Raiden handed her a handkerchief, and Dyna stifled a breathy laugh, because it reminded her of Rawn. He was more like his father than he thought.
Soft neighing carried to them, and she spotted the same herd galloping over the fields.
“We raise horses in Sellav,” Raiden commented. “We are known for breeding the best in Greenwood. Most come here to select a horse to bond with.”
Dyna heard the sense of pride in his voice and smiled. She petted the white mane of the stallion they rode. “Is this one yours?”
“Unfortunately, not. Sight here merely tolerates me. I think the stubborn brute is waiting for a better rider to come along.”
The stallion nickered as if to agree, and she laughed.
They followed the road and passed through the town of Sellav. As they cantered along the cobblestone streets, it caught the attention of everyone they passed. Some waved to their lord, calling out greetings. Bright flowerbeds lined the streets, carrying the sweet scent of spring. Raiden stopped so they could stroll among the merchant stalls, and she could admire their wares.
“Do you wish to return to the estate?” Raiden asked her when the evening arrived.
Dyna sighed. “Not particularly.”
“Because you wish to avoid the King of Hilos?”
She glanced back at the white structure set upon a hill, dreading seeing him again. It was too difficult. Whenever Cassiel was near, her chest ached like a lingering bruise. A constant reminder of who they used to be and what they would never be again.
“That will be inevitable now that he has joined the escort.” Dyna brushed her fingers over the silky red petals of a dynalya flower. “Which I must admit he will offer more protection for Lady Aerina. However, I can’t say I am overjoyed by his presence.”
“Then may I be of assistance with that?” Raiden murmured, prompting her to look up at him. “I have been meaning to thank you, for being here and for helping my mother. What better way than by serving as a barrier between you and the one you wish to keep away?”
“What do you mean?”
The breeze picked up, ruffling the stall canopies and her cloak. Flower petals swirled into the air.
Taking her hand, Raiden bowed as he pressed a soft kiss on the back of her fingers. “Lady Dynalya of North Star, may I court you?”
Dyna lay in bed,staring up at the tracks of the evening light on her bedroom ceiling, replaying the moment in town. “It would be aguise,”Raiden had quickly clarified when she blushed and stuttered over her words. “A means to merely keep him at bay by stating I am courting you now. None but us would know the truth.”
Should she accept his offer?
She shook her head. No, that was silly.
There was no need to enter a pretend courtship simply to keep her former husband at bay. She made it clear they were over.
Sighing, her tired eyes slid closed. As soon as they rescued Rawn, her dilemma would be over, too.
Dyna jolted up in bed,stifling her scream. The sound of her racing heart hammered in her ears, her chest heaving with wild breaths and sweat slicking her skin. Her body shuddered with the remnants of her nightmare, and she touched the back of her head, feeling the phantom crack of her skull.
Her room was dark.
The candles had gone out.
Only faint moonlight trickled through the window curtains. She stumbled out of bed, quickly casting out her magic. The wicks lit, and she sagged against the bedpost. The light didn’t diminish her trembling. It wasn’t the dark she feared anymore.
A soft knock came at the door.
She knew who it was without him needing to speak. “Go away, Cassiel.”
“Are you all right?”
Dyna glowered at her sweaty face in the mirror across the bed and quickly fortified her shield on the bond. Her exhaustion must have brought it down. She lay down again, giving her back to the door. If she ignored him long enough, he would eventually leave.
“May I come in?”
