With it being such a lovely day and Aren off with his mother, I decide to go and explore outside. I grab an apple from the fruit bowl in my room and after only one false turn find myself outside in the sunshine.

It is a perfect autumn day; the trees are all turning gorgeous colours of reds and ambers and the cloudless sky is incredibly blue, almost the same colour as someone's eyes I know. I feel my cheeks heating with a blush, even though I am all on my own.

I wander over to the stables, eager to visit the horses. I am drawn to a pale grey stallion who is stood in a yard, his head held proudly. He eyes me down his long nose and stamps his foot demanding attention. I feed him the apple, which he devours and then nuzzles me affectionately, as I scratch behind his velvety ears.

"Should I be jealous?"

I spin around to find Aren appraising me, a hand on his hip and one eyebrow raised.

My eyes widen in alarm and I ask in a low whisper, "Is he an Animage?"

Aren bursts out laughing. "Your face is a picture. Sorry, beautiful. I am just teasing. It is just a horse."

I go to cuff him, but he captures my wrist and pulls me into his body. I melt into his arms as he kisses me. It is all perfectly dreamy until we are interrupted by a piercing whistle. We jolt apart, and I blush furiously to find Leo and three other young men standing there watching us. I sort of recall seeing them last night but can't remember their names.

"Aren, we wondered if you want to come riding with us," remarks one of the men coolly. He is handsome with perfect skin and dark brown hair, but he has a slightly sullen air to him and I get the impression that he doesn't care for me.

The one with a face full of mischief and a shock of orangey red hair, shamelessly looks me up and down. "Perhaps he has a better offer."

The third man stands there silently, his dark eyes observing. He has a large nose and jet black, almost blue hair.

Aren introduces me to the newcomers; the one I mentally labelled Mr Sullen is called Drake, Mr Mischief is instead Raynard and finally Mr Silent is actually Bram.

Raynard wrinkles a freckled nose. "You can call me Ray."

"Would you like to go riding?" Aren asks and I nod enthusiastically.

Drake sneers. "Can she ride?"

Leo smiles kindly at me. "Elissa, do you have a preference for a mount?"

"How about the grey?" I ask, indicating to my new friend behind me.

"Smoke! He does not like to be ridden," Leo cautions. "He will not take a saddle."

"Perhaps you should select something more docile," Drake suggests condescendingly. I really don't know what his problem is.

I stare Drake straight in the eye, refusing to back down. "Let's see if I can tame him then. If someone can just put a blanket over his back. I just need to pop to my room and won't be long."

Ray sidles over, speaking in a suggestive tone, "If he does not suit you, I would not object to your fine thighs wrapped around my back."

Aren growls and his eyes flash hazel. I am taken to the dream I had this morning when I fainted. He had hazel eyes then.

Ray smirks. "Easy tiger!"

I rush to my room and quickly pull on my leather dragon-riding trousers under the skirts of my dress. When I return, the others are all mounted. Smoke is prancing edgily, being held by a pale looking groom. Holding out my hand to the agitated horse, he huffs but then quietens and allows me to mount him.

"How is that possible?" Drake demands.

"Have you tried being nice?" I say without thinking and flush, not intending to have been rude. "I mean that animals respond to how you treat them."

Urging Smoke on, we gallop off, leaving the others in our wake. He is a delight to ride, powerful yet responsive and we lead the men on a merry dance.

Feeling exhilarated, I finally stop and allow the other riders to catch up.

Leo bows in his seat. "Good chase, my lady." He turns to Drake. "You have to admit Elissa can indeed ride."

"Yes, especially on that beast," Drake grudgingly concedes.

Swinging my leg around to dismount, I inadvertently expose a leather-clad ankle.

"Interesting choice in undergarments." Ray waggles his eyebrows.

With deadly seriousness I respond, "Didn't you know, it is the latest fashion?" He looks taken aback and I cannot resist winking.

