Page 86 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
I shouldn’t have come.
This was Rhianelle’s attempt to win those nobles. The odds had been against her as they have been from the start, but she perseveres. She did her best to maneuver the schemes at court and all that effort goes to the gutter.
I’m certain I’ve ruined everything for her. I lean against the cold pillar and lose a long breath.
What the fuck am I doing?
I brought nothing but chaos to her ordered life. A myriad of strange emotions flare in my chest. I nurse the bottle once again, hoping the ale can smother them.
Guilt floods my chest like a broken dam.
I lost control and I regret it.
A leaf from one of the night flowers crawling on the parapet grazes my hand. Their sweet scent brings a kind of comfort to me. Nothing can assuage this guilt in my chest, but I will admit they are glorious to look at. The bright red and white petals create a beautiful contrast against the dark panel of the roofedterrace. I lean over to appreciate one of the roses and my throat goes dry. The pattern on the vases is unbelievably familiar… It takes a heartbeat for the sight to settle, and I finally recognize them.
By the devil… these blooming flowers are the same desiccated plants Rhianelle had moved weeks ago with Coinneach.
Interspersed among the pots of innocent night flowers are chrysanthemums, roses, dahlias, and asters of every color. I didn’t know what they were back when they were withered and dying. But Rhianelle knew… I can tell by the way Nel arranged these vases she saw them for what they are.
The wonder blows me away, stealing my breath. I keep sniffing the rose, pleasantly surprise by the solace its warm fragrance brings.
Nel’s small act of kindness may seem meaningless at first, but it has blossomed into something beautiful. I close my eyes, trapping this innocent scent of life in my lungs.
Rhianelle is good.
A lovely, innocent little flower. She was surrounded by wolves in that hall. I remember the power play and wicked schemes back in my court with my brothers. I fucking hate it. The Elven council appears to be much a more poisonous court than ours. I understand now why my wife would always come back exhausted after those meetings. The girl has a target aimed at her back constantly.
‘You still owe seventy-seven strikes to the gods.’
Anger burns through me like acid. I know the queen does not have absolute power, but to disrespect her like that… They’re planning on bringing her back to the capital to punish her. I’ll kill every one of them before they can take a single step towards Rhianelle.
‘Your status in the eyes of our temple is no different from a tavern wench.’
Wrath rises in me once again like the tide.
We should have killed him,Coinneach whispers, eager to eliminate the bastard once and for all.
What if Nel becomes scared of us?The black direwolf whines.
I nearly empty half the bottle just to drown their argument in my head.
“Svenn?”
There’s no mistaking the owner of the sweet voice the moment her delicious scent fills my lungs. Rhianelle appears at the other end of the patio, her dress rustling on the warm tiles. Her knights and the Grimsbane must be livid.
She’s sneaked away from them yet again with her silent steps.
“Are you alright?” she asks, closing the distance between us in her small stride.
That inexplicable warmth returns to my chest. Nel is here to check on me. Not the bastard with the big mouth who’s probably fighting for his life.
Me.
Rhianelle takes her place beside me, leaning over the balcony.
“There are Hlaryan elves in the room and Lord Rivtarr is going to be fine. They will probably be able to reattach the… tongue.”
“They can do that?” I arch a brow, annoyance creeping down my spine. Eyepatch is still one eye short, so here’s to hoping their healer’s medical prowess isn’t all that good.
