Page 179 of Burn Her They Said
“Of course I have. Our Dragons must not be as sensitive as yours.”
A knowing look crosses each of my Guards’ expressions, as Dragons are known to be masterful at hiding their true nature until they determine you are worthy of more.
We offer our thanks to Stable Master Jan after more than enough attention has been shown to Filly in appreciation for her service, especially since I will be seeing her again in a matter of hours.
My magic detects Varic’s distress increasing the moment Prince Auden offers me the crook of his arm to hold on to for our stroll back to the castle. I siphon enough of his distress that his shoulders relax, selfishly sending a bit of the adoration I feel for him, though it may sting to receive in our current predicament.
Instead, his mood shifts with appreciation, coupled with the light behind his eyes having returned as he glances over at me—showing how I might not know much when it comes to expressing my feelings for the one I love.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Riding
Prince Auden’s smile exudes the kind of carefree exhilaration only experienced by those with immeasurable privilege. Even still, my stomach twists with the conflict of needing to lead this seemingly good-natured sorcerer into believing my interest in him is anything aside from forced compliance.
The Prince strides to stand by my side. “Thank you for agreeing to go for a ride with me.”
My stomach turns worse while I curtsy. “Thank you for honoring me with an invitation.”
Heat spreads from the center of my chest as Varic’s stare never seems to relent.
Varic’s shield pulses over my skin as the Prince leans closer. “We do not have to go far if you are uncomfortable?—”
“We will ride as far as you like, Your Royal Highness.”
“Please, call me Auden.” His voice is cheerful as he leads the way around the immaculate horse stables.
I nod when his gaze lands on me, though I will not be following this command. Because if his intent is to make me feel more his equal, enforcing me to comply with a command he has issued only separates us further.
Ripples dance across the plush verdant lawn, and the breeze billows between each perfect row of trees, enrapturing me with the motion until Lars pauses once we reach the edge of the clearing. Stable hands in crisp blue uniforms stand beside ten different horses—the exact number needed for the Prince and me to go for a ride—which seems ridiculous, aside from six of them being for me and my Guards alone.
Prince Auden tips his chin to me before striding over to his white gelding.
My Guards follow as I greet Filly, who awaits just beside the Prince’s horse.
Lars shudders, despite having replaced his fears with calm and trust on our way over. His blue eyes dart around the ground, and I reach with my magic to pull every thread of worry and apprehension from his chest before imbuing him with a sense of serenity, since calm wasn’t strong enough. I add in trust, hoping it helps.
Malin locks eyes with him and seems to share a secret message before Lars turns to the horse he is meant to ride, this time without trembling.
Fray moves closer to act as support, and my eyes flick over to Varic before I grasp hold of the horn. Heat builds in my cheeks at the memory of how it felt to have Varic’s hands wrapped around my waist as he helped me up to climb on this same saddle earlier—though with the ease at which I mount the horse, it seems I never required that level of assistance from him in the first place. I lower myself onto the saddle without issue and wedge the toe of my boot into the opposite stirrup as Fray shares a quick smile before turning to mount his horse beside me.
I turn just as Varic’s gaze darts forward from where he sits atop a brown mare on my right. The smile on my lips remains as I turn to face His Royal Highness, making it seem as if the expression has anything to do with him. He mirrors my expression, and guilt slithers through my gut at using my feelings for Varic to trick the crowned Prince into believing he wields anywhere near the same influence.
“See this patch of trees here?” Prince Auden points to a cluster of trees with low-hanging branches and thin green leaves that reach for the ground—much like the one outside my suite’s window. Though the trees are lush and beautiful, I have yet to feel the call to explore them in the same way I experience from the pines outside the Imperial Palace.
“This is where my friend, Bran, and I would hide from my Guards when we were young.”
My smile is genuine as he seems to recall a time when this happened, while I can only imagine what it must have been like to have whimsy and friendship in childhood.
“So many memories are held within this soil. Every moment we did our best to hold in our laughter so as not to be caught.” The Prince’s laugh spills from him so naturally, a twinge of envy stabs like a knife to my heart.
“Go on then, tell me a similar story from your own childhood.” The Prince juts his shoulder in my direction. Doom encroaches, forcing me to choose between telling him the truth or lying when he continues, “I can just imagine you getting into mischief.”
This assumption of his makes my mind up for me, with the urge to correct him feeling so strong, nothing could stop it. “I apologize, Your Royal High?—”
“Just Auden, please.” Heat hits my cheeks with shame swirling behind each of the pink splotches.
“I apologize, as I must disappoint you, for I do not have a similar story to share.”
