Chapter Five

I wanted to thank Zander after our feet touched the stairs, but I didn't. I was so fearful that if I spoke, it would burst the bubble surrounding us. 

I didn't speak; I barely took a breath until we left the manor entirely. Once the night air reached my lungs, I flared my nose and pulled in lungfuls of the clean, crisp air as Zander clicked his tongue, and two horses walked toward us. One deep and dark, just like the night. The other reminded me of an Oreo cookie, speckled and sweet. 

I was still certain that bubble would rupture if I spoke, so I stayed silent as Zander helped me mount the sweet oreo colored mare.

"We have a long way to travel, my lady. Let me know when you need to stop for a stretch." I nodded as Zander clicked his tongue, and both horses headed into the night. 

We traveled in silence for what felt like hours before I was convinced the bubble of freedom that I had found myself wrapped in wouldn't burst. Then, I finally spoke to Zander again. 

"Tell me about my husband." Zander's head snapped in my direction with an expression I could only describe as shock at the sound of my voice. His eyes, wide and shiny, smiled. 

"What?" I asked softly, fearful my words had been wrong… was the term Alpha? 

"Nothing." He spoke swiftly, clearly. Then coughed, clearing his throat. 

"He is a good and fair man." He shook his head, shaking off that expression that had made my skin prickle as if I were back in the fae den. 

Zander took a deep breath before he continued. He told me about the king until the sunrise touched the horizon, saying such nice and pretty things that I was fearful they were too good to be true. 

A sudden silence fell between us, a silence I was almost grateful for. I didn't have any more questions, and I didn't know how much longer this ride would last, but my ass was starting to hurt a lot. 

"Could we stop for a bit?" I asked Zander shyly, worried he would be as enraged or bothered by my request as Theron's men would be, but Zander only smiled. 

"Thank the Gods!" He laughed, a melodic bubbling sound that made that prickling in my skin ease.

"I was hoping you would ask soon. I'm starved!" Zander's smile was boyish, playful in a way I wasn't used to. Joyful in a way that made me smile too. 

"I could eat," I say sheepishly with a shrug, watching Zander get off his horse and then stepping over to me, offering his hand to help me down from the horse I had lovingly named Cookie. 

Once both of my feet were firmly planted on the ground, the horses began grazing and Zander, with a magical snap of his finger, made a warm fire appear at our feet. 

"What's it like?" I asked, holding my hands towards the warm flames. 

"What's what like, my lady?" He asked softly, focusing on how my fingers spread wide to warm every inch of my exposed hands.

"Being… magical." I shrugged. 

"It's… useful." I laughed at him, stepping closer to where he stood.

"What's your favorite food?" Zander asked, as if he were changing the subject.

I thought about it, trying hard to remember the last time I ate anything but what the fae eat. 

"What do wolves eat?" I asked, deciding that I should likely get used to the food they eat. 

"What do you mean, my lady?" He asked, and I nearly told him of my past life, but instead, I bit my tongue and shrugged. 

"Shouldn't I get used to wolf food?" Zander looked at me with pinched brows. Before he finally spoke again.

"I know vampires, fae, and dragons eat certain things. But wolves eat the same thing as humans. So, I ask again, my lady. What would you like?" I nearly teared up again knowing I wouldn't have to eat how fae do ever again. 

"Roasted chicken, rosemary potatoes, root vegetables with a side of hearth-baked bread slathered in warm butter, and some hawthorn tea, please!" I smiled happily, forcing my body to still instead of dance happily in the seat that Zander had conjured for me. I hadn't had a true meal in years, and the excitement bouncing in my bloodstream was unruly. 

I thought of Theron's favorite stew, the bloody broth and liver. My stomach soured at the thought; I shivered. The movement from the tingling that ran down my spine brought me back to reality as Zander set my plate before me on a makeshift stump table. 

The steaming chicken, potatoes, and vegetables made me groan; a moan slipped my lips with the first bite of buttered bread. 

Against my royal upbringing, I began eating like an animal, starved and ferocious. 

Zander stood by silently, eating his own plate, but I knew he was watching me, judging me with those dark blue eyes. I didn't care, though. It had been so long since I had eaten real food that nothing could come between me and this plate of food. 

It was only when my plate was cleared completely that I finally stopped scarfing and sat back from the table, savoring the last bite I chewed. 

I looked at Zander, thankful that his expression was easy to read, and screamed that he understood and that I didn't have to explain. 

"We could camp here while it's daylight. It's easier if we do it that way, camp in the day." Zander said, changing the subject from my ravenous eating. 

Nodding, I stood, dusting the crumbs from my clothes. 

"After that meal, sleep sounds great!" Admittedly, sleep sounded great. But the comfort I had somehow settled into suddenly turned cold. 

"What will the king do to me?" My voice was softer than I cared for. 

"What do you mean, my lady?" Zander's tone was as confusing as his face, but I didn't know how to ask the question I most needed the answers to. 

"Will… I be a slave?" I twiddled my fingers, unable to look at him.

"Gods, NO!" Zander nearly screeched. 

"Wolves do not treat our mates in such a way." He said so quickly it nearly made my head swim. 

"As our queen, you will be treated with nothing but respect and love, not only from your people, but from our king as well." Zander took my hands, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

"You will never, ever be harmed." Zander shook my hands softly with every word he spoke. 

Zander flicked his fingers toward the flat that was next to us, and two tents popped up. That comfort had somehow spread through me again, reminding my body how thoroughly full I was, how… tired I was. 

I decided then, before I said something else, to go inside the tent. When I was in there, I rolled myself in the warm blankets, cocooning myself deeply in the warmth and comfort, and I melted, falling into a deep, restful sleep.