They couldn't talk as they rode, which was fine by Celina. She had various thoughts going on around her head, mainly trying to figure out the weird behaviour of her family. They moved the horses at a brisk pace, through the forests that surrounded their home, until she lost track of where exactly they were.         She knew they were following the river that came down from the northern mountains, but that was her only guide to where they were. Thomas had simply asked her to follow him, which again raised her suspicions, but she did. Eventually – when the sun was high in the sky - the forest gave way to a clearing alongside the river, and a rocky road came into view. That road always creeped her out, so she never stepped beyond that. Celina slowed her horse to match her father's pace, taking cues from him.

  When Celina reached the kitchen, she noticed Beth waiting for her. The woman stood by the french window, dressed in a long pale blue gown, white gloves pulled to the wrists and an apron. Her grey hair was pulled in a tight bun, and she had a stern expression on her face. Something about the way she kept quiet for the first few seconds, merely narrowing her eyes at Celina made her shiver.     

The air around the castle was shimmering. It’s a delicate, almost invisible kind of thing. Stepping out of her room and in the living room, Celina noticed a fire in the hearth, larger than the one her family built before going out into the snow every morning. Then again, they lived in a cottage.      

Despite her curiosity, Celina managed to avoid going out onto the balcony during the night for the entire week. The maid didn't go out there during the day either, thinking that the remnants of that distress and vulnerability will cling to her the moment she set her foot in. The Prince did walk away from her without any explanation and that stung. More than she thought.         As if that wasn't enough the Prince went away. For a while it seemed judging from Beths somber expression and lack of interest in ordering around. No one knew where but only that he would be returning after few days. The housekeeper kept staring at the door, barely acknowledging others around her. Maybe she's missing the Prince more than she thought.      

"You're so gorgeous," The Prince said breathlessly, his eyes raking over her body. She squirmed at the attention, shyly lifting her head as he beckoned her closer. "Come closer to me."       Javier pressed a hot kiss to her mouth without hesitation and scraped his large fingers across the back of her neck. It is almost too rough, but the desperation crawled through him into her. Celina didn't mind at all that's why she bought her hands up to clutch at the vast expanse of his shoulders.       It's cold outside, but the Prince was warm, his other hand cupping her neck, fingers curling into her hair and gently tilting the maids head up, coaxing a whimper from the back of Celina's throat. She gripped helplessly at Javier's shoulders,