Page 59 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

“Impressive. A man who knows his scents.”

He places the bottle back on the desk with care. “Jedrick was a late sleeper, and I enjoyed tending to my medical garden in the misty mornings, the one we met in. I have roses and geranium planted there too.”

My heart skips a beat. When I was in that garden in the Iron Castle, I saw those flowers. “Is that right?”

He picks up the dagger on my desk and finds it perfectly balanced before setting it back down. “Oh, yes, I planted themalmost two years ago. Geranium leaves can be used as a pain reliever when placed in teas, and rose oil is good for the skin.” He turns and walks over with soft eyes to where I lean against one of the bed trees. “The scent also reminded me of you. One night a month never seemed like enough.”

His intense green eyes search my face. I marvel at his perfect nose and strong jaw, the dark shadow of stubble a little longer than yesterday. His black hair, dusted with salt-and-pepper streaks, is loose and calls me to brush my hand through it.

It would be so easy to bring him down for a kiss and drag him down to my bed, to pull him completely into my life.

As if he can hear my racing heart and knows my thoughts, his eyes go to my lips. I know he is waiting for me to bring them to him, but his ears stop me. The roundness to the tip reminds me of the shortness of his life compared to mine, the risk to his sanity, and the crushing weight of the knowledge that loving him only for him to die is something I may never recover from.

If I survive this crown at all.

Fae die from broken hearts; their magic decays within their chest. We call it an enervation death. It’s rare and incurable. White scars like lightning strikes appear across their skin as a marking of the magic’s corruption. Eventually, their hearts simply stop beating. So instead of kissing him I ask, “How are you feeling?”

He breaks our eye contact by looking upward in an internal evaluation. “Worried about you, full from that delicious dinner, and restless from the past two days. Why do you ask?”

“Just worried for your well-being. Please tell me if you start to feel anything strange, all right?”

“And then what?” he asks carefully.

“What do you mean?”

?“Say I feel the magic pushing me out or driving me to insanity. What then?’’ He looks down at me again with pinched brows. His eyes roam mine, searching for something.

Not wanting him to find what he’s looking for, the longing, the fear, I cross my arms and look down at my bracelet, inspecting it for nonexistent flaws. “I would make sure you are returned safely.You went to school in Versairen and you said it was safe. Maybe there’s still a place for you there to teach. Or perhaps your childhood home, where you wanted to send me? You could go there even if Cyanna is there, right?” My heart aches at the reminder that he was trying to protect me before all of this started. When I was just someone he saw once a month for a few brief, stolen moments, someone who spent years lying to him, and yet he is here.

“And you will stay in Ellova, even after the elixir is made?” I want the smile he wore in the market again. Now he stares at me, slightly dejected, when I finally look back up at him.

“Yes. I have the crown, and Nyvenah needs to figure out some details, and Nueena’s coronation is in a month. I need to be there for her while she transitions. Even if Grayden is removed, I imagine Nueena would want me to be safely here while in possession of Inara’s crown.”

His jaw tightens slightly at this. “Some things can’t be rushed. Why is she taking over anyway? Why now? Nyvenah seems healthy and able to continue ruling for many years to come.”

I shake my head. “Nueena’s magic is about to surpass her mother’s. The throne belongs to whoever possesses the most magic. She will be the youngest Realm Keeper ever. By hundreds of years.”

“What type of magic does she have?”

Sighing, I put up my hands. “Look, we are—” I stumble over the words, realizing I have no idea how to describe him. What do you call someone you have years of feelings for with only brief monthly conversations and now bonded together by a life-changing moment? I do not have such a word, so I go with what I would like us to be. “—friends, and I want you to understand my home, but you are still an outsider here and there are things I can’t share with you.”

With earnest remorse, he says, “Of course, of course.” He shakes his head. “Forgive me? I’m sorry, this is all so…new. So we are friends, then?’’ A small, playful smile emerges, and I can’t help but mirror his expression.

“Well, yes, of course. We have known each other for years,shared a traumatic experience, and both love blackberry wine. That’s the foundation for all good friendships.”

He takes a step closer. “What if I desire to be more than friends?” That herb and strawberry scent invades my space.

I want to step into him and run my nose over his neck, inhaling that tantalizing smell.

“Ummm…” I ball my hands into fists, forcing myself to stand still and not act on my wanton desires. His eyes leave mine for a moment, noting my clenched fists in my gown.

He takes an impressive step back, straightening his spine, and places his arms behind his back, looking very regal. Mistaking my hesitation for disinterest, he says, “My apologies, Izadella. I probably shouldn’t have asked. I had hoped I made my feelings obvious at the bazaar, as poorly timed as it was.” His smile is strained.

I take a step closer and he mirrors me, shoulders relaxing. “Yes, yes, you did, abundantly so, but so much has happened since then. This has all been overwhelming and I’m terrified of what it will mean if the crown cannot be removed. Your lifespan is so much shorter than mine and what I feel for you already scares me. This crown declares unwanted monarchy so I now have a whole kingdom on the brink of starvation to be responsible for and war with Kalvorn on the horizon and I’m sor?—”

He presses a finger to my lips, and his gentle touch pauses all my fears from spilling out of me. “I understand, Izadella. It’s all right. I regret asking. I just never thought we would end up here, together. I didn’t know if I would ever see you again after that night, and I’ve been distressingly infatuated with you since the first midnight we met, but I’m happy to give you time, if that’s what you need.”

“Time is something we don’t have, I’m afraid,” I whisper, but I lose the internal battle to not touch him and move towards him. His arms open with no hesitation, wrapping around me and pulling me close. I lean my head on his chest, sighing deeply and stealing his comforting scent.

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