SOPHIA
Nathan led the way as we hurried through the maze. Every ti we ca to a decision point, he would stop and ask, "Which way do you want to go?"
We had a fifty-fifty shot each ti to make the right choice, so I simple alternated picking directions.
Several tis, we hit a wall and had to back-track. We sotis shared walkways with other teams. Since we had already ford a team, we were relatively safe. However, Nathan wasted no ti using his paint gun to pick off unmatched hunters and prey.
The less competition we had, the better our chances at winning.
We ca upon the first puzzle about an hour into our journey.
"It’s a riddle," I said, studying the posted sign. "I am always behind you, but you can never see ."
Nathan and I looked at each other and grinned. "Back," we said together.
"We need to pick the other direction," said Nathan.
We returned to the original fork in the pathway, and headed in the opposite direction. For the next fifteen or so minutes, we simply followed the path. There weren’t any choices to be made.
"I think we’re getting closer to the center of the maze," said Nathan.
"I wonder what the prize is."
"I already have the prize," he said.
"What? Where?"
He took my hand and pulled to a stop. Smiling, he looked at tenderly. "You, Sophia. You’re the prize."
I blushed to the roots of my hair. My entire face and scalp felt like I’d dipped them in fire. "Sophia?" I teased. "You’re quite forward, sir."
"I am." He pulled into his arms and gripped my waist. "Call Nathan."
For a mont, I couldn’t get my mouth to work. I looked down, trying to get ahold of myself. "Nathan," I whispered.
"What was that?"
I lifted my head and t his gaze. "Nathan."
He put his thumb against my lip, his eyes darkening with intent. He wanted to kiss ? My heart leapt to my throat, and I pulled back. "No," I said. "We can’t. I’m not divorced yet."
"I will always wait for you, Sophia. No other woman exists for ." He released , obviously reluctant to part with . I felt the sa. Even when I thought I loved Jace, I hadn’t felt this way. Like I was on a carriage ride through hills and valleys, racing, racing, my heart aching for sothing just out of reach.
Nathan.
Duke Stonehart.
"Co, Miss Pagemoore. Let’s continue. We have a prize to win!"
***|***|***
JACE
"This maze is awful," complained Penelope behind . "The Flowerbys’ maze was much better." She grabbed the back of my jacket. "Could you slow down? My feet are killing ."
"Take off your shoes."
"And walk barefoot on this rocky ground?" She huffed in irritation. "Why are you so an to ?"
I stopped. Inhaled a deep, calming breath. Turned. "You wanted to team up with ," I said. "The only reason you can is because Duke Stonehart got to my wife first."
And I was still upset about it.
How could Sophie, who loved so much, go off with another man? I clenched my fists as I thought about Duke Stonehart hand-in-hand with my wife.
She should be with , damn it.
"I can’t breathe," said Penelope. She put her hands on her waist, rubbing her sides. "This whalebone corset keeps stabbing ." She sighed, and held out her arms. "Jace, carry ."
I looked at her as though she were insane. "In that dress? No way."
"I can’t breathe! And my feet hurt!"
"And my head hurts from all your caterwauling."
Penelope’s mouth dropped open. She pointed at . "You ... you..."
"I ... I ... what?" I glared at her, waiting for her to complain. Again.
Her eyes welled with tears. Her bottom lip trembled. "I’m sorry. I’ve been horrid, haven’t I?"
"Yes," I said. "Very."
Tears rolled down her cheeks, saring what was left of her makeup. I couldn’t help but think about the clean, clear skin of Sophia. Just the softest pink on her cheeks and lips. Those sparkling purple gems near her eyes.
My gaze traveled across Penelope’s elaborate wig, and I felt dissatisfaction curl in my gut. Compared to the soft, thick natural hair that draped Sophia’s back like a flowing silk, Penelope’s wig looked crass and ugly.
The difference between Penelope’s look and Sophia’s were miles and miles apart. It had been obvious from Sophia’s style of dress that she wasn’t wearing a corset, and she still had such a tiny waist.
A waist I might’ve been able to see and touch, along with the rest of her, if I had stayed for our wedding night.
"You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you?"
"You have no right to be jealous. We are not lovers, Penelope."
"You dare say that? You know very well my heart is with you. And until tonight, I would say yours was with . Sophia wears a skimpy dress and you sniff around her like a dog."
"Don’t say such things. She’s my wife, Penny. You are not."
"I’m your savior! I nearly died to take that arrow for you. And I am plagued by illness because of it. I’ve been by your side for more than seven years. How dare you treat so cravenly!"
Her words clawed at my heart the way they always did when she talked about how she saved . I rember the day well. She had been delivering a tray of tea to my resting place at the military camp. She saw the arrow flying toward . She dropped the tray and jumped in front of .
The arrow pierced her, very close to her heart. She collapsed in my arms, her blood staining my clothes. I carried her to the dical tent. Three doctors worked to remove the arrow and save her.
I had sworn to her, in front of witnesses, that I would care for her for the rest of her days.
I hadn’t intended for that to be a romantic promise.
After all, I was supposed to marry Sophia. Even though I had never truly liked my fiancee, I knew how important the marriage was to our families.
But...
Penelope beca a part of my life so inherent that not having her around was much like not having one of my arms.
How could I discard her so heartlessly?
"Don’t cry," I soothed, taking her into my arms. I hugged her tightly. "I owe you my life, Penny. I won’t forget my debt to you. I promise."
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