Page 100 of Oaths & Vengeance
I winced. Of course, she had a point. “Yes, but you caught me off guard. I’ve apologized for upsetting you and plan to make it up to you.”
“How?” she asked, arching an imperious brow. I wished I could see her in her true form without the glamour. Nothing could be more beautiful than her natural features, especially when she was angry.
I guided her through the vast open market just south of the park, filled with over a hundred specialty shops. Elves, faeries, gnomes, pixies, and more filled the crowded stone paths. The heat wasn’t as sweltering as it had been in recent months, making it a nice day to venture out.
“We will starthere,” I said.
“What do you mean?”
Taking her arm in mine, I led her toward a shop that made beautifully designed receptacles. This particular vendor only came for two days a month, spending the rest of his time crafting his wares. I led her to the most expensive items on the back shelf that were etched with real silver and gold in numerous styles.
“Choose one,” I said.
She cast me a wary look. “Why?”
“I owe you a birthday present.”
Aella stepped away from me. “You don’toweme anything, and I don’t want anything from you. Please don’t do this out of some sense of guilt.”
“You want nothing from me at all?” I asked and gave her a heated look.
She blushed and crossed her arms. “No.”
Her denial of our attraction was adorable, but it wouldn’t last.
“If you don’t choose one, I will,” I said, shrugging as if it didn’t matter either way. Then I picked up the gaudiest one I could find. It took a special kind of person to appreciate something that resembled vomit in its painting pattern and colors.
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Absolutely not. I’ll take that one.”
She pointed at a small, plain one.
“Choose more carefully, please.”
“This is ridiculous.” She uncrossed her arms and threw them up. “I don’t need anything from here, so why give me one of these as a gift?”
I lowered my voice and leaned closer. “Because whichever one you decide upon will be filled with holmium. It will be more than enough to last you for a very long time.”
Her expression turned to one of shock. “But…” She glanced at the receptacles. “It would cost a fortune with how large these are.”
“It still wouldn’t equal the value of the gift you gave me, but at least it would be equally useful to you. I will also have it enchanted so only you and I can see it. That will make it easier to conceal.” Of course, that would be an added expense, but it would be well worth it.
Aella hesitated for a moment, but finally, her shoulders sagged, and she turned to study each one more carefully. She settled on a pure creamvase with a matching stopper lid and silver filigree vines running from the bottom to the top. It was simple yet elegant.
“That one,” she said.
I nodded. “Excellent choice.”
We took it to the gnome merchant, who had his wife place the enchantment. After I paid with a bag of coins, we left and headed toward my townhouse. It was a twenty-minute walk from here at our pace, but I was content to spend a little more time alone with my mate before we joined the others. The market teemed with fae, and vendors regularly shouted at passersby, attempting to lure them with their wares.
Aella slowly relaxed next to me as she held the vase, casting appreciative glances at it when she thought I looked elsewhere. It turned out that the woman I'd married enjoyed thoughtful gifts. I would have to remember that and use it to stay in her good graces.
Just before we reached the market exit, a tall elf with long, dark silver hair stepped into our path. The dense foliage from the surrounding trees allowed shadows to swirl around his feet. I stiffened as soon as I recognized his perfectly chiseled face and pale skin. If the nameless ones had any mercy, Vaslav wouldn’t recognize me with my glamour, but he was more astute than most.
“Darrow,” he said in a cultured voice. “How fortuitous to see you.”
There went that hope.
I pulled Aella to a stop beside me, taking her arm. “I doubt fortune has anything to do with it where you’re concerned. What are you doing here, darkening our land again, Vas?”
