Chapter 22: Strangers Kiss

Rabadash ran into the street. Spotting his horse he ran towards her. My eyes widened, I knew if I got on that horse with him I'd never see Peter again. With his back to me I spun my sword and it sliced across the back of his leg. He screamed falling forwards in surprise as he clutched his leg letting go of me. I glared at him. "Take your horse and leave me the hell alone Rabadash. Leave this place now and I swear that if you ever come back I'll kill you myself!" I snarled before grabbing the horses reigns and throwing them to him. He clutched at them.

"Goodbye Rabadash" I spat before turning tail and running through the streets. The gate was due East. If I could follow it then I could get the hell out of here. I skidded around a corner slicing through a Carlormene soldier that tried to grab me only for another hand to grab me. I screamed, my back being pushed up against a wall. A hand holding my wrist that held the sword. Soft lips immediately found mine as they moved across it.

My eyes widened in surprise only to see tanned skin. Sandy blonde hair falling into his closed eyes. Peter. Memories of him and Arland kissing filled my mind. It infuriated me but I couldn't stop my body from responding. I dropped the sword, my hands winding into his hair as I kissed him back. My body trembling with pent up longing. His hands gripped my waist and hair. "Aria" he growled as he took a shallow breath before he reconnected our lips. My body shimmied against his of it's own accord. "Peter" I growled biting his bottom lip before my tongue wound against his my hands running down his muscled chest. They twitched underneath his armor and his arms tightened around me quickly.

His hand gripped my thigh and the muscles twitched in pleasure. At hearing the clink of armor I opened my eyes to see a Carlormene soldier coming towards us. I stiffened. "Peter" I said more urgently pushing at his hard chest. In an instant he had switched our positions. His back pressed up against the wall, his arm holding me tightly against his chest as he continued to kiss me. But he had his sword out and the tip of it now rested against the soldiers throat. "Leave now" Peter growled and I moaned at the rumbling of his voice. "Why you" the soldier growled going for a blow only for Peter to kill him first. My thighs quivered since Peter's concentration hadn't broken in the slightest as he bit my earlobe.

I shivered, "Peter, the soldiers turned on Rabadash. They killed his father and tried to kill him too" I told him. "Did they?" He questioned his tongue running across my jugular. I quivered against his hot tongue. His breath hitting my skin making goose bumps spread across it. I couldn't think. "No, we fought through it. He tried to pull me onto a horse. I cut his leg and ran. He's fled the city" I told him. He nodded, "Peter we have to go. We have to meet up with the rest of the army" I told him.

He pulled back from the heated kisses but didn't move his body in the slightest. A smile crossed his face and he hooked his arm under my legs and lifted me up. His free hand rested on my ankle before running up to my thigh. My eyes widened as I smacked him. "Peter! This is not the time or the place for this!" I started shouting at him only for him to give me a gentle kiss as he set me on my feet.

"The rumors of him claiming you as his Queen are obviously false so I have no interest in a man that abandons his country and people. If he had touched you, I'd hunt him to the ends of the Earth" Peter snarled, his clear blue eyes suddenly flaming with rage. I kissed him softly. "We have to go Peter" I told him taking his hand, he smiled and pulled me along as he quickly led the way through the alleys as he took the lead. Memories of him and Princess Arland long forgotten as the grin spread across my face. I just couldn't stop.

"Exander!" Peter shouted, the large griffin landed on the ground in front of us. "Edmund, take over the armies. When you're done here go back to Anvard I'll be waiting for you then!" Peter shouted to him, Edmund nodded as Peter picked me up putting me on Exander's back. Peter straddled the Griffin behind me. He gripped the feathers around Exander's neck. "Fly fast Exander" Peter told him. "Yes my King" he launched into the air. Large wings beating through the air as we soared across it.

"Why aren't we staying?" I questioned him, "you have to get back to your father" Peter told me and my eyes widened. That was right. "Peter, Rabadash said that he had a spy in Anvard that was poisoning my father, did you notice anything?" I questioned him and he shook his head. "I don't have any ideas to the spy, but you're father is very sick Aria" he said softly squeezing me against him. I leaned back into his warm embrace. I knew it was wrong of me to rely on Peter like this, but I needed him.

As we flew over Carlormene I could see how destroyed it was. "You did all this?" I questioned him, he smiled at me softly. "I did what I had to, to bring you home. I made a promise to your Father Aria and I'm going to keep it" he said softly before looking back out in front of us. I leaned back softly against his chest as we soared across the open night. I hadn't even realized that I had fallen asleep.

Peter's POV

I rested my chin on the top of Aria's head, she was laid back into my chest, her forehead pressed into the side of my neck. "She's fast asleep" Exander commented. "Yes, she looks exhausted" I sighed adverting my eyes. The way she was laying I had a straight view of her chest and it was starting to become rather bothersome and uncomfortable ride. "It's from being in your soothing presence" Exander said matter of factly as we crossed the Archland-Carlormene border.

Sunlight was starting to break across the grassy slopes of Archland. It was such a contrast to Carlormene. "When are you going to tell her that you've asked for her hand?" Exander questioned, "She doesn't need that right now" I told him softly as Anvard showed up in our vision. Exander let out a might cry and Aria stirred. "Wake up Aria, we're here" I whispered in her ear. She stirred before groaning and rubbing her eyes. She looked so cute when she first was waking up. I kissed her cheek softly. "I'm sorry Aria, we'll get you a good nap in soon" I promised her as Exander landed. As soon as he was still I got off and Aria got off quickly as she took her priorities she bolted.

I raced after her as she moved through the hallways quickly. She stopped in front of a door as it opened. Cor stood there. He looked up at Aria. Tears budded his eyes as he lowered his head in a fit of crying. I closed my eyes as Aria pulled Cor into her rocking him side to side. He gripped her arm as he cried into her shoulder. "He's gone Aria, he's gone" he cried.

I'd failed.