“Up?”
“Up, as in the tree branches.”
Bloody hell. Solara
was
a faerie, after all. Had he not been so wrapped up in thoughts of why she had disappeared, he would have remembered to search the branches of the trees.
“I’m an idiot. I’ll go search for her there.”
Noele laughed. “You are no such thing. And Roarke?”
“Yes?”
“Please find my sister and bring her back.”
He gave her a solemn nod. “I swear to you I will find her.” Whether he brought her back in one piece or not was another matter. She might just have a bruised backside when he was through with her.
As he waited for the guards to assemble, his mind strayed to punishing Solara for running off. His cock twitched to life at the thought of spanking her bare ass, then turning her over and fucking her until she was his forever.
With a disgusted sigh at his wayward thoughts, he rode through the gates of Winterland and headed for the forests.
* * * * *
For three days she’d remained in the forest and thought about the alternatives to marrying Braedon of Greenbriar. Three days of watching Winterland from the tops of the tree branches, eating berries and nuts and drinking from the small streams. Three days of not sleeping much at all. And after all this thinking she had come to no other conclusion than she would have to go through with the marriage.
“What does it matter?” she said out loud, hoping the forest and the wide-open sky above her would provide the answers her own mind and heart could not. “Roarke has no feelings for me. To him, I was merely a female who released his desires, no more, no less than any other woman he has known. Better to meet my fate head-on than to suffer the rest of my life pining away for a man who would not give me his heart.”
She closed her eyes, knowing she would have much explaining to do when she returned to the castle.
No doubt, Roarke had already left for Greenbriar to explain her delay to the southern king.
“Good. I hope he chokes on his apology for my absence. I hope that Braedon is already so full of desire for me that he punishes Roarke for my tardiness. I hope—” She hoped that Roarke would admit that he loved her, and tell the southern king she would never arrive for their marriage, that he intended to defy law and marry her.
Laughing at her own ludicrous thoughts, she fluttered from the trees and landed softly on the earth. A knot formed in her stomach as she started toward the castle.
’Twas hunger that caused her belly to tighten, and nothing more. Certainly not guilt at sending Roarke and his guard on an unnecessary trip to Greenbriar. Definitely not remorse at worrying her sisters.
Surviving on berries for three days had increased her hunger. That explained the pain in her stomach.
Hopefully Trista had explained to them that she needed time away for a day or so. She had entrusted the note into Trista’s hands and gave her sister instructions to present it to Noele the morning after she’d snuck out of the castle.
Creating a momentary diversion for the guards at the gate had been simple. She’d summoned her magic to create a disturbance in the rear courtyard. By the time the guards had returned to their posts, she had flown over the tall, stone gates unnoticed.
But now it was time to return and face her fate. She froze at the vibration of footsteps on the forest floor, hesitant to fly to the branches for fear she’d be seen.
She ducked beneath the drooping limbs of a thick willow, sheathing her red wings so they would not cast a glow beyond the greenery. Holding her breath, she shut her eyes tight and willed the intruders away.
Muttering a silent prayer that it was not the wizards crashing through the forest, she chanced a peek through a thick curtain of leaves, then smothered a gasp as she spotted the back of a man.
Whoever stood there heard her, and whipped around with sword over his head, ready to strike.
Recognizing the clothing as that of one of the guards of Winterland, she shouted, “Nay, do not strike!
’Tis Solara, faerie princess of D’Naath!”
Before she could inhale another breath, she was dragged roughly through the branches and brought up against a chest as solid as an oak tree. Warm hands dug into the tender flesh of her upper arms.
Solara tilted her head back and stared into the angry face of Roarke.
“Roarke! ’Tis you!” Without thinking, she stepped closer, relieved when he wrapped his arms around her.
“You are safe, faerie.” His heart pounded against her cheek, his arms crushing her to him. She’d never felt safer in her life, even if she was in no danger to begin with.
