Ash's Place

Chapter 19

Ash's POV

"Do you think I am crazy?"

Finn pauses mid-step and glances at me sideways, "Crazy?"

I nod my head and he smirks, "Only a little."

I laugh softly as I duck under the branches Finn is holding out of my way. I quickly take a seat at the base of my favorite tree, deeply inhaling the smell of fallen leaves. Finn takes a seat next to me, close enough for me to catch whiffs of his cologne but not close enough that our bodies are touching. He doesn't sit close enough anymore. He can't. For his sake and for mine.

I sigh and lean my head back against the bark, "I just needed a break."

"Okay."

I glance at him, surprised he isn't asking more questions but nonetheless I am thankful for the peace and quiet. I won't ruin it by asking him why he isn't asking me more questions. He is content to twirl a leaf in his fingers and I am content to sit in his quiet company.

I am tired.

The past two weeks have been a flurry of court meetings, high teas, and formal dinners with families from across the kingdom. They are here to offer advice, seek support, or simply congratulate Xander and I on a more intimate level. I have barely seen my husband this week aside from the occasional joint meetings or mealtimes and at night. And while I really do love our time together, especially our nights together, I also miss just having time to myself.

That thought strikes a chord of guilt deep in my stomach but I dismiss it. I know I should be spending every single second I have to myself with my husband but I need a break. From the castle and from its people.

So, here I am, sitting under my favorite tree, watching the leaves slowly drift down from their branches until they find their resting place on the colored ground. I think the beginning of autumn is my favorite time of year. Watching the entire castle grounds turn into a magnificent blend of reds, oranges, and yellows feels like a privilege every year. I can only imagine how much more exquisite it would be to watch the world turn into a mixture of warm colors from the comfort of a little cabin deep in the woods.

I would stand on the little porch, a cup of warm tea in my hands while my husband's arms are wrapped around my waist; his chin atop my head. Our children would play in the piles of leaves that he raked up for them and I would smile. And then he would join them in playing and their shrieks of laughter would only broaden my smile.

I would be asked to play too but I would decline, quoting something about finishing the chapter of my book. My husband would laugh and get this look in his eye before he would march up the stairs to the porch and playfully throw me over his shoulder before gently tossing me into the leaves too. And then when I resurfaced from the leaves, he would help me to my feet before kissing me. Our children would call us disgusting and we would smile.

Our children would never have to doubt our love for each other. They would know that our love was the same in public and in private and they would never have to guess if we loved them either. They would just know. And our little playtime in the woods would become a family tradition where we would escape the responsibilities of the kingdom for a few months each year. How delightful would that be?

"Ash..." Finn whispers and I open my eyes to see my magic floating around us in gentle wispy streams of pink and white. Love and hope are quite literally in the air right now and I couldn't be happier to just be in the peace of nature.

"Ashlee!"

I groan softly at the sound of Xander's voice and Finn rises to his feet. He dusts off his pants with his hands and glances at me questioningly. I sigh and shake my head and he smiles in understanding. But when Xander calls for me again, I know I can't stay hidden here much longer so I extend my palm up toward the sky and let my magic become a signal for my husband to find me.