there, as they say. In this moment, we must worry about the queen. What does she wish from our newly acquired maiden, and should we warn the other she-warriors about Angria?”
That was indeed a puzzle that needed solving. The shapeshifter in the clearing had been sent by Angria, he didn’t doubt that. He’d tracked enough in his lifetime to know their scents, their patterns.
Yet, what could Toni possibly have that Angria wanted? Was it truly a pair of shoes he’d never heard of? Toni had said her feet had tingled just before she’d jumped on top of the dragon. But for shoes to give her such courage? It was preposterous.
But worse than these shoes, who would Angria send in next?
It was obvious she’d put a pretty pence on Toni’s head. The henchman’s appearance was no random act. This worried him far more than whatever Toni herself was hiding from everyone.
Dannan yawned, his mouth opening wide enough to fit two people inside. “We must sleep now, lad. The morrow comes swiftly and we need be alert for the sake of Toni and her bonny friends.”
Sleep. Hah. He’d hardly slept since meeting Toni. The prior night before their journey began, as he lay before the fire, hearing her soft intakes of breath, his stomach had tightened…as had other places on his body.
He’d watched the sweet rise and fall of her breasts, wished to touch the curve of her hip, the outline of her full lips.
But to do so would only complicate matters. She was from another land—one he’d decided was quite far away, and she’d want to return to it once she’d been granted her happiness by King Dick.
Still, he railed against the idea she’d leave, and it left him uncomfortable and out of his element.
It was all just silly nonsense best left for those who believed in true love’s kiss.
Of which he did not. He’d kissed maidens aplenty in his time, and none of them did to him what the legend told. He was not a believer in the tale his mother regaled him with at bedtime when he was a child.
Pushing off the tree, he fought to ignore the soft outline of Toni’s sleeping body in the tent just beyond his and followed Dannan toward their beds.
Sleep would fix all his ills, and tomorrow, he’d find out what Angria wanted with Toni, finish their journey to the castle, happily drop her off, wish her well, and go back to his quiet life at the cottage with his reindeer and his crops.
That settled, he hunkered down beneath the rough blanket and closed his eyes.
Only to find Toni’s face lurking behind his eyelids.
His sigh was grating and irritated as he turned over restlessly.
Dannan chuckled from just outside the tent. “Count sheep, lad. It helps pass the time when a lass weighs heavy on yer mind.”
“Quiet now, ogre.” Jon growled his words. “Or I’ll see your head roll then mounted at the cottage!”
His response only made Dannan laugh harder, the squeak of its tinkling lilt still, after years of friendship, leaving Jon amazed. For a man so large, his voice was sprinkled with fairy dust.
“I bid ye goodnight, Jon Doe. May yer dreams be maiden free!”
Chapter 6
T he next morning, as they rose to pack up and begin the next leg of their journey, Jon informed them that he was certain the attack yesterday was personal and aimed at Toni. He warned each of the women about the existence of Queen Angria and her evil and the possibility she wanted Toni’s shoes.
“So you think the shoes had something to do with that crazy stunt she pulled yesterday?” Marty had asked.
Jon had shaken his head. “I know not of these shoes, but there is a distinct possibility Angria desires them if they have some sort of rare gift now bestowed upon Toni simply because she wears them.”
Nina had nodded her head as though she thoroughly understood, while Marty and Wanda followed suit. “I fucking knew it. It always boils down to some shit like this. This kinda crazy I get. So don’t fret your pretty face about it, Reindeer Whisperer—we
That was indeed a puzzle that needed solving. The shapeshifter in the clearing had been sent by Angria, he didn’t doubt that. He’d tracked enough in his lifetime to know their scents, their patterns.
Yet, what could Toni possibly have that Angria wanted? Was it truly a pair of shoes he’d never heard of? Toni had said her feet had tingled just before she’d jumped on top of the dragon. But for shoes to give her such courage? It was preposterous.
But worse than these shoes, who would Angria send in next?
It was obvious she’d put a pretty pence on Toni’s head. The henchman’s appearance was no random act. This worried him far more than whatever Toni herself was hiding from everyone.
Dannan yawned, his mouth opening wide enough to fit two people inside. “We must sleep now, lad. The morrow comes swiftly and we need be alert for the sake of Toni and her bonny friends.”
Sleep. Hah. He’d hardly slept since meeting Toni. The prior night before their journey began, as he lay before the fire, hearing her soft intakes of breath, his stomach had tightened…as had other places on his body.
He’d watched the sweet rise and fall of her breasts, wished to touch the curve of her hip, the outline of her full lips.
But to do so would only complicate matters. She was from another land—one he’d decided was quite far away, and she’d want to return to it once she’d been granted her happiness by King Dick.
Still, he railed against the idea she’d leave, and it left him uncomfortable and out of his element.
It was all just silly nonsense best left for those who believed in true love’s kiss.
Of which he did not. He’d kissed maidens aplenty in his time, and none of them did to him what the legend told. He was not a believer in the tale his mother regaled him with at bedtime when he was a child.
Pushing off the tree, he fought to ignore the soft outline of Toni’s sleeping body in the tent just beyond his and followed Dannan toward their beds.
Sleep would fix all his ills, and tomorrow, he’d find out what Angria wanted with Toni, finish their journey to the castle, happily drop her off, wish her well, and go back to his quiet life at the cottage with his reindeer and his crops.
That settled, he hunkered down beneath the rough blanket and closed his eyes.
Only to find Toni’s face lurking behind his eyelids.
His sigh was grating and irritated as he turned over restlessly.
Dannan chuckled from just outside the tent. “Count sheep, lad. It helps pass the time when a lass weighs heavy on yer mind.”
“Quiet now, ogre.” Jon growled his words. “Or I’ll see your head roll then mounted at the cottage!”
His response only made Dannan laugh harder, the squeak of its tinkling lilt still, after years of friendship, leaving Jon amazed. For a man so large, his voice was sprinkled with fairy dust.
“I bid ye goodnight, Jon Doe. May yer dreams be maiden free!”
Chapter 6
T he next morning, as they rose to pack up and begin the next leg of their journey, Jon informed them that he was certain the attack yesterday was personal and aimed at Toni. He warned each of the women about the existence of Queen Angria and her evil and the possibility she wanted Toni’s shoes.
“So you think the shoes had something to do with that crazy stunt she pulled yesterday?” Marty had asked.
Jon had shaken his head. “I know not of these shoes, but there is a distinct possibility Angria desires them if they have some sort of rare gift now bestowed upon Toni simply because she wears them.”
Nina had nodded her head as though she thoroughly understood, while Marty and Wanda followed suit. “I fucking knew it. It always boils down to some shit like this. This kinda crazy I get. So don’t fret your pretty face about it, Reindeer Whisperer—we
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