Page 67 of Oaths & Vengeance
“The fact you’re not out of breath tells me you’ve expended very little energy to perform that maneuver.” He chuckled and leaned closer to me. “It was nice to see your cousin put in his place for once, with how he abuses my soldiers with his powers.”
“You couldn’t have possibly enjoyed it more than me,” I whispered back. Despite my win, I didn’t dare gloat too loudly. Ulmar was unforgiving, and if he found an opportunity, he would exact revenge for today.
Sariyah ran up and hugged me. “That was amazing. I’m so glad you finally beat his ass, Aella.”
My cousin finished retching and lifted his head to glare at me with a promise of vengeance in his bloodshot gaze. I gave my best friend a wan smile. “Thank you.”
I’d have to watch my every step for a while. The trouble with Ulmar was that he could also be very patient and wait weeks or months to strike when I least expected it. I wondered if I shouldn’t have taken a beating instead of what might come later.
Chapter 30
Aella
Five weeks had passed with daily training for my weapons and magic since I’d last seen my husband. He’d only asked me to open a portal that one time since the attack at Petosty, and I supposed he took the hint that night that I needed space after our last meeting.
The break from him had finally ended with a sebeska finding me while I worked on my light magic at the pit this morning, thankfully without an audience. I was terrified of seeing Darrow tonight because it had been over two months since I’d last had sex, and my physical urges grew with each passing day. Thoughts crept into my mind of his promise to fulfill my needs if only I asked, as well as memories of him touching me. My dreams were especially vivid, leaving me frustrated and panting when I woke.
I had to remind myself that it was nothing more than a game for Darrow. He only saw me as a means to an end. How bad would it be to fall for my enemy whose heart was as cold as ice and would never thaw for me? It would be the ultimate vengeance against me and my family, with no way to escape due to our marriage vows.
I braced myself as I stepped from the portal onto Veronnian land near Durelle’s cabin. The forest was dark and silent, except for Darrow standing ten feet away. He’d pulled back half of his brown and black streaked hair, and his face was mesmerizing in the moonlight. Additionally, he wore form-fitting, black leather pants and a matching tunic that left a tantalizing glimpse of his muscular chest. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t deny my attraction to him. Even my anger had abated with time.
Two months ago, my fury was like rock-hard ice. I could clench the jagged ball in my hands to remind myself of what he’d made me do tomy own people, but it had melted over the weeks and slipped through my fingers no matter how hard I tried to hold onto it. The fact of the matter was, he’d kept his promise, and loss of life had been minimal—far less than the deaths from my uncle’s malicious attack.
The woods appeared empty aside from Darrow, making me stiffen. “Where is everyone else?”
“It is only the two of us tonight.” He took my hand, his warm and rough, and led me away from the ring.
“What?” I tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t let go. He continued to guide me through the darkness to a place just past the trees. “I thought you summoned me here to portal you somewhere.”
We stopped a short distance beyond sight of the ring, where his horse fed on some foliage, and a blanket lay across the ground. Moonlight filtered through an open spot in the canopy to shine upon the silver cloth. “You will be transporting us to a meeting once you’ve regained enough energy to open a portal to Jolloure.”
“Why is there a blanket there?” I asked warily.
He gave me one of those taunting smiles that made my thighs clench. “I thought we’d have some quality time as husband and wife while we waited. I even took the time to scare all the dangerous creatures far away so we wouldn’t be disturbed.”
“No.” I shook my head, backing up a step. “We are not doing that.”
He moved fast, pulling my body into his strong arms and surrounding me with his scorching heat. The scent of sandalwood and leather filled my nose. “Why not?”
“Because I’m being torn by two sides, between you and my uncle, and you’re never going to truly care about me or what I want.”
Darrow nuzzled my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “I do care about your well-being, Aella. If you ever need me, don't hesitate to ask. You’d be surprised what I’d do for you.”
Only for his own benefit. He was well-known for his ability to seduce women.
“I don’t want to fall for you, Dare,” I said, finding it hard to think with his lips and breath teasing my skin. What was wrong with me that I didn't want him to stop?
He pressed kisses below my ear, along my jaw, and then my mouth before pulling back a tiny fraction. “We’ll be married the rest of our lives, Aella. At some point, everyone will know, and then we’ll have to share a home together. Do you really think you can go on forever resisting me and feeling nothing?”
“I know you can’t love me back,” I said as one of his hands roamed toward my backside. Annoyingly, I had no desire to stop him.
He met my gaze, only inches separating our faces. “Who told you?”
“Does it matter?” I asked.
A flash of annoyance crossed his features before he smoothed them again. “Very well, it’s true that I’m cursed and cannot love. I can still care, as well as feel lust and possessiveness for you. Isn’t that enough?”
“Not when it means you can use my feelings to manipulate me while I can’t do the same to you,” I argued.
