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“How are you not a fan of motorcycles?”
“They are dangerous.”
“Everything is dangerous when not handled with care,” he said, closing the door and moving around the car to the driver’s side to join me.
He paused and then looked at me. “Would you prefer to drive?”
“Me?”
“Oh, right. What was that thing you asked me for when I was in America?” He tapped his chin. “Oh, I remember. Do you have a license here?”
I rolled my eyes. “Will you please just drive?”
He snickered. “Yes, my love.”
“My love?”
“I thought you were compiling a list of everything I have ever called you?” he questioned, starting the engine. “How do you like my love? Or bevilën.”
“Bevilën?” I laughed. “Beloved? You are laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?”
“I haven’t even begun.”
He winked, and just like that, we were off the palace grounds and on the public streets. And I could breathe again. Winding down the window, I stuck my hand outside, letting the breeze lift it.
“You are so happy to be out that you haven’t even asked me where we are going, even though you hate surprises,” he teased me.
And he was right. I really was just that happy to be out. To see streets, the people, the life that was happening freely right outside. People and dogs, sitting at café’s, drinking and laughing and going to work. It was good to see the world was normal, even as I wasn’t.
He turned on the music, and the sound of the pop-ish rap music that came through startled me for a moment. I looked over to him, and he put on his sunglasses and started to dance as he drove. He grinned, and I couldn’t help it; I laughed...and danced along with him.
It felt good to get away.
The sound of her laugher renewed all of me. I did my best to stay focused on the road, but as she relaxed and became more comfortable...thus quieter, she stared out the window, breathing in slowly. I wanted to believe that she was merely captivated by the city of Erelis and not pondering all the other things hurting her, hurting us. I hadn’t told her the complete truth. My mother and I did quarrel. She was not pleased that I had proclaimed she had given us permission before she actually had. And I had said some harsh things to her. But in the end, it was worth it because she finally did agree, and now we were out. Odette was out, even if it was only for a few hours.
“Where are we going exactly?” she finally asked as we drove farther out of the city.
I smiled. Now she was coming back. “It’s a surprise.”
“I do not like surprises, Gale.”
“But I do. Wait, haven’t we had this conversation before?”
She rolled her eyes, looking out the window again, then back at me. “Are we still in Erelis?”
“We are entering Arvendon.” She had no idea where that was, but hey, this was a good time to learn. “It is just a little bit outside of the city. Don’t worry. I will bring you back before the clock strikes twelve, Cinderella.”
“I like bevilën better now.”
I chuckled. “Shall we come up with a system? Cinderella, when you are being difficult—”
“Difficult? Cinderella is not difficult! She is practical!”
“Yes, very practical having mice make her clothes and whatnot.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she shook her head. “I do not know why I bother.”
“Me either. So, Cinderella, for when you are difficult or driving me mad. Bevilën, when you are so sweet that my heart swells. Odette for when we are in public—”
