Page 49 of A Spark So Bright
"The same betrayer told you that?"
She nodded.
Magnus sucked his teeth in before tilting his head to the side in acknowledgment. "Interesting."
Gunnar stepped between them, and all she could see was the broad expanse of his back. His shirt was darkened with sweat, and, oddly, she wasn't sure she'd ever seen him sweat before.
"We have to get going," Gunnar snarled. "You seem to have arrived without a pack."
"Well, I was planning on traveling by caravan. Thus, there is much for me to have in those wagons but very little to carry." Magnus stretched his arms over his head, revealing a line of dark gray skin and a V of muscle that disappeared into the waistband of his pants. "But, from what I am used to, if someone is sent to gather me then they should have prepared to have me on their trip. Yes?"
Gunnar grumbled something under his breath, and Magnus passed by him with a slap on the shoulder.
This was going to be interesting. Very, very interesting.
Gunnar did not like this prince at all, and she had to wonder why. Magnus had done nothing particularly strange to her. He'deven noticed she didn't enjoy being touched, and that should have been something Gunnar had seen as well. It was a good thing. The prince had been... Well, not kind thus far, but he was a very intriguing character to add to this adventure.
Stepping closer to her, Gunnar murmured under his breath, "You keep an eye on him. I don't trust him."
She looked up into his features, seeing the creasing of his brow and how he never quite took his eyes off Magnus as the prince meandered somewhat in the right direction. Then asked, "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why don't you trust him?"
Apparently, the question was an odd one. Gunnar blinked a few times, the anger clearing from his gaze as he looked down at her. "Because I don't like the way he looks at you."
Then he walked away from her. He headed after the prince, all broad shoulders and bulging muscles, stalking like he was hunting someone he wanted to bludgeon to death.
It occurred to Rose that maybe her feet were rooted to the ground because she was surprised at how much she liked hearing that Gunnar was a little jealous. Overprotective. Just like he always was. Even this new version of herself hadn't shaken him from wanting to take care of her, and that was reassuring.
Taking a deep breath, she headed after the trolls into the forest beyond.
Their journey was significantly slower with Magnus. The troll prince did not enjoy putting in any sort of hard labor. Walking around meant he complained about literally everything. His feet hurt. The pace was far too fast for him to admire the forest. Did they think that it was normal for him to not have water yet?
But the more she watched him, the more she realized this was a show he was putting on. Magnus was goading Gunnar. Hewas trying to get the other troll to do... something. She just didn't know what.
Magnus leaned dramatically against a tree branch as the sun started to rise, sighing as though he were some thespian in a play. "I truly cannot go any farther."
"I am looking for a campsite that is safe," Gunnar hissed through his tusks. "Why don't you rest your delicate feet and I'll come get you when I find it?"
"That would be perfect, Father's warrior." Magnus had started calling him that. Likely because it made Gunnar grind his teeth together.
An angry huff of breath exploded from Gunnar before he turned into the trees. "Rose. Come with me."
She was curious, though. It was a new emotion that she hadn't felt in a while, and she also suspected that she was right about why this prince was so pompous. So instead of following alongside Gunnar like the dutiful little pet she had been for many months, she said, "I think I'm going to stay here with the prince."
He looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. And maybe she had. Rose was with an unfamiliar male in a dark forest where anything could happen. If Gunnar strayed too far, he wouldn't be able to save her.
She stared back at him. Willing him to leave and give her this chance to prove that she wasn't as broken as he thought.
Gunnar gave her one sharp nod before melting into the shadows.
The prince's ears flicked, moving slowly until finally he turned to her with a gleeful expression. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Why are you taunting him?"
"Because it's fun."
