"Men are the same in every world," I stifle a giggle. "Besides you all sleep on the ground. This seems like a palace after that," I add. "So why meet at the Red Knight's, if he goes around defiling everyone's witch?"

"He normally refrains from taking sides with any of us. He is usually an honest mediator," the Shadow Knight replied.

By the note in the Shadow Knight's voice, he's already ruled the Red Knight out as an ally anymore. He pulls the horse to a halt, and we wait. Moments later, a familiar form in a long, red cloak appears from behind a thick wooden door.

The Shadow Knight growls at the sight of the blond knight, a purely animal sound.

"You'll take care to inquire quickly," he says to Wolfie.

"Aye." Wolfie dismounts and leads his horse away.

"Maybe it's not what you think," I say quietly, watching the Red Knight approach us with a confident smile on his face, as if he's going to play this off like nothing happened.

"You are quick to defend the betrayer." The Shadow Knight isn't happy.

"You are just as quick to assume the worst about a man who is going to be your brother by marriage soon."

"I preferred you when you were laughing madly."

"Maybe if you didn't randomly declare war on everyone, you'd find some people aren't that bad!"

"'Tis not random, witch. Were you a normal woman . . ."

"You'd sell me. I know." What an asshole.

Pissed at me, the Shadow Knight dismounts and takes the reins as he moves to meet the Red Knight. The horse starts prancing nervously and I hang onto the saddle.

The exchange between him and the Red Knight is curt and brief. The Red Knight wisely doesn't look at me, as if suspecting he's already in trouble with the Shadow Knight who has no qualms about lopping off body parts to prove a point.

The Shadow Knight drops the reins and starts back towards me. Before he can drag me off the horse, I slide off on my own and groan.

My god my legs have never hurt like this. I don't think I can walk straight and am grateful for the dress that prevents people from seeing the fact I can't hold my legs together. They're quivering and burning, my ass hurting from the uncomfortable travel.

"How can you ride around like this?" I grumble at the Shadow Knight.

Ignoring me, he reaches over one of my shoulders to grip the pommel of the saddle and nudges me aside to reach the saddlebags. Trapped between his thick arms with his wide chest close enough to touch if I'm not perfectly still, I can't tell if I'm going to stop breathing or hyperventilate. His scent and warmth affect me too quickly, and I work hard to suppress the fire in my system.

I don't dare look at him when he's this close and wait silently for him to finish. He's not remotely aware of what's going through my mind or the tremor of anticipation heating my blood.

He stops moving. When he doesn't start immediately, I look up to see he's gazing down at me.

Or . . . Maybe he's very aware of his effect on women.

As if hearing the thought, amusement warms his eyes briefly. "Come, witch." Slinging a satchel over his head, he stalks away.

I release the breath I've been holding, pull the messenger bird off the horse's mane and follow.

The sun is going down. It's suddenly darker. Looking up at the dusky sky in annoyance, I make a mental note to send LF an email when I get home and tell her to get a grip on her concept of time.

We walk into the hold, and my attention is instantly arrested by the incredible scene before me. It's almost like going back in time: servants in white scurry around in a foyer with a ceiling thirty feet high. The wooden beams supporting the stone structure are visible and a wrought-iron chandelier holding blazing torches hangs from one of them. There are torches ensconced on the walls as well and one of the three doors of the foyer is open to reveal a great hall with some combination of herbs lining the floor. A monstrous table stretches the length of the banquet hall. Burning hearths punctuate the wall every fifteen feet or so.

I smell mint and . . . basil. Comforting, refreshing scents that make my stomach growl more loudly.

Where the fourth wall would be is a hallway four people wide and twenty feet tall that leads into the interior of the fortress.

Breathing deeply, I turn around completely to take in the scene, loving this place. I mean, who doesn't want a castle? I knew the Red Knight had something good going for him.

Except for keeping a poor kid prisoner and accepting bribes from the Shadow Knight's enemy. Then again, who am I to take sides?

"The Shadow Knight will not be pleased that you do not follow him."

I turn to face the Red Knight. He's keeping his distance, but he's got a look on his face that says he's as interested in talking to me as I am him.

New start. No more cowering wallflower for me.

"He'll get over it," I proclaim.

The Red Knight says nothing. He appears to be trying not to smile.

"Hey, can we talk?" I ask, closing the distance between us. "I have some more questions."

His blue gaze is on the hallway, as if he doesn't want to get caught talking to me. "We may. I have questions for you as well."

"Hmmm. Okay. I guess that's fair." I find myself momentarily caught in gazing at his noble, chiseled profile and hoping he's not the Betrayer. He's a pretty boy compared to the Shadow Knight, and I'm not sure two more handsome men exist. "When and where?"

Blue eyes settle on me, wary yet amused. "Two candlemarks, by the well at the center of the gardens."

Candlemark. It's gotta be a measure of time. Except I'm not really sure how long that is.

At my blank look, the Red Knight allows a small smile to slip. "I shall send someone to find you."

"That'll work," I reply. "I better go for now. Shadow likes to use his axe on people."

"Indeed. It would be wise if you did not tell him about our plans."

"Got it." With a smile, I turn away and start down the hallway.

I don't see the Shadow Knight but assume he'll find me when he realizes I'm not following.

"Battle-witch!" It's my squire and he sounds frantic.

Facing him, I wait as he emerges from the intersection I just passed and hurries to me.

