by Lucy Fear
“I’m impressed that you can tell the difference,” he said, setting down his glass. “You’re correct. I hope you aren’t disappointed.”
“No,” she replied, smiling easily. “Of course, the food I had in your father’s palace was delicious, but it always felt lacking. I can’t quite describe it.”
Aidan smiled back at her in a way that made her heart turn over. “You’re one of the few people who agrees with me. Conjured food is fine, but there is something about real food, prepared with skill from ingredients grown from the earth, that feels more…satisfying.”
The rest of the meal was spent pleasantly, though Rowan had a lot on her mind. Finally, she couldn’t imagine eating any more, and Aidan seemed to agree. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh, and she thought she’d never seen him so relaxed. “Are you ready to depart, Lady Rowan?”
“I think so. Serenalis is a wonderful place. Even as tired as I am, I still don’t quite want to leave.” He held his hand out to help her from her chair and smiled as she stood. For whatever reason, they were standing much closer than usual, and she could smell the scent of him, cool and exotic all at once, cedar, spice, and snowfall. She wanted to embrace him, and as soon as the thought crossed her mind, she could feel her cheeks coloring.
“There is one more place I’d like to show you, if you aren’t too exhausted,” he said, and she thought his voice sounded lower than usual.
“Ah, yes, that would be fine,” she managed somehow, and he took her hand and led her back out into the street.
They walked along the sidewalk in silence for several minutes. Even as captivated as she was by the sights of the city, the globes of glowing crystal that lit the streets in faint blue light, the sounds of music and laughter floating from the yellow warmth of windows and doorways, she was acutely aware of the press of Aidan’s hand against her own.
In a way, it felt completely natural and, in this unfamiliar place, was even somewhat comforting, but it was also maddeningly distracting. Just as before, she noticed that his fingers were cool to the touch, and though he held her hand gently, she felt the strength contained within.
“Here we are.” His voice rang out in the night air, making her flinch, but her startled gasp died in her throat, transforming into a sigh of wonder. Their stroll had taken them away from the inhabited parts of Serenalis, and now they stood on a wide green lawn. She supposed it was a park. But the best part stood before them, a sort of natural balcony that looked out over the city. When Rowan walked forward and leaned on the railing, she could see all of Serenalis spread out beneath her, twinkling like scattered starlight. Aidan came to stand beside her, and she looked over at him. His expression was serene, and the moonlight reflecting off his sharp features made him look like the statue of some long-forgotten god.
“You really love Serenalis,” she observed with a smile. He nodded without looking in her direction.
“At first, it was just a memento of my mother. But now, it is the thing I wish to protect at all costs. It is a dream of a better world for my people.”
“And that’s why you want to become your father’s heir so badly.” It wasn’t a question so much as a realization, but he nodded again anyway.
“Niall has always been kind to me. I don’t believe that he’s evil at heart. But if he succeeds as Lord, things will stay exactly as they are, and eventually, my city will run out of room for refugees. If things are really going to change, they will have to change everywhere.”
Rowan took a deep breath. There was no reason to wait any longer, even if it was mildly terrifying. He had dropped her hand when they had entered the park, but now she reached for him, holding his hand in both of her own.
“Lady Rowan?” he asked with wide eyes. She could feel herself blushing, and all she could do was pray that his night vision wasn’t much better than hers.
“Prince Aidan, I…” It was difficult to find the words, not to mention embarrassing. Looking up at his face didn’t help. His eyes had narrowed, his expression somewhat suspicious. She gulped and started again. “I’ve decided that I’d like to stay with you. To fulfil my bargain with your father, I mean.”
She hadn’t been sure what to expect in the way of reception, but she certainly hadn’t imagined being suddenly wrapped in a fierce embrace. It was not particularly romantic, as all the air was squeezed out of her, and she felt that if he put any more force behind it, he would break her bones.
But then, his arms loosened enough for her to look up at his face, and she found he was looking down on her. His expression was complicated. “You’re sure that’s what you want?”
She met his gaze, and instead of being quailed by his dark eyes and their fathomless depths, she felt steadied somehow. His hands had been cold, but his embrace was warm. Even knowing this was a decision that couldn’t be taken back and feeling terribly unsure of where it would lead her, she felt once again a flutter of warmth in her chest. She realized that, despite her best intentions, she had come to like him, and there was a danger in that, she knew, but also some comfort as well. “Yes,” she said with confidence she hadn’t possessed until that moment. “I’m sure.”
He smiled then with a brief flash of white teeth. “I can’t begin to tell you how much this means to me. I know this is an uncomfortable situation for you, Lady Rowan, but I’ll do whatever I can to make you feel more at ease.”
“Could you stop calling me Lady, at least in private? It makes me feel strange and ridiculous,” she said a little hesitantly. But he didn’t seem upset by her suggestion. In fact, his smile might have widened a fraction.
“I will call you by your name if you will consent to call me by mine,” he answered. “Titles can be rather burdensome when hoping to get to know someone better.” That made Rowan happy, that he wished to know her better, because she wished to know him better, but at the same time she felt nervous about what was to happen next.
