“Why haven’t you told your father about me?”
He was quiet for a while.
I bit my lip. “Are you ashamed of me?” I asked quietly.
He spun towards me. “No. Why would I be ashamed of you, Lena?”
I gave him a knowing look, and he stopped before me. “My father has expectations of me," he continued. "My mother does, too, but my father is not as…understanding as her.”
“So, it’s becausehewould be ashamed ofyou.”
“It’s because his opinion doesn’t mean shit when it comes to you,” he stated bluntly. “No one’s does.”
I blinked. “I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you swear.”
He gave me his lazy smile and leaned down so his face was next to mine. “I guess you’re rubbing off on me, Flower,” he murmured into my ear, his hot breath sending chills down my body, causing me to inhale sharply. He clicked his tongue. “Such a bad influence.”
He drew away from me, his eyes lustful as he studied me. He inhaled and glanced toward the kingdom.
“I should be heading home now.”
“Really?” I pouted. “You tease me and then say you’re leaving?”
He smirked, his eyes darting down at me. “Unless you want our first time to be on the forest floor, I think it is best I go.”
My mouth dropped open, and I was left speechless. He continued smirking and laced his hand in mine as we wandered home.
When we had just about reached my house, I got the courage to ask him something I had been thinking about over the past few weeks.
“Hey.”
He turned, eyebrow lifted.
“There is this festival next month for the Summer Solstice. It happens every summer in the Outer Ring. I-I understand if you aren’t interested, but—”
He pulled me into an embrace and kissed me softly. Gods, I could melt in his arms.
“I would love to go with you,” he responded, seeing where I was going with my question. “When is it?”
“Three Saturdays from now. It starts around 7:00 p.m. Well, it starts sooner, but it’s more fun at night.”
He contemplated. “I don’t know if I can be there at 7:00,” he said. “But I could probably meet you around 9:00 or so. Would that work?”
I felt my face light up. “Yes, yes, that would be great. It goes all night,” I beamed.
He grinned and kissed me once more. “I will let you know for certain next time I see you.” He tilted his head to the side. “What does one wear to an occasion like this?”
“Oh,” I blushed. “Anything you’d wear would be good. Normally, the women wear their best gowns, the men dressing in the finest clothes they have.”
After cutting the dress I wore when Quill was attacked, I realized I didn’t have anything for it. Maybe the dress I wore when Queen Ryia visited. Either way, I would figure it out.
“Understood. See you then, Lena.” He pressed his lips to my forehead before walking off.
Chapter Fourteen
“Ugh!”Icriedoutin frustration, holding my hand over the concoction on our stove. It was a simple stamina elixir, yet I couldn’t get anything out.
Three weeks had passed, and the Summer Solstice Festival was tomorrow. While I had healing down pat, stamina was driving me mad. I couldn’t seem to grasp it.