"You should not wander off!" he chides me. "The knights here will do terrible things to you, if they catch you! You'll be -"

"Deflowered and beheaded. I know." I roll my eyes. "C'mon. Take me to wherever I'm supposed to be."

The poor kid rarely interacts with me without ending up confused or uncertain. He takes my hand and tugs me down an adjacent hallway. I don't know how he knows his way around. I'm soon lost. The hold is a maze of hallways, stairs, and closed wooden doors that all look alike. There are no windows to help me orient myself. For all I know, he's taking me in circles.

We arrive to a hallway that looks like every other one, except it has a dead end. One of the doors is cracked and the squire pushes it open.

The bedchamber is more impressive than the foyer. There are thick rugs in jewel-toned colors covering the stone floor and lining the walls, a huge hearth taller than I am on one side, a four-poster bed that's at least twice as large as a California King, numerous trunks and wardrobes, a dining area by the corner nearest the door, and a bench seat beneath the windows.

"This is gorgeous!" I exclaim, walking to the bed. It feels like a real mattress and I fling my sore, aching body across it, sinking into it with a sigh. It's plush and the blankets a bit itchy. They smell like horses. Pretty much everything in this world does, I'm noticing. But I don't care. I curl up on my side and relax my unhappy body.

"Witch!" the Shadow Knight snaps.

"Can you leave me in peace for two seconds? Please?" I groan.

There's a moment of quiet and then, "Very well. Do not leave this chamber."

Thank god. I say nothing.

The door closes behind him and I lay still. I'd give anything for a bath or maybe some Icy Hot. I wonder if it's possible for my ass to be broken; moving even a little bit makes me wince. I have enough padding down there that a day on a horse shouldn't faze me.

"Are you hungry?" the squire asks.

"Starving."

"Shall I fetch you supper?"

I lift my head. "You'd do that?"

He nods.

"That'd be amazing. Thanks."

The kid leaves.

After a good five minutes, I sit up with a grimace. I check my hand, hoping to find a note there from LF with instructions on how to get out of here. There's nothing, aside from the countdown, and I stand and do some stretches to loosen up my miserable body.

A knock draws me towards the door and I open it, expecting the kid.

"M'lady." A man with a white tree on his black tunic bows. "The Red Knight will see you, if you are available."

"I am." Interested in what the Red Knight can tell me, I hesitate only for a moment to consider what the Shadow Knight might want me to do.

No. I'm strong enough to make my own decisions and apparently, magical enough to flatten full-grown men into pancakes. I'm no longer waiting for permission from someone else to do what I want to.

Take that, Jason!

The messenger leads me through the maze of a hold. Torches light the hallways cheerfully and provide a source of warmth. It doesn't seem like we go far despite the many turns and he opens a door leading into a garden lined by torches. Dark hedges line cobblestone pathways leading toward a black splotch I assume is a pond in the middle of the small garden. Benches squat beneath trimmed trees and I can smell flowers without seeing them.

A form near the pond stands and I wade through the well-maintained foliage towards him. The Red Knight stands beside a low table with a pitcher and two chunky goblets on the tray.

I approach and glance at the still pond. It reflects the stars and moon, rippling in a breeze too light for me to feel. It's chilly in the garden but also peaceful.

"Wine?" he asks, motioning me to sit.

I hesitate. In the real world, it's not a good idea to accept a drink from a man you're pretty sure you can't trust. I can't think he wants to do me harm or he would've killed me instead of offering wine the first time we met. I know enough about him and this place that I'm tempted to pass.

But come on this is wine.

"Sure," I reply and sit. Had to be stone. I wince, my butt too sore for me to sit in one spot long.

He pours then pinches and sprinkles something into it from a low, ceramic bowl.

"What is that?" I ask.

"Herbs to enhance the drink." He puts some in his as well, so I assume they're not going to kill me.

I pick up the goblet. Before it reaches my lips, I can smell vanilla and maybe cinnamon. Their faint, familiar scents reassure me, and I take a drink. The wine is dry and tart.

"How is he treating you?" the Red Knight begins, sipping his wine.

"Good. Battle is rough."

"He has shown a certain level of restraint I find intriguing."

Restraint? Really?

"He has not decided to keep you. Not the witch he expected?"

I lower my goblet, uneasiness stirring. There's a political aspect to this meeting I didn't expect. I'm not about to give the Red Knight information that might embarrass or hinder the operations of the Shadow Knight. I'm quiet, thinking of a response that won't shut the door on anything the Red Knight might be able to tell me, but will also derail this line of discussion.

"He has not performed the traditional ritual between a Knight and his battle-witch. You have failed him somehow?"

Don't. React. I'm gritting my teeth. I hate, hate the sense of feeling like I'm not good enough.

"It has the others talking as well."

"What ritual?" Dread flutters through me even as I ask the question.

The Red Knight's face is hard to read in the starlight. I wonder if he chose this place on purpose because it would be more difficult for me to read his expressions.

"Wait," I say quickly, aware he's drawn me into something I'm not here to discuss. "I don't want to know. I wanted to talk to you about a couple other things."

"Very well. But first, how do my sisters fare?"

"Great, I think. I haven't seen them much."

"My eldest sister is not yet bonded?"

I hold up my hands. "Totally not my place to say."

"This is concerning." He gazes off into the distance.

"Maybe they're not ready. Better they take their time then bond in haste, isn't it?"