--Alexandria POV--
"I'll see you tomorrow then," I waved after the teenage prince as he walked back into the palace with Ryder still comfortably sat on my shoulder.
"What do you say we go laze about in that willow tree while we wait for dinner time?" I mumbled to Ryder once Darius was out of sight, gesturing towards the said willow tree that stood not far from the porch that I was stood on.
He squawked his agreement, fluttering his wings and jumping off my shoulder, already flying towards the said tree.
I moved to follow after him but got distracted by a familiar voice.
"How did the meeting go?"
I gasped, spinning around to glare at Val but tripped on one of the stairs I was standing too close to and almost fell back, waiting for the impact but finding that it never came.
Instead,
