He faces me again. “I did consider what you said when you asked me to name you my champion, and the answer was no. Is that what life is going to be like together? Are you going to use my name against me every time you don’t get your way?”
I feel a wave of fury rising inside me, but I breathe it away, finding my calm. “That’s not going to happen all the time,” I say. “I can promise you that. But I can’t promise I’ll never use your name again. Not if I think it will save you.”
Aspen’s expression shifts between steely and soft, eyes locked on mine.
I reach for his hands, holding them tight as another explosion rocks the ground beneath us. “I’m not going to lose you, Aspen. I thought you were going to die if I didn’t force your hand. Perhaps I was being brash to make you name me your champion, but I don’t regret doing it. I’ll do it again if I think it will save your life. All I can do now is ask for your forgiveness.”
He closes his eyes and lowers his head. “I’ve never been terrified of anyone the way I’m terrified of you. You have the power to use my name. The power to control me. The power to break my heart.”
I let go of one of his hands to touch his face, fingers trailing his jaw. “So do you. But didn’t you say that’s what the Bond is about? Mutual fear and respect?”
He opens his eyes. “Yes, but I want more than that.”
My breath hitches at the intensity of his stare. “What is it you want?”
He says nothing, just lowers his lips to mine in a soft kiss. I lean into him and wrap my arms around his waist. I think I know what the kiss is telling me, words we’ve yet to exchange. These words may not hold the power that the Bond holds, but they mean more than our names. I pull my lips away from his, but our bodies remain pressed together. “Aspen, I—”
“Your Majesty.”
With a startle, Aspen and I separate and face Foxglove. His hands tremble, making the envelope he holds within them quiver as well.
Aspen darts toward him. “What is it?”
Foxglove hands Aspen the envelope. I can see the seal has already been broken. But what snags my attention more is the seal itself—an elegant scrolling E etched in the wax. Eisleigh’s crest. Foxglove wrings his hands. “The human council has invalidated your pairing. You are no longer eligible to secure the pact.”
Aspen tears the letter from the envelope, scans it with wide eyes. He lowers the paper and slowly meets my gaze. “The treaty is broken.”
Another blast from outside shakes the ground beneath us, matched only by the pounding of my heart. My lungs feel tight, breaths shallow as I try to comprehend Aspen’s words. If the treaty is broken…
I swallow hard. “We’re going to war.”
* * *
End of Book One. The Fair Isle Trilogy continues with Book Two, To Wear a Fae Crown, releasing fall 2020. You can preorder your copy here.
FREE Aspen short story
Thank you so much for reading this book! I had so much fun creating this new fantasy world and can’t wait to explore the Fair Isle more in Book 2. If you enjoyed To Carve a Fae Heart, please consider sharing your thoughts in a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or BookBub.
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Also by Tessonja Odette
The Lela Trilogy, YA epic fantasy
Shadows of Lela
Veil of Mist
Shades of Prophecy
YA dystopian psychological thriller
Twisting Minds
About Tessonja
Tessonja Odette is a young mother living in Seattle. Young, meaning 30-something. It’s the new 20, right? Tessonja has always loved to write. Her wild imagination and fascination with the great unknown led her writing into the realm of fantasy. She writes books that inspire and expand the imaginations of others. When she isn’t writing, she’s watching dog videos, having dance parties with her daughter, or pursuing her many creative hobbies. Find out more about Tessonja by visiting her website at www.tessonjaodette.com
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To Carve a Fae Heart (The Fair Isle Trilogy Book 1) Page 30
