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Elara shrugged. “Just trying to be friendly.”

The guards eyed us wearily as we approached, taking their time to open the gates with visible irritation.

“Thank you!” Elara called cheerfully as we passed.

The horses’ hooves clattered on the wooden drawbridge as we crossed the moat, a warm summer breeze meeting our faces as it washed over the surrounding soft green fields. Elara took a deep breath, her head tipping back as her eyes closed.

“Where to?” She asked.

“You lead the way,” I replied. “I’d like to see what kind of a rider you are.”

“Don’t you already know that?” Her eyes were sparkling. She poked her tongue out at me before spurring her horse on, taking off into a gallop across the fields. Her form was impressive, and her command of an animal she’d never ridden before was truly remarkable.

I urged my stallion on with a dig of my heels, feeling lighter and lighter with each stride of the creature’s legs. I hadn’t left the palace for anything but running Theron’s murderous errands, to haul off and kill whichever creature that had drawn his ire, in years. This almost felt like freedom. Just for a few hours.

The creeping feeling of being baited by Theron swam at the edge of my consciousness, but I batted it away. Not now. I wasn’t going to let doubt ruin these few hours for me.

Elara pulled on her horse's reins, directing it towards the lush green forest that spread out to our left. My horse finally caught up with hers just short of the tree line, and we both slowed our pace as we began to pass through the iridescent green foliage.

Elara inhaled deeply through her nose. “Oh it’s a relief to be out here.” She looked over at me, her cheeks flushed red and her hair coming loose from the pin holding it out of her face. “I was going mad in that place.”

“It will do that to you.” I reached across the space between us. “Are you alright?”

She sighed heavily. “Yes. I feel as though I shouldn’t be, after… But I am.” She gazed up into the sun-dappled canopy. “It wasn’t really him. I know that now.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes were sad as they moved back to mine.

“What are you sorry for, my love?”

She shrugged, clutching my hand harder. “For not listening to you. For being so incredibly fucking stupid. You got hurt because of me.” She blinked rapidly. “Please don’t think I - I was choosing him over you. It wasn’t like that. I panicked.”

I brought my horse to a stop, and hers followed suit. I climbed out of the saddle and pulled her down to the ground with me.

“My love, I know.” I pushed the stray wisps of her silky hair out of her face. “I told you, I understand. I don’t doubt you, or your feelings for me, or the Bond, not for a moment.Ever. Alright?”

“I’m sorry you had to kill him.” Her lip quivered.

“I’m sorry you had to watch him die again.”

She threw her arms around my neck, burying her face against my shoulder. “It wasn’t him. It wasn’t really him.”

“No, it wasn’t.” I pressed my lips against her temple, holding her tightly.

“I feel like I should be in pieces,” she said, pulling back from me. “I feel like I should be destroyed. I’m sad, but I feel like… Like I already mourned him. And I know a part of me always will, but…” She gazed up at me. “I feel guilty.”

“Why, princess?”

“Because I’m happy I’m with you.”

I smiled at her. “Keir would want you to be happy. He would want you to be safe, and loved.”

“I had a dream, one night.” Her fingers brushed over my chest. “That I was lying down with him, and he told me to go ahead, and be happy in the sunshine, and that he’d be alright.” A smile ghosted over her lips. “And then… then when I looked up again… It was your chest I was lying on.”

I clutched her to me, and kissed her forehead.Gods, I love you. “Then perhaps Keir knew how much I’d adore you.”

She nuzzled into me with a sigh. “Perhaps he did.”