Quickly recovering, he challenges, "Try to guess our primes."

I tap a finger on my chin. "We have stories of Raynard the fox causing all sorts of mischief."

Ray smirks and jumping down from his horse, transforms into a large red fox.

I turn to Drake. "Well, male ducks..." I start innocently, but falter at his mortified expression.

Ray, now a man again, sniggers. "Drake, it must be the way you walk."

Aren, Leo and Bram are all amused too, but are trying not to laugh. Drake glares at me.

"OK, that is a big no. What about a dragon? If I could change into any animal, it would be a dragon."

Drake's countenance softens slightly. "My prime is a serpent."

Finally, I turn to Bram. "I am not doing terribly well. I am going to take a wild guess at a crow."

"Very close my lady." He gives a sincere bow and when he straightens, transforms into a huge, glossy black raven.

.....

I complete my morning exercise alone. I miss Darish dreadfully but continuing with our exercise regime makes me feel connected to him somehow. I hope that one day I will be reunited with him and Zane.

I strip off my elven training clothes and step into the rain chamber. As I am washing off the suds from my body, I gasp, freezing in shock. My skin is blemish free; the 'N' shaped scar is gone! Am I finally free of him?

Skipping down the stairs, it feels like life is looking up. Last night after dinner, Aren flew up to my balcony and kissed me goodnight under the stars. Just thinking about him causes a silly grin to spread across my face.

I enter the great hall and cast my gaze around the room looking for Aren. I don't see him, but I do see Tabbi sitting at a table with Belinda and another lady with long brown hair, who appears relatively plain sat next to Belinda, who is fully made up.

As I approach the table, Belinda holds out her hand in a stop motion, with the air of a queen bee. In a haughty voice she proclaims, "This table is reserved for nobles. You should sit with the commoners."

Tabbi looks up at me with mournful eyes but doesn't say anything. I can already tell that the other girl is a Belinda sycophant. Not wishing to have a confrontation, I spin on my heels and grab two apples from the massive display of fruit on my way out of the hall.

Outside, the sun is blanketed in sombre clouds and I quickly make my way over to the stables, hoping that it won't rain. Smoke, the pale grey gives me a neigh in greeting and greedily takes one of the apples, while I munch on the other.

My mood improves in his company, only to sour when I am again confronted by Belinda. Why can't she just leave me alone?

A spiteful look mars the brunette's beautiful face. "Are you hanging out waiting for the princes?"

There is something about Belinda that makes my hackles rise. "What if I am?"

"You know of course that Aren does not really care for you. He is only taking pity on you. I mean, look at you in your peasant clothes." She sneers, "You are beneath him."

Although Belinda's words hurt, I try not to show it and smirk. "That is not the impression that I got last night."

"Is he courting you?" Belinda demands.

"According to you that is impossible," I flippantly respond.

Belinda tries to look down on me, but she is a few inches shorter and has to settle on puffing herself up. "If you have any honour, you will release him of any obligation he feels he owes you."

"You are such a bitch," I mutter under my breath. It is not like me to curse, but she really gets under my skin.

Belinda almost hisses, "I am a serpent."

"A venomous one?" I quiz with a raised eyebrow.

"Aren is mine. You will regret standing in my way." Belinda storms off.

Once more alone, I find my anger evaporating only to be plagued with insecurities. Does he prefer Belinda? Does he just feel indebted to me?

The world goes blurry as tears fill my eyes and I don't notice Leo until he touches my shoulder, making me jump.

He frowns. "What has distressed you so?"

I shake my head, unable to speak. Leo enfolds me in his arms and eventually I confess, "I don't want to entrap Aren. I really like him. Am I just a fool for thinking there could be a future with us?"

"Aren cares for you very much and I can assure you that he is not one to bow to obligations." With a thumb, he brushes a tear from my cheek. "You are beautiful, kind, intelligent and spirited. You seem like a good match to me."

.......

🐝👑