Chapter 6

I woke up with the sunlight burning my face. When I opened my eyes, I saw that I was sitting on the commander's horse, his strong arms around me as he guided the animal along a road.

"Glad you're awake, princess," he said behind me.

"Where are we going?"

"To the palace, of course. Don't worry, no one knows you ran away. Your sister-in-law, Queen Hera, found your letter and sealed off the floor where your room is, saying that you had caught a highly contagious virus and that only her maid would be allowed to take care of you. Of course, when Dimitri disappeared, I assumed he had kidnapped you, and that was confirmed when I saw the queen's personal guards receiving secret orders to conduct a search outside the palace."

So Hera had covered everything up... I didn't like her, but her clever actions had spared me the great humiliation of having to return.

Then something bothered me.

"What did he do to me? He pricked my thumb at the back of my neck, and ever since then, I haven't been able to resist him."

"Dimitri was born with what we call the Serpent's Gift. His body produces a powerful venom that influences the will of others. All he has to do is prick some part of a person's body with his thumb, and his venom is injected."

"How the hell is that possible?"

He stopped the horse near a river and jumped down. Then he turned toward me and extended his hand to help me down. I landed on the grass and looked into his dark eyes.

"Why did we stop?"

"We still have a long way to go before we reach the royal castle. Perhaps you'd like to take a bath."

I immediately blushed. I had gone several days without bathing, wandering through the forest with that bastard Dimitri. My dress was covered in mud and torn in several places, my hair was completely disheveled, and I certainly didn't need a mirror to know that my face didn't look any better than my clothes.

"I brought this dress that I bought along the way. I think it'll fit you." John Chase handed me a piece of fabric. The stitching was simple, a peasant dress, and even so, it was much better than what I was wearing.

I was very grateful to him, but I didn't thank him aloud.

He pointed toward the river, and I followed the direction he indicated. When I started walking down a trail, I heard the sound of running water, but when I looked back, I saw the commander following me.

"What do you think you're doing?"

He looked at me as if the answer were obvious.

"You can't watch me bathe!" I protested.

He laughed and raised his hands.

"I'm not some pervert, princess. It's for your own protection. There are dangerous animals in these woods."

"The only dangerous animal in these woods is you, Commander," I retorted.

When I said that, he stared at me and seemed impressed. His expression became more amused, and he took a few steps toward me.

"All the more reason to want me close, if I'm really that dangerous," he said when he was only a few inches away from me, his gaze fixed on mine.

Our faces were far too close. When he spoke, I could feel his warm breath against my face. His eyes were black as onyx, and all of it made my heart race. I saw that familiar crooked smile appear on his face once again.

"I know how to take care of myself," I retorted and turned my back to him, but his hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back toward him, making me collide with his solid chest. This time, my heart raced even faster, and my breathing quickened as well.

"You're very bold, princess. But your honor isn't in danger with me, at least not today," the commander said, his face only inches from mine.

His gaze was fixed on my mouth, and my eyes fell to his in turn. His lips were perfect.

I remained frozen in his arms as he held me captive with that gaze, until I finally managed to shake off my daze and challenge his words.

"My honor? And how do you know that such honor still exists?" I planted the doubt.

He smiled and lowered his face toward my neck, inhaling my scent. My entire body froze at the unexpected gesture. What the hell was he doing?

"Dirty, but not dirty with him," he murmured against my neck.

I shoved him hard.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

"It means I know your honor is intact, so stop trying to play games with me."

I stared at him, and what I saw in his eyes was a man determined to stay by my side. I desperately needed a bath, and now my only alternative was to give in to him and trust that my honor really was safe, at least today.

I huffed, feeling defeated, and turned back toward the trail that led to the stream.

When we reached the stream, the commander kept a respectful distance from me. When I looked into his eyes before taking off my clothes, he nodded and turned his back.

I spent several long minutes watching him to make sure he wouldn't turn around. He didn't move an inch. Even though I still didn't feel safe enough, I leaned down and removed my dirty dress, walked into the stream, and the cold water was a blessing after the scorching sun on the road. I plunged into the water, soaking my dirty hair.

As I swam, I thought about the madness my life had become since this damn tournament began, and a fact I hadn't paid attention to until then suddenly occurred to me.

There was no tournament anymore. Dimitri had withdrawn, and John would be declared the winner...

I emerged from the water and looked in his direction, his back still turned toward me. I would have to marry the man who had killed Cristhofer...

That seemed so wrong... in so many ways.

But even I had to admit that he had saved me from Dimitri. The commander was a frightening man, but he seemed to follow some kind of code of honor, whereas Dimitri certainly followed his own desires... and in men, that was something very dangerous.