"Still hiding from me?" he murmured, his voice low and edged with amusement. "Are you?"
"N-no… I won't hide anymore…"
At that very moment, Lance's voice broke sharply from beyond the carriage curtains, "My lord, this subordinate has urgent matters to report."
The words fell like cold water over flame, extinguishing the charged intimacy within at once.
Caelith startled violently, clarity rushing back to her mind. Flustered, she hastily straightened her disheveled robes, her fingers trembling as she struggled to compose herself.
A shadow passed over Rhaegar's expression, his tone turning dark and displeased.
"You had best have a matter worthy of interrupting me."
From outside came Lance's steady reply:
