Page 22 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

She cursed to herself as she grasped his mane. The horse obediently stood still as she lifted her skirt high enough to get her leg on the other side.

“Now what?”

“Hold on and wait for me,” said Casimir.

She took several deep breaths, looking over at Thorne, Quinn and Raine who couldn’t stop laughing. “It’s not funny.”

“It’s quite amusing actually,” Thorne said. “Who knew the princess who had such a connection with animals was terrified of horses?”

“They’re so big and what if he bucks me off?”

“He won’t,” said Casimir as he gripped the mane and swung himself up.

“Ava, we literally rode an oceandrake a few weeks ago and you’re scared of a horse?” Raine asked.

“I’m not scared, just nervous.”

Casimir settled himself behind her, holding the reins with his right hand. He put his left hand on her stomach and pulled her against him. She sucked in a breath as the horse moved and she tried to hold onto something, squeezing his arm wrapped around her waist.

“Ouch,” he said. “Please stop digging your nails into my arm.”

She hunched her shoulders and let go, putting her hands in her bunched-up dress. “Sorry.”

Raine rode up next to them. “Thank you for making my day. That was hilarious.”

“I’m glad to be the source of your amusement,” she deadpanned.

“Your boobs look great in that dress, by the way.”

“That’s what I said!” Quinn shouted from ahead.

Casimir tensed and cleared his throat.

“Enjoy your ride.” Raine winked as he rode ahead, joining Thorne and Quinn.

“What an idiot,” she mumbled.

“Tell me about it.” Casimir laughed.

They made their way through town, passing the shops lining the streets. Lanterns glowed in the trees and the city was bustling with activity. Fae, goblins and pixies moved about, running errands and enjoying their evening. When they caught sight of the party, they waved, greeting their king.

Thorne led the way, followed by Quinn and Raine, with Ava and Casimir bringing up the rear. The citizens pointed at her in awe, whispering among themselves.

Ava squirmed in her seat, trying to smile when she truly wanted to disappear. Her heart hadn’t stopped racing, and she fidgeted with her dress as the horse continued to move down the road.

She could feel Casimir breathing behind her, muscled chest pressed against her back. His cedar and sage scent enveloped her, and his hand was warm on her belly, causing her insides to flutter. She so desperately wanted to lean back and nestle into him, but she remained stiff, struggling to relax.

“Take a deep breath,” he said. “I can hear your heart racing.”

“I can’t help it. I’m nervous and everyone keeps staring at me.”

“They’re excited to see you. They heard about the attack and what you did.”

“How do they know?” she asked.

“The animals talk. Word got around.”

“Oh.”

“Earlier you said you had a bad experience with a horse. Tell me about it.” He pulled her a little closer. This time she couldn’t help but settle against him.

“When I was little, like six or seven, my mom signed me up for horseback riding lessons. But the first day, another child pulled my horse’s tail. The horse freaked out and bucked me off and I broke my arm. I refused to get on a horse after that and my mom had to cancel the lessons.”

“Your nervousness makes more sense now. I won’t make fun of you anymore.”

“Why thank you, general.”

“Pepper is quite calm. He won’t run away or buck you off. I promise.”

Ava laughed. “Your horse’s name is Pepper? ”

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s…kind of a cutesy name for such a brutish rider.”

Casimir leaned forward, pressing into her back as he adjusted the reins. “And what should I have named him?”

“I don’t know.” Ava shrugged. “Something mean. Like Nightmare.”

“You think I’m mean?”

“No.” She paused. “Well, you kind of were today…”

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. I’m just worried about you. I thought taking your anger out on me would help.”

“Don’t worry about me,” she said. “I’m fine. I’m handling it.”

“It’s okay if you’re struggling. This is new to you. I?—”

“Tell me why you named your horse Pepper,” she interrupted.

“Don’t think I won’t bring this up again,” he said quietly.

“Not tonight,” she whispered. “I just want to enjoy dinner.”

“Fine. Why did I name him Pepper? Do you see the black dots on his white socks? It reminded me of pepper and so that’s what I named him.”

“That’s…cute.”

“First, I’m mean. Now I’m cute. Make up your mind, princess,” he crooned in her ear.

Straightening, she answered. “I didn’t call you cute. I called your horse cute. You just have a big ego.”

He chuckled and they continued down the city streets, now at the edge of town as she said, “You can let go of my waist you know.”

He pulled his hand away. “Alright.”

The moment his hand left, she felt herself sliding. Scrambling, she grabbed the horse’s mane. “Never mind, I’m going to fall!”

His arm wrapped around her again. “I promise you won’t fall.” He pulled her against him so hard, there was no space between them. “You’re scaring yourself.”

They continued in silence for a while, city turning to country as they wandered through open pastures and farmhouses.

Ava was lost in the beauty of the rolling fields, lined by the mountains in the distance.

Farmers were out in their gardens, some using magic to revive and care for their plants while others had tools as they dug into the earth, tilling it for their next crop.

“It’s beautiful,” she said as she marveled at the landscape.

She needed this. This quiet trek through the farmlands. This peace away from the stress of her daily training routine. Away from the reminders of the last few months.

“It is,” he said. “I’d love to live out here someday. Right at the edge of town.”

“Do you want to grow crops?” she asked.

