Page 119 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
Yes, I’ve read it in their little books. Unlike the dwarves, fae, and orcs, these elves are driven by logic than instinct.
Rhianelle begins to panic when I don’t say a word. “I promise when we get to the capital, I’ll go to the emporium to find outmore.Darstan and Siofra are mates. We can ask them all about it tomorrow. Aelfric has contacts with the fae. I’m—I’m sure he’d be willing to reach out to them for us—”
“Hey, whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together,” I interrupt her so she can catch air into her lungs.
Her eyes narrow at first, but then her expression softens. She buries her head on my chest and softly nods. “Together…”
There is a moment of perfect silence when she suddenly says, “I should have just told you sooner.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I was afraid you’d go away and never come back.”
I feel like I’ve gone to war and returned from hell with that one simple line from her. It shatters me and pieces me back together at the same time. I realize all of Rhianelle’s fears are the same as mine.
I pull her face up so she can see my eyes. “I’m not going away, Nel.”
That earns me a small smile from her. It penetrates the darkest part of my heart.
“I know that now.” She grins and I want to kiss her again.
The girl suddenly feigns a pout and looks away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mates… it’s supposed to be a big, meaningful declaration.” She shrugs a little. “I just thought they would be special sparks like fireworks or something.”
“Would you like that?” I ask her.
The fiery beast Cyntefin stirs from his slumber, ready to fulfill her wish. The air crackles and pulses around us.
“No, stop it. I’m just being silly,” she says, laughing. She pushes my chest playfully and shakes her head. “It’ll reveal our camp to the enemy.”
I want to tell her that it’s not silly, that there will be nothing but charred remains of her enemy if they try to touch her.
Instead, I just stroke her hair and hold her tight, letting her know I will never let her go. “From now on, if you have doubts, ask me. No more misunderstandings. Only truths.”
She merely nods.
“So, tell me what’s on your mind right now.”
“You.”
“Anything else?”
There is a long pause before she finally confesses.
“Tomorrow.”
There is fear in her eyes that wasn’t there a second ago.
“It gets easier once you’re in the heat of it,” I tell her.
She tilts her head up to look at me, her brows plunging in confusion.
“The killing.”
Stilted silence falls between us, crushing and heavy. Her smile dims and her lilac eyes cease sparkling. “I’m not that naïve. I’m the Queen of Aelfheim. Just because I haven’t dirtied my hand doesn’t mean that life has not been taken in my name.”
