Page 6 of A Storm of Fire and Ash
“Of course you didn’t. Why would you? I’m just a peasant outside of your kingdom and nothing more,” I snapped at him.
I continued to walk, and he followed.
“I did not mean to offend you.” He was at my side again, but I didn’t look at him. “I am not my father.”
I turned to look at him, and he gave me a lazy grin and flashed those dimples at me.
Gods, why did he have to be so attractive?
“I can see that,” I said honestly to him. “Here,” I said, stopping us in front of Pollie’s tent. The prince tilted his head in curiosity. “These are the best hand pies in town. You can choose between sweet and savory.”
“Which did you prefer?” he asked me with a warm smile.
“Sweet. Though I rarely have the coin to purchase them, so I have never tried the savory,” I replied.
The prince turned his gaze to Pollie, a warm smile lighting up his face. “We’ll take two sweets and two savories, please,” he said, his voice carrying a musical lilt. He reached into his coin pouch, the soft jingle of metal echoing around us, and retrieved five gleaming gold coins, which he handed over with grace.
“Your Highness, that is so very generous of you!” Pollie exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with delight, though a charming gap where a front tooth should be added a whimsical touch to his beaming smile.
“You don’t have to buy me anything… I’m not even hungry,” I protested, but my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl, suggesting otherwise.
The prince let out a hearty laugh, his warm chuckle echoing in the air as he accepted the neatly wrapped handpies from Pollie. “Your stomach tells me a different story. Plus, it’s your birthday, so happy birthday.” He gave me a cheeky smile, and I couldn’t help but smile back. “Now, where should we indulge in these treats? I’d prefer a spot without an audience,” he replied, handing me one of each of the hand pies. I thanked him.
My eyes quickly roamed the busy market around us, noting how the eyes of the outer class were fixed on us, a mix of curiosity and envy.
“Er, uhm…” I bit my lower lip anxiously, looking up at him. I didn’t realize how tall he was.
Standing at least six feet tall, the top of my head barely met his chin. He towered over me with an enigmatic charm that was hard to resist. His gaze briefly wandered down to my lips, making my cheeks flare with warmth.
“This way. We can go to the cliffside. No one ever goes there but me. I’m not even sure others know it exists.”
“You aren’t trying to kill me or anything, are you, Elara?” he joked, his teasing tone sending a flutter through my chest.
The way my name rolled off his tongue felt like a spell, enchanting and disarming all at once.
“I wouldn’t dare, Prince,” I replied, concealing a smile as I led him beyond the market and through a small forest of towering trees, their leaves whispering secrets overhead.
The prince gave me a questioning look, his brow furrowed in curiosity, but I simply rolled my eyes and reassured him, “It’s just through here.”
With that, I pulled back the thick, lush bushes, their leaves glistening with morning dew, and ducked beneath their jagged branches. He followed closely, his footsteps tentative on the uneven terrain.
As we stepped into the clearing, his gaze widened in sheer wonder. Before us unfolded a breathtaking panorama:an open field bursting with vibrant wildflowers leading up to the rugged edge of a majestic cliff.
“Wow... this is… this is beautiful!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.
Above us, birds glided gracefully down the cliffside, their wings catching the sunlight as they dove into the frigid waters below, hunting for fish. A brisk wind swept through, tugging at my hair and loosening it from my braid. I smiled watching the prince’s face light up with delight at the hidden treasure of nature he had never known existed, which was crazy given you could see the whole castle from here.
I found a comfortable spot near the precipice, taking care to maintain a safe distance from the edge, where the rocky drop met the rolling waves. I patted the ground beside me, inviting the prince to join, and he hesitantly took a seat. I could feel his eyes on me, brimming with curiosity, but I avoided looking his way. Instead, I unwrapped my hand pie, the warm aroma wafting up to greet me.
Taking a hearty bite, I couldn’t contain my delight; my eyes rolled back in bliss, and an audible moan escaped my lips.
“Oh my gods, this is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth,” I moaned, only to realize a moment too late that my choice of words may have sounded inappropriate. My cheeks flushed a deep crimson as I turned to meet the prince’s gaze, both embarrassed and amused.
His gaze was nothing but sexy.
He took a hearty bite of his hand-pie, savoring the flaky crust. A deep, contented groan escaped his lips. “Holy Divine, you’re right. This is heavenly!” He quickly devoured his pastry in two more bites, his enthusiasm turning the pastry into little more than an afterthought as he finished it off.
I chuckled, “You barbarian! You didn’t even take a moment to truly enjoy it.” With a teasing smile, I tookanother bite of my own, the savory filling bursting with flavor.
