Hiraeth

Chapter Twenty Four

The morning light streamed through the castle windows, casting a warm glow across Sage's room. She stirred awake, a blissful smile creeping across her face as memories of the night before washed over her. The taste of Beckett's lips lingered on her, the feel of his hands still electrifying her skin.

Sage stretched lazily, relishing the remnants of their heated encounter. Just as she began to lose herself in the memories, Lily burst through the door, nearly tripping over the threshold in her haste.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" Lily exclaimed, a mischievous grin lighting up her freckled face. "You'll never guess who's in the courtyard right now."

Sage sat up, instantly alert. "Who?"

"Prince Beckett!" Lily giggled, her excitement infectious. "He's here for the tournament. Everyone's buzzing about it! You should come see!"

Sage's heart raced at the mention of his name, a rush of warmth flooding her cheeks. "Oh shit I slept in! What time does it start?"

"Soon! Like, in a few minutes!" Elara replied, practically bouncing on her toes. "You need to get dressed, Sage! I'll help!"

Sage rushed to get ready, the anticipation of seeing Beckett again sending thrills through her body. They had shared something incredible, something she had never experienced before.

In mere moments, Sage was dressed in a flowing gown of deep wine red that hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her figure. Lily twirled Sage's hair into soft waves, and Sage slipped on a pair of delicate gold earrings.

"Wow, you look stunning!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration. "You'll definitely turn heads in the courtyard."

Sage felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach, excitement mingling with the remnants of their last encounter. "Thanks, Lily. Let's go!"

They hurried down the stone corridors, the chatter and laughter of the tournament crowd growing louder as they approached the courtyard. Sage's heart raced with each step. She pushed through the ornate wooden doors, and the vibrant scene before her took her breath away.

Sage's gaze scanned the crowd, searching for the familiar figure of Beckett. There he was, standing tall amidst a group of admirers, his dark skin glistening in the sunlight, a confident smirk on his face. He looked every bit the prince, commanding attention without even trying.

"Wow, he's even more handsome up close," Lily murmured, eyes wide with awe.

"Yeah," Sage replied, her heart thumping wildly. She felt an overwhelming urge to run to him, to remind him of their shared night. But she held herself back, wanting to play it cool.

They made their way through the throngs of people, Sage trying to maintain her composure despite the magnetic pull she felt toward Beckett. As they approached, she noticed his gaze shift toward her. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the bustling courtyard faded away, leaving only the two of them in their own world.

Beckett excused himself from the group and strode toward her, a confident swagger in his step. "Lady Sage," he said, his voice smooth and enticing, sending a shiver down her spine. "You look radiant today."

"Thank you, Your Highness," she replied, unable to suppress the smile that broke across her face. "I see you've attracted quite the crowd."

"Only because I'm the main event," he said, flashing a grin that made her heart race. "But I must admit, you're a far more interesting distraction."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, you know," Sage teased, enjoying the banter that came so easily between them.

"Good to know," he replied, his tone playful yet intense, the undercurrent of their previous night's passion lingering in the air between them.