The voice stopped her mid-stride. Honeycutt’s eyes widened briefly as they moved toward the painted stallion. He had never so much as harmed her or attempted to uncover where she kept hers and Osmanthus’s newest daughter, but something about him frightened her. It was the way he looked at her and the way he held himself, the smug arrogance that reminded her of those back home who had constantly attempted to seize their power by lesser means. It had been some time since Honeycutt thought of her home and of the situation which had driven her from it.

Why him, anyway? Khyber asked, and Honeycutt’s eyes nervously looked down, rather than at him and her lips remained still. She swallowed back against the lump threatening to rise in her throat and told herself to be strong. If not for Osmanthus, for their daughter.

Why Osmanthus? He had been the first bit of peace she had found after her world was torn asunder. He had been so alike Louis, her former guard, that she had automatically attached to him. His past behavior these last few years had been very unalike Louis, given how little he paid mind to Honeycutt’s whereabouts and safety, but she still knew that warm, caring guardian she had found years ago on the Harbor shores was there. The man who’d promised to keep her safe was still present he was just… buried under sorrows.

“No,” Honeycutt said quickly after Khyber insinuated she had wanted to be here, then flushed with embarrassment briefly and as soon as she’d managed to look at him, she was nervously looking away again. “I mean, I’m sure this place is very lovely… for you…and for your… friends.” She struggled. As always, Honeycutt was only kind when she spoke. “It’s um, it’s just not the right place for me.”

It wasn’t the place for Osmanthus, either, but she did not have the first clue how she could get him to see that or how she could even manage to take him away from this place. A part of her was beginning to fear he was too far gone from her now. He had saved her when she needed him, but Honeycutt’s guilt was growing, realizing she wasn’t strong enough to save him when he needed her.

“Sorry, I should go-” she bit out quickly and started walking as if she was going to try and skirt around him, awkwardly trying to slip away from the conversation or having to spend any one-on-one time with the bachelor stallion.