Page 58 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

Well, mostly he is.

Ihopehe is.

Kole’s attempts at courting me have never been genuine, never seeking a mating bond. Metal-wielding is rare to be sure, but my powers are weak and comes with a shortened lifespan, not highly sought-after traits for a partner in a place where the most powerful fae women and life-givers are courted first.

He wants what he can’t have after my many refusals. The captain has spent the past fifty years undeterred by my rejections and seems to forget the fact he would live long after the painfully mortal part of me wins out against my fae side, my life flickering out before he would even see mid-life.

Or perhaps that is part of my appeal.

We leave the market, busy vendors shout last-minute deals for goods they wish to barter for before heading home. Dewlings squeal delightedly as they play a game in the streets while parents close the doors to some shops, the sky behind them brushed with bright orange and budding purples. Worry and confusion are my constant companions on the short journey.

We are halfway back to the palace when I realize I don’t know where Leon is sleeping tonight, and it surprises me how badly I want it to be in my bed, my stomach filling with flutters at the thought.

After the rainy balcony garden confessions and the intimacy of sharing my bed last night, will that continue to be an expectation? Does he want that? A calmness wraps around me at the thought of Leon and me together, no matter the form it takes. I attempt to shove down those feelings. Any attachment we form will only bring pain when we part, but the memories of the midnight moments in his arms send a wave of warmth through my chest.

Leon is deep in conversation with Tavien, but he looks over at me every few minutes of my melancholy. Every glance is a reminder that a war rages inside me. To enjoy every moment no matter how fleeting, contrasting with the crushing urge to push him away and save myself centuries of heartache.

Nueena solves my problem of deciding where Leon is sleeping. She had a bed brought up and placed in the library adjoining my rooms; a tower attendant arrived while we were gone to set it up.

Tavien explains the wards to Leon. “You have full access to the library at night, but for any other rooms here, you will need one of us with you, and that includes the entrance and Del’s rooms. Avoid unnecessary conversations with the palace attendants or anyone who might notice you are mortal. One of us should be with you at all times unless you are here.”

Leon nods. “I will not give Izadella a moment of peace with my presence.” He says it in jest but I wonder if he has any idea how true that is.

We say our good nights to Nueena and Tavien, and Leon follows me into the library. The bed has been placed as close as possible to my door, and with mine just on the other side, it means there will only be a small wall between us tonight. He follows me as I show him around the space and point out what books he might find interesting that are in a language he can read. The way he watches me pours heat into my veins and I see a vision of us tangled in my sheets, the library bed forgotten as his body encompasses mine under the stars.

A large sapphire necklace set in silver lies haphazardly over a stack of unread books. “Did you make this?” he asks, still looking at my creation.

“I did.”

“Do you like being a part of the Gem Court?” He traces the gemstones.

I nod. “I did until this new addition to my head. I loved working alongside so many talented artisans and makers. They never cared that I was only half-fae; it was all about my work. Not every court is as welcoming, but some place more loyalty to their court than Ellova. If it gets out that I kept this from them, it will be seen as a betrayal.”

“No one will find out,” he says with a confidence that makes me want to believe it.

“I hope so. Good night, Leon.” I make it two steps towards my door before he asks another question.

“If I lived here, what court would I be in?”

The image of him in healer robes, the Ink Court crest on his broad chest, is a beautiful picture, so I humor him. “Healers are part of the Ink Court. It’s the court of educators, scholars, scribes, and healing.” He would fit so perfectly there, his talents needed.

“I know Nyvenah said any loyalty I have, any vow I made, no longer matters here, but I meant what I said. If you are planning on staying here, then so am I. How does one join the Ink Court?”

I stare at him, perplexed. “I’m sorry. Courts are an entirely fae tradition. Leon, staying here isn’t an option. We have gone over this. The magic will drive you to madness. I’ve seen it happen.”

He moves close to me. “Did something similar happen to your father?”

I suck in a breath. “Something like that, but this is a completely different situation. Nothing is the same. It’s been quite a day; we should get some rest.” Not wishing to discuss my family further, I head into my rooms.

Leon trails behind me and leans against the door frame. “May I?”

A tiredness I can feel in my bones makes me hesitate. There is an intimacy to him even standing outside my bedroom, but whatever is deep within me that craves his nearness is the part of me that nods, lowering the protective wards, allowing him access. Leon enters at a leisurely pace, eyes roaming the gilded frames holding portraits and landscapes of Ellova, gowns thrown over the plush purple chair in the corner, and a sword that leans against the window.

His presence fills the space, and I cannot look away.

The bed is seated in the middle of four trees coming up from the floor, sheer drapings so light the pale amber is almost white hanging from the branches. A long work desk is a tangle of controlled chaos: bowls of materials to make jewelry with, quills, abandoned teacups, a dagger with its entire handle covered in gemstones.

He picks up the bottle of perfume I wear every day and brings it to his nose. “Floral, with something citrus underneath. Roses and geranium? With a hint of what I would guess is lemons.” He breathes it in again. “Definitely a summer lemon.”??

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