With Beta Sinta’s back to me, I remember to breathe again. Brutally forcing my inner turmoil into the do not open ever compartment of my brain, I follow, dragging my feet to make him shorten his stride every time the rope cuts into his hips.
Carver, Flynn, and Kato stare at me when we arrive back at the camp. “Who are you, and what have you done with Cat?” Flynn jokes.
I throw him a sour look. “She’s out chasing mice.”
Carver looks at me and then at his brother. The silent communication that passes between the two men sets my nerves on edge. When I escape, I need a new disguise. Forty and curvy just got busted. Well, forty anyway.
Last night, surrounded by friends and the glow of the circus torches, I thought the warlord couldn’t intimidate me. I thought I was safe. Hidden.
It turns out I’m an idiot.
CHAPTER 5
I’ve never had the best sense of direction, but even I know we’ve passed the same egg-shaped boulder twice on the third day after my abduction.
“Why are we going in circles?” I ask. The rope is as short as ever. There are about three inches between Beta Sinta’s back and my front. And he’s so bloody hot! Sitting this close to him makes me want to dump snow over his head.
“We’re being followed.”
My heart jolts in my chest. Are Aetos and Selena coming for me?
I doubt it. They read my note. They would think about it, fight about it, but in the end, they would leave me be.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“I saw smoke from a campfire twice in the last two days.”
“Maybe it’s a coincidence.”
“That’s why we’re going in circles. To find out if they’re really following.”
“I hope they are,” I announce.
“Why’s that?” He doesn’t sound even mildly concerned.
“Because then there’ll be a fight. If I’m lucky, someone will kill you, and I can finally untie this stupid rope.” I have to eat next to him, sleep next to him, bathe next to him, pee and…other stuff next to him. It’s horrible and humiliating. It’s a worse punishment than Prometheus getting his liver eaten every day by a giant eagle.
Poseidon, why are you doing this to me?
If I have to wake up with my nose in Beta Sinta’s chest one more time, I think I’ll scream.
“I’ve fed you, I haven’t harmed you, and I haven’t asked you to do anything in particular. Your situation could be far worse,” he argues. “With whoever might be following us, it could be.”
“First of all, abduction is a major strike against you. Second, they won’t necessarily catch me. Third, you hit me in the face.”
His back tenses. “That was unintentional.”
“It still happened.”
“You hit me often enough,” he mutters.
“Good idea.” I grind my fist into his kidney, feeling no remorse. He snatched me from the circus and threatened the people I love. He deserves that, and worse.
Gray eyes glint at me over his shoulder. Beta Sinta’s voice turns a little too calm for comfort. “Cat…”
“Your Highness?” My tone is a sweet-and-sour masterpiece.
“Have a care.” His eyes narrow, and he takes his time turning back around.
After we set up camp, earlier than usual, Beta Sinta unties himself for the first time and links me to Carver. Unease grips my stomach in the strangest way.
“What are you doing?” I demand.
“They’re following us. See the smoke?” He points at something that looks like a cloud. “I’m going to investigate.”
“Alone?”
He smiles faintly, angling his body toward mine. His warmth burns a flush into my cheeks. “Worried about me?” he asks.
“What? No! I hope you die.”
His smile fades. Straightening abruptly, he tells Carver, “You know what to do.”
Carver nods and claps his brother on the back. After acknowledging Kato and Flynn, Beta Sinta prowls away without a backward glance. The send-off is pretty minimal, if you ask me.
“What are you supposed to do?” I ask when Beta Sinta is out of earshot.
Carver tugs me toward the campfire, and I drag my feet. Southerners always want to be where it’s hot. “If he doesn’t come back, I’ll take you to Sinta City myself. To Egeria.”
If he doesn’t come back, he’s dead, and his rope won’t work unless someone else claims it. That someone will be me, and I’ll be long gone before we reach Sinta City.