King of Air (Return of the Draca Book 1) by D.N. Hoxa

Author:D.N. Hoxa [Hoxa, D.N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: D.N. Hoxa
Published: 2023-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Five

I thought Lucien would finally take me to Janet when we left the woods, but he did something even better—he took me to Midnight in the stables. He told Steven, the guy in charge, to let me play with all the horses if I wished, even ride one in the arena.

Then, he left without ever looking my way—which was for the best.

So, why in the world was I disappointed?

A couple of hours later, Steven and I were grooming a beautiful Shire, so big I felt tiny compared to it. Its coat, a beautiful honey brown, shone like silk in the sunlight. The horses and the other farm animals were all clean and in great shape because they took Lucien’s supplements daily. Soon, those forest animals would look the same, too, and I already couldn’t wait to see their transformation.

Steven couldn’t care less about who I was or where I came from. He didn’t even ask. Instead, he told me all about how he started tending to animals when Lucien brought him to Aither. I found myself relaxing more by the second, just like in the woods.

I wasn’t thinking. I wasn’t worrying. I wasn’t fearing.

That’s why when Janet found me, I was actually surprised to see her face, as if I’d forgotten where I was and what was going on around me. She’d brought food for me and Steven, and we sat down on the grass near the stables to eat it.

Which was incredible. When had I ever eaten outside, sitting on grass, with over a hundred people around me, all of them able to see my face?

Never, not in any life.

“He’s not around here today,” Janet said just as I finished the pasta she’d brought.

“What?” I asked, trying to look casual, though my cheeks were beginning to flush.

“Master Lucien,” Janet said. “You keep looking around—he isn’t here. He’ll be back later.”

I swallowed hard. How the hell had she noticed me looking? “Good. I’m glad.”

And if he didn’t come back at all, I’d be even happier. I didn’t need to see him, didn’t want him to play his tricks on me, to touch me without permission, to talk to me like that…

“Where is he?” The words slipped from my lips before I could help it. Damn my curiosity.

Janet raised her brow. “He doesn’t usually tell me about his business. I’m just the brewer.” And she smiled in a way that said she was hiding something.

“Let me get these,” Steven said, picking up our plates from the ground. “Thank you, Janet. That was delicious.”

“You’re very welcome.” She leaned back on the grass as Steven walked away with our plates. But as soon as he was out of hearing range, she turned to me. “What the hell were you thinking, Greta?!”

Surprised, I shook my head. “What do you mean?”

“Trying to run away! Getting in the lake. Did you not know that there are aqarinnes in there?” Her cheeks were more flushed than mine, and she looked genuinely concerned.

“No, actually,” I admitted. “I didn’t.”

“Shit. I should have mentioned it,” she said, rubbing her face raw.

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