Page 23 of Elven Oath

He mounts first, his movements smooth and effortless as he swings into the saddle. Then, he extends a hand down to me. For a second, I hesitate, staring at his outstretched hand with uncertainty. There was something about the way his eyes gleamed when he looked at me that made my heart beat faster.

But there was no time to dwell on it. I take his hand, and in one swift movement, he has me lifted up onto the horse behind him.

My body tenses as I settle in place, my hands instinctively reaching for something to steady myself. Aodhan’s back is solid, his presence even more overwhelming, and I can feel the warmth radiating from him through his tunic.

It felt strange to be this close to him despite our wedding night. My father’s court had been full of formality and distance between people. Physical closeness, especially with someone like Aodhan was entirely foreign to me. My hands hover awkwardly in the air, unsure of where to rest them.

“Hold on,” he says, his voice low but firm, as if sensing my hesitation.

I let out a slow breath, trying to calm the flurry of emotions swirling inside me, and I place my hands lightly on his sides, feeling the ripple of muscle beneath his clothes.

The moment I touch him, a strange awareness washes over me. As if I can sense the power coiled beneath the surface, a dragon lying just beneath his human skin.

We set off, the horse’s hooves crunching softly over the dirt road as we leave the camp behind.

The other two fall in line behind us, Falkor and Drago exchanging quiet words as we ride. I barely hear them, my mind too focused on the steady rhythm of the horse under me and the feel of Aodhan’s body brushing into mine.

I can feel the rise and fall of his breath, the solid warmth of him beneath my hands, and it was beginning to unnerve me. My thoughts circle around the absurdity of this entire situation and now I’m forced to cling to his back like a helpless maiden.

I wasn't helpless.

Determined to regain some semblance of control, I shift slightly in the saddle, leaning back in an attempt to give myself some more space.

It isn’t long before I realize just how uncomfortable this whole arrangement is going to be. The saddle was built for one rider, and no matter how I move, it feels awkward and confining.

But the more I shift, the more Aodhan seems entirely unaffected. He is calm, completely unfazed by my squirming attempts to create distance between us.

I can feel a stubborn defiance bubbling up inside me, and before I can stop myself, I deliberately lean forward, brushing against him in a way that was less than subtle.

If I make it annoying enough, maybe he’ll offer to ride with one of the others. Aodhan shifts slightly after a moment, glancing back at me with an unreadable expression.

“I didn’t realize my presence was so uncomfortable for you, Princess,” he says, his voice holding a hint of amusement.

I ignore the tone in his voice, opting instead to push further. Maybe a little discomfort would make him reconsider his offer.

I adjust my position again, this time making it more obvious, letting my hand slide “accidentally” over his side, lingering just long enough to make my intentions clear.

But instead of pulling away or showing any irritation, Aodhan’s lips curved into a slow smirk.

“Careful, Vevina,” he murmurs, his voice taking on a low, teasing note. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to seduce me.”

The heat that rushes to my face is immediate. I freeze, my hand still resting awkwardly on his waist, the words he’d just said sinking in.

Seduce him? My heart hammers in my chest as a mixture of shock and embarrassment burns through me.

“I—what?” I sputter, trying to regain my composure, but Aodhan doesn’t seem to be interested in letting me off so easily.

“Oh, you’re bold, Princess.” His voice is even smoother than before, a low rumble that sends a shiver down my spine. “But if you’re going to touch me like that, you might want to be more careful where your hands go.”

I can feel my cheeks heating up as his meaning becomes crystal clear. My earlier attempts at making the ride difficult for him had backfired spectacularly.

Instead of frustrating him into giving up the horse, I had given him all the ammunition he needed to turn the situation into something far more suggestive.

And now, here I was, stuck riding with him. Every shift of his body suddenly seems more intimate, every movement magnified by the tension that now crackles between us.

“I wasn’t...” I started, but before I can finish, Aodhan shifts slightly in the saddle, his hand brushing against my leg, just lightly enough to send a shock through my system.

“Of course not,” he says, his tone playful, but I can hear the edge beneath it. He isn’t mocking me, but he certainly isn’t letting me off the hook either. “But if you want to make this ride more interesting, all you had to do was ask.”

---