Page 257 of Kingdoms of Night

Enid hadn't even thought to explain the workings of her people to the knight. She hadn't even realized how different they were from each other to think that a human would understand.

"The man who a fairy gives her flower to is the man she intends to twine with," said Gyges.

"Twine?" asked Geraint, still looking at the flower seed.

Enid itched to snatch it from him. But the way he looked at it gave her pause. Geraint looked at her flower as though it were precious. As though he would care for it. As though he would care for her.

"To twine with a fae means to join with them," said Gyges.

The fae king looked down his purple nose at the Frost Giant Prince. Vidar was being helped to his feet by his cronies, some of whom shot looks of approval at Geraint.

“You’ve bested her betrothed, and so now the honor falls to you.” Gyges grinned at Geraint, the carnivorous part of him showing fangs. “It looks as though I will have a knight of Camelot in my family.”

"Family?" said Geraint.

"He who holds a fairy's flower has the right to plant his seed."

Geraint still looked dumbfounded.

"I think he means marriage, buddy," said the other knight.

"Will you take my daughter's hand? Or will you dishonor her?"

Enid knew that sealed the deal right there. Geraint was a knight. He wouldn’t hear of any talk of dishonoring a woman. But he couldn’t want this—to marry her.

"My lady?" Geraint said, turning to her. "What is your will?"

The question shocked Enid. No one had ever asked her what she wanted. It was on the tip of her tongue to say she simply wanted to find her own land and lay down roots. To not be involved in another one of her father’s games, ever. To never again be a pawn, but to be queen of her own life.

Looking at the knight, she wondered if she might do that. The kingdom of Camelot was beyond her father’s reach. It was beyond this realm, beyond the Veil. If she were to reside there, it was possible she could rest in obscurity.

Though she would have to serve Sir Geraint as a wife. That would not be such a hardship. Not with the warmth of his body heat, which hinted at sweet, savory, and salt.

"If you don't want to—"

"Thank you, sir. I accept your offering."

Surprise appeared on Geraint’s face. Suspicion clouded Gawain’s. Her father didn’t bother to hide his delight. The first tendril of hope for over a hundred years fluttered to life in her belly.

CHAPTEREIGHT

“You’re not a martyr, G.”

No, he wasn’t. A martyr would die for a cause. Geraint wanted to make a life with Enid.

It hadn’t started out that way. He’d only meant to do his duty to her, the same duty that any knight of his ilk would feel compelled to perform. And yes, perhaps he had hoped that she might agree to a courtship after she bore witness to his prowess on the battlefield and his chivalrous nature.

“You don’t know this girl.”

No, but Geraint wanted to know her. He wanted to be the one who knew her best in the world. He wanted to be the reason that she never felt a need for the rest of her life. He couldn’t have accomplished that on a few dates with her. The notion of an arranged marriage was the perfect opportunity to achieve that goal.

“She’s not even a girl. She’s a plant.”

Geraint looked at the seed in his hand. It pulsed with life, a small, important life that he wanted to protect. That he felt destined to protect. Geraint wanted to be Enid’s full-time hero. Her only protector. Her champion for the rest of his days.

The pod in his hands pulsed again, vibrating with the same energy he’d witnessed in the small body of a newborn babe looking up and out at everything in the world around them. Legs kicking to explore, fists shaking for something to grasp on to, eyes wide as cooing sounds came from their babbling mouth.

“You’re not even listening to me.”

---