“Yes, you do. You know this,” Father muttered, cutting me off short. He dropped his attention back to me, his aggravation washing away as he looked upon my face. An amused smile eventually lifted one side of his lips, as he admitted, “Your grandmother was correct. You are adorable, my daughter.”
My eyes narrowed. “I don’t think my first impression on the other rulers should be one of cuteness.”
Father beckoned me over with his left hand to where he stood next to our Fae-gifts. “Ithink you’re adorable. Yourmotherthinks you’re adorable. Yourgrandmotherthinks you’re adorable. But the others won’t have the same opinions as your family. You’ll look properly frightening to anyone else. Do not fret on that, my heir.”
I stepped beside Penelope, my flying saddle ready. I pointed at my belt. “You are sure? I shouldn’t take this off?”
Father bent down and hooked his hands together to give me a boost up. “You are perfect just as you are. Now, get on up there and get strapped in. We’ve discussed your outfit enough.”
I placed my left foot into his waiting hands, then hoisted myself up, slinging my right leg around her back to settle firmly on top of my Fae-gift. I strapped myself in and evaluated the king’s black silk tunic and his black leather pants as he situated himself atop Javon, the humble crown all rulers wore resting over his forehead in a small glimmer of gold.
“Actually, Father, other than the crown upon your head, we match very well.”
Javon started trotting with a pat from the king.
Father stated over his shoulder, “Except for your belt. That doesn’t match our clothes at all.”
“Damn you, Father!” I nudged my Fae-gift, and she obeyed me with no other prompting. We caught up to the king and started riding even faster to keep up. I shouted over the whipping wind, “Should I take the bloody thing off or not?”
King Traevon tipped his head back and laughed. “I’m only teasing you! Your rainbow belt is spectacular!”
If he was lying, he did it well. I think he liked it.
I sighed and looked away from him, lowering myself to Penelope’s body and held her mane tightly. “It’s time to fly, my beautiful girl. Open those wings and let your father know just how amazing you are.”
Penelope’s ears twitched, and her wings unfolded, beating at the air. Faster and faster, she galloped, and quickly, her wings took us up into the early liquid red and orange rays of the sunrise.
Tickled by her tricks, I asked evenly, “You know I have your favorite treat in my pocket, don’t you?”
Penelope whinnied—most definitely a laugh.
“That’s what I thought.” I patted her flank and squinted through the wind. “Follow my father. He’ll be leading the way.”
Her wings slanted. One high, one low.
We veered through the sky, banking a sharp right, flying around the king’s grounds—the castles, stables, orchards, lake, and immaculate fields—until she met up with my father and her sire. Penelope kept us a perfectly respectable head-length back so that the king was in the proper placement as the head of our kingdom.
I snorted. “Now you’re just showing off.”
My Fae-gift flicked her head, whapping me in the face with her blowing black and red mane.
I turned my head to the side and spit pieces of dirt out, unaware she even had any in her mane. “And there’s the stubborn ass I know well.”
King Traevon took that moment to glance back at us. The king shouted, “I can tell you’ve been working with her! Penelope was so headstrong before. Your uphill battle has paid off! I’m very proud of you, my daughter!”
I plastered on a fake smile and ignored the piece of dirt still on my tongue, nodding my head grandly. I yelled, “She is a precious girl now! I couldn’t ask for better!”
He turned back around, smiling into the sun.
I leaned down, and whispered sharply, “I will give you a whole damn barrel of blue apples today if you are the most well-behaved pegasus anyone has ever seen—for the rest of the day. Deal?”
Ever so slowly, she nodded her big head up and down.
“Thank you.” I patted her neck.
My shoulders finally relaxed, lowering with my sigh.
Fae help me, but their blessed gift was a handful.
