We're in the middle of a hallway on the second floor and I'm surprised I didn't fall on the way down the stairs. His arms come around me tightly in the hallway and despite the guards that are passing us on their rotations that bow even though we aren't even concentrated on them he kisses me again with one hand caressing my cheek. "I just want you to be happy." Once again his brow furrows and when my hand raise to rub against the skin trying to even out the lines I feel the warm tangling sensation of the sparks move through me. If I didn't have the sparks I don't think I would be able to be as close to him as what I am. "I'm ok," He shakes his head and I feel like I need to pull back away from him with how easily he could read that actually wasn't ok with the way that I had suddenly closed up over something I couldn't get my finger on. "Come on," he says again tugging my hand but not actually moving me from my spot. Sighing I allow him to walk us out to the open lawn of the back garden with a brisk pace that I can actually keep up with. Once on the lawn Ryder disappears into the barn and I can hear the horse neighing. I don't know what he's doing but I turn admiring the castle that is now my home from the distance down the lawn. The thick and sturdy walls that are made of sand stone are tall and reach up taller than what I thought they would have. And the blue tiled spires contrast perfectly with gold the golden window frames and points of the spires that are of the shape of a wolf up on its hind legs and its mouth open in a growl. When I feel the small wet pressure against my lower back I jump slightly and turn to whatever had pocked me. I hadn't prepared myself to turn and look up into the hazel eyes of my mate that was surrounded by a short but still smooth looking fur. Moving my hand up I lace my hand through the fur of his muzzle. The fur is shorter around his face but lengthens out from his neck down but it's still smooth and tickles my skin. When I let out a small laugh all the thoughts and worries are gone before I can see the happiness that's in his eyes and I'm even surprised when his tongue extends out slightly to give a small yet slobbery kiss to the tip of my nose. Like he did when I first saw him in the form of his wolf his front legs stretch out in front of him his head tilting downwards as he nudges at the side of my thigh telling me silently to get on. Running my hand through the thick fluff of the salt and peppered fur, the soft fur tickles against my skin and even it causes sparks to run through me. These fell stronger though, it's almost a direct contact with his wolf. Sighing I do as his requests and manage to throw my leg over his back despite the towering height of him. Unlike before when I first had the chance to do this I actually have time to admire the comforting feel that it gives me. That something so dangerous could be so protective of me. 'Wrap your arms around my neck and lean forward,' I hear his voice echo through my mind and I do as he says. 'Close your eyes and leave your mind open, I want to show you something.' When I press my chest against his neck and lock my hands into the fur to hold myself to him. The second I close my eyes and I let out a deep exhale of breathe his fur moving with it, Ryder starts to run and he runs fast. I can feel the wind whipping though my hair and I'm glad he told me to leave these clothes on because there protecting me from the splintering air. With my eyes closed Ryder is allowing me to see through his eyes and I'm surprised by the clarity of the tress that should be blurring around us but I can still every single little detail of the bark and I can even hear the impacts of the animals around us and it seems that they're running close beside us even though I can't see another fleck of fur around us. He's beginning to slow now and when he stops I lift my head and let the crisp blue of the lake he had stopped in front of be seen through my own eyes. Ryder lowers himself again and I slowly slide off him with a hand still locked into the fur of his neck. He's taller than a horse and built nearly double the size of one. My hand slips from his neck and he turns away from me heading behind a tree. I take a step forward my feet climbing up the roots of the tree that stretch over the water and carefully sit down on it my now bare feet just dangling over the edge hanging barley an inch over the crystal clear still water. The bond I have with Ryder is strong and I don't jump like I would have when comes up to sit behind me with me positioned between his legs as he wraps a thick wool blanket around me. The shirt I have on doesn't cover my shoulder blades and I can feel the warm skin of his chest pressed against me as he holds the blanket around the both of us primarily to keep me warm other than him. Ryder was right. I had worked myself up in that room and I allow myself to breathe in the open arm and lean back into the warm tingles of my mate as I watch as he allows his long legs to disturb the previously stilled water. "Is this on the castle's land?" I ask after a while, turning my head to look up at him. "It's not, but it is a piece of land I own." He wraps his arms tighter around me when a small shiver goes through me. "It's my getaway, I've never bought anyone here before and the guards practice fighting in there wolf form in the forest back there so no tourists can see it." "Why did you bring me here than if you've never bought anyone else before." "It's not my getaway anymore." He says quietly above my ear causing a different involuntary shiver to run through me. "I have someone else to calm my mind now and I thought that someone one should see this since they haven't yet grown comfortable enough to have me as there escape." Looking down I see that the water has stilled around his legs. He's stilled and I can feel the block he has put up but I don't need to see into his mind to know that he doubts himself and our bond. "Ryder," I say quietly but he doesn't flinch a muscle, "Ryder, sweetheart," his eyes slide down to mine now and the corner of his mouth twitches up slightly.