The horses neighed again, this time louder and closer. Elias froze midstep, his hands tightened on the small sack Kim had given him. The fog cleared as if opening way for royalty—and then he saw it.
A dark blue cloak dancing in the waves of the wind like it owned it. And then his eyes landed on who wore it.
Elias's breath caught. His steps retreated, and his heart skipped a beat. King Rowan dismounted the horse even before it fully stopped. Elias's eyes pierced into the cold as he watched him walk closer, his boots crunching against the gravel like a heavy warning. Their eyes never left each other.
Deep down, Elias smiled. He felt a bliss of happiness. But then his hands hovered over his stomach, and his heartbeat dropped.
Blake tried catching up, but Rowan moved with the speed of light.
"My King," a few people bowed, but Rowan ignored everything. The crowd, the startled guards, and even Kim, who instinctively stepped forward to protect Elias.
