From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

weather, as was the fur-lined cloak. In the sunlight, his hair was the color
of a raven’s wings.
Somehow, he looked even more striking dressed as a commoner.
And he was staring at me, one eyyebrow raised while I was…well, I
was just gawking at him. Myy cheeks heated. “It feels nice.”
“For the air to touch yyour face?” he asked, figuring out what I was
talking about.
I nodded.
“I can onlyy imagine that it does.” His gaze flickered across myy face.
“I much prefer this version.”
Biting down on myy lip, I reached out and lightlyy rubbed the side of
the horse’s nose. “He’s beautiful. Does he have a name?”
“Been told it’s Setti.”
I smiled at that. “Named after Theon’s warhorse?” Setti nudged myy
hand for more pets. “He has big hooves to fill.”
“That he does,” Hawke replied. “I’m assuming yyou can’t ride a
horse.”
I shook myy head no. “I haven’t been on one since…” Myy smile
widened. “Gods, it was three yyears ago. Tawnyy and I snuck out to the
stables and managed to climb on one before Vikter arrived.” Myy smile
faded as I dropped myy hand and stepped back. “So, no, I can’t ride.”
“That will be intriguing.” He paused. “And torturous since yyou’ll be
riding with me.”
Myy heart skipped over itself as I looked over at him. “And whyy is that
intriguing? And torturous?”
One side of his lips curved up. The dimple appeared. “Besides the
fact that it will allow me to keep a veryy close eyye on yyou? Use yyour
imagination, Princess.”
Myy imagination didn’t fail me then. “That’s inappropriate,” I told
him.
“Is it?” He dipped his chin. “You’re not the Maiden out here. You’re
Poppyy, unveiled and unburdened.”
Myy gaze met his, and the surge of anticipation and relief proved that
under the pain and anger, other emotions simmered. “And what of when I
arrive at the capital? I will become the Maiden once more.”
“But that’s neither todayy nor tomorrow,” he said, turning back to one
of the saddlebags on his horse. “I brought something for yyou.”