Chapter A Soul of Ash and Blood: A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT

“I know you’re anxious to get out of here,” I murmured to Setti, my gaze not on the steed but her. “But it won’t be too much longer.”

Poppy stood at the Rise, a cool morning breeze toying with the wisps of hair at her temples.

She was unveiled.

And she clearly reveled in the sensation of the sun and wind against her skin. Her head was tipped back, her eyes closed, and a soft smile appeared on her mouth. It made me wonder when the sun had last kissed the skin of her cheeks or brow. Likely years. This was a significant moment for her.

I didn’t want to rush her, but the others would be joining us soon. So, I got my ass moving, leading Setti to her side. “You look like you’re enjoying yourself.”

Poppy’s eyes opened as she angled her body toward mine. I didn’t know if she was still angry with me over my refusal to allow Tawny to accompany her. If she was, I didn’t hold it against her. Tawny was her friend, and she needed her, but I was doing them both a huge favor by ensuring that Tawny did not accompany her.

But the longer Poppy stared at me, I didn’t think she was holding it against me. The tips of her cheeks pinkened as her gaze moved over me, her focus seeming to get a little hung up on the stretch of the tunic across my chest, and the brown breeches I wore.

I raised a brow, waiting for her to finish checking me out. Not that I was complaining. I liked that she did.

Her gaze lifted to mine. “It feels nice.”

“For the air to touch your face?”

Poppy nodded.

“I can only imagine that it does,” I said. “I much prefer this version.”

She bit her lip as her attention shifted to the black steed. She rubbed the side of Setti’s nose. “He’s beautiful. Does he have a name?”

“Been told it’s Setti,” I said, unable to tell her that I’d chosen the name and raised him from a colt.

“Named after Theon’s warhorse?” Her lips curved up as Setti nudged her hand, always looking for attention. “He has big hooves to fill.”

“That he does,” I replied. “I’m assuming you can’t ride a horse.”

She shook her head. “I haven’t been on one since…” Her smile grew. “Gods, it was three years ago. Tawny and I snuck out to the stables and managed to climb on one before Vikter arrived.” The smile vanished as she dropped her hand and moved back. “So, no, I can’t ride.”

“This will be intriguing,” I said, seeking to distract her from the pain associated with Vikter’s name. “And torturous since you’ll be riding with me.”

Poppy tipped her head to mine. “And why is that intriguing? And torturous?”

I grinned. “Besides the fact that it will allow me to keep a very close eye on you? Use your imagination, Princess.”

Her brow knitted and then smoothed. “That’s inappropriate,” she muttered, proving she had a damn fine imagination.

“Is it?” I dipped my chin. “You’re not the Maiden out here,” I told her. “You’re Poppy, unveiled and unburdened.”

Those stunning green eyes lifted to mine once more. “And what of when I arrive at the capital? I will become the Maiden once more.”

“But that’s neither today nor tomorrow.” I turned back to one of the saddlebags. “I brought something for you.”

She waited a bit impatiently, trying to peer around me as I pushed aside extra clothing. Finding what I was searching for, I worked it free and quickly unraveled the cloth I’d wrapped it in.

“My dagger,” she gasped. “I thought…I thought it was lost.”

“I found it later that night,” I shared. “I didn’t want to give it to you when I had to worry about you running off and using it, but you’ll need it for this trip.”

“I don’t know what to say.” She cleared her throat, drawing my gaze to hers as I handed the dagger and sheath over. Her eyes were damp, and her fingers trembled slightly as she grasped the hilt. “Vikter gave me this on my sixteenth birthday. It’s been my favorite.”

I wasn’t surprised to hear that it had been a gift from Vikter. “It’s a beautiful weapon.”

She nodded, turning slightly as she parted the folds of her cloak, giving me a brief glimpse of the breeches she wore as she secured the dagger to her right thigh.

Breeches.

She was wearing nice tight breeches. My gut clenched. It wasn’t that I was surprised. There was no way she could wear a gown out on the roads we’d be traveling, but I hadn’t thought about how she would be wearing something that would reveal every lush curve of her body.

This would be a very intriguing trip.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I nodded, turning at the sound of the others. “The party has arrived.”

Poppy followed my gaze, stepping closer to me in a way I wasn’t sure she was aware of as I introduced her to them. None met her stare as they greeted her, but as soon as I moved onto another, their gazes lifted, and every single one of their features immediately filled with either awe or surprise. None of them had seen the Maiden unveiled before, and they now saw what had always been beneath that veil.

A beautiful young lady.

My eyes narrowed on brown-haired Airrick, the youngest of the guards tasked with escorting her. He stared in open-mouthed wonderment, like a godsdamn fish out of water.

Jaw ticking, I turned to the final member of the group. “This is Kieran,” I announced. The wolven slid me a quick sideways look. “He came from the capital with me and is familiar with the road we must travel.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Kieran said as he mounted his horse.

“Same.” Poppy’s head tilted slightly as she looked up at him.

Kieran’s attention lingered on her for a moment, his expression appearing blank to anyone who didn’t know him. But I did. I caught the slight widening of his eyes and the faint upcurve of one side of his lips. He, too, was now finally seeing her.

“We need to be on our way,” he said. “If we have any hope of crossing the plains by nightfall.”

“Ready?” I asked Poppy.

She glanced past us toward the center of Masadonia and the castle she’d called home for the last several years. Where her friend Tawny and all her most recent memories—the good and the bad—remained. And I was struck again by how enormous this moment was for her. She truly was leaving the city not as the Maiden but as Penellaphe Balfour.

As Poppy.