Ethan leaned against the stable door, watching as Joshua saddled his horse. "A ride through the valley sounds good today," Joshua said, tightening the straps with expert ease.
Ethan grinned, folding his arms across his chest. "Agreed. Though I hope you don't mind, I invited a third rider to join us."
Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Who? One of the generals?"
"Not quite," Ethan replied, his tone light. He turned toward the stable entrance, where Katherine appeared, her riding boots gleaming and a hopeful smile on her face. "I thought it'd be nice to have some company," Ethan added, with an innocent shrug.
Joshua blinked, clearly caught off guard. Katherine smiled warmly. "I promise not to slow you down."
Joshua stammered, suddenly looking a bit unsure. "Of course not. You're more than welcome."
Ethan couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. "Good, because she's quite the rider. Try to keep up."
With that, the trio mounted their horses and headed out toward the valley, the sun warming their backs. Ethan held back slightly, letting Joshua and Katherine ride ahead together, his matchmaking plan already in motion.
As they reached the clearing near the archery range, the sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Ethan set up the targets while Katherine stood off to the side, fidgeting with her bowstring. She couldn't help but steal glances at Joshua, who was adjusting his stance, his focus intense and confident.
"Come on, Kat! You're going to be amazing!" Ethan called out, trying to coax her forward.
Katherine felt her cheeks flush at the attention. "I don't know if I'm ready," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Just think of it as practice," Joshua encouraged, his gaze softening as he approached her. "You won't hit anything if you don't try."
She could feel her heart racing. Being this close to him always made her nervous. "I'll try," she replied, her voice tinged with shyness. As she raised her bow, she could feel Joshua standing beside her, his presence both comforting and overwhelming.
"Here, let me help you with your grip," he offered, gently placing his hand over hers. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through her, and she bit her lip to suppress a gasp. Joshua's proximity made her acutely aware of every breath, every subtle movement.
"Like this," he said, adjusting her fingers. His voice was low and steady, filled with a kindness that made her stomach flutter. She could barely concentrate on the target ahead, too distracted by the way he stood so close, the scent of him filling her senses.
"Got it?" he asked, stepping back slightly but not enough to break the tension.
Katherine nodded, but her breath hitched. "I think so," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Ethan watched from a distance, noticing the charged atmosphere between them. He could sense the slow burn of attraction that lingered just beneath the surface. It was almost palpable, like a thread waiting to be pulled.
With newfound determination, Katherine drew back the bowstring, but as she aimed, her eyes darted to Joshua. His gaze was fixed on her, encouraging but intense. The moment felt suspended in time, and she could hardly breathe.
"Just focus on the target," Joshua urged, his tone gentle yet firm.
Katherine took a deep breath, trying to block out the fluttering in her chest. She released the arrow, and it flew true, hitting the target with a satisfying thud.
"Nice shot!" Ethan cheered, but Katherine only had eyes for Joshua. His expression was a mix of pride and admiration, and she couldn't help but smile shyly back at him.
"See? You can do this," he said, his voice softening. "You just needed a little push."
Katherine felt warmth spread across her cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration. "Thanks, Joshua," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they shifted positions for another round, the unspoken connection between them deepened, each lingering glance and accidental brush of hands igniting a fire that neither was quite ready to acknowledge. But the tension was there, thick and undeniable, waiting patiently to unfold as the day continued.
As they reached the clearing near the archery range, the sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Ethan set up the targets while Katherine stood off to the side, fidgeting with her bowstring. She couldn't help but steal glances at Joshua, who was adjusting his stance, his focus intense and confident.
"Come on, Kat! You're going to be amazing!" Ethan called out, trying to coax her forward.
Katherine felt her cheeks flush at the attention. "I don't know if I'm ready," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Just think of it as practice," Joshua encouraged, his gaze softening as he approached her. "You won't hit anything if you don't try."
She could feel her heart racing. Being this close to him always made her nervous. "I'll try," she replied, her voice tinged with shyness. As she raised her bow, she could feel Joshua standing beside her, his presence both comforting and overwhelming.
"Here, let me help you with your grip," he offered, gently placing his hand over hers. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through her, and she bit her lip to suppress a gasp. Joshua's proximity made her acutely aware of every breath, every subtle movement.
"Like this," he said, adjusting her fingers. His voice was low and steady, filled with a kindness that made her stomach flutter. She could barely concentrate on the target ahead, too distracted by the way he stood so close, the scent of him filling her senses.
