Not again!

Lucian glared at Ave for slapping his shoulder like that, but then he didn't say or do anything to reprimand her about it and turned around to swiftly mount the horse, saying, "It's a power I just figured out I have recently, so it wasn't on my mind when we were leaving the palace until you spoke." He looked down at her from atop the horse and held out his hand. "Let's go," he said.

Ave didn't take his hand immediately and stared into the eye color she could never have associated with him. It was so dark she thought he looked even more handsome and terrifying, and as he looked down at her, hand stretched out, she couldn't help but swallow hard from the sudden thrill that went through her entire body.

Before taking his hand, Ave looked at the back of his head that still had bloodstains and said, "What about the wound? Come down so I can attend to it before we leave."