She smiled up at him, her eyes gleaming in the night, and she rested her head against his chest.
This evening was perfect. It was official. Nothing could make it any better.
He pulled her away from the dancing, glancing around for their drinks, but they were long gone. He found a log near the fire to sit on and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
She leaned into him, and he rested his head against her hair, rubbing her shoulder as they enjoyed the warmth of the fire.
Dietrich walked past with a tray of hot chocolate. Caspian flagged him down and handed him a coin in exchange for two mugs, handing one to Sophia. She accepted it happily, burrowing into his side as she wrapped her hands around the mug.
He’d never felt more alive.
But it wasn’t long before one of the lord’s sons that he’d grown up with recognized him and hurried over.
Not that he had anything against Percival, but he didn’t want to talk to him right now.
He exchanged pleasantries, hoping to make it a quick conversation, but then Percival asked about his two years in Riyel. After a few minutes, Sophia pulled away from him and patted him on the shoulder before wandering away.
He didn’t blame her. She probably didn’t want to hear talk about Riyel after she’d been forced away from it. She had friends here in town—he couldn’t monopolize her for the entire evening, even if he wanted to.
But when he finally got away from Percival and went to look for her again, he couldn’t find her.
He scanned the crowd, looking for any sign of her, but she seemed to be gone.
He walked the entire way around the bonfire, checked in all the booths, including under the table of the manor’s booths, and still couldn’t find her.
Where was she?
Had she decided to go home?
He made his way to Thea’s booth and asked her, “Have you seen Sophia?”
Thea shook her head. “No, but she may have decided to head home early if she was getting overwhelmed. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. She’s been known to slip out of the café if things get too chaotic for her.”
Caspian stuffed down the twinge of disappointment that tried to float to the surface. Sophia leaving early wouldn’t put a damper on how wonderful this evening had been.
He would treasure this memory for the rest of his life.
“I just wish she had told me,” he said. “I would have escorted her home.
Thea shrugged and turned to help another customer. “She probably didn’t want to interrupt you,” she said. “Go enjoy the festival.”
Caspian listened to Thea but continued to look out for Sophia just in case.
He didn’t want the night to end, but he wished he could end it with Sophia.
Chapter fifteen
Sophia
Sophiahadtriedtolisten to Caspian talk to Percival, but as he began telling stories of his life in Riyel, fear flooded her body. Talk of Riyel made her anxious and sad, as her mind brought up images of her previous life. Evenings spent in a dark room in the basement, days without speaking to anyone, and more than a few nights with an empty belly.
She didn’t want to think about it.
The Fall Festival had been nothing short of magical, from the moment she’d begun getting ready with Liliana and Lady Rendon, to spending the evening with Caspian, dancing in his arms, and having her first kiss under the stars next to a bonfire.
It had been everything she ever imagined and more.
So she didn’t want to ruin that by sitting there, listening to talk of Riyel, and remembering how horrible her life had been.
