before I could stop myself, I said, “You okay?”

Shit. Why had I asked that? I shouldn’t have spoken.

In answer, she screamed. Or more like yelped.

“Oh my God, you’re right there,” she said through the dark, panting a few times before she calmed herself enough to add, “Of course you’re right there. I knew you were right there.”

Maybe it was my princess after all. She talked in that same daft and confusing way as the girl I remembered had.

Against my better judgement, I rolled out from under the bush. If anyone else was out here with us, they would’ve come running at her first sound of distress. Wouldn’t they?

In any case, no one else was checking on her. So I did.

“Is it a severe injury, my lady?”

“I…” She sucked in a sharp intake, then continued. “No. No, I’m okay. I think. More startled than anything. I—that is—are you—you are Farrow, correct?”

Instead of replying, I silently slid a knife from the strap around my ankle, prepared to stab in case I’d been wrong and there was an ambush after all. Lowering my voice so only she could hear me, I countered, “Are you really Princess Nicolette? The king’s sister?”

“I am.” She shuffled as if trying to stand.

But I reached out my hand, halting her, my fingers encountering silken hair. “Stay,” I murmured, palming the crown of her head, where immediate warmth eased into my fingers.

Scanning the area around us, I saw nothing and sensed no one else about. Darkness had fallen completely in the last few minutes. So I turned my attention to her, fully aware she had no idea I held a knife at the ready, prepared to slice her throat if she had tricked me.

“What’re you doing out here?” I blurted.

“I’m fine, really. There’s…” She nudged my hand aside and pushed to her feet. “There’s no need to worry about me.” After blowing out a relieved breath, she made a swishing sound as if she were dusting off soiled skirts.

“I came out here because I sensed you, of course,” she finally answered, her voice sounding way too logical for the crazy claim she made.

Yes, she was definitely Nicolette, speaking with more of her weird, nonsensical—

Wait.

Had she just told me she’d sensed me?

Something about that reminded me of Roloff. She made it sound as if destiny had drawn her out here against her will, just as he had. And she’d walked straight to me, no meandering or straying off path. She’d known exactly where I’d been hiding.

So, I asked, “Do you bear magic?”

A magical princess? Huh, I hadn’t considered that.

If she were some kind of soothsayer, she would know my purpose here. Did that mean I was meant to save Sable since Nicolette had come to me? Would my mission to Donnelly end with success?

Hope grew in my chest.

The princess laughed at my question, though. “Of course not. I try to avoid all things magical if I can help it. Why do you ask?”

Well, damn. “No reason.” Slipping my dagger back into its sheath before she realized I was holding it, I stepped closer.

She was just peculiar, then, I guess. Whatever. That didn’t matter. Either way, I should stop standing here, wondering over everything strange and abnormal about the situation and just take the girl before I lost my opportunity. I could wonder about all the whys and wherefores once Sable was safe and sound, out of the dungeon.

Grasping Princess Nicolette’s arm, more gently than I meant to, I said, “We need to go.”

Wait. Why had I just announced that aloud? How very poorly done of me. Now, she was going to fight and try to escape.

There went my chances of gaining my badge for exemplary k********g skills.

And speaking of k********g procedures, I honestly didn’t look forward to forcing her against her will or binding her arms and legs to get her to come with me, and I most certainly didn’t want to hurt her. But if she resisted, well…

I didn’t want to think about that possibility.

So, I was beyond thankful when the princess clutched me right back and said, “You’re right. We definitely need to be on the move. My things are just over here—somewhere—if you’re willing to help me carry them. Did you bring a horse for me, by chance?”

I pulled up short, shaking my head. “Wait. Horse? Things?” Not that I wasn’t grateful for her compliance, but, uh…

What the devil was she talking about?

Not only had she known I was out here, but now it sounded as if she was actually planning on returning to Far Shore with me.

I was freaking dreaming, wasn’t I? Because this couldn’t be right.

Yet the idea that I might not have to get rough with her was so enticing that I let myself believe maybe it wasn’t a ruse after all.

Her fingers tugged impatiently, encouraging me to follow. “It’s okay if you didn’t. I can probably strap the pack to my back and drag it along behind me, if need be.”

I stopped again, forcing her to halt, too. Seriously, none of this made sense. Maybe there was an army nearby, waiting to ambush me. Crouching, I eased my hatchet from its scabbard at my side, once again preparing to fight.

“Farrow,” she said impatiently, trying to tow me along. “What’re you doing? We need to hurry. I don’t think anyone followed me, but I left a note on my bed, telling everyone goodbye, so if someone does check my room before morning, they’ll realize immediately what I’ve done. They’ll probably try to follow us. And you really shouldn’t be caught here. Since you’re from Far Shore, I can’t guarantee my brother won’t have you killed on sight before I even had the chance to argue for your survival.”

I shook my head. “So you actually want to return to Far Shore with me?”

“Of course,” she answered, sounding almost exasperated by my confusion. I jumped in surprise when she stepped close and wrapped her arms around me in a comforting hug. “That’s the very reason you’re here, isn’t it? To take me home with you?”

“Um. Yes?” I said uncertainly. “Actually, that is the very reason I’m here. But how did you—”

“I knew it,” she murmured on a happy sigh. “I knew you’d come for me. Someday. And here you are. I’ll never lose faith in the mark again. I swear it.”

