Page 63 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
“But Coral is too cute,” the other knight gushes.
My heart warms at the very mention of her name. “Thank you for letting Coral stay on your estate. Please tell Lord Clayborne I am forever in his debt.”
Garrett gives me a broad smile. “My father is happy to have her. He has given up the hopes of having any grandchildren from me, so taking care of that baby is a blessing. He’s going to spoil her rotten.”
It feels like ages ago when the lord had declared the deadly Archon on my head. I hope Coral behaves and doesn’t eat too much of his chicken.
I’m so happy my knights accepted a creature of fae origin so freely. I know it’s not easy to embrace that. All our lives, we’ve been taught that the fae are savage and ruthless, a source of great evil.
We keep the secret of Coral’s existence in a small circle. Lady Siofra says she can try recreating a salve she once saw the orkan mages use on premature foals to help with Coral’s growing pain.
It’s only been a day since I last saw her, but I’m already missing the baby wyvern. I touch my chest to calm the ache I feel there.
Aelfric notices my distress instantly with his eagle eye. “Hey, let us all see her after your birthday celebration.”
My mouth tips up with a smile at the promise. This unbearable longing feels familiar. Being bonded to Coral makes me realize something about this connection between me and Svenn…
Thunderclouds clusterin the sky as I skip down the streets of Windhaven beyond the town square. I wasn’t lying to Aelfric and Garrett when I told them I plan to return to my room after the ceremony. I just need to make a quick stop first.
Moving through the dwellings, tanneries, and smithies in the small city is like navigating through a labyrinth. It doesn’t helpthat vendors and merchants start setting their small shop in preparation for the night market. But with the precise direction given by Tallula, I arrive at my destination.
It’s way past visiting hours as I sneak into the Hlaryan elves’ temple. I step onto the rising marble steps just as it rains. The frigid air makes me glad I’m wearing multiple layers beneath my heavy coat. I pull my hood forward and sneak from one white pillar column to the next to reach the wide oak double door.
I pause briefly at the stone staircase at the sound of approaching footsteps. Taryn is walking with one of the veiled priestesses down the hall. Her dark hair is braided and twisted into buns, leaving a few loose curls at the temples. The deep forest green acolyte robe she adorns is a proof of her order and skill. Soon she will be awarded with the proud blue robe of the Hlaryan elves and be a certified healer like Lady Deirdre.
“He won’t let us take off his mask,” I hear the girl grumble to her superior.
The matron shakes her head, frowns, and sighs. “Let him keep it then.”
Time is short and I can’t have the priestess alert my knights of my presence. I wait for her to leave before stepping out of the shadows to greet Taryn.
“I was expecting you,” the young acolyte says brightly as she leads me down the temple hall. “Your friend had just woken up this afternoon.”
My chest heaves with a heavy sigh of relief. I was beginning to worry if Shade may never open his eyes.
I even begged Svenn to bite him again because I was so afraid. The very suggestion made my husband scowl and punish me. He held me in his arms at breakfast until I was late for the ceremony this morning. I wonder if Svenn had timed it so I didn’t have to stand and wait long at the town square for Duvall’s arrival.
He’ll wake up,Svenn had promised. And he’s right.
Taryn suddenly slows to a stop and pauses in the hallway. Her gaze softly lifts to mine as she stares at me with her rich brown eyes.
“I wanted to thank you…” the girl suddenly says in a soft but clear voice. “For taking our place as a sacrifice to the Nightwalker. I can’t imagine having to live with a vampire every day.”
I blink in surprise.
The girl doesn’t have to worry for me. My husband isn’t all that bad.
“As a maiden of Arawynn, it was our duty to become an offering, and yet we passed it on to you,” she says, her voice breaking.
I take her hand to comfort her.
“I’m all right, Taryn,” I say to her. Better than that, I’m happy. I don’t feel so alone anymore with Svenn by my side.
I look at the young acolyte’s sad expression as she tucks a loose strand behind her ear. Taryn shouldn’t have been made to feel this way. She shouldn’t have to apologize.
“There won’t be any more desecrations to the Goddess of Arawynn. The elven marriage bond will never be used for political ties ever again,” I vow solemnly. “Blaire is the last and we’ll get her back.”
My friend seems to have a plan of her own by secretly tying herself to the third prince of Myrkheim.
