𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter eighty-one

Drakkar

"Are you sure?" I asked Emriana, and she shook her head.

"Yes," she said, giving her bedroom one last look before she walked out with a bag full of her possessions. She had placed a few paintings and some jewelry of her grandmother that she didn't want to leave unattended.

"We can wait another day if you're not sure," Zeke offered.

"No, don't worry. I'm good. There's nothing left to do here anyway," she shrugged, and I frowned at her words. I cupped the side of her face, making her look up at me.

"Don't say that, little one. There might not be any chores left, but there's plenty to do here, and I don't want to speak on my brothers' behalf, but I had a great time here," I said, and she smiled.

"You did?" I nodded.

"Especially the cavern," I winked, and she blushed.

"Me too," she whispered, and I grinned, caging her lips with my own. An arrogant cough made me move away as Zander stared at the two of us in annoyance.

"Angel," he said, pulling her away from me, and guiding her outside. She stopped to take in her house one more time. A part of me felt guilty that she had to stay away from her house, but at the same, it wasn't realistic to live so remotely from the rest of the world.

"Will you guys come back with me here one day?" She asked, glancing at each of us. I took that as a small victory, as it meant she wasn't planning on breaking up with me as soon as we made it back to the kingdom.

"Of course, princess," Zeke said, giving her a side hug. I did the same, pecking her nose.

She followed Zeke and me to the horses waiting out front, holding on to Zander as she walked down the steps. I saw her glancing at her house a few dozen times with an unreadable expression. She noticed me looking at her.

I was about to say something to her when she shook her head with a smile. "Drakkar, don't. Please don't ask me to reconsider again. I beg you,"

I chuckled. "Fine, little one,"

Akira exited the forest at the same time, joining us.

"I'm fine," Emriana laughed as Zander tried to lift her unto the horse. She lost the fight as he picked her up like she weighed nothing and placed her on her white horse.

The three of us got on our own horses and waited for her to leave. She looked back at the house for a long minute before her horse started walking away. I glanced at both my brothers, who each gave me a nod before we followed after her.

The next two days went by quickly as she was more talkative. Whatever seemed to be on her mind seemed to be bothering her less than before. I tried to get her to tell me what was going on, but each time, she would brush it off.

I hated not being able to know what was going on. It gave my brothers and me a glimpse of what she meant when she told us how much she hated when we kept things from her. She was right once again, it was annoying.

We were leaving the edge of the forest, the castle coming into view in the distance, when the three of us stopped. She frowned at us, pulling her horse to a stop as well.

"Why are you guys stopping?" She asked, and I smiled.

"Do you remember the surprise we told you about?" Her brows furrowed before her eyes widened, and she nodded.

"Well, I think now is the perfect time to show you, princess," Zeke said. Emriana looked at the three of us with wariness, like she was unsure whether we were bluffing or not.