Page 58 of These Eternal Bones
I dip my brush, dragging it down in soft wisps, mimicking the hair long fallen into his face as he watches me intently. There's no work today, no pacing or tugging at his silky, midnight colored hair. He just watches, and despite the press of urgency and the trickle of annoyance, I am loath to stop him. Especially when he catches me looking, especially when his lips quirk-like that. A hint of sharpened canine promising pleasure.
I let loose another breath in a long, strategically timed sigh, pretending to fret at the canvas, making sure to look terribly troubled. My three hours’ worth of hard work finally pays off as he shifts, ever so slightly, his tendrils unraveling from their lazy place wrapped around my ankle to nudge and bop playfully at my nose. I stifle a giggle; frustrated peopledo notgiggle.
“Is something the matter,utsukushii onnanoko?” Beautiful girl.He’d told me not too long ago.
“It’s just the lighting in here…” It’s a ridiculous statement; the windowed walls and clear dome ceiling of the solarium are the perfect place to paint. “It’s too bright.”
His eyes narrow, dark veins ebbing and flowing underneath his skin, every bit as sentient as the man sporting them.
Please, let me go to the library.
After Tien and Cartiel’s odd standoff, where the older man no doubt listened in on our conversation, the doors have remained closed. I haven’t checked to see if they’re still locked; the message is as clear as the tapestry door upstairs.
Don’t ask.
And for the most part, I haven’t. Only because questions regarding my supposed past lives, the door, and whathedid to cause this only seemed to madden the man. For all my longing for answers, for a solution to stop this…I cannot bear to see him this way.
The most I’ve gleaned was unintentionally from Péal. There is a bond formed between gods-sworn mates, one that he refuses to solidify, which explains to constant discomfort and hollowness in my chest. Where for me it is a nuance, for him it is agony, to ignore a soul deep imperative. According to the selkie, I had described it in my diary before. Apparently, I was once an avid writer. I found that particularly funny considering that in this life, while my reading is coming along well enough, my writing is still…lacking. Although I get close enough to usually somewhat understand, I can’t seem to string the correct letters together; it is definitely not my calling. I have mostly given up.
Point being, if the bond is formed, I die. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but the longest I’ve lasted is a handful of years.
It’s odd how long that would seem in any other circumstances.
I choke back on the despair that threatens to overpower my resolve, the tiny nagging voice that tells me to let it go, to curl up with him and never surface.
But I have diaries, detailed ones…ones I know he wouldn’t dare throw away.
Perhaps even diaries with answers…perhaps ones in the library. Seems a reasonable place to put something like that, although she said she hadn’t seen them in years. The library is as good a place as any to start.
“Elric–”
“No.”
“Why not?” I challenge, anger making my lip wobble.
“I do not–”
“Want me to waste our time fretting over something that cannot be changed. Yes, you’ve recited that line quite a lot. Which would make sense if I were interested in hunting down information you’ve deniedme. I simply wish to paint in lighting that isn’t utterly and entirely foul.” I snap, the words leaving me with more venom than I meant.
Judging by the amused look on his face and the sudden tenting in his trousers, he doesn’t mind.
I huff at the sight of it, knowing all too well he can…smellmy response.
Focus, Molly.
This is the exact moment I’ve failed every other time, with his tendrils sneaking their way to my most achy parts. I swat at them, nearly upsetting my canvas.
“It is a small request, and you’ll be by my side,” I plead, more like pout like a bratty child, but it is his fault since he cannot seem to stop spoiling me like one. Every day, new trinkets and gifts arrive from the port, and every day I wake to a man whose sole purpose is to adore me.
I fear it has gone straight to my head.
Especially since Péal has been temporarily removed from my care, due to not only her reliably loose lips but our little stunt in the ocean. I’d all but had to tuck the selkie under my skirts to keep her head attached to her body. She’d thought the whole thing quite hilarious until Elric had informed her she’d no longer be allowed to be in my charge.
Turns out fae are just as scary as the stories suggest, even tiny, cute ones with large eyes and sweet dispositions.
“It seems I’ve shown you my cards too soon, syringa.” I quirk a brow as he gathers me from my stool, calling for Tien. “I can deny you nothing.”
But you can.
