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Throughout the whole ride I’ve had half a mind to push him off my horse. I would have done too, if I didn’t think his men would raise their swords against me. I did get a kick of seeing them following my command to march east, though. Maybe more so since I knew how much it displeased Levi.
Then again, it only serves him right.
It’s not as if he’s tried to be very accommodating with me.
I knew when I sent the decree offering marriage that not every king would fall on their hands and knees for me, but I at least expected some sort of pretense. I forgot that Levi was never one to fake pleasantries. He was more the brooding, quiet type. The type of boy who was happy just to sit on the sidelines and only talk when he had something meaningful to say.
But alas, the boy I grew up with has turned into a man of even fewer words, leaving his actions to speak for themselves.
As if he has a direct line to my thoughts, Levi’s hold on my waist tightens. My body begins to stiffen when he leans down to my ear and whispers into it, making my skin break out in goosebumps.
“We should take a break.”
“I don’t need it,” I reply with a monotonous tone.
“Yeah, well, maybe you should stop thinking about your needs and focus on others’ instead. My soldiers are tired and hungry, and I expect so are yours,” he scolds, making sure that guilt begins to seep into my veins since I didn’t even consider my own entourage’s discomfort.
And all because I was too busy trying to prove a point.
Damn it.
I offer him a curt nod in reply and raise my hand for all to see before turning it to a fist. At once, we come to a full stop and I hear an immediate exhale of relief from the train. My lips dip into a frown with how disappointed I am in myself, hating that I didn’t even think of taking a break earlier. I was so consumed in showing Levi that I was as strong as he was, that I totally forgot I wasn’t the only one suffering because of my pride.
Levi gracefully jumps off my horse, stretching his hand out for me to take. Begrudgingly, I reach for his hand, only to feel my shaky legs give in and begin to fall. Thankfully, Levi’s masterful reflexes are on point and he’s able to catch me at once, preventing me from making a total fool of myself. His strong hands grip at my waist as he places my feet on solid ground, keeping our chests pressed together.
But then the weirdest thing occurs.
Suddenly, I’m being pulled back into a willfully forgotten past. Memories of the last time his concerned green eyes pierced mine like this. Like they would scorch the earth to keep me safe.
The world around us begins to disappear and in its place resurfaces a time where Levi wasn’t my enemy but my knight in shining armor.
My champion.
Chapter 9
Katrina
Fifteen Years Old
“Come on, kitten! Let’s see how fast you can run on those paws.” Teo laughs, running toward the forest just outside the castle’s walls.
“If I’m a kitten then you’re a mouse. Only scared mice run away from little girls!” I shout back at Teo, laughing, running as fast as I can, while Atlas lags behind, doing his best to keep up with the pair of us.
Teo continues to chuckle away as he gains speed, and before I can stop it, he’s amongst the high foreboding trees.
“Teo! Wait! Stop! Don’t go in there,” I yell as loud as I can.
“Don’t be such a scaredy-cat, kitten! Come find me!” he yells back excitedly, and before I can convince him to not go any farther, the forest’s shadows swallow him up and hide him from my view.
Panting, I stop just at the edge of the forest, bending down to hug my stomach while desperately trying to catch my breath. My eyes scan the large snow-covered trees, hating the eerie silence coming from in between them. Momma forbade me to ever go into the forest alone long ago, telling me fantastic tales of woodland creatures that would love nothing more than to sink their teeth into little princesses like me.
I’m sure she was exaggerating. I’m sure all those scary stories were just so she could keep me safe. Because that’s what you do when you love someone. You do everything in your power to make sure they don’t get hurt. That’s why Momma likes it when I stay within the castle’s walls, so she can keep an eye on me. She’s especially vigilant this time of year when my boys come to visit. She says I’m more unruly when they’re around. She’s not wrong.
I keep staring at the creepy scenery in front of me, worried that maybe Momma’s tall tales hold some truth to them.
Doesn’t matter if they do.
Teo will be with me.
