Crow sighed when Penelope turned him down and shifted on the bed to let her put some distance between them. Though he still believed they had more than enough time to enjoy the morning together, he knew there would be no changing her mind now that she’d made it up. It would be more efficient to just get up and keep moving rather than pester her any further. So, instead of insisting on his own way, he merely gave a reluctant nod when she kissed him on the cheek and sat up with her.

“Alright, fine,” he conceded, standing up to gather his clothes from where he’d left them haphazardly on the floor the previous night. “But now you owe me one, so don’t forget it.” He winked at her teasingly as he slipped his pants back on and picked up his tunic. Despite the reason for the trip and the unwarranted stares of the noble bystanders, he was already enjoying having so much time alone with Penelope. It was the first time in a while that they’d been able to talk and act so freely without fear of being caught by someone who didn’t know they were together or reprimanded by someone who did. He was glad that his father had permitted her to come with him, since it was his approval that had allowed them to have this time alone to begin with.

After taking a moment to straighten out his clothing, Crow leaned against the edge of the bed to put on his boots and grabbed the bag that the king had given him, slinging it over his shoulder so it fell comfortably against his back. “Ready to go, love?” he asked, turning to Penelope with a grin when he’d finished everything he’d needed to do.