Chapter 152
CAMILLA’S PO.V
There were times in my life where I doubted the decisions that I had made but one decision I knew I would never doubt was choosing to mke Ryker the father of my children. He was kind and loving and he treated the girls like adults. He was always willing to push their comfort zone a little but never to the point where they felt terrified. He was a natural with the girls and I couldn’t help but feel proud to be his mate as I watched him saddle Audrey onto the horse.
He had her on a small brown pony and I could see her being a little scared at the prospect of going at it alone but Ryker was by her side the entire time. She watched him with wide eyes, taking in everything he said and trying to act accordingly. It was times like this I wished I could immortalize images and have them etched into eternity forever.
“Your majesty,” I nearly jumped when I heard Briggs’ voice behind me. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I was wondering if you would want to join them on the ride. There are many horses to choose from.”
I started by shaking my head. “I’m not sure if I want to yet. I think I’m comfortable watching them from over here.”
“Perhaps it would be more encouraging for her if she could see you do it. She is doing amazing already but it might help with the confidence boost.”,
It was obvious that there was another reason he wanted me to pick a horse but I didn’t want to dwell on it or start up a conversation that I would probably end up hating so I focused on the reason that he gave and glanced over at my daughter. I thought about how fun it would be for her and sighed in resignation before turning back to Briggs.
“Show me the way,” I said finally and I saw the smile that he was desperately trying to hide.
Excluding the pony that Audrey was riding on, there were four other large horses two of which were a chestnut color while the others were grey and black. They were in individual stalls and I slowly made my way up to each one. I was always careful when choosing a horse. The black one didn’t particularly like being touched so I ignored it and focused on the others.
The first one to reach out to me was the grey one. It nuzzled into my palm and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as I slowly stroked its coat. I could see Briggs watching me with fascination and a wide smile that had me feeling on edge. I hesitated to ask him my next question because I knew I wasn’t going to like it. Regardless, I shoved down my qualms and turned to him.
“Whose horse is this?” I asked without looking at him and his grin got even wider if that was possible.
“It is yours,” he said with excitement lacing his tone and I turned to him with scrunched brows.
“What do you mean? I just arrived here, how could I possibly own it? I meant who used to ride it before I arrived.”
“I understand what you meant but she was ridden only to prepare her for you,” he must have seen how confused I was because he explained. “Shortly before your father died, a few of our older horses had foals and this was one of them. He took one look at it and declared that she should be given to you. Her name is-”
“I don’t care,” I cut him off aware of just how rude I sounded. I didn’t want anything to do with my father and simply touching the horse now
rought a bad taste to the back of my mouth but I couldn’t bring myself to choose another. “It a ride, we will be out of here by tomorrow
is jus morning. There is no need for me to get attached to her only to leave her again.”
He knew I was lying but he didn’t push. He bowed and walked away leaving me alone with the horse. She watched me with eyes that seemed to innocent for her breed and I hated the small part of me that was excited at the prospect of being loved enough by someone that on his death bed he still thought of me. I didn’t want to feel this much but I did.
The other came over to saddle the horse momentarily snapping me out of my thoughts and I decided to focus on Audrey who was beaming from ear to ear when she saw me. Ryker’s eyes met mine and immediately he knew something was wrong. I felt a soft caress against my m ental walls that I had come to associate with Ryker. I hesitated for a second before letting my walls fall.
“Are you alright?” he asked and I hummed. “Did something happen back there? Do I need to talk-”
“No,” I said immediately. “I’m fine, I just needed a second. I promise you, it is nothing to worry about.”
He sighed. “You know that you can talk to me about anything, right?”
“Of course,” I didn’t hesitate because it was true. If there was anyone I was comfortable baring my entire heart too, it was Ryker. He always listened, he always understood, even when I was being unreasonable and stu pid, he managed to get it. “Let’s ride, shall we?”
We didn’t go back in until the sun began to set although I had to take a break twice to feed Aurora. By the time we got back to the house, Audrey was ski pping and grinning from ear to ear. She chattered on about her favorite parts and how she wanted to go back there again. She had forgotten we were leaving tomorrow and neither of us had the heart to remind her. I didn’t want her last night to be filled with tears about the inevitable, I wanted her to enjoy it to the best of her abilities.
“I have something else planned for the evening,” Ryker whispered to me making me stop by the foot of the stairs. I turned to him with a raised brow and a small smile but all he did was shrug. “Can you help clean the girls up while I get everything ready?”
“Do I get any hints as to what we are getting dressed for?” I asked but he shook his head.
“Just be comfortable, it is dinner, and also dress warm.”
After his cryptic message, he gave me a soft kiss on my forehead and disappeared down the halls. I opened my mouth to speak a few times but didn’t know what to say so I simply focused on wrangling Audrey into the bath, When I told her it was something her father had planned, she was adamant that I give her a pretty braid and I had no objections to it.
After finishing with her, I went to get cleaned and when I returned, I found her peering into Aurora’s crib and whispering some words to her little sister. When she sighted me, she placed her fingers over her lips as if warning me to be quiet. I slowly made my way over to her and sat next to her.
“Mummy look,” she gestured to where Aurora was gripping two of her fingers tightly as she slept. Audrey was beaming as if she had just won the lottery, her joy was pure and I couldn’t help but wish she could stay this young and happy forever. “This means she loves me, right?”
“Yes, it does,” I assured her with a soft kiss to her hair. “Aurora loves you and she is extremely lucky to have you as her older sister.”
Her smile grew impossibly wider and I swore it was brighter than a thousand suns. We sat there in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the peace of the moment before Ryker knocked on the door and ushered us out. He held Aurora but made sure Audrey and I were blindfolded as he led us outside. I felt the slight chill in the air and despite asking a million times, he wouldn’t tell me where we were going.
We finally stopped and I held my breath as he slowly undid the blindfolds. When I saw the elaborate set up, I gasped in shock. He had turned the small picnic table into a sight to behold with fairy lamps hanging everywhere and a small tent to turn it into a private and intimate moment. I opened my mouth but no words came out, only a small tear that Ryker immediately reached out and wiped away.
“Do you like it?” he whispered in my ears but no words could be spoken. I just nodded and I could feel the pride swelling from him. “Come, let’s end the night the right way, shall we?”
It was a bit chilly inside but it was a lot warmer because of the lights. Audrey clung to her father’s side and I couldn’t help but smile at that. It was good to know that she had something I never did and as I watched them, I couldn’t help but think and wonder if I would have been a daddy’s girl had Lgrown up in the palace.
“You would,” Ryker answered in my head and I stilled. “You projected your thought down the bond but I think you would. From what we have seen and heard about your father, he would have spoiled you rotten.”
“He was a bad person.”
He shrugged. “We are all bad people to a certain level but he would have loved you and you would have never doubted that. I think two things can be possible at the same time and it is possible to love him as your father and hate his actions as a person.”
I knew he was right and I knew what I had to do. I thought back to the letters I had shoved into the bedside table and made a decision. I was going to see what he had to say.
