She allowed her legs to dangle over the side of the bed, waking her toes up one by one. The cool wood touched her feet, and she made herself get up.
Sunlight flooded through the canopy of the trees, the rust of the turning leaves catching in the rays. The light cascaded down and hit the wooden rail of the balcony. Birds’ songs flittered in her ears.
This was the new morning she would remember for the remainder of her days. Her first truly quiet morning that she actually accepted, without the struggle of the crown on her head or the comfort of her raven at her side.
She hugged her arms to her chest as she felt a tear fall down her cheek. A quiet sigh left her, and she leaned herself on the banister of the railing. Below, she could see men and women enjoying themselves as they ate their breakfasts, the laughter of the men making her smile inwardly. The sun hit her face, and she had to close her eyes as its warmth penetrated her skin. It was as though the Sun herself were speaking to her, telling her it would be okay.
When her eyes opened once more, she found Draven’s figure standing in the middle of conversation with Balandria and Bael on the other side of the clearing between the trees.
It was Balandria who saw her first. Her small eyes smiled at her. She nudged Draven’s chest and gave an upwards nod towards the balcony. Aydra’s stomach fluttered upon meeting his gaze. The ghost of a smile spread across his lips.
Another Hunter joined them, and Draven’s attention was turned as the man shook his shoulders jovially. She felt a laugh rise on her lips as she watched them. A few moments later, she found herself sitting on the balcony floor, leaned against one of the railings with her legs tucked into her chest. A lizard had found her, and she was speaking with it about what it had planned for its day when she heard footsteps on the stairs.
The warmth of his smile met hers as he slowed as he took the last few steps up to the platform. Her heart knotted in her chest as the look in his eyes, the look she so cherished, as though he were seeing her for the first time.
“Making friends?” he asked with a nod to the lizard.
She chuckled and let the lizard back on the railing. “Always.”
He reached out for her hands, which she gladly took, and the rush at which he pulled her to her feet made her fall into his arms. She laughed as he hugged her into him, her forearms lying on his chest, the hug of his hand on the small of her back.
“Hi,” he whispered.
The curl of his fingers in her matted hair made her knees weaken. “Hi,” she managed in a voice she barely heard.
His nose nudged against hers, and she closed her eyes in response to the jagged breaths now threatening her lungs.
“Your heart is beating really fast,” he muttered.
“Only for you,” she breathed.
She could feel him smiling when he finally kissed her. And for a moment, she forgot they were on the balcony, in full view of his men, the sun beating against their skin as a spotlight on their public display.
It didn’t matter how many times he’d kissed her before, every time, she found herself surprised by the fluttering in her stomach, the honey warmth radiating over her skin, the skipping of her heart…
But the noise of catcalls and howls from the clearing below echoed in her ears, and she felt his hand leave her waist. She pulled back to find him making an obscene hand gesture at his men, and she laughed at the grinning faces on all the people below.
“Ignore them.” His voice tickled her ear. She found Balandria in the crowd, and the woman raised her drink to her and then took a sip.
“I certainly didn’t think you’d be getting this response for my being here,” she said as he pulled back to see his face.
“I told you they liked you,” he insisted. He took a step back and let her go, simply holding onto her hands as he gave her a full once over. “You’re a mess,” he joked. “What is happening with your hair?”
Her stomach knotted at his banter, heart enlarging in her chest so that she inhaled another jagged breath. “I’m sorry. Does my morning appearance not live up to the Venari standard?”
He laughed and he pulled her back to him. “Exceeding it,” he said against her lips.
For a moment, he simply held her there, his eyes darting over her face as she wrapped a finger against his stubbled cheek.
“Will you join us for breakfast?” he asked.
She swallowed hard and avoided his gaze a moment. He squeezed her hands.
“No pressure,” he insisted. “Only if you’re up for it.”
Her stomach rumbled, and she squeezed his hands back. “Can I bathe first?” she asked.
He reached up and pulled a leaf from her hair, twirling it between his fingers in front of her. “Probably a good idea.”
It was the breakfast she didn’t know her core craved.
But as she stared around them, enjoying her time with their smiling faces, she was reminded of her youngers, and for a moment she felt her jaw tighten at the thought of them being back at the castle.
After breakfast, a few of Draven’s men came up to him with things they needed his help with.
“Yeah, I’m coming. Two minutes,” he told them before turning back to her. “I have some things I need to take care of. After, I’m yours.”
“Oh—” She had not expected him to think she wanted him to stop his duties for her. “Take your time, please. You’re still king. I dare not take away from your duties and your people,” she insisted. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“What will you do?” he asked.
She shrugged and looked around them. “It’s a beautiful day. Perhaps I’ll take
