Page 46 of The Poison of the Earth
“Five,” I counter.
She huffs. “Three.”
“Fine, but I get to ask at least one question in response.”
She nods as her fingers press into my gills further.
“Are these tattoos or markings?”
“Tattoos. I got them when I came of age.”
Another tiny nod from her. She’s silent a long while.
“Are you going to ask your other question?”
She flashes me a smile. “I don’t have one yet, just wanted a freebie in my back pocket.”
“Sneak.” I beam down at her. “Fine, tell me a truth.”
“I missed dinner because I was at Nell’s home getting fitted for a few dresses more becoming of the Commander’s soon to be wife.”
I grumble. “That was cheap, but I had wondered where you were. I’d prefer you joined me for dinner in the evenings and that you took a guard when you left the keep.”
In reality, I had been a ball of nerves, worried for her and near to ordering the entirety of my guard out to search for her. Only the image of her rage had held my hand.
“Alright,” she responds, still stroking my gills as I battle for control.
She’s silent a bit and I open and close my hands a few times as I tell myself I amnotallowed to touch her.
She tracks the movement but doesn’t flinch. She stares at my chest as she near-whispers, “I have poor control of my magic because I had no mentor or parent to teach me during my years of development.”
I think on that, determined to make my question count.Only powerful magic users of each variety need to learn detailed control. And the years during which you need training are a pretty wide range; about ages twenty to thirty. An older faeling, but only just reaching majority at thirty.I roll a few thoughts around my head, trying to make sure that my question will gain the most information about my little mate as possible.
I finally settle on “Where were you during that time?”
She flinches, slowly withdrawing her hands from me. I quickly catch them in mine and ease her hands flat to my chest as I cradle them.
She answers without looking up. “Locked up beneath RedWater Castle.”
Yup, I’m killing Alder personally and slowly.
I breathe through my nose, trying to get my anger under control. She must feel it though as she pulls away from me.
“No, sweetheart, please, let me hold you. I’m not mad at you, of course, you wouldn’t think that?”
She freezes, but slowly I feel her body relax into mine. I wrap my arms around her, aching at the press of her against me.She’s perfect, she’s so perfect.
“Good girl, sweetheart,” I whisper. “You can trust me.”
Her body leans into me harder, like she wants to believe me and I hold her tighter.I’ll keep her safe.This little Fae, who has seen horrors and seeks revenge, bold enough to approach and lie to her family’s enemies, with such a strong personality and the obvious need to both take, and surrender, control.
I kiss the top of her head, her white hair mussed and braided, and force myself to release her. She steps back, taking a deep breath.
She clears her throat, “I believe I’m ready for bed.”
I nod and turn, grabbing a pair of loose slacks to sleep in and heading to the bathroom to change.
When I emerge, she has wrapped her hair up onto the top of her head and is in my bed, snuggled down, surrounded by my blue blankets and pillows, looking ethereal. She’s holding her book and utterly focused upon it.