Mark? What was she—

When she rested her cheek on my collarbone, just under my chin, and cuddled comfortingly closer before smoothing her fingers up my spine and humming out her pleasure, I gulped.

Ah, hell.

Guilt sliced down the back of my neck with an icy chill as I realized she thought my presence was some kind of grand, romantic gesture.

Not a k********g.

Hugging her back as my way to silently apologize for deceiving her, I rasped, “And here I am, come just for you.” Just not for the reason you think.

“This is so exciting,” she murmured. “I’d invite you in and introduce you to my family before we left—I really would—but I’m too worried for your safety. I don’t think they’d receive you very kindly.”

“Aye,” I said. “I’ve a feeling you’re right.” Especially if they knew why I was really here.

She stroked my arm as if thanking me for understanding. “I would never put you in that kind of danger.”

Closing my eyes, I lifted my face toward the night sky and gritted my teeth. This had to be the worst kind of trickery ever devised. I wasn’t sure if I could lie to her like this and let her think I was taking her on a romantic getaway, all the while, I was absolutely certain I couldn’t tell her the truth of my plight, either.

She groaned out a pleased sigh. “You’ve no idea how often I prayed for this very moment.” Her voice was low and warm, meant for an intimate paramour. It caressed my ears in such a way that caused prickles of physical awareness to spark through my extremities. I shuddered, feeling how soft and female she was against me.

She smelled clean and fragrant, like flower petals and honey.

“It feels so good to finally hold you,” she whispered.

Aye, I wanted to agree as my eyes nearly rolled up in my head. The pillow of her breasts was incredibly warm and voluptuous against my frame. I couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything else.

Heat blazed through my groin. My face tipped down to breathe her in just as she rose up, and our mouths collided awkwardly, probably accidentally, but she seemed to like it. She exhaled breathily before her fingers suddenly cupped my cheeks, and she kissed me for real, trailing light, wet pecks over my mouth. When her lips brushed against the side of my jaw and then my throat, the pleasure was so immense and awakening that I clenched my teeth as if splashed in the face with cold, reviving water.

Kissing her back would be bad. It would make me the worst sort of villain.

“I…” Jerking away in shame for being tempted into letting her kiss me in the first place, I turned my face aside and swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t.”

She was quiet a moment before saying, “You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. There’s no time for that right now. We need to make haste and gain as much space between you and this castle as possible. Let’s get my things, shall we?”

I nodded stupidly and let her lead me along, slipping the axe back into my belt holder as we went.

“I hope I didn’t bring too much. But I wasn’t sure when I’d be back, or if I would. Brentley might not allow me to visit after you and I marry.”

Marry?

“So I really tried to pack only the most essential, important things, except everything suddenly felt so sentimentally vital that I just wanted it all with me.”

She thought we were going to marry?

“But I can carry it all by myself if necessary. Since you didn’t bring a horse for me—”

“I have a horse.” Damnation, how the hell was I supposed to tell this girl I had no intention of marrying her whatsoever?

She paused as if confused. “What?”

I cleared my throat, my voice empty when I repeated, “I have an extra horse for you.”

“You do?” She sounded surprised. “Oh. That’s wonderful. I thought—I mean—I guess I didn’t give you ample time to reply after I asked, did I? Sorry about that. I’m a bit nervous.”

“It’s okay.” Going hoarse with regret, I admitted, “I—I’m nervous too.”

I’d never kidnapped anyone before.

“You are? Why, that’s grand. We won’t have to feel so self-conscious since we’re both bumbling through this together, then, I suppose.”

“Aye, it does help, doesn’t it?” I agreed, starting to smile. Only to pause.

Because s**t. Wait. Why had I said that? I definitely should not have said that. Deciding to stop talking altogether before I’d confessed everything and shooed her back into the castle where it was safe, I pressed my lips together hard.

But she was just so f*****g sweet and amiable. I began to feel sick to my stomach.

In his youth, Murdock used to amuse himself by killing stable cats. The tamed beasts would run right up to him and trustingly wind their entire bodies around his ankles, merely wanting food and attention. And he’d pick them up as if to lovingly pet them, only to squeeze their necks until they died in his hands, or sometimes he’d throw them against the side of the barn as hard as he could to kill them.

It had always made me ill to watch. Exactly how I was feeling this very moment.

If she were a kitten, Princess Nicolette would be rubbing against my calf, purring as her tail twitched with delight, just wanting me to love and pet her. Except I was going to be Murdock who gently picked her up and then wrung her lovely, vulnerable neck until she permanently stopped breathing.

Sweat coated my skin as indecision laced my brain. While a part of me wanted to push her away and warn her to run, fast, the other part had me tightening my grip on her hand and keeping her close. Sable wouldn’t be safe until I delivered the Donnelly princess to my father. No matter how innocent and undeserving she was of her doomed fate, my sister was equally innocent and undeserving of hers, and her life depended on this woman.

As if sensing my turmoil, Nicolette stroked my arm. “Don’t worry, Farrow. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I swear it.”

Fuck.

I swallowed down the hard lump of guilt in my throat.

Because I couldn’t make her the same promise.