Keira
Lionel led them up to a long hallway. The walls were decorated with tapestry murals hung in measured, even spacing. Some depicted hunts in the pine woods, others courtly parties in the gardens. Her favorite piece was the slaying of a dragon on a mountain peak.
Her eyes were busy admiring the artistry that made the dragon’s eyes almost appear to gleam when Lionel said, “This one is yours then, ma’am.” He opened the thick oak door on the opposite wall, revealing a large bedroom.
Of course, then his eyes widened as if she’d insulted his mother. “Not sir to you, ma’am. You’re a guest of the lord. I am the steward.”
“If you require anything, do not hesitate to ask,” Lionel explained further.
“I’m sure I can manage. Thank you.’’
His lips pressed in the slightest sign of disapproval.
“Yes, I think we can both manage from here, Lionel,” Caspian said.
“M’lord,” Lionel said with a small bow. He carried on down the hall as if he had an important destination in mind.
“M’lord,” Keira whispered with a smirk.
Caspian grinned down at her and tugged gently at her ear. “Come on,” he said, tilting his head toward the door before he went in.
Keira followed slowly. She had almost forgotten that teasing gesture. A smile blossomed from within her to feel it again.
Inside her room, the flagstone floor was covered by a massive rug patterned with twining vines of thorns and roses.
A giant four poster bed dominated most of the space.
Its columns were carved with ivy vines running trails up to the canopy.
At the foot was a matching wooden chest for her belongings, though she didn’t have much to fill it with.
A stone carved fireplace was attended by two armchairs nestled on a bearskin rug.
On the opposite end, across the ridiculously large bed, was a narrow window slatted with colored diamonds.
Before it was a small round table with a simple chair, a vase of flowers, and a washbasin.
“This is all for me?” Keira asked. She’d spent the better part of two years sleeping in roadside camps or on straw mattresses in random seedy taverns. Either that or on a couch in the library of Grimlocke House. Needless to say, by comparison, this was decadent in the extreme.
“Well, yeah,” Caspian said. His hands were fixed on his hips, tension carrying in his shoulders.
At first, she was worried that he was upset that she didn’t seem to be fitting into all this.
Of course, she felt completely out of her depth.
Then she realized, as hard as she was trying to impress him, he was trying to impress her.
Caspian was presenting his life to her, for her inspection. He was nervous.
“I’ll admit, I couldn’t really picture it before, you being a lord…” Keira leveled a smile at him and he softened slightly. “Caspian, this place, this room- It’s amazing.”
He looked down, away from her flattery. She loved how humble he still was, how easily embarrassed too.
“It’s work keeping the place up and looking out for all the people, solving problems. And it took some time finding my footing.
But the prince had faith in me, that I could live up to the title before I did.
I still feel like I’m learning how to manage it all.
” Caspian rubbed his neck. “It was a lot to get used to, all the rituals and responsibilities.”
“And the castle too,” Keira teased.
“Yeah.” He sighed a laugh, looking around as if he couldn’t believe it all either. After a moment, his gaze fixed back on her, his brow more serious. “Is there anything you need? I can send into town for it. Llyndale has some very talented craftspeople.”
Keira looked down at her traveling clothes. Though she could clean them in an instant with her magic, they were still worn in, better suited for the wilderness than a castle. Still. “I can just magic back to the tower to grab a few things.”
“Really, Keira,” Caspian said. “Let me order you some new clothes.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” she recoiled.
“Absolutely nothing. I love your clothes.” He smiled suggestively, and Keira grinned begrudgingly back.
“But I like to stimulate the economy in the villages as much as possible. I have so much to give, and it’s good to keep it moving.
” He sighed again. “They pay all these taxes, which is good. Roads need repairing, and roofing the schoolhouse last summer cost, but there’s so much left over too.
It’s my responsibility to give some back. ”
“Oh,” was all she could manage as she followed his logic.
“And- it’s ridiculous and vain, and I wouldn’t care a single bit- but I know you want to fit in here. A lot of the born nobles, they care about that stuff. They make judgments on it. I don’t want them to think for a second you’re any less than you are.”
“Caspian-”
“No, you’re right.” Caspian ran his hand back through his short hair. “You should just be who you are, and they can-“
“I want to do it,” Keira finished. “I want to help your people, and like you said, I want to make a good impression on the swells too.”
Caspian smirked at her joke. Fate take her, she lived for those smiles.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” Keira said, closing the distance between them.
“You’re thanking me?” He studied her. “I feel like I’m asking so much of you all at once.”
“I like seeing this side of you, who you are now. It’s like you’re still so familiar, but there’s all these surprises too. I love it.”
“Surprises?” Caspian asked, quirking his head to the side.
“Well, you talk about the economy now.” Keira giggled fiendishly.
Caspian rolled his eyes, but smiled all the same. As his gaze returned to her, it softened. “I- I never imagined that I would get to share all of this with you. I mean, I always wanted to, I just never thought…”
Keira’s skin heated under that stare. “It’s amazing, Caspian, but I’m not going to lie. I’ll miss our private little cave.” Her voice was soft and breathless.
He made a noise in his throat, an agreement maybe. Her senses grew dazed as he closed the distance between them. Her focus was consumed by the feeling of his warmth, his scent washing over her, until all she could think of was tasting him again.
His lips grazed hers first, soft and hesitant. She met him, deepening the kiss as she curled her hand around the nape of his neck. Caspian’s hand pressed lightly into the small of her back, drawing her in and spreading a fluid warmth up her spine.
Even though she’d hardly felt more out of place anywhere in her life, at that moment Keira was home.