Whispers Of Desires: A Sense Of Courage {Book 3}

❀ꗥ～ꗥ❀ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 ❀ꗥ～ꗥ❀

Aetheris soared through the skies, the wind rushing past them as they climbed higher and higher. Adanna's laughter filled the air, the thrill of the ride invigorating her spirit. The man behind her held on tightly, his arms wrapped around her waist, his knuckles white with the effort of controlling his griffin. Despite his fear of breaking the rules, the excitement of the moment seemed to be winning over his anxiety.

After what felt like a few seconds to Adanna but was likely closer to the promised ten minutes, the griffin began its descent. Aetheris swooped down with a graceful landing, its powerful legs folding beneath its body. The wind calmed and the world grew still, leaving only the thud of the griffin's footsteps on the soft grass as they made their way back to the garden.

The man got off the griffin first, while Adanna, still giddy from the flight, took a moment to soak in the beauty of the estate from this new perspective. A nervous cough broke the silence. The Man stood beside the griffin, fiddling with his gloves. "We should, uh, probably get you down now," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

Adanna turned to him, a wide grin on her face. "That was incredible!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "I've never felt so free!"

She started to step off the griffin, but the Man held up a hand, his face a mask of concern. "No, no, please allow me," he insisted, gesturing towards her.

Adanna hesitated, a playful look in her eyes. "Nonsense," she said, her voice teasing. "I do not need a damsel in distress rescue. I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much."

The man's eyes grew even wider, "No es eso," he said, switching to Spanish, his voice quick and earnest. "It would be...descortés not to assist a lady." He took a deep breath and tried again in English, "It is not proper for a... for a... well, for me to let you down unassisted."

Before she could finish her sentence, the Man, with surprising strength, scooped her up by the waist and gently lifted her off the griffin. The world tilted for a moment, and Adanna found herself cradled in his arms, their bodies pressed close. Her breath caught in her throat, surprised by the sudden physical contact. His touch was warm and surprisingly gentle, sending a shiver down her spine.

"There," he murmured, placing her back on her feet.

Adanna, flustered, straightened her dress and stepped back. "Thank you," she stammered, her cheeks burning hot.

Suddenly, a twig snapped in the distance. Both Adanna and the Man froze, their eyes darting towards the sound. Footsteps rustled through the bushes, growing closer.

The Man's face drained of color. With a panicked bow, he muttered a hurried apology in Spanish, "Lo siento, debo irme," (I'm sorry, I must go) and before Adanna could react, he turned and walked away the griffin following him.

"Wait!" Adanna called after him, her voice a mix of confusion and disappointment. "But... I don't even know your name!"

Her question hung unanswered in the air. She watched in a daze as the Man and Aetheris disappeared into the trees, the rustling of leaves the only evidence of their retreat. Just then, the bushes rustled again, and Serena emerged, her face a mask of worry. "Adanna? What on earth are you doing out here?" she exclaimed.

Adanna whirled around, a smile slowly spreading across her face. "Serena, you will not believe it!" she gushed, the excitement of her recent adventure bubbling over.

Just as she was about to start her tale, Serena interrupted her. "Adanna, this is serious," she said, her voice laced with concern. "The Duchess has requested a meeting with all the maidens immediately. There must be something wrong. Come now, we have no time to waste."