“Folami? What do you say about a picnic on the coast?” Lex asked once we’d finished our tour. “You can invite Itanya and Peytor, if you’d like.”
There was no disgust or hesitation at Peytor’s name, just an innate understanding.
I’d smiled wider at that suggestion and watched as both Lex’s and Ilyas’ faces illuminated in tandem with mine.
“Yes. Yes, I wouldlovethat,” I breathed, reaching out to squeeze Lex’s hands in thanks. A jolt shot through me when our skin touched, and both of us widened our eyes in surprise. Instead of releasing me, Lex only held my hands tighter, his warm, calloused fingers enveloping my cold ones until our body heat was balanced.
It felt right—more than right. It felt inevitable.
I hurriedly pulled away, leaving Lex and Ilyas on the training field while I rushed inside the manor to find Peytor and Itanya.
Itanya was easiest to locate—she’d spent the morning with the Bondsmith, learning to read and draw runes. As expected, she took to it with ease, her natural artistic talent shining through as she drew progressively more complicated patterns.
“Would you like to go on a picnic with Lex, Ilyas, and me? Maybe Daddy, if he says ‘yes’?” I asked.
Itanya’s radiant joy illuminated the whole room. She set her charcoal stick down before carefully stacking the numerous sheets of parchment crowded with hundreds of runes.
Despite her obvious desire to join us, she looked first to the Bondsmith for approval.
“Go,” the Bondsmith said with a wave of her hand, a smile tugging at the edges of her lips. “Have fun.”
With that, Itanya bolted from her chair, clutched her hand in mine, and pulled me from the room, both of us laughing as we half-walked, half-ran down the hallway.
“Where is Peytor?” I asked, ducking my head into almost every room in the manor.
“The stables,” Itanya said with a shrug at the obvious question in my eyes. “He wanted to be around the horses this morning.”
While she didn’t admit it, I knew my ‘date’ with Lex and Ilyas had forced him away from our rooms and out of the manor completely. Over the past few weeks, I’d divided my time between Lex’s rooms and our own in an effort to get acquainted with my True Bond. Despite his assurances that he understood, Peytor’s expression grew darker each time I emerged from Lex’s and Ilyas’ room with a smile on my face. The guilt I felt over Peytor intertwined with the excitement I felt about Lex and threatened to tear me apart. In an effort to make it easier for everyone, I avoided Lex and Ilyas while in the manor and tried my best to minimize our interactions at the training grounds. It was like I was drawn by an invisible string, though, my gaze and body constantly in tune with the affable Mage.
That gnawing feeling in my gut only intensified as we made our way down gilded staircases and through ornate doors to the very plain stables near the back of the manor’s property.
The smell of horse, straw, and manure was almost overpowering in the late afternoon humidity, but a cleansing breeze full of salt and brine floated from the ocean. The earth was quiet out here, and I understood why Peytor retreated to the stables.
Itanya was silent at my side, hand clutched firmly in mine, as we entered the stables, boots making twin clacking noises against the stone floor despite the hay strewn about.
The stables were massive, easily holding two dozen horses on each side. We peeked into a few, cooing over the mares and stallions, but never lingered long.Itanya’s stomach was growling in earnest, and, despite my apprehension, IwantedPeytor to come with us.
It felt right.
“Peytor?” I called, a few of the horses poking their large heads over the stall doors in response to my voice.
There was a banging and shuffling noise before Peytor emerged from one of the very last stalls, straw stuck in his ever-growing chestnut waves. Despite the heaviness I knew he felt, his steel-grey eyes were light—excited to see Itanya and me.
“Daddy!” Itanya called, releasing my hand to run through the stables and launch herself into Peytor’s waiting arms. Despite the sweat that coated his skin and the dirt and grime marring his tunic, Peytor swept her into a hug and twirled her around, laying kisses on her face and hair the entire time.
“Daddy! We’re going on a picnic and you’re coming, too!” my daughter declared once she was back on her feet, leaving no room for argument or refusal.
Peytor laughed slightly, shooting a look at me before focusing on Itanya once more.
“Is that so? And who all is ‘we’?” he asked, setting his rake down so it rested against the stable door.
“You, me, Mama, Lex, and Ilyas,” Itanya declared, ticking each name off on her fingers. I watched Peytor’s expression slowly fade at the mention of Lex and Ilyas. My heart fell in tandem, settling somewhere near my feet.
“That so?” Peytor asked, voice suddenly tight.
“Please, Peytor,” I begged softly. His head whipped up at the tone of my voice, brows furrowed in concern. “Please,” I repeated. It wasn’t a word I used often, and I was certain my expression conveyed my desires.
Peytor blew out a breath, cheeks puffing with air, before he nodded his head once. “If that’s what you want,” he said, words directed at me even though he gazed at Itanya.
