Page 17 of Oaths & Vengeance
To my shock, it felt good, and I opened my mouth. His tongue danced with mine. I softened against him, unable to help myself. It was the most incredible kiss I’d ever had, and without thinking, I lost myself as I clutched at him. The passion between us was so unexpected. Sure, he was easy to look at, but I understood who he was and that I should never feel anything besides hatred for him. Except right now, I forgot all about any of that.
He pulled back, and a sardonic smile formed on his lips. “Feeling any nausea?”
“No,” I said, confused.
“Good. I wanted to be certain that when we kiss during the wedding ceremony, neither of us throws up in front of the king.” Darrow dropped his arms, no longer caging me. “That would be awkward.”
“What?” It took me a moment to understand. “Oh, because of what I said about Elgord. That’s not the same thing as…”
His gaze turned cold and hard as ice. “Whatever you do, remember we aren’t friends. We’re enemies with centuries of blood and death between our families. While I don’t want you repulsed by me if we are to be married for the rest of our lives, I also don’t want you to develop feelings for me. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding jerkily. Horror filled me that, for a moment, I’d thought becoming his wife wouldn’t be so bad. He’d certainly cleared up those delusions.
He expelled a harsh breath. “If you want comfort or soft touches, go to Camden. There will never be anything between us except business.”
“Don’t fool yourself, Darrow. No man has ever made me fall in love, and it certainly won’t be you,” I said, lifting my chin. He wouldn’t get the best of me now or ever.
“Does that mean you aren’t the clingy type?” he asked, skeptical.
“You kissed me first, remember?” I gave him my coldest expression. “I went along with it out of curiosity, nothing more.”
If I’d lost my head for a moment, it likely had to do with a bad week and attempting to wipe away the memories of Elgord’s hands on me. No one could blame me for that.
“Excellent. Glad we understand each other.”
“Now let me go home,” I said, pushing him away.
Darrow gestured at my hair. “You might cover yourself first before you step out of the shadows.”
Begrudgingly, I did as he suggested. As I tucked in my hair and pulled my hood back up, I kept a watchful gaze in case anyone came our way. Thankfully, no one did. I didn’t bother telling him goodbye before sweeping past him. He didn’t move from his spot while I set up the portal, and he remained there when I stepped into the blue shimmer.
Chapter 7
Darrow
She’d said opening portals to my land was easy, but I’d still had difficulty believing it until I watched her. Over the years, we’d spent considerable time and resources warding Veronna’s rings so that no channeler could use them except our own and the king’s. Not only could Aella do it anyway, but faster than our people. Generations could pass without someone like her appearing. I knew because I’d investigated those with her gifts in regard to another matter.
After the blue light disappeared behind her, I headed back to the tavern. There were still fae on the streets—mostly drunks or criminals—but none dared come near me. They knew better. I was Lord Gannon’s dark elf son with enough power to crush any of them in seconds if the mood struck me. Over the years, I’d even done it a few times before they’d learned not to cross my path. Only those who deserved it, of course, but I’d made a spectacle of their deaths as an example. Many believed I had no soul.
That wasn’t quite accurate. I rubbed at the back of my neck where I had my own curse mark, though, unlike Aella, I came into the world with mine. My father’s entire male line had inherited it for more than six centuries. It dimmed most of our emotions as soon as we gained magic at adolescence and rendered us incapable of love.
It was one more reason why Aella was my perfect match. Who else besides an enemy should be bound to someone who could never feel more than slight concern for them? I’d make certain she never forgot the bad blood between us and remind her whenever she appeared to soften toward me. She would because that kiss proved it, giving in to me too easily.
Though she was Therressian, even she didn’t deserve to fall for a man who couldn’t love her back. I’d seen the damage it did to my father and grandfather with their marriages and, more recently, with my older brother and his wife. On the other hand, she could also be the one to help break our damn curse. Wouldn’t that be ironic?
My sister waited for me outside the tavern, standing next to one of my closest friends, Loden. He had a strong, medium build, short brown hair, and lightly tanned skin. Though he was as good a fighter as anyone in my inner circle, he was the least obtrusive. I appreciated that he was a thinker and often poked holes in my plans so I had a better chance at success.
“Any problem seeing your intended off?” Faina asked with a smirk.
I shook my head. “She opened the portal like it was hers rather than ours.”
“Aella is one of the puzzle pieces we need then,” Loden surmised. “I heard about the deal you made with her, and I think it was the right call, though I’m surprised you two came up with that plan without me.”
I gave him an exasperated look. “We occasionally get something right.”
He snorted. “I’m even more surprised you convinced a Therressian to go along with it. Marriage…to you?”
“Her other choice was to abide by her uncle’s plan to betroth her to Baron Elgord,” I said, then informed them about Aella’s curse mark. “At least she’ll have more freedom with me.”
