The Duke and the Dryad (Elemental Series) by Elizabeth Rose

done wrong? He seemed to have wanted her just as much as she’d wanted him earlier. But yet, he kept his distance. She’d always felt so alone her entire life, and this wasn’t any different. That’s why she’d joined the Druids, for a sense of belonging. But even tho she was at the lord’s castle with people everywhere she went, she felt so alone she could think of naught but getting back to the forest where she’d at least have the company of the animals, the plants and the trees. She couldn’t stay here tonight and in his bed. ’Twould only keep her awake all night wondering about what almost happened. She would wait until the castle’s occupants retired for the evening. Then she would sneak out and go back home.

Chapter 4
     
     
    Wolfe awoke early as always, feeling antsy and needing to ride. His head pounded from drinking too much ale with his soldiers and from lack of sleep after staying awake most the night.
    ’Twas still dark out, and not even the servants yet stirred. He pushed up from the wooden bench that had served as his bed, now regretting he’d told Rae to take his soft pallet stuffed with downy feathers , the bed of a noble - and in his private solar. Instead, he - a duke - was sleeping on hard wood with no pallet - the bed of a servant instead. What the hell was happening to him lately?
    He brushed off the rushes covering his legs , being quiet so as not to awaken the rest of the inhabitants sleeping in the hall. He’d fallen from the bench more than once during the night while trying to get comfortable. He stood and stretched his stiff legs and back.
    The little sleep he did get was far from comforting.
    He’d been haunted by the cat-like green eyes of his earth sprite now occupying his bed while he slept with the lower class and tried to ignore the rats scurrying through the shadows looking for scraps of leftover food.
    He thought of going to his solar right now, reclaiming his bed and the girl as well, but changed his mind quickly. She was c ontrolling his thoughts somehow. She had to be. He’d never been this smitten with anyone and especially since he didn’t even really know her. He needed to ride the moors in the moonlight and think. Mayhap the wind through his hair would help him clear his cluttered mind.
    He made his way to the stables, an d not wanting to wake the stable boy, he saddled his horse by himself. Then he mounted the steed the headed for the castle gate. He stopped just outside the gatehouse waiting to be acknowledged.
    “Lord Wolf e?” came the voice of Sir Braden. “Is that you?”
    “Open the gate, Sir Braden, I am going riding.”
    “At this time of night?” came the man’s question.
    “Open the gate and lower the draw bridge and quit asking questions.”
    “Of course, my lord.”
    Two men ran out from the gatehouse, pulling open the heavy wood en doors that added as extra defense against attackers. Then the portcullis was raised. The chains rattled as the squeak of the windlass being turned, lowered the heavy wooden bridge, awaiting his crossing. Once over the bridge, he’d have to pass through the barbican and yet another gate before he could ride freely. There was no way in hell the dryad brought his bull through here with no one noticing. She’d lied, and that upset him greatly. Curiosity also ate away at him, wondering how she’d really accomplished the task.
    “Leave the drawbridge down but lower the gate for protection until my return.
    “Aye, Lord Wolfe.”
    The sound of the heavy metal -encased gate as it lowered, echoed through the night. He galloped his steed across the bridge and through the barbican and took off at a good clip through the dark, heading for the moors.
     
    * * *
     
    Rae trudged through the forest, holding up her gown, full of energy now that she was back in nature. She’d discarded her shoes along the way, reveling in the feel of the earth beneath her bare feet. It didn’t phase her that she’d been walking most the night