brokered with the Kiltians. They had had to relocate thousands of people from what was now Kiltian lands and given them free lands elsewhere in the country. For the second autumn of peace, when it was deemed safe to travel at last, the opportunity had simply not presented itself as yet. Although she had been considering a diplomatic mission across the seas to a land called Gruman to open up peace and treaty negotiations come the spring.
Now she might never get that opportunity.
No, she thought firmly. She would not cultivate a defeatist attitude. She would get out of this somehow. She would save both her and Mariah…somehow.
Or, at the very least…one day, Sin would grow tired of her and he would send her back.
Well she was determined to make that day come as soon as possible. She would be as intractable as she knew how to be. She would drive him mad with her refusal to give in to her fate.
Raja Sin would regret the very instant he had thought to take her away from her home.
Chapter Five
Raja Sin had moved away from the carriage every time it came to a halt. He did not want to see her. He did not trust himself to see her. But as tradition dictated, he had to be in charge of this abduction. He could not simply leave it to his men. That would not be right. Besides, where would he go? Everything was already prepared for her ahead of them. All that mattered now was to bring her safely through the journey and to his home.
He knew she would become uncomfortable in the carriage. Two weeks of jouncing and jolting would wear on a body very quickly. It certainly wore on him when he was on horseback for that long. Although, the trip from Kilt to Saren was significantly shorter on horseback. Almost half as short. Almost.
He had seen to it that the cushions provided for the women were as thick and soft as could be, but that would not help much in the long run. He saw to it they stopped every so often for the women to stretch their legs if they so wished to…but the cold kept them inside the carriage more often than not. As he rode beside the carriage he reached out and touched it, warming the cold metal slowly and gently, making it warmed inside for the two women, but not so hot that they baked as if they were in an oven. He supposed Ariana could have done the same thing, but he did it all the same and wondered if she noticed. Of course she noticed. She had to be aware of the change in heat. It was in her nature to be aware of all things energy and heat and fire.
The longing for her was unbearable. Knowing she was right within reach. It was agonizing. Yet he did not approach her. Did not want her to know he was there watching over her. He didn’t know why exactly, but he wanted to keep himself apart from her until he reached his home and could have her where he wanted her.
They would stop for the night, allowing the women to stretch out on their benches inside the carriage so they could sleep without being jounced about. So that the men could camp and rest.
Sin was impatient. Sleep meant more time wasted…more time apart from his goal.
More time apart from her.
Damn it. What was this fever he was in? How could it control him so thoroughly? He had fought it…god knows he fought it. For two autumns. Since the day he had met her. Now all he could think about was that fair porcelain skin, her long white neck…her rich, velvety red hair. That color. That color that no Kiltian woman had. Hells, even Saren women with that color seemed to be extremely rare. But that hair of hers shone like a jewel, sleek and shiny and oh so tempting. His dreams had been fevered with images of his hands holding her by her hair as she did sinful things to his body.
Growing aroused in the saddle was not comfortable by any stretch of the imagination and he shifted astride his Kiltianan stallion. Known for being fast and durable, he favored the breed. Some preferred the Jilutians, but speed was all well and good…until they got tired out easily.
Now she might never get that opportunity.
No, she thought firmly. She would not cultivate a defeatist attitude. She would get out of this somehow. She would save both her and Mariah…somehow.
Or, at the very least…one day, Sin would grow tired of her and he would send her back.
Well she was determined to make that day come as soon as possible. She would be as intractable as she knew how to be. She would drive him mad with her refusal to give in to her fate.
Raja Sin would regret the very instant he had thought to take her away from her home.
Chapter Five
Raja Sin had moved away from the carriage every time it came to a halt. He did not want to see her. He did not trust himself to see her. But as tradition dictated, he had to be in charge of this abduction. He could not simply leave it to his men. That would not be right. Besides, where would he go? Everything was already prepared for her ahead of them. All that mattered now was to bring her safely through the journey and to his home.
He knew she would become uncomfortable in the carriage. Two weeks of jouncing and jolting would wear on a body very quickly. It certainly wore on him when he was on horseback for that long. Although, the trip from Kilt to Saren was significantly shorter on horseback. Almost half as short. Almost.
He had seen to it that the cushions provided for the women were as thick and soft as could be, but that would not help much in the long run. He saw to it they stopped every so often for the women to stretch their legs if they so wished to…but the cold kept them inside the carriage more often than not. As he rode beside the carriage he reached out and touched it, warming the cold metal slowly and gently, making it warmed inside for the two women, but not so hot that they baked as if they were in an oven. He supposed Ariana could have done the same thing, but he did it all the same and wondered if she noticed. Of course she noticed. She had to be aware of the change in heat. It was in her nature to be aware of all things energy and heat and fire.
The longing for her was unbearable. Knowing she was right within reach. It was agonizing. Yet he did not approach her. Did not want her to know he was there watching over her. He didn’t know why exactly, but he wanted to keep himself apart from her until he reached his home and could have her where he wanted her.
They would stop for the night, allowing the women to stretch out on their benches inside the carriage so they could sleep without being jounced about. So that the men could camp and rest.
Sin was impatient. Sleep meant more time wasted…more time apart from his goal.
More time apart from her.
Damn it. What was this fever he was in? How could it control him so thoroughly? He had fought it…god knows he fought it. For two autumns. Since the day he had met her. Now all he could think about was that fair porcelain skin, her long white neck…her rich, velvety red hair. That color. That color that no Kiltian woman had. Hells, even Saren women with that color seemed to be extremely rare. But that hair of hers shone like a jewel, sleek and shiny and oh so tempting. His dreams had been fevered with images of his hands holding her by her hair as she did sinful things to his body.
Growing aroused in the saddle was not comfortable by any stretch of the imagination and he shifted astride his Kiltianan stallion. Known for being fast and durable, he favored the breed. Some preferred the Jilutians, but speed was all well and good…until they got tired out easily.
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