Page 12 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

I forced myself to look at him again.

“You can keep sleeping with Camden,” Darrow said, waving a hand. “And I will continue seeing other women the same as before. Don’t tell him about our marriage, and it won’t be a problem.”

I blanched. “How do you know about Cam?”

Sure, we’d been lovers for years, but I didn’t flaunt the relationship, and neither did he.

Few people outside Tradain were even aware of it, though my uncle certainly knew I had visited one of his captains, since I often stayed overnight at the training village.

Camden and I weren’t in love , but we were comfortable together, and he was very good at meeting my sexual needs .

Darrow gave me a sly look. “I have spies in your land and know much more about you than you’d think. Even the little things like your garden and vicious plants.”

A chill ran down my spine because that meant he’d studied me before tonight.

From now on, I’d pay closer attention so I could try to pick out his people. “How very resourceful of you.”

“And you’re fine not having children? Because I won’t allow it with Camden or anyone else. Even I have my limits. I won’t let another elf’s child be passed off as mine,” he said, warning in his voice.

My gaze dipped, realizing in the past few days that I’d lost any chance at a happy marriage with babies. There were no good options, but at least Darrow wouldn’t touch me, whereas Elgord would have every chance he got. “That’s fine.”

He took my chin and forced me to look at him. “What are you thinking?”

His touch was almost gentle. “It’s nothing.”

“That look in her eyes is not nothing ,” Faina said, cocking her head curiously.

Darrow arched a brow. “You want children, don’t you?”

I brushed his hand away. “It was a stupid dream—the idea I’d have a happy marriage and babies. It was already gone the moment my uncle announced he wanted me to marry Baron Elgord. I probably would have thrown myself from a cliff before getting pregnant with one of his children, anyway.”

“You aren’t going to regret marrying me and fling yourself from a cliff, are you?” he asked, arching a brow.

I let out a harsh laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. As long as you don’t force yourself on me, it won’t be a problem.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.” Darrow glanced at his sister for a moment before turning back to me.

“I’ll need three days to make arrangements with the king and ensure my aunt will help your cousin.

If all parties are agreeable, I’ll send word on where to meet.

Considering the urgency, we’ll have Rynn healed first, and as soon as your powers have regenerated enough after returning her home, we’ll head to Porrine.

How long does it take to regain your strength? ”

“It depends on the level of wards on the nearest portal ring to your aunt,” I said.

He frowned in thought for a moment. “Aunt Durelle lives at the edge of the Sobaryan Mountains, northwest of our mutual border. The nearest portal gate is a thirty-minute ride from her cabin. I can temporarily drop the wards on that one if it will decrease the time you need to regain power.”

“That would be helpful. By the time your aunt heals my cousin, I’ll be strong enough to send her back with Briauna. After that, I’ll need about an hour and a half to regain enough strength to open a portal to Porrine.”

Darrow and Faina exchanged disbelieving looks.

“That’s it?” he asked dubiously. “No channeler can regenerate power that fast.”

I shrugged. “Haven’t you noticed how quickly I get my uncle’s soldiers home after an attack?

I need a little more time to regenerate because I have to hold it open longer for that many troops, but your gates are rarely close to the villages, so the time they spend riding to and from their destinations is usually enough to help me regain my strength. ”

Maybe they’d never put that together before or assumed we used more than one person. Most portal channelers couldn’t open more than two or three a day, with at least five or six hours between each. On the other hand, I noticed that it got even easier for me with each passing year.

“That explains a lot,” Faina said, assessing me.

Darrow nodded. “And will open many opportunities for us we have yet to explore.”

“Pleased to make you two so happy,” I said drolly.

“Indeed.” Darrow took my hood and pulled it up. “Now, I’m going to escort you out of here, hopefully without anyone recognizing you.”

“I can walk back to the portal by myself,” I argued.

He grasped my upper arm. “Allow me the illusion that you can’t run around my land without an escort, would you? I’d like to make certain you don’t kill anyone on your way back. ”

“I may have done some damage to two ogres and a rubbish bin on the way here,” I admitted.

Amusement danced in his gray eyes. “That was likely a favor to us all, except the rubbish bin. Point that out on the way back so I can see it repaired.”

“Replaced.”

Darrow shot me an amused look. “Fine. Replaced.”

He rushed me through the tavern's main room, moving so quickly people would hardly have a chance to see me, especially with the hood and my head ducked low. Only once we entered the darkness outside did I lift my gaze a little, and he let go of my arm.

We walked side by side at a swift pace. The streets weren’t as crowded as before since it was getting even later, but there were still fae milling around and some stumbling drunkenly. Everyone recognized Darrow. They swiftly moved out of his way as we headed toward the portal ring.

Partway there, I spotted the alley I’d passed before, though the ogres were long gone. I pointed at them. “There are the destroyed rubbish bins.”

