Page 40 of Oaths & Vengeance
I rubbed my cheek. “Not really up for eating much.”
Darrow nodded in understanding, handed me the bread, and dug out a water container from his saddlebag. “Here.”
“Thank you,” I said, taking hold of them.
“How quickly do you usually heal?” he asked, gaze roving over my numerous wounds.
I took a swig of water first, not realizing how thirsty I’d become during my travels. “It will all be gone by morning.”
Perhaps he wondered because of my druid side, but they healed as fast as high fae.
“Are you certain?” he asked, no doubt worried someone would see me and ask questions. We wouldn’t want anyone to figure out I’m helping the enemy after all and ruin his plans—whatever those were.
“Yes, I’m sure.” I had enough experience to know.
I sat down to finish my bread as he silently ate the rest of the food. A part of me wished he’d left with his friends, but he wouldn’t dare leave me alone in his territory. At least the trip here hadn’t drawn as much power, so I probably only needed another hour before I’d become strong enough again. Pushing my skills seemed to enhance them. Despite the fight beforehand, I didn’t feel quite as drained as I expected.
Darrow set aside the food container. “I have heard that your uncle didn’t handle it well when the king refused your betrothal to Elgord.”
“No, it hasn’t been pleasant to be around him. Now, he is trying to find someone else suitable for me, so we’ll see how that goes,” I said, taking another drink of water.
Being alone with him was strange when he wasn’t baiting or teasing me, yet the tension between us was taut. I was angry about the fight with Koen, and maybe he felt guilty about putting me in that situation. Before tonight, I wouldn’t have guessed it might bother him, but to kill one of his soldiers and abandon him like that revealed—at the very least—that he didn’t want to see me hurt. I couldn’t decide how I felt about that. The scene continuously replayed in my head from when his rage became so great that he stabbed the elf.
“Perhaps it will take your uncle a long time to find anyone willing and worthy,” Darrow said, staring at me in a way I couldn’t read.
I shrugged. “It’s my problem, not yours.”
“It’s both of ours now.”
Oh, sure. He’d choose which things we handled as a married couple and which we didn’t. I refused to dignify that with a response and stared into the woods instead. Physically, I was exhausted and couldn’t wait to go home and sleep for a few hours.
I checked my pockets and was grateful the flowers I’d stuffed in them were still there. The rest I’d held in my hands were lost during my strugglewith Koen, which frustrated me almost more than my wounds. Those buds could have done so much good for the dragons.
“Will we be returning to Jolloure in the future?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Can I ask why?”
Darrow stared at me for a moment. “No. At least, not yet.”
His answer didn’t surprise me. Then again, with all the bad blood between our lands, did I want his trust? This marriage had nothing to do with that. It was simply business to get what we both needed, and I didn’t have to know what he did as long as it didn’t hurt my people. Only one thing continued to bother me.
I sat up straighter and cocked my head. “Why didn’t you kill me that day on the battlefield?”
A smile stretched his lips. “I probably would have if not for you blowing a kiss. It was a challenge I couldn’t resist, so I retaliated in kind.”
How ironic. I never did things like that, but doing it that one day likely saved my life.
“You could have removed the one person capable of transferring Lord Morgunn’s forces across your border without warning.” I shook my head. “It seems short-sighted.”
His expression turned thoughtful. “Believe me when I say I questioned my choice afterward, and when you showed up almost a week later, I thought I had my second chance at finishing you. Then, you gave me an opportunity I couldn’t resist.”
“To use my portal opening abilities for yourself?”
Darrow nodded. “And to see how you responded to a real kiss.”
I sighed and looked away. His light chuckle filled my ears, but I refused to look at him again. We spent the rest of our time sitting in the woods in silence. To my relief, nothing came out of the night to bother us. As soon as I felt myself regain enough power, I stood. Darrow watched me open the portal home but blocked me before I could go through it.
