Chapter 5
Five
Oryx
I try to appear unbothered as we slip out the servant door, though my nerves are beginning to surge. It wouldn’t be the worst thing if we were caught—I could probably come up with a story on the spot if needed—but having Lizette escort me out of the castle would probably raise a few eyebrows.
I typically don’t require an escort anywhere, especially not a female. And definitely not the only human servant in the entire kingdom.
Warm sunlight hits my skin as we hurry across the short stretch of grass between the castle and the forest that borders it.
Neither of us says a word until we’re a few steps in, out of eyesight from anyone peering down from the castle windows.
My pulse settles, and my gaze drifts over to appraise Lizette’s excited expression.
“This is beautiful,” she says, her head whipping around to take in the greenery.
She’s right. The thick tree trunks stretch far overhead, meeting in a tangle of branches that block out the blue sky. Flowers that can survive without much sunlight grow among the underbrush, their vines tangling over the soil.
Best of all, it’s a nice reprieve from the stone walls of the castle. Everything is fresh, vibrant, alive.
But right now, all of the scenery I typically enjoy pales in comparison to the woman beside me.
“I can see why you come out here to get away.” Her eyes snap to me, and I quickly force mine forward. She doesn’t need to know I’ve been staring at her.
“It definitely beats being indoors.” I nod. “Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can hear birds singing far off, but they’re rare.”
“Are there any poisonous plants I should know about?” Her eyes drift to the colorful flowers growing just off the path.
“I don’t think so.”
She doesn’t miss a beat before stopping to bend and pluck one of the blooms from its place. It’s a tiny purple flower with countless petals and an orange center. She twirls it between her fingers, looking at it like it’s the prettiest thing she’s ever seen, and keeps walking without a word.
“How far are we going?” she asks, staring down the long path winding through the trees ahead of us.
“Not very far,” I assure her. “There’s something I want to show you.”
I keep it vague, giving her just enough info to keep her interest piqued.
We could keep walking all day, venturing to the mountains at the far edge of the kingdom, but I have someone else in mind.
Besides, her floor-length servant dress is hardly the right attire for an intense trek through the woods.
Maybe another day.
Today, I have something special planned.
After following the trail for a little while, we come to a much smaller one that branches off, barely visible through the underbrush. I gesture to it, and she shoots me a curious look.
“You’re not going to get us lost, are you?”
A laugh rumbles in my chest. “Would being lost with me really be the worst thing in the world?”
I don’t miss the pink that explodes over her cheeks before she looks away. Another laugh, and I lead us onto the path.
“No, I know exactly where we’re going,” I say, trying to reassure her.
I know because I’ve already been out here once this morning.
I’ve been considering bringing Lizette to the forest since our first conversation when she said she’d never been hiking, but I didn’t just want to wander through the trees with her. I wanted to do something special, so I stewed on it for several days before coming up with my idea.
I just hope she likes it.
She might say it was a total waste of time.
Not to mention the implication of what I’ve done…
I’m putting everything on the line today, making a dangerous move that could damn both of us if it goes awry, but I have to try. My hope hangs in the balance, and my heart slams into my throat at the sound of a babbling creek nearby.
We emerge into a small clearing with a sloping bank that leads to the water.
The water is crystalline, glistening in the fragments of light that make it through the branches overhead.
Next to the creek, in a short patch of grass, is a thick quilt stretched out perfectly. A basket of fruit sits in the middle.
Lizette stops short with a tiny gasp. “Oh no, someone’s already here.” Her eyes linger on the blanket. “Maybe we should take another path. We’ll be in trouble if we’re seen, won’t we?”
A smile tugs at my mouth as I stare down at her. She’s so cute when she worries, that little crinkle forming between her dark brows.
“There’s no one else,” I assure her, gesturing to the scene in front of us. “I did this.”
Her eyes snap to mine, the furrow between her brows deepening. Her lips are pinched together tightly as she tries to understand. “What do you… you did this?”
I nod, anxiety creeping up my back and making me sweat. What if she hates it? What if she wants to leave?
What if this was a total waste of time and I’ve gotten my hopes up for nothing?
I shove that last thought away, refusing to grapple with it right now.
She’s silent a beat too long, and I reach up to rub the skin between my horns.
“Do you not like it?” I ask, my voice low as I brace myself for the worst.
Her expression immediately shifts. “Of course, I do. I just don’t understand why you would do this all… for me.”
It takes everything in me not to break and spill the words I’ve been debating since our first day in the library, but I keep my lips sealed. Not yet. I want to spend a little more time with her before I risk ruining everything.
“If it makes you feel better, we can say I did it for myself.” I grin and shrug, taking off toward the blanket.