After Queen Adelina's desperate plea, Jax stood silent for a long moment, calculating. Finally, he exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I'll get you to safety."
Relief flooded her face. "Thank you—"
"Don't thank me yet." He turned toward the carriage. "How do we ride this thing?"
Her expression fell. "We... we can't. The horses bolted when the bandits attacked. They're long gone."
Jax stared at her. "What?"
"That's why I begged you to accompany me. Please, I—"
"So you're telling me," he interrupted, voice flat with disbelief, "that you want me to walk you all the way to your kingdom?"
Her eyes said everything her mouth couldn't: Yes. Please.
"Tsssk." He turned away, scanning the bodies of the dead bandits. He grabbed a rough wool cloak from one of the corpses and threw it at her. "Wear that."
