She laughed at the thought. He’d never believe her. Just like he hadn’t believed her when she said she hadn’t meant to hurt her mom on Christmas.
Was there more to it?
She lifted her face to the sun that had been a constant companion during the day ever since the storm. Heat brushed down her bare arms, and she wiped her hands on the blue sheathe-dress Griff had found for her. He’d laughed when she insisted on wearing pants under it, but he’d fetched her a pair before watching her tie the dress at her waist.
There were a lot of things about this place that didn’t make sense. How did he have clothes in her size? Where did he obtain the food they ate? She doubted there were grocery stores or shopping malls nearby.
And how on earth had he gotten her into the sleeping gown she’d first woken up in? She hadn’t thought about that until it was time to change into something else.
“You look like you’re thinking too hard.” Griff led his stallion toward her perch.
“Griff, how did I end up in a sleeping gown?”
He lifted one brow. “I did not change you if that’s what you’re asking.” He winked. “Magic.”
That word sent a shiver down her spine.
He smoothed the creases on her brow with a finger. “Stop second guessing everything.”
“Just trying to figure this place out.”
“Well, when you do, fill me in.” He grinned. “I’d like to figure it out myself.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you lived here your entire life? You’re connected to the queen, of all people. I think you’re fine.”
He tied the horse’s lead to the gate and hopped up beside her, swinging his leg over the stone wall to straddle it and face her. “Don’t let us scare you.”
“What?”
“I threw a lot of information at you about wars and all that jazz.”
“Don’t say all that jazz.”
“Why not?”
“You’re some fantasy creature. You should be speaking all formally or something.”
His smile widened. “First of all, I’m not a creature. Just think of me as someone from another country.”
“Fat chance of that.”
“Second, I’ve picked up a few phrases from the human realm. That one is my favorite.” He cocked his head. “You wouldn’t happen to know what it means, would you?”
A laugh broke past her lips. “It’s just… never mind. Too much for your fairy mind.”
“Nothing is too much for my mind.” He jumped from the wall, landing in mud. “Come on. If we have to sit around while waiting for the queen to summon us, then we can at least have some fun.”
“Fun?”
“Yes. I’m going to teach you how to ride a horse. Once the queen calls us, you’ll need to be comfortable on a horse.”
Her lips twitched. Yes, this would be fun. She may not have had her own horse since she was little, but she’d spent more time at Myles’ farm than her own, and he’d had plenty.
Her heart squeezed at the thought, but she ignored the feeling as she’d been doing since he died. Myles and high school felt like a different life now. One that belonged to someone else. If this was her new reality, she had to embrace it. She couldn’t help but think that was what Myles would want her to do.
Hopping from the wall, she avoided the mud and approached the nearest horse. “What’s his name?” The horse bucked up with a neigh, kicking his feet toward her.
“Mack.” Griff pulled her back. “Careful, he can be a bit difficult.”
Brea bit back a smile and nodded seriously. “I’m going to need help handling such a wild horse.”
“Oh no, you won’t be riding him. I’ve got the perfect mare for you.” He clucked his tongue and called, “Maisie.” A beautiful gray mare approached from the barn. She was on the smallish side with a white streak stretching from mane to nose. “Maisie is an easy girl. She’ll take care of you.”
Okay, she’d play his game to see how far she could take it. It was her first day not eating any of the Gelsi berries, and the energy within her burned for release. She had to do something.
Griff saddled both horses quickly and led them to the gate that stood open to the rolling hills beyond. “I don’t want to go into the forest with a new rider, so we’ll head toward the hills.”
Brea looked to her hands. “I’m going to need your big strong muscles to help me get up into the saddle.”
“Hey.” Griff bumped her shoulder. “Don’t be embarrassed about needing help. Humans are hopeless when it comes to this kind of thing. You have your steel motor things.”
“You mean cars?” She laughed.
He helped her into the saddle, and she grabbed the reins, waiting for him to climb up onto Mack.
“Maisie will follow Mack,” he said. “Just work on keeping your balance. Use your thighs. We’ll take it slow.”
“I just hope I don’t fall off.” She looked away as a smile came unbidden to her lips.
Griff reached toward her, patting her hand. “You won’t. I promise you’ll be okay.”
His sincerity made her almost feel bad for taking the lie so far. Almost. For the first time since watching Myles hit the ground, she was enjoying herself, and she didn’t want it to end.
Griff nudged Mack forward, and they took off slowly down into the lush valley of swaying grasses and wheat fields. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine she rode beside her best friend, enjoying summer in their small Ohio town.
She focused on the familiar feel of the horse beneath her, the fresh scent of the spring day. Only, it wasn’t spring, at least, she didn’t think so. Did Gelsi ever get cold, or was it just an idyllic land full of singing birds and blooming flowers?
She wondered if she could ever be content staying here. There certainly wasn’t anything for her in Ohio, no family she missed, no friends to call her home.
Running a hand down Maisie’s neck, she spoke to the horse. “You’re lucky this is your home, girl.”
She hadn’t meant for Griff to hear her. “It can be yours too.”
Her head snapped up, but she didn’t respond.
Griff went on. “You’re the queen’s niece. Gelsi is just as much your home as it is mine. You’ve already accepted this is real.”
“How do you know that?”
“When I look into your eyes, the doubt that used to cloud your every thought is gone. If you let yourself admit it, everything I’ve told you makes sense. Queen Regan is going to welcome you into her court, and if you choose, we can be your people.”
Her people? Other than Myles, she’d never had people before. Unless you included the countless psychiatrists and institute employees.
Griff’s gaze held so much hope. Why did he want her there? The question never passed her lips because as she lifted her eyes to the most beautiful landscape she’d ever seen, she realized she didn’t want there to be any ulterior motives.
So, she decided to trust. In Griff. In this unknown queen. In life’s karma, because she’d been through so much crap, she’d earned a little good—even if that came in the form of elves taking her away from her home. If karma did truly exist, Legolas was here somewhere ready to confess his undying love. She just hoped he truly did look like Orlando Bloom.