Page 84 of The Princess and the Demon

He leads me through the castle and out near the stables. One of the stable boys I recognize right away holds onto the reigns of a sleek black gelding.

He’s already saddled, and I sigh as I behold the creature, grief forgotten.

“Oh Olam,” I breath, walking up to the beast. “Is he mine?”

I run my hands down the sleek neck of the horse, leaning in to rest my cheek against his coat.

“All yours.” Olam says a wide smile on his face.

Tears burn the backs of my eyes as I leave the gelding to throw my arms around my brother’s neck. He lifts me easily, laying a cheek against the top of my head.

“Thank you.” I whisper.

He holds me for a moment before patting my back and setting me back on my feet. I turn to walk back to the gelding, running my hands over its velvety coat. I coo at him, and he sticks his nose into my hair, inhaling and blowing hot air into my face.

I giggle, leaning back to kiss his nose, and he lifts his head into the air, curling his top lip upward. Olam chuckles. “Looks like you’re already friends.”

He takes a few steps backwards as another castle servant walks up with a wrapped box. I watch as he takes it, smiling gratefully. He walks up to me, pulling back the linen. I watch him open the lid, tilting the box for me to see inside.

Another sigh escapes me as I’m met with a brand-new pair of riding boots. The leather is embossed with roses, and I reach out, running my fingertips over them, my thoughts going to Amon.

Grief lances through my heart briefly, but I dash it away.

I refused to allow it to ruin this.

“Thank you, Olam.” I say with a soft smile.

The following days are filled with riding lessons. Olam is a little befuddled at my willingness to learn, and when I get thrown not one but twice, the doctors are called to look at me.

I insisted I was fine, brushing off their hands and tools.

They left, of course, scratching their heads in confusion.

I had long since chalked it up to the bond between Amon and me. His blood coursed through my veins now. It had… healed me, somehow.

I obviously chose not to tell them that, and instead took advantage of my newfound ability to do the things I couldn’t before.

All I knew was that I was healthy and able for the first time in my life.

By the end of the month Olam told me I was ready to ride on my own. His next offer was to teach me how to use a bow.

I had worried at my lower lip, wondering if I should tell him that Amon had been teaching me. That probably wasn’t a good idea, so I chose to keep my mouth shut about it.

He, of course, frowned when I was able to nock an arrow, and hit the bullseye.

All I could do was smile sheepishly.

A new bow had been fit to my specific height and weight, and I had requested that roses be engraved into the wood and embossed into the quiver.

I continued to practice every day and started getting better quickly.

Slowly, things started to feel somewhat normal again.

27

ELORA

Ipaced around the large dirt patch outside of Delyra. My bow was slung over my back, and the quiver hung at my hip. My horse, that I had fondly named Jericho, pawed at the ground at the edge of the road.

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