"Got it?" he asked, stepping back slightly but not enough to break the tension.
Katherine nodded, but her breath hitched. "I think so," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Ethan watched from a distance, noticing the charged atmosphere between them. He could sense the slow burn of attraction that lingered just beneath the surface. It was almost palpable, like a thread waiting to be pulled.
With newfound determination, Katherine drew back the bowstring, but as she aimed, her eyes darted to Joshua. His gaze was fixed on her, encouraging but intense. The moment felt suspended in time, and she could hardly breathe.
"Just focus on the target," Joshua urged, his tone gentle yet firm.
Katherine took a deep breath, trying to block out the fluttering in her chest. She released the arrow, and it flew true, hitting the target with a satisfying thud.
"Nice shot!" Ethan cheered, but Katherine only had eyes for Joshua. His expression was a mix of pride and admiration, and she couldn't help but smile shyly back at him.
"See? You can do this," he said, his voice softening. "You just needed a little push."
Katherine felt warmth spread across her cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration. "Thanks, Joshua," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they shifted positions for another round, the unspoken connection between them deepened, each lingering glance and accidental brush of hands igniting a fire that neither was quite ready to acknowledge. But the tension was there, thick and undeniable, waiting patiently to unfold as the day continued.
As Ethan, Katherine, and Joshua rode deeper into the woods, the sound of hoofbeats approaching caught their attention. Emerging from the trees were two familiar figures: Archer Russell and Asher Celestino.
Archer's sharp gaze locked onto Ethan first, a smirk curling at his lips. "Well, well, if it isn't the Crown Prince of Solara," Archer called out, his tone laced with arrogance. "Out for a leisurely ride? Or perhaps you're still recovering from the last time we met?" He gave a knowing glance, referencing the moment when he'd tried to provoke Ethan by getting too close to Aria.
Ethan's expression tightened, but he kept his composure. "Always a pleasure to see you, Archer," he replied coolly, though his eyes flickered with restrained annoyance.
Meanwhile, Asher rode beside Archer, his posture tense. His gaze immediately landed on Joshua. The unspoken tension between the brothers hung in the air, palpable and heavy. Asher's eyes held a silent plea, as if asking for something recognition, understanding but Joshua's expression remained guarded, his jaw clenched.
"Asher," Joshua greeted curtly, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Joshua," Asher replied, voice soft but strained. The unsaid words between them simmered, the bond of family complicated by their shared history.
Joshua kept his gaze ahead, the tension between him and Asher growing heavier by the second. He had always been distant toward his half-brother, not out of malice, but because of the complexities surrounding their family. Asher, on the other hand, had never stopped trying to bridge the gap, even if it often felt futile.
Asher shifted in his saddle, his eyes never leaving Joshua. "It's been a while," he said quietly, the softness in his voice stark against the tension surrounding them.
Joshua finally met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "It has."
Silence stretched between them. Archer, sensing the discomfort, smirked but said nothing, clearly relishing in the unease between the two brothers. Katherine, seated on her horse beside Joshua, glanced at him with concern. She had always sensed there was more to the story between Joshua and Asher, but she had never pried.
Asher's eyes flickered, filled with the same quiet plea that had been there for years. An unspoken wish for a relationship with the brother he had always looked up to. "I didn't expect to see you out here," Asher added, trying to keep the conversation from dying.
Joshua's grip on his reins tightened, but his voice was measured. "I didn't expect to see you either."
The coolness in Joshua's tone cut deeper than he intended, and Asher's expression faltered for a moment. He quickly masked it, though the pain was evident in his eyes. The gulf between them wasn't just born of different fathers—it was the weight of unspoken words, complicated feelings, and years of emotional distance.
Asher sighed softly. "I know we've had our differences, Joshua. But I'm still your brother. We're still family."
Joshua's jaw clenched. Family. The word always came with such expectation, such burden. "We'll talk another time," Joshua said, his voice quiet, but firm, as if that conversation wasn't something he wanted to dive into now or perhaps ever.
Asher nodded, though the tension in his face didn't ease. He looked away, his posture defeated. The brief moment of connection slipped away, replaced once again by the distance that had always been there between them.
Katherine, sensing the tension, glanced nervously between the two brothers, her earlier lighthearted mood fading.
Asher hesitated for a moment, gathering his courage before speaking again, his voice softer this time. "Mom misses you, you know." His words hung in the air like a heavy weight, almost fragile in their sincerity.
