CHAPTER XIV #4
Keane reaches a hand up to his chest, fingers wrapping around my arm in his sleep. I take a moment to let the genuine naturalness of the two of us together sink in, smiling when I see no hint of discomfort at how much I’ve taken up his space.
I hate to leave the comfort of this bed but I need to get up to meet with Cal.
I sigh and sit up as quietly as possible, extending my leg even further over his body as I hoist myself on top of him.
I gasp in surprise when Keane’s hands quickly reach for my sides and stop me mid-straddle, pulling me down so that I land on his hips.
He smiles and gives me a small thrust, smirking at the position I’m now in that leaves me seated perfectly on his cock.
“Good morning,” he grins, brown eyes alight.
I roll my hips over his in response, “good morning to you.”
“I have a feeling that you like this position, Lady Alexis,” he chuckles.
I bite my lip and bring my hands down flat on his chest, rocking my hips again as I nod down in confidence.
“I do, Your Highness. Very much.”
“Fuck,” Keane groans.
I quickly push off him with a laugh, not wanting to be tempted to show him just how much I would enjoy taking him under me. Keane lets me go, barely, and brings his hands behind his head to watch me move around the room.
I make my way to my travel packs, pulling out a green satin shirt and tan riding pants along with my black undergarments.
Keane watches me like a hawk as I change in front of him, eyes following my night slip as I pull it over my head and leave my bare body angled directly for his view.
I deliberately take my time to put on the rest of my clothes, fingers skimming up the sides of my legs as I pull on the black lace and lingering when I do the bralette next.
He watches ever movement with a heated pleasure, his gaze never once leaving my body.
I pull my hair into a tight braid once I’m dressed and let it fall between my shoulders.
Keane smirks when my hand juts up below my ear, my instincts feeling for a bruise that is no longer there.
I chuckle a bit sadly and sit on the plush chair next to the fire, pulling on my boots and strapping the larger green agate blade under the leather.
I take the smaller out of my other boot and strap it to my bicep, pulling the shirt down and back over the middle of my arm to cover it.
“It’s Cal,” Keane says from across the room.
“Hmm?” I look at him confused.
“You train with him, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I nod easily, not feeling the need to hide the knowledge any longer, “not self-taught, as I told your brother. Cal’s taught me everything I know.”
He pulls himself up on the bed, back leaning against the headboard. “And what is everything you know?”
I shrug at the Prince and stand up to tuck my shirt into my pants, “enough to properly defend myself in close encounters. Hand-to-hand and mainly self-defense.”
Keane nods in approval, “and your affinity with a dagger?”
“Cal’s idea,” I reply, moving to the door to grab my cloak, “or I guess your father’s.
He pushed me towards the green agate. I had no desire to learn in the beginning of our travels, but I’ve grown to like them now.
Cal says my aim is natural, though he ignores the fact that any skill I have is all thanks to him. ”
“You pierced a man through the throat atop a moving horse, Alexis,” Keane watches me quietly, “and aimed true between the eyes of an Ancient. Your talent is natural.”
I shrug again and grab my travel bag from the foot of the bed, slinging it around my shoulder. “Two years of training will do that. Can I stay in your Hidden City tonight?”
“We will stay in the Hidden City tonight,” he nods.
I grin and pull my hood up around my face, “thank you.”
I glance to Stormfall above Keane and meet his yellow, sleepy eyes.
His gaze narrows when I tilt my head towards the door and beckon him with me, the Bird of Ash not happy to be awake but pushing off the headboard, nonetheless.
He lands on my shoulder and quickly slips underneath my hood to fall asleep again.
“This is a first,” Keane laughs as I reach for the door.
I turn back to him in curiosity and catch his playful eyes. “What is?”
“You,” he smirks, “leaving me alone in bed. Normally it’s me walking away.”
I grin wickedly, truly having no doubt about being the first woman to ever willingly leave a man like him under the sheets.
“Penance for making me go to sleep last night, Your Highness.”
Keane’s laugh is deep as I walk out the door. I spot Golem farther down the hall and walk towards him with a sad smile, greeting his purely stoic features as he looks back at me.
“I’m sorry for last night, Golem. I let my emotions get the better of me in the moment. Please forgive me.”
The magical creature nods silently, hopefully in acceptance of my apology.
“I’m going to train with Cal. Will you join us?”
