Chapter 54 - In the Rain (2/2)

”What do you want to go to town for?” he asked, putting down his book and focusing on me.

”I want to go shopping!”

”Why? Can't you order anything you want here using catalogs?”

I shook my head. ”What I want wouldn't be in a royal catalog. Pretty please?”

”Alright but you'll have to dress warmly. I hate the cold! I'm stuck in here even more than usual,” Al said with an adorable pout.

I couldn't help but laugh. If my plan worked, he wouldn't have to stay inside all winter anymore.

I snatched a biscuit off a plate he had clearly been snacking from and he didn't even bat an eyelid. I nibbled on it from my spot on the chair next to him as he read.

A few minutes later he snapped the book shut with a sigh.

”The wind is way too loud. Do you want to play cards?”

”Actually I only came here to see if you wanted to go outside with me. I'm still planning on going.”

He frowned. ”You're going to make yourself sick.”

”I'll only be out for a few minutes! I'll splash in a few puddles and that's it.”

I rose from my chair so I could go grab a hooded cloak.

Al stood up and grabbed my wrist with a sigh.

”I'm coming too. Knowing you, you'll stay out way too long and catch a cold. My cloaks are pretty sturdy, you can borrow one.”

No one paid us any mind on the way out of the castle because hardly anyone was around. Only I would be interested in going outside on a day like this.

Al was still apprehensive but couldn't do anything to dampen my enthusiasm. I wanted rain, I got rain.

Wind and water practically slapped me in the face when we opened the door leading outside. I was not expecting it to be so cold.

Most of the rain where I came from happened during the summer. Warm rain is the best kind to play around in but I wasn't about to back down when we had bothered coming all the way out here.

”Whoo hoo!” I yelled as I darted out into the downpour with my hands up, running around in circles and stomping in every puddle I saw.

Al shook his head indulgently at my antics, choosing to lean against the wall where it was slightly less wet rather than join me.

I hadn't really expected him to. Dancing in the rain wasn't exactly his style.

I spun with my arms out and let the icy rain hit my face, feeling more alive than I had since first setting foot in the palace.

Nobody could stop me from doing something stupid and fun—not even Al. In that moment I was free.

Laughing breathlessly, I spun until I was dizzy and the hood had fallen off, soaking the top of my hair.

My laughter stopped abruptly when Al appeared in my sights.

He was smiling at me but it wasn't one of his usual smiles. It was softer, somehow. Gentler. It reached his stormy eyes and lit them from within.

That smile made me feel a bit funny. I stood there and stared until his smile dropped.

”What's wrong? Are you cold? Let's go back inside.”

He held out his hand to me and the weird feeling in the pit of my stomach multiplied. I accepted it and he yanked me towards him so he could put my hood back up.

The rain continued seeping into my clothes as he brushed a bit of my wet hair off my forehead under my hood but for some reason I didn't feel cold.