"I don't see why I can't," he replied easily, his grin unapologetic. "Especially when you look this radiant."
Circe scoffed, rolling her eyes though the warmth in her chest only grew. "That isn't the word I would use to describe myself right now, not when my figure is hidden beneath so many layers of wool. It's a good thing I'm riding in a carriage. Heaven knows I'd topple over like a stone if I tried to climb atop a horse dressed like this."
His lips twitched, betraying the effort it took not to laugh outright. "Even better," he said lightly. "Can't have you freezing on my watch."
The journey carried them steadily toward the forest's edge, the palace fading behind them as towering trees rose to greet the procession. Frost clung stubbornly to the branches, and the air grew sharper, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth.
