Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 6: Side-Saddle

~Alice~

Shay came to my room early in the morning, talking about how Lucius wasn't taking kindly to his caregivers. He leaned against my doorway and told me what I already had suspicions about. I sat down my thick leather book and grinned.

"Perhaps he would calm down if I went to see him?" Shay raised an eyebrow at my words. He was no fool. But what I hadn't expected him to do was agree. Shay stood inches behind me as we walked down the stairs and out the front door. Many servants greeted us as we passed, many of them calling me "my lady".

"Why do you're servants treat me like this? We aren't married and I'm definitely not a typical lady." Shay chuckled and tucked his hands behind his back. I had seen Haytham do the same thing these past few days. Connor must have inherited his stance from Haytham.

Haytham seems to rub off on everyone nowadays.

"They already see you as the woman of the house, so to speak. It should make the transition easier." I bit my tongue from making any hateful remarks. I had to remember he agreed to let me roam. At least at a close distance. The garden was absolutely beautiful this time of year.

"Did you pick out these plants yourself?" Many of these flowers were foreign to me. Bright colored and twisting around each other like a sort of dance.

"Not all. Some are too gaudy for my taste." Shay smiled down at me. Shay seemed like a noble man, a puppet for the Templars as well.

"You are very precarious of Haytham. I've noticed that in the past few days." Shay seemed baffled by my sudden exclamation. I smiled on the inside. "No matter how it effects others. Even tort actions that effect innocent lives?"

"Do you not think that assassins have made repugnant actions themselves?" Shay hissed, turning to stand before me.

"Achilles, you're lovers sagacious mentor, I have seen first-hand the terrible acts he's put forth into this world." His words charred my souls deeply. If I were Connor, he wouldn't stand here and take this verbal abuse about Achilles.

But I wasn't Connor.

Shay's face lost the hard edges and I could feel the compassion languidly deep but into him. "I apologize. I shouldn't have spoken to you in that manner, lass."

"I'm not the easiest girl to agree with." Shay was no doubt giving me clemency. He side-stepped and I took my place as leader. The horse stalls were very tidy and most of the mounts looked content. I heard Shay gasp just before a young boy, no older than 14, was toppled over when a coal black horse darted from the stables.

The culprit ran straight through the other men who tried to calm him down. But despite their best efforts, he mowed them over. Shay ran to the rescue and was able to move everyone to safety on higher ground. I stayed in place because I could recognize that gallop anywhere.

"Lucius!" I bellowed. The stallion stopped he rapid flicking of his head and turned to look at me with dark eyes. This was the first time in days that I felt right again. "Oh darling...." I cooed at the old horse like a child.

The verve drained out of his muscles and Lucius dropped his head in shame. He awaited the upbraid that was never delivered. I lifted the bottom of my red cloak and stalked towards him. Lucius was jaded from the stress of either being around strangers or not knowing where he was imprisoned.

My mind was too focused on my horse than how an older caretaker was creeping upon us. The raw rope was tossed around Lucius' throat before I could react. The knot was tightened and Lucius fell to the ground in terror.

"Stop it! Your hurting him!" Lucius neighed deep in his chest and tried to snap his neck to the side. The restraint wasn't lenient by no means. Shay was the last person I expected to yank the rope away from the older man and shove him to the side.

"Enough!" The entire group of servants went silent. "Do you know who this is? No? Well you should!" Shay snapped. "This woman is to be my wife. She will be treated with respect and so will her items. That includes that horse you just hassled." I stood in awe at the way his voice made my entire being quiver.

"M-master I-" The shaking man began to explain himself.

"Quiet! All of you, get back to work." In the blink of an eye, every man and woman returned to their stations. I noticed the battered boy Lucius dragged, trying to stop his elbow from bleeding. This was the same boy who had been feeding and watering Lucius. One of the only caregivers that actually took his job seriously.

While Shay untied Lucius' rope, I went to check on the boy. "That's a pretty deep cut." His freckled cheeks went ablaze. He stumbled over his words and I took a small handkerchief from my cloak pocket. "Here, let me help."

"I can tend to it myself, Miss." It was quite adorable how he tried to appear strong. But the tears in his eyes spoke differently. I ignored his complaints and cleaned the wound thoroughly.

"There. I would get that covered soon." He turned to leave, but I caught him by the collar of his shirt and planted a short kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for caring from my mount."

"N-no problem." The brunette boy bowed his head and went off in the opposite direction, face red as a beat. Shay tapped me on the shoulder and informed me that Lucius was healthy and in good shape.

"He is ready to be ridden." Lucius seemed to relax when I straddled his back and ran my fingers through his fur. Shay once again surprised me when he also mounted Lucius and pressed against my back. The position was most intimate and made my body feel uncomfortable. "Are you ready?"

"Not really."

~Chapter End~

Let's be honest, Shay is really hot to be a Templar. And an Assassin. All and all, he fine AF!!!😏😏😏