The moon hung bright that night, its pale light spilling through the leaves and settling over Theron's face in shifting patterns of silver and shadow.
He had sent his knights far enough away to leave them alone.
Part of him had wanted them near, a restraint, a safeguard against his own impulses. And yet, he had wanted this more; to have Aveline to himself for a little while, with no watching eyes, no careful distance between them.
They were only traveling for a few hours, and still he could not bear the thought of being apart from her.
But he knew that wanting this was already too much.
Once they returned to Greenvale, he would not be able to stay beside her like this. He would be consumed by the kingdom's affairs, by obligations that would leave him no room to visit her even once a day. And beyond that, beyond everything else, there was the matter that truly gnawed at him.
Kael had already informed his family.
The Vantaris family would be waiting for her.
