Page 50 of Faeling
Ravenna pushed the seasoned carrots and chickpeas around her plate. “I don’t have an unbiased opinion.”
“I should hope not. Neither do I.” Eydis popped a spoonful of pie into her mouth, waiting for Ravenna’s answer.
“It seems…short-sighted to agree to an Innrini bride,” she said finally.
“Why do you say that?”
“It will bring Hrothgar onside, yes, but it will also invite him into Vallek’s circle. He will befamily. He’ll try to influence Balmirra through his daughter or niece. Vallek will never be rid of him. Such influence may very well ostracize other chieftainslike Kennum, who will certainly be offended that one of his own daughters wasn’t chosen instead.”
Sitting back in her seat, Eydis swirled her goblet of wine with a satisfied grin. “Very good. We’ll make a politician of you yet.”
Ravenna bit back her satisfaction. It shouldn’t please her so much to have impressed Eydis, but here she was.
“Well then, you little tyrants, what’s the answer instead?” asked Hilde.
Eydis grunted unhappily. “Now that’s the question.”
Ravenna’s satisfaction fizzled when she realized even Eydis didn’t have an answer to this mating mess.
She knew she couldn’t be Vallek’s mate, not in truth. Being a true mate to him would mean abandoning her plans, everything she’d worked for to avenge her parents. Taking a half-fae queen would mean forsaking his own plans and everything he’d worked for to unify the orcish territories.
It was and would always be impossible. A cruel joke by the fates. There was no use mourning what would never be, nor missing someone she would never truly have.
She didn’t consider it a mistake that she never saw visions of herself beyond her campaign of vengeance. Whatever her fate, it was tied with Amaranthe’s. Her future wasn’t hers to give.
Stubborn as he might be, not even a king could change fate.
On the fourth day of her solitude, she received her visit far earlier in the day—and this time it was Asta rather than Eydis.
Vallek’s younger sister breezed into the suite, light on her feet despite hauling an enormous basket. Even set on the ground, it rose nearly to her hip, with a lid almost as wide as Ravenna’swingspan.
“Good morning,tristah,” she chirped.
“Good morning,” Ravenna replied, hiding her smile at being calledlittle sister.
“I’ve been talking with Hilde, and we had an idea. I know you’ve been cooped up in here, so…” Asta gestured at the enormous basket.
Ravenna scowled. “No.”
“But it’s perfect! You’ll fit just fine.”
“It’s a laundry basket.”
“Yes. That’s why no one will suspect.” Asta winked. “Go put on your human disguise.”
It was ridiculous, but Ravenna still found herself eyeing the basket. She would indeed fit. Rather comfortably, actually.
The truth was, apart from her visits with Eydis and Hilde, she was breathtakingly bored. Cooped up was an understatement. She’d scream if she embroidered anything else, and she’d already reread her mother’s grimoire twice.
There were only so many baths and naps she could take. And sleeping in Vallek’s big bed, the silk bedding saturated in his scent, only made it worse.
Her desire for him had been bad enough but manageable when she was hidden in her disguise. Now though, having been recognized and acknowledged by his beast, her needs were growing more acute. More than once, she’d come awake from a hazy dream of him, her hand caught between her legs.
She refused to touch herself in his bed, and after that disastrous night of angry passion, she didn’t dare do it elsewhere, either. The temptation was too great. Given the chance, she’d roll herself up in his sheets and never stop. Notuntil he returned and she begged him to make the aching stop.
So, no, she dared not even start for fear of never stopping.
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking she spent her time longing for him.
