Stella loved the feel of the sun on her skin. The winter had been long and cold. Though Royce had kept her warm all winter-she blushed at the thought-She had missed the spring. He rode by her side, also soaking in the sun. His scar tugged lightly on the corner of his mouth as he smiled, and his long black hair shined.
" Just because my eyes are closed, does not mean I cannot feel you watching me, my heart. We can camp now and catch up later." Royce opened one eye and peeked at Stella, who was now scarlet, and he chuckled, closing his eyes again. Stella said a few rude words, causing him to laugh again. She thought of the winter she had spent with him, and she smiled a secret smile. Though they had not had sex, Royce had done plenty of other things to her. He still had not let her touch him, though, and it was driving her mad. Many long baths where she had wanted to stroke him, and he had held her back, distracting her with wondrous things he could do to her body. Royce had shown Stella how beautiful she was, and how freeing being with a man who loved her could be. Royce had made it his personal mission to make Stella feel beautiful in every way. After her outburst about her being a thicker woman and fussing about her hair- it broke Royce to think that she thought less of herself because she was not what the nobles considered a traditional beauty. Royce wanted to marry Stella, but he made it clear he would not force her. After Ben's proposal to Kora, she had expected Royce to do something similar. But Royce had shaken his head when Stella asked.
"I want you to want this, Stells. I will marry you right now if you say it. I will go to catch the magistrate, and we can get it done. I do not need all the hype and pomp. You need to ask me. I will know you are truly ready then." She had stuttered and fussed, the idea of proposing to a man alien to her. He had simply laughed, and pointed out that in Kora's time, it was the woman who proposed and not the man. Kora had agreed and said that though it did not happen as often, it was a tradition passed down by the first of the Fae- who honored women. Since they were the creators of life, women were sacred. They ran the world, as she put it, and the ladies laughed. Her mind snapping to the present, she tossed her hair over her shoulder, a sigh of impatience escaping. Just then, Malik and Ludis approached, and she was happy about the distraction.
" We are making great time; we should be at Titan on another day or so. I still cannot believe the change in Karta." Ludis remarked as she drew close to Royce and Stella. Malik agreed, also taken aback at the growth. Kora and Stella had truly outdone themselves.
" I would have to agree, it looks like letting you become a mage was in my best interest." Malik teased Stella as she stuck her tongue out at him.
" Such noble behavior -" Ludis teased as well, laughing. Stella scowled, and her brother guffawed. Hugging her friend from the saddle, Ludis patted her on the shoulder in mock comfort.
" Sounds like the pooch has gotten something." Royce grabbed his bow, as they heard Shadow howling. Tearing through the forest brush, a large buck broke through into the middle of the road, startling the horses and mules pulling the wagon. Soldiers pulled their weapons, startled as well. Shadow was hot on his heels.
Like lightning, Royce downed the Buck, an arrow straight through the eye. He hopped off his horse, and approached an enormously proud looking Shadow as he stood over the buck, like he had felled the beast himself. Royce scratched his ears and tossed a piece of jerky at him from his satchel. Malik had dismounted as well, looking the animal over.
" Dinner anyone?" Royce called, and Malik laughed as he pulled the buck up by the antlers, examining Royce's shot with appreciation.
Kora clapped enthusiastically as Royce and Malik approached with the buck slung over Royce's horse. Shadow jumped, placing his paws on Kora's shoulders, and she hugged him hard, rubbing his back. The dog's tongue lolled, and he almost knocked Kora over with his weight. Ben stood behind her, laughing as he supported her and the gigantic dog. Ben scratched his ears and went to look the buck over. It was huge, and its antlers dragged on the ground. Considering Royce's horse was almost 18 hands high; it was quite an accomplishment.
" I see why the merchant had wanted to get rid of him, he really is a terror." Ben laughed as Kora wound a vine around the buck's legs, pulling it up the tree, so the men could clean it. Malik's knife, already drawn, began to skin the deer. Ludis and Stella approached and started to set up camp as the men got to work. Campfires went up as the sun set, and everyone had a delicious venison stew for dinner. Though his antics had initially caused a fright, everyone was now congratulating Shadow, and he was so full from the free bits of food he received, that he lay next to the fire, bloated and asleep. Relaxing against Ben, he was busy murmuring and kissing Kora's neck and ear, telling her all about the private room he planned to rent in Titan for them, and she chuckled at his antics. The others were cuddling and having similar conversations. She loved being on the road again. Everyone put the fact that they were royalty aside, and they were freer. It was so nice to see Ludis and Malik, Stella and Royce express their love freely. Now that she and Ben were engaged, he did not bother to follow proper protocol, no matter where they were. He never missed a moment to touch her or show other men that she was his. Staring into the fire, Kora felt herself falling into a sleepy trance, at peace. She blinked, trying not to fall asleep just yet. She sat up, and she was alone around the fireplace. Confused, she looked around. Where was Ben? Her siblings, her friends? The soldiers, the mages in training? She was alone, not even Shadow was there. She felt a chill move up her spine as she stood up quickly, reaching Reaper. Drawing both blades, she connected them quickly, turning. Standing on the other side of the fire, was Drew. She felt the blood drain from her face, and fear gripped her.
" Impossible. You must be dead. It has been 1500 years!" She screamed at him. The fear and anger were mixing, and she was doing everything to not shake. How was he here?
" I missed you, Koraline. I see you have moved on, but I still yearn for you… Your heart-" His eyes began to glow, and suddenly, he was right in front of her, inches from his face. He plunged his hand into her chest, wrapping his hand around her heart and squeezing. She gasped; the pain was indescribable.
"It's MINE!"