When Lilith arrived at the designated meeting spot, Leonidas was already waiting for her. He greeted her with a warm hug before taking her bag since he had none of his own.
"With people constantly moving in and out of the gate, slipping away unnoticed shouldn't be a problem. I have a carriage waiting for us at the end of the path leading to town. Once we reach it, we'll travel through the night to a nearby town called Mistwood, where we'll rest for a few hours. After that, we continue our journey, another night on the road, until we reach our final destination, Ravenhurst. It's a beautiful town, and I know you'll love it," Leonidas explained, a broad smile lighting up his face.
Lilith sighed, her voice filled with both excitement and disbelief. "It all sounds so serene and unreal. I can't believe we're actually doing this."
"Neither can I," Leonidas admitted. "But we must hurry before someone catches on, or worse, before the prince appears out of nowhere." He gave her a teasing grin before taking her hand, leading her toward the gates.
The streets were bustling with people, men, women, and children of all ages. The crowd made it easy for Lilith and Leonidas to blend in as they moved.
After half an hour of walking, they finally left the crowd behind and veered onto a quieter path leading to where their carriage awaited. However, when they arrived, Lilith's excitement wavered. The carriage was worn and battered, its wood faded with age. The coachman looked even rougher, his clothes stained and tattered, his long, thick hair matted, as though it hadn't been brushed in years.
Leonidas noticed Lilith staring at the coachman and stepped closer to her. Lowering his voice, he whispered, "Forgive the state of the carriage and its rider, Lilith. I didn't have enough money to afford a proper carriage and coachman. I hope you can manage."
Lilith offered a small smile, though guilt gnawed at her. She hadn't contributed anything to their escape, Leonidas had taken on the burden alone. She silently vowed that once they reached their destination, she would find a job and repay him for his kindness.
Leonidas helped her into the carriage, and the interior proved no better than the exterior. The seats were torn, with foam spilling from the gashes. A strange, unpleasant smell lingered in the air, and the metal fittings were rusted and peeling.
As the carriage lurched forward, the journey stretched on for hours. Lilith found it difficult to sleep, the unsteady movements jostled her, and the road, littered with stones and bumps, only made matters worse. Leonidas had explained that they couldn't take the main roads out of Syththorne, fearing someone might recognize and stop them.
They passed the time with occasional small talk, but exhaustion soon silenced them. Instead, they sat quietly, gazing out the window at the dark, eerie path ahead. The narrow road was swallowed by towering trees, their thick branches stretching overhead, forming a canopy that blocked out the moonlight. The only illumination came from the dim lantern hanging beside the driver, casting flickering shadows across the forest.
Lilith turned to look at him, her voice soft but laced with worry. "Are you sure he's going the right way?"
Leonidas offered a reassuring smile. "Yes, Balon is good at his job. He knows what he's doing. You can rest assured that we'll arrive at dawn." He reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. "I know it's difficult, but try to get a few hours of sleep."
Gently, he guided her to rest her head on his shoulder.
Silence settled over them for a while. After about thirty minutes, Leonidas softly called her name to check if she had fallen asleep. When she didn't respond, he shook her shoulder gently, but she remained still. He let out a quiet sigh of relief, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Carefully, he reached for a strand of her hair, running his fingers through its silky length before bringing it to his nose, inhaling its scent. He played with the locks absentmindedly, twisting them around his fingers for a moment before finally letting them go.
His gaze drifted to her collarbone, the soft rise and fall of her breath, and the delicate curves of her breasts beneath her dress. For a fleeting second, he felt the urge to trace a finger along her smooth skin, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. He didn't know how deeply she slept, and the last thing he wanted was for her to wake up.
Instead, Leonidas guided her hand between his legs, pressing her palm against the hard bulge straining beneath his trousers. His grip covered hers, helping her to move, slow and deliberate. A shudder ran through him as he exhaled heavily, his head falling back against the chair.
"Hmmm," he breathed out, his voice husky with need. His fingers twined with hers, controlling the rhythm as heat coiled deep in his abdomen. He bit his bottom lip, stifling a groan, his body tightening under her touch.
Lilith shifted slightly, and Leonidas quickly withdrew his hand just as her eyes fluttered open.
Lilith's eyes widened as she realized where her hand had been resting. Heat rushed to her face, and she immediately pulled away, placing her hands firmly in her lap. "Oh my goodness, forgive me… I—I didn't mean to…" she stammered, mortified.
Leonidas chuckled softly. "You don't have to apologize, Lilith. You were asleep—you didn't mean to do anything," he assured her with a small nod.
Despite his words, Lilith couldn't shake her embarrassment. She forced a smile in return before quickly turning to look out the window. How had her hand ended up there? She must have been in a deep sleep. The thought made her want to disappear.
The rest of the night passed in silence, both of them staying awake as the carriage rumbled along the uneven road. Eventually, the dark sky began to lighten, and the first rays of the sun stretched across the sky. Relief flooded Lilith, morning had finally arrived.