“No. I just find the space peaceful. It’s where Raine’s father raised us.” He sighed. “Maybe after the war, I won’t need to be so close to the castle anymore.”

She turned and glanced at him. He had a far off look on his face as he watched the farmers. “My grandfather’s farm was like this,” she said. “Peaceful.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Yes and no. It was lonely. But I miss gardening, though I wasn’t there for long.”

Casimir’s thumb lazily moved back and forth on her stomach and he continued to press close to her. Butterflies erupted in her belly as he asked, “You’re good at growing things?”

“Yes,” she replied. “Aren’t all fae from Monterre good at that?”

“Not necessarily. Being able to raise vines from the ground and manipulate earth is different from growing crops,” he explained. “Let’s see…You’re adept with plants and have special ab ilities with animals. And you’re skilled with a bow and arrow.”

“Yes…”

“But you’re clumsy and scared of horses. What else?”

“What do you mean, what else?”

“I mean what else are you good at? Bad at?” he asked. “Hobbies, hopes and dreams. Desires. Weird quirks. I want to know you better.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re friends?”

“Oh we are?” she teased. She wanted to be more.

“We are…” The way he said it sounded almost sensual. He cleared his throat. “Tell me more about you.”

“Well…I fidget a lot.”

“I’ve noticed. And you get distracted easily.”

“Yes,” she said. “Or I get anxious sometimes and panic.”

“I know,” he said quietly.

“Um…I’m good at cooking.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m a great cook. I always loved to cook for others back home. I would invite my friends over and make new recipes for them. I miss it.”

“Cas is a terrible cook,” Raine announced from ahead.

“Stop eavesdropping,” Casimir shot back. Raine rode further ahead, leaving the two of them behind.

“I love to read but you already know that.” She thought for a moment. “I’m also a bit of a neat freak. Cleaning helps with my anxiety. My hopes and dreams, you asked. I have no idea anymore. I used to want to settle down, grow flowers and live in peace… now, I’m not so sure.”

She turned to look at him and his eyes were filled with affection. Interest. He swallowed and she turned back around.

“Your turn,” she said, fidgeting and trying to stretch her sore legs .

“Well…I am not clumsy.”

“No shit.”

“And I’m not a neat freak, or whatever strange human term you said earlier.” Ava stifled a small laugh. “My room is actually quite messy.”

“That really surprises me.”

“I’m good at wood carving. I like to whittle animals. You said cleaning helps you. Well, whittling helps me. Gives me an outlet. I also love to read, but you know that too…and believe it or not, I hate mornings. I’d rather stay in bed than get up early to train.”

“That’s also surprising, general.”

“It’s called discipline. Trust me, if we weren’t in the middle of an impending war, I’d be sleeping in and lounging around for at least another two hours.”

“Hopes and dreams and all that mushy stuff?”

“After we wipe Deidamia and Andras off the map? I don’t know what I want to be honest. Peace. Land. Companionship,” he whispered as he continued to stroke her stomach.

“The hopeless romantic general wants companionship, huh?”

“Mmm hmm.”

They were silent for a while and Ava wiggled in her seat, legs and rear sore from being stuck on the horse so long. Casimir made a small grunting noise behind her before speaking. “Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” she asked, as she continued to adjust, trying to get comfortable.

“ That ,” he said in her ear.

“Why?”

He yanked her closer and whispered, voice lowering as his lips brushed her ear. “You know why…”

“Oh. Sorry,” she whispered, stomach dipping when she noticed the hardness against her lower back .

But she didn’t want to stop. Wanted to stay flush against him on this horse for as long as possible. Overcome with need, she pressed into him, unable to stop herself. He groaned as his hand tightened against her.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t respond as she moved again.

He looped the reins around the hand on her stomach. With his other, ever so slowly, he brushed her hair behind her shoulder, fingers grazing her throat. She tilted her head, exposing her neck.

“This is dangerous, Ava,” he murmured as he placed a small kiss below her earlobe.

She inhaled a sharp breath at the way he said her name and whispered back, “Then why aren’t you stopping?”

“Because you’re torturing me on this damn horse,” he said, voice thick with desire, as his mouth moved lower on her neck, breathing her in.

“You almost kissed me that day with the blindfold,” she whispered, closing her eyes as she leaned her head back against his shoulder.

“Yes,” he rasped into her skin.

“Why didn’t you?”

“I don’t want to distract you from your training.”

He kissed the curve of her shoulder and she whimpered, arching her back. He let out a throaty groan as his hand gripped her hip and squeezed. The ache of desire worked its way to her core as another whimper escaped her lips.

“But you’re doing it now…”

“We’re not training now.”

She turned and looked at him. His eyes were darker, pupils wide as they roved over her face. He leaned in and their noses brushed against each other, when a voice sounded from ahead.

“We’re here!” shouted Quinn, pulling them from the moment .

Casimir straightened and removed both hands from Ava, holding the reins as he steered them to the beautiful cottage at the edge of the forest. She cleared her throat, trying to slow her racing heart as they pulled to a stop near a fence.

Casimir dismounted and reached for her hand to steady her as she swung her leg around. He grasped her waist and lifted her to the ground, holding on longer than necessary as they stood facing each other. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with care before turning and leading the horse away.