“Of course I am safe,” she whispered.
He pulled back and looked her over. “Where have you been?”
“Right here, atop one of the willow branches.” She inhaled him, her body awakening to his earthy scent.
Her nipples hardened against her shift at the contact of his chest against hers.
But he pushed her away so hard that she struggled to maintain her balance.
What was wrong with him? Why was he so angry with her?
“Stupid faerie,” he muttered, then grabbed her wrist and turned, dragging her along behind him.
“Wait!” She dug in her heels until he stopped and regarded her with an impatient stare. “Is that all you have to say to me?”
“No. There is much I would like to say to you, but honor forces me to bite my tongue so as not to speak harshly to a princess.”
Curiosity spurred her on. That, and a decided irritation at his annoyance. “You have my permission to speak freely. And why are you not leading the contingent to Greenbriar?”
“I do not need your permission to speak, but I doubt you wish to hear what I would like to say to you.
Garick has gone to Greenbriar to explain why his sister-in-law is a fool.” Her eyes widened at his insult. “I most certainly am not a fool.” Roarke grabbed her arms and hauled her against him, his eyes as dark as the earth floor. “Do you realize the wizards could have captured you? There is a reason we do not allow our people to wander alone outside the gates of Winterland.”
She wrenched her arms away from his grasp. “I was in no danger. I can take care of myself.” His arched brow told her he believed otherwise. “You are one small woman, and no match for an army.”
Glaring back at him, she said, “You think so? Then explain why you brought an army yesterday and could not find me.”
“You saw us searching for you, and yet you did not hail us?” Perhaps she should have, and yet she had not been aware it was Roarke who looked for her. Would it have made any difference? “I was not ready to come back yesterday.”
“And I suppose you are ready today.”
“Aye. I was making my way back to Winterland when I heard your approach, and hid to be certain there was no danger.”
“Danger? No. But you imperil yourself in another way with your childish actions.”
“I feel no threat.”
“You should.”
“From where?”
“More likely from whom.” He picked up her wrist again and began to pull her along. She fought as long as she could, but finally gave up. It was either follow along or be dragged.
Why he was so angered was beyond her. Yes, perhaps this delay was foolish. She had not expected Garick to leave the castle and venture to Greenbriar. But she thought Roarke would be happy to see her.
Instead, he was furious. Why? Was he disappointed that she had not already left? Was her constant presence at Winterland a burden to him? She had so many questions, yet she refused to ask him again to explain himself.
“We could meet up with the guard much faster if you’d cooperate.” He’d been mumbling as they walked, but she at least heard that part. Digging in her heels, she pulled at him. “Roarke, stop. Your stride is much longer than mine and I am having a difficult time keeping up.” Truth, she was trying her best to delay returning to the castle, knowing she would have to depart for Greenbriar as soon as they went back.
He stopped finally, glaring at her. “You should have thought of that before you ran off to hide in the forest.”
“I did not run off and hide. I came out here to think.”
“About what?”
“About…things.”
Rolling his eyes heavenward, he took off for the clearing without her. She scrambled to keep up, no longer wishing to be left alone. “I saw that look you gave me. Did you not see the note I left?” He whirled around and pointed a finger at her. “Aye, we found your hidden note. The day after Garick and half of Winterland’s guards left for Greenbriar.”
“What? I left the note with…” Oh no. Trista. She closed her eyes and knew that she was in serious trouble. Trista had not given the note to Noele after she’d left.
“You left the note under the bed, hoping no one would discover it until they were well away.”
“That is not true!”
“You are a coward, Solara. I had thought you a brave woman until you acted like a spoiled child and ran off.”
He was not even willing to listen to her explanations. Irritation made her blood run hot. “I am not a child, and I am certainly not spoiled.”
“You deserve a spanking for the way you’ve behaved. Do you know how worried everyone was when they could not find you? They thought you had been captured by the wizards. Your sisters cried for two days. Garick has had to leave his castle, accompanied by Trista, to explain your absence to your betrothed.”
