Lucinda turned to look beside her and saw pitch-black eyes staring back at her. Another puff of air hit her face, and she took a step back, eyes wide.
"Horsey!" she heard Theodore call excitedly, clapping.
"Oh! You found him," came Silas's voice. Now that she had stepped back, she was overwhelmed by the size of its head, all long. The horse was midnight black with white blotches artistically decorating its hide.
He raised his head in a soft neigh as Silas stepped closer to the beast. The horse's hair flipped over for her to see. It was long, dark, and silky, but with white strands intermixed. Theodore wrapped his arms around the horse's nose as soon as Silas was close enough, and Lucinda stuttered, worried it would not be so kind to the abrupt motion. But the horse remained calm, breathing out puffs of air that blew against his little face and ruffled his springy hair, much to the amusement of her little one.
"I like Horsey," Theodore declared. Silas reached to pet the horse, and it lowered its head. Silas's large palm gently soothed the beast. He stepped closer and rested his forehead against the horse and closed his eyes. Silas's mouth moved, whispering words she couldn't hear over the other neighs and hoofs clicking. Silas then smiled widely and stroked the entirety of its face as Theodore tried to grasp the white strands of its silky mane.
"I rode on him that night. I wouldn't have gotten there on time without him." His voice was solemn. And Lucinda untensed her muscles. This magnificent beast was the largest and most imposing in the stable—a fit for the man that rode it.
They both looked untamed in their own ways. Gentle, but a voice whispered not to trifle with them. He reached an arm out to her, gently encouraging her forward like she was the untamed beast to be soothed. Lucinda took his hand and moved to the horse, gentle and precise in her stride, till she was beside him. His mix of midnight black and white lashes blinked slowly at her. She stared at the horse, then at Silas, and felt like he was whispering to her that he would never be too late. That he would be there always.
The warmth of his palm as he held her slim fingers intermixed with his large ones and gently guided her to rest on the coat.
"Deep breaths, don't be afraid." She took deep breaths and closed her eyes, feeling only the breeze and atmosphere of her surroundings engulfing her. At this moment, she was so at peace.
"He's beautiful, isn't he? He's one of a kind—one of the biggest and strongest of his breed."
"Does he have a name, Papa?" Theodore spoke, already sating his curiosity with the stallion's mane.
Silas chuckled nervously. "No, child. I never knew what to name him, so I didn't."
"But you named Meeko." Lucinda's brows pulled.
"Who's Meeko?"
"The cat," Theodore answered.
"It seems your mama hasn't met him yet."
"He's very naughty. That's why he's named Meeko, Mama."
"Ah, just like you then," Lucinda mused.
Theodore puffed out his cheeks and whined. "Well, I want to name him," Theodore announced, interrupting Silas and Lucinda's low chuckle, bringing it to a stop. Even the horse seemed resigned.
Theodore held his chin, tilting his head adorably.
"Let's name him Nyx. He looks like… the night sky." Theodore pointed at the coat.
"Indeed he does," Silas's low amused hum reverberated in his chest.
Lucinda found herself studying the man before her—her fiancé—his Adam's apple as it moved, the feel of the heat radiating from his body, his strong shoulders that hoisted Theodore without breaking a sweat, the crinkle of mischief in his electric gaze.
He was more alluring than anything else in this moment. This form of him as a strong, gentle papa. She hated herself for viewing him briefly as something more than her contract partner.
Lucinda moved through the stalls, checking on the other horses. She couldn't take his offer to ride with him—not when her body was this aware of him and his stupid smirk. Indeed, all the horses looked small compared to Nyx, until she came upon her.
As soon as she saw the wild mare being suited by a stable boy, she felt drawn to her. The mare was more imposing in height than in build, and her coat was like snow. She pushed to enter its stall, and the servant darted alarmed glances at Silas.
"Be careful, Lucinda. That one doesn't take well to a rider."
Lucinda looked over at him. Silas shrugged. "You'll need to be pretty untamed to ride that one."
Lucinda's brows raised high, and a subtle smirk stretched across her lips… and he knew.
Silas's eyes darkened as they raked over her—not in simple appreciation this time, but at the sultry curve of her. Indeed, she was wild. His Adam's apple moved as he swallowed, and he had to shift on his feet to curb the fire in his belly—for Theodore's sake.
The next thing he knew was the surprised cheer and gasps of astonishment from his servants, as Lucinda had maneuvered her way onto the horse's back. She leaned down to its thrashing form and whispered until it came to a moving rest. She held the reins strong, curled around her fists, back straight, curved in the way only a woman's would.
"What's her name?" she asked to no one in particular, staring straight at him with the victorious curve of her lips.
"Aurora, milady. This one has fire in her," the servants joked.
Lucinda looked down at the now calm mare and nodded in satisfaction.
"My mama's the best!" Theodore praised, earning a chuckle.
He should have known a beast such as Aurora would only ever allow herself to be led by a warrior like Lucinda.
"Shall we?" Silas held on to the reins of Nyx and led them out. They had just ridden far away from Theodore's excited cheering—as he stood aside with the maids—when Lucinda spoke.
"I know… I know it was you that saved me."
Silas, who was a few paces in front because of Nyx's longer strides, glanced at her in question.
"It's not much of a secret. The whole estate knows by now," he spoke with a hint of a chuckle.
"No, not that." She stopped her horse. "The poison. I heard it was impossible to treat."
Silas shut his eyes briefly. He had feared this day. He knew she would soon find out.
"Why do you think it was me? What makes you believe it's not the physicians?" Silas shrugged.
"The shop keeper told me. He told me how frantic you were to find a cure. And you did. How? is what I don't know."
Silas pressed his lips together.
"Look, you don't have to go to great lengths to explain yourself to me. I'm entirely grateful. If not for you, I wouldn't be alive. I know you have your secrets. Just like I have mine. I just wanted to express my gratitude. You have my thanks, Silas."
Though curiosity burned through her chest on the how, she knew it was him. It had to be.
In the toils of her pain, trembling and burning fever, she had felt the warm press of plush lips that couldn't have belonged to anyone but him. She had sneaked glances at his lips since that day. It couldn't have been anyone but him. The memory of the feel of his tongue pushing into her mouth and briefly tangling with hers almost made her cheeks flame.
Through her thoughts, Silas had remained silent, his back to her.
She shifted in her saddle and urged her horse to move forward to ward off the lingering disappointment of his silence.
A/N: in honor of my special day ✨