Page 13 of Oaths & Vengeance
“Because my uncle thinks that’s as far as I can go.”
Faina gave me an incredulous look. “You kept the extent of your powers a secret fromhim? Why?”
“I’m well aware that if he knew the full extent of my powers, he would escalate the war. I only do enough to stay on his good side,” I admitted.
She pressed the dagger deeper, nicking my skin. “You’re a greater threat than we even imagined.”
“Don’t be hasty, sister.” Darrow dropped into a crouch next to Faina, a sly grin spreading across his face as he looked at me. “You said you’d do anything?”
I gulped. “If it’s within my power and won’t cause innocent people to die.”
Probably should have included that before, but I was upset.
He cocked his head. “What about marriage?”
“What?” I frowned. “My uncle plans to petition the king in a week to betroth me to Baron Elgord. I don’t have a choice in the matter.”
Darrow forced his sister’s blade from my throat. “I’m aware of Lord Morgunn’s plans, but how do you feel about them?”
I didn’t understand this change of topic, but I’d play along to see where it led. “Elgord kissed me yesterday, so I spent the morning throwing up and washing my mouth out.”
The twins fell back on their heels and laughed.
“So it’s safe to say you’d do almost anything to get out of that marriage?” Darrow asked, amusement in his gaze.
I knitted my brows, confused by the direction of this conversation. “Probably.”
“Then you’ll marry me instead.”
Chapter 6
Aella
My jaw dropped. “What? You can’t be serious? My uncle would never allow it, and the king…”
“…will officiate it,” he interrupted as a calculated expression crossed his face. “In secret, of course. My father likely won’t approve of the idea any more than your uncle, but thankfully, His Majesty owes me a favor or two. The news of our nuptials doesn’t have to come out right away.”
“But…” I shook my head. “How will that stop my betrothal to Elgord if no one knows?”
“The king won’t approve it if you’re already married to me, and he doesn’t have to explain his reasoning to your uncle. He can say the baron is a bad match, which isn’t stretching the truth. That man doesn’t deserve a swine for a bride.”
I rose to my feet and stepped back, unable to comprehend his proposal. It was unthinkable. “Why wouldyouwant to marryme?”
“Let’s just say I have my reasons, and they’re worth the sacrifice.” Darrow and his sister stood, but he took a step closer with an intense look in his gray eyes. “You’re far too powerful to leave available to anyone else. Opening portals for me will remain your price if I convince Durelle to heal your cousin.”
I sucked in a breath. “You’ll ask her?”
“Yes. If you agree to my terms.”
“Okay,” I said slowly, mind racing at the implications. “What exactly are your terms?”
“You will open portals for me to wherever I want, except Therressian lands. The exception to that is if I need to retaliate because your uncleattacks another of our villages and kills more innocent civilians.” He gave me a dark look. “If you aid him with that, then you don’t get to argue about helping me return the gesture.”
I shook my head. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Faina snorted. “He’s done it several times with your help.”
“But…” I tried to think back on our trips over there. “He said he wouldn’t do that again after I caught him ten years ago. He swore it.”
