When Lilith opened her eyes, the morning sun was already peeking into the room through the closed curtains. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the last traces of sleep, before glancing around for any sign of Hades, but he was nowhere to be found.
As she sat up, she couldn't deny that the prince had been right. It was the best sleep she had ever had. The bed was beyond comfortable, unlike anything she had ever experienced. She could only wonder where he had gotten a mattress like that.
Swinging her legs off the bed, Lilith stood and made her way back to her own chamber. Without wasting time, she prepared a hot bath, undressed, and sank into the warm water. As she washed, her eyes caught sight of a faint bruise on her arm.
Frowning, she brushed her fingers over the fading mark, only for her breath to hitch in shock. It wasn't just any bruise. It was the shape of a handprint.
Her eyes widened as realization struck her. It was the same place where that woman in her dream had grabbed her.
Lilith's body went cold. How is that possible? It had been nothing more than a nightmare, hadn't it? There was no way something from a dream should leave a mark on her skin in reality.
She exhaled sharply, forcing herself to calm her racing heart. Deciding she was no longer in the mood to linger in the water, she hurriedly finished her bath.
Even as she got dressed, she couldn't stop thinking about the bruise, or that woman from her dream. Who was she? And what did that dream mean?
Stepping out of her chamber, Lilith froze.
Hades stood in the hallway, his eyes locked on a portrait hanging on the wall. His expression was unreadable, but the sheer intensity of his gaze made her palms grow clammy.
Sensing her presence, he turned to her. For a moment, his face remained emotionless, then, slowly, a smile crept onto his lips.
"You look much better now. I take it you slept well."
"Yes, Your Highness. I slept well. Thank you for your kindness," Lilith replied with a curt bow.
"Come with me. We are going horse riding."
Hades was already walking down the hallway as the last word left his mouth. Lilith opened her mouth to protest but quickly decided against it. With a sigh, she trailed behind him.
They descended the stairs and exited through a different door that led outside. From the opposite direction, Kathryn and her lady's maid approached. Kathryn's eyes landed on Lilith, and for a brief second, her smile faltered before she quickly masked it and turned her attention to Hades.
She quickened her pace, leaving her lady's maid a few feet behind. With a graceful bow, she greeted him.
"Your Highness, you have been on my mind all day and night. I wanted to visit your chambers, but your pest of an uncle stopped me from doing so."
Hades observed her for a moment before replying. "He was only following my orders. I told him I wanted no uninvited guests in my chambers. You should have informed me beforehand if you wished to visit."
Kathryn's eyes lit up with hope. "Now that you know, should I visit you tonight? It has been a while since we spent time together, Hades." She gently glided her hand down his arm.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Kathryn. I am quite occupied for the next few days. Have a nice day."
He stepped past her, but Kathryn quickly moved in front of him, blocking his path.
"If you're busy, perhaps we can take a walk together. I can also join you in your activities for today," she suggested, placing her hands flat on her stomach in a poised manner.
"I'm going horse riding." As soon as the words left Hades' lips, Kathryn's face fell. "If you are interested, you are welcome to join me," he added.
Kathryn swallowed hard. "I... I will have to see you later, Your Highness. I do not like horses. I would only make a fool of myself if I tried to ride one."
"How unfortunate, I will be on my way now." Hades said with indifference before walking past her.
~~~
Lilith's eyes scanned her surroundings. The stables sat at the far end of the forest, and as they came into view, she was awestruck. It was a massive wooden structure, large enough to house up to fifty horses.
"Your Highness, good to see you here," Ben, the stableman, greeted with a wide smile. He set down the bucket he was carrying and walked toward the prince.
"Good to see you too, Ben. How is Thunder doing?" Hades asked.
"He's faring pretty well," Ben replied, leading them into the aisle. He retrieved a horse from one of the stalls, a magnificent midnight-black stallion with long, glossy hair.
Lilith immediately suspected this was Thunder. If this was the prince's horse, it certainly matched him. The stallion was larger and taller than any horse she had ever seen. Its muscular build and strong legs hinted at both strength and impeccable care.
Ben held the reins and guided the horse toward Hades, who took them and led Thunder into the open space.
The horse neighed but soon relaxed under Hades' touch. The prince then turned his gaze to Lilith.
"We're going for a little ride, witch."
Lilith pressed her lips together. She wasn't even surprised at his words. At this point, nothing Hades did could truly shock her.
With effortless grace, Hades swung himself onto the horse. Then, stretching out a hand to her, he said, "Come on."
She swallowed hard before placing her hand in his. In one swift movement, he pulled her up, seating her in front of him.
Lilith gasped, her heart pounding as she gripped onto anything she could for support. Being this high up was terrifying.
Hades took control of the upper reins while she clung tightly to the lower part. One wrong move, and she could easily fall to her death.