A Deal with the Elf King (Married to Magic, #1)(54)

“Don’t let today change things,” I say quickly. “That man paid for his crimes. Unless he was acting on behalf of the Fae King…don’t let all of the fae people suffer because of his choices.”

Eldas studies me so intently that I shift and pull the blanket tighter around me, as though I might guard myself from his probing stare. “You would have me not turn them away?”

“I would have you rule fairly, with strength, and with honor.”

A tired smile curls the corners of his lips. “You remind me of her, sometimes.”

“Who?” I imagine some lover he gave up before I entered the castle.

“Alice.” Certainly not who I was expecting.

I clutch the blanket tighter. “You must’ve known her well, didn’t you?”

A shadow crosses his face and Eldas shakes his head, as though he regrets saying anything. I can feel him retreating mentally well before he retreats physically. I watch as he stands, fighting the strange urge to pull him back before the fire with me.

“You should get some rest,” he says softly but firmly.

“Eldas—”

“I’ll see you in the morning to practice your magic.”

“But—” I don’t get to finish. He’s out the door, retreating with a haste I’ve never seen from him before. I look to Hook, who gives a low whine and tilts his head at me in response. “I don’t understand him either.”

The wolf stands, stretches, and then comes to sit where Eldas just was. I lean against him for support and the beast gives a soft huff. But he doesn’t move. Hook stays even as I fall asleep on his furry shoulder.





Chapter 21





The next morning, Rinni arrives as usual. She says nothing of finding me sleeping on the floor. In fact, she’s eerily quiet.

Hook still seems drowsy from yesterday and I tell him to stay in my rooms. He doesn’t put up a fight and I’m already thinking of what I can make him later in the laboratory with Willow that might make my companion feel better.

“Rinni, about yesterday…” I start as we walk to the throne room. She doesn’t so much as turn my way. “I want to apologize to you.”

Silence.

“You were right,” I continue with every bit of sincerity I have. “I was wrong. We should have stayed in the castle.”

More silence.

“Rinni—”

“I will be waiting for you when you have finished with the king to take you to Willow,” Rinni says, her words void of emotion. Anger would’ve been easier to handle.

“I can just go and meet Willow on my own.”

“His Majesty has instructed me that you are not to be without escort, even in the castle. I’d like to make haste with this jaunt, however, as I have matters to discuss with the other head knights regarding city patrols and security.”

“Eldas seemed to think the castle would be safe now that the delegation is gone.”

“It is the will of our king.” Rinni stops before the door to the throne room. “And it is not our place to go against his wishes.”

Rinni doesn’t give me the chance to say anything else before I’m ushered into the throne room for another morning of magic practice.

Eldas is distant once more. It’s as though any time he even remotely gets close to me he overcompensates for it the next time we meet. He stays several steps away from me at all times. Which only makes me think all the more about his earlier caresses when we first started working together.

I would’ve thought the space would make me feel better. This is a man who tore someone else apart. But the gap between us only makes me cold. It’s somehow more of a reminder of what he’s capable of. I want the tender man who came to me last night. Yet I don’t know where or how to find him.

My magic matches my emotions. At times, it heeds my will and his instruction. I continue to explore the redwood throne, trying to figure out what that dark place is. All I can uncover before my magic fails me is that the throne seems to have grown out from that spot.

As soon as Eldas deems us finished, he departs without a word. I’m not even given the chance to discuss yesterday. Wrapping my arms around myself, I head to the laboratory, Rinni escorting me silently.

Thankfully, at least Willow is normal.

He hears me out as I talk about the incident in the city, allowing me to air all the confusing feelings I’ve had knotting me up since yesterday afternoon.

“The fae are a mess,” he sighs when I finish. “Which is sad, because they have such fascinating magic and traditions. I hear that some of the rituals they perform to charge their ritumancy can take days at a time. Sometimes they hunt for years to get all the items in place for their rituals. And the rituals themselves are filled with dancing, meditation, or sometimes even blood sport.”

I don’t want to think about blood. “I know how the elves love tradition,” I say, trying to force the thought away.

Willow chuckles as he reaches across the laboratory table and squeezes my hand. “I’m glad you’re all right though.”

“Me too. But I’m afraid I might have landed Rinni in a heap of trouble.”

“If anyone will be all right, it’s Rinni. There is no chance from here to the Veil that Eldas will ever punish Rinni.”