Chapter 18

**Odette’s point of view: Making new friends and sharing confessions. **

Without moving a muscle, midnight immediately started to sniff and take in my scent. I held in my breath for a few seconds, before he finally lowered his head and ate the sugar cube out of my hand.

I let out a giggle when he licked my hand clean and nodded his head up and down.

Alex let out a satisfied chuckle from behind me.

Alexander: “He accepts and likes you and wants you to give him another treat!”

Alex came up next to me and gave me another sugar cube, which I then held out to midnight. I smiled and giggled when the horse made that cute noises again, after he took the cube out of my hand.

Alexander: “Now that the two of you are friends, we can go to a place that is very special to me. I have waited all night to finally show it to you.”

I nervously glanced up at Alex, when I realized that he is expecting both of us to ride on his horse’s back…

Odette: “I have never ridden on a horse before, are we both going to fit on his back?”

Alexander: “Don’t worry Odette, you are in safe hands with me and midnight and there’s more than enough space for the both of us.”

With a large grin on his face, he took hold of the saddle and pulled himself up onto the horse’s back, in a very quick and sleek movement.

I stared at him in amazement; for a very tall and muscular man, he moves unusually fast!

Alexander: “See, it’s not so hard.”

He said with a bright smile on his face, which made me feel considerably less frightened and a lot more confident. So, in return I nodded my head in agreement and flashed a warm smile back at him. He then reached out his arm to me and without a second thought I grabbed hold of his large hand and he pulled me up and placed me in front of him on the saddle.

In a matter of seconds, I was sitting in the saddle with my back pressed tightly against his chest and with my legs dangling from both sides of the horse!

Alexander: “Hold on tightly with both hands to the horned shaped pommel, sticking out of the front of the saddle and just enjoy the ride.”

Not knowing what to say at that moment, I just silently nodded my head again. Alex then wrapped both his arms around my waist and took hold of the reins. With his large hands he gently pulled on the bridle and midnight immediately started to move forward.

Alex skilfully lead the horse on a path in the direction of a large forest near the castle. When we entered the forest, the horse’s pace changed into a quick gallop.

I just held on tighter to the pommel and enjoyed my first horse riding experience, with Alex holding me securely against his muscular chest.

After a while of riding through the thick snow and frozen white forest, we finally reached a clearing, where you can see the full moon in all her glory and beauty.

Alex pulled in the reins a little and midnight started to walk slower. When I lowered my gaze from the moon, a magical scenery unfolded in front of me.

We came to a stop in front of a large, beautiful frozen lake, surrounded by rocks and snow-covered trees and beautiful mountains rising from behind the lake.

Alex slowly climbed down from the horse’s back and when I turned to face him, he reached out his arms to me and carefully helped me slide off midnight’s large back.

Alex slowly let go of my waist, when I was securely standing on the ground, next to him.

Alexander: “This is my secret oasis, where I come to think and get away from everything.”

Odette: “It is really beautiful Alex, thank you for bringing me here.”

Alex suddenly turned his head to directly face me and had a very serious expression on his face. He then took both my hands in his, before speaking again.

Alexander: “I brought you here to tell you the truth about who and what I really am.”

Alexander: “You know me as Alex, but my full name is actually Alexander Nikolai Vladimir and Xavier isn’t just my close and most trusted friend, he’s also my second in command, General of my military.”

My eyes widened and the blood drained from my face as I took a step away from him.

He is the Emperor…

Finally, everything started to make sense to me. I now understand why Xavier always greets his friend formally and with so much admiration and respect.

I also grasp why I couldn’t figure out his origin, because he’s half fairy and half vampire!