“Hmm.” Darrow frowned at the debris. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to switch sides in the conflict between our lands, would you?”

I snorted. “No.”

He sighed. “It was worth a try. I suppose I should be grateful your uncle doesn’t allow you to participate in most battles, or else our side would face real trouble.”

Did he just compliment me? “He wasn’t happy I attacked you last week despite how it helped our side. I got a stern lecture for it.”

“That is one more difference between him and me because I wouldn’t hold you back in a battle,” Darrow said, completely serious.

I averted my gaze, unsure of what to say to that.

We walked the rest of the way in silence.

Once the ring’s shiny metal and glinting stones came into view, I found the area was as empty as before.

He guided me to a post office outside the courtyard and pressed me against the side wall.

The mixed scent of sandalwood and leather coming from him nearly overwhelmed me .

“What are you doing?” I asked, glancing between his hands that laid flat against the bricks on either side of my head.

His gaze was intense. “My sister isn’t here, so I can speak more freely.”

“Okay, but does it have to be this close?”

Darrow kept his face inches from mine, breath fanning my cheeks. “You might be my enemy, but if you think there’s a chance you can get out of the marriage to Elgord, I won’t push for our wedding. That isn’t part of the deal to help your cousin.”

Maybe Briauna was right, and there was a good side to him. “I spent the last two days trying to think of a way out, but there isn’t one.”

“You can’t run away?” he asked.

I sighed, deciding he should know the truth. “No. Look at the back of my neck.”

He hesitated a moment, then spun me around, lowering my hood and lifting my hair. “A curse mark?”

It was a simple red circle with a black dot in the middle—my uncle’s signature design.

“It’s Lord Morgunn’s specialty.” I turned around to face him.

“He put it on me a few days after my father died, making sure I’d never be able to escape him.

If I'm careful, I can make brief trips wherever I want, but if I ever think of getting away from him permanently, he’ll know right away, and I’ll fall unconscious.

Trust me when I say I tested it once. It works. ”

Darrow swore. “The only way to break that is with your death or his.”

“Elgord said my uncle plans to transfer the curse mark to him, but I haven’t had a chance to confirm it,” I said.

There was almost pity in the elf’s eyes. “That explains the cliff comment earlier.”

“I’m not sure if I could jump, but it gives me some consolation to think there is a way out—even a bad one,” I admitted.

Darrow stared deeply into my eyes with such intensity I had to fight squirming. My breath stuck in my throat as he lowered his head and pressed his lips to mine gently. I didn’t move for a moment, but then he began kissing me in earnest .

To my shock, it felt good, and I opened my mouth.

His tongue danced with mine. I softened against him, unable to help myself.

It was the most incredible kiss I’d ever had, and without thinking, I lost myself as I clutched at him.

The passion between us was so unexpected.

Sure, he was easy to look at, but I understood who he was and that I should never feel anything besides hatred for him.

Except right now, I forgot all about any of that.

He pulled back, and a sardonic smile formed on his lips. “Feeling any nausea?”

“No,” I said, confused.

“Good. I wanted to be certain that when we kiss during the wedding ceremony, neither of us throws up in front of the king.” Darrow dropped his arms, no longer caging me. “That would be awkward.”

“What?” It took me a moment to understand. “Oh, because of what I said about Elgord. That’s not the same thing as…”

His gaze turned cold and hard as ice. “Whatever you do, remember we aren’t friends.

We’re enemies with centuries of blood and death between our families.

While I don’t want you repulsed by me if we are to be married for the rest of our lives, I also don’t want you to develop feelings for me. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I said, nodding jerkily. Horror filled me that, for a moment, I’d thought becoming his wife wouldn’t be so bad. He’d certainly cleared up those delusions.

He expelled a harsh breath. “If you want comfort or soft touches, go to Camden. There will never be anything between us except business.”

“Don’t fool yourself, Darrow. No man has ever made me fall in love, and it certainly won’t be you,” I said, lifting my chin. He wouldn’t get the best of me now or ever.

“Does that mean you aren’t the clingy type?” he asked, skeptical.

“You kissed me first, remember?” I gave him my coldest expression. “I went along with it out of curiosity, nothing more.”

If I’d lost my head for a moment, it likely had to do with a bad week and attempting to wipe away the memories of Elgord’s hands on me. No one could blame me for that.

“Excellent. Glad we understand each other. ”

“Now let me go home,” I said, pushing him away.

Darrow gestured at my hair. “You might cover yourself first before you step out of the shadows.”

Begrudgingly, I did as he suggested. As I tucked in my hair and pulled my hood back up, I kept a watchful gaze in case anyone came our way.

Thankfully, no one did. I didn’t bother telling him goodbye before sweeping past him.

He didn’t move from his spot while I set up the portal, and he remained there when I stepped into the blue shimmer.