Page 64 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
“This could all have been avoided,” Jaro muses. “If you’d taken my offer all those years ago.”
My jaw tightens as I remember the understanding look on his face in Danu’s cave. He’d had baby Rose cradled in his arms, wrapped in Drystan’s cloak as he tried to bargain with me.
I’d been twelve. Surrounded by adult fae warriors who’d tried to kill me before I swore the oath, terrified of the consequences of returning home and confessing to my father what I’d done. I didn’t even know how I was going togethome.
All I knew was that you could never trust a fae bargain.
Looking back now, I can recognise that Jaro wasn’t really trying to trap me. Perhaps, had I taken the offer and accepted a place in Elfhame’s barracks, none of this would’ve happened. Maybe I’d be back in the palace, balls deep in what I imagine must be the softest, most welcoming, heat in this realm.
But it would never have happened.
“You were the enemy.”
“Past tense?”
I’m wasting breath telling him that I’m on his side now, aren’t I? I could ram the point home with my father’s war hammer, and it still wouldn’t sink through that thick fucking skull.
Jaro runs a hand through his beard. “I’m just saying, you would’ve made a good knight.”
“I suck at following orders.” I scoff. “At the time, I wanted nothing to do with the fae. The only reason I took the oath…” I trail off, unwilling to admit the truth.
“Don’t leave me hanging,” Jaro prompts. “I’ve always wondered.”
“My father announced my betrothal the day before.” ToPrae, of all females. I had no desire to mate my cousin just to continue the purity of Balor’s line. In fact, I’d been disgusted by the idea. Still am.
Elatha had me flayed once he learned I could no longer form a mate bond with anyone else. Both Prae and I still agree, it was worth it.
“Ah.”
“Yeah.” Not the honourable reasoning I’m sure he was hoping for, but none of the others can say much different. “I’m sure I wasn’t the only one taking advantage of the Oath.”
“Bree and Lore have already admitted as much, and knowing Drystan, he had his reasons as well.” Jaro releases his beard. “Speaking of Drystan…”
He reaches into his pocket and withdraws a small glass leaf, handing it to me. The stem is hooked, like it can be attached to a chain, and the orange and brown glass is etched with fae symbols I can’t read.
“Aww, you got me a souvenir? I didn’t realise you cared, wolf.”
Jaro shoves me, but the charm causes him to miss and stumble.
“It’s enchanted,” he grumbles, regaining his balance. “If you drop it on the ground and smash it on the ground while saying ‘all things fall’ and focusing on your destination, it will take you there. Don’t waste it—they’re expensive and damned hard to come by. Drystan wanted us to have them in case Rose dies again, and the redcap is unable to blink to her.”
“And he wantedmeto have one?” I raise a brow, sceptically.
“Well, not exactly.” Jaro shrugs. “But I figure, if she dies and you’re responsible, you can’t exactly use it to get to her before us, can you?”
No. Because Danu will kill me.
“And you won’t ever be alone with Rose long enough to use it to take her from us,” Jaro continues. “Consider this… a last resort. If for some reason we’re all incapacitated again…” He trails off, no doubt thinking of the way Eero’s court picked them off like flies. “I think you’ve proven you make a decent enough last line of defence.”
“Careful with the compliments, or I’ll start to think you care.” I tuck it into the pouch at my belt as we come to a large clearing.
Jaro shrugs it off. “Pity Rose charmed us both. This would’ve been the perfect spot for some sparring.”
My brows furrow as I try to discern whether he means that sincerely, or in a ‘perfect place to make you bleed and suffer’ kind of way.
“Sure. I guess there’s nothing better to do except beat the shit out of defenceless puppies.” I’d still rather be in that bedroom learning how our Nicnevin looks when she’s brought to the peak of pleasure, how she tastes, but fighting comes in a close second.
“If you ask her to remove it,” Jaro begins slowly. “I’ll swear to not try to kill you before Beltaine, unless you hurt Rose, of course.”
