Rowan's POV:

"Hi, Uriel!" Ciaran exclaims, and being the sweetheart is, he runs toward the man who I dislike because Ciaran is hugging him.

Uriel hugs Ciaran, before catching my eye and letting him go, whispering something that makes Ciaran scoff but let go as well.

"My younger siblings have been waiting all day," Uriel says, and as he tells us that, a group of children that look almost identical to him, just much younger, run out of the house with their cups. "Apparently the kitchen's apple cider is always better than mine."

I look over at Tyla, half expecting them to gloat, but instead they are stunned and staring right at Uriel. I elbow Tyla, getting their attention, and they clear their throat before serving one of Uriel's siblings a glass of the cider.

"I'd be honored to teach you," Tyla says, their tone obviously flirtatious. "And not just how to make cider..."

Well, I guess Tyla is back to their normal self.

Uriel raises an eyebrow, a sly smirk on his face. "Really, now?" he asks, stepping toward Tyla. "And who would you be?"

"Tyla," they say, holding out their hand and gripping Uriel's. "So, what do you think about letting the prince and Ciaran go for the day and helping me get this stuff back to the palace?"

Ciaran snickers and walks over to me. "I didn't know Tyla was so forward," he says, watching the situation with amusement in his eyes.

"They usually aren't," I whisper, lowering my hand and grabbing Ciaran's hand. "But I suppose when you see someone that piques your interest, you better get them quick."

I lower my voice when I say this, putting my lips right beside his ear.

Ciaran is always so beautiful when he blushes, and now is no exception. "You are embarrassing, Rowan," he whispers, but he doesn't shy away from my touches.

"You are amazing," I tell him, wrapping my arms around him and resting my chin on his shoulder. "I fall more for you with every passing day, and I look forward to the day where we can defeat the villains who are in charge of your kingdom, so we can finally be at peace."

Ciaran hums, closing his eyes. His pale skin is dusted red because of the cold air, and tiny flakes of snow that have not yet melted are in his hair.

"I am cold," he says in a soft voice, pushing even closer to me, which I enjoy very much.

"We can run a bath to warm up..." I say, trailing off because we are not in any relationship or verbal agreement, so it was a bold thing for me to say that we can have a bath and implying that we'd take one together.

To my surprise, Ciaran hums.

"Fine with me," he mumbles, and I can tell that trudging around in the snow and serving the families all morning, he is tired. "It would be a shame to waste water, would it not?"

It is clear to me that he is very skilled when it comes to teasing and flirting, but his innocence that he has managed to hold onto make him able to cover how seductive he really is.

"You two go ahead," Tyla says, still staring at Uriel as they talk with him, eyes dazzling. "We will bring the pots and other stuff back."

Uriel nods, but doesn't look at Ciaran and I, his full focus on Tyla as they talk in the familiar rapid tone they like to use.

"Come on," I tell Ciaran, guiding him back to the castle.

Once we are inside and in my room, I leave Ciaran in front of the fire to go start the bath. He is bundled in his winter clothes, and I love how comfortable and relaxed he looks.

The bath is hot and filled with aromatic essential oils, so I decide it is time to get Ciaran. When I enter the main part of my room, he is asleep on the floor in front of the fire, making my heart swell in my chest.

I lift him up and lay him on the bed, deciding to let him sleep, but as soon as I try to leave, his eyes flutter open.

"Is the bath ready?" he asks, sitting up. "I'm awake, I'm awake."

"If you want to sleep-"

Ciaran shakes his head, hopping up and pulling off his jacket and heavy clothes until he is only in underwear, his bellybutton piercing shining and demanding my attention. For being shy, he does not seem to mind being undressed around me, but I feel that it is a response to his past and not being allowed to wear real clothes.

And, hopefully it means he trusts me not to touch him in a way he will not like without his permission.

"Are you going to bathe in clothes?" Ciaran asks, looking me up and down because I am still fully clothed.

