I huff out a long breath of defeat and curl into a ball in the long, rain-damp grass. I’d gone on an evening walk along the river, underestimating how quickly dark would fall in the winter. Just as always, the guards have locked up the tall iron gates that France off the outer bailey. I’ve been locked out of my families own castle, and the dust sky only grows darker. The moon illuminates the droplets on the trees above. After a moment or two, I sit up, eyes scanning the thick surrounding trees, towering from all directions. I’m not sure if i imagine it, but i hear the steady clack of hooves. I perk up, hair at the back of my neck standing up.They’re alone. I take mental notes. who’d be riding out alone at this hour?

I smooth the soaked satin of my skirt over my knees and stand, hand pressed on the trunk of a tree as I see a flickering lantern maneuver through the trees.

His horse is dark. Dark like him. Dark like midnight. “HYA!” He hollers, laughing in delight as the horse weaves through the trees. There’s no doubt in my mind who it is. No one else in the kingdom is foolish (or cocky) enough to brave the woods at this hour. I roll my eyes and sigh, of course it’s my enemy. My mood sours as I anticipate what bullshit he’s gonna pull when I have no choice but to ask him to take me into the castle.

… “Jay?” I ask into the dark. His horse- Midnight- slows down and steps into the clearing, appearing from the shadows as she gets illuminated by the moonlight. I look up at her, wide, starry eyes and then beyond. At her rider. Jay, his jet black hair tousled, face pale, cheeks and ears flushed with the cold, all in black. He leans forward and unmounts. “Princess?” A smirk creeps onto his lips. “What’re you doing out here so late?”