Erika could not resist the exhilaration that came with riding a horse. The scent of the leather tack, the woolly wax of the saddle blanket, or the sweet fragrance of the animal, Erika loved riding. Add to that a beautiful island trail, crisp morning air, and a handsome princely escort, she could not have been more refreshed. Truly, she’d been seeking the day when her worries were vindicated, and happiness attained. That day had come. She laughed for no reason other than the joy which tickled her insides. Arell smiled at her with a puzzled look.

“You’re in fine spirits this morning, Fairest.”

“I am!” If she had tried to rid herself of her smile, she could not. The grin seemed to catch, for Arell’s eyes sparkled with hers.

They descended to the beaches, and the sun warmed her back. She rode a dapple mare named Bonny, which had a quick response to her knees and a gentle amble. Once on the beach, they galloped along the shoreline on solid sand packed hard from pounding waves. The horses splashed blithely in the water as they cantered all the way from where she and Kairos had first set foot on the island, to the eastern shore, a full morning’s travel along sandy beaches, in and out of hidden coves, and around tide pools.

“This is simply bliss,” Erika said as they slowed to a walk. She ignored the promise she made to herself the night before. Politics could wait, as Arell had suggested. “I have never felt so good, nor so free.”

He rode next to her, the late afternoon sun back lighting his strong bronze stature while his loose shirt blew freely against his form. His smile shone like the moon on a dark night, and whenever she caught his glance, she marveled at his dark eyes, which hinted of reds and browns.

I’m delighted you’re enjoying your day,” he said.

“Oh, I am. I had need of this.”

“As did I. Come, I have something to show you.” He dismounted when they came to a grassy coastline and helped her off Bonny. He held her waist as she slipped out of the saddle. The nearness sent chills through her body. Their eyes met when her feet touched the sand and the contact launched unfamiliar sensations inside of her—marvels that took her breath away—and then she realized how quickly her heart raced.

He blushed and then released her. She wished he hadn’t. He touched her hair, his eyes vibrant. “Your curls shine like finely polished copper. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

A cold shiver raced through her. No one had ever told her she was beautiful. Sometimes her father and brother commented on her appearance, but only when she wore a dress, and only because she looked like her mother. Arell stared at her as though she were a precious jewel. She looked away, certain her face had turned red.

“We have to walk from here. It’s up on the hill.”

Arell took his boots off and stuck them in his saddlebags. Erika found a driftwood log to sit on and unlaced her boots. When she had taken them off, she rolled her stockings down and slipped out of them. She glanced at Arell, who’d been staring. He looked away quickly. Erika flushed, but inwardly she smiled. She’d never been prudish like her sisters who insisted ladies should be modest. Erika had shunned scruples. She’d been around men more than women all her life. There was no need to be ashamed to uncover her feet.

She wiggled her toes in the cool sand as she followed him over a stretch of dunes and climbed from the white seashore to a grassy hill. A hazy sun shone on endless turquoise waters and white gulls circled above them.

“Leave Bonny here. She won’t go anywhere.”

Not until they reached an olive grove, did Erika realize they were in a graveyard. She pulled back, but Arell didn’t notice. Instead, he hurried to a freshly dug mound and knelt.

“Come,” he said with a smile on his face—a pure, innocent, loving smile. Erika wanted to run away. It took all her courage to stay.

“It’s my father.”

Erika nodded.

“He’s at peace, and I’ve come to terms with his parting, mostly. Sit by me. Please.”

Her stomach twisted in a knot, and though she adored Arell’s company, sitting at the grave of the man she killed sent a pain through her body.

“No one in the Potamian kingdom ever wanted your father to die,” Erika said. “Not King Tobias, nor any of his people. Please know that.” Barin’s warning reverberated in her head at that point. “Do not let those people know you did this!” She held her breath because everything inside of her wanted to blurt out a confession.

His gaze remained on the grave as if churning her words into thoughts. He hesitated before he spoke, and when he did, he squeezed her hand.

“I need to know. The elders need to know. Who did this?”

For the love of her Father’s idols, the words sizzled on the tip of her tongue but with an excruciating the struggle. She inhaled and looked at the sky. “What if I told you I did it?” she asked meekly.

“Did your brother kill my father?” he questioned softly, their hands still clasped together, his warm and strong.

She tried but couldn’t repeat the confession. He heard and ignored her. She wanted to pull away, to run, and yet she didn’t. Her pulse raced so quickly that she closed her eyes and tried to keep from fainting.

“No, my brother had nothing to do with your father’s death.” She needed to get home. Father had been right. She shouldn’t be anywhere near this remote beach in the most beautiful place in the world, ready to lose her heart.

