Chapter 16: Arrived

Lira and I had donned our cloaks before entering this shabby little town known as Creseia. Unsurprisingly, Ras had been here often so he led us first to where we could put the horses and then to that townhouse that a servant had secretly bought for me months ago. I had given him the address, and he would lead the way.

"You had a head start, Rosie," Ras said as he hopped off his horse. "That wasn't fair."

"Whoever said anything about fairness?" I nearly giggled. "No one talked about rules."

"You didn't give us a chance to set the rules."

I tilted my head at him, squinting at the sunlight behind him while also cursing how tall he was. "I didn't know the captain of the Ravens could be so competitive."

Lira scoffed. "Petty, you mean."

Ras' brows shot upward. "You must really hate me, Lirajane, if you can be so mean to me like this. And no, it's not being petty nor competitive. I am merely complaining in the spirit of fairness."

"Next time, Captain," I told him, "You'll have this fairness you speak of next time."

He leaned in. "So you're suggesting that we'll meet again after this?"

"Don't push your luck," Lira interjected. She then faced me saying, "Let's go, Rosie. We'll risk being seen the longer we stay here. The sooner we get to that townhouse, the better."

"Yes, you're right." I cut a glance at Ras who had pulled away, standing straight with a casual expression. As if he'd already forgotten about his question.

I had not been thinking when I said 'next time', and perhaps this was my naivety showing. We had not even been together for far longer than a day, but I had straight up assumed that I was going to see him longer. Was I getting too familiar? Probably. This was uncharacteristic of me, I admit, to be so lax when it came to a stranger.

I was normally friendly, sure, but that was when it came to my subjects. I had been taught to be cautious around people I knew nothing of, especially Cygnusians. So why? Why was it that I felt like I've known him for ages? Why was it that I felt like I could open up my deepest thoughts and secrets to him and he would accept me as I was?

No, I escaped the palace because I did not want to abandon my duties to my people just so I could be married off to a man that was both a stranger and an enemy. I did not escape so that I could fall in love with another stranger and also quite possibly an enemy.

I'd made up my mind. After this, I would ignore all these ridiculous feelings I was currently feeling for him. I'd convince myself that it was the newness that came with someone who'd saved my life on numerous occasions. However, I would still make sure to remember his deeds and repay them in due time.

I had not realized that we were already walking the dusty streets of Creseia, broken cobblestones lining up the sidewalks. Small shops stood on the sides of the road, a few wagons and carriages passing by occasionally. The buildings and structures were not that large, and were mostly made of wood. Passersby—and there weren't a lot—didn't bother looking at us, going about their own businesses as they went.

As I observed the solemn surroundings, I failed to notice that Ras had walked up beside me. "Hey there, won't you mind telling me why the royal guards were looking for you?"

Lira was silently walking behind us, but I know that she was listening.

I glanced up at him for a moment, seeing an expectant expression on him. "And why do you expect me to tell you that?"

"Well, you owe me an answer at the very least," he gave me a small chuckle, "you might be a thief or a serial killer of some sort. Just so I can prepare myself for the worst, you know?"

I suppressed a laugh. "From a thief to a serial killer, that certainly escalated far more quickly than I'd like."

"So which is it?"

"Which is what?"

He shot me a look of disbelief. "Don't play dumb with me, Rosie. Why were the guards looking for you and why are you desperately running from them?"

His stare was so intense that it sent my stomach fluttering once more. Seriously, I needed to deal with this.

I couldn't meet his gaze as I answered. "I took something from them," my voice was small, soft as a feather, "something very important. But they had it coming, they knew what was going to happen. It had only been a matter of time for them to lose something so valuable. In the end, that doesn't make me a thief."

There was a stretch of silence that seemed to drag on for eternity, and I dreaded the minute he would finally talk. I was scared of what he would say, for reasons unknown.

But Ras merely said, "Sounds complicated."

I released the breath I was holding. "It sure is."

"We're here," Lira said, thankfully ending that uncomfortable conversation. "This is it."

The three of us stopped in front of a modest-looking townhouse. It was much bigger than the other houses beside it, and it looked as if it had just been renovated.

"Are you certain?" I asked Lira.

"Mmm, blue tiled roof and four diamond-shaped glass decorating the front door," Lira said. "This has got to be it."

"All right," I replied, heaving in a breath, "do you have the keys?"

Lira fished out shiny metal keys from her pocket. "Got them right here."

I turned to Ras. "You should come in first, perhaps Lira can brew you some tea."

Ras nodded. "I accept your invitation."

"If there's even tea there," Lira said, devoid of any emotion, "but I'll see what I can do."

We proceeded to step into the townhouse. But I did not have the time to take the scene in. By view canceled out everything else around me, focusing instead on the sole person sitting at the very center of the living room.

Galen had been expecting us.

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