Page 24 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)
“I thought faeries could not lie.” Raising his eyebrows, Rydan assessed her. “Except that you believe it.”
“I am sorry, Your Royal Highness.” She kept the sarcastic edge from her words, but it had been a long day and her words were sharper than she intended.
“Surely you can understand my frustration when I am harassed by guests of your kingdom and then forced to play damsel and rely on you to rescue me.”
Cerne or Tayen would have argued or teased her, but Rydan merely nodded. “Why did you leave the feast?” he asked plainly, unbothered by her acidic tongue.
She sighed, biting the inside of her cheeks for a moment.
“I find large groups difficult to tolerate. I was going back to our rooms and found them occupied. So now I’m wandering around like a fool.
” She paused, surprised by the way his mouth twisted into a wry smile, as if he knew exactly what she had stumbled upon.
Clearing her throat, she continued, “I thought to see the stables and the horses you are so famous for.”
“Allow me to escort you. It’s the least I can do.”
“I couldn’t impose. If you would point me in the right direction,” she protested, wrapping her arms around her waist defensively.
“The stables are my favorite place in the city, so humor me and allow me to join you. I would love the excuse to avoid the rest of the celebration.”
Meara smiled, the prince’s humility and calm demeanor putting her at ease.
“Thank you,” she muttered, falling into step beside him.
He didn’t hold out his arm, so she kept her hands clasped at her waist, twisting her fingers around each other anxiously.
It wasn’t far to the wide doors leading to the royal stables.
“There are other stables that our masters of husbandry manage, but these are my personal stock.” He spread his arms, reaching for a horse that poked its head out from its stall. “Sorry I woke you,” he murmured, stroking his tattooed knuckles over her soft nose. “This is Kemuri.”
“She’s beautiful,” Meara said, softly touching the mare’s smokey jaw.
“She is a blue roan,” Rydan said, his eyes shining with pride as he scratched along her neck.
Wandering down the row, she couldn’t suppress her smile as she peeked over doors and observed the beautiful creatures sleeping. Some lay in the hay, others slept where they stood. Their glossy coats ranged from silvery white to darkest ebony.
“They do not have horses like these in Liosliath,” she muttered.
Rydan frowned. “How do you know that?”
Turning, Meara clenched her jaw, trying to think of an explanation. “My mother lived there for a time,” she said vaguely. His dark eyes moved to her ears, perhaps questioning if she was half-fae, though he kept silent. “It is not a place I intend to visit again. ”
Rydan turned back to Kemuri, chuckling as she bumped his shoulder with her nose. “Perhaps with this alliance, Liosliath will learn to not fear the fae and it will be a place you are welcome.”
“I doubt that.” Meara frowned. “Do you sincerely think the queen doesn't know what the fae are truly like? Fearing them keeps her people in line and reliant on her for protection.”
His brow furrowed as he glanced back at her. She stepped closer, feeling bolder. “How do you feel about this betrothal?” At the slight widening of his eyes, she retreated. “I apologize, that was inappropriate.”
“No, I understand your reason for concern.” Rydan brushed his locs over his shoulder. “My father is benevolent and just. The princess will not want for anything.” He paused, looking back at Kemuri. “I suspect she will be safer here than in Liosliath.”
She chose her words carefully. “I heard guests asking why she did not marry the crown prince instead.”
Rydan’s shoulders rose and fell with his exhale. “Liosliath was rather uncompromising, and the queen would not accept Emeric.” His expression turned wry. “He was not disappointed.”
Silence stretched between them, but she felt his unsaid words building. Finally, he continued, “It is important this treaty does not fall through. The terms tied up both trade, military, and land. It will bring lasting peace, but there is no margin for failure.”
“Then I hope it succeeds,” she said, trying to soothe the worry lines in his forehead.
He bobbed his head and reached for the nearest rope, recoiling it and straightening the tack hung upon the wall. Meara twisted her fingers together, unsure of what to say. She opted to change the topic of conversation. “Do you ride often? ”
“As often as I can,” he said, brightening. “You should come back soon and we can go riding together. Perhaps when Tayen cannot stay away from Eladin and comes for another visit.” He huffed a laugh.
“Perhaps,” she echoed, smiling back at him. It was a lovely suggestion.
The sounds of revelers leaving the great hall broke their comfortable silence.
“It sounds like the celebration is ending. I should go back. My sister is likely worried.” She swayed, eyeing the exit.
“I’d rather not have Cerne unhappy with me for keeping you,” he muttered, jerking his head in a request for her to follow.
Scoffing, she fell into step beside him. He made no effort to hold a frivolous conversation and Meara felt as if she walked with a friend.
Nobles drifted across the gravel, dissipating from the great hall. Rydan led them diagonally, steadily northward to where her fae friends would likely be.
