The sun kissed my skin as I stepped out into the courtyard. It illuminated the stone path that severed unruly patches of grass. I followed it toward the stables, listening to the bird song that greeted me.
“Good morning, Aelira.” Lioran leaned against the stablewall. His melodic voice sang my name. He never stopped pronouncing it as the fae did, and I never asked him to.
Sunlight danced over the thatched roof, spilling over him.
“I have someone for you to meet. Wait here.” He held his hand up in front of me before slipping into the stables.
A brown mare walked at his side when he emerged from the stables again. Flecks of gold shimmered in her eyes and off her dark mane. A slender white patch grazed her forehead.
He guided her slowly with the same gesture he used with Veylar.
The mare stared at me, as if she knew me—as if she had been waiting for me. My heart settled. I let my shoulders fall back as our gazes intertwined.
“Do you like her?” he asked.
“She’s incredible.” Guilt ran through as I thought of Briar. Cael would have seen her back safely, but I abandoned her. My fingers uncurled toward the mare, and she shifted away from me. Lioran held his steady stance, his gaze shifting between us. He didn’t reach for her, or for me.
“Her name is Gaia.”
I reached for her again, running my fingers down the bridge of her nose. “Hello, Gaia.” She inched closer, and as her eyes connected with mine, she felt like home. I had never once shared a moment with Briar like this.
“She likes you,” he whispered.
“Could I ride her sometime?” My eyes hadn’t left Gaia’s, but it wasn’t just my bond with her that kept me from diverting my gaze. I didn’t want to hold his.
“Well, that will be up to her, but it seems as if she’s taking to you already, so I don’t think she’ll mind it.”
“She must choose to?”
“The fae do not force a bond between horse and rider. We believe that when a proper match is made, both will feel it.” Heran his fingers through her mane. “If the horse resists it, it isn’t forced.”
“You are lucky to have both her and Veylar.” Jealousy tinged my words. This was his world. It wasn’t mine. I was lucky to have the rooms he gave me, the clothes I wore. I stopped petting Gaia, and she nodded her head closer to my hand.
“Something about her reminds me of you.” His lips curled upwards, and his gaze softened on me. “She is at ease with you. The two of you will get along nicely. She is yours to ride whenever you both wish.”
He crossed his arms in front of me, his gaze didn’t shift as my eyes focused on his.
“She’s mine?”
“I want you to feel at home here—like you belong here.” His words grew hushed until I almost didn’t hear the rest.
The gemstone’s heat surged through me. Gaia nuzzled my shoulder. When I touched her, there was a familiar rush, almost like when I made the flowers bloom, or the willow expand. Like she and I were one and the same.
“Thank you.” A single tear slid down my cheek.
He placed her reins into my palm.
“Let’s try to take her for a ride.” His melodic voice was a low whisper in my ear.
With a silent command, Veylar left the stables and came straight to his side.
“You’re still recovering. It might be too much for you,” I said.
He smirked. “We’ll soon find out.”
“Please.” I shook my head. “I can’t stand the thought of you in pain again.” I recoiled at my own words.
He only exhaled. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
