Keira held in a groan as she heard another horse approaching, but she softened as his gleaming white hair gave Caspian away even from afar. She smiled and turned to meethim. Beneath her, the horse shook her grey mane as the other drew near.
“Good thing you slowed,” Caspian said by way of greeting. “I was afraid I was going to lose you.”
“I thought you’d be occupied,” Keira said. It truly was a surprise seeing him with all the chaos she had left behind in the keep. She’d assumed he’d be at the center of it all.
He shrugged. “There has to be some advantage to being a lord once in a while, right?”
There was a hint of sincerity in his question. She could see the subtle guilt hidden in his features.
“I’m sure Lionel has the situation well in hand,” Keira half joked.
Caspian nodded. “The guests won’t be arriving for some time yet.” He straightened in the saddle. “And now that I’m here, I have to say that I think you had the right idea.”
His voice trailed off as he looked to the horizon. The sun was peeking brilliantly over the snow covered trees. The sky and snow was painted with all the warm colors of dawn. Beautiful.
Keira was absently aware of Caspian bringing his own horse beside her own, but his hand on the small of her back took her by surprise.
She turned to find his black eyes gleaming at her.
“Promise me that this isn’t a dream,” he said, his voice low, only for her even though they were completely alone.
His fingers brushed against her cheek, moving to cup the nape of her neck. Keira’s lips parted as he drew her in. This is why she had stayed, despite everything. They’d rediscovered their love, digging it out like some precious thing lost in the snow, only to find that it had grown, changed into something even more marvelous.
Caspian was an inch from her when the mare beneath her stamped restlessly. Keira narrowly avoided bashing into his face before she calmed the horse.
When she turned back to him, he was watching her with an amused grin.
“Looks like we’ve used up someone’s patience,” Keira laughed.
“Race you?” Caspian shot back, coming to her side.
Keira put her heel into the mare’s flank, and she took off beneath her.
“Hey!”
Caspian’s call was already distant as her laughter rolled freely over the hills.
It was a moment before Keira heard hoofbeats approaching her, but it was not from the direction she would have expected. She turned quickly, glancing over her shoulder. On her left she could see another rider, a flash of a white horse and a black cloak. It was certainly not Caspian. She was also certain that the rider was coming for her, and gaining.
Keira coaxed a faster pace from the mare, but she protested, coming to her limit. Her pursuer’s horse was simply superior as it continued to close the distance.
“Woah!” he called out as he came to cut across her path.
Keira took the reins in hand, pulling her full weight against them to keep from plowing into him.
“Fate’s teeth! Are you insane!” Keira said furiously. She could have injured her horse. She could have been thrown.
The interloper smiled at her as if she were being amusing.
It was as he drew his horse back to a walk that she saw it, the coat of arms on his chest. It was the golden rose of the royal house.
Keira opened her mouth to form an apology to this man, who was clearly Prince Gilbert, the crown prince and heir to the king, and found nothing but illegible syllables.
“It appears you have deduced my identity,” he said, still wearing the same charming smile. “Yet, I find myself at a rather rare loss. I cannot seem to place you, my lady.”
“You could have killed me!” The words volleyed out of her mouth.
“My infinite apologies. I wrongfully believed that your horse had run away from you. Gallantry is a fault of mine.” He smiled even broader.
