The journey continued, and Ayesha remained flushed, still reeling from what had happened between her and Alaric while riding the horse. She couldn't fully comprehend how she had climaxed so unexpectedly just like that, but it wasn't that she didn't enjoy it. She had. She just couldn't stop feeling mortified about it.
They stopped briefly for lunch in a quiet part of the forest, and Ayesha couldn't help but notice how well Alaric and Lyra were getting along. He was gently peeling roasted meat and deboning fish for the girl, placing the best parts on her plate with care.
'Is he doing all this because he feels guilty for killing my brother?' she wondered. It was the only reason that made sense to her—why else would Alaric want to adopt Lyra and declare her as his daughter legally?
[Stop assuming and try asking him directly,] Shah scoffed in her mind.
