Page 102 of Oaths & Vengeance
“Unfortunately, no. We are evenly matched.”
She swallowed. “So, if he ever attacks me, I think I’ll skip wind and go straight for light power.”
I’d seen what her gift could do when she fought the Cù Sìth, but it would be complicated to use against shadows. I wasn’t certain if she could cut through them and hoped we’d never need to find out.
“Do not count on anything,” I warned, making a mental note that we needed to develop her light magic at some point. The dismembered trees from the other day were proof of that.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she grumbled.
I softened my expression. “If it helps, I do believe the two of us could defeat him together. He is excellent at judging a person’s magical strength, and I believe that detecting yours was the only reason he chose to remain amiable toward us today.”
Some of the tension in her shoulders eased. “Good.”
After watching Vas disappear into the main thoroughfare, we headed toward the townhouse. We had a busy evening, and my brother had cut into our precious time.
Chapter 43
Aella
Darrow’s townhouse was located on the eastern side of the palace. We passed the spectacular royal gardens along the way. The flowers that bordered the colorful grounds all had delicate pink petals that would lean toward you if you came close, spraying a sweet perfume that could lift anyone’s mood.
They made it that much harder to stay upset with my husband as he guided me through the busy street. People innately moved out of his way. His features were perfectly stoic except when he looked at me, and they softened a few degrees. I refused to fall for his act.
Along the garden row to the left we passed now, there were arrecian songbuds. The red and white flowers shaped like a large horn swayed gently and played a soothing song to passersby. I had to give the groundskeepers credit because they were quite high-maintenance, requiring special fertilizers from Southern Alavaar. Years ago, I’d introduced a few to my garden. They annoyed some of my moodier plants and sadly didn’t last long. I found them in pieces soon after they were healthy enough to begin singing melodies.
We turned north. On our right was a long row of three-story townhomes constructed with large square-cut stones painted a soft gold to match the nearby palace. Each had expansive windows with hunter-green frames on every floor and a handful of steps leading up to the entrances, with small garden patches on either side of the porches. Alleys ran between them to allow horses and carriages to pass to the back, where the homes had private stables. Only high fae could own the residences in this section of the city.
They all looked the same, down to the types of plants at their front. I preferred nature to run a little wilder, and such deliberate conformity annoyed me, but I had no doubt it was required so that they didn’t detract from the beauty of the gardens across the street.
Darrow led me to the fifth townhouse in the row, holding my elbow like a gentleman as we climbed the steps. I clutched my vase tightly. Part of me wanted to jerk away from him, hating that even a mild touch sent a thrill through my body. The other—very annoying—part wanted to sink into his hold and wished I could get him alone.
I was smarter than that. He might be my husband, but he’d always have his own interests ahead of mine. If he cared about my safety, it was more likely because he wanted my portal-opening abilities. Maybe he even took pleasure in ordering around his enemy’s niece.
We stepped through the door, and Darrow took the vase from me. “I’ve got the holmium upstairs. I’ll fill it now, but you’ll find my sister and the others in the sitting room and kitchen down the way.”
“You’re just…” I glanced down the hall, able to hear voices coming from there. “Leaving me to deal with them?”
Amusement filled Darrow’s eyes. “This is your home as well, so you’re welcome to explore instead if you prefer.”
I froze. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t you remember what I told the king?”
Right. That he was preparing a place in the capital where we could safely live together, regardless of the outcome between our families. I’d put it to the back of my mind. “I don’t…it can’t really be mine, too.”
“The deed is in both of our names, Aella.”
I shook my head. “Why would you do that?”
He gave me an intense look. “Like it or not, our marriage is permanent. We may not behave as a true husband and wife right now, but that won’t last forever. There will come a time—sooner rather than later—when everyone will know. I am doing all I can to prepare for that day.”
Admittedly, I dreaded when that would happen and tried not to think about it. Never mind preparing for the fallout that would come. “Aren’t you worried about how your father will take the news?”
“He already knows,” Darrow said, quirking his lips.
“What? For how long?”
“Several months. When you spent those three days unconscious in Veronna, the safest place to keep you was in our castle in Darynia. I had to tell my father then, especially when he saw me carrying you.”
