Page 16 of The Forsaken Heir

“Well, since it appears you’ll be my guest for at least another twenty-four hours, I wondered if you’d like to take afternoon tea with me down at the family stables.”

Elle’s eyes widened slightly—not in shock, but in pleasant surprise.

“Oh, is the big bad Aurelius Decimus asking me on a date?” she asked and lifted an eyebrow.

Licking my lips, I placed a hand on the door frame.

“That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I do see where your head is at. Interesting,” I added with a smirk.

She stared back at me for several long seconds, and the tension between us reverberated like someone had plucked the piano string. Finally, she gave an almost noncommittal shrug.

“Sure. I’d love to have afternoon tea with you at your stables.” She rolled her eyes. “Jesus, I sound like a character out of fucking Downton Abbey . I’ve never been invited to tea before. It sounds fun, though.”

Never had afternoon tea? That was weird.

It was another holdover from the old days when both our species called Europe home.

Wolves and dragons had been immersed in the standard nobility families back then and had kept up similar appearances.

Afternoon tea was pretty standard fare for us.

How long had she been away from her family?

“I’ll make sure it’s perfect for your first time.” I swallowed when I realized my words could be taken as a double entendre.

If she caught it, she didn’t let on. Instead, she tugged at the sleeve of her robe.

“I could really use some clothes, though. If I’m going to be having tea with a prince, it would be nice not to wear the same sweaty clothes I was kidnapped in.

I don’t think this is appropriate attire, right?

” She pulled at the collar of the robe, revealing another inch of her ample cleavage, and I had to bite into my tongue to stay focused.

“I’ll send a member of our staff to take your measurements and get anything you may need. We keep a well-stocked wardrobe for visiting guests. I’m sure we have something that will fit you.”

She smiled coyly at me. “I don’t know. I’m a big girl. Do you think you can handle me?”

I grinned back at her, feeling butterflies in my stomach I’d never felt before. It was like an imaginary cable tethered us, and it pulled taut now.

“You’d be surprised what I’m capable of.” I took a step back and gave her a slight bow. “Until later, Lady Brielle Laurent.”

She bowed her head, but looked like she was doing it sarcastically. “And you as well, Lord Aurelius Decimus.” She scrunched up her nose and chuckled. “Oh, it’s so fancy around here. I love it. Are you going to tell me where these mythic stables are, by the way?”

“Whomever brings your clothes will escort you down.”

“Oh, a babysitter? Or is this considered more like a prison guard?” she asked.

“What?” I froze. “Wait, no, that isn’t what I meant. The house is a bit of a maze. It might be hard for you to find your way out, plus?—”

She shoved my shoulder playfully. “Calm down, big guy. I’m only teasing. See you soon.” Chuckling to herself, she closed the door.

I stared at the door in bewilderment. I kind of liked the way she teased me. A lot . With a dazed smile, I turned on my heel and hurried to the servant’s quarters to find someone to take her measurements.

I found a couple of maids near the kitchens and sent them up to Elle’s room with instructions to have her outfitted for riding later in the day, then.

After that, I returned to my room to change into riding attire.

The entire time, I couldn’t get Elle off my mind.

It wasn’t the fact that I was to entertain a visiting rival or the fact that I was trying to make up for my friends kidnapping her.

No, it was her . Everything about her seemed to catch my mind.

Strange. I’d never experienced this before with any woman, especially not one I’d only known for twelve hours.

Her quick wit and ability to catch me off guard was actually a welcome departure from the ladies at court.

All of them were scared to make a misstep that they appeared more like robots than actual people.

From the limited interactions I’d had with Bastien Laurent and her parents, I’d expected a similar personality—aloof but polite, condescending but in a neutral and judicious manner.

Elle was nothing like that. In fact, with her personality and affectations, she seemed more like a human.

Vince and Rasp said she hadn’t even tried to shift when they’d taken her.

What kind of shifter was so calm and unconcerned that when two dragons stole her away, they didn’t even attempt to shift and fight their way out?

An hour later, I stood at the western door of the stables, awaiting Elle’s arrival. The horses were milling about, some still in their paddocks eating oats, but my two favorites were tied up outside and nibbling on the grass.

“Your Highness?” a man’s voice called out.

Snapping my head up, I found Titus leading Elle down the grassy hill.

