The young fae boy is clearly unsure of himself, his feet shuffling nervously in the dirt. “That is true, Your Highness,” he says quietly and bows before disappearing.
I follow Maxon into the large stables, the smell of hay filling the air as we make our way to the back row of stalls. The sound of hooves pounding the ground grows louder, emanating from the largest stall. I peer into the stall and see Storm anxiously pacing back and forth, his nostrils flaring with each breath. Fear twists in my stomach when Maxon opens the door and walks in.
With a steady hand and unwavering focus, Maxon approaches the massive beast and holds out his palm. Storm's mane whips around as he shakes his head in agitation and nudges Maxon's hand with his nose.
“What’s up with you?”
With each powerful stomp of Storm's massive hooves, the ground quivers beneath him as he nods his head up and down. Stepping inside the stall, I am immediately greeted by the sound of Storm's loud and steady breathing. He has an untamed, majestic beauty that takes my breath away. The black-maned beast has a powerful physique that commands attention. I can’t tear my eyes away from his massive hooves, their size easily surpassing that of my head.
A true war horse.
Storm’s nostrils flare, and he lets out an angry snort, clearly upset about something. I watch as he barges past Maxon, making me freeze in fear as he steps up to me, snorting aggressively. I feel the wetness of spittle on my cheek and raise my hand to wipe it off before meeting the horse's gaze.
“Geeze, thanks for that, Storm.”
Storm's hoof strikes the ground, and I can feel the thud reverberate through my body. I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow at him. Staring into those dark, bottomless eyes, I can’t help but close the distance and run my hand down his neck, feeling the warmth and softness of his coat. As the tension eases from his body, I sense a feeling of disappointment lingering.
“So, you're annoyed he left you and came to see me without you?”
Storm's head bobs dramatically, nearly pushing me off balance. Stepping carefully around him, Maxon approaches Storm's side and rubs his hand over his side.
“I’m sorry, Storm, but time was of the essence.”
Storm turns his head away, as if giving Maxon the cold shoulder. My lips curl up involuntarily, but I quickly bite down on my bottom lip to suppress the smile. The horse is clearly upset at being left here. Maxon’s hand strokes Storm’s cheek.
“Forgive me? I was hoping you would take us for a ride?”
When Storm looks at Maxon, he nudges him playfully and knocks him back a step. I cover my mouth to stifle my laugh.
“Good. Everly hasn’t eaten today. I was thinking about taking her to the markets. I knew my big strong horse would be up for showing a pretty lady around.”
Storm's hooves stamp the ground as he dances, his thick mane whipping around him.
“You like the sound of that? Good.”
Making a soft chuffing sound, he moves past us and trots out of the stall, his head held high. Maxon gives me a conspiratorial grin and follows Storm. I notice everyone giving the massive horse a wide berth when we pass, afraid to get too close.
As soon as we step outside, Maxon takes control of the reins and brings Storm to a halt. The war horse really is a thing of beauty, he is just like his rider. They both exude an aura of strength and power that demands respect from all those around them. My heart melts as I watch Maxon stroke the horse's neck and whisper something to him. The bond between the two is clear to see.
A young fae man with bluish skin and curly red hair, a startling color combination, rushes over. “Would you like some help, miss?”
Before I can answer, Maxon steps up behind me, his hand landing on my hip, causing a rush of warmth to flood my cheeks. The young fae’s eyes widen before he bows and scurries away without another word.
Huh . . .
“You scared him off!” I accuse.
“I did no such thing.”
Turning to face him, I brush my hair out of my eyes and smile. “Sure. Whatever you say, Your Highness.”
I need to question Maxon about the queen’s threats, I have to know if she would actually send anyone after my friends. But the memory of my encounter with the queen fades away as I gaze into those sparkling, jeweled eyes. A soft breeze picks up our hair and tosses it around our faces. I can smell the sweet scent of flowers and hay drifting in the air. I swear, it feels as if the wind itself is wrapping around me and pushing me toward Maxon.
Storm breaks me from my musings, nudging my shoulder, gently drawing my attention. I reach up and run my hand down his face.
“You are a stunning creature.”
“Ready?” Maxon murmurs in my ear, the warmth of his breath sending goosebumps over my skin.
