“I don’t know!” He whipped around to face me. “Maybe… It just happens sometimes. I can’t control it, I can’t explain it, and there’s absolutely not enough time to try and figure it all out here. So let’s go.” Before I could ask any more questions, he stormed off towards the trees, dragging my hand and then my body along with him. I didn’t bother arguing. He was right; the goblins would probably come to their senses any minute now, and we needed to be long gone by then. But still, who was hereally? Because the longer I felt the buzzing power radiating from his skin, the less I believed he was merely an ordinary human prince.
The goblin camp was much larger than both Lukas and I had anticipated. When we were bound to that tree, it was hard to see past the first ten or so tents, but standing, the ugly canvas tents and flickering campfires seemed to stretch on for miles. As we marched through the camp, Lukas used a stolen goblin blade to force aside any goblins that dared to cross our path. Though most of them bolted at the sight of him, screaming that the fae had come to strike them down with lightning just like he’d done with their precious Grimlurd.
After passing what felt like a hundred tents, we stumbled across a tall black horse secured to a tree. Spiky metal goblin armour protected its front and sides, while a long saddle was fastened to its back. With its broad, strong legs, it could probably carry at least five goblins into battle.
“We’ll get back to the palace faster with this,” Lukas noted, urging me towards the steed. Before I could protest, his hands found my waist, and he lifted me swiftly onto the horse’s saddle.
“But there’s only one horse, and I can’t ride without someone leading me,” I shot back, trying to ignore the tingling feeling that his touch had left on my skin.
Lukas untied the reins from the tree and moved to the horse’s side. “He’s big enough for both of us,” he said, casually vaulting himself up and sliding close behind me. My breath hitched. That tingling sensation was nothing compared to the way my skin now burned, especially when his hand brushed my bare thigh as he reached for the reins. I hadn’t realised until then, but mybloomers must’ve ridden up while I settled in the saddle. The snowy white fabric bunched around my upper thighs, leaving far too little to the imagination. Cheeks reddening, I shuffled in place, quickly smoothing out the fabric to cover as much skin as possible.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed, fiancée,” Lukas whispered. “We both know I’ll see much more than that when you’re my wife.” His lips brushed my ear as he kicked the horse into motion.
Scoffing, I opened my mouth to retort, but the horse’s sudden movement sent my backside sliding down the saddle. I squealed until my shoulders collided with his hard chest. A gasp slipped from my lips as one of Lukas’s arms wrapped around my waist, the other maintaining control of the horse. With my entire back tucked safely against his torso, it was almost impossible to hide my shaking breath. Silently, I prayed that he wouldn’t notice how much he affected me. Otherwise, this would be a very long journey home.
It was much easier to see the end of the goblin camp on horseback. Once we’d cleared it, Lukas used the position of the rising sun in the sky to figure out which direction led us towards the palace. I hadn’t realised how quickly the night had slipped away from us. We’d only just set off into the woods before the stars had twinkled out completely, and the once coal-black sky gave way to a hazy blue.
While we rode at a slow pace through the forest, a million questions kicked around my mind. There were so many, I didn’t know where to begin. And it certainly didn’t help that after a few minutes of holding the reins, Lukas’s arm had slipped down and now rested across my left thigh. After such an eventful night, it was already difficult enough to think without the distraction of his arm constantly brushing against such a sensitive area of my body.
His other distracting arm remained securely around my waist. Even though there was no risk of me falling now, I couldn’t bring myself to request that he let go. So instead, in my sleep-deprived state, I just let myself lean further into him. We were both filthy from the mud, but somehow he still smelled so pleasant. Letting my eyes flutter shut, I breathed in deeply then exhaled. There would be plenty of time for questions later. For once, I just wanted to enjoy the moment.
“Comfortable?” he murmured. His voice vibrated in my ear as I nuzzled against his chest. How was it possible for something so firm to also feel so warm and safe?
“Wake me up when we get to the palace,” I replied, not moving from my position.
“I thought you’d be bombarding me with questions right now,” he continued calmly. “You had quite a lot to say in the goblin camp.”
“I’m too tired for questions and besides, I don’t feel like arguing with you, I just want to sleep,” I answered with a sigh. “Sleep and pretend.”
“Pretend?” he mused.
What was I even saying? I must’ve been more exhausted than I thought.
Keeping my eyes closed, I explained, “Sometimes when everything gets too much, I close my eyes and pretend that I’m someone else, somewhere far away. Right now, I want to forget about Corlixir, and Drothmore, and the fae, and anything else that comes with a thousand responsibilities. I want to just pretend that we’re two ordinary people, taking an ordinary ride, and maybe we’re on our way back to your cottage – not a palace, or anything fancy. Just for a moment, I want to be only myself. Not a princess. Not a future queen or anything like that. Only Naria. And you can be just Lukas.”
I stayed pressed against him, listening to the rise and fall ofhis chest as he breathed. He probably thought I’d lost my mind along with my gown back in the goblin camp, but I didn’t care. As long as he let me stay leaning into him, nothing else mattered.
Ancients, I really was tired.
“I understand,” he said finally after a minute of silence. “We don’t have to talk or argue about anything important.” His tone was soft, almost tender. Then, the arm that was around my waist tightened as he squeezed gently. “You can sleep now, forest princess. I’ll wake you when we’re back at the…cottage.”
A smile warmed my cheeks. Just for a moment, I’d never felt happier. And as I drifted off, the horse’s movements rocking me to sleep, I imagined the two of us were on a boat staring out at a vast endless ocean. Realms away from any ruined kingdoms and wicked faeries.
Only us.
CHAPTER 33
It felt like I’d barely slept for minutes before I was rudely awoken by the abrupt shouts of Drothmore stablehands and the whinnying of horses. Scowling, I nuzzled deeper into my pillow. I had no idea why there were stablehands or horses in my bedchamber, but they’d be fools if they thought I’d be leaving this terribly comfortable bed anytime soon. It was so warm and firm, albeit a little bit squirmy.
Wait… Squirmy? Beds shouldn’t be squirmy.
“Welcome home, Naria.” The bed spoke to me in a voice that was smoother than syrup as I felt something thick drag across my waist.
My eyes sprang open. This certainly wasn’t my bedchamber. Surrounding me were the bright stone walls of the Steel Palace stables, along with a dozen busy stablehands. They buzzed around like flies as they busied themselves with the huge black horse I was sitting on. Nervous whispers fluttered between them as they shot occasional glances towards me, and someone else.Someone that I was leaning against in a far too intimate way.
Shame flooded my cheeks, and immediately, I straightened up in the saddle. I couldn’t believe it. I’d actually fallen asleep on him. We’d never be able to look at each other in the same way again.
“You’re finally awake,” Lukas commented as he slipped out of the saddle, taking all the warmth with him.
