“Sorry about that,” Adalia said as she entered the living room.
“No need to apologise. I know I am not welcome here,” Matthias said calmly.
Adalia looked up at him, her mossy, brown eyes framed by dark lashes, and he felt that movement in his chest again. “It’s not that. Nik just needs a moment to adjust to all . . . this.” She motioned between himself and Bones. “Anyway, I need to go to the store to gather some things for dinner. Would you like to come with me or stay here?”
Matthias glanced towards the back door. “What will your brother say?”
“He’s gone and won’t be back until later.” Adalia shrugged. “Have a think while I change.”
She disappeared into a room Matthias presumed was hers and returned a few moments later.
She’d changed into fitted light-blue denim trousers with a white strappy silk blouse tucked in at the waist. Tanleather boots adorned her feet. Her chestnut brown hair fell loosely about her shoulders and she carried a light pink bag over one shoulder. The outfit had taken her from a fierce warrior to a feminine goddess in seconds, and Matthias needed to take a moment to compose himself.
“Can Bones stay here?” Matthias asked, trying to keep his eyes on her face and not the rest of her body.
“Of course, he can stay outside in the courtyard if you like? There’s a daybed out there he can doze on and I’ll get a bowl of water for him,” Adalia said as she moved into the kitchen. She filled a bowl with some fresh water and stepped outside.
Matthias called Bones to follow, and they entered the courtyard.
The scent of geraniums hit him hard. It explained the scent he’d smelled when they’d arrived.
Bones headed straight for the water, lapping the cool liquid up for a good few minutes.
“Looks like he was thirsty,” Adalia said as the wolf drank.
The prince watched on, intrigued, as Bones finished drinking and lazily walked towards Adalia. It was the first time they had interacted since the brief meeting in the woods. Adalia remained still as Bones sniffed her hands before sitting at her feet, looking up at her as he slowly blinked. A sign of trust.
Matthias grinned. If Bones trusted her, then there was no hope for him.
Adalia ruffled his white fur. “Come on, we won’t be long.”
Adalia shot into the air, the gust of wind ruffling the feathers of Matthias’s wings. He watched until she was high above him. “I’ll be back soon. Stay here.” Matthias commanded. Bones panted in return before jumping on the daybed.
Matthias glanced at the sky again and pushed off into the atmosphere where Adalia was waiting.
The view was unlike anything Matthias had seen before.
The palace was in the centre of thousands upon thousands of houses scattered across the land. He spied the glass river that ran from the castle through the streets as it glinted in the sun. This Kingdom was so large that he couldn’t see the other side. Far to the north lay a large mountain range that grew up from the grounditself. Matthias couldn’t fathom the amount of people who must have lived in Lucius.
A few Lightners also soared through the skies, and Matthias realised just how colourful everyone’s wings were—unlike his black ones. No wonder people were always looking a little longer.
Adalia dropped in altitude as she neared a small cluster of buildings, and Matthias followed. They landed and tucked their wings in as they headed for the store, Salt of the Land, which seemed to sell every ingredient imaginable.
Matthias silently followed Adalia around the store as she took various items and placed them in her basket. A handful of Lightners looked him up and down, no doubt noting all the tattoos on his skin. None of them looked with disgust. He’d seen a few people with tattoos displayed upon their body, but none to the extent that he carried.
Adalia purchased everything she needed and left the store, with Matthias following closely behind.
They walked in silence as they reached another shop which contained many coloured glass bottles in the window. A liquor store, Matthias presumed.
He was right.
Adalia perused the wine section and Matthias trailed her steps, noting his surroundings as she gathered two bottles of a light pink liquid. “Is there something here that you’d like to drink?” she asked.
Matthias shook his head. “I’ll have whatever you serve me.”
“As long as I’m wearing barely anything, right?” Adalia said as she lifted her brow before taking the bottles to the counter to pay.
“Adalia…”
