Chapter 36

Rika and the boys travelled back to Thornburg the next morning after a restless night, with Kael's words repeating in her mind.

"Are you okay?" Wolfe asked, his grip on Rika's waist tightening. "It won't be too long before we're home."

"A little achy from sitting on a horse for so long, but otherwise, I'm fine."

"I was actually wondering... if you felt anything from the mark."

"Oh, no, not really. I know it's there, but that's it..." Feels weird when Kael touches it, though. A bit electric.

"What are you two whispering about now?" Kael slowed his horse down to be beside them. "Always leaving me out."

"You don't need to be a part of every conversation." Rika sighed.

"But I'd like to be."

"Wait, Kael, where are you going? I'm still busy explaining about the plague and asking about his country," Ferran called back to him.

"Better go back up with Ferran and keep your eyes peeled. Need to make sure I'm protected, right?" Rika smiled at him, and he nodded, puffing out his cheeks as he returned to Ferran's lecture.

"I guess we should've used Ferran's ability to talk for hours on any subject that interests him when we were headed there in the first place," Wolfe said. "Who knew it'd work?"

"I'm surprised he even went back to Ferran after I asked him to. Weird."

"Indeed..." Wolfe's jaw tightened. He knew why, and what Kael was up to, but he didn't want to say it out loud. "Be careful getting too close to him." Wolfe pulled her closer as he mentally cursed at Kael.

"I know." But I think it's unavoidable at this point. He needs me as his ticket home. Besides, he took an arrow for me; how can I force him away after that? She cringed, imagining how much the poisoned arrow must have hurt.

The forest ended, opening out onto the grassy field leading back to Thornburg.

Kael took a deep breath and sighed. "The air is so much fresher here than in my kingdom. You can tell how polluted it is there. Too much manufacturing, I'd say."

Manufacturing? How advanced is it there? What are they manufacturing? Wait, they're a war country; it's probably weapons.

"There are ways to manufacture cleaner," Ferran started on another spiel.

By the time they reached the gates, they had opened, and Alric and Dryden were waiting for them on their horses.

"Oh!" Rika spotted him, and her eyes lit up. If he's well enough to come way out here to greet us, then he's definitely doing better.

"Careful," Wolfe warned her, pulling her close again after she had leaned forward.

"Sorry."

"It's okay, Rika," he whispered, secretly wishing they didn't have to go back yet.

"You guys came to welcome me back to your kingdom?" Kael held his hand over his heart. "You shouldn't have."

"We're not just here for you," Dryden said, his eyes on Rika the whole time. "We're here for everyone, but especially Rika. All of us know the barrier is up; we felt the wave of her energy throughout the kingdom and saw the crest below us light up."

Wolfe hopped off his horse and turned to help Rika off, only to find Dryden already holding his hands up to her, so he turned to Alric. Behind him, he could see a line of guards making sure the citizens didn't rush out to the saint as she returned. "Your Highness." Wolfe bowed to him.

"Everyone looks okay. Did you run into any trouble?" Alric asked.

"Nothing I couldn't handle." Kael smiled at him.

"I'll fill you in." Wolfe glanced back at Dryden and Rika. "Am I allowed to leave those two alone again?"

Alric frowned. "I can't say I've forgiven him yet, but I suppose after his help, I should lift the ban. I don't think they should be alone, though; Dryden is up and about, but he's not in tiptop shape."

"Don't worry, I'll happily turn the couple into a threesome and keep them safe," Kael said.

"I have preparations to make so we can clear the plague, now that the barrier is finally in place," Ferran said.

Alric nodded. "That would be great, but make sure you rest."

"Yes, Your Highness." Ferran bowed, still on his horse, and trotted off.

Rika turned, expecting Wolfe to help her, but found Dryden with his hands out towards her. "Oh!" Her heart skipped a beat as the weight on her chest lightened.

"Hello again, bunny." Dryden smiled at her softly. "Hasn't been long, but I missed you."

She took his hand, and he braced her waist as she got off. "Hello." She bit her lip, refusing to admit she missed him, too. "Glad to see you out of bed, and I'm sorry about that."

