Page 27 of Faeling (Monstrous World #4)

He hesitated telling her all this, though. Something lingered in her gaze as she looked upon him. It was more than just uncertainty. He saw real fear in her eyes, and he wanted to conquer it. There was nothing in this world for her to fear. He wouldn’t allow it.

You must reassure her.

“Whatever your fears, skala, I would meet them. Tell me your reservations.”

Ravenna slowly shook her dark head back and forth. “It’s…I fear I’ll only bring you pain.”

Vallek rumbled unhappily. “I’m willing to take the risk.”

“What if I’m not?”

“Then I will prove to you, every day until you are sure, that it isn’t a risk at all.

” Vallek leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees so that he could hold both her hands in his.

“I will treat with you, skala . I mean to be your mate, not your king. So, I won’t keep you confined to these rooms.”

Her rosebud mouth fell open in shock. “I can leave?”

“No,” he grated, working to keep down the growl in his voice. “You will remain with me. And for your safety, for now, you will don your human face when you leave these quarters. But…yes, you may leave during the day. Under guard.”

She sat rigidly in her chair for a long moment, lips pursed and delicate brows creased. “And what do you want in return?”

Vallek laughed despite himself. Clever thing.

“I would have the truth from you. Always.”

She clearly didn’t like that answer, pulling her hands from his to continue setting up the talfon board. “I don’t think I can promise that.”

“I will earn your secrets. For now, I will be content with an answer so long as it’s the truth.” With the box of pieces returned to him, he chose the pink quartz set, the one she preferred to play with. “I must have as much information as possible to keep you safe.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “What happened on your journey?”

Gods, she truly missed nothing. Eydis was right, she’d be a formidable politician if given half the chance.

Keeping his body loose and tone light, he told her of the fae ship and what they sought. He recounted the many promises made by Amaranthe through her envoys for the capture of the halfling criminal.

She gave nothing away as he spoke, making her first move on the board.

“Is it you she seeks?”

Ravenna didn’t answer immediately, her violet gaze faraway although she stared at his unmoving hand. “I’m not a criminal,” was her reply. “I’ve never met the Fae Queen, and I haven’t lived in the faelands since I was a small child.”

Vallek nodded, sensing there was far more to her answer. While it may be the truth, that wasn’t the whole of it. But that would do, for now. Soon, he would have her trust and her secrets.

Observing how her body had gone stiff, Vallek said, “Amaranthe is no friend of Balmirra or any orc. Perhaps the enemy of my enemy is an ally.”

If she was the spy Ulrich thought her to be, Vallek would turn her allegiances. If she was the halfling Amaranthe sought, he’d hide her, protect her. It wasn’t just good politics—Ravenna was his .

His mate still gave nothing away in her expression, but that was all right. Let her sit with his insinuated promise. When the time was right, she would come to him.

In the meantime, “Can you tell me what you know of the faelands?”

He gambled that this would be a safe enough topic, and he was rewarded when she began to speak at length on the history and politics of the faelands.

Vallek listened intently, making his opening move.

Ravenna rebutted with her own advance as she explained how the fae weren’t unlike a hive, with a Queen at their center.

The hub of many spokes, the Queen’s line was ancient and powerful, but even she was meant to fade and abdicate.

Except, Amaranthe didn’t. Centuries ago, rather than sail to the Twins, a set of islands off the western coast of the faelands, and take the stone sleep, consigning herself and her vast magic back to the earth, Amaranthe had defied fate and nature.

She slaughtered her daughters, her sisters, even her nieces, all so no one could replace her.

The faelands and its magic needed a center, and as the only one able to act as that conduit, Amaranthe kept her throne.

It exacerbated an already growing problem for the fae. They’d long since begun to rely too much on their magic. They gave up food and drink, sustaining themselves only on magic. They withered, their blood turning black.

Vallek realized with amazement that this was why the fae looked so…skeletal. They were literally starving themselves of life.

“You don’t forgo food,” he noted, capturing one of her pieces.

“I don’t. I’m only half fae, though.” She explained how her father, in discovering his azai, his fated one, in a human, had also rediscovered living without relying solely on magic. “Taking her blood, he was able to eat again.” Her smile was soft when she added, “She brought him back to life.”

A purr punched through his chest. “The fae bite their mates?”

Ravenna’s eyes flicked up to meet his. Her pupils dilated as she gazed at him, those plush lips parting to reveal the very tip of her pink tongue.

“They do.”

Vibrating in his seat, Vallek leaned forward to tell her, “I’ll wear your bite proudly, skala .”

His cock kicked in his breeches when her gaze fell to his throat. “Will you bite back?” she asked, voice dropping to a husky whisper.

“Anything you want, for however long. Say it and it’s yours.”

Her lips twitched up into the smallest, most tantalizing grin. He ached to taste it.

She glanced back at the board, and that grin widened. Moving her most important piece, she declared, “ Groff mi tal. ” I’ve won.

Startled, he looked at the board, too. And indeed, she’d led him deftly into a trap, her pieces expertly arrayed in a pincer movement to prevent escape.

Vallek had lost. He’d never been so pleased.

Booming with laughter, Vallek slapped his knee. “I knew it.”

Ravenna couldn’t hide her pleased smile, even if she did demurely lift her goblet to her lips to sip.

“Another round,” he insisted, downing the last of his own wine. Invigorated by his loss as well as his gains, he dared another bargain. “If I win, you will sleep in my bed with me. No more arguments.”

Ravenna snorted. “What will I get if I win?”

“Then I will sleep in my bed with you .”

“Hm. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” She softened her jab with a wink.

Grinning like a fool, Vallek purred, “We’ll be damned together.”