by Alice Wilde
“Just a moment, miss,” Ava says as she quickly steps from my room.
A few minutes later she returns, Li, Ero, and Roan following close behind.
“I see they’ve already got you touting their dress,” Ero says.
“Shut up, Ero. She looks lovely in it,” says Roan.
“I never said she didn’t,” Ero grumbles back.
“I’m happy to see you’re safe,” Li says.
“Me too,” I say.
“Shall we?”
Roan steps forward, offering his arm to me, and I take it. Ava curtseys and goes back inside my room to clear away my breakfast.
“Lead the way,” says Ero.
Roan guides us expertly through the winding halls and stairways back to the Great Hall. The castle is a far cheerier place than it was the day before. Fires, candles, and torches have been lit to illuminate almost every nook and cranny, bringing life and warmth back to the castle.
Upon entering the Great Hall, we’re greeted by an even larger gathering of people than the day before. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they had been waiting for us. Fiona and Neil are seated in their thrones toward the front of the room, chatting and laughing together. One of the guards announces our arrival and they turn their heads to look at us as we approach.
“I hope you slept well,” Fiona says once we are standing before her.
“Yes, thank you,” Li says
“As well as can be expected after a night in a dungeon,” Ero mumbles, but only loud enough for us to hear.
“Good,” Neil says. “Fiona has told me there are some matters we need to address with you, Roan. The first is that of lairdship.”
Roan steps forward and I let go of his arm to stand back with Li and Ero.
“I spent a great deal of time thinking over the idea last night,” Roan says, pausing for a moment before continuing, “and I concluded that I will accept lairdship over Clan Artair.”
The people filling the room cheer.
“However, I have a condition.”
“Which is?” Neil says.
“I will accept lairdship if I am given five years to fulfill my other vows. In that time, I will appoint Neil as the acting laird.”
Fiona leans in toward Neil and they whisper between each other for a moment before looking back toward Roan.
“I believe it is an acceptable compromise and should be good enough to keep our truce with the Fae as well,” says Neil. “Now, there is one other affair we must discuss—your marriage.”
Surprised whispers titter through the hall, and I see Li and Ero share a confused glance with each other.
“My wife revealed to me that you have announced your intention to wed to the lass here with you.”
“What?” Li growls in a low whisper.
“He’s joking, right?” says Ero.
Roan swallows hard before speaking. “Yes, that is my intent. I’ve already pledged myself to her under Fae law.”
Ero steps forward, but Li pulls him back, holding him in place.
“Do you also intend to marry her by Scottish rule?” Neil says.
“Yes, I do.”
“Very well, then. As acting laird, it is my duty to permit or deny the marriage. However, seeing as we do not know this woman, or where she comes from, I will give you three days to convince us to allow the marriage. If you are unable to do so within that time, we will choose a more suitable woman for you as your wife.”
“If I can’t marry her, I won’t marry at all,” Roan says.
“Nonsense,” Fiona says, rising from her throne. “You’ve given my husband the authority to act as laird for the next five years, so you’ll do exactly as he says and nothing less when it comes to the future of this clan. You’ll marry who you must and your wife will bear children until Clan Artair has a male heir to ensure the people’s safety.”
I’m shocked Roan doesn’t say anything, but merely bows his head and turns back toward us. He takes my hand and leads me out of the Great Hall. I can feel the eyes watching us as we leave—none more so than Li and Ero, who are following close behind.
We don’t stop walking until we are alone in the castle courtyard.
“What the hell was that?” Ero snaps.
“Roan, explain. Now,” Li says, his usually commanding voice wavering ever so slightly.
Roan bites his lip nervously. “I was afraid something like this might happen.”
“The part about you marrying Annalise? Or the fact that we’d find out?” Ero growls.
“I knew you’d find out eventually, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.”
“You’re not marrying her,” Li says. “We already have enough trouble without adding a second marriage into it.”
“We’re already married,” Roan says quietly.
Li’s face is expressionless. He spins around, his shoulders tense as he tries to compose himself.
Ero leaps at Roan, his hand clamping down on Roan’s throat.
“What the hell do you mean?”
“Ero, don’t!” I say.
Roan remains calm, looking Ero dead in the eye. “We were married in the Fae courts. There was nothing I could do about it.”
“So, that’s why you took her, is it? Are you working with Damien, too?”
“Ero, it wasn’t like that, I promise,” I say.
“Quiet, princess. Let Roan save his own skin.”
“I swear I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have taken her if I did.”
Li slowly turns back to face us. “Does this mean our efforts have been in vain?” He tries not to look at me, but his eyes flicker toward me, and it dawns on me what he means.
“We didn’t have to consummate it,” I say quietly, my face growing hot. “The Fae court didn’t require anything more than a vow.”
“A vow is a powerful thing, princess, especially when magic is involved,” Ero says, letting go of Roan but shoving him as he begins to pace.
“What were the terms of the vow?” Li says.
“To follow Annalise for the rest of my days, and to be true to her and her alone.”
Li frowns, thinking.
