A Deceptive Alliance by Sydney Blackburn

Author:Sydney Blackburn [Blackburn, Sydney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, twins, slow burn, royalty, cross-dressing, road trip, arranged marriage
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2018-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

DARE WAS CORRECT—the convoy remained camped on the side of the road, still in the protective encirclement Kel had predicted. He was impressed that the Pervayne people were smart enough to take the word of locals, even if they were serving women. As lady’s maids, they were higher ranked than other servants, but someone like the duke might not appreciate the difference.

By the sun’s position in the sky, and the empty feeling growing in Kel’s stomach, it was near noontime. Dare nudged his horse into a trot and Kel urged Brindy to keep pace.

As they drew closer, Kel remembered something. “Dare…am I to be Kel for the convoy? I hadn’t meant to press the issue but…” He rubbed his jaw. “If you need me to continue the appearance of womanhood, I can’t rejoin the convoy all barefaced.” If he were fair-haired, it might be overlooked in the general happiness of Dare’s return with his bride, but Kel and Isabel both had long hair the colour of richly polished mahogany.

Dare drew his horse to a halt, and Kel did likewise. “Kel.” He grinned. “I love saying your true name.” The grin vanished. “While many in the party know of my…preferences, it will be expected that I marry a woman.” He must have seen the disappointment on Kel’s face. “However. There is sect in my kingdom, people who claim no gender. You have already begun to alter your clothing to be less feminine—”

“That’s what prompted your praise on my new style?” Kel felt pleased to have figured that out.

“Indeed, but also that you seemed eager to adopt the less rigid customs of Pervayne.” Dare beamed at him.

Never had Kel seen so many happy expressions on the man’s face.

“But I think you can do away with your sprouting grain sacks, and have your ladies alter your bodices to not require them. Narrow your skirts, or split them all.”

Kel would have liked to be openly himself, but this sounded like a fair compromise. “Shave every day. I understand the need for discretion.”

“We can be more open once we have arrived in Seagate.”

Kel wanted to ask if Dare’s father would be as happy to know his son was married to a man, but he would rather live the next five weeks in ignorant bliss when it came to that. “So, my face.”

“I love the scruff. I would love to feel it scratching my thighs when you finally get that taste of me you said you wanted.”

Kel managed to stifle his gasp of shocked pleasure. “The one appreciation I have for a voluminous skirt is that it hides what your words just did to me.”

Dare grinned again. “I believe I have a solution. We’ll ride in with you on my horse in front of me, resting against me, your hair loose to hide your face. It will seem as though I rescued you.”

Kel dismounted and handed his reins to Dare. “I’m not sure I like my role in this story.”

“Fine, we’ll say you saved me and are now tired,” Dare said.

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