I shake my head and try to strip quickly, but I end up tripping and landing on the floor, thankfully turning my head so I don't smash my nose into the ground.

"Very smooth," Ciaran comments, and I look up to see him watching me, amusement on his face. He reaches his hands down and helps to pull me up. "Come on, I am freezing and I want to get in the bath!"

Of course, I do not have the ability to turn him down, so I follow Ciaran to the steaming, suds-filled tub and watch him as he strips off his undergarments and climbs into the tub, sighing as he does so. Gods, he looks so relaxed and warm that it makes my heart melt.

I slide in the tub, sitting across from Ciaran, who is laying his head back on the edge of the tub. His shoulder is still dark and bruised, but it, along with the cuts all over his body, are fading away with time.

"Your shoulder looks better," I say, because I know he is insecure about it, as well as all of the marks that he sees as imperfections on his body.

He is beautiful to me no matter what.

"It feels better," he tells me, his eyes still closed. "But it's ugly."

"You're beautiful no matter what."

Ciaran blushes, and I know it's not from the heat of the water. "No, I'm not," he mumbles, sinking deeper into the water and covering his shoulders, his eyes finally opening. "So, please don't say it. I don't have the energy to deny it over and over again."

"So don't say anything," I say, reaching my hands out and hoping he will take mine. He does, and I drag him closer, and he lays his body against mine, his head against my chest with my chin on his head. "And believe in what I am saying. I see you all the time, so believe when I say you are beautiful."

He sighs and gets closer to me, now sitting in my lap and oh gods, he needs to get off or he is going to feel something poking him very soon...

The door to the bathroom suddenly slams open and Ciaran launches himself across the tub, wincing as he slams his shoulder against the edge of it. Gods, now the bruising will worsen, so I am ready to shout at whoever barged into the bathroom!

I turn with an angry glare on my face, and one of the servants is panting, showing he must have sprinted across the entire castle to get here.

"What do you want?" I ask, glancing at Ciaran and seeing how red his face is. "Why did you not knock?"

"My deepest apologies, your majesty," he pants, resting his hands on his knees. "But your father opened the gates today because the guards found no sign of other enemies near, and... uh..."

I huff. "Spit it out!" I order, and I am not a mean person, but it annoys me that my time with Ciaran was interrupted.

"Your aunt, uncle, and cousin are here," the servant says, and I take a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Ivan?" I ask the servant, and he looks at me, ready to attend to my needs. "I will let you be the future king if you drown me right now."

Ivan's eyes widen. "Uh... I can't do that, your majesty... I'd feel horrible and I quite admire you." He looks to Ciaran and then back to me. "Your cousin will be coming to see you, I assume, so I will lay out the sheets so you can tie a rope and escape."

With that, he leaves the room.

"You have a cousin?" Ciaran asks me, and I nod with a groan.

"Yes, my father Soto's sister got married and left the kingdom for a village that is a five day's trip away, and she is obsessed with her daughter ruling our kingdom since my cousin was born. I wouldn't mind it, but she is a horrible person so I won't allow it. And, her father is so old-times that he is trying to get me to marry my cousin which is disgusting!"

Gods, I hate my extended family.

"They sound horrible," Ciaran agrees, wrinkling his nose.

I huff. "That isn't not the worst part, Ciaran. My aunt despised when my grandparents, my father Soto's parents, allowed him to marry a man, and they are against any marriage or partnership between two genders. We forced them to leave when they were happy that my dad died..." I shake my head, remembering how close I was to calling for a public execution. "They may say horrible things to you, because I will not hide how I desire you, Ciaran. Unless you wish to hide it, if you do not want to hear their insults."

"As long as I am allowed to snap back if they insult me," Ciaran says, and I smile at his confidence.

Gods, I adore him.

"I would love nothing more. Now, let us get dressed and lock the door, so I can escape the unfortunate result of my grandparents having one more child."

Ciaran laughs and gets up, grabbing my bathrobe from the wall, offering it to me, but I make him put it on.

He does always look gorgeous in my clothes.