My eyes locked on her, taking in every inch of her.

The staff had provided her with a pair of form-fitting riding pants.

Her thighs, muscular but with soft curves, arched to her hips and her round ass.

The simple white T-shirt was a bit snug, but I was happy with that situation.

The fabric stretched and clung to her body, making it impossible for me to tear my eyes away from her.

She was my type, and I hadn’t even known what my type was until that very moment.

Most women who approached me or were set up with me had the same thin, willowy build.

It almost seemed like that was a requirement to be at court.

While they were all lovely people, they didn’t have what I was looking for—emotionally or physically.

Elle had curves, and by God, did I like those curves.

“You’re gonna catch a fly if you don’t close your mouth,” Elle said, grinning at me.

Clamping my lips closed, I returned her smile. “Sorry, I was surprised.”

She arched an eyebrow. “By?”

By how badly I want you in my bed and screaming my name, a tiny voice in my head shouted, and my inner dragon purred its agreement.

Instead of those words, I said, “By how soon you arrived. I thought it would take at least another ten or fifteen minutes for you to get down here.”

“Oh, well, Mister Titus here is a slave driver,” Elle said, glancing at Titus. “ Hurry, Miss Laurent this, and quickly now, Miss Laurent that. I almost worked up a sweat trying to keep up with him.”

Titus smiled and inclined his head apologetically. “My apologies, my lady. I have a fast walk.”

“That will be all, Titus,” I said. “Have the staff get the tea ready in the gardens for later.”

“Very well, Your Highness.” He bowed, then retreated back to the house.

Elle watched him leave and gave me a crooked smile. “You dragons are really into this old-fashioned stuff, aren’t you?”

I sighed and placed a hand on her lower back to lead her to the horses.

“It’s partly because of our extended life span. Old habits die much harder.”

“Wolf shifters live a long time too,” she argued, then made a quiescent little grunt. “Though, not as long as you guys, so I guess that’s true—o h wow!” She gasped as the nearest horse lifted its head to look at us.

“She’s gorgeous,” Elle murmured and reached out a hand.

“He,” I corrected. “This is Shadowfax.”

Frowning at me she rubbed the horse’s nose gently. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

“I must admit, I am a big fan of The Lord of the Rings ,” I said.

“Oh, shit,” Elle blurted. “That’s right. The old guy’s white horse, right?”

“Gandalf, yes. I enjoy fantasy literature. The other”—I pointed to the second chocolate-colored horse—“is Artax.”

“Shadowfax and Artax? Did you make them rhyme on purpose? Where’s that name from anyway?” she asked.

“The rhyming was by accident. As for the name? Another fantasy book. A movie was made from it that’s more well-known, but either way, it’s very depressing. I’ll save you the story.”

“Fair enough. Can I brush them?”

“They would love that,” I said.

She picked up a brush from the table by the door and brushed Shadowfax, then Artax. After a few minutes, she turned to me and huffed out a little sigh. “Why the heck would dragons need horses? Can’t you guys fly wherever you need to go?”

“Interesting question,” I admitted. “I will say that I enjoy them more as pets than as beasts of burden or travel. I do ride them, but not often. We used them in the past to blend in with humanity. It’s even more difficult to stay hidden now than a hundred years before.

When the humans gained flight, our lives grew ever more problematic.

Now? We tend to only shift and fly late at night, or in the deep wilderness.

At times, we do take chances during the day if there is enough cloud cover or rain.

It’s part of why we like it in this part of the country.

Lots of clouds to hide us. The last thing our kind needs is for someone to look out of an airplane window and see a thirty-foot-long dragon coasting through the sky beside them. ”

She laughed and started to braid Artax’s mane. “Does your dad ride? I haven’t seen him yet.”

“He had to leave early this morning for some business in Los Angeles. A normal flight in a plane, unfortunately. He’s been made aware, though, so perhaps if he returns before you depart, the two of you will meet.

“As for the horses?” I winced. “Dad is not a fan. He kept them here for my mother and me. She was the real horse lover. She would ride them any chance she got. I wasn’t much for dressage, but she would actually enter and compete in human riding competitions.

She was most at home on the back of one of these,” I patted Shadowfax’s flank.

“Sometimes it seemed like she preferred to ride a horse instead of flying in her dragon form.”

“She passed away a long time ago, right?” Elle asked.