Layana did not know how long they had been riding for, she felt weak and tired, the use of her powers and lack of food was catching up with her, it was pure adrenaline and determination that kept her going. The rain had stopped giving way to warm rays of sunshine, only making her feel sticky and uncomfortable, her bottom ached from all the riding. She had learned to ride a horse as a child but never had she ridden for so long. She did not complain, grateful that there were at least two promising companions to help her. Knowing that without them she would have surely been lost. “I don’t trust you,” Aren called out to Kayden, none had talked much - each lost in their own thoughts. The thunder of galloping hooves was all that had accompanied them for the last few hours as they had ridden away from Odairo and deep into the forest. A place where Kayden would be undefeated with nature at its strongest. “You don’t need to… If I wanted you dead, you would have been captured the moment you

Layana felt as if she had just been slapped, she averted her gaze, feeling her powers surge up, she closed her eyes taking a deep breath. Bella raised her arched brow sceptically. “Anyway, he was incredible, honestly the two nights he stayed here were nothing short of a dream,” she said taking out a ring of keys and unlocking a door. They entered a small bedroom with a small archway leading off to another room. “Did he… did any of the women get lucky?” she asked trying to phrase the question in a way that looked like she was simply curious. Bella’s face fell. “No. Many of us tried, but it seemed the princess really has done a number on him, it's not like we would have gone and told her we tried to seduce her man,” Bella huffed, “I even came to give him tea in nothing but a gown, but he slammed the door in my face!” A smile crossed Layana’s lips, a blush gracing her dirt-stained cheeks, she hid her face from Bella who looked very disheartened. “That’s a shame,” Layana said although

Night had fallen, the air was oddly chilly as a bitter cold wind swept past them. Even the animals of the night were oddly silent as if taking shelter from the sudden coldness that had settled around them. “Something isn't right…” Kayden murmured, their horses were moving at a trot, the fields were vast and empty. “I agree,” Aren said looking around, it was too cold for a summer night, and it had come upon them suddenly “Stay close, let's speed up,” Kayden said, Layana nodded as they all urged their horses into a brisk walk. The lower parts of her legs that were exposed felt numb from the growing cold. Only a few minutes had passed, when she felt the hair at the back of her neck rise, making her tense in her saddle. The creepy feeling of being watched hitting her strongly. She glanced around, her eyes sharpening as she observed the darkness. “What is it Layana?” Aren asked, after being asked several times by her to stop addressing her formally, he had dropped the princess. She di

They parted when Layana needed air, her cheeks flushed, her lips sore from the passionate kissing. Declan smirked “I may just be the death of you… because I don’t ever want to part from these gorgeous lips of yours,” he said taking hold of her chin and rubbing his thumb along her bottom lip, “I wouldn’t mind dying in your embrace,” she whispered, they leaned closer about to kiss once again, when Aren cleared his throat, “Ok you two love birds, as much as I’m loving the display of affection, remember we’re all tired, hungry, and there’s a lot we need to discuss…” He said his eyes serious. Declan frowned giving a curt nod. After all, he too wanted to know what bought them here. ------------- A short while later they were sitting in an office, in Declan’s quarters. The three had filled him in on exactly what had occurred at the palace, the hostility between Declan and Kayden was strong, both often dropping remarks towards each other. Declan now sighed deeply, the weight of the sit

It took Declan two days and nights to put a plan in place, assigning Elian of house Halan his previous commander to take his stead. Declan sent a message to the king knowing by the time he got it, they would be far from here. Elian did not know exactly where he was going but he trusted the young knight and promised to hold up his work and continue it. The four had set out a plan of their own, starting off was to try to track down Catherina the seer, they were also going to try to find Layana’s mother, who Declan believed may have some answers to everything that was happening in Ehlesaar. Layana had not told him about James, but she knew she was going to have to at some point, but she did not have the courage to, not yet anyway. Each night Layana slept with Declan, and after three nights she could not even imagine sleep without him by her side, although they slept less and spent their time in the throes of passion, exploring each other in ways they would never tire of. They had set