“My legs hurt.”

“Keep talking and I'll throw you off this horse, Judith.”

Reik does not even bother with the girls who argued back and forth. Well, I can't complain because I've dozed multiple times on his chest even if he refuses to speak.

“My name is not Judith.”

“Like  I care.”

But wait, why are they fighting?

I  try to glance over Reik's shoulder but his arms  are in the way.

“Say-”

Their horse neighs and next thing we hear are the sounds of bodies dropping.

“Ow!” Reya shrieks.

Reik finally stops our horse so we can have a look.

It's actually quite amusing knowing that their horse dropped them, and so, I laugh.

The horse on the other hand stands over the girls, like its scolding their behaviour.
Judy dusts herself off the floor.

Sighing, Reik swings off the horse without a warning, swaying my balance. In an instant, I grab the reins and steady the startled animal.

“Let's rest here.”

We're in a plain and there are just a couple of trees around to shade us from the harsh afternoon sun.

Thankfully, there's also a small stream close for the animals.

Still angry,  I dismount, marching up to Reik, breaking up his discussion with Judy and Reya.

“Are you stupid?” I poke his chest.

He arches a brow. “Are you?”

Someone snickers. Reya. I shoot her a warning glare that she ignores.
Growling, I move over to one of the trees and sit on its exposed root.

Reik leads the horses to the stream with Reya following closely, toying with the grasses annoying Reik by intentionally tripping him.

“How did you get married to that?”

I glance at Judy. “Trust me, if I had a choice, I wouldn't be married to that person. I wouldn't even come fifty miles close to him.”

She  snickers. “That's intense.”

Reik sits on a rock while Reya walk into the stream with the horses.

“Reik is not a bad person, Alanna. He only has a troubled past. Deep beneath-”

“-all that layer, is a soft heart.”

Judy purses her lips and falls silent after I snatch the words from her. We glance at each other, her lips curve upwards,then, we burst out laughing together.

Reik's attention snaps to us for a brief five seconds and I pretend not to have noticed him.

He owes me several apologies.

♞♞♞

Since the sun was close to setting, plus storm clouds were gathering, Reik had us look for shelter, and while seated in  small cave found south of the stream, we eat of the portions he had packed.

Judy stuck to the farthest corner with the horses. You would think she was starting to warm up to us, but it isn't the case.

It seemed like all she cared about was her pet rat who she named Julius.

I gazed at her, and she notices, then coughs awkwardly. Reya uncorks a water bottle beside me.

“We need a plan.” Reik states, breaking the awkwardness.

I sneer at him, hugging my knees together. “Yes, Mr Obvious, we do.”

The muscles in his jaws strain.“For once, you little witch, I'm going to ask you to keep your sarcastic comment to yourself, or that spider isn't the only thing that will crawl up your ass.”

Reya sprays water from her mouth, drenching me. While my widened eyes is the only reaction I can offer. Judy is trying to keep a straight face but miserably fails.

“What a dirty mouth.”I murmur, scoffing but decide to shut up or get another round of obscenties from Reik.

"Now that you have been temporarily silenced-”I make a sound in my throat and the man frowns. “-i could make it permanent if you want.”

I smile, flicking away the said spider. “No, that won't be necessary.”

Reya snickers and I elbow her hard. She winces and shuts up.

“Getting into the castle is our major task-”

“Like we didn't know.”

Reik this time around shuts his eyes, and when he opens them, they are blazing with anger. I match his stare

Reya glances from me to him and back to me.

“Oh, sorry.”I yawn “I'm just going to sleep now.”

Reik marches over and grips my arm forcing me to stand. His eyes up close are like two globes of fire.

Dangerous.

“You shall not sleep.”He drags me towards the entrance and I dig my feet into the ground, obstructing our movement.

“Where are you taking her to?”Reya ask, but her voice showed no concern at all.

“To the wolves.”Reik smirks down at my frightened face.

“Stay safe!”

“Reya, you better unalive yourself by the time I'm dead because I'll come   back to haunt you!”I shout back at her, receiving only laughter from her and Judy.

Reik stops walking outside the cave and I shake off his grip. “What is your problem?”

“What is your problem?”My index finger pokes at his very hard chest.

I wince. What did he have in there?  A concrete block?

“Why do you you decide to torture me?”His gaze on me is awfully intense.

I stare at my hands. “I don't see any whip.”

Reik exhales loudly, muttering something vile. “What do you want?”

“Apologise.”

“Why on earth would I do that?”

It's my turn to be livid now. “See, this is exactly what I hate. You act like a god or something.”

“Alanna. I saved your life, once or more-”He stops talking when my fingers dig into his chest again.

“Don't you dare use that line on me. I nearly fell off the horse today and guess what? I would have broken my neck or worse still, died. It takes nothing to say  you're sorry but of-”

Reik  cuts off whatever I was about saying next by slamming our lips together.

Nothing would have prepared me for that.
When he draws away, my gaze remains transfixed on his face.

Did we just....

He watches me.

Cautiously might I add, like I'm some feral cat about to lash out.

Well, I do lash out. With a slap on his face. And another.

He growls.

“Rawrr...”I tease, bringing our lips back together again.

His hand goes over my waist, pulling me closer while one of mine grabs his hair as the kiss deepens.

“Well, isn't this interesting?”

🗡️🗡️🗡️

did that just happen? 😱

they kissed!!!

knowing Alanna, this will not go well. lol

what do you think about the kiss, really?

and who discovered them?

Judy  or Reya?

My guess is Reya because we all know how nosy  she can get... 😂