Chapter 34
As the afternoon sunlight slowly fades, the castle’s stone walls take on a warm, reflected glow. Max slows his swinging, eventually stopping, and hops off to chase a red and gold leaf spinning in the light wind. His laughter echoes through the courtyard, bringing life to the silent stone surroundings.
Suddenly, I feel the sharp chill of being watched and turn to find King Soren entering the courtyard.
“My King,” I acknowledge before turning my attention back to Max. I follow Max who has chased the leaf taken by the breeze into the rear of the castle where a massive tree sits as
the centerpiece.
“Did you finish your meeting, my king?” I ask as Soren as he catches up with me.
He nods. “It wasn’t a meeting, just my parents checking in on me,” he says with a faint smile on his lips when I notice one of his maids coming out of the doors behind us.
“Afternoon tea is ready, my king,” a servant announces, approaching us with a respectful bow.
Max dashes toward us hearing his father addressed, his energy seemingly endless.
“Can we have a picnic with Brielle?” he asks his father, his eyes shining with hope.
I start to excuse myself. “Max, I should get home…”
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Chapter 34
“Or you could join us?” King Soren interrupts, his voice unexpectedly gentle.
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“Please, please,” Max begs, tugging at my hand with those big, pleading eyes.
“Fine, but then I must go, Max. I need to check on Granny,” I relent, feeling a mix of guilt and warmth.
Max fist pumps the air and drags me toward a huge tree in the rear yard. We settle down on a patch of grass under the large tree, with a picnic spread out in front of us. Max chatters away, pointing at the different foods and explaining what they are to me. King Soren looks on with a fond smile,
occasionally joining in the conversation but mostly content to watch his son’s happiness.
As we eat, Max bombards me with questions about my life outside the castle walls, his curiosity never–ending. I try to answer as best as I can, without giving too much information away. I don’t need them prying more into my past.
King Soren listens intently, occasionally offering his own stories from his childhood. I am surprised by how natural and easy our conversation flows.
After finishing our meal, Max begs for a game of hide–and- seek and King Soren joins in. As they run around the courtyard, laughter filling the air once again, I can’t help but feel grateful for this unexpected afternoon spent with them when Max decides he wants to climb the tree.
He begins to climb it and then looks down at me.
“Come on, Bree!”
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I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m not a cat, Max. I’m no good at climbing trees.”
“C’mon! It’s easy!”
King Soren chuckled at my side, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched our interaction. “He thinks we can all do anything,” he explained, before suddenly standing and extending a hand to me.
“I’ll help you,” he offered, and I felt a sudden rush of nerves.
“Uh… okay,” I agreed, glancing hesitantly at his outstretched hand. After a moment’s hesitation, I placed my hand in his larger one and allowed him to guide me to the base of the massive tree.
His touch was warm, surprisingly tender for such a large and powerful man. His hands were gentle as he helped me find footholds and clamber up after Max.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I carefully climbed higher, Max cheering from above when I realize King Soren was still on the ground.
“Wait, I have to break my neck on my own?” I tell him. He laughs, taking a seat back on the picnic rug and watching. I shake my head.
this
“Come on, come on, higher.” Max calls out. I look where he is perched on a branch high above then back at the ground, was high enough for me.
Yet Max refuses to take no for an answer. Sighing, I relent, thinking about how much Max just wants someone to play with. “Fine, but if I fall and break my neck, you’ll have to come
Chapter 34
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look after me,” I warn him.
“Deal!” he shouts from a branch.
Climbing the tree is easier said than done.
“See, Bree! You’re doing it!” Max crows from above us, his excitement infectious. Before I knew it, I’d reached him in the high branches of the tree, our laughter echoing around us.
Once I’m up though, I realize getting down is going to be a lot harder. “What’s wrong, Bree? You didn’t get yourself stuck, now, did you?” King Soren calls out from below, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Chapter 35
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Chapter 35