Joshua's entire body stiffened at the mention of their mother. His eyes flickered with something unspokenbpain, perhaps, or guilt but his expression quickly hardened again. He didn't respond right away, keeping his gaze fixed ahead, refusing to meet Asher's pleading eyes.
"She asks about you all the time," Asher continued, his voice faltering slightly. "Every time I see her, she wonders why you don't visit. She—she just wants to know if you're alright."
Joshua clenched his jaw, feeling the knot of emotions tighten in his chest. The complicated relationship with their mother had always been a sore spot for him, a divide that ran deeper than even he liked to admit. His silence wasn't out of indifference, but because he didn't know how to reconcile the years of distance between them.
"I don't have time for this," Joshua finally muttered, his tone sharp, though the pain behind it was undeniable.
Asher's face fell, but he didn't press further. He simply nodded, his earlier hope dimming as the distance between them widened once again.
Asher opened his mouth, wanting to say more, to reach out and bridge the gap between them, but the words caught in his throat. He watched Joshua turn away, the coolness in his brother's demeanor like a cold breeze against his heart.
"Joshua—" Asher started, desperation creeping into his voice, but before he could finish, Joshua called out to Ethan, his tone firm.
"Ethan, let's go!" Joshua urged, urgency evident in his words. He didn't want to linger any longer, not with Asher's gaze piercing through him, filled with unspoken longing.
Ethan glanced between them, sensing the tension. "Alright, let's head back," he said, moving his horse forward. Katherine shot Asher a sympathetic look before following Ethan and Joshua.
Asher felt a deep ache settle in his chest, the weight of unfulfilled connections pressing down on him. He watched them ride away, the distance growing between him and his half-brother once again. The familiar hurt resurfaced, a reminder of how their lives had been intertwined yet so painfully separate.
"Mom really does miss you," Asher whispered to the empty air, wishing Joshua could hear him. The words lingered like a ghost, haunting him as he turned to join Archer, his heart heavy with the realization that the bond they shared had been severed long ago, leaving only echoes of what could have been.
As Asher stood there, feeling the sting of his brother's dismissal, Archer's demeanor shifted. Sensing his friend's turmoil, he moved closer, dropping the teasing facade. "Hey," Archer said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Asher's shoulder. "It's tough, I know."
Asher let out a shaky breath, grateful for Archer's presence. "I just... I want him to understand," he admitted, the frustration evident in his voice. "I miss him. Mom misses him. I don't want to keep pretending everything's fine when it's not."
Archer nodded, his expression serious. "You're not alone in this, Asher. Family dynamics can be a nightmare, especially with all the baggage." He squeezed Asher's shoulder gently. "But don't lose hope. Maybe one day he'll come around."
"I just wish it could be sooner," Asher replied, his voice heavy with longing. "I don't want him to grow further away. It feels like I'm losing him all over again."
"Then keep trying," Archer encouraged, his tone unwavering. "You're his brother. Blood means something. Just give it time." He stepped back slightly, meeting Asher's gaze. "You're stronger than you think, and you deserve that connection."
Asher took a deep breath, the weight on his chest easing slightly with Archer's words. "Thanks, Archer. I appreciate it." He smiled faintly, knowing he could always count on his friend for support, even in the toughest moments.
"Now, let's catch up with those two before they leave us in the dust," Archer said, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "And remember, I'm here for you, no matter what."
Asher nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He turned to follow Archer, knowing that even though the road ahead with Joshua was uncertain, he wouldn't have to face it alone.
As they began to ride after Joshua and Ethan, Archer glanced over at Asher, a conspiratorial smile forming on his lips. "So, about our trip to Sinsk tomorrow," he said, trying to lift the weight of their earlier conversation.
Asher raised an eyebrow, intrigued but wary. "What about it?"
"I was thinking," Archer continued, his tone mischievous, "that you should finally make a move on Aurora. I know you've had your eye on her for a while."
Asher's heart raced at the mention of Aurora. He had admired her beauty and strength but the thought of pursuing her felt daunting. "You really think it's a good idea?"
"Absolutely," Archer replied, his enthusiasm evident. "Besides, it'll be fun! I'll help you out. You know my father is close with the Knox family, and I've known them since childhood. It's the perfect opportunity for you to show her what you're made of."
Asher couldn't help but smile at the idea, a flicker of hope igniting within him. "Alright, I'm in."