40. Nicholas
40
Nicholas
U nimpeded moon and starlight cast a silver glow along the grassy route, giving the horses enough confidence to keep a steady pace.
It had been divine intervention that I hadn’t raced home. After watching her fade into the distance once she’d left the ledge, I hadn’t been ready to leave the memory of us intertwined in each other.
Those castle walls had felt more like a cold prison cell lately, and she had become my escape. The soft scent of pine in those woods, the salty sea air, the taste of her tongue, her warmth around my cock.
Her gentle scent fused to me, to my clothes, and racing home would only steal it away sooner. So, I’d taken my time.
At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, hearing my name on her lips. But her cries filled the streets with anguish, and I ran faster than I could think.
I could still hear it replaying in my head, the way she broke in my arms. This fierce woman who an hour before had run straight up to a man and decked him in the face. The woman who discovered me in the shadows, on a mission for the people of her village. Who, in all honesty, did a pretty good job of kicking my ass. She’d cried, calling out for me, her lifeline. An unknown, furious feeling consumed me, driving all of my senses, honing them, wielding me for one purpose—to help her.
I assured Ella that our journey would go much faster once the sun broke over the horizon. She was tense, understandably. We continued in silence for a stretch of time, leaving me to consider how rash I’d been in my haste to get these horses from the royal stables.
I’d snuck into the castle, removing the majority of my dark leather-lined outfit. As the prince, I took myself to the stables. One of the guards had left to relieve himself, and the other sat half asleep against his spear. With deadly efficiency, I commanded them to ready two horses and remain by the stables for the duration of their shift. That way, we would get far enough away from the city that no one could intercept.
Regret settled in my stomach. I should have ordered them to not report the activity at their shift change, to keep my actions private. But at the time, I had no other focus than giving Ella and me time to head toward the refugee camp.
Leaving her behind at that wall filled me with a cold emptiness, but I needed to be myself to get those horses without fuss, and if she saw who I was… I knew that would introduce another set of problems. The thought of her running from me had the dread of loneliness planting in my chest, and I refused to let it take root. I wouldn’t allow that option.
“We should give the horses a rest before the sun rises. That way we won’t have to waste time during daylight,” I suggested over the near rhythmic and in sync steps of our horses’ hooves.
She didn’t say anything, and I felt like I could read her mind. “We’ll make it there before a ship who left the docks tonight would, even with a few breaks. The canal is aptly named. All its winds and curves are a nightmare for ships to navigate. The travel last time took a day and a half. We’ll make it there hours before any ship would. I promise.” I stared at this woman who had drawn me in from the first moment I’d laid eyes on her, her posture stiff and straight astride the saddle, facing forward as if in a daze.
“Okay,” she choked out, a pathetic attempt at sounding believable. I feared she may be slipping into despair, and I wanted to pull her into my saddle and hold her tight. If she would fall apart, I would be there to keep her together.
I hauled Nyxia, my black and silver mare, to a stop, tossing one leg over and dismounting with ease. Ella had struggled to stop Maxon, her tug on the reins uneven, leading the chestnut stallion in circles.
A whisper and a pat on the neck were all I needed to instruct Nyxia to stay put. She had been my go-to horse for several years now and in that time we’d developed our own language with each other. Hence why I knew she needed a break, since she kept looking at me over her shoulder.
I came around to Maxon, clamping onto his bit piece. “Easy, boy.” I stroked my hand down his snout, seeing his irritation. “Have you ever ridden before?” I tried to curb any perception of judgment in my question.
“My father had taken me when I was a girl, after my mother died.”
Those words hit home. “Here.” I extended my arms out. She hesitated, but gauging the distance between where she sat perched atop Maxon and the ground, she settled on accepting my assistance. “Swing that leg over, unhook this one from the stirrup. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way a few times as a boy.”
She moved with uncertainty, her fear on full display as she kept trying to catch her balance. Her gloved hands gripped the horn and cantle so hard that the leather groaned.
“Now lean forward, I’ll catch you.”
She took a moment, but finally let herself slide off. I could have just grabbed her hips and stabilized her feet on the ground, but I found myself wrapping my arms around her waist, holding her close. Slowly, I let her inch down, feeling every curve of her body pressed against mine until her feet planted firmly. Even then, I didn’t let go. Her hands rested on my arms, her heat penetrating the custom fabric.
Silence surrounded us as we stilled. Maxon snorted and huffed, probably annoyed we remained in his personal space. I cleared my throat and used my hand on her back to guide her away from him while I took hold of his reins and walked him to the trees to secure him. Nyxia followed me on her own, and I stroked her a few times before loosely hooking her reins on a limp branch.
“Are you hungry? I packed a few apples. We can share with the horses,” I teased.
“No, I’m fine.” She stared off into the distant night, hopeful that at the end of our path, she would find her sister. Her arms wrapped around herself, like even she feared she’d fall apart if something didn’t stop it.
I stalked up to her. “I’m glad you came to find me.” I don’t know what made me say it, maybe knowing that she’d always been so guarded and I wanted to encourage her to lean on me when she needed to.
Her gaze snapped to meet mine. “I didn’t know what else to do. You’re the only person I trust in all this.”
Pride burned like a raging fire within me. I may have failed at a lot of things as a prince lately, but knowing I didn’t fail her melted away all that inadequacy. I closed the short distance that remained and encircled my arms around her, resting my chin on her head. When she returned the embrace, I sighed, welcoming her touch, her vulnerability.
“I’d suggest you try to get some sleep. We have a long day of riding. But I doubt you’ll listen to me.” My lip upturned in the corner.
“I don’t think I could even if I wanted to.”
“I know.” I ran my hand along the back of her hooded head, wanting nothing more than to pull it down, remove her mask, and stare into her eyes before driving a powerful kiss into her soft lips.
I wondered if a day would come where she would accept me for who I was. Until I knew that for certain, I wouldn’t risk losing her. I just hoped that if and when the time for that reveal came, she’d be ready.