“I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave you here…but I’ve got to go. Why don’t you come with me?” I pleaded.
“I can’t, shortie. I need to stay here—help with the trials. She’s got a really good chance of winning. Especially if Tejus remains distracted by your friend.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “His mind’s not on the game. Anyone can see that.”
His comment had annoyed me. I tried to remind myself that Ash had always been pretty ruthless—poisoning the emperor to get one up on Jenus, for instance. But this was the first time that it had bothered me.
“My friend’s feelings aren’t a game,” I shot back.
His eyes widened at my reply, and he put his arms up in mock-surrender.
“I’m just saying… Anyway, it’s Tejus who’s the one affected. Hazel just seemed worried about her brother.”
“I need to leave. Can you take me back?” I asked, wanting to get our parting over and done with. I knew I was being difficult, but I couldn’t seem to help it. Maybe I needed a bit of space to work out exactly what I was feeling…I was pretty sure that my irritation was a mask for something else.
“All right,” Ash said. He didn’t look at me, just opened the door again and stepped out into the hallway. He started to walk along, not once looking back to see if I was following.
“I have a meeting with Queen Trina, so I can’t go with you,” he said suddenly. “I’ll put you in a carriage though, with a guard. You’ll be fine.”
“O-Okay…” I tried to hide the hurt in my voice.
We continued walking along the hallways of the palace in silence, till we reached a marble-floored courtyard. Our silence became thicker and increasingly awkward as our footsteps echoed on the stone floor.
Ash let out a low groan.
“Ruby, don’t do this!” He spun around to face me, his face miserable. “Stay and we can look for Benedict in the other kingdoms near here—he could be anywhere! Same with Julian.”
I was tempted. I realized that I didn’t want to leave Ash. Not just because I was worried about him, but because I didn’t want to deal with Nevertide without him. But his interest in Queen Trina and her minister position had hurt my feelings—made me feel unwanted and redundant. I wanted to change my mind, but how could I justify leaving Hazel to look for Benedict and Julian by herself? And what about the kids at the castle? They had no one other than us. I had a responsibility toward them.
“I want to, Ash—I really do, but I can’t,” I replied.
“Will you come back?” he asked.
“Of course. I will—I promise. As soon as all this settles, I’ll come back.”
“All right then.” He sighed. “I just don’t want to leave you in Hellswan alone.”
“I won’t be,” I pointed out. “Hazel’s there—Jenney too.” I didn’t even bother mentioning Tejus’s name.
“Yeah, but I won’t be,” he replied softly.
“I’m tougher than I look,” I reminded him with a smile.
“That I don’t doubt, shortie.” He pulled me toward him, and I stepped gratefully into the warmth of his arms. He lowered his head and kissed me softly on the lips, nuzzling his nose against mine as he did so. I raised my arms upward, wanting to draw him closer, and he lifted me with a short laugh. Our lips met again, more forcefully this time, and I sank into his warmth, wanting to stay more than ever.
I was the first to pull back.
“Ash…”
“I know, you need to go,” he replied breathlessly. “Let me get a carriage. Wait here.”
I stood by the entrance gates to the palace, noticing for the first time how little security Queen Trina had in comparison with Hellswan. Perhaps it was because Hellswan was the seat of the emperor, but it seemed odd that any royal home would be so lax. Shrugging, I turned when I heard the sound of a bull-horse and carriage trotting across the courtyard. A lone guard rode the bull-horse. He must have been in his thirties, with a pale face that looked strangely expressionless and vacant. Ash walked next to the horse, smiling ruefully at me.
“This is Tarq, he’ll take you to Hellswan.” Ash announced.
The guard nodded in my direction, but I got the distinct impression that he wasn’t really seeing me.
“You’ll be all right,” Ash whispered, “he’s harmless.”
I nodded, still feeling a little uneasy. Not wanting to make a fuss over nothing, I smiled up at the guard in greeting and climbed into the back of the carriage.
“See you soon,” I called out the window.