Page 12 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

"Then he would've been really late trying to find out where you wandered off to on your way there," Grandmother chuckled. studied us with an odd hesitation. She grabbed my hand and spoke low, "Be careful, Alora. I love you as much as there are stars in our sky."

Something in her tone had shifted, so I gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her tiny hand. "I love you as much as there are stars in our sky too. Thank you again for the blade."

She smiled softly and nodded, looking back at Maël, who shifted awkwardly, trying to grant us privacy. "You two better go." She shooed us out the door, and Maël led us through the village to the main gate. The wooden pillars might not match the grand gates in my beloved stories, but they meant home.

"Eleni threatened my manhood if I don't bring you home by dawn," Maël chuckled. "Try not to wander off tonight, I'd like to keep myself intact." He nudged me with his shoulder, almost pushing me into the bushes as we walked into the woods. I stumbled, struggling to catch my footing, but somehow righted myself. I pushed him sideways, paying him back in kind, barely disrupting his steady steps.

I flashed him a sly smile and batted my eyelashes at him, "I'll try, but it may be difficult. I'm sure you could manage if worst comes to worst."

His laugh rang through the darkness, the sound echoing through the trees, drawing an unbidden smile to my lips. My heart performed its usual treacherous dance and forced my thoughts back in line. We were just friends—that's all he wanted. And I would learn to be content with that.

Chapter 7

Traversing the main trail in the woods for what felt like hours. We chatted about the things from the week, some village gossip, but truthfully that was fine with me. I was nervous, more nervous than I had any right to be, doing night watch with my best friend.

I caught myself wondering how soft his lips might be...

Fuck. Sure, he'd teased and flirted throughout the years, but he'd never once asked for anything more than friendship. He'd never looked at me the way he did the other village girls. They were all so beautiful and dainty, not the type to get their hands dirty fighting or tracking through the forest. I wouldn't be surprised if he became betrothed soon. Perhaps to Lydia—all honey-gold hair and sky-blue eyes—or Alice, with her kind heart and chocolate curls framing rich ebony skin. Her family was well-respected within the community. She and Maël would make a beautiful couple. I would be happy for them, whoever he chose.

"Alora?" His voice startled me out of my inner thoughts. I snapped my head toward him, trying to figure out if he had said something I missed. He cleared his throat and gestured towardsa spot on the soft ground, "did you want to take a break? We're about midway through.

I nodded and sat down on the ground near where he had pointed. He sat beside me and set his lantern between us. After rifling through his bag, he produced some packages.

I smiled. "Please thank your mom for me. She's the best cook in the village." I opened the cloth to find bread, cheese, and seasoned chicken. One bite of the chicken had me fighting back a moan.

He smiled between bites. "I'll be sure to pass that along." We ate in comfortable silence until every morsel was gone.

The woods held their breath around us. From our spot in the small clearing, I could see stars winking through the canopy above—silent guardians watching over their watchers. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that danced across the forest floor. The night air carried the sweet scent of wildflowers and earth, wrapping around us like a silk veil.

"Not quite what you had in mind for your birthday, huh?" Maël asked. When I turned to answer, I found him gazing at the stars. The lantern caught the gold in his eyes, making them gleam like honey. His brown hair was tousled as always—his mother's daily frustration, my secret delight. It suited him, wild and free. He caught me staring, and warmth bloomed in my cheeks.

"It's not," I said, "but I'd have only spent it with my grandmother before turning in. Besides, I love being in the woods, especially with a view like this." I gestured skyward. Maël kept his eyes on me as he nodded.

"Yeah, the view is breathtaking," he agreed.

His intense stare only deepened my blush. I glanced down, fidgeting with my sheath strap. "Did grandmother seem odd to you tonight?"

"When doesn't Eleni act odd?" He chuckled, probably thinking of all her peculiarities over the years. He had a point, but this was different.

"I mean weirder than usual," I explained. "She gave me my gift early—she always waits for my actual birthday. And when we left... her goodbye felt final."

"Don't people usually say goodbye when someone leaves? Maybe she was just excited about your gift?" he offered.

I considered for a moment. "Maybe. It's just unlike her. It didn't feel like her usual goodbye."

I felt Maël shift closer—or maybe that was just wishful thinking. "It's a big year," he said. "Most people get their powers at twenty-one. It changes things."

I nodded. He was right—it was nerve-wracking to wonder what might happen. Would I be a healer like her? Would flames dance at my fingertips, or would water bend to my will? Being fae, our senses and strength already bordered on godlike compared to humans. As a half-fae, Maël possessed keener senses than any human, but the elemental gifts had passed him by. Still, he'd never let that hold him back—something I'd always admired. Whenever I told him his real power was his endless optimism, he'd laugh and say optimism wouldn't stop a blade. So he trained, preparing for the day the war might reach our peaceful village. We'd been lucky so far, but luck was a fickle friend.

"Alora."Gods, did he even know what my name on his tongue did to me?

His hands fidgeted in the dirt as I met his intense gaze. As our eyes locked into each other, he swallowed, nervousness flickering across his features before vanishing like morning mist.

"I had another reason for asking you here tonight, beyond indulging your love of books."

"What better reason is there? Besides, Trenton bailed, remember?" I smiled, letting out a small laugh as he chuckled.

"For you? None. But I wasn't entirely honest earlier. Trenton didn't bail—I asked him to stay home so I could have you to myself."

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