Ehren left before Ferros. He was the one who stayed behind usually. Today, it was Ferros’s turn. Ehren was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to crash into his bed and fall asleep but he knew he needed to check on his guests. Well, he didn’t really need to more like he really wanted to. So, he left his brother behind and made his way home.

He landed in the castle courtyard just as the sun was beginning to rise. He stared off at the horizon for a moment before making his way inside. His mother met him in the grand foyer.

“Where in the world have you been?” she demanded. “And where in the world is your brother?”

“Father sent us to Greenland, remember?” he sighed. “As for Ferros, he’s still there. Ran into one of Father’s old friends and now he won’t stop asking the man questions.”

His mother’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Did you know Lady Eames died?” he asked.

His mother’s hand flew to her mouth. She shook her head.

“Neither did we, until we met two of her children.”

“Which two?” his mother whispered.

“Askel and Akira.”

“The two oldest,” she whispered. “What about Adan and Nell?”

“I’m sorry Mother, but they died with Lady Eames.”

He scrubbed his face with his hands. He really wanted to go check on Akira and Askel before he fell asleep on his feet.

“If you don’t mind, Mother, it’s been a long night and I’d really like to get some sleep.”

His mother bobbed her head. He was making his way to the gardens when she called after him.

“Thane was here earlier, do you know why?”

“No,” he called over his shoulder.

He flinched at the lie but it was necessary. Akira didn’t need his mother fawning over her and her brother. He sighed and ran his hands over his face again. If his mother knew Akira and her brother were here she’d go nuts. They didn’t need that, especially Akira. He laughed to himself. His mother would turn white when she heard some of Akira’s language. He made his way to the old gardener’s house.

He knocked on the door. When there was no answer, he slowly opened the door. Askel was laid out on the couch covered in the jacket Akira had been wearing earlier. Akira was asleep beside him. She was sitting on the floor with her head resting on her arms beside her brother. Ehren was about to leave when he noticed the blanket that was draped around her shoulders had fallen off. He made his way inside quietly. He was about to pull the blanket back up over Akira’s shoulders when he saw them. Scars. Her back was covered with them. There really wasn’t an inch of it that wasn’t scarred. He laid his hand lightly on her shoulder for a brief moment then pulled the blanket up and quickly left the house. He ran through the gardens until he reached his favorite spot. It was the only spot in the entire garden where mustangs would or could come. He fell to his knees in the soft grass. He let the growl he’d been holding back out with such ferocity it scared him.

He heard the grass rustle behind him. He rose and turned to the sound. He was stunned to see Akira standing barefoot and wrapped in the blanket.

“My prince?” she asked quietly. “Is everything alright?”

He couldn’t speak. How could he tell her he’d seen the scars that marred her back? He turned back to the open field.

“You saw them didn’t you?” she asked coming to stand beside him.

He looked at her.

“It’s ok, you know? I’m glad you saw them. Seeing and feeling are two different sensations but sight can be decieved. Touch cannot.”

“I’m sorry I woke you,” he said.

She stepped in front of him.

“You actually didn’t wake me.”

“Really? Because it looked like you were asleep.”

“I was almost asleep when you knocked but I thought it was just a dream until you touched my shoulder.”

“Still, I should have let you sleep.”

“Actually, you saved me from a nasty crick in my neck. Why’d you come here?”

He smiled slowly.

“I come here when I need to quiet my mind,” he told her.

He pulled her to him. He turned her so her back was facing him and wrapped his arms around her.

“Look around, you may see wild horses,” he whispered.

She shivered against him. He groaned to himself. That one involuntary action had him wanting her in more ways than one.

Akira

Akira loved being wrapped in the prince’s arms but she knew she couldn’t get used to it. If she did, she’d end up heartbroken all over again. She couldn’t deal with that.

She was about to step from his embrace when Ehren tightened his arms. She rolled her eyes then searched for a way out. Her eyes darted around the field until they fell on a large tree. She smiled wickedly to herself. Without a word she threw off the blanket and ran toward the tree, laughing the entire way.