The Flower Path

23. Courting (POV Easton)

He'd been so scared to fall in love all his life.

It wasn't that he didn't have an excellent example from his grandparents how a bond between a mind-reading spark and their loved one could be beautiful.

It was the fear of what if.

What if he fell for someone who would exploit his spark?

What if he didn't read enough of their thoughts to know they wouldn't harm him?

What if he'd forever have to check to see if they cared for him, and not what he could do?

Those fears diminished when he met Rhea.

It wasn't that they were no longer valid, it was more like he had other things preoccupying his mind rather than focusing on fear.

And even as he began to hear more of her thoughts as they courted. As if something had been unlocked as if he was her new focus. The fear did not return.

He could only thank the stars that she wasn't hurt more by the Marquis's son. He hated to think of what might have happened if he hadn't found the letters Raiden had written to several of his allies regarding a coup. Or if Rhea's knight hadn't come running telling of her lady being in danger.

"Easton."

Her voice called to him and he shook his head from his thoughts looking upon the lady that was becoming interwoven into the fabric of his heart.

They had decided to take the long way home wishing to spend more time with each other before they had to get back to their day-to-day lives.

Easton looked upon Rhea and wondered how such a beautiful woman could ever have given him such a chance as this. They journeyed up through the mountains of the Zinnia province before coming upon the river and taking it to the great river that ran around the Amaryllis lands of Ember. They took a river cruise and stopped at fishing villages and small ports trying their different delicacies and trying their different modes of dress. He took delight in seeing her laugh at shows put upon by villagers in squares, her head thrown back and light reflected in her eyes. They took an airship over the swamplands of his home province. When reaching the Duchy he at last tried Rhea's sweets, his ears reddening as he remembered the statement he'd said what felt like long ago. 'I wonder desperately if you taste sweeter.'

They didn't wish to part when the trip was done.

Her thoughts reflected his own.

'I don't want to leave him.'

They met again in the Capital not long after they parted for the royal wedding, arriving together arm in arm.

Easton thought his sister might just squeal in delight when they mentioned they were at last courting officially.

When the wedding feast arrived, they sat by each other their hands held together beneath the table. Rhea looked upon him with a soft smile.

'He's holding my hand! Don't blush Rhea, whatever you do, you mustn't blush.'