“You have no idea what game you’re playing, Lady Alexis,” he says quietly.
“I took the toddy,” I raise my brows and turn away from his lips, “now sit and watch us enjoy our night, Highness.”
“Gladly,” he smirks.
“My head is pounding,” I groan, hoisting myself off Millie.
I snake my hand into the bag at my hip and loosen Golem’s jar.
“No surprise there,” Cal dismounts with a chuckle, “you and the Prince looked like you were going at it the whole night.”
“Going at what?” I scoff, “I was with you for the majority of the night.”
“Atit,” Cal chuckles, “it looked like you two were in some sort of secret pissing contest, though I’m not quite sure who won…”
My thoughts roam to last night and the Prince’s gaze on me the entire time. He watched me all night, through every drink, laugh and exhale of smoke I shared with Cal, never once wavering with those playful brown eyes.
“I’m not either,” I admit quietly and tie Millie to a tree.
“Good morning, Golem,” Cal greets the magical being walking towards us.
I turn around to the familiar brown robes and clay skin.
“Golem, I have a question for you.”
His face remains silent as I continue. “Since we’re no longer on the road, can I leave your home in my room at the castle? I’ll hide it, but I just want to make sure you’ll still be able to join me around the city?”
Golem nods.
Blessed Ancients, thank you.
It’s become a bit of a hassle to cart his jar everywhere.
“Okay,” I smile, “we’ll do that when I get back.”
Cal and I begin to stretch just as the hint of sunlight begins to push through the trees around us. We had set off this morning well before dawn, probably not one of the finer decisions we’ve ever made, but one that had to be done so we could spend some time navigating the foreign castle. I vaguely remember Prince Keane reciting directions for us last night before he dropped us off at our rooms, but neither Cal or I could remember them come morning and ended up getting lost in all the twists and turns of the Black Capitol.
It wasn’t until we stumbled into a maid when we were pointed in the right direction. The girl took one look at our clothes and laughed in understanding, showing us to the ground floor and how to get to the stables outside.
Once situated on our horses, we took a slow ride around the highest rise that encircled the castle. The grounds were mostly filled with manicured grass and red rose gardens, though they did have a thin portion of woods that followed along the wall. We navigated those trees until we found a large enough area to train in and let the woods shield us from the castle beyond.
“Last night wasn’t so bad,” I reflect quietly in my stretch, “I expected more promiscuity… and fighting.”
Cal nods in agreement and ties his long auburn hair to the back of his neck.
“I think that’ll come later tonight at court.”
“Was the Prince truly mad?” I ask, touching my toes, “when he found out we weren’t with you?”
“Livid,” Cal grimaces, “and not in the way you or I would get mad. He had a calm anger about him.”
I remember the Prince looking at me from the doorway and Alanna’s warning about that face not being one I wanted to see again.
“He closed his eyes when he noticed you two were gone, as if he was containing his anger. When he opened them he told Desmond that he knew where you were and asked Claymore to take the rest of us up to the castle. The twins went, but only after I told them I would be going back with the Prince. There was no Ancients way I was going to let him approach you alone, not looking the way he did.”
“I appreciate that,” I give him an apologizing smile, “did you have a good time at least?”
“I did,” he nods, “as much as any other. Let’s begin.”
