Horse Stone (Book 1 of Ilyrian Series)

Chapter 99

My father stayed silent while I finished telling him everything that happened to me, and he pressed his lips into a thin line.

I didn't say another word while I finished braiding my companion's mane and started to make my way to his back side to braid his tail. I didn't look at the male that I called my father, not knowing what he was thinking or how he would react to the information that I dumped on him.

My father sighed and shook his head while he moved a hand through his hair. "You are smart and very brave, Ley," he said while he leaned against the fence and watched me braid Vanar's tail. "There is doubt in my mind that you are very brave."

I didn't respond and shrugged, not knowing what he said was true. I didn't feel brave, hell, I didn't feel anything at the moment but numb and vulnerable as if the shell around me finally broke to reveal its contents of a broken and bruised female that was supposed to be this high and mighty queen.

My father cleared his throat and moved a hand through his hair. "So, why didn't you tell me this sooner?" he asked and raised an eyebrow, changing the subject. "I would have been able to help you through everything so that you didn't have to feel so alone and so broken."

I shrugged and bit the inside of my lip, feeling bashful. "I was scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet while I continued to work on my horse's tail. "I didn't know how you would react if I told you."

He sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper before he cleared his throat and moved a hand through his hair. "Do you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive," I said and shook my head while I looked at him. "It's not your fault, Papa. You were doing the best that you could, and it's my fault for not having the confidence to tell you."

My father chuckled sadly and shook his head. "It's not, Ley," he said before he cleared his throat. "It's not your fault, and I am glad, and proud, that you were able to find the confidence to tell me now."

I bit back a small smile and slowly nodded while I finished braiding Vanar's tail. My hands stopped shaking, and I felt a little better and happy that I was able to do this and tell him what had happened to me.

My father cleared his throat and shifted on his feet. "Can I give you a hug?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please? I think we both need it."

I hesitated before I slowly nodded and started to walk over to him, and Vanar opened his eyes to watch my back. "Ok," I said, my voice barely above a whisper too. "I didn't mean to make you feel s-"

"Hush," my father scolded softly and shook his head, interrupting me. "Don't say another word, Ley. Do you understand?"

I pressed my lips into a thin line but didn't finish my sentence. I walked out of the pasture and into my father's awaiting arms, and he held me close to him.

The strong king took a deep, shuddering breath and cleared his throat while he held me tightly in his arms. He didn't say a word while he rubbed my back, and I closed my eyes and stayed silent, enjoying his warmth and his presence.

Vanar leaned against the fence and looked at us with pricked ears. "I am not going to lie," he said, "this is cute and all, but do you want to see Ley and I in action, Your Majesty?" he asked.

My father pulled away and placed a kiss on my forehead before he looked at Vanar. "Of course," he said and nodded before he looked at me. "Would you like to do that?"

I slowly nodded and bit the inside of my lip, excited and nervous for him to see me ride. "I don't have my saddle or stuff here still," I said hesitantly, and he nodded while he rubbed his face. "I am sure that Serena still has something for me to use though."

"It's my old saddle and bridle," Vanar supplied, and my dad looked at him, "from Ilyrian."

My father pressed his lips into a thin line, and a look of pain flashed through his eyes, and he slowly nodded before he looked at me. "Have you ridden with it before?" he asked softly while he raised an eyebrow.

I hesitated before I nodded and looked down, feeling bashful. "Yes, Sir," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet, my cheeks turning slightly red. "I used it when Shadow and I first rode together two days ago."

Two days ago...

I pursed my lips in annoyance and dipped my head closer to my chest, not knowing how my life had quickly changed in just two days.

No longer did I feel like I was sinking under the weight of everything that had happened to me now that everything was out in the open. No longer did I have to be the scared little girl trapped in a Sharlorn's grasp and a web of lies that had been whispered in my ear.

My father still cares and loves me, scars and all...

"Ley?" my father asked when he noticed me growing silent, and I looked at him with wide eyes. Concern filled his eyes while he studied me, and he cocked his head and continued to study me. "Are you ok?"

I hesitated before I nodded and looked away from him. "I am, Papa," I confirmed and cleared my throat while I shifted on my feet. "I feel mentally tired and drained, but I am ok."

He pressed his lips into a thin line but didn't say a word, and worry flashed through his eyes.

"I'll be fine, Papa," I said and offered him a small smile while I looked at him again. "I'll sleep when we get home, but other than that, I am fine."

My father nodded and cleared his throat. "Of course," he said softly. He placed a kiss on my forehead before he pulled away and moved a hand through my hair. "Then, let's go ahead and get Shadow ready. I will answer questions that you have later. Ok?" He raised an eyebrow, and I slowly nodded. "I can get Serena to bring the bridle and saddle to you at the cross ties. We'll bring your own stuff later."

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while I looked at him. "Couldn't I..." I trailed off when he smiled and shook his head sadly, and I couldn't help but frown. "Why not?"

"For your own safety," he said softly while he dipped his head closer to his chest, "at least for right now until you get called there. I would appreciate it if no one else knows that you know about this place or about him." He gestured toward Vanar, and I looked at my unicorn before I looked at him again. "Ok?" He raised an eyebrow in question, silently praying that I wouldn't push.

I pursed my lips in annoyance but relented with a slight nod of my head and a small sigh. "Ok," I said softly before I cleared my throat. "Not even the rest of my sisters that know?" I asked and raised an eyebrow because he knew that Dani knew I knew.

"Not even the rest of them," he said with a shake of his head. He cleared his throat and stood taller. "I already advised Dani not to tell the others that know about that place."

I bit back a small sigh and slowly nodded. "Ok," I said, relenting. "I won't tell anyone else. No one else will know."

"Good." He nodded before he cleared his throat and smiled, relieved. "Now, come, let's bring Shadow up to the arena and let you ride him around for a bit. Have you found out that he is a good jumper? He loves to say that he can fly when he can't." He winked teasingly, and I groaned.

"Papa," I said while my cheeks turned red while Vanar snorted and shook his head. "Please, don't."

And with my father's laughter, I walked over to where I kept Vanar's halter, and my horse followed me on the other side of the fence, both of us itching for another ride, and hopefully, one day, we would be able to ride together with no fences in our way.

If only in our dreams...