Free A Trace of Moonlight by Allison Pang Page A

eat. I can’t promise us a fire tonight, but if we manage to elude detection, we may be able to chance it tomorrow.”
    I mumbled something that could have been a blessing or a curse, my eyelids drooping with weariness.
    Talivar let out a soft chuckle and set about building a primitive lean-to with what looked like a leather tarp. “Look in the saddlebags . . . I’ve got some jerky in there if you’re hungry. I’ll set up a few snares before we bed down and get us something fresh for morning.”
    My stomach rumbled and I rummaged through the outer pockets, my fingers stiff. Phineas wasn’t helping matters much, thrusting his nose directly under my hand.
    “Dude,” I hissed. “You’re getting in the way.”
    “And you’re moving too slow. Some of us would like to eat before we pass out.”
    “Go nibble some violets or something,” I snarled, swearing as the knots finally untangled enough for me to get my hand inside. A triumphant sigh escaped me when I found the jerky and I quickly passed Phineas a handful before taking a bite of my own.
    A little stiff, maybe, but I would have eaten shoe leather at that point. Another quick investigation into the bag turned up Talivar’s usual flask of whiskey, and I sent a shot or two of pure elven spirits rolling into my belly. Immediately, warmth suffused upward, a flush of heat sparking into my cheeks. “See you packed the good stuff.”
    “Well, it is our wedding night,” he said dryly, emerging from the shelter. “Can’t disappoint my bride too much.”
    “It can only go up from here,” I assured him, takinganother swig. “So what now? How much time do we have before they realize we’re gone?”
    “Midmorning,” he said after a pause, sitting down beside me. “Though I’m sure the Queen already knows. She’s not stupid . . . just bound by protocol.” His mouth crooked up. “If we had done things properly, I would have had you instated in my quarters, so I’m sure my sister will make a big production of getting that done. With any luck, it will be tomorrow afternoon before they come searching for us.”
    “Small favors,” Phineas said with a yawn. “But where the hell are we going? Can’t stay up here . . . indefinitely . . . Abby’s got things to do . . . plus . . . Maurice is still on the loosssss . . .” His voice drifted away and a moment later the unicorn was snoring.
    The prince and I exchanged a glance and he shrugged. “We’re pretty far off the beaten path right now. The nearest Door to the CrossRoads is miles away, so there shouldn’t be any surprises. Plus,” he added casually, “this is troll country. No one comes here to vacation, if you catch my meaning.”
    “Great,” I said, images of bridges and billy goats and being pulled into little bits of Ab-B-Que filling my head.
    “We’ll be okay. This time of year, they’re following their herds. Shouldn’t be too hard to avoid them, since they smell like rotting flesh.”
    “Herds of what? And ewww.”
    “Goats. Duh,” Phineas mumbled crossly, rousing. “Think maybe you two could shut up for a while? Some of us would like to get back to sleep.”
    I rolled my eyes. “By all means, hornycorn. I need to get out of these clothes anyway. I’m freezing.”
    “Hubba hubba.”
    Ignoring him, I let Talivar pull me to my feet. “Don’t suppose you’ve got an extra shirt or something in there?” I glanced toward the saddlebags hopefully. “I think I’ve got an entire pond in my boots.”
    “We’ll find something, but yes, you should get out of those things.” He cast a look to the sky. “The weather has turned. It should be a clear night.”
    I shivered, giving him a wan smile before heading toward the lean-to. I pried off my boots immediately, my toes pale and numb and wrinkled. Digging through his pack, the prince pulled out one of his extra tunics. It was long enough that I could wear it as a nightshirt, and I shucked off my wet clothes without a