you and I both know that the house is haunted
and you and I both know that the ghost is me
His smile was kind, if a bit crooked.
Sensing her discomfort, he ignored his own and folded his legs, gently bringing his well-muscled frame down to the ground to rest beside her. He figured it would be easier to get her bearings if she was looking at him evenly instead of craning her neck up to him and staring at the sun on his back. “There’s no need to apologize,” he said quietly, tilting his heavy-jawed face to the side to look at her better. “It is not as if you had purposefully tripped and fallen. I am just glad to know that you are okay. It did not look pleasant.”
For a moment, silence reigns between them, giving Magnus a chance to catch his breath, ink-dipped ears flicking back and forth atop his head—more out of habit than nerves. He was far too trained to ever fully relax when in a vulnerable position like this. Not that predators tended to make it this far to the field, but one never knew—especially with all of the tensions that had recently run rampant between the kingdoms.
Bringing his attention back toward her, his smile deepened. “Nastartia,” he repeated, giving his tongue a chance to acquaint itself with the unusual syllables. “That is a unique name. A truly beautiful one.” He was not prone to large amounts of flattery, but he was an honest stallion, and not against speaking his mind when he thought it. “My name is Magnus.” Snorting lightly against the light pollen in the air, he continued. “So what brings you to the field?” He gave a roguish grin. “Other than impeccable company.”
MAGNUS
once general. once lord. once king.
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