The road was rough and bumpy.
Hooves thundered around the carriage.
She peered out of the carriage curiously, desperate to distract herself from the man who seemed to own the very air she dared to breathe.
Horsemen accompanied them, riding in front, beside and behind despite the furious rain.
Such many riders would frighten the life out of Aurora.
The carriage took the main road, not the shorter bushy path they preferred.
When she leaned back against her chair, he was not looking at her as she expected.
His eyes were closed, his chest heaving with each steady breath he inhaled.
"Stop." It was barely more than a whisper but the carriage came to a neat halt.
Claire stared at him, wondering what he intended to do.
His horsemen halted around the carriage.
He didn't speak with his lips, but they understood nonetheless, riding off.
Mind-linking. She had heard a lot about it.
She suddenly felt left out - she had no wolf.
"Why are we stopping, Your Grace?"
He spared her a glance.
"She's here." Is all he said.
Pushing the door open, she ran out into the storm.
The heavy drops soaked through her cloak, causing the already-heavy garment to sag along the ground.
"Aurora!" She called out, breathless from running.
She could barely see a thing - it was too dark and it was raining so hard.
Her hair matted on her face, strands sticking to her face.
Her nose stung from the cold.
The men on horses had dismounted and were going through the woods.
The sound of sobbing drew her attention.
Her chest heaved with relief.
She rushed to her sister.
Aurora was sitting on a log, half-leaning on the tree behind her.
She jerked when she saw Claire approaching her.
"Why did you leave?" Claire asked, struggling to keep the water descending on her face out of her mouth.
"My stomach hurts. I needed some air. By the time the rain started, I had already walked too far - and I didn't want to go back."
Claire didn't say a word.
"I'm sorry, Claire."
Claire knelt down beside her.
"Why didn't you go straight home? I would have understood if you told me."
A sob tore through the little girl.
"I wanted to wait here for you. And now, there are men with swords everywhere."
She smiled and patted Aurora's head.
"Waiting here for me would only give you a terrible cold. Also, these men with swords are searching for you."
"They are?"
She nodded.
"Let's go home quickly before the King realizes…"
"Realizes what?"
She froze.
Aurora peered around her and gasped.
Slowly, she turned on her heels.
She could barely see his face, he looked like the dark lord dressed in black.
He had come into the rain? Why?
Water droplets glistened on his cloak. His wavy hair clung to his neck.
"What are you doing here?"
Aurora nudged her.
"Checking if your sister is alright."
Aurora stepped forward.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I pray you won't get a cold because of me."
He laughed, a sweet and graceful sound.
"I'm a Lycan, dear. The cold can't bother me. I should be more afraid for your own health."
She shrugged. "I feel just fine."
"You have the scent of a wolf, although it's very faint."
"My father was a wolf."
Claire stepped on her feet. She grunted.
"Why is your sister different?" He asked, ignoring Claire.
Her face flushed crimson.
"She's not different in my eyes. She's as tough as any wolf I've seen."
Yeren nodded as if he knew it to be a fact.
"Shall I take you both home?"
"No, it's just over that-"
"Yes, we'd love that, Your Grace."
Claire glared at Aurora.
Left without a choice, she followed him back to the carriage.
The amount of attention the King of Reden gave her would turn a lot of heads her way. Whispers of the rejection at the market square and his possible intentions to court her would surely spread.
She wouldn't be able to leave for anywhere without drawing attention to herself.
The carriage rolled down the path and came to a stop just by her doorstep.
The air within had been thick with the scent of damp clothing and rain.
She was red in the face as they arrived.
Aurora served as a buffer between them, but she was afraid her sister was falling in love with his charm.
They touched many topics - he was surprised at how much the little girl knew.
Even Claire was a bit shocked.
She prayed deep in her heart that he wouldn't ask to come in.
As if reading her thoughts, he said, "I've seen to it that you both are delivered safely home. I'm sure the Hanswick's would be glad to hear such."
Claire rolled her eyes.
With a teasing glance at Claire, he helped them from the carriage.
Aurora was all smiles and cuteness.
"My thanks, Your Grace." Claire forced herself to say.
He nodded, his eyes dancing.
Then, the carriage and its escort riders sped away.
She drew in a deep breath.
He must be laughing at her - she appeared so proud only to live in such a house.
They slid in through the window and headed up the stairs.
"You seem upset."
She stopped walking, clutching the railing.
Water dripped from her clothing.
The lantern in her hand nearly extinguished itself at her abruptness.
"Of course, Aurora. I'm in a foul mood. He is the enemy and you're making friends with him!"
Aurora shrunk away at her tone.
She sighed, realizing she was taking her frustration out on her sister.
"My enemies are your enemies, Aurora."
"He was very nice."
"He wasn't nice when he killed father, was he?"
Aurora's lips trembled.
"I'm sorry."
Claire turned and walked away, deciding against embracing her sister.
There was a fire in the hearth upstairs.
As she entered the room, Zachary was asleep on one of the cushioned chairs.
Her movements stirred him.
"Why are you all wet?"
She turned around.
Aurora perched by the door - as if she was afraid to go inside.
Pails had been lined at calculated places under the roof to catch the droplets that fell from the ceiling.
He yawned.
"You're still here."
"I am. It's going to be your last night here, so I thought you would want me to stay."
She had almost forgotten - they were to go to Uncle Jarren's place on the morrow for more than just dinner. Uncle Jarren won't let them slip from his fingers the moment they are under his roof.
She slipped off her cloak and ran into his arms.
He tensed in surprise but he embraced her back.
He smelled like honey and smoke and rain. She would miss him.
Claire noticed that she didn't feel threatened in his arms as she did in Yeren's.
"By tomorrow, I'll be betrothed." She muttered.
"You don't sound happy about it."
"We both know I'm walking into my own shackles."