Page 22 of Elven Oath

I shake my head, unable to find the words. The shock, the confusion, it all rushes over me in a wave, and I feel myself trembling.

I hadn’t been prepared for this. I hadn’t asked for any of this. But as I look at Aodhan, standing there with his sword still in his hand, protecting me with a fierceness I hadn’t expected, I realize something.

We weren’t just strangers anymore. We were bound by something more than duty now, something forged in the heat of battle.

And as I stand there, breathing heavily in the aftermath, I can’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

Chapter 8

Vevina

The next morning Iawake stiff all over from the tension the night before. I had a hard time settling in for sleep. The crisp morning air has me drawing my cloak close around me as the others packed up.

My eyes drift to the empty spot where my horse should have been tethered but we had discovered that one of the attackers had stolen her. I can only hope that she manages to break free of them at some point and goes back to my fathers castle.

Looking around, I find Aodhan near the fire. His movements are deliberate as he helps to pack up camp. He hasn’t spoken to me since the attack, though I could feel his eyes on me throughout the night as I tossed and turned.

It was strange being bound to him by a marriage I hadn’t chosen, yet feeling an undeniable pull toward him. I could almost feel the invisible thread tying us together.

He had protected me last night as I stood there stunned, more from the fact that my own people were willing to run a blade through me.

“We need to get moving,” Falkor says, glancing between Aodhan and me. He nods toward the clearing where the horses are tied. “Looks like we’re one short.”

Aodhan follows his gaze, and I see the realization flicker across his face. His eyes meet mine briefly before he finally speaks.

“You’ll ride with me.”

His tone is matter-of-fact, as though this is the only logical solution, but the statement sends a ripple through me.

I swallow hard, trying to keep my expression neutral. I wasn’t about to argue, not after everything that had happened, but the idea of being so close to him set my nerves on edge.

Without a word, I nod, knowing I have little choice. I can feel the weight of the unspoken tension between us as he leads his horse over to me. The large, sleek beast snorts impatiently.

Aodhan moved with the quiet confidence of someone who had been in control his entire life, and for a moment, I felt small in comparison.

I had grown up in the safety of the elven court, shielded from most dangers, but here the reality of the world seemed so much more dangerous.

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