Ileus: The Dark Prince

After a moment's pause, she heard Kaizan saying, "We have made it this far, Finn in spite of the weather and I am sure that we will reach Silver Vales by evening. Ask the men to start winding up. You know that staying at an inn would be dangerous as of now." 

Ever since the attack on them and ever since the rogue had told her that there was a heavy price on her head, Olivia was wary of staying anywhere. What Kaizan told Finn made sense. She blinked her eyes open. When she saw Kaizan's silhouette through the tent, a pale blush rose on her cheeks as she remembered the last night. 

"I know, m'lord." Finn crossed his arms. "There is a lot of danger but horses would need rest and I am sure so would your wife." There was so much sincerity in his voice that Olivia found it hard to believe that anyone in the group would have empathy towards her. 

"We will see to it, Finn!" Kaizan replied with a sigh. 

Kaizan strolled towards their tent and she got up from there. As he lifted the flap of the tent, he said, "Are you ready to leave?" 

"Yes!" she nodded. She found him staring at her with his hazel eyes in an odd way and her skin prickled. She thought that a furnace had generated inside her body, otherwise how could she feel so hot? She bit her lip thinking why was she blushing at what seemed like a harmless embrace. Suddenly she wondered that he must have embraced her out of his duty. And that keeping her safe was part of the treaty. Her mood plummeted. 

"We will be leaving in less than an hour," he said and then closed the flap and went back to his people. 

Her thoughts scattered everywhere. She didn't know what to say, so she spent the time getting ready for the journey ahead. How was it going to be? She was sure that she wouldn't be welcomed by people at Silver Vales. After all, she was the daughter of their enemy whose brother was killed in a battle with them. She exhaled heavily as she combed her hair and braided them. Tears stung her eyes at the sorrow that pierced her heart. Luke would have accompanied her in the journey to Silver Vales. Luke was… Gods, she missed her older brother a lot. 

Olivia was not sure how Kaizan would act with her. She was so confused about and conflicted in her emotions that she was sure he too was going to be the same. 

After getting dressed in tight breeches and a full sleeves tunic with her sweater, she came out. Her dagger was strapped to her belt. She found Kaizan holding the breastplate for her. She just didn't want to wear it. It was heavy and made for men. But Kaizan insisted that she wear it. When he strapped her in it, her embarrassment returned. She was anything but comforted when his fingers brushed her body. He made her sit on her horse when everyone in the group had packed. 

They all rode as they fell into a line of two. He was beside her and her cheeks stung with a cold wind that brushed past her as they traveled through the pine covered forest, the leaves of which were covered with crystals of ice. 

They had reached the southern borders of the Northern Mountains, very far from the Whiteclaw pack. Here the trees were less dense and there was more light filtering through them on the ground. Though it did nothing to the chill that surrounded them. 

She found herself glancing at her new husband. His brown hair was so sexily tousled and his cheeks had a stubble worth two days. He looked ruggedly handsome. He sat on his horse straight and she wondered how it would be to sit in front of him. And as soon as she thought that a light rumble vibrated his chest. 

Kaizan took his horse near her and asked, "Are you okay? Do you want to rest?" And Olivia pursed her lips berating herself mentally for having wayward thoughts. How could she think that she would share his ride when she was the daughter of his enemy? The thought made her gloomy. She shook her head. "I am fine." 

Soon, soft flurries started falling and a blanket of white soon formed over the dirt road and the trees beside them. She started shivering uncontrollably. Kaizan brought his horse near her. "I think you are very cold," he said as he narrowed his stare at her. 

"I—I—I— 'm not!" she said through chattering teeth. 

The next moment, he held the reins of her horse to halt it. He halted beside her, making the entire cavalry stop in front of him and behind him. Then he bent towards her, slid his hand across her waist and in one swift motion made her sit in front of him. "Kaizan!" she gasped. 

"What?" he asked as he took a cloak from one of the servants whom he had mind linked with to get it, and made her wear it after pulling out her breastplate. The servant was still standing there with gloves in his hands. "Wear these too." When she wore them, he pulled her hood over her head. "This should take care of you." He nodded at the servant and then they all started. 

Olivia could hear snorts and chuckles from men around her and she lowered her gaze to the mane of Kaizan's horse, a fine stallion, as if that was the most interesting thing in the world. 

As they started, she asked, "How much longer through this forest?" 

"We will reach by nightfall," he murmured. He wrapped his arms around her and she became stiff. 

"You can relax," he said in a hoarse voice, seeing her stiffness. Olivia's breath was ragged. She was anything but relaxed.. Only a few moments back she wondered what it would be to be cradled between his thighs on his horse.