Snippet from Becoming the Outlaws of Shirewood

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“Give her to me,” he snapped. With eyes closed, she allowed her head and arms to dangle lifelessly, bouncing with the transfer from the soldier to Ravenwood’s warm embrace. It was an extreme accomplishment to keep from grinning wildly at the satisfaction of having him hold her. Fool that she was.

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“Your Grace, is the princess prone to swooning?” Major Ren grumbled. “This is the third time today.”

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“This is a lot of physical activity, Major Ren, for a…woman,” he said, sounding disgusted by the term, “who I have rarely seen exert herself beyond dinner parties and discussing ladies’ fashion.” Ellison settled her on some cool grass in the shade.

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His statement wasn’t entirely a lie, but it wasn’t entirely the truth either. Slowly, she was beginning to understand how fae could get away with half-truths.

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She couldn’t see him, but she guessed Major Ren rolled his eyes and curled his lip as he often did when she complained of being tired or hungry or thirsty—all things she brought up regularly to the utter disgust of everyone in their traveling party. Periodically, Lizzy would sniffle or slouch, but she was unfortunately placed in the saddle with one of the Guardians.

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“Perhaps you should allow one of my men to carry her,” Major Ren suggested.

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Lizzy gasped from somewhere nearby; she must have been allowed down to tend to Blakeny. Her footsteps were soft and then she was there, her cool fingers pressing against her forehead.

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“Your Grace,” Lizzy said, “she is overheated. I’ll need some water and—”

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“She can stay unconscious,” Major Ren snapped. “We cannot afford all of these stops. At this rate, we will not arrive in St. Cyr until harvest.”

“Major, you do not have the authority here as I’m sure Prince Lochley will inform you. Princess Blakeny is unwell and…likely unaccustomed to the same physical exertion as you or I. We will take our time as necessary to ensure her well-being on this trip.”

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Major Ren was silent for a moment before Blakeny heard his stomped retreat. Horses clip-clopped behind him and soon, she felt they were not being watched as closely. Slowly, she cracked open one eye then the other.

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“Wha-what happened?” she asked, still feigning her spell for anyone who might be nearby.

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To her surprise, Ellison let out a low chuckle. “You succeeded in causing Major Ren to make camp.”

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Blakeny looked around slowly, reaching her hands out for Ellison and Lizzy to help her sit up. Wearing a corset made it difficult, which added to the illusion that she was weary.

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“I wish you’d forgo wearing this contraption,” he said, tapping the boning. Her betrothed was disturbingly astute, but his forwardness shocked Lizzy once more. The poor girl gasped in surprise and if Blakeny were to turn and look at her, she knew she’d find her cheeks red. Truth be told, her own cheeks were likely flushed at the duke’s openness. The rest of her body gave a different response to his familiarity; a response she promptly ignored.

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“And I wish I had never laid eyes on you,” she retorted, raising her chin.

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He leaned his handsome face forward, a hint of humor in his eyes. “That’s not true at all, Blakeny, and we both know it.” In one smooth motion, he rose to his feet, sweeping her up in his arms as he did so. “Just as we both know you’d like to lay more than your eyes upon me.”