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"I can hide them, it's just a bit painful." He said, arching his back and slowly retracting his wings, small scars being the only sign of them ever being there. He squezzed his eyes shut during the process, barely keeping from crying out in pain and gony. In truth, it felt like they were being ripped from his back, but he hid that from Adele. "See?" He said through gritted teeth
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Adele watched Caelan retract his wings, though there was something wrong about it. She bit her lip, worried. "I just... I don't think it's worth it. You should be who you are, and not hide that. But like I said, I don't think they would ever accept you." Then she thought to herself, Just like they'd never accept me if they knew... Adele shook off the thought and looked at Caelan. "Let's focus on the present. Right now I'm here. You're here. We're not in that much danger. What should we do?"
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"I don't know" He said, shrugging and moving to flop on his bed. "Oh, we could go back to the spot?" He offered, leaping up. "We can stay there tonight"
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Adele laughed nervously. "I mean, if you think sleeping outside is safe... I'd be up for it."
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"It's perfectly safe with me there...Unless...you don't want to?" He offered, worried she'd tell him to stop fantasizing and go to bed as he watches her leave.
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"I think you're getting a little hot-headed now!" Adele said, laughing. "But no, I do want to. It sounds peaceful. I loved sleeping under the stars when I was younger..." Adele faded into a memory, where she and Alban were laying under the stars in the garden, pointing out constellations and telling each other stories.
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Caelan, excited, grabbed a blanket and gently grabbed her hand. He snatched a coupl snacks as they passed the kitche and led her to the stables, easily tacking up both horses and mounting up onto Aurora. "C'mon" He said excitedly, loping off toward the spot
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Adele, surprised at Caelan's speed, followed him quickly, laughing a little. She was settled in the saddle, ready to go, when Aurora and the prince took off at a canter. Surprised again, Adele urged Calvin to follow. He was all too willing to obey, and went a little faster then Adele had asked, but she didn't really care. Once she had caught up to Caelan, she checked Calvin so that they were running alongside each other. Adele was glad she had put her hair up and not left it down, as it would have gotten crazy tangled. Adele relished the wind in her face and the feeling of Calvin, hardly touching the ground as he ran, underneath her.
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Caelan laughed, a true and carefree laugh that echoed through the valley beside them. He pulled up Aurora once they got there, the mare still excited and tossing her head. "Good girl" He said, patting her neck and dismounting. He laid out one of the two blankets he'd brought and flopped down onto it after untacking his horse and Adele's. He patted the spot besidehim, inviting her to lay beside him
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Calvin had some trouble slowing down after the run, he loved getting to canter, but it didn't take long for him to stop. Adele slid off him and helped Caelan untack the horses. She wanted to prove that she was capable of actually doing things. Adele walked to the blanket and lay back, propping herself up on her elbows. The sun had already set, but a few rays of light still peeked over the horizon. Birds flew in the darkening sky and crickets had already started their annual nighttime serenade. Adele sighed, breathing in the cool air. She had brought an extra blanket just in case she got cold, though she doubted it would get too chilly. Adele gazed down towards the ocean and could almost smell the salty air. "You know," She said wistfully, "I've never actually been to the beach."
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