After leaving the marketplace, Aiden found himself stuck between the two girls, who seemed ready to tear into each other at any moment.
The three left the town of Farore, and Lyra broke her silence, turning to Aiden.
"We still need that map. How are we supposed to get to that village?"
"I've got that covered," Maya said, earning a sharp glare from Lyra just for opening her mouth. "I've been to that village before. I know the way without needing a map."
"You better not get us lost," Lyra snapped.
"Don't worry, sweetheart," Maya replied. "I'm an experienced adventurer. You're safe with me."
"How far is this village?" Aiden asked.
"Walking, we'd get there in about a week," Maya said.
"Well, we'll shave a few days off because we won't be walking," Lyra said with a smirk.
Lyra activated her magic, summoning her eagle Icara, which brought a look of surprise to Maya's face.
"Impressive," Maya said. "Looks like the princess has some tricks up her sleeve."
"You'd be surprised," Lyra shot back, triumphant.
"Alright," Aiden said, hesitant but eager for their new adventure. "Let's get moving!"
. . .
"It's almost nightfall," Lyra said as she guided Icara's flight. "We should land."
"What, you getting sleepy already?" Maya asked.
"It's not that. Flying at night can be dangerous. Better not risk it."
"Lyra's right," Aiden chimed in. "Plus, we should find some food. I'm starving."
"There's a bunch of trees nearby," Lyra said, rubbing her stomach. "I bet we can find some fruit there."
"Whatever you say," Maya replied.
. . .
Night had fully settled in by the time Aiden, Lyra, and Maya sat down to eat.
"Fruit for dinner isn't exactly my idea of a feast, but it's better than nothing, I guess," Lyra said, finishing off an apple.
"That's the adventurer's life, darling," Maya said, chewing on a pear. "What, your princess instincts too fancy for this kind of grub?"
"Can you stop calling me that? You don't even know me well enough to have an opinion."
"You don't know me either, yet you're dead set on giving me the stink-eye every chance you get," Maya countered.
"Well, we could fix that," Aiden said, polishing off his last apple. "Tell us, Maya, where are you from?"
"That's not something you ask an adventurer, honey. It's a secret."
"Fair enough… Would you mind telling us how long you've been living this way?"
"That's a pretty specific question, don't you think?"
"Those are the fun ones."
Maya laughed and tossed the seeds of her apple aside.
"Let's just say my life's been like this for as long as I can remember."
"You sure like playing the mysterious card," Lyra said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Maybe. Anyway, I'm beat, and judging by those bags under your eyes, I'm not the only one."
Lyra and Aiden nodded to each other, both acknowledging they hadn't gotten enough rest in days.
After finding shelter under a dense cluster of trees, the three made beds from wilted leaves and were out cold in seconds.
. . .
When Aiden woke, it was still dark.
'What's this?' Aiden thought, feeling a pair of soft shapes pressing against his chest.
When he opened his eyes, his face flushed, and his heart raced with a surge of adrenaline.
Maya, gazing at him with seductive eyes, was cuddling up to him, her breasts resting on his chest and her hands grazing his abdomen.
"Did I wake you, honey?"
"What are you doing?"
"I can't sleep. Maybe it's the cold. I think you could give me the warmth I need."
Aiden glanced over to where Lyra lay, seeing she was still fast asleep.
Before he could say anything, Maya's lips pressed against his, silencing his thoughts and drawing him into the heat of the moment.
After the passionate kiss, Maya leaned in even closer, her gaze deepening with allure.
"Shall we keep going?"