Brantley wiped a crumb of pastry from the side of her mouth. "That was me."

Bianca stopped eating as her mouth fell open. "How did you—"

​​

"Convert into light?" he chuckled and tilted his head. He was sitting beside her and all his focus was on whether she was eating well or not. "That's the way it is. Whenever the roots will seek you out, I will have to seek you." It was his instinct. "And I didn't know how that happened, but I just came after you. It was a burning need in me to protect you from harm, and that's why when I entered the cage with you, I let my energy flow freely. My magic splintered around me and it followed you." He needed to feel her every time even at that stage.

"I am stunned!"

"Me too." His lips tugged up. "It is raining right now, but would you like to come with me to take a tour of Azelia in the morning?"

"I would love to!" she rasped. Somehow she felt she could go and sit on the throne again. She was the conduit of nature and the feeling was heady.

He leaned to her and removed more crumbs on her chin—this time with his tongue.

She gasped and turned scarlet. Heat pooled between her thighs and she didn't know how to control in front of him. Before she embarrassed herself any further, she said, "Where are mum and Daddy?"

"They are still here. Do you want me to call them in our room?"

"What?" Not while she was wrapped in a towel and certainly not while he was tenting in his towel. She wondered how that thing would feel in her hands. "I need to get dressed." She looked at him. "And so do you!"

Brantley threw his head back and laughed. He leaned in to kiss her again. Instead of saying that he would get dressed, he said, "I will try to behave myself."

She was mortified. "I didn't mean that," she blurted, and then immediately covered her mouth with her hands. Did she just tell him that she had seen his erection?

Brantley was now in splits. When he stopped, he pulled her cheek and said, "You are so adorable!"

And she ended up saying, "You are so handsome!"

Dang.

"So you find me handsome, sweetheart?"

She turned her face away from him to hide her ruddiness. When would she learn to control her thoughts? And why was it that she was never able to control them around him? And… sweetheart? She loved the way he called her his sweetheart. He sounded so… possessive. That led to another question in her eighteen year old brain—why did she like his possessiveness? She should try for… freedom?

An hour later when they were properly dressed, they went out of the bedchamber. Bianca was feeling much better but she still walked slowly. She was wearing a light blue silk gown and had left her hair open. Brantley was wearing casual pants and a black shirt. She forgot to breathe when she saw him. He was looking like a magazine model, with a tall and broad frame and golden hair that were neatly combed back. She had this super urge to tousle his hair and her head started weaving the ideas on how to do that without his noticing that she meant to do that.

In order to once again rein in her wild thoughts, she asked, "How long would it take to recover from my weak body and when do we have to sit back on the throne?"

"I don't know Bia…" he said while raking his fingers through his hair. "I hope you recover soon. I hate to see you in this condition." He squeezed her hand. "One of the reasons why I want to go out and take a tour of Azelia is because I want to see the progress. After that I am going to decide when we will sit back on the throne."

"Biaaaaa!" A shriek from the left made her chuckle.

"Darius!" she said as her brother took her in a bear hug and picked her.

"Gods, you scared us girl!" he said when he set her on her feet. He touched her forehead. "How are you feeling now?" His face was etched with worry.

"I am fine!" She said, showing her biceps.

"Gross!" Darius said with disgust seeing her bare arms, which were round and plump.

From the corner of her eye she saw her parents and Neal. They hugged her warmly. "I was scared," said Daryn as he took his daughter's hand and walked towards the main hall.

"I am fine Dad," she poked him on the shoulder. "You don't have to be so worried."

Daryn looked at his daughter. She was truly crafted inside Dawn's womb for this kingdom. It was the magic of the Stone of Solaris. "That's good to hear baby," he smiled. They walked in silence as others continued to chat. When they reached the main hall, he said, "We will be leaving tomorrow morning Bia. Is that okay with you?"

She frowned and her lips curved down. "So soon?"

Daryn took her to the walls that were made from the stained glass and faced the valley. "Yes darling. I think we are done here, and want to give you space with Brantley. It is important that you spend time with him. Since everything was such a rushed up affair, you just didn't have the chance to know him."

She lowered her head as her toes curled.

"If we continue to stay here, it will affect your judgment. So both your mother and me have decided that you need this opportunity to get to know Brantley. However, we are there in the background. Whenever you need us, just come over or call us."

"But Daddy—"

He placed a finger on her lips. "Even Darius is going with us."

She bit her lip and Daryn smiled. "I will come back to meet you in a week's time."

Neal joined them. "Your father is right Bianca. You need to know him better."

She turned her head to search for him and found him looking in their direction. His eyes were on him even though Darius was talking about something with him.

They had a great family time and Darius spilled a lot of information regarding Bianca to her utter horror. She glared and glared at him but her brother didn't combust.

It was late in the night when they came back to their bedchamber. She was extremely tired and hungry. Brantley asked Holly to get more food for her, which she devoured as if she wouldn't get it again.

Except for a few torches burning on the outside and throwing very dim light, it was pretty dark on the outside. Heavy rain was pelting the glasses and it had become cold.

There were satin quilts on the bed and the sheets had changed. After having dinner, she went to change and by the time she came back wearing small cut off shorts and a sleeveless shirt, her teeth were chattering. She was surprised as to how the air turned so cool all at once.

She looked in his direction and found him propped up on his elbow and looking at her with a smile. Bianca lowered her head and walked to her side of the bed. He waved his hand and the lights went out, the tassels untied and the gossamer curtains around the bed opened to fall around them.