“Only the best sport to ever exist,” Nikolas said as he stole a warm pancake off the plate.
“Nik makes all his own lures. He has a vast collection of bits and pieces that he uses. Feathers, little glass jars of glitter paint, animal fur and shiny threads. It’s actually quite impressive,” Adalia chatted as she poured more batter into the frying pan.
“Sounds interesting. I’d be keen to see it all,” Matthias said as he lent against the counter.
“Sure. I’m free today, if you are?” Nikolas suggested.
Adalia glanced up at Matthias, who simply shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve got nowhere else to be,” he replied.
“I don’t have a patrol today. Maybe we could go to our spot and I could pack a picnic?”
Nikolas nodded with a mouthful of pancake. He finished before he answered. “Sounds amazing. I can be ready in half an hour. Shall I pack a few rods?”
“Yes, I haven’t been fishing since dad took us down to the river last year.”
“Will you have a go at fishing, Matthias?” Nikolas asked.
The prince nodded. “I have no idea what to do, so someone will have to show me.”
Adalia grinned at her brother before looking back at Matthias. “Don’t worry, you’ll be in expert hands.”
Nikolas winked at Adalia as he reached for another pancake before leaving the room.
Adalia waited until her brother had shut his bedroom door before turning to Matthias. “You don’t mind him tagging along today, do you?”
The prince smirked as he sauntered towards Adalia. Matthias stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. “As long as you are there, I don’t mind who tags along.”
Adalia turned in his embrace to face him, looping her arms around his neck. She stood on tiptoes and pulled his mouth down to hers. The prince quietly groaned as she teased him with the tip of her tongue, running it over his lip. She sucked his bottom lip between her teeth and bit it ever so softly, tugging at it as she pulled away. Matthias’s eyes darkened at the action and Adalia smiled at him from beneath her dark lashes.
“For someone who hasn’t spent a lot of time in their life kissing . . . you sure know how to do it well,” Matthias murmured.
“It helps that I like the way you taste,” Adalia crooned.
The prince stilled; then broke into a grin. “What else do you like about me?”
Adalia pushed him away playfully. “You’re going to have to stick around long enough to find out. You’re not getting it that easy.”
Her invitation called to him, tugging on that invisible thread that entwined their lives and bound them together. He could truly be happy here . . . as long as they stayed on this side of the Veil.
“I could find certain ways to extract the information from you,” Matthias teased as he stretched his hands towards her, wiggling his fingers.
“Don’t you dare . . .” Adalia cautioned as he took a step towards her.
The prince grinned. “Better run, little dove.”
Adalia squealed and dashed for her room, with Matthias close behind.
The trio took a small wooden boat out of Emerald Bay and down to the mouth of the freshwater river, called Somewhere, that flowed into the Drayton Sea. Adalia and Matthias sat at either end with Nikolas in the middle as they made their way upstream towards their father’s favourite fishing spot.
The water glistened like thousands of tiny diamonds strewn across the surface. Adalia lent over the edge of the boat and let her fingers trail through the cold liquid.
Beneath the water’s surface lay a bed of precious stones and shells. They caught the sun’s beaming face upon their own and sent rainbows of light back in gratitude. There were many pleasures in Adalia’s life that she took joy in. Silently and peacefully floating in this river was one of them.
Looking over Nikolas’s shoulder at Matthias, she spied him watching her with gentle intent as the boat rowed along. She raised her brow in response, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“I would love it. If you two didn’t drool over each other while I’m sitting here in the middle, it makes for a very awkward boat ride.” Nikolas remarked.
Adalia rolled her eyes and softly laughed. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and faced the sun, letting its rays kiss her face with warmth.
