AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"A very dramatic statement, Your Highness." She smiled, pulling away from him enough to look at him, her fingers still tangled in his black hair.
"I prefer when you call me Kai," he said huskily.
He bent down and kissed her deeply. She broke away enough to say, "Kai."
And he murmured against her before biting her lower lip causing her to forget whatever she had been about to say.
He lifted his mouth from hers painfully slowly. "I am finding self-control to be very difficult at the moment," he whispered.
"I don't recall asking for your self-control," she said as she leaned up, kissing his neck.
He pulled away from her, taking all his warmth from her body. When he spoke, he looked at her with conviction. "You deserve better than a dusty old tower."
She smiled, warmed by his sentiment. "Let's go see about that wine then." She grabbed his hand pulling him towards the stairs and he followed her.
When they reached the bottom of the tower, they found Richard and Sophie sitting on the grass, each with their own bottle of wine. Wren and Kai took spots on either side of them, her sitting next to Sophie who simply handed her the bottle. Wren drank the sweet wine, letting it coat her throat before handing it back. The sun was already setting and the sky was a dusty pink. No one said anything for a while as they passed the bottles back and forth and watched the sun set.
"Remember that time we told Richard if he caught one hundred fireflies and sangLittle Princewhile spinning in circles he would be granted three wishes by the gods?" mused Sophie after a while.
Kai chuckled, but Richard said indignantly, "I was out all night catching the blasted things."
Sophie smiled. "You were remarkably gullible."
"I was seven," shouted Richard, taking a swig of his wine.
They passed stories back and forth for a time until the sun was gone and the moon was high. Wren felt flushed from all the wine and slightly drunk by the time Sophie stood up and offered her hand.
"Gentlemen, give the lady and me a tune."
Richard started singing a song she didn't know, but that was perfect for the rowdy dance Sophie engaged her in as they danced wildly across the field. When they were done Wren and Sophie fell to the ground laughing. They lay back down, looking at the stars, and Kai explained each constellation to them, earning him teasing marks from his brother and cousin. Wren's eyes felt heavy with all the activity of the day coupled with the fact that she was most certainly drunk at this point.
She was startled by Sophie hitting her. "Don't fall asleep. More to do," she slurred.
"Go away, Sophie," she said, waving a hand at her limply. Wren scooted herself closer to Sophie so that she could use her legs as a pillow. She closed her eyes once more in the soft grass, under a sky full of stars, and with the cold air encircling her she fell asleep. Her heart was warm and her body filled with hope.
Chapter 29
SheclungtoherUncle tightly and asked for the millionth time why she couldn't go back to her mama and papa.
"Because, little one, you are more important than the sun, moon, and all the stars." He flicked her nose playfully when she looked over at him. "Now hold on tight, my love."
She squeezed his neck and closed her eyes. A rush of wind overtook her and she squeezed him tighter feeling a rush of fear.
Just as suddenly as the wind had come it stopped. She was shocked to see that she wasn't in the mountains any longer and no snow laid on the ground. There was a strange sound coming from nearby and when she looked she saw what she knew to be a horse from the books her mama and papa had shown her. She took in her surroundings as much as she could, but it was so dark. Nearby there was a house, and smoke rose from the chimney. Her uncle began walking to the home still holding her in his arms.
"You must be brave now, little one," he murmured.
He knocked on the door and a woman answered, her hair tied loosely up with falling strands landing in her face. She wiped her hands on her apron before glancing up at them.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening at the sight of them. "Jasper!"
Wren cringed at the loud call, burrowing her head into her uncle's shoulder.
Her uncle set her down, but she still clung to his hand. Another man appeared behind the lady taking in the sight of her. "Hello, Wren. I am your Uncle Jasper and this is your Aunt Kate."
"I've never heard about you," she said skeptically.
He lowered himself to her level. "I know, sweetheart, but we are going to take good care of you."
