Chapter 58
Despite the soreness that lingered between my thighs from the night before, shifting on the uncomfortable wooden chair in Rinch’s dining room, I did my best to appear perfectly composed.
Lys sat beside me at the small, worn oak table, his hand never leaving mine, his thumb gently tracing the line of my knuckles.
With my cheeks still burning from the fire of last night’s kisses, and my shoulders painted with the deep shadows of his love bites, I tried to draw as little attention to myself as possible.
Of course, as a princess, absolute invisibility was a luxury I could never truly afford.
"Is the palace truly as grand as they say?" Rinch asked between bites of warm bread and fresh roasted fish, the very meal Lysande and I had purchased after our bath in the stable this morrow.
"It is more magnificent than the songs claim. The high stone walls look as though they pierce the very heavens," I said, a soft laugh escaping my lips, causing his wide brown eyes to open even further.
"Naturally, I would love for you to visit sometime. Welme is always welcome, and you alongside her, of course."
His gaze dropped to his plate, his spoon mindlessly circling his porridge.
"I do not think a mere farmer belongs in a court of kings." His accent, the very thing I had noticed the moment we arrived, was thick and heavy, far heavier than Anne’s, yet I found that I no longer cared about such trivial matters.
"As my guests, you belong beneath our roof just as much as any lord. And besides, Welme remains a high lady of the court in my eyes, even if she chooses to leave it," I said, turning my gaze toward her.
Her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, and her fair neck bore the same colorful marks that stained my own shoulders. Her green eyes shone with a brilliant light beneath her tangled, unruly hair.
"You are staying, aren't you?" I asked quietly. A bittersweet smile touched her lips as she slowly nodded her head. Though my eyes filled with tears at the sudden realization that my closest companion was truly leaving me, my heart held nothing but pure happiness for her.
?I shall miss you, Welme," I spoke honestly, watching her lower lip begin to wobble.
"As I will you, my dearest Princess." She rose from her seat and stepped around the table toward me, prompting me to stand as well.
"Isolde... thank you for everything. It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve you."
I spread my arms wide and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Her fingers gripped the fabric of my dress fiercely while her tears soaked through the thin linen.
I cried with her, yet I buried my face into her flame-kissed curls, hiding my tears so she wouldn't feel a single drop of guilt for choosing to stay.
"I do, however, have one final order for you," I said, forcing a serious tone into my voice as I pulled back slightly to look at her.
"Speak your wishes, Princess," she answered, matching my solemn expression.
"You must write to me constantly." A soft smile finally broke through my tears, and a single stray drop escaped down my cheek.
Welme let out a breathless sob and pulled me back into her arms. "Of course I will."
We held onto each other for a long moment until Lysande finally rose from his chair, the heavy creak of his armor breaking the silence.
"Princess, I believe it is time we depart if we hope to reach the shelter near Tera before nightfall," he said quietly, offering Rinch a respectful nod of farewell.
"You are right, Lys," I murmured, giving Welme one last, lingering hug before extending my hand to Rinch.
We stepped out onto the porch and descended the wooden steps, leaving the two of them standing side by side. The two horses, the unfamiliar gray mare and Lysande’s powerful black horse, were waiting outside, quietly feeding on a small pile of hay.
Turning back one final time, I looked at my friend.
Her eyes radiated absolute joy, a breathtaking smile stretching from ear to ear, while the strong arm of her love was wrapped securely around her waist. I lifted my hand and waved, and she returned the gesture with the same bright happiness.
"Let us go, Lys," I said to my love.
He smiled gently, taking my trembling hand in his before bringing it to his soft pink lips to kiss my knuckles.
"We go home, Princess."
On the third night of our journey home, after stopping at an inn each night, tying our horses in the stables, and then dragging one another to bed only to tear each other’s clothes from our bodies, we decided to spend this night beneath the stars instead.
We lay on a blanket in a clearing in the forest, and the moonless night allowed us to see every star scattered across the sky.
I held one hand above me and pointed toward the constellations, telling Lys their names while he listened to every word.
I turned my head to look at him again. His cheeks were flushed, his lips bruised from my teeth, and his brown eyes shone as they followed my finger and the stars above him.
When a shooting star streaked across the sky above us, I remembered something.
I rolled onto my stomach and glanced toward the horses tied a short distance behind us before propping myself up against his chest.
I intertwined my fingers beneath my chin and leaned against my hands, feeling his strong muscles tighten beneath my fingertips.
His eyes moved slowly across my face before he slipped one arm beneath his head so he could see me better.
“Yes, my love?” he asked huskily.
I pulled my hands out from beneath me and turned my face so that I was resting against him. His heart beat strongly beneath my ear while his free hand played lazily with my hair, which was spread across his chest.
“I know you bought me that horse, Lysande,” I said, and his eyes widened for a moment.
Still, he didn't deny it, and he didn't need to, for his heart beneath my ear was beating so hard it nearly seemed as though it might leap from his chest.
I pushed myself up onto my knees and crawled over him until our faces were directly above one another. His lips parted when I brushed my thumb across his cheek, and I lowered my face to taste them all over again.
“Thank you my darling,” I whispered between every kiss that night.