“It’s not nearly as bad as I thought. More like a puppy to his master,” Li finally says, his words careful but sharp.
The remark is surprisingly backhanded for Li, and I can sense his bitterness. Or perhaps his jealousy.
“Okay, fine. Now, what is Fiona saying about making it official? How does she even know about any of this?”
Roan glances over at me and I shake my head, but he just gives me an apologetic shrug.
“She walked in on something I didn’t expect her to see.”
“Which was…?”
Roan runs his hand through his red hair. “I was in bed with Annalise.”
“What?” Ero roars, throwing himself at Roan again.
They hit the ground hard. Li jumps to move me out of harm’s way and then forces them to separate, but not before Ero manages to land a punch.
“Stop, both of you,” Li growls.
“Don’t you realize how much danger you’ve put us in?”
“We weren’t consummating the marriage,” Roan says, wiping blood from his mouth.
Ero yanks himself from Li and stalks off toward the castle. I want to chase after him to make sure he’s okay, but Li stops me.
“Let him calm down, Annalise. Roan, explain to me what’s expected from a Scottish marriage.”
I soon find out why Roan didn’t want us to have a real wedding, at least not in the way he’s expected to carry one out. As heir and out of respect for tradition, he must get permission from the current laird, which we already knew. But, if the match is accepted, we will be expected to marry before the laird and lady as witnesses, and then we will be taken to a bedding chamber to consummate the marriage that same day. The marriage will only be considered legal if there are witnesses to attest to the consummation, usually by the stains of a maiden’s first blood on the wedding sheets.
“Wha
t you’re saying is that if they agree to your marriage, you’ll be forced to bed Annalise, destroying our plans and unleashing the curse Damien’s already set in motion?”
“It seems so. Otherwise, they’ll choose another for my bride to ensure our lineage continues.”
“You’ll just have to marry the other woman,” Li says. “Go, tell them it was a mistake and that you’re not marrying Annalise.”
“I can’t,” Roan says. “I told you, I already made a vow to the lass in the Seelie Courts.”
“So? You’re not in the Fae realm anymore. What hold do they have on you now?”
“It doesn’t work like that. A vow before the Fae court, whether or not humans recognize it as binding, is far more powerful than any mortal law.”
“What will happen if you are forced to marry another woman?”
The thought twists my stomach, but I force myself to stay quiet, curious if Roan even knows.
“I don’t know for sure, but I’ve heard tales of broken vows with Fae. Usually, it involves a mortal man and a Fae wife. I’d always thought they were just tales to help keep young husbands in check, but now I’m not sure.”
“And?” I say, curiosity getting the better of me.
“The one who breaks the vow is dragged away by the damned Fae of the Unseelie Court. There’s almost no way to escape. Even if you run, they have ways to torture you until you become a wraith-like creature or kill yourself.”
“So, no harm would come to Annalise,” Li says.
“Not that I’m aware of. But even if I die, any vows she made to me would have to be kept until her own death.”
“What vows did she make?”
Roan hesitates a moment before continuing. “All she did was agree to marry me. I didn’t force her to make any binding vows to me, just to be my wife.”
“So, you can die and she wouldn’t be affected.”
“Li!” I say. “Roan is my husband. Whether or not you and Ero can accept that doesn’t matter. It wasn’t his fault, and I won’t have you blaming him for it. He’s part of this journey, and I need him as much as I need you and Ero.”
“Alright,” Li says. “Then what do you propose we do?”
“Roan?”
“Uh…Well, first I need to find out what reason they might have for not wanting me to marry you,” Roan says.
“Do you think they’ve heard of me or Damien?” I ask.
“I doubt it, but my family is very traditional. There’s always the possibility they just want to know more about you, or make sure you know what you’re getting into.”
“What am I getting into?”
“Nothing you don’t want to,” Li says, and I roll my eyes at him.
“You’re not helping,” I say.
“Well, for starters,” Roan says. “I did not go whoring, as much as my family likes to think I did. But, there was a lass, a long time ago.”
My heart sinks slightly, but I know it’s ridiculous. Of course he has had past lovers. I just don’t want to have to hear about them.
“Bear with me, lass. I was young and rebellious, and she was…honestly, she was just there.”
“So, what exactly are you worried your family will tell me?”
“I’m going to go find Ero,” Li says. “I need to let him in on the plan, and you two obviously have a lot to figure out about each other before you become man and wife.”
Li gives Roan a look, then gives him what looks like a mock pat on his back as he turns and walks away. If I didn’t know better, I’d almost say he looks smug.
I breathe deeply and then look up at Roan. “You better tell me everything.”
“Perhaps we should find somewhere to sit?”
Roan offers me his hand and I take it, although with more unease in my mind than I had hoped would be there.
We stroll without speaking for a long while until Roan stops and turns me to face him.
“Lass, I am going to need you to listen. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us, but please hold onto your thoughts until I’ve finished.”
“I’ll try.”
Roan takes a deep breath and then looks me in the eye, taking both my hands in his own. “Her name was Isla.”
Just knowing her name, I already feel like I know too much, but I bite my tongue.
