Page 43 of Her Ivory Flame

“Tonight,” he started. “I’ll take you into town for dinner and then come back for some intimate time?”

“Silas-”

“It’s been over a month and I’ve tried to be patient. I care about you Alyra and I want to show that to you in more ways than just conversations and cuddling.” His tone held annoyance in it and she let out a long breath.

“We might have had conversations, but you still refuse to share any part of your past life with me,” she shrugged. “If you don’t trust me enough to do that then I can’t trust you with my body.”

“So you’re withholding sex from me because I want to keep certain things of my life private?” he scoffed.

“No, I’m giving you the opportunity to be vulnerable with me and all you care about is fucking me,” she snarled back. “I care about you so much Silas, and this isn’t easy for me but you have to see it from my point of view.”

He stepped back and she watched his jaw clench, angry tension building between them.

“If that’s how you feel,” he barked. “Might as well get back to training then, seems like you need it since nothing you do is helping get your power back.”

“Silas-”

“I’ll see you tonight.”

She watched him turn and walk away without another glance, her chest heavy with hurt but took a deep breath to keep herself together.

“Ready?” Kaden’s voice made her jump and she turned to see him standing with the guards staring at her.

“Yeah.” She sighed and held her weapons up to continue training.

“Continue.” Kaden barked and weapons clashed for another hour in the warm spring heat.

- - - - - - - -

They stood by the stables later in the day to keep out of the sun, her arms aching from all the dueling but she knew it was necessary for her training.

Her mind was spinning and she slumped against the grey mare’s stall, her hand stroking down the mare's face.

“You hungry?” Kaden asked suddenly and she jumped from surprise.

“Sure,” she replied quietly.

“Saddle up, let's go.” He nodded and she gave him a questioning look.

“It’s on the other side of town close to the gate, riding is the fastest way to get there.” His voice was casual.

“Where are you taking me?”

“You will see.”

A few minutes later they were riding out of the castle and headed towards town through the crowds.

Silently they rode for a while until Kaden nodded his head in the direction of an alley and aimed his horse to go down it, hers following. She could see a tavern at the very end of it, an odd place for one to be in this city.

They stopped their horses at the tie post and made sure to keep their swords strapped to their hips. Just because they were in the main castle walls didn’t mean they were one-hundred percent safe. She looked down the path at the rest of the horses, her eyes falling on the large black gelding with the king's crest on it.

Kaden followed her stare and she saw his jaw clench as they entered the tavern. She followed but felt a heavy weight settle in her gut in what she might find.

The door opened and she saw Kaden glance around before letting her follow, his shoulders tense while guiding her to a long wooden table nearby.

It wasn’t the worst tavern she has ever seen, but she knew it was one of the more rundown ones in town. She could see many different types of patron scattered throughout, assassins, thugs, prostitutes, and the occasional normal townsfolk. She had no idea why Kaden chose this place, but it made her wonder what he did in his spare time.

He sat across from her and she kept looking around curious as to who the horse she saw outside might belong to.