"Mm," Rhane groaned, leaning closer. He inhaled the soft scent of something fruity and oceanic at the same time. So delicate, like a citrus scent filling the cold sea air.
Batting his lashes once and again, Rhane opened his eyes. As suspected, in his arms Jenna rested peacefully, her soft hum filling the room while she slept so deeply.
Feeling the side of his head ache, Rhane adjusted but gently so he wouldn't wake the sleeping beauty in his arms. Earlier, after he'd noticed that Jenna was suspecting him, he waited around to see what she would do and, to his surprise, she chose to get him drunk.
It had been difficult for Rhane to keep up character while being intoxicated, so he chose to speak slow and short, and when he could no longer control it, he passed out.
"Mm," Rhane rubbed his forehead and sat up, placing Jenna's head on the stacked-up bag used as a pillow. He quietly left the tent.
The smell had already colored the innocent sky with warm hues of orange and grey. Dawn finally peeked with a kiss, birds of the air awake and chirping away.
Rhane staggered far away from the tent to go wash his face. It had been so difficult for him to keep drinking and not expose himself, but one thing he knew for sure was that his time around Jenna was limited.
All it takes is a seed of doubt and it grows a forest of distrust. Rhane had to make plans to leave as soon as possible.
"Rhane?" Percy shuffled with his trouser, ending his call to nature's number one when he saw the tall, frightful man who had made his life a joking misery since his arrival.
"You slept in My Lady's tent? What exactly are you—"
Rhane grunted, waving his hand dismissively. "We are close to the Scourge place. Once we get there, order me to keep the carriage safe while you take her inside."
"Order you?" Percy eyed him suspiciously. "Why?"
Rhane ignored the young man. He dipped his hands into the cold water. When the cold bit into his skin, Rhane's eyes became clearer. He washed his face and walked back to the carriage.
"He is very weird," Percy muttered, his hand on his waist as he watched Rhane walk away.
When Jenna woke up and found herself alone in the tent, she sighed. She still felt bad for getting an innocent young man drunk, but most importantly, she felt safe sleeping in a man's arms.
It wasn't suffocating or scary. Even when he pulled her to himself, it wasn't life-threatening. It was peaceful, calm, protective, and really warm. Staying in his arms, Jenna felt like she could face anything. The lust she felt wasn't even there; it was just pure warmth.
Like something she had desired for all her life suddenly found her and wrapped her without judging.
Stepping out of the tent, Jenna found Percy and Rhane gathering their things back inside the carriage. She searched Rhane's face to see if he was angry or had any expression at all, but all she saw was a clear face.
"My Lady, we are almost close to where we are going," Percy announced, going to dismantle the tent and get Jenna's bag inside the carriage.
Jenna nodded. She decided to let everything that happened the previous night remain there.
"Yes, let's go after I get changed," Jenna nodded, grabbing her comfortable clothes and walking back inside the forest.
She wasn't someone to be concerned about what men think of her, because it always felt impulsive and controlling. But what Rhane had told her last night wasn't because he wanted to control her, but because he actually had her wellness in mind.
Done with dressing in her shirt and trousers, Jenna entered the carriage. This time, Rhane sat with the coachman while Percy sat inside with Jenna.
Before the first hot sun heated up the ground, their carriage arrived at a very large inn that would almost pass as an estate, with very tall trees all around. And at the entrance, their carriage was stopped by the guards.
"Do you have any business here?" one of the guards asked.
Jenna pushed the carriage curtain to the side. "I'm a merchant and I want to see the owner of this place."
The men were thrown into a fit of laughter, like Jenna's words didn't make sense. One of them stopped laughing and pointed at Jenna.
"Who do you think you are...to meet with our master?" he rolled his eyes. "Even top of the top merchants don't get to meet with him and it's a woman like you?"
Jenna pressed her lips and sighed. She'd heard that meeting the owner of this place was really tough. Not many knew the face of the owner; others said that those who saw his face never lived to tell the tale.
"Lady, I'll advise you turn around and go way down..." the guard stretched his last word. "To the brothel over there. If you're looking for a spot here...we are already overstaffed with more beautiful women. Thank you."
Jenna scoffed, smacking her tongue. "Isn't it rude of you to assume I'm a prostitute?"
"Well, all women looking for our master—" the guard's face paled when he saw the young man walking towards them.
As they were talking, Rhane jumped down from the carriage and ran towards Jenna.
"Master, is there any problem?"
Jenna shook her head, though surprised that Rhane acknowledged her. He hadn't said a word to her since morning.
"Um...nothing to worry about. I can handle it."
The guard opened his mouth to talk. "You...you look a little familiar," he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"It can't be right?" the guard cocked his head to the side.
"Open the gates!!" a loud voice bellowed from inside.
Rhane stared at the guard once more before running back inside the carriage.
"That isn't master, right?" the guard watched the carriage.
"You think our master would look so poor and even go as low as being a woman's servant?" another chimed.
"But the eyes...the type everyone says master has. The snake's eyes, he has it." The guard that had made eye contact with Rhane tapped his fingers on his lips, then asked,
"Have any of you ever seen master's face?"
Other guards paused, a moment of silence among them.
"I heard that nobody lives after seeing his face..." one of them whispered, and the rest shuddered. "And his eyes can even get you charmed like that of a snake."
Back inside the carriage, Jenna tilted her head. "Why did they suddenly let us in?"
Percy brushed the dust on Jenna's shoe and smiled. "Maybe they realized how beautiful you are..."
Jenna hummed. She looked back at the gate and then the road that led inside the mansion. It was another journey altogether, like she was entering a den of no return. Something about it made Jenna feel very uneasy.
"I doubt it's the case," Jenna said, her voice barely above a whisper.