Riyan walked between two trees and we found ourselves in a clearing with a large, grassy meadow surrounded by more trees and rocky hillsides. The meadow was a beautiful sea of blue-green grass underneath a cloudy sky. Riyan carefully stepped into the meadow, gently placing his feet in the lush grass below, until we were in the center ofthe clearing.
He sat in the grass, holding on to me with both of his strong arms as he lowered me down to his lap. I took in the crisp mountain air, listened to Riyan breathe, and rested my head against his thumping heartbeat. “This islovely, Riyan.”
“Just wait,”he whispered.
The clouds parted and the full afternoon sun shined down on the meadow. As soon as the sun’s golden rays touched the earth, the meadow exploded with red. I gasped—thousands of small crimson flowers opened their petals at once, making the meadow look like it wason fire.
“Bloodstone lilies,” Riyan said. “They only open up forthe sun.”
I reached down and delicate lily petals softly brushed against my fingertips. They felt softer than satin and lighter than linen. I gently ran my right hand over the meadow and half a dozen lilies kissed my palm. My left hand swept over the flowers and the soft petals brushed up against the rough scar from theblood bond.
I slowly slid off Riyan’s lap and into the flowers. I rolled onto my back and let the fresh-smelling earth and the red lilies envelop me as rounded clouds floated across theblue sky.
I laughed like the clouds tickled my belly. My chest was light and airy amongst the innocence and majesty of theBloodstone lilies.
My only worry was when the next cloud would move in front of the sun and force the lilies to hide in the shade. I could not remember the last time I was sorelaxed or…happy.
Bloodstone really was nothing like Hyton. I had no games to play, no one to lie to, and all I wanted was to listen to the whispers of the mountain wind and breathe in the scent ofour land.
The lilies danced around me in the breeze. I ran my hands through the flowers as I spread out my body in the meadow. I was the First-selected, but I did not need the honor. All I really, honestly needed,was peace.
I laughed as I freed another secret—being honest did not have tobe painful.
I sat up in the flowers and looked over at Riyan, who had a soft smile on his face as he watched me play in the lilies. His eyes sparkled as he looked down at me and the wind brushed his blonde hair aroundhis forehead.
The clouds masked the sun and the lilies closed their petals. Riyan and I sat in the shade, listening to only the soft song of the wind throughthe clearing.
“Bloodstone lilies are very rare,” Riyan said, his low voice adding to the peace instead of disturbing it. “You can only find them here. They aren’t good for bouquets since they are so temperamental, but you can’t beat the wonder of seeing them all open up for thefirst time.”
I looked up at the sky to see when the cloud that kept me from the lilies would move on. I had only a few more secondsto wait.
“How have I never heard of this place?” I asked. “We have nothing like thisin Ravenwood.”
“People will only tell stories of Bloodstone that confirm what they already believe,” he replied. “The rest of Lycaster thinks we are cold and mean with nothing else to offer, so no one bothers to find ourgood parts.”
The sunlight broke through the clouds and the rubies of the earth bloomed again. Riyan smiled and motioned for me to come back over to him. I delicately stepped through the meadow, crushing as few flowers under my feetas possible.
I sat on his left leg like it was a seat made just for me. Riyan set the basket on hisright leg.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Riyan said as he opened the lid tothe basket.
“Now that you mention it, I never see you at meals.” I said as I peered into the basket. “Where doyou eat?”
“At a trough with the other animals,” Riyan joked. He pulled out a cloth bundle and undid the linen wrapping. His eyes widened and he smiled as he pulled out a bun topped withpowdered sugar.
“I haven’t had these in years,” Riyan said softly. He glanced at me and held the bun up to my mouth. “Take a bite, you’lllove it!”
I tentatively opened my mouth and bit into the bun. I expected the thick bread of the bun under my teeth, but my eyes widened as a warm, thick jam touched my tongue. The bread was hearty, but the jam was earthy and sweet without the tartness that normally camefrom berries.
Riyan chuckled and handed me the rest of the bun as he reached into the basket to gethimself one.
“Buns filled with elskaberry jam,” Riyan said before eating one of the saucer-sized buns in one bite. He smiled as he chewed and then swallowed. “Elskaberries grow just outside of the keep in the spring and Grandmother loves making jam with them. Sometimes she’d send a few jars to the academy and I would just eat it all witha spoon.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You can use utensils? Look at you, you surprise me moreevery day.”
Riyan laughed and I caught another glimpse of that dimple.
I indulged in another bun and Riyan had nine more. He glanced at me right as I licked sugar off my top lip. Those blue eyes did not leave my face and my cheeksheated up.
