Page 240 of The Wild Prince's Favorite
Bundled in her blanket, the little girl clung to him without fully waking, her tiny fist gripping the fabric. Getting up too, Alezya glanced up at him, her expression conflicted. Kassein leaned down and pressed a reassuring kiss to her lips.
“I’ve got her,” he said gently. “Let’s eat.”
He guided her through the Onyx Castle, first stopping by his siblings’ rooms to gather extra layers of clothing for Alezya. Then, they raided the kitchen for fruits and worked together to coax Lumie awake and make sure she ate something. Neither of them spoke much, as it felt too early for this, but Kassein noted how Alezya stood close enough that their bodies were constantly touching in some capacity. She would keep her arm against his, let their fingers brush, and keep her body attuned continuously to his, like a flower around the sun, always naturally seeking his warmth and presence. There were tender looks, faint smiles, and a light kiss now and then. It felt natural, like a family life they could easily grow accustomed to, and he loved that between them. Kassein savored this fleeting sense of domesticity. He wanted that for them, for Lumie. But he knew the days ahead wouldn’t allow it yet.
The skies outside remained unnervingly dark as they left the kitchen and roamed through the castle, heading outside. Though dawn had broken, the heavy clouds cloaked the sky in an ominous shade, blurring the line between night and day. Thanks to being tightly wrapped in the blanket, Lumie was safe from the chill when Kassein stepped out, cradled securely in his arms. Given how dark it was, she might even have been safe from the sunlight. Alezya followed close behind, and he was sure she shared the ominous feeling as she also kept glancing at the dark clouds ahead with a frown.
Lorey was already awake, wrapped in a similar thick cloak and tossing chickens across the yard. The triplet dragons, unbothered by the weather, were pouncing on the prey, squabbling as they scrambled to claim their share. Niiru had learned better than to compete with the rowdy bunch and was careful to stay away from the rabble, dragging its meal closer toKein for safekeeping. The scene might have been amusing if not for the oppressive weight in the air.
“Morning,” Lorey greeted them politely. “I hope you’re ready for a busy morning. Did that little sweetheart sleep well?”
She had been kind enough to direct her question to Alezya, who shyly smiled back as Lorey gently rubbed Lumie’s back, peeking at the little girl under the cover.
“We go?” Alezya asked Kassein. “To the mountain?”
He gave her a nod.
“Kiera is waiting for us, with our people. Hopefully, the Munsa Tribe will be too. They should have found our army by now.”
Alezya reacted to the mention of the Munsa Tribe and gave him a little nod, but her eyes were filled with sadness when she redirected them to Lumie. Kassein’s heart sank when he saw her immediately tear up a bit, and she leaned over to press a long kiss on her little girl’s forehead.
She whispered some words in their language, and right there and then, he decided that he was definitely going to learn their tongue. No matter how long it took, even if it took him years, he would understand them. He let Alezya take Lumie from him to hug her little girl, wrapping an arm around her waist and pressing his lips to the crown of her head.
When she handed Lumie to Lorey with a tearful smile, he tightened his hold on her, letting her lean into him a bit more.
“Kiera will have already collected Tievin,” Lorey gently said. “You guys should get going before the storm comes.”
Kassein agreed with a quiet nod. He wished he could have given Alezya more time with her child, but if they were to reunite with his army, they had to get going. He was fairly certain his sister would already be getting impatient.
“Alezya,” he gently whispered her name, steering her toward his dragon.
She swallowed and turned her head toward him, giving him a nod and a brave smile that made his heart ache. Kassein let out a faint sigh, and just as she was about to get in step with him, he stopped himself and took a second to press his forehead to hers.
“I promise I’ll bring you back to her soon,” he whispered.
Whether she understood or not, Alezya nodded and pressed a quick, shy kiss to his lips. Then, she was the first one to turn away from Lumie and take the first determined step toward Kein.
The orange dragon slowly stood, immediately gathering the attention of the younger dragons. Kassein helped Alezya up, and soon enough, they were in the skies, the Onyx Castle reduced to a dark spot in the white background, flying against the wind toward the mountains.
He was glad they’d taken the time to grab thicker clothes for Alezya because the air was biting, and though she didn’t seem cold on the inside, her skin was still turning red wherever it was exposed. He moved to shield her body with his as much as he could, but they couldn’t get to the mountains soon enough. Kein flew as fast as it could, with all four younger dragons in its wake, flying where its larger body would shield them from the strong winds. The triplets were big enough to endure, but Niiru was exhausted by the time they arrived, and the young dragon darted under Kein as soon as it landed.
Alezya was obviously glad they had made it too because she didn’t wait for Kassein to venture inside the mountain, the triplets right behind her while Niiru stuck closer to Kassein. Inside the cave, they first walked past some of their scouting units, who politely greeted Alezya with nods and bowed even lower to Kassein. He slowed down, quietly inspecting his troops as they walked past.
At first glance, there were a few injuries, but nothing too notable; it seemed his men were having a more challenging time with the rough environment than fighting the tribespeople. Many had ice burns and cuts on their hands or were trying to repair their shoes and boots. Overall, it seemed like the morale was still decent, and he suspected his sister had sent some for supplies or to hunt because many men were sitting down and having a meal around little campfires as they walked past them looking for his sister.
“Finally!” Kiera welcomed them with an exasperated groan. “I’m sure I had told you to get your ass here before dawn! I was wondering if you would even get here by midday!”
She stood with her fists on her hips, looking fresh and ready for a new day. She was wearing a new outfit and heavier armor than usual. Her hair was also now swept into a sleek, high braid adorned with intricate silver accessories, a fitting updo for the windy area and upcoming battles. It was clear that her short trip back to the camp had been well-spent.
“Tievin,” Alezya blinked, visibly surprised to see the Intendant standing there.
Tievin gave them a polite nod, but based on his messy hair, Kassein could guess his sister had dragged the poor man out of bed early. Either that or Tievin’s hair hadn’t endured the flight well. Either way, his Intendant looked more sullen than usual, and he was holding on to his notepad for dear life as the triplets immediately darted to him.
“Oh, gods!” He squirmed. “No! Don’t you dare! Stop it! No, no! Enough! Gods, would you calm down, you toe-chomping pests!”
The triplets didn’t stop, and his hysterical screams didn’t even slow them down; they trampled over one another to get to their prey. The poor man began jumping from one foot to another, trying to stay out of their little fangs’ reach. Despite thetriplets being as large as dogs, the three of them were all trying to get a bite of Tievin’s toes for some reason, even as they tripped over one another and squabbled under his feet.
Suddenly, Vele managed to tear off a piece of leather with a loud rip, and Tievin screamed.
