Page 16 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Aella

D arrow had kept his word and sent a sebeska with a note for me earlier in the day while I was in my garden.

It had details of when and where to meet.

Briauna and I helped Rynn slowly walk from her room to mine, thankfully managing to avoid anyone seeing us.

Then, we’d let her rest for half an hour before crawling into the tunnels.

Maneuvering a sick girl through the passage had been the most challenging part, with each of us working to help my cousin.

Once in the garden, she sat and caught her breath while I cleared the vines over the ring and channeled the portal.

The darkness outside, along with the thickly covered trellis, would make it impossible for anyone walking by the garden entryway to see us.

The familiar scent of my flora helped soothe my nerves at what we were about to do.

Briauna went first while I scooped up Rynn and carried her into the blue glow.

I was eternally grateful for my enhanced elf strength compared to full druids because while my cousin was slight, especially after hardly eating for nearly a week, she wasn’t a small child anymore.

She rested her head on my shoulder, her breathing raspy.

I couldn’t wait to get her to the healer.

Darrow, Faina, and two other elves waited on the Veronnian side with horses next to them. They had their swords out, likely anticipating a trap, but they sheathed them as soon as they saw me carrying Rynn. She’d used all her energy getting through the short tunnel trip and was listless now.

“Thank you for bringing horses,” I said, walking up to Darrow. “I didn’t think to ask for them when we made the deal. ”

He guided the mount, whose reins he held, so that it stood parallel to me. “The journey is thirty minutes on horseback. I knew she couldn’t make an even longer one on foot with the fever.”

“Right.”

“Get in the saddle, and I’ll hand her up to you,” he said, gently taking Rynn from me. He spoke impersonally, which felt strange since we were about to get married in a few hours, but I supposed that it was a matter of business—no romanticism involved.

I did as he requested, swinging onto the horse. He easily lifted my cousin, and I settled her in front of me. She rested her back against my chest, eyelids barely fluttering at all the movement. I braced an arm around her, keeping her close.

Darrow met my gaze. “You’ve already met my sister.

The other two are Jax and Loden, who are close friends and loyal to me.

They’re here to help should we have any trouble along the way.

This forest is known to have dangerous creatures that are more likely to attack at night, but the larger the group, the less probable they are to bother us. ”

That wasn’t unusual for most of the woods in our realm.

“It’s fine,” I said, glancing at them but unable to make out much of their features with their hoods pulled over their heads and the trees blocking most of the moonlight.

He took a set of reins from his sister. “This horse is for you, Briauna.”

“It’s good to see you again, Darrow,” she said, giving him a kind smile as he brought the mare to her. “We appreciate you arranging this.”

“I can’t say my reasons were entirely altruistic, but you’re welcome.”

Darrow moved to one of his friends, who held the reins of two horses and took control of his own.

It was the same one I’d seen at the battle—a dapple-gray stallion.

A minute later, we headed through a barely discernible trail through the thick woodland.

The canopy overhead was so dense that it left the forest especially dark and creepy.

I caught strange sounds in the distance and prayed none of them came closer to us.

When the path widened, Darrow let his friends take the lead and slowed to ride next to me. “I take it we’re proceeding with everything as planned. ”

“Yes.” I adjusted Rynn in my arms, thankful she slept. “I couldn’t find any better options since I saw you last.”

He gave me an amused look. “I’m sure you tried, though.”

“Can you blame me? I still can’t figure out why you suggested marriage, considering everything,” I said, giving him a scrutinizing look.

Darrow’s lips quirked. “You don’t think keeping you out of the hands of an enemy who’d use you against me is enough?”

“My uncle uses me against you,” I pointed out.

“True.” His expression turned disgruntled. “But he doesn’t sleep in your bed or take up your personal time like a husband would. I need you freer to slip away and assist me.”

I supposed those were good points. “Fine. I get that, but marriage is forever.”

“No matter who I marry, it won’t be for love. I prefer a wife who will be useful to me in the long term,” he said matter-of-factly.

I studied him for a minute, wishing I could figure him out. “Not the romantic sort of man?”

“No.”

Based on his reputation, I supposed that made sense. “Good. That should make things easier between us if we keep emotions out of it.”

“Yes, but be aware that I will be testing your channeling abilities soon, and they better be as good as you claim,” he warned.

“They are,” I said, giving him a sharp look.

How dare he accuse me of lying about something like that? Hadn’t I proven myself enough by getting into his land numerous times despite the strong wards?

“Glad my future wife has such confidence.”

I ground my teeth. “If it’s a secret marriage, do we have to refer to each other as husband and wife when we’re together?”

“It will be true.” Darrow edged his mount closer to mine. “Or did sleeping with Camden two nights ago feel awkward knowing you’d be marrying me?”

I stiffened. “How did you find out? ”

Darrow’s lips twitched. “I told you before I have spies everywhere, so there’s little you can do that I won’t hear about sooner or later.”

And so far, I hadn’t figured out who they were despite paying closer attention.

“You said I could continue seeing him,” I said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. How many details did his spies give him, and how did they know? We were behind closed doors, though I supposed anyone could have seen me go to his place and not come out until morning.

Darrow guided his horse back over a few feet to put some distance between us again.

“And I’m glad to see you took my advice.

I’d worried our kiss might have affected you despite my warning.

From all accounts, you’ve always preferred one lover at a time, so I wasn’t sure if you could handle being with him and me. ”

“You…” I gave him an outraged look. “One kiss is not the same thing as sex.”

“No. Of course not, