Balance of the World
Chapter 9-Creatures

Chapter 9: Creatures ofMagic

“Arewe there yet?” Zoey whined, her arms around Elias’s chest as they rode towardthe Centaur camp in Roch.

“Notyet,” he ground out in irritation.

Theyhad been riding since morning. Now itwas noon and Zoey had beenasking at least every half hour if they were there yet and it was starting todrive Elias nuts.

“I’msorry, Elias, it’s just…we’ve been riding for hours and my legs are killingme,” Zoey confessed.

Eliassighed and pulled Phantom to a stop beneath a tree making Zoey frown.

“Whatare you doing?”

“Stopping,”Elias replied, flatly and dismounted without hitting Zoey. “We’ll rest those legs of yours for a while.”

“Ididn’t mean—”

“Ineeded a rest myself, Angel,” Elias cut in with a small smile as he held hisarms out to her to help her off his horse. “Now, get off my horse.”

Zoeycouldn’t help but giggle as she swung her leg around to sit sideways and slidoff the horse. Elias caught her when shehit the ground but when he let her go she fell to the ground making him frownat her and she frowned back up at him before looking down at her lap inembarrassment.

“Mylegs are asleep,” she muttered. Eliastried not to laugh, but he let out a snort and Zoey shot a glare up at him,snapping, “You won’t be laughing when I turn you into a masked gopher!”

Eliascouldn’t help the laughter that followed that statement.

“Elias!”

“I’msorry, Angel!” he laughed. “You’re justso funny!”

Hecontinued laughing heartily and Zoey simply glared at him for a moment thenmuttered, “I’ll show you, you masked moron.”

Sheheld a hand toward him while he wasn’t paying attention, uttering the spell.

Athrú

Elias’slaughter ceased and he stared at Zoey in horror as she simply smirked as hestarted shrinking. Zoey couldn’t containher laughter as she stared at the sight before her. Elias was now a furry black gopher with awhite mask, wearing a little black uniform staring at her with wide, sea-greeneyes.

“Aw,you look so cute!” Zoey giggled.

Eliasstarted squeaking in obvious anger and Zoey laughed even harder as she poundedher fist on the ground.

“Elias! Stop! I’m dying! You’re killing me!”she wheezed and laughed uncontrollably. “You’re too cute!”

Eliasstopped and sat, crossing his little arms over his little chest, fury burningin his little sea-green eyes. Zoeycalmed herself and smiled at the little Masked Gopher General in front of her.

“Oh,Elias, you have t admit it’s a littlefunny,” she smiled, reaching toward him. He spun around, facing his back to her in a huff. “Elias, don’t be that way. You know I’m gonna change you back. I’m just messing with you.”

Eliasdidn’t move and Zoey sighed then held her hand toward him.

Deireadh AChur

Shewatched as Elias transformed back into the man she couldn’t resist and smiledwhen she him look at one of his hands then turned to glare at her over hisshoulder.

“IfI were a wizard, you would be a duckright now,” he muttered.

Zoeycouldn’t help but smile at his tendency for moodiness. Her legs now awake, she crawled toward himand sat next to him.

“Don’tbe bitter,” she smiled, wrapping her arm around his. “I changed you back.”

“Ido not like being called cute,” he ground out with a scowl, looking away fromher.

“You’reright. I was kinda lying when I saidthat,” Zoey shrugged making Elias turn to her in wide-eyed surprise and shesmiled up at him. “You’re not cute.”

Shelooked away from him again, making him stare at her in wide-eyed wonder whenshe said nothing else for a moment then she giggled and said, “You are extremely handsome.”

Eliasgave a small sigh as he looked away from her and leaned on his shoulder tomurmur, “Did I scare you?”

“Ofcourse not,” he replied, pulling his arm from her grasp and wrapping it aroundher shoulders to look down at her with a smirk. “What else do you think of me, Angel?”

“Youare so handsome, it makes me want to cry,” she murmured.

“Isthat so?” Elias smirked.

Beforeshe could respond he planted his lips to hers and shoved her back onto theground as Zoey began giggling through the kiss. She pulled him closer to deepen the kiss and his hands held either sideof her head as his tongue attacked her mouth. Elias slowly broke the kiss and began trailing tender kisses down herneck as she pulled him closer with a smile on her lips.

“You’reso beautiful,” he whispered against her ear. “You’re so wonderful.”

“Youthink so?” she breathed.

“Doyou think I would try lying to you?” he smirked between kisses to her neck.

“Youhave before,” Zoey reminded him through a laugh.

“Finallyreplace yourself a female, General Blackwood?”

Thecouple froze and they looked to the side to see two pairs of hooves attached tobrown horse’s legs. They followed thelegs upward to see a man’s body attached from the waist up to the horse’s body.

“GeneralHerne,” Elias realized and scrambled off of Zoey to pull her to her feet sothey could both face the centaur general.

“Thismust be the Enuria,” Hernesmirked, looking Zoey up and down.

“Yes,”Elias nodded, glaring slightly at him when he noticed the centaur’s gaze.

“Apleasure to meet you, General,” Zoey nodded.

“Believeme, the pleasure is entirely mine,” Herne replied, bowinggrandly.

“Weseek shelter in your camp for a night or two,” Elias reported. “She has been kidnapped once and I fear itmay happen again if we stay in one place too long.”

“Ofcourse,” Hernenodded. “My camp is not far. Follow me.”

Heturned and began walking back the way he came and Elias hurried to mount Phantom,pulling Zoey on after him. They followedHerne a fewmoments before Zoey looked up as a shadow passed over them and Elias sensed herstiffen, making him gaze up at the sky and smirk as he saw what she did.

“Don’tworry, Angel,” he murmured over his shoulder to her. “It’s just Velaro.”

“Who?”Zoey frowned in wonder.

“Thegeneral of the Griffinarmy,” he replied.

Zoeynodded in understanding as the half bird, half loin creature landed in front ofHerne, blockingall their paths.

“GeneralVelaro!” Hernegrinned. “You’re late.”

“Apologies,General Herne,” Velaro nodded.

“Sayhello to the Enuria,” Herneentreated, gesturing to Elias and Zoey behind him.

Velarostared wide, golden cat eyes at the masked General and the young woman. As the Griffin General walked toward them,Zoey shrunk back slightly making Elias smirk back at her.

“Frightened,Angel?” he murmured.

“Whywould I be?” Zoey wondered. “He’s a goodguy, right?”

“Yournails are digging into my sides,” he retorted.

“GeneralBlackwood,” Velaro nodded in respect and Elias returned the gesture. “I take it the lovely lady with you is oursavior?”

“Youassume correctly,” Elias replied then turned to Zoey who had been peeking overhis shoulder. “Say hello, Zoey.”

“Hello,”she murmured, shyly.

“I’mhiding her at my camp for a couple nights,” Herne said, trotting toward the three.

“Isthat so?” Velaro wondered. “You’ll bewell taken care of, ma’am.”

“Ma’am?”Zoey echoed, scrunching her nose. “I’mnot that old. Just call me Zoey.”

“Verywell,” Velaro nodded.

“Comealong with us,” Herneentreated Velaro as he turned again and the griffin nodded, turning as well.

Asthey began walking to the centaur camp again, Herne and Velaro spoke to eachother as Elias and Zoey trailed behind.

“DoI need so many peop – beings watching over me?” Zoey wondered.

“It’ssimply a precaution, Angel,” Elias replied. “We can’t have you kidnapped again, can we?”

“Well,no, but still,” Zoey trailed off a moment then muttered, “I don’t want to be aburden.”

“Itis not a burden to keep the Savior of Kalina safe, Angel,” he insisted.

“Iget that, but still—”

“Youthink so little of yourself,” he interrupted. “You must realize that as our Savior, and more importantly, as a personyou are very important. Especially tome.”

Zoeygave a content smile as she hugged him, making him stiffen as she murmured,“You’re important to me too, Elias.”

Hesmiled as she rested her head on his back, but said nothing as they continuedon for a moment before she broke their content silence.

“Elias?”

“Yes?”

“Arewe there yet?”

Meanwhile...

“Captain!”Namir called as she ran toward the captain’s cabin and pushed the doors open togreet Kaysar with a bright smile, only to replace him pacing and muttering tohimself. Frowning, she closed the doorsand walked toward him.

“Kaysar?”she called, timidly and he froze to stare at her with wide, bloodshoteyes. “Is everything alright?”

“Namir,”he breathed and pulled her by the wrist toward him. He sat her in the chair in front of his desk,placing his hands on the arms of the chair as she stared up at him in worry andsurprise and he whispered, “I can trust you. You over all others, aye?”

“Aye,”she nodded, cautiously.

Kaysarinched closer to her face and whispered again, “I fear there’s a conspiracybrewin’, love.”

“Conspiracy?”Namir frowned and he nodded. “ButJellina will be defeated soon and then—”

“Thatwoman will take over!” Kaysar ground out as Namir looked up at him with wideeyes.

“Whatdo you mean, Kaysar?” she breathed.

“Onceshe gets rid of the Black Witch she’ll be thinking she should rule Kalina instead of me!” he shoved off the chair and resumed pacing as Namir stared athim in disbelief.

“Idon’t think Zoey is going to challenge your rule,” she voiced, making him whirlon her.

“Howdo you know?!” he growled.

“Howdo you know she’ll try?!” she retorted, shooting to herfeet.

Kaysarturned an angry glare at her and lifted a hand to back-hand her across theface. Namir fell back in the chair withthe force as she gave a gasp of pain and looked up at him with wide eyes,lifting a hand to her cheek.

“Don’tever raise your voice to me again,understand?” he growled.

Namirsimply stared at him and he leaned over her again, making her shrink back inthe chair and quickly reply, “Aye, Captain.”

“Good,”he nodded, standing tall to begin pacing again. “Now, the only thing we can do to keep meself in charge is to ridourselves of the Enuria. The only way todo that is if we get rid of GeneralBlackwood. He’s her protector and atraitor besides, if he’s helping her.”

“But,Captain,” Namir tried. “Elias Blackwoodis your friend, isn’t he?”

“Can’tplay favorites with traitors, love,” he replied.

“Butwe don’t even know where they are,” she reminded him, playing along with histheory.

“Well,we’ll just have to replace out where they are, eh?” Kaysar continued, rubbing hischin. “I want you to take some menashore and start in Edan. That’s whereBlackwood’s camp is.”

“Andif he’s not there?” Namir wondered.

“Findout where he is by any means necessarythen come back and tell me,” he replied. “I want to kill the two myself.”

Namirnodded and slowly stood to head toward the door.

“Idon’t remember dismissing you,” Kaysar called, making her stop dead. He nodded at her back, dismissing, “Goahead.”

Namirhurried out to the deck, closing the doors behind her and leaned back againstthe wood, rubbing her cheek again as she managed to keep tears from forming inher eyes.

Somethingwas wrong. This wasn’t like Kaysar. Conspiracy theories, suspecting his friendswithout any proof of fault…and that slap he’d given her. Namir continued rubbing her cheek at thememory. They had always been frank witheach other, even in front of the crew. She had always voiced her opinion, getting into shouting matches with himmore often than not. What would make himlash out at her that way?

“MissNassar!”

Shewas snapped from her thoughts and looked up to see one of the men headingtoward her.

“Iseverything alright?” he asked.

Namirstraightened and cleared her throat to nod, “Captain says I’m to take a shoreparty and search for General Elias Blackwood and Zoey Walsh. Assemble ten men into the long boat. We start in Edan.”

Centaur Camp in Roch...

“Tellme, Zoey, do you ride?” Hernewondered as he, Zoey and Elias sat in the field several yards from the camp.

“Ride?”Zoey wondered with a frown as she sat as she sat next to Elias. “You mean, riding a horse? No, I don’t know how to ride a horse.”

“Well,then we shall have to teach you,” Hernegrinned, standing and clopping toward her, his hands outstretched to help herup. “You will be taught this moment andI will not take no for an answer.”

“A-Alright,”Zoey sputtered, taking his hands to let him help her stand as Eliasstraightened, glancing between them.

Herne took her waist into his hands andturned to set her on his back, making Elias jumped to his feet as the centaurtrotted off with a surprised Zoey on his back.

“Herne!” Zoeysqueaked. “What are you doing?!”

“Anactual horse would be too complicated,” he explained. “It’s better this way. Now, use my shoulders to guide me.”

Zoeyswallowed as he stopped, waiting for her to guide him and she cautiously placedher hands on his shoulders.

“Now,kick your heels a bit,” he instructed.

Zoeydid as she was told and he began walking.

“Tryturning me.”

Zoeytugged on his shoulders to turn him all the way around…just in time to seeElias riding his own horse toward them, an angry glare in his eyes.

“Itis far more appropriate for the Enuria to learn horseback riding on the back ofa horse, not a centaur!” he snapped, as he dismounted and pulled Zoey off of Herne’s back. He lifted Zoey onto Phantom’s back and placedthe reins in her hands.

“Squeezeyour legs to make him go,” Elias instructed. “Keep your heels down and your elbows in.”

“That’sa lot to remember,” Zoey muttered. “Can’t Hernejust—?”

“No!”he snapped, making Zoey look at him with wide eyes. “Iwill teach you what needs to be taught. Now, to make him walk, squeeze your legs.”

Zoeysighed with a nod and did as she was told. Phantom began a slow walk and Zoey couldn’t help but grin at thesatisfaction of doing something like this herself.

“Usethe reins to turn him,” Elias called and she turned the horse to theright. “Sit up straight! I told you to keep your heels down!”

“Dothis, do that…I’m not one of his soldiers,” Zoey muttered.

“It’sthe only way you’ll learn how to ride me properly.”

“Iknow, but—”

Zoeystopped herself, her eyes widening as she looked down at the house.

“Whoa,wait a minute,” she breathed, pulling back on the reins to stop him then leanedover to look at the horse.

“Youtalk?!”

“Oh,bullocks,” Phantom muttered. “I wasn’tsupposed to. Do me a favor and don’ttell Elias. I promised him I wouldn’t talkaround you.”

“Phantom!”Elias shouted, marching toward them. “You promised!”

“Bloodyhell,” Phantom muttered as Zoey sat up, looking at Elias.

“Youpromised—!”

“Iknow, Elias. I’m sorry!” Phantomexasperated.

“Noyou’re not!” Elias snapped.

“AmI missing something here?” Zoey wondered. “When did the horse become capable of speech?”

“Allthe horses can take here,” Elias replied, dismissively. “And some of them can’t keep their mouths shut!”

“Hey! I held out as long as I could!” the horsereplied. “It wasn’t easy, either!”

“I’meither going to faint of shock or burst into laughter,” Zoey stated, flatlythen looked to Elias to ask, “Do any otheranimals talk in this place?”

“Justhorses,” Elias replied.

“Goodto know,” Zoey nodded. “Dare I ask if weshould get on with the lesson?”

“Maybewe should take a break?” Elias sighed then held his arms out to her. “Off the talking horse.”

Zoeygiggled and swung her legs to one side and slid into Elias’s arms. Their eyes locked and Zoey couldn’t help butdrop her gaze to his lips.

“Later,Angel,” he murmured with a smirk, reading the look in her eyes. “Not in front of my horse.”

“Youknow I don’t care,” Phantom retorted. “Go ahead and kiss your woman.”

Zoeyblushed and laughed nervously as Elias glared at the horse as she whispered,“Yeah, we’ll wait until we’re alone.”

Meanwhile...

“Namir!”Varen grinned, arms outstretched. “Whatbrings you to Edan?”

Namirstrode toward him, stone faced with ten of Kaysar’s crew behind her. Varen frowned in confusion at her and let hisarms fall to his sides.

“What’swrong?” he wondered as they stopped in front of each other.

“Whereare General Blackwood and the Enuria?” she demanded.

“I’mnot sure,” Varen replied, still frowning.

“Don’tlie to me, Varen,” Namir warned. “Hetells you everything.”

Shedrew her sword, slowly as Varen did the same and they pointed their blades ateach other as their men drew their swords as well.

“Youknow where he’s taken Zoey,” she continued. “I have orders from the King to replace them.”

“Whatfor?” Varen questioned. “Why would theKing send you with ten of his men?”

“Theyare accused of conspiring against the King,” Namir replied.

“GeneralBlackwood would never do that!” Varenground out. “What proof do you have?!”

“Whatdifference does it make?!” she snarled.

“Withall due respect, the King must’ve been drank a bit too much rum,” he snapped.

“Whereis Blackwood?!”

“You’llhave to torture me to get it out ofme!”

“Enough!”Quinto shouted, stepping between the two of them. “This is exactlywhat Jellina wants! To try to kill each other and cause perfect chaos for her to rule over! Now, we are going to go into Varen’s tent anddiscuss this matter.”

Varenand Namir lowered their swords to sheath them as Quinto gestured the two ofthem to follow him into the tent and as they entered, he stood himself in acorner as Varen and Namir stood on opposite sides of the table in it.

“I’msorry, Varen,” Namir sighed, sitting in the chair on her side of thetable. “I had to put on a show for themen.”

“Iunderstand,” Varen nodded, sitting in the chair on his side as well. “Now, tell me what’s happened? You and I bothknow that neither General Blackwood nor Miss Zoey would do what His Majesty hasaccused them of. What proof does hehave?”

“None,”Namir replied. “He has a feeling, that’s all. This isn’t like him, Varen. There’s something wrong with him, as if he’sunder a spell.”

“Aspell?” Quinto echoed, stepping next to her. “How is he acting?”

“He’sacting…like a tyrant,” she replied, then moved some of her hair back to showoff her cheek and the bruise forming on it. “He slapped me for voicing my opinion. He’s never done that. We’ve always been frank with one another.”

“Thatdoesn’t sound like Kaysar,” Quintoagreed. “How long has this been goingon?”

“Itstarted this morning. We have to do something. There’s something very wrong.”

“Nodoubt,” Varen agreed with a nod. “Wehave to tell the general and Miss Zoey. They should be in Roch by now.”

“LieutenantGeneral Fry?”

Alleyes shot to the entrance of the tent to see a griffin stepping through theopening.

“Velaro?”Quinto frowned in wonder. “What are youdoing here?”

“Iflew in earlier,” he explained. “I heardwhat’s happened. What would you like meto tell General Blackwood?”

Sunset...

“It’syour own fault, Elias,” Zoey scolded as she dabbed a cut on his cheek with adamp cloth.

“Hehad no right to do it,” Elias shot back as they sat on the bank of a smallriver.

Eliashad a fat lip and rubbed his jaw to relieve the soreness in it. His hair and clothes were disheveled, makingit obvious that he’d been in a fight.

“Elias,he wasn’t going to do anything and you know it,” Zoey sighed, still cleaninghis cut. “He just wanted to show me a bitof the countryside.”

“Centaursare always up to no good,” Eliasretorted. “They’re mischievous.”

“Muchlike mermaids, hm?” Zoey jabbed with a smirk.

“Mermaidsare different,” he argued.

“Yeah,they can’t stomp you to death,” shechuckled.

Eliasglared at her as she only smirked and shook her head as she dipped the clothinto the river.

“Although,I do like the fact that you were trying to defend my honor,” she murmured,making him look at her with wide eyes, filled with surprise. “It makes you even more attractive to me. Just…try not to get yourself beat up again.”

Eliaschuckled then winced in pain and touched his left side, groaning, “I think I’vebroken a rib or two.”

Zoeypulled his hand away and replaced it with her own, gently as she smiled, “I’llheal it. Stay still.”

Cneasaigh

Silverlight flashed from her hand and Elias straightened as she pulled her handaway. Smiling down at her, he wrappedhis arm around her as she grinned back.

“Thankyou, Angel,” he whispered, closing in on her.

“You’rewelcome,” she giggled, unmoving as her gaze fell to his lips.

“Hebrushed his lips against hers, gently as Zoey closed her eyes and he pressedhis lips to hers fully.

Hegroaned softly in pain at his swollen lips but didn’t pull away, making Zoey’seyes shoot open in realization. Just asshe remembered his lip was swollen, a ping of silver light flashed betweentheir mouths. Elias’s eyes opened insurprise as he slowly pulled away to stare at her in awe.

“Howdid you do that?” he breathed, touching his lip.

“Iremembered that your lip was swollen, that’s all,” she shrugged. “I guess…my desire to heal you was strongenough that I didn’t need to say the spell aloud.”

“Youare growing very powerful, Angel,” he smiled, slipping both of his arms aroundher to hug her close. “The only othermagic wielder that can do that is Jellina.”

“Really?”she murmured, snuggling against his chest and sighing in thought.

Eliaslooked down at her and tugged on her chin to bring her gaze to his, closing inon her again. Zoey smiled and closed hereyes again, tilting her head back a bit. He stopped short when she closed her eyes, stroking her cheek with theback of his fingers, making her smile as he stared at her for a moment.

If only I could tell you my truefeelings, Angel, hethought to himself. I want to tell you I love you. Iwant you to stay with me…forever.

“Elias?”Zoey breathed, her eyes open as she frowned up at him, jolting him from histhoughts. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,Zoey,” he smiled warmly, hugging her a little closer. “I was just thinking of telling yousomething, but I’ll tell you another time.”

“Whycan’t you tell me now?” Zoey wondered.

“BecauseI’m waiting for the right moment,” he explained, nuzzling his cheek to hers andmaking her giggle before he kissed her lips, tenderly.

“Singfor me, Angel,” he whispered. “I haven’theard you since we were in Edan.”

“Thatwas yesterday,” she giggled, playing with some of his disheveled hair. She frowned when she felt something foreignin his hair and pulled out a twig. Stillfrowning, she flicked it away and turned her attention back to Elias.

“Well,I haven’t heard you since yesterday,” he agreed. “I want to hear you sing every day.”

“Everyday?” Zoey laughed. “You’ll get tired ofit.”

“Never,”he nearly growled. “Sing for me, Angel.”

“Whatwould you like to hear, my Masked Knight?” she sighed, contentedly.

“Anythingyou wish,” he whispered, gliding his fingertips over her neck, making hershiver.

“Elias?”she breathed.

“Yes?”he murmured.

“Ifthis is a dream, just tell me. “I’m sickof trying to guess.”

“No,dear,” he smirked. “This is no dream, Iassure you.”

“Ifeel like it is sometimes,” she sighed, leaning her head on his chest.

Eliasstared at her in wonder, noting her serious tone and tilted her chin up to meethis gaze again and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Ifeel like this is all a dream that I can’t wake up from, and I’m not sure if I want to,” she explained. “When I’m with you, I hope I never wakeup. But when I remember what I have todo I just want to wake up to stop it. Elias, I’m so confused and afraid. What if I can’t beat Jellina? What if I fail and she ends up ruling Kalina and plunging it intodarkness? I’m going to fail, Elias! Just like everything else, this will be oneof my failures!”

Zoeycouldn’t stop her tears from falling as Elias gathered her into his arms,holding her close as she sobbed into his chest as he stroked a soothing handdown her hair and back.

“Youwon’t fail, Angel,” Elias murmured into her ear. “You are nofailure. I have faith in you. All of Kalina has faith in you. We know you will succeed and all will beright. It’s going to be alright. I’ll help you. You won’t have to do this alone.”

“No,”Zoey shuddered, shaking her head and looking up at him. “If I go up against Jellina, I have to goalone. I won’t let you get hurt orkilled trying to help me. I can’t…loseyou.”

“ButZoey, you can’t do this alone,” heinsisted. “Don’t you understand, mydear?” He lifted one of her hands in hisand entwined his fingers with hers. “Only together are we strongenough to defeat any opponent. Together we can defeat Jellina. I promise you, we will not fail.”

Zoeystudied Elias’s face then looked deep into his eyes, realizing that arguingwould do her no good she nodded with a sniffle and a smile. Elias sighed in relief and pulled her closeagain so she could snuggle into his chest with a smile of contentment.

“Trustme, Angel,” he whispered. “This dreamwill have a happy ending.”

“Aslong as you’re there with me, my MaskedKnight,” she smiled before looking up at him again.

Hismouth pressed against hers as they both shut their eyes, pulling each other alittle closer. His tongue coaxed her togive him entrance into her mouth and she opened with a moan to let him begin aslow tender exploration of her mouth as she ran her fingers through his hair,his hands holding her close by her back. Zoey moaned in approval when he beckoned her tongue into his mouth bystroking it with his, softly. Her tongueslid into his mouth and he didn’t hesitate to begin sucking on it, making hergive a high pitched moan of surprise, but she didn’t pull away.

Theyboth pulled away slowly, forced to breathe and Zoey sighed just as Elias triedto tempt her again by nipping at her lower lip. She giggled and shook her head.

“It’sdark,” she whispered. “We should headback and get to sleep. I have a feelingwe’re going somewhere else tomorrow,considering you got into a fight with one of Herne’s soldiers.”

Eliasgroaned in disappointment as Zoey pushed away from him to stand. He tried to pull her back but she gentlypulled away.

“Elias,please,” she giggled. “I’m tired.”

“Inthat case…”

Eliasstood and pulled Zoey to her feet before sweeping her off her feet as shewrapped her arms around his neck.

“Elias—?!”

“I’llcarry you so that you do not get any moretired. We can’t have you exhausted,” hesmiled.

“You’reso thoughtful,” she smiled cutely, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“Don’tthink I haven’t forgotten that I requested you to sing for me,” Elias smirked,making Zoey sigh and snuggle her face into the crook of his neck.

“Firstthing in the morning, Elias,” she yawned. “I promise.”