She knew he was not a cruel sort of person, even if he could be a little blunt, but she also knew that the fae Court and its politics were dangerous. It would not be completely unreasonable for him to want to begin the…process of the terms of the bargain right away. Every time she tried to think about what that would entail, her brain stuttered to a stop. She wanted to ask, but could not make herself form the words.
But he seemed to sense her trepidation. “There is no reason to hurry, Rowan,” he said gently, and to her surprise, he brought his hand around to tenderly brush a strand of hair off her cheek. “Your father is safe where he is, and I will keep you safe, and things can progress at whatever speed you wish.
I would like to inform my father tomorrow so that he can prepare for Niall’s expected explosion of temper, but otherwise, you needn’t rush. I have no desire to make this unpleasant for you.”
A little voice in her mind remarked that it was easy for him to say, since he was functionally immortal, but cynicism aside, she knew he was trying to be kind, and she appreciated more than she could say. Tears of relief pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
He shook his head. “I know you don’t have much of a reason to trust me, but I hope that you will come to. I…” he paused, and then he shook his head again, as if trying to clear the cobwebs from his brain. “Shall we go back?”
She nodded, still feeling a bit overwhelmed, and he grasped her hand and led her slowly down the hill. With a sigh, she tilted her head back and looked up at the stars one more time, watching them shiver in the deep blackness of Serenalis’s eternal night. For better or worse, she’d chosen her path, and now it was time to see where it led.
CHAPTER SIX
Aidan looked down at the woman in his arms as he ascended the stairs that led to his estate. He felt, for the first time in many long years, glad to be alive, like all of his cares had been erased.
Logically, he knew this wasn’t true. One obstacle had been removed, but, no doubt, many more remained. But she was here with
him and had agreed to stay, at least for a little while. She did not appear to actively detest him. It was a start.
She stirred just as they were nearing the door to her room, her eyes flying open and darting around wildly when she didn’t recognize her surroundings. “Be at peace,” he said soothingly. “You fell asleep in the carriage. I’m only taking you to you room.” He felt her relax in his arms, and there was some small gratification in that.
“Thank you, Aidan. I’m sorry for being such a bother.”
He chuckled. “It’s not a bother. You’re rather charming when you’re asleep, and I can’t blame you for being tired. You aren’t exactly a heavy burden.”
Her cheeks flushed when he called her charming, which only made her more so. “Well, thank you anyway.”
“You’re quite welcome. Can you stand? We’re right in front of your chambers.”
“I think so,” she said, looking up at him. He’d never really looked her in the eyes before, perhaps out of a sense of self-preservation. They were a sparkling silvery blue, like the water of a mountain stream. Somewhat reluctantly, he set her on her feet. “I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow?” she asked in a voice that sounded somewhat hopeful.
“Of course,” he replied, feeling warmth bloom in his chest. “I’ll send a message to my father requesting an audience as soon as possible. Hopefully, he’ll be able to see us right away.” Once again, her face flushed, and he knew she was thinking about what lay ahead sometime in the nebulous future. He couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, good night then,” she said in a slightly tremulous voice. Without thinking, he took her hand, unwilling to part on such an awkward note. He didn’t particularly feel like parting at all, but neither did he wish to frighten her.
“Rowan, I was wondering if you would allow me to give you a kiss?” Her eyes went almost impossibly wide. He thought she would refuse; she had tensed like a rabbit ready to bolt. “Not if it makes you uncomfortable, of course,” he added as gently and evenly as he could manage.
But she looked at him, and whatever she saw seemed to reassure her or give her the confidence she had previously lacked. “I think a kiss would be perfectly acceptable,” she said with utmost dignity.
And so, he reached out with one hand to brush his fingers over her cheek before sliding them over to cradle the side of her face. He felt her draw in a sharp breath as he bent down to her, and her eyes fluttered closed. It was a gentle kiss, as gentle as he could make it, and all too brief, but he tried to pour all of his feelings into it, even the ones that he hardly understood himself.
He pulled away before he ended up doing something foolish. “Goodnight,” he said, stepping backward and releasing the hand he’d been holding.
“Goodnight,” she replied in a breathy voice, one of her hands waving as he turned to walk down the hall. It wasn’t until he got back to his own room that he really allowed himself to relax. Things were going well. As long as there were no further disasters, everything would be all right.
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The next morning, Rowan sat out on the balcony with Fenella, enjoying her breakfast in the sunshine. They talked about court gossip for several minutes, but finally, the handmaiden put her cup down with an impatient clatter. “So, aren’t you even going to tell me how your romantic rendezvous with the prince went?”
Rowan would have liked to retort that it had been nothing at all like she was imagining, but considering all that had occurred, she could only bite her lip in embarrassment.
“Well, Serenalis really was spectacular, and Aidan was a wonderful escort. We spoke about a variety of subjects, and then…” she paused, feeling almost as embarrassed as when she’d said it the night before. Fenella waited with an expectant smile. “I told him that I wanted to stay here. I chose him to be the heir.”
“Oh, I know that,” the handmaiden replied, waving her hand dismissively. “The prince sent a messenger to his father this morning and has been checking and enhancing all the wards, so we figured something must be going on. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what. But I mean, did anything happen between you personally, you know?”
