The mills…
My cheeks flush yet again.
“I visited them,” I reply quietly.
“But that wasn’t enough?”
I consider her question and think of Keane’s tour.
“They would be fine, a good distraction if the number of workers matched the amount of people the village called for. But there was only a handful of men working, and the path leading to the mills didn’t look well used. Nothing added up.”
Yara nods in understanding. “You’ve given us a lot to consider, Alexis. Thank you.”
I smile and watch her turn to the Prince, “I need to get back to my boys. With your leave, Highness?”
“Of course. Have a good night, Yara.”
Yara bows to both the Prince and Golem, then walks to Lord Daniel with her hand outstretched in farewell. Lord Daniel stands and clasps his hand firmly in hers before she gives me a strong nod goodbye.
I yawn and watch her walk away, only now realizing how tired I am. It’s a natural tiredness, not one born from the forest air.
“I’m going to take her back to the inn,” Keane tells Lord Daniel, the two of them now standing next to eachother, “you’re good here for the rest of the night?”
“I am,” Daniel nods before turning to me, “it’s been a wonderfully eventful night with you, Lady Alexis. I look forward to the rest of our travels together.”
“Likewise, Lord Daniel,” I smile, watching as he takes another route away from the fountain and heads for a different bridge. I yawn again, battling the sleep that’s trying to take hold of me.
“Let’s get you back,” Keane takes a step forward when I stand up.
He moves his hand to the small of my back and leads me in the direction we came, through the town center and across the massive bridge in the sky. The Prince stops us in front of the tall oak and places his hand on the trunk, the stairs gliding out of the tree again as they spiral back down to the forest floor.
A creeping feeling of loss takes over me as I watch Keane make his way down the staircase. I let him go on his own and turn around quickly to look back at the hidden city, wanting to remember this feeling of absolute awe that’s gripped me from the moment I’ve been here. I sigh in happiness and just watch the people moving about, watch their quiet conversations and laughter as they walk across the planks to enjoy wherever the night takes them. I watch and watch without any abandon, easily forgetting about the stairs that want to lead me away from such a beautiful expanse.
“We’ll come back, Alexis,” Keane says softly from behind, “I promise you.”
I glance up to the forest roof above us, to the twinkling lanterns of bottled moonslight that truly look like stars. I don’t want to leave, but my feet are heavy as I let him lead me back down the stairs.
The Prince’s steed, Ash, stands waiting for us at the bottom of the forest floor. He has no saddle over him and waits with his reins tied around a tree and a few blankets thrown over his back to keep him warm. Keane moves to untie him just as I greet the stunning horse, my hand running over his thick neck while he turns to take in my scent.
“How did he get here?”
“There’s a stable if you keep along the path. Most of us leave our horses there before we head up to the city. He’s been here since midday.”
“And you can navigate him through these woods?” I frown, not understanding how such a large horse like Ash can make it through the thickness of these trees. “He’ll hurt his fetlock.”
“He won’t,” Keane replies, fingers flicking to the thin path beyond.
He turns in my direction and catches my gaze, his calm brown eyes darting from mine to the blankets on top of Ash.
My breath catches.
Surely, he doesn’t mean…
Keane drops the reins and walks in my direction until he’s stopped directly behind me. His presence sends a small shiver down my spine before he places both hands on my waist and lifts me up, the movement fluid and easy. I gasp and swing a leg over the blankets, then tense when I feel his hands guide me forward by the rear. His eyes turn playful as he passes me the reins and then pushes up from the ground, his full body settling perfectly against my back.
The Prince snakes both of his arms around my waist and takes back the reins, his chest pressing into mine in a warm and tight embrace. He flicks his fingers again, this time taking away the light from above, and moves even closer as the whole forest descends into darkness.
I let out a shaky breath and lift my hood, hiding the flush that’s taken over my cheeks.
