A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1)(17)

My chest tightened, and I gulped in several shallow breaths as I stared down at my planned path.

One misstep and I would be in that freezing water. It may only be knee-high, but I could slip, hit my head, drown just the same.

Move.

I choked out a sob, loathing that I was even hesitating. I could do this. I had to do this, or I may as well turn back right now.

I strode into the frigid water, moving as quickly as I could without slipping. By the time I made it to the other side, my feet stung with fresh cuts from the sharp rocks.

Planting my hands on my knees, I leaned over until I stopped shaking. When I lifted my head, my surroundings seemed to rotate around me.

I walked all day. By the time the sun was setting, my stomach howled, but I was almost out of my scant food and would need to save what little I had left for tomorrow.

Red flickered in the distance. Flames?

I went still. I couldn’t feel the warmth, of course. But for a moment, I imagined I could. Imagined I was lying in front of that fire, drowsy after a filling meal.

The king’s guards probably wouldn’t light a fire. Herica had once told me they usually traveled with an umber stone—a large black stone that could be charged with magic and would release heat.

Where there were flames, there was likely food. My stomach grumbled as if in agreement, and I kept my gaze on the orange-red glow through the trees.

Creeping closer, I peered around the tree and into the clearing.

I sucked in a sharp breath. I recognized that group of men, stretched out by their campfire without a care in the world. Grinding my teeth, I counted four of them. One of the brutes was hiding somewhere, likely on sentry duty.

Fury swept through me, along with a healthy dose of outrage. After everything I’d been through since Galon had pulled me out of the river, seeing them sleeping by the warmth of a fire, likely with full bellies and dry clothes…

It was a twist of the knife.

Galon was lying closest to me. Across the clearing, the leader—Lorian, they’d called him—was stretched out, eyes closed. Behind him, their horses rested near several packs of supplies.

Likely, some of those supplies included food. My skin prickled with anticipation.

Where, exactly, was the sentry?

Lorian rolled over and glanced to his left. My mouth stretched in my first smile since I’d fled my village. The tyrant was unable to simply let his man do his job. He had to breathe down his neck.

And he’d just given his sentry’s spot away.

Fool.

I’d take their food and leave them with almost nothing. The way they’d left me.

Painstakingly slowly, I began to move to Lorian’s right. I had more visibility here, but I couldn’t afford to rush and snap a branch.

One of the men coughed. I used the sound to cover a few quick steps.

It felt as if it took hours. I knew my strengths, and skulking through the woods was not one of them. But I refused to allow my impatience to lose me that horse. Those supplies. All the food.

Finally, finally, I was just a few foot-spans from the horses. I slowly sucked some air into my lungs, and with a final glance at the resting men, I prepared to—

I froze. Lorian was gone.

His voice sounded behind me. “Did you really think we didn’t know you were here, village girl?”

Ducking down, I whirled, avoiding his attempt to grab me. Surprise flashed across his face, and he charged me.

I tripped him, my own leg tangling with his. He cursed and we fell, rolling toward the fire.

By the time we came to a stop, my blade was at his throat and my heart was beating so hard, it felt as if my ribs would snap. He’d pinned me with his huge body, but all it would take was a flick of my wrist and he would be dead.

He stared down at me, those forest-green eyes lit with amusement.

A trap. The bastard had looked at the sentry to lure me close and ensure I went in the opposite direction. So he could track me. He’d likely known I was here before I’d even seen his fire.

Dismay swept through me. I had to do better. Had to learn fast if I was going to make it to the city and get on a ship.

“Did you really think we’d let you take one of our horses? What did we do to deserve your theft?”

Fury punched through me. “You left me for dead,” I hissed.

“You survived.”

“No thanks to you!”

He heaved a sigh. As if I were inconveniencing him.

I imagined my blade splitting him open. Visualized the spray of blood. I wasn’t usually bloodthirsty, but this man brought it out on me.

His expression had turned bored. I’d been through hell over the past few days, and this man could have lightened my load. Instead, he looked moments away from yawning.

Fine. We’d see how he liked it when I left him for dead.

A sharp blade was suddenly nestled against my skin, right next to the spot where my pulse thundered. I wedged my own knife closer to Lorian’s throat.

“Put it down,” an amused voice said.

My skin turned clammy, a heavy weight pressing on my chest.

I stared into Lorian’s green eyes, and I made a silent vow to myself. If I lived through the next few minutes, and the gods ever decided to make our paths cross once more, I would ensure this man regretted leaving me to die.

His gaze sharpened as if he were reading my mind. A huge, callused hand clamped around my wrist, until I was forced to drop the knife.