The suggestive waggle on her eyebrows was somewhat disconcerting on Fenella’s childlike features, but Rowan was aware that her friend was not, even by fae standards, a child. Her appearance was just for show. She idly wondered what Fenella really looked like, and then wondered whether there even was such a thing as a ‘true form’ to the fae. Something to ask about later.
But she still had not answered the question, and she had a feeling Fenella wouldn’t let it go until she did. “He gave me a goodnight kiss,” she admitted with a sigh of defeat.
Fenella leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “And was it a good kiss? Meaning, did you enjoy it?”
Rowan felt her cheeks growing hot. She had a feeling she was going to be doing a lot of that in the future. “It was…brief. But it was a nice kiss, I suppose. I don’t have much experience in that arena, but he was very gentle.”
“So, what do you think about it?” Fenella asked brightly. “Are you happy? Do you love him?”
“I…I mean, it’s a little early for that,” she stammered. “And furthermore, don’t you think that would be rather unwise of me? Aidan, however charming and handsome, is an immortal Prince of the fae, and I am just a normal human girl, no matter the particulars of our current entanglement.
Expecting anything more than friendship is only asking to have my heart broken.” There it was, the thing that had been bothering her the most these past several days, and especially after last night. She could feel herself becoming more and more attracted to Aidan, and it frightened her.
Fenella tilted her head thoughtfully. “You really can’t imagine that he might care for you as well?”
Rowan frowned. “How could he?” That was the crux of her argument, but she really could have made a whole dissertation on the subject of her obvious unsuitability as a romantic partner for Prince Aidan had there not been a knock at the door.
Fenella went to answer it, leaving Rowan sitting alone on the balcony, frowning to herself. She didn’t understand what her handmaiden was thinking. Aidan couldn’t possibly think of her as anything but an unwelcome intrusion, a momentary blip in his existence, could he?
“Good morning, Rowan,” said the voice she most and least wanted to hear at the moment. Aidan was standing in the doorway, and Fenella was nowhere to be seen. Rowan felt slightly miffed at the abandonment, especially since she was fairly sure it was only an attempt by her friend to advance her romantic fantasies.
“Good morning, Aidan,” she answered, doing her best to be pleasant despite her consternation. “Would you like some tea?”
He sat down at the table across from her with a small smile. “I’d love some,” he answered, “But, unfortunately, we can’t linger long. I’ve received word from my father.”
“Oh?’ Her attempt at nonchalance was somewhat marred by the fact that her hand was shaking so badly that she nearly dropped the teapot.
“He wants to see us this evening before dinner,” Aidan continued. She took a deep breath and somehow managed to pour the tea and pass him a cup without incident. Then, he met her gaze with his own. “I know this is short notice, but I promise you that everything is going to be all right.
Lord Kennet may be difficult and terrifying, but we are telling him something he wants to hear, and I’ll be right there with you the whole time.” He reached across the table and took her hand.
Her heart fluttered, and she was reminded of Fenella’s words from a moment ago. Could it be possible that Aidan was interested in her beyond the terms of the contract and becoming his father’s heir? “Thank you, Aidan,” she said, squeezing his fingers. “I’m sure it will be fine.”
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Hours later, she was dressed in another elaborate getup, a dress of a purple so deep it was nearly black, with accents of ebony feathers. It was, she realized, just as m
uch of a statement as the one they were planning to make with words. She belonged to Aidan now. She didn’t know how to feel about it, at least, not until she met him in the courtyard and saw his outfit.
They matched; his perfectly tailored jacket was subtly embroidered with feather designs, and the silk shirt underneath was the same color as her gown. Somehow, it made things feel more reciprocal, like he belonged to her just as much. He smiled gently as she approached. “Somehow, every time I see you, you’ve grown more beautiful. I might suspect magic at work, except I know that isn’t the case.”
Rowan had no idea how to respond to such a compliment. “I…Thank you. But, you know, Fenella picks out my outfits, so I’m sure it’s all her doing.”
“Fenella is certainly a worthy handmaiden, but that is only because she knows how to enhance the beauty that is already there,” he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “But I have something for you as well.”
He brought his hand from behind his back, and in it was a slender silver coronet set with onyx and moonstones, almost a twin to the one that he was wearing. She remembered it from the feast on her first night in the Otherworld. Without a word, he set it into her hair.
“How can I wear something like this? I mean, I’m not any sort of royalty,” she protested in confusion.
Aidan chuckled. “I believe you’ll find that the concept of who does and doesn’t qualify to wear a crown in the Otherworld is vague at best. But, in any case, you are my partner, and I wish that to be made clear to all those assembled.”
“Meaning Niall, I take it?” she said, trying not to show how affected she had been by his words. Because a partner was someone of equal standing, and to her it also felt like something more…congenial, if not more permanent, than the contract that had bound them by chance.
“Especially Niall,” he admitted with a touch of grimness. “But everyone else as well. Your father taught you to beware of our kind, and he is certainly correct. The Court is a nest of vipers, and the only way to escape them is to be too big for them to tackle.