This was not going at all the way she had envisioned. She had told Trista she needed some time alone before leaving to Greenbriar. Trista had changed everything. No doubt, some scheme had formulated in her little sister’s devious mind. The stars only knew what Trista had planned once she reached Greenbriar.
“Believe me when I say that is not what I intended. I only meant to—”
“You only meant to hide from your fate. You can’t escape it, and now others must face it for you because of your cowardice.”
He thought so little of her. “I am no coward. Let me explain.”
“You owe me no explanations. Save them for Noele. Explain to her why she has to be without her husband for a fortnight, and then another contingent will have to take you to Greenbriar after they return.”
“After? I thought I would be escorted as soon as I came back to the castle.” He towered over her, his long frame casting a dark shadow over her body. “Once again, you thought incorrectly. The journey to Greenbriar is fraught with danger. Garick has taken half the Winterland guard with him. You think we would leave Winterland vulnerable to guide you there now? Nay, you will remain at the castle until Garick’s return. Then you will be taken to Greenbriar.” Roarke was right. She had created a disaster. Worse, he did not believe it was not what she had intended.
Blaming Trista was convenient, but wrong. In fact, she had only herself to blame. She lowered her lashes, embarrassed at what Roarke must think of her. “I will accompany you back to Winterland with no objection.”
“’Twouldn’t matter if you objected or not. I can easily sling you over my shoulder and carry you that way if you fight me.”
She walked along beside him, scurrying to keep up with his quick stride. Everything she had tried to accomplish had failed miserably. Was it so wrong to want a day or two alone? How was she to know that Garick would set off immediately for Greenbriar without waiting for her return?
How could Trista have manipulated them so? What was her sister’s intent? She shook her head, knowing she shouldn’t have trusted the little minx. Trista had offered her help, had told her to go to the forests and think while she tried to come up with a plan to prevent Solara’s marriage to Braedon.
How easily she had grasped the opportunity to escape her fate.
How foolish she had been to think that her destiny could be changed.
Or that Roarke would care enough to be glad she remained behind.
Solara’s reunion with her sisters was bittersweet. Noele, Elise and Mina cried and hugged her, relief showing on their tear-streaked, smiling faces.
Guilt pounded away at her, the ache in her belly remaining long after she’d been fed. Having bathed and slipped on a warm gown, she paced the confining chamber, wishing she could have a single moment of peace.
But peace would not come. She remained unsettled despite her days spent in the forest thinking over her fate. Resigned to the fact that nothing would change, she would simply have to wait out the days until Garick returned so she could then be taken to Greenbriar.
The time for feeling sorry for herself was over. Marrying Braedon was her destiny, her duty, and she would follow through no matter where her heart lay.
What a terrible day this had been.
Once she and Roarke had met up with the guards, they had ridden silently back to Winterland. Solara had been forced to sit with him on his horse, her body painfully aware of his broad chest and muscular thighs as she rode in front of him. With every jolt, her buttocks had rocked against his groin.
Despite his obvious irritation, he had hardened, but she refused to turn around and look at him, fearing what she might see there.
Or not see.
After they had returned to the castle, Roarke had presented her to Noele, then turned on his heel and strode out of the hall without another word. She had not seen him at dinner that night, either.
Whatever attraction she felt for Roarke would have to be tamped down during the two weeks she awaited Garick’s return. It was time to think of her new life as the Queen of Greenbriar. She would spend time with her sisters, knowing it would be a long while before she could see them again.
A soft knock sounded at her door. She called entrance, and Noele stepped in, closing the door gently behind her.
“Are you still hungry?”
Solara shook her head.
“Are you comfortable?”
“Aye.” She and her sisters did not sit on formality. “What is on your mind, Noele?” Noele sat on the couch near the hearth, patting a cushion next to her. Solara took her place at her sister’s side and waited for the questions.