“There you are!” Brenna broke from the crowd streaming from the hall and wrapped her arms around Meara. “Prince Rydan,” she greeted with a graceful curtsy.
“Good evening,” he responded, dipping his head before walking away.
Cerne draped his arm over Meara’s shoulders and she tensed. “I see you got acquainted with Rydan.” His voice was husky in her ear. Brenna strode ahead with Xurey, leaving Meara to shrug Cerne’s arm away. He stayed close like an annoying insect.
“He was kind enough to assist me when Liosliath soldiers bothered me.” She watched his teasing amusement drain away, leaving a smoldering anger. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I can handle a few guards. ”
“You should have stayed with me.”
“You were occupied. Besides, I couldn’t possibly take Ayala’s place at your side. How else would she wheedle her way into your bed again?” She regretted the bitter words as they left her mouth, but she was tired and had drank enough to shorten her reservations.
Cerne’s eyes narrowed dangerously as his lips curved into a smile. “You seem awfully concerned about my bed.”
She sucked in a breath to protest, but his index finger touched her lips, halting her words.
“Don’t worry yourself. Ayala will have found a bed more to her liking by now.
She has many friends among the human kingdoms and faerie courts alike.
She wouldn’t waste an evening with me, no matter how skilled I am. ”
Meara’s nose scrunched as she sneered at him. “You think highly of yourself.”
“You are welcome to discover the truth of it for yourself.”
She gaped at him and his lewd invitation. With a wink, he strode past her. Meara shut her mouth with a snap of teeth and stormed forward.
They turned the corner to reach their rooms. Xurey stopped at the door, and Meara yelped, “Wait!”
“What?” Xurey frowned.
“I think…” She halted, embarrassed to say what she interrupted. “I saw Tayen.” Blood rushed to her cheeks, heating her skin.
Cerne barked out a laugh behind them. “I guess they couldn’t make it back to the prince’s quarters.” Behind him, Brenna frowned, bemused.
Xurey rolled her eyes and huffed before opening the door. Meara clutched a hand to her chest, waiting to hear evidence of Tayen’s rendezvous. The rooms were silent and empty.
“I guess they moved on,” Cerne said, grinning at her. “Too bad. We could have doubled up our rooms. I would make room for you.”
“I’d rather sleep on the floor,” she hissed, ignoring his chuckle. Tayen had the right idea. The prince's rooms must be opulent and blissfully free of annoying Autumn Lords.
Brushing past Cerne, she steered toward her room. With a great, heaving sigh, she flopped onto the bed and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Wasn’t that lovely?” Brenna asked as she trailed into their chosen room. Meara sat up, raising an eyebrow. “Is it terrible that I hated the food? We are spoiled.”
“We should learn to cook the way the fae do before we leave,” Meara suggested as she unlaced Brenna’s dress. Her sister didn’t answer, but there was a sad turn to her mouth as she stepped out of the dress.
“I noticed you disappeared. Where did you go?” Brenna asked as she turned to undo Meara’s dress.
“Nowhere,” she muttered, “I just made a fool of myself.”
“What do you mean?” Brenna pried, following her as Meara hung her dress over the chair and threw herself back onto the bed.
“Truly?” Meara said, dropping her voice and drawing closer to her sister. “I came back here and walked in on Tayen and Eladin. Together. ” Brenna’s eyes widened. “I stood there like an idiot, apologized, and ran away.”
Brenna exploded in giggles. “Is that what Cerne meant with his comments? That sounds wildly exciting.”
“It was awkward. He winked at me.”
“Tayen or the prince?”
“Tayen. The prince laughed. ”
“What did you see?” Brenna asked, rolling over and propping her chin on her folded arms.
Meara shook her head, reticent to go over the memory again when she had barely gotten it out of her head. “He had him pinned up against the wall. Tayen pinned the prince, I mean. He was kissing his neck.” Her cheeks burned as she buried her face in her hands.
Hopefully, by the time he returned, Tayen will have forgotten her accidental voyeurism.
Brenna sighed. “It sounds very romantic.”
“Romantic?” Meara rolled onto one elbow.
“Well, not courting romantic, but like a romance novel romantic.”
Laughing, Meara stood to pull on a shift. “Perhaps those books are a poor choice to fill your thoughts.”
“They are the best choice,” Brenna sniped, grinning to soften her words. “I could sleep for a week. It feels like it’s morning and we’ve been dancing through the night.”
Humming her agreement, Meara unfolded the blanket and laid it across them.
Brenna snuggled down and fell into sleep instantly.
Meara listened to her steady breathing and replayed the evening in her head, suddenly grateful they didn’t go straight to Dornadan with Brenna’s untrained magic sparking out of control.
Her fingers traced the tapered tip of her ear.
It was hard to imagine their life in Dornadan in the future.
It didn’t feel like home, but she was afraid nowhere would again.