Prologue

For the third time that month, Lady Ashwood Fletchlocke found herself draped over her husband's shoulder with all the decorum one would give to a sack of potatoes.

“Damn you Guilles! Let me go!” She kicked her legs and slapped his back again and again but all of her flailing did her no good. She had a little bit of muscle from her many years spent hunting and scouting with her father but it was nothing compared to her husband. When she struck him it was like striking a wall. He noticed as much.

“You should stop your squirming, my lady. I’m hungry, and I’m quick to anger when I’m hungry.” The massive arm wrapped around the small of her back flexed and squeezed her just slightly. That made Lady Ashwood stop. She huffed and braced her elbows against her husband's back to make her ride at least a tad bit less bumpy. He sounded serious. Then again, when didn’t he?

“You know if you set me down I can hunt something down for you.”

“Ha! I know if I set you down you’ll go bolting off into the woods again. No, I think I’ll just have a taste of whatever you snuck out of the kitchens this morning.” He gave a short, loud whistle through his teeth. A moment later Lady Ashwood's horse, Mary, came walking faithfully after them. She was a complete contrast to the beast Guilles rode, a silky haired mare who was snow white from main to tail excluding her large black eyes. Guilles stopped and waited for her, cooing at her and stroking her nose before taking her reins in hand.

“There’s a good girl, nothing like your lady.” Lady Ashwood was so angry that she couldn’t help but shoot a glare Mary’s way. Mary was completely unphased as usual. She’d taken a shine to Guilles from the day he’d arrived in The Golden Wood. Every other horse was afraid of him and the monster he rode but oh no, not Mary, not Lady Ashwood's faithful steed.

Of course the gods would see fit to make you so accommodating to my husband, thank you so much Mary, you damn pretty fool.

Guilles walked them out to the edge of the woods where his right hand man, Noll, was waiting. Though it had taken Guilles only a few minutes to chase down Lady Ashwood down and carry her back out of the woods, Noll had already started a fire and was working on skinning a few rabbits. He stopped for a moment when he saw Guilles approaching with Lady Ashwood still hauled over his shoulder. Noll looked from Guilles face, to Lady Ashwood’s dangling boots, then raised a brow at Guilles as if to say-

Am I really seeing this right now? Did you really put the lady of the golden wood in such a position? Really?

Guilles shot a glare his way.

“Oh don’t start Noll, just hurry up and start the fucking stew. That copper cooking pot she swiped is dangling from her saddle bag.” Lady Ashwood slapped his back.

“I didn’t swipe anything! It’s my cooking pot!”

“Thank you for clearing that up my lady,” Guilles said, completely unimpressed, “if it’s yours then you can cook for us this morning.” He pushed her off his shoulder and down the front of his body, guiding her down with his hands on her hips. When she tried to step away from him he held firm. Lady Ashwood looked up into his eyes, the only visible bits she could see of his face. The thick black cowl he kept tied over his head concealed all else. The fire burning behind her was caught there in his eyes, nearly swallowed up by the black.

“You’re not going to run again, are you my lady?” It was another threat for certain but Lady Ashwood stood her ground, unafraid. It was Guilles stomach that made her relent, growling loudly and sadly between them. She sighed heavily through her nose and looked away. She’d try to escape his watchful eye again certainly but not until nightfall, certain he’d be dogging her every step now until sleep finally laid claim to him. She placed her hands over her husbands and made to pull them off. He flinched but didn’t budge, keeping his eyes pinned on his wifes. Lady Ashwood huffed and looked towards the ground.

“I’m not going to run, Guilles. I need my saddlebag though if I’m to make anything.” Once she managed to pry her husband’s hands off of her she took her saddlebag off of Mary and went to the fire, nodding at Noll as she came close. He nodded a little deeper in return, the only kind of bow he could make in his current position before he turned his attention back to the rabbit in his hands.

So the morning went on.

Noll skinned and cut apart the three rabbits he’d killed, the lucky arrow that had pierced their hearts in one shot resting proudly back in its quiver. Lady Ashwood thought of her next escape plan as she angrily made their stew, careful not to mutter anything under her breath as she stirred the pot. Guilles “The Guillotine,” Grey did nothing but lean back upon a fallen log beside the fire and watch his wife’s beautiful hands work until she finished making their breakfast.

Once she’d shoved a steaming bowl into his hands he ordered Noll to keep her there as he walked into the woods to eat alone. He did so greedily, trying to distract himself from the thought of his wife's soft hands over his own just an hour ago.

It didn’t work.

When he finally emerged from the woods, bowl empty and stomach full with the best rabbit stew he'd ever tasted, his eyes landed upon his wife and found himself starving all over again. But when Lady Ashwood felt his eyes upon her, the glare she tossed back at him made it very clear:

His true hunger was something she had no interest in satisfying.