Golem nods again. I let out a deep breath and give him another smile, turning down the hall to knock on Cal’s door with another apology ready at my lips.
Cal opens his door almost instantly, his eyes holding mine with deep concern. I immediately reach out and draw him into a hug, Stormfall chirping from my shoulder at the sudden clashing of body parts.
“I swear I was going to tell you everything once we got back to Bardot. I didn’t know they were going to bring it up last night. I’m only a few days into learning all this information as well.”
“I know, Alex,” he nods against me, arms wrapping me into his large body, “the Prince explained everything after you left. I’m sorry I overreacted.”
“No,” I shake my head against his beard, “you were hurt. I would be too. You do not need to apologize, not ever.”
Cal takes a step back and brings his hands to the sides of my shoulders, “and you? How are you doing with all of this information?”
“I’ll let you know when I figure that out,” I give a half laugh, “I really just want to sit down with Zander and hear what he has to say. I feel like there’s so much more to this than we know. Information that only he can give us.”
“Then we’ll make sure you get that meeting,” Cal’s eyes flick to Golem behind me who nods earnestly.
I smile at my friend, “do you know what room Holis is in?”
Cal steps through his door and closes it behind him, leading us into the common room of the inn and towards the hall on the other end.
He stops to knock on the first door before both Holis and Mana greet us, their angular faces graced with an apology in the same way mine was.
No words are needed between the four of us as we all walk out of the inn together in understanding.
We’re still the same traveling companions that we were when we first set off on this journey two years ago, and right now, I know nothing will change that.
The four of us move onto the main road and follow Cal as he leads us to the village’s small training fields. There truly is no reason to hide in the seclusion of the woods any longer. Everyone in our traveling group now knows of the green agate weapon I handle.
“I met him last night,” I tell the group quietly, “the Ancient, Hirovale. I met him last night. He is awake.”
Holis and Mana stop dead in their tracks at the words.
The twins look at eachother with wide eyes as Cal stares at me in disbelief. “You met an Ancient?”
“Yes,” I nod at my big friend and then frown, “but I don’t think I like him all that much.”
Holis and Mana look at eachother in small conversation before the two of them start laughing.
The sound is light and airy and causes Cal and I to stop in our walk as well, the two of us turning to them in bewilderment.
Holis slaps his brother on the shoulder and grins, while Mana dabs his eyes a little as he looks at me in amusement.
“That’s too bad, Alexis,” he shakes his head with a smile, “because the Ancient certainly likes you.”
“That is precisely why I don’t care for him,” I point out, “I don’t want his attention.”
The twins continue to look at me, grinning from ear to ear.
“And now I don’t think I care for both of you that much either,” I roll my eyes at their amusement and continue my walk.
“Did he explain more to you?” Holis darts up from behind.
“Not really,” I sigh, thinking of the Ancient from last night, “he was very vague but demanding in the same breath. He said he was off to awaken a few more of his brothers and sisters. Hopefully that will keep him out of my hair for a while.”
Holis turns to his brother in thought, “Sianoa, certainly… Heysan without a doubt. Hopefully first.”
Mana nods to both names, “Nolan?”
“Maybe. He’s worked with him in the past. Perhaps even Tomo…”
“Tomo is a gamble.”
“You’re right. Sianoa would not like that.”
Cal and I catch each other’s eyes as the brothers continue to discuss the Ancient Ten and who they think Hirovale will awaken first from their sleep.
We both shake our heads with our own amused smiles and shrug, letting the twins continue what is obviously their area of expertise.
I have no doubt they’ll fill us in when they need to, but I do make sure to note the four names they just spoke, curious to read more into the Ancients and refresh my knowledge.
I’m already vaguely familiar with Sianoa, the Ancient of the Mystics and Unknown.
Elena Bardot, King Zander’s only daughter and sister to Keane, Desmond and Troy, studies under the guidance of Sianoa’s Seers in the Temple City of Alston in Woodlands Court.
They’re a quiet bunch, though I’m still not exactly sure what all their studies encompass.
Then there’s Heysan. I’m also familiar with that lesser Ancient because I genuinely liked the fact that he was known to enjoy drinking just as much if not more than I do.
“Wait,” I ask the twins as we reach the training fields, “what would the Ancient of Death and Exploration want with the Ancient of Good Fortune and Celebration?”