He glanced over at her as she fed Nerezza, amusement flickering through his eyes at her apparent happiness at feeding the horse.<span style="color: #BF0000">"Of course she likes you Aria,"</span>His voice was highly matter-of-fact as he spoke,<span style="color: #BF0000">"it's nearly impossible not to."</span>As he said this he shot her a smile and tugged at a lock of her hair. Xander had never been able to resist the urge to tug her hair when it arose; her hair was simply too tuggable.<br/><br/>Nerezza whinnied in agreement and pawed the ground lightly with a hoof, her immense weight shifting so she could lean farther forward to sniff at Aria's face. She had seemingly finished her apple and was more than likely out to get more sweet treats from the girl. Alexander glanced around the stables while petting Reaper, noticing a few glances from the stable hands that appeared to be a mixture of hatred and awe. Nothing he didn't expect. He was, after all, not only from the rival kingdom but the prince of said rival kingdom. It probably didn't boost the likelihood of making friends, which was low anyway being that he didn't make a habit of making friends.<br/><br/>And then... her voice brought his attention back to her.<span style="color: #BF0000">"A million and two reasons that would bore you to death Aria. Lets see... there was the girlfriend hell bent on killing me,"</span>He grinned with a twinkle that flashed through his eye that said that was probably a joke... maybe.<span style="color: #BF0000">"Then there's my horridly over bearing mother. 'Alexander, darling, kill this maid i believe she stole some of my jewels', 'Alexander you were hit once in training with the wooden sword... you get fifty lashes...', 'oh Alexanderrr, be a dear and go make the smith give me my new crown, would you?',"</span>He mocked his mother's rather cold voice quite accurately.<span style="color: #BF0000">"I really didn't put much thought into it. It was spur of the moment. Threw some stuff in bags and took off with my horses..."</span>Patting Reaper's nose he looked thoughtful, then shrugged as if the topic was sensitive, something that upset him, and changed the topic.<span style="color: #BF0000">"Enough about me, princess, what about you. Has life been peaches and cream without me? I bet it hasn't..."</span>A teasing grin broke out on his face,<span style="color: #BF0000">"I bet you miiissseddd me."</span>