Miniarc-Sleepover-4

The ride ended far too fast. Alana wiped her sweaty palms on the leg of her pants as the carriage slowly rode up the small dirt road that led to the estate. The thrall brought them to a stop in front of the door. “I won’t be accompanying you inside immediately. Bell will handle your luggage.”

“Thanks for the ride.” Birds fluttered in her stomach as she hopped off the driver’s bench and headed for the door. She’d just made it up the steps when the door was thrown open. Lou leaned in the doorway with a smug smile.

Alana had contemplated dressing up but clearly, the noblewoman hadn’t given it a second though. She wore simple trousers and a plain shirt, her usual training attire, though the large shirt was tied off with a golden belt. Her dark hair pulled up off her neck and tied with a strip of dark leather whose ends dangled against her nape.

The clothes should have made her look sloppy but it instead, she elevated the casual garments, giving them a unique charm. It was unfair, really. Lou was never a bad-looking woman but whatever she had done during their initiate year had transformed her into an exceptional beauty.

The strange thing was that she hadn’t changed a thing about herself. It was still Lou but…better. Her best features were heightened and the most common flaws people had were erased. She didn’t have so much as a crooked tooth. She had become a more “perfect” version of herself. Paired with her surge in confidence, she had a magnetism that was hard to deny.

Bare foot and slouching, she resembled a village laborer taking a break while working on their lord’s manor, but Alana still had to swallow before she offered a weak greeting. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” Lou pushed off the doorway. “You going to come in?”

Alana walked past her, feeling the other woman’s gaze on her like a physical thing. Lou put a hand on her shoulder and guided her to the living room, depositing her on a couch before disappearing into the kitchen. The aspiring knight sat still as a statue as she waited for her return, thoughts whirring, wondering what came next.

“You look like you’re about to snap in two.”

Alana jumped as Lou returned with a tea tray, smoke billowing from the pot. She sat down with a nonchalance that made Alana feel a little ridiculous for being so tense and poured two cups. She raised a brow when Alana held it in her lap. “Should I bring out the stronger stuff? It’s a little early but you look like you need it.”

“No, no.” Alana hastily sweetened the tea and took a sip, grimacing. She’d added too much sugar.

“Okay.” Lou gently removed the cup from her hands, setting it back on the tray followed by her own. “You going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“What? Nothing’s wrong.”

“Uh-huh. That’s why you look like you’re about to jump out of your skin and can’t relax enough to drink a cup of tea.” Lou narrowed her eyes as she studied Alana’s carefully blank face. Then she stood up and walked around the table to drop on the opposite couch, stretching out. Blue eyes briefly flicked to the hint of skin revealed as Lou’s shirt rolled up, snapping away a moment later. “Better?”

“…yeah.”

“You going to tell me why you look like you want to be anywhere but here? Starting to feel like I’m doing something wrong. Which is weird because I haven’t done anything.”

Alana frowned as annoyance flared. “What do you call that letter then?”

“That’s what this is about?” Lou groaned, covering her eyes with a hand. “That was supposed to make this easier.”

“How could it when you wrote that…that…stuff.”

A dark eye peeked at her from between spread fingers. “I wanted to reassure you that I wouldn’t try and pressure you into anything but I don’t want you to misunderstand me. I’ll wait as long as you need to be comfortable with our relationship but I do have desires. We’re not kissing friends.” Lou chuckled. “One day, I’m going to marry you. I very much want to make love to you. Along with a few other things I don’t want to say because I don’t want you storming out.”

Alana refused to react as she knew that’s what Lou wanted. It was too bad her pensive frown was ruined by her red cheeks.

“But that can wait. We’ve got time. So much time. This weekend is about us enjoying each other’s company and celebrating the completion of our initiate year. So, will you relax? Or do I really need to break out the hard stuff?”

Alana huffed. “Fine.” Alana stared at the tea cups. After a moment, she grabbed Lou’s and took a sip, sweetening it further before taking another. “See? I’m relaxing.”

“I see, I see.” Lou put her hands behind her head. “To help you relax further, let me tell you exactly what I have planned. Today, I’ll give you the tour of the grounds and chat. Kierra will be around in the afternoon for a walk in the garden. Don’t recommend going in there without her. Tomorrow, I thought we’d go to the Sanctuary. Go swimming in the Blue Step and maybe pet some cute animals. Saintsday, I’ll see you back to the dorm. Nothing to worry about.”

Alana’s shoulders sagged as her tension eased. “Why would you work me up in the first place?”

“Told you. Besides, all this can change any time.” One of her hands moved to the neck of her shirt, pulling at the strings over the chest to reveal the swell of her breasts. “Say the word.”

“I won’t,” Alana muttered, her gaze firmly fixed on the area.

“Sure.” Lou’s hand caressed her collarbone as she smiled. “So? Are you excited about our upcoming vacation?”

“Vacation?” Alana stared at her blankly. “You can’t be talking about the campaign to the Peaks?”

“Of course. We’ll be traipsing through a winter wonderland, away from any distractions. Putting our lives in each other’s hands. Sharing a tent and blankets as we try to keep warm. Danger and adventure in equal parts. Sounds like a romantic vacation to me.”

“You’ve been spending too much time with that elf.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. You’re taking me home to meet your family. That’s not romantic?”

Alana winced and tried to cover it with a sip of tea.

“Oh? What’s that look?”

She briefly considered lying about the letter she got. As the thrall said, Lou would not take the news well, even if it was just an unsubstantiated conclusion. But, as they were going to Victory together, Lou deserved to know. Alana trusted her to talk to her before doing anything rash. “Do you remember I told you my father planned to arrange a teacher for me once I completed my initiate year?”

“Vaguely.”

“Well, he’s arrived. I received a letter from him.”

“Ah. I have something to say about that but first…you don’t seem very excited.”

“I was. However…” She paused to drain the rest of the tea, wondering how to best put her suspicions. She quickly decided to just say it bluntly. Lou appreciated directness, one of the things Alana appreciated most about her. “My instructor has been at the Hall long enough to ask around about me. From the contents of his letter, I believe he knows about, uh, us and doesn’t approve. And since he is sent by my father—"

“You’re afraid that means your father knows about us and doesn’t approve.”

“The chances are small. I doubt he’s been here for long and communication with Victory would take time—"

Alana stopped, voice caught in her throat. Lou’s lazy air was gone as she sat up. Her thick brows were furrowed in a scowl, shoulders tense and full lips pressed in a frown.

“Are you afraid, Alana?” she asked softly.

The aspiring knight paused before slowly shaking her head.

“Good. There’s no need to be. A saints damned dragon could swoop down and express its displeasure with us and I’d still tell it to fuck off, let alone a duke.”

“Sure you would.”

“I would. The only person whose opinion I care about is yours. What about you?”

Alana scowled. “My father doesn’t control me.”

“Damn right. And if he thinks otherwise, he’ll have a problem.”

“Lou…”

“What?”

She sighed. “This is my problem. Just…don’t do anything rash. It’s my father. I get to decide how it’s handled.”

“Alright, Alana. You’re in control.”

Lou’s tone changed and it did funny things to Alana. The way the noblewoman was looking at her didn’t help. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“You know what you’re doing.”

“Mm. You like it?”

“I…”

“You look like you do.”

Alana muttered as she poured herself another cup of tea. It was lukewarm but she didn’t care, draining it as a distraction.

“Think you can keep that up all weekend?” Lou teased.

She would sure as saints try.