AllFreeNovel
Share Us
YOU texted ME. Look, if you two are vibing, which I know you are… The line between hate and lust is about as thin as my patience when I see two hot people who refuse to get it on.
I should've texted Fern.
Chin up, buttercup. You'll save the day and hopefully lose your panties in the process.
Ayda texted back a few short expletives and turned her phone off. She knew exactly why she had texted Pippa, and that was the exact response she'd been expecting; something about seeing it in writing made her shiver.
Absolutely not, she reminded herself. You’re allowed to think the prince is hot, but you have got to get your head on your shoulders.
Ayda turned on meditative music and slipped into her bath, washing off some grime from the fight in the great hall. She tried to enjoy the scented water and jewel box bathroom, but her mind returned to Hùisdean's disappointed face when he'd left her room.
“Tomorrow.” Ayda sighed, pulling herself out of the tub much later. “It's going to have to be a problem for tomorrow.”
Chapter Eleven
Ayda barely slept a wink. She tossed and turned all night, her mind drifting through all the possible implications of her conversation with Hùisdean. Terrifyingly, her brain seemed most fixated on the look on Hùisdean's face when she kicked him out the night before.
By the time early sunlight crept through the tree branches in the bedroom, Ayda was already up and dressed. She tucked away her few belongings in a pack and decided to head for the courtyard. Hùisdean didn't tell her where to meet him in the morning, but she figured she could ask an attendant on her way out.
When Ayda opened the door, she was immediately greeted by a pleasant guard. By the looks of it, he had been standing outside her door all night.
“Lady Ayda.” He bowed gracefully.
“Oh, no,” Ayda quickly interrupted him, “just Ayda, please.”
“Lady Ayda.” The guard gave her a knowing smile. It didn't take much for Ayda to infer that he was under instruction to refer to her formally. “The prince is ready to depart. A meal has already been packed for your departure, and he's waiting in the courtyard.”
“Oh, shit,” Ayda cursed. “Do you know if he's been waiting long?”
The guard bowed his head again. “I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but the prince was notified that you were awake when we heard you moving about the room this morning.”
“Of course.” Ayda blushed, never realizing how intimate a castle environment could be. “No, no, that's not a problem. I suppose it means he hasn't been waiting for me.”
Ayda started hurrying down the hall, luckily remembering her way from the night before. She heard the guard wish her a pleasant journey, and she held up her hand in acknowledgment without turning around.
God, I hope that someone else is coming with us. Ayda's heart was pounding. Please let Luvon or Wyn be saddled up too. I can’t handle being alone with Hùisdean.
Attendants held the door open for her as Ayda stepped outside, jogging down the palace steps. Elion, Imra, Wyn, and Hùisdean were waiting underneath the exterior gate, pleasantly chatting with one another. Ayda's nerves increased when she saw there were only two horses dressed.
“Ayda!” Elion was the first to see her, holding up his hand and waving her over. “I hope that all things considered, you still slept well.”
Ayda hurried over to the group and nodded, not daring to complain about her nerves to the king himself. She carefully avoided eye contact with Hùisdean as she regarded Imra and Wyn.
“I don't think all of you needed to come out and see us off this morning,” Ayda replied graciously, tilting her head respectfully.
“Nonsense,” Wyn chuckled. He pulled Ayda in for a hug. “And miss the opportunity to see your sweet face? As if.”
“Wyn,” Hùisdean grumbled under his breath. It was the first thing that Ayda had heard him speak that morning. A chill went down her spine at the deep timbre of his voice.
“Traveling by horseback, I assume?” Ayda started praying no one would hear how squeaky her voice suddenly sounded.
“I hope you don't mind.” Imra suddenly looked concerned. “You've seen how portal travel is fairly restricted on the island.”
“Not to mention, Aunty Ásví has her place warded within an inch of your life. If you tried portal travel there, you’d split into four pieces.” Wyn shuddered.
Ayda's face went pale at the suggestion.
“Wyn!” Hùisdean snapped again. His brow furrowed as he pointed a finger at his brother. “Knock it out.”
