Free Hidden Darkness (Hidden Saga Book 4) by Amy Patrick Page B

steady me as I put my feet on the ground. “Okay—if that’s what you want. I’ll walk you home.”
    It wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted him to talk me out of it—to ask me to stay with him. He didn’t even try to talk me out of it. Now the little hurt morphed into a big one.
    “No. I’ll be fine. That would take too long. You should be getting back to your duties—I know you have a lot to do before tonight.”
    He cocked his head, narrowing his eyes as he examined my face. “Is everything okay?”
    “Sure. It’s great,” My clipped tone said it was anything but great. “I just have homework I put off and a test to study for. I haven’t exactly been focused on school this semester—I need to put in a little more effort. And I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”
    “Ryann.” Lad gathered me against him and kissed the top of my head. His love flowed around me like the heat from his unnaturally warm body. “I wish I could spend all my time with you. I do want you to do well in school, though—I know it’s important to you. And I don’t mind walking you home—really. I want to.”
    The knot in my stomach relaxed a bit. This was the Lad I knew and loved. I was ridiculous for being so mental. My vow to let go of the past and trust more wasn’t starting off so hot. I blew out a long slow breath, mindfully releasing the tension I’d allowed to build in my body.
    “No, it’s okay,” I said. “It’s broad daylight, and you probably do need to get back—I’m just greedy when it comes to you. I’ll be fine.”
    He studied my face for a moment. “Okay. I like you greedy, by the way.” He kissed me—a brief, sweet connection. “I’ll see you soon, right? After school tomorrow?”
    “Of course. Have a good time wining and dining the fashion twins.”
    “Who?”
    “Ava and Culley? Your new ambassador and her fiancé? They’re models—you know—fashion?”
    “Oh, right.” He chuckled to himself. “Fine host I am—I almost forgot he came along. Isn’t that weird?”
    It was weird. Very weird.
    Was Lad so focused on Ava that her betrothed was a non-factor to him? A bright, piercing panic shot through my heart like a surgical laser. All the tension zoomed right back in, locking my limbs.
    “Lad… what is Ava’s glamour?”
    “I don’t know. I asked, but she didn’t want to talk about it. She said it was ‘embarrassing.’ Why?”
    “Just curious.” 
    That wasn’t exactly true. I wasn’t just curious. I was also suspicious. Especially knowing she was reluctant to discuss her “embarrassing” glamour. I’d seen sexual glamour up close—I knew how powerful it could be.
    I could only pray that wasn’t the special gift of Lad’s special guest. Or if it was, that he had the strength to resist it.

Chapter Ten
Ryann
 
     
     
     
     
    Instead of going straight home, I made a detour to Lad’s nest hideaway. Hopefully he wouldn’t also decide to stop by and catch me here.
    Fingers trembling, I reached for the first branch, hoisted myself up, and began climbing. Of course I shouldn’t have been snooping but I couldn’t help myself. This was the place Lad kept things that were important to him—things he didn’t want others to know about. Maybe there would be some sort of clue here about his current mindset. If there was something I needed to know—even if it was potentially devastating—better to find out before the wedding rather than after we were bonded.
    My heart thumped heavily as I reached the nest and crawled across to the ancient chest where Lad stored his prized possessions. I unlatched it but hesitated for a moment before lifting the heavy lid, letting my hands rest on its warm, age-smoothed surface.
    It’s wrong. Just stop, Ryann. Trust him. Trust what you have together.
    Unfortunately, trust was not my strongest attribute. Maybe it was part of my Dark Elven nature. Maybe it was the residual effect of my parents’ breakup and my past heartbreak at Lad’s