“I was, well, I suppose I was forty years younger then,” Roan says with a nervous laugh. “My father was pressuring me about marriage since my military training was coming to an end and he thought I’d wasted enough time chasing after my own dreams.”
I find it funny to think men get pressured into marriage as well, especially Roan. As much as I like him, I can’t imagine how much more reckless and immature he was…forty years ago? He’s old enough to be my grandfather. I want to laugh at the thought, as cringeworthy as it would be if the curse hadn’t stopped their aging process. Focus.
“The girl my father wanted me to marry was kind, good, and boring. She lacked all the spunk and craving for life that I had learned to appreciate. Her bloodline was pure, her background impeccable, and her title and lands perfect for a laird’s heir, but I didn’t want her. I argued with my Da for days, weeks about it, but he finally gave me an ultimatum. Marry her or get out,” Roan says. “So, I decided I was going to leave, but I didn’t say anything right away. Something in me had snapped. I was angry and I wanted to prove that I was capable of making my own decisions.”
Roan looks away, what little of his expression I can still see letting slip his great discomfort.
“Go on.”
“Perhaps we should walk a bit more?”
“Roan, just tell me.”
“Okay,” Roan says, sighing deeply. “After that last argument with my father, I stormed back to my room, throwing the door open and slamming it shut behind me in almost the same movement, and there she was, tending to the fire in my room. I’d never seen her before, but I honestly hadn’t paid much attention to women up until that point.”
Roan pauses, looking away for a moment and then down at our hands as he continues.
“She was fair, her hair falling in wet ringlets around her face as she worked. The racket I had made entering my room startled her and she leapt up. She had unlaced her bodice to help with the heat and her breasts were all but exposed to me. I don’t know what came over me, but it didn’t take any convincing to get her into bed with me. I’ve always regretted it, but there hasn’t been anyone since.”
“There hasn’t been anyone because you were captured and trapped as a shifter or because you chose not to?”
“A fair question. It was only a few weeks later that I was kidnapped, so I can’t tell you for certain that there wouldn’t have been others. But I promise to keep my vows to you for as long as I live.”
“This is what you’re afraid they’ll tell me?”
“I’m sure they’ll paint me in a far worse light, but I swear to you, this is the truth of it all.”
I’m not pleased by the story, but I can’t really hold it against him. I have an irrational sense of jealousy of this woman from his past, but I wasn’t even born yet. By all accounts, we shouldn’t have even met in this lifetime.
“I don’t like it, but I can accept it.”
“Glad to hear it, lass,” Roan says with a small smile. “Especially since we’re already married.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I know.” Roan kisses my forehead and we turn and walk back to the castle. If this was just a tame preview of what I’m about to experience, these next few days are going to be very interesting.
Nineteen
Ero
I knew that bastard would screw things up. Technically speaking, I’m the youngest, if you want to count years trapped in shifter form, but Roan is the youngest of us all by years as an adult prior to being kidnapped, and it’s really starting to become apparent.
I feel like an idiot. I knew it was a bad idea to let him take Annalise with him into the Fae realm. If I’m completely hone
st with myself, I still don’t believe the Fae even exist. I thought they’d spend the night walking through a forest and come out the other side, perhaps a bit wore out. But married? This is next level insanity.
I’m glad I got a punch in. I’m sorry it upset Annalise, but I’ll be damned if I say it didn’t feel good.
I need to calm down, but all I want to do is rip into something. Walking through the courtyard, my eye catches on the glint of metal and I glance toward it. There’s an archway leading into another outdoor area, and inside I can see various weaponry. Training grounds. Perfect.
I make my way through the archway and select a massive battle axe. There’s a dummy on the other side of the yard.
“This is for you, Roan,” I mutter. Without a second thought, I launch the axe at it, hitting the dummy square in the chest with a loud splintering sound. The wooden dummy splits down the middle and falls to the ground. I should probably not do that to Roan.
Grabbing two smaller battle axes, I walk to the center of the training grounds and begin practicing, the rhythm of my steps and the whistling of the blades through the air calming me far more than any run ever has. Sweat beads on my forehead as I move faster.
Without warning, my blades are caught and thrown from my hands in mid-air. I drop and roll away, only to find myself face to face with a long pike. Looking up, I see Li.
Excellent.
I smile and then grab the pike in one quick motion, but Li is too fast and spins out of my way. I grab again; he sidesteps me.
This is going to be fun.
Twenty
Li
I don’t think Annalise has any idea what she’s getting herself into, but I have to let her learn for herself. The best I can do is try to be there to catch her if she falls. At least I can try to pacify Ero. I doubt he’ll be on board with the idea, but neither am I.
Ero and I may just have to try to stay out of the way as much as possible the next few days to avoid causing more permanent damage. I want to be angry. I am angry. Inwardly.
I wish I were as free to show it as Ero, but I can’t. It’s just the way I was trained. Expressing emotion other than in battle was always discouraged, and I learned quickly to hide my feelings behind an unemotional face. Annalise has managed to break through that wall a few times, but that can’t be helped. And I’m sure she’ll find more ways to get to me.
