Mathilda’s wings reappear, and she stretches them out, the iridescent white feathers throwing rainbows in the sunlight.
“I need to stretch my wings out, anyway. I’ll meet you guys there.” She shoots into the sky, her wings beating so thunderously I can only stare up at her in awe. I cannot wait for my wings to be fully grown so I can fly with her. The stumps that have pierced the skin have begun to itch.
Agatha leads a large black stallion up to Tane and chucks him the reins. “You’re large enough. You’ll definitely need your own now, won’t ye?”
“Yes, Auntie.” He grins down at her before wrapping her up in a huge hug, lifting her off her feet. Her arms are stuck to her sides, and she looks so small and helpless, trapped in his embrace.
“Tane! You put me down right this instant!” she shrieks, but there’s no bite in her words. Tane swings her small frame side to side before gently placing her on her feet.
She glowers up at him before a small smile graces her thin lips. But then she waves Lachlan and me to the white mare beside her chestnut one. My stomach clenches in anticipation of being so close to him. Lachlan gracefully swings himself up in the saddle before reaching out a large hand for me to do the same.
Tingles dance down my arm when our hands connect, and I try not to flinch at the unexpected sensation. I settle in behind him, inhaling his familiar scent, and a small weight is lifted frommy shoulders. My thighs graze against his thick, muscular ones, and warmth pools low in my belly.
It’s a battle of mind versus heart. The betrayal of him keeping my identity from me still stings, but nowhere near as bad as the day I found out. We follow Agatha up a path that leads to the massive stone castle.
The land here has a charming character, more subdued than it is in the capital. The greens of the grasses are a bit softer on the eyes. Even the breeze is more subtle here. Huge fluffy clouds are scattered in the sky overhead, casting large shadows across the land.
The tranquil quality of the island extends to the wildflowers that are light blue and purple. They remind me of fluffy hydrangeas and feathery foxgloves with oversized petals. A few trees dot the landscape, towering cedars with bluish berries tinting their needles.
Colossal boulders are also strewn about, their robust size large enough to hide a horse behind. The dark gray of the stone is blanketed with dark-green moss.
Lachlan points to various timber houses along the way, all with sloping rooflines that nearly touch the ground, mentioning which families live there.
As we ride closer to the castle, soft pulsing crawls along my skin. Goosebumps erupt, and I squeeze him just a bit tighter. His abs tighten underneath my embrace, like steel beneath my touch. He rubs a calloused palm along my arms.
“Cold?” he murmurs, turning his head towards me.
His profile is strong and chiseled. I can’t help but take a moment to appreciate his rugged beauty that mirrors the surrounding landscape.
“Not really, I think I just had an anxiety shiver,” I reply, going with bleak honesty. Lach throws his head back and laughs, the rich timber of his laughter causing me to grin and hide my smile against his back.
“Lena, ye literally faced death, pulled a mythical ax from a tree without any trouble in an entirely new realm, but became nervous just now on the way to that castle?”
He points ahead to the looming stone castle. I release my arms from around him and jab my fingers into his side, a spot I know he’s ticklish. He grunts, trying to pull out of my reach.
“Thanks a lot for your support, Lach.” I roll my eyes.
“Key, you’ve handled all of this remarkably well. There’s nae need to get anxious now. We’re already in the thick of it,” he shrugs.
But he’s right.
I am here. I’m doing it. There’s no need to dwell on it all now. We just have to keep moving forward. We reach the stone wall around the castle, and the portcullis begins lifting. A sharp whine from the ancient metal reverberates around us.
The horses whinny, stomping their feet in protest before we continue through the gate into the courtyard in front of the castle. It’s very reminiscent of Balmoral Castle, with its Scottish baronial architecture and the ivy climbing its walls.
Its charm reminds me of the Hall. It’s breathtaking, and I promptly fall in love with it. Where the Great Hall was more modern with straight lines, symmetry, wide open spaces, and stark white marble, this castle is like something out of a storybook with hand-cut gray stones, soaring peaks, elaborate rooflines, and formidable battlements.
Agatha dismounts and hands her reins to an appearing stable boy before patting his head and turning to us. “Shall we?”
Lachlan dismounts first and reaches up to grab my waist before hefting me off in one swift movement.
“I’m perfectly capable of getting off this horse on my own.”
“Oh, I’m aware.” He grins down at me, but leans in close to whisper in my ear, “I just wanted an excuse to touch ye.”
My cheeks heat immediately, but I’m saved from a retort asAgatha walks by and gently whacks him upside the back of his head. He whirls, his eyes dancing with mischief.
“That’s enough of that. She is the queen, and you are her guard,” she admonishes him.