Dryden shook his head. "Nothing to be sorry about. I chose to give you my energy, despite knowing the risks. I'm fine now, so all's well. How about you tell me about your adventure out of town? I know you've hated being so confined." He held his arm out to her. "We can even take a stroll through the town on the way back to the palace."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Rika glanced at the citizens nearby, waving to her past the guards. "I'm not sure I'll ever be able to walk around here like a normal person." She took his arm anyway.

"In a normal way, probably not, but we can still go around with guards. We can take a carriage back to the palace if you'd prefer."

"I really am the solution to your problem," Kael said. "People will actively avoid us if I'm around. Fear has a tendency to send the masses into hiding." He smirked.

"I'm not sure that's a good thing," Rika said. Actually feel bad for him, since it's probably not even his reputation causing it. Wait, what happens if we leave these bodies? Will their original owners take over? If we're gone, I'm not sure we'll ever find out.

"It comes in handy when you don't want people swarming you." Kael wrapped his arm around her shoulders from the other side.

Dryden pushed Kael's arm off of her. "How about we go to a cafe nearby? Something sweet is perfect after a long journey."

Rika nodded. "I could go for some dessert."

"Hmm... Matches what I've been told." Kael watched her expression lighten at the thought of sweets.

Dryden led them into town, glaring at Kael whenever he tried to hang onto Rika. Like Kael said, people rushed to get out of their way, and even hid around corners as they spotted him.

"You like pushing your luck, don't you?" Dryden removed his arm from her again.

"If I didn't, I'd never get anywhere."

Dryden held the door to the cafe open for Rika, and Kael slipped in right behind her. "This is going to be a long day," he sighed.

Rika sat down at a table off to the side, and Kael moved his chair beside hers before sitting down. Dryden stared at him for a moment and moved his chair to the other side of Rika before sitting down with the menu.

What in the world is going on? Rika sat still, not sure she should look at either of them.

"What do you think?" Dryden showed her the menu, having been talking about different desserts as she zoned out.

"Whatever you suggest, I'm sure I'll like."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Kael rested his arm on the back of her chair and leaned in close. "Are you really okay? It was a long journey."

"What? Yes..." Why is he asking that now?

"Okay. So, what do you say to feeding me? It's more delicious if a beautiful woman feeds you." He smiled at her. "Umph." A chocolate cream-filled bun was shoved into his mouth as Dryden came back with a platter of desserts. "I said 'woman'." Kael continued eating it, anyway.

"Here, Rika." He set a few small plates in front of her. "And you can try some of mine, too." He held up a fork with orange cheesecake on it.

"And mine." Kael held up the bun to her.

What in the world is going on? Rika held up her hands. "How about we just eat our own desserts this time?"

"That's no fun." Kael mumbled and bit the cheesecake on Dryden's fork.

"Hey! That was for Rika," Dryden complained.

Kael shrugged. "She didn't want it. Here you can try this." He reached around Rika and shoved the bun in Dryden's mouth. "Sharing food with friends is fun." He snickered and dug into his next dessert.

This is weird. Focus on dessert, Rika. Don't let their... behaviour ruin it. "Mmm..." He knows how to pick'em. Rika's dessert was so rich and velvety that she felt like she'd melt into her chair.

While she was tuning them out, they both shifted small plates in front of her. "Hmm?" Rika looked at them, no longer tuning them out.

"You didn't want us to feed you, but you can still enjoy them on your own," Dryden said.

"Although if you change your mind, I'm ready and willing." Kael winked at her.

Rika picked up another fork and stabbed into both of them. "Thanks." She ate the piece from Dryden first, and Kael puffed his cheeks out.

"Anywhere else you want to go?" Dryden asked as their plates emptied.

"Not really. This hit the spot, so I'd rather relax at the palace." Weird, didn't use to put those two things together.

"I'll grab us a carriage." Dryden glanced at Kael, their eyes locking before he left the cafe.

"I think the food is better here than in Aeuro," Kael said, staring at the empty plate. "I'm sure we could exchange recipes for something else," he hummed, thinking out loud.

What's he planning?

Dryden came back in and held his hand out. "The carriage awaits, milady."