Gooseflesh ripples everywhere his breath casts over the nape of my neck, and his fingers dig in before he trails one hand up and into the dip of my waist, rising higher until he changes his trajectory. My breath halts altogether as his fingers caress their way down my arm, until his palm flattens over the back of my hand and envelops it with how wide his palm is compared to my own.
He lifts my hand up toward the saddle. “Grab the horn.”
My core twinges with the hoarse tone of his voice as he guides me with tingling sparking in my fingertips.
“Now, lift this leg into the stirrup.” He releases my hand to hold my hips again, halting my breath as he dips down, coursing his fingers along the sides of my thighs to cradle the ankle of the foot he meant. He helps me place the toe of my boot in the stirrup. Shivers undulate in the wake of his fingers as he trails them up my calf and thighs before taking hold of my waist. His fingers flex as he braces me with a strength I wish he’d increase despite our gawking audience.
“You’re going to pull yourself up with the hand grasping the horn and lift with this leg.” He pats the upper thigh he means. “Then swing this one around,” he adds, tracing his fingertips from hip to thigh where he taps.
I swallow and nod as he leans in to press his forehead to my temple, with his lips hovering over the shell of my ear as my shoulder rises in response to the tickle.
“Are you going to make me hold on to you all morning, or would you like to try to mount the horse?”
My eyes widen as I scoff, unsure of how long we’ve been standing like this with every one of my Guards staring in our direction.
I clear my throat and pull on the horn with what little strength my arm contains at the same time as I brace and push up with the leg held in the stirrup, rising much easier than I had expected after all of Varic’s careful instruction. I swing my free leg around to hook smoothly into the stirrup on the opposite side before settling to sit on the saddle, amazed by the height I’ve just ascended.
Varic smiles up at me with pride while playfully patting the underside of my thigh. “How does it feel?”
I press my lips into a line to hide the quiver building as tears appear and cloud my vision. Because it should be such an insignificant thing for a witch as powerful as I have been to learn a simple skill like this. Yet, the way he’s looking at me—the way he beams with pride at having been the one to teach me this—sends a swarm of heartfelt emotions, overwhelming me in their wholesomeness. Something to which I have mostly been a vicarious witness until this moment.
Stable Master Jan steps closer to take the lead in hand and explains how he is going to lead Filly around the corral, as well as how to hold my posture. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to the motion in time.”
I nod in understanding, and he clicks his tongue for us to begin, when my heart launches against my ribs as the gate clangs closed, and I turn to see the Prince leading a white horse, closely followed by his two guards.
Varic’s force-shield casts up and over my skin, helping to steady my heart as I track the royal who so casually leads his horse in a wide arc around the corral.
“Good morning,” Prince Auden calls, though we only just saw each other at breakfast, where he claimed to regret having other engagements until our ride.
“Morning.” The word comes out more derisive than intended, yet the Prince carries on, seemingly unaware of my being anything other than cordial toward him.
Stars invade my vision as my pulse slows with a blanket of calm casting over my being. I send Varic a look of warning, wishing I could telepathically command him to stop meddling as he siphons my anxiety and imbues me with too much peace—which could spell disaster were he to inadvertently cause me to lose consciousness while sitting on top of this horse. He seems to understand as he halts all influence and expands his shield to catch me should I fall.
“It has been a while since my last ride,” Prince Auden says, pulling himself up on the saddle, while his own guards move to stand on either side of Lars and Malin. “I decided I could use some practice, rather than make a fool of myself in front of you this afternoon.”
“Which you would apparently prefer to do now, mid-morning.”
The Prince smiles at my jest. “Precisely. Are you certain we have not met?”
“Quite certain, Your Royal Highness.”
“Hmm.” He narrows his eyes as he rides directly across from me so that we circle each other. “You know me too well for us to have only just become acquainted.”
Varic scoffs, while I shrug and offer the most convincingly demure smile I can conjure. Prince Auden’s hazel eyes flash with something just before Stable Master Jan asks if I am ready to take over the reins. He instructs me on how to best direct Filly on my own, while Varic steps closer to nod every time he agrees with the Stable Master. I acquiesce and swallow my pride as all eyes remain fixed on me while I give the commands to continue.
“How is it you have never ridden a horse?” Prince Auden asks. “I saw the absolute behemoths your traveling party arrived with. Though I am not certain those beasts would ever allow anyone to ride on their backs.”
“There has never been an occasion which required me to ride, Your Royal Highness.”
He sighs so loudly they might be able to hear it at the castle. “By some point during your stay, I will have you referring to me by name. But for now, I will allow this formality since you are in the process of learning a new skill.” He gestures in my direction. “I could understand never needing to ride, but what about desire? Have you never wanted to take a leisurely ride during your free time?”
Now it is my turn to scoff, and my eyes widen as I stare back at the Prince. “I apologize; it is just that I am not afforded the ability to partake in activities such as horseback riding.”
“Do not tell me you cannot slip away from time to time to do something you enjoy.”
“You would command me to lie?” I quirk my brow in challenge as the Prince lets out a sound of shock, pulling his horse to a halt.
I practice doing the same, partially just to prove that I can, with my heart settling once Filly easily follows my command.
