Page 69 of Lost Heir
That shut me up. He was right. I fought the urge to roll my eyes because it seemed that Ronan was always right.
“Are you done eating?” I changed the subject, not wanting to delve deeper. “We should probably seek out the messenger before he heads home for the night.”
Ronan watched me intently before nodding in agreement. I knew he wanted to say more, but he wisely decided to remain quiet.
With our cloaksdrawn tight to hide our identities, we crept to the back of the inn. The stables were quiet, save for the soft sounds of horses shifting in their stalls. Under the faint glow of a lantern, I spotted a man who fit the description the innkeeper had given. The scar across his left cheek was prominent, a stark reminder of the dangers that lay in crossing borders.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward to speak with the man, ready to navigate the next step in our journey away from the palace and into the uncertain future that awaited us in Keldara. “Excuse me?” When the man turned to face me, I immediately noticed he wasn’t Valorian. I wondered if he was Keldaran.
“Aye? What do you need?” he replied in a gruff voice.
I peered around the stables and whispered, “I need to send a message … across the border.”
He huffed. “I only deal with horses, ma’am. If you need anything else, I can’t help you.”
“Mira sent us,” Ronan interjected.
The man paused and looked us up and down. “Who do you need to get this message to?”
I gulped and whispered, “Commander Mykal Kaiser.”
The man paused and narrowed his gaze on me. “That’s one odd request, little lady. Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
He sighed and stood. “Very well.” The man reached for parchment, quill, and ink, handing it over to Ronan. “Keep it short and don’t add too many details in case it gets intercepted. I imagine you don’t want anyone reading it other than the commander.”
Ronan took the materials, then glanced at me before he began to write.
I leaned into him and whispered in his ear, “Tomorrow at noon. The border. Bring aid.” The weight of our message pressed heavily on my shoulders. This wasn't just any letter; it was a plea, a negotiation, a connection to Keldara that would either save us or damn us.
As Ronan wrote, the man leaned against a wooden post and watched us with an unreadable expression. I wondered about his story and the series of events that led him to thisplace, acting as a bridge between two nations fraught with tension.
Once Ronan finished, he signed itLeilainstead ofLyanna, then folded the parchment carefully and sealed it with a piece of string. “It's ready,” he said, his voice low.
The man took the letter and tucked it into his coat. “I'll see it gets there by dawn. Anything else?”
Ronan shook his head. “No, that's it. How much do we owe you?”
“Since you’re Mira’s friends, five Glints. But know this: this is a one-time deal. I don't make a habit of this.”
“Thank you,” I said, my heart lightened by a fraction as Ronan paid him. This was a step, albeit a small one, towards a resolution we desperately needed.
As we turned to leave, the man called out, “Stay safe, you two. Keldara's no place for the faint-hearted, much less Valorians.”
22
We returned to our room quietly, taking care to ensure no one followed us and we hadn’t raised any suspicions.
“We should get some rest,” I suggested, though the last thing on my mind was sleep.
“Agreed.” Ronan removed his shirt, then turned to me and extended his hand. I took it and let him lead me to the bed, where we kicked off our shoes and climbed in.
As we settled under the covers, the room's simplicity faded away, leaving just a man and a woman finding solace in each other's company. Ronan wrapped an arm around me and pulled me closer until there was no space left between us. My head found a comfortable spot on his chest where I listened to the steady rhythm of his heart. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a silver sheen over Ronan's chiseled features. His crimson eyes held a glint of something wild and untamed. I traced the lines of his tattoos, delighting in the warmth of his skin beneath my touch.
Our breaths mingled in the intimate space between us,creating a symphony of desire that pulsed in the air. Ronan's lips grazed my forehead gently before capturing my lips in a searing kiss. The world around us faded into oblivion as we surrendered to the connection sparking between us.
Clothes became mere obstacles as we shed them in a frenzy, our bodies fitting together like two halves of a whole. Every touch and caress sent shivers down my spine, setting my senses ablaze with a fierce longing that consumed us both.
