“I was expecting more!” the older woman pushes through the wooden door at the sound of our group. Her face is etched in concern, the white at her temples more prominent as she eyes Daniel with worry.
“They’re behind us, Dnes,” Lord Daniel replies, handing his reins to the little boy from the stables, “but we’ll need Denrae. Can you send word to Yara? I forgot to ask her. I’ll need him to care for the horses after the ride we’ve just had.”
The innkeeper, Dnes, nods and moves swiftly back into the cottage-like building as the stable boy takes Cal’s reins from his side. My big friend turns and gives me a proper once-over, then gives me another exhausted smile.
“Drink?”
I laugh with him, “yes, let me take care of Millie first and then I’ll meet you in there.”
Cal nods and then bows to Lord Daniel, turning to follow Dnes into the inn. I watch him pass through the door before quietly turning to Daniel, taking the Discerni Lord in from head to foot.
“Are you okay?” I ask with a questioning glance.
Daniel’s light brown eyes peer down at me in deep thought, his hand moving up to his beard as he strokes his chin. He takes a step forwardand closes the space between us, his broad shoulders hovering over mine as his hand slowly reaches out for my own.
“I am,” he nods quietly.
I hold my breath when he brings my hand in a firm hold up to his lips. His beard bristles against my skin, his lips soft when they plant a small kiss on my knuckles.
“Thank you, Lady Alexis.”
I blush at the sincerity in his gesture, letting him hold my hand for longer than proper.
“I wasn’t going to leave you behind, Lord Daniel,” I whisper.
His brown eyes sparkle in a quiet nod just as I feel a hard pressure push against my chest and heart. Keane is locating me, the sense of his urgent curiosity pressing against my lungs. I find myself relieved to know he’s okay and safe enough to locate me, but his grip of curiosity is torturing my chest, pushing against my lungs in a fierce intensity.
Fuck,it’s strong.
But I understand why.
If Keane is watching me through his summoning right now, he’ll see how my hand is being brought down from Daniel’s lips, the Lord’s eyes still looking at me in deep affection.
“Lady Alexis,” Daniel furrows his brows, “are you alright?”
Keane’s summoning immediately releases after the words.
“Yes,” I nod, rubbing against my aching heart and lungs.
“I’m okay,” I tell him with a smile, “just need to take a moment to myself.”
Lord Daniel gives a small nod and runs both hands through his hair. I watch him retie the wind-blown mess into a neat knot at the nape of his neck, his eyes still watching over me.
“I’ll need to head back to the Hidden City,” he lifts a hand to my shoulder in a friendly gesture, “are you okay to remain here?”
“I am,” I glance at the road in small anxiety, “but…”
Daniel looks at me with a frown.
“I need to know…” I begin, not really believing what I heard in the thick of the moment, “did you hear him? Prince Yiannis? He ordered his men totakeme, Daniel.”
The Lord grimaces and drops his hand to mine again.
“I heard, Alexis,” he nods with a small squeeze, “but Cal and I would never have let that happen.”
“I know,” I nearly whisper.
But the knowledge doesn’t do anything to ease the fact that a royal Prince from another Kingdom openly ordered for my kidnapping.
