Page 35 of Bound By Blood
People still came for the soup, though. It was a typical day, cooler than before with a crispness in the air. Lanna even dropped off six butternut squashes and over a dozen of the late zucchinis.
Since the days were shortening, autumn's arrival meant that most of her customers would come between noon and mid-afternoon. Except for travelers who were in dire need. But there weren't that many of them. Especially not this year. In fact, there had been none in dire need. No attacks or threats at all for weeks.
The heat of the mid-afternoon sun was more pleasant today than it had been in a long time. She kept the door open still, the war of the hot fragrant steam and the crisp cool wind making for a delightful contrast.
"I came to make my apologies once more."
She stiffened, her fingers tightening around the wooden spoon. "You really have a lot of nerve showing up here again, Traelan."
Traelan stood in the door, his hat in his hands this time but that mildly cocky smile still on his face. "I do, but that's largely because I have no shame. It isn't conducive to someone in my line of work. That doesn't mean I am unaware when I have done wrong. I invaded your home and threatened your guest, and for that, I am deeply sorry."
"You made your apology last night."
She refrained from offering him soup. The sooner he left the better, though it did surprise her that he was here. There was a genuineness in his eyes at the moment that she hadn't expected. As if he had something he needed to tell her.
He twisted the hat in his hands. "I am leaving this afternoon."
"I hope you find what you are looking for and do not invade anyone else's home in the process," she said coolly.
He chuckled, his tone surprisingly good humored. "I understand your anger with me. Ryul seems a gentle soul. Particularly for a blood fae. But I came here to caution you even more. Especially as I interrupted what looked to be a tender moment."
"He would not hurt me, and…" She stopped before she reiterated her stance of not making bargains or deals with fae. The first part was enough.
He nodded slowly. "No, I don't believe he would willingly, but he is very young."
"Maybe for a fae," she laughed. "Two hundred seventy-eight is hardly—"
"Months. Not years."
"What?" She blinked, trying to run through the numbers. "So he's—"
"About twenty-four."
"I—I'm older than he is?"
She'd never even met a fae who was less than a hundred years of age. This felt wrong. And strange! No wonder she'd beaten him so easily. It no longer felt like such a triumph.
Traelan nodded. "I'm not telling you what to do. I wouldn't dream of such a thing. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart. But as you're alone here and you don't have any family of your own, I'll tell you what I would want someone to tell my own sister or cousin. Young fae fall in love hard and fast, especially if it's their first time. He doesn't even know his own heart or his own mind in this. And the feelings alone aren't enough to determine what is truly within the heart or what will happen over the years."
"We all change with time," she said softly.
She wasn't who she used to be. Not at all. In both good ways and bad. Yet pangs of unease twisted through her. Why did this even matter? It wasn't as if she was going to get into a relationship with him and had to be prepared for all the changes he would go through as he gained his new powers.
Right?
"Yes," Traelan said, "but the changes that he will go through are dramatic in comparison to what humans do. He hasn't even grown into his wings yet. While relationships happen and there are no laws against fae of his age entering into relationships or marriage, most do not. Most families do not permit it or bless it, and as someone who fears open-ended bargains and rejects them, you will need to be exceptionally cautious. Young blood fae feel with their entire beings. But feelings change fast. And that wish that is required? That's part of its purpose. To test the sincerity of the bond beyond feelings. It's not as simple as the blood fae choosing the proper wish in response to the statement."
"Part of its purpose?" She frowned. "Then how is it twisted to cruel ends so often?"
She'd heard many stories over the years of humans who fell for blood fae and spoke those dangerous words only to be sent on impossible quests or ordered to walk off cliffs or cut out their own hearts.
"Who is it protecting?" she asked.
"The wishes will be twisted to reveal the truth of the fae in mind and heart alike. As I said, feelings can lie. And some blood fae do use it cruelly. Most of the decent ones will warn any they meet against developing such feelings."
"He did warn me."
It had seemed insulting at the time, but the warning was real.
