"Tell me all about it," Elara said, her voice steady but betraying the nerves she tried so desperately to suppress. She sat in front of Darius on the white, pristine horse, their bodies nearly touching as they rode.
The Kingdom was far behind them now, and the landscape around them had grown quiet and open. The pace had slowed considerably, the journey taking on a gentler rhythm now that Leroy insisted Given rest well in the carriage. The weight of what had just happened seemed to hang in the air, and Elara's mind raced to piece it all together.
Darius's hand gripped the reins tightly, his posture firm, as the horse's steady movement beneath them rocked her slightly. His other hand, however, remained casually at his side—almost too casually. Elara's eyes darted to it, noting how it hovered just a few inches from her waist, close enough that she could feel the heat emanating from his fingers, though he made no move to touch her.
But that was enough. His proximity, the mere presence of his hand in such a sensitive space, was enough to make Elara's breath catch, her heart leaping in her chest. She swallowed, desperately trying to steady herself.
"About what?" Darius asked, his voice smooth and deep, as if he could sense the effect he was having on her. "About my new role in your life?" His gaze lingered on her, his hand still holding the reins of the horse, while his other hand remained dangerously close to her, a constant reminder of the power he held. The faintest brush of his knuckles against her side sent a jolt of heat through her.
"No," she responded quickly, even though the word felt a little too harsh in the moment. "Not that. I mean about what's happening. About your plans and everything you've kept away from me."
"I kept a lot from you, but you need to be specific, starshine," he said, his voice low and teasing. The words, laced with something dangerous, wrapped themselves around her thoughts like a tightening knot.
Before she could respond, his breath—hot and faintly scented with the earth and sweat from the ride—fanned across the delicate skin of her neck, sending a wave of shivers across her body. They were the good kind of shivers, the kind that had her heart racing even faster, but she fought against them, trying to remain composed.
"What is everything?" he continued, his words almost a whisper now, his lips dangerously close to her skin. "Are you speaking of the castle... or about you and me?"
Elara's breath hitched, her body tensing, though she couldn't decide if it was from anger or anticipation. Why was he making her so nervous ? Her heart pounded against her ribcage, and her stomach flipped with butterflies she could barely understand.
"There is no 'me' and 'you,'" she forced herself to say, her voice more confident than she felt. She stiffened, trying to ignore the way her body reacted to his proximity. "You are my head of guard, remember? And I am your Queen, so I order you—"
Her breath caught in her throat as Darius abruptly pulled the horse to a halt, causing her body to lurch forward. But before she could brace herself, his hand reached out, strong and certain, catching her by the hair, gently but firmly pulling her back against his chest.
Elara's head fell against his shoulder, and for a heartbeat, everything around them seemed to disappear. His breath was now hot against her bare chest, brushing against her cleavage in a way that made her skin flush with heat.
"My bad," Darius murmured, his voice thick with amusement. "There must've been something passing that startled him."
And just like that, he dismounted the horse with fluid grace, leaving Elara in stunned silence, her heart still racing, her breath still shallow. She was too dumbfounded by what had just transpired to speak. 'What was that ?' she wondered, her mind swimming with the flood of new, confusing emotions he had awakened within her.
Darius stood in front of the stallion for a moment, watching it carefully before bending down. When he returned to her side, he was holding a small brown rabbit in his hands. He lifted it with a quiet, almost teasing motion, as if offering it to her.
But as Elara's eyes landed on the creature, her stomach sank. The softness in her expression faltered, replaced by something darker. It wasn't just the rabbit that troubled her—it was the sudden weight of realization that came with it.
Darius must have seen her discomfort because he quickly tucked the rabbit away, perhaps as food for later.
"I'll buy you new ones," he said simply, as if the moment had passed without a second thought. Before Elara could even find the words to respond, he urged the horse forward again, and they continued their journey in silence.
Elara stared ahead, her mind reeling, the air between them thick with the things unsaid. The world around them seemed to move on, but she was acutely aware of the weight of Darius's presence beside her, of the proximity and the hidden meanings in his words.
Everything was changing. She could feel it. But what did it mean for her? For them ?
And rest in peace to all her rabbits at home .