Page 106 of Oaths & Vengeance
“What difference does it make to you? He was a simple blacksmith, but that didn’t matter to your uncle’s army when they ran him through.” Jax paused, working his jaw as deep pain filled his brown eyes. “It didn’t stop them from raping my mother, either.”
My chest tightened. “That’s terrible.”
“Yeah, it is, but you’ll keep opening the portals for him anyway, won’t you?” he said accusingly.
Of course, he couldn’t know the price I paid every time I resisted, but guilt ate at me to hear his story. Should I have fought harder, no matter the consequences? I pushed my bowl away, no longer hungry, and ducked my head so no one could see the expression on my face. The pain from the many times I’d fought my uncle when I disagreed with him came flooding into my mind. Could I have taken more punishment for the sake of saving civilians?
Jax continued, “Do you even lose sleep for what…”
“Jax, that’s enough,” Darrow interrupted in a firm voice.
“But…”
A chair scraped across the floor. “I saidthat’s enough!Aella didn’t attack your family, nor is she afforded many choices about anything. If you can’t accept my wife, then get out.”
He’d spoken in a loud voice that startled me. The fury in his tone revealed an intense depth of anger that I was surprised he felt on my behalf. Only one other time had he sounded that way, and it was on Jolloure Island months ago.
Silence reigned in the room for a full minute until I finally heard Jax’s reply, “You’re right. I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m sorry, Aella.”
I drew on the strength I used when my uncle said horrible things to me at the dinner table. No one had practiced that art more than I, and deep breaths helped. Darrow had defended me, and everyone else at the table appeared embarrassed by Jax’s behavior. To be fair, he had a right to his anger. I wouldn’t ruin a chance to inspect a ring that might allow us to retrieve the Naforya Fountain. Our planet was getting weaker dailywithout it, and one argument wasn’t worth forsaking that critical fact. I was old enough and mature enough to know where to focus my priorities.
“It’s fine.” I lifted my head and gave him a weak smile. “You aren’t wrong to be upset, and I understand that.”
He dipped his chin. “Thank you for acknowledging it.”
The tension in the room eased.
Darrow reached under the table and took my hand, unclenching my fist. “I will make it clear to him that it’s not an appropriate subject to bring up again.”
“Please let it go,” I said, giving him a pleading look.
His expression said it wasn’t the end of the conversation, but he’d let the subject drop for now. I breathed a sigh of relief when he drew his hand away and settled back into his chair.
“Jax is often an ass,” Bogdan said, glancing at me with amusement in his dark gray eyes. “I find keeping a piece of rotten fruit on hand to throw at him makes him less likely to say foolish things.”
“Like aperrun?” I asked, referring to a dark-red piece of fruit that grew to about the size of a fist. It was sweet and juicy when picked at the perfect time, but turned very mushy once it became overripe.
He let out a deep laugh. “That is my preferred choice. I apologize for being unprepared for it during this visit, but I won’t be remiss next time.”
Jax rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “This is why I usually avoid your visits. Last time, I was picking pieces of perrun out of my hair all day because you squashed it on my head while we were on the road, and I had no way to wash it out. I still haven’t forgiven you for that.”
“I’m sure I’ll have trouble sleeping tonight now that I know,” Bogdan said wryly.
Faina studied her nails before looking at Jax. “You need to remember that our side has killed Aella’s family members, too, so maybe we should remember both lands have lost a lot. If you can’t back off, I’ll simply put you to sleep until it’s time to leave.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” He narrowed his eyes. “You already know what I’ll do in return.”
“Oh yes, use your invisibility to sneak up and scare me repeatedly.” She snorted. “I’ll just keep a circle of fire around me so you can’t get close.”
I’d wondered what her other magic talent might be, and now I knew. Flame-wielding was one of the most common gifts among high fae, with about one in ten having it. Of course, the level of ability to use it varied with each person. I had a feeling she was very strong.
Loden sighed where he sat directly across from me, having not spoken once throughout dinner. “Do you see what I must deal with regularly? Now you know what you’ll face when you fully join our circle. I wouldn’t blame you if you ran for the Sobaryan Mountains, but I do hope you’ll stay and help me keep them in line.”
I couldn’t imagine how I’d ever be allowed to leave my uncle’s home, even once the truth of my marriage came out. He’d want to keep my power for himself or kill me so no one else could have it. That was a chilling thought.
“Please eat, Aella,” Darrow said, nudging my bowl back toward me. “It will be a long night, and you’ll need your strength.”
“Oh, yes, a lot of walking involved,” Faina added as she took another bite of her bread.