And her life.

Where is Kairos? Where is Rory?

“Could we go back to the castle? I’m feeling faint,” she said. She gazed at the ocean, the gently rolling surf, the heron standing quietly on the sand. She felt his eyes on her.

“You think this a trap, and it’s upsetting you, isn’t it? Forgive me. I didn’t mean to offend you.” He stood and offered his hand to help her to her feet.

“A burial ground for the Cho Nisi is a comforting place. It’s where we come and talk to our loved ones. Confide in them and they listen.” He looked at the grave—pain radiated from his countenance—his grief buried deep. “Perhaps I shouldn’t question you here. It is a dishonor to the departed. I didn’t mean to cause distress.”

Erika stepped away from him. She wanted to be angry that Arell brought her here, not hurt, not ashamed. Arell’s love for his father matched the love she had for her father.

“He must have been a wonderful man,” she whispered, biting her lip. How can she offer comfort to him other than admitting her guilt? And would that comfort him?

“If he were alive today, I would have you meet him. You would have liked each other.”

Erika nodded, finding it difficult not to break down and cry. She looked away. “I’m sure I would have…loved him,” she whispered. Her voice cracked.

“I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

He offered his hand again, but she didn’t take it. She kept a distance between them as they returned to their horses. Her stomach churned, hating the lie she lived.

They walked their horses for a while along the coast. When they reached a lengthy stretch of shoreline, the tide surged. She followed Arell as he waded ankle deep.

Without warning, he spun around and splashed her. Cold, salty water hit her face. She screamed. He laughed. Again and again, he splashed. Her anger roared to the surface. She bent low and slapped the water so hard with her hand that his face caught most of the spray. Knowing he’d retaliate, she sprinted away.

He chased her, and the horses trotted after them. She waded through the breakers and broke into a jog, feet slapping on the wet sand, the foamy surf spewing over her. She couldn’t outrun him though, and so out of exhaustion she fell just as the surf broke over her and immersed her in saltwater. He dove next to her. She rolled over, dug a handful of sand from under the receding surf and smashed it into his hair.

She laughed—a wild abandoned roar, freeing all the sorrow she’d been harboring.

He shook the sand out of his hair and grinned. She tried the stunt again, but he grabbed her arms and held them down. He didn’t hurt her. Fighting against him helped to release her anxiety. She grunted and growled at him. He loosened his hold and let her up as another wave washed over them.

When the water receded, she grabbed his arms, and they wrestled back and forth while the breakers rolled over them again and again, saturating their clothes, their hair, their bodies. She struggled against Arell’s strength, her anger and frustrations struck out at him like the sea pounding on the shore. Drenched and laughing, they pulled themselves to their feet and jogged until Erika’s knees buckled under her and she fell in the sand. When Arell fell next to her, they wrestled again until she emptied of every ounce of heartache.

Exhausted, she relented and lay on the wet beach watching clouds billow across the late afternoon sky. Foamy surf tickled her back, her legs, her toes as the breakers receded. Arell sat up and studied her for a moment. With a gentle sigh, he leaned over and kissed her.

Thrilled by his touch, she gasped. He tasted of saltwater—his warm body amazingly delicious. His tongue in her mouth pleasingly invasive. His skin glowed like fiery bronze, back-lit by the sun teasing the horizon. Bare-chested but for the wet shirt that had fallen open, she ran her fingers over his upper body, so solid, his arms so strong. He gently pulled her hips under his and kissed her neck. Though her wet clothes still covered her completely, he tenderly caressed her breast and put his lips to her nipple. He stopped and knelt over her. For a long time, they simply looked into each other’s eyes.

“Fairest,” he whispered. “I cannot violate you, but I cannot lie and tell you I don’t want to.” He inhaled and straightened. Water and sand dripped from his hair and trickled down his torso. He rose, offered his hand, and pulled her to her feet.

Erika adjusted her blouse and brushed sand from her hair as Arell left to get the horses. Her heart beat hard, her desire as strong as the ocean waves pounding the seashore.

This was the first time in her life she felt fulfilled. Surely, she had lost her heart to the king of Cho Nisi. If he had chosen to ‘violate’ her, she wouldn’t have stopped him. She would have encouraged him.

Silver rays lined the clouds, the sand shimmered in the afternoon sun as Arell led the horses to her. He drew his cloak from his saddle and wrapped it around Erika’s shoulders, taking a moment to hold her close as he did, his breath against her cheek, his hands tenderly touching her hair. His warm body took the chill away.

He helped her onto her horse.

Erika rode behind him, shivering slightly under his cloak, her eyes fixed on his strong back, his dark wet hair leaving stains on his shirt as it dripped dry.