Golem obviously knew His Highness was in Agnor and not Dalloway, and he eerily knew exactly what room he’d be in and how to get there. He purposely led me to the private conversation and hid us from being seen, because apparently Golems have their own set of magic I know nothing about. What I do know is that we weren’t exactly hidden behind that half-open door, and there were a few times when I made some audible gasps that should have been heard.
So really the question is why.
Why did he want me to hear that conversation?
Was it to make me aware that the two royals were inquiring into me and my travels? Holis already suspected, as did I. Though why they would be so interested in our work for the King is what confuses me the most. I’m sure their father employees hundreds of men and women for various lines of work, so why be curious now? Our group has been traveling into the Court of Warriors for months now and has never caught their attention before.
I couldn’t bring myself to ask Golem the questions outright, just stayed up tossing in bed until the early morning settled in. My mind was littered with too many thoughts when Alanna finally entered our room, so I waited for her breathing to steady and threw my traveling bag over my shoulder before rushing out. The need to get out of my head was pressing, but there was still some time to kill until Cal and I would meet by the clearing at the lake. I knew I had to do something. Move. Anything. So I settled on taking Millie for a ride, hoping that the calm ambience of Agnor would lend me and my thoughts some of its relaxation.
“I’ll take Millie at a walk through the city if you want to stay beside us,” I tell Golem when we reach the inn’s stables, “but I plan on riding her along the lakeshore once we get there.”
Golem looks at me in concern, his nod telling me he doesn’t plan on leaving my side. I give him a small smile and walk inside Millie’s stall, watching as he takes a few steps away from my gentle horse to put some distance between us and him.
“You’re going to have to get used to her soon, Golem,” I shake my head.
I hear, rather than see, the rustling of his robe behind me, almost as if he’s attempting to close the space.
“After my ride we’ll meet Cal for the normal morning routine,” I tell him as I secure Millie’s saddle, “I can let you out again then.”
I give my mare a solid pat on the rear and look back at the magical creature, but all that greets me his absence and the empty stables. Golem’s jar vibrates against my hip instead, the greeting catching me by surprise and making me look down at my bag in confusion.
“Why are you inside your home? I thought you were okay walking next to us for the first bit?”
“Do you often talk to yourself, Lady?” an amused voice greets the quiet stables, “or are you just overly friendly with your horse?”
My shoulders straighten at the sound, body tensing at the familiarity.
Prince Keane stops behind Millie’s stall door, his hand holding the reins to a large black steed that’s also saddled for riding. He’s wearing a rich, satin black shirt that has its long sleeves pushed up to his elbows, his brown eyes dancing across my face with the same amusement I just heard in his voice.
Ancients,he’s fucking devastating.
His features are sharp and angled, made sensual by his full set of red lips and the small playfulness hiding behind his eyes. Those lips are curved just slightly into a smirk, the gesture almost similar to Troy’s but not quite the same at all. Where his younger brother has a cold sort of beauty and uses his smirk for arrogance, Keane’s is a mixture of proud and playful beauty, his smirk given in genuine delight while he awaits my answer.
It’s his eyes.
It’s his eyes that make the smirk so welcoming. While not the same color as his father’s, they have the same level kindness resting behind them.
“Just overly friendly, Your Highness,” I reply with a low bow. There’s no point hiding that I know who he is. The Bardots are easily recognizable throughout the whole Kingdom.
I turn my back slowly to the Prince and grab Millie’s reins, not hearing any indication that he’s satisfied with my greeting or that he’s moving along. I sigh when I feel his eyes lingering on my shoulders, hating that custom dictates I’ll have to invite him in my ride.
Please decline. I came out here to clear my head, not to spend more time with you in it.
I turn to greet the proud Discerni royal and meet his gaze with a sweet smile.
“I’m taking a ride down to the lake, Your Highness. Would you care to join?”
The Prince’s brown eyes dart over my face in silent laughter, everything about him seeing through my faux friendliness.
“I would like nothing more,” he grins.
I hide my next sigh and urge Millie behind the Prince as he starts to walk away. The cool morning air greets us the moment we step outside, the moons barely lending their light over the city as they make their final descent down the horizon.
“I’ll follow your lead,” the Prince nods, hoisting himself into his saddle.
I quickly do the same and bring my hand to my bicep in habit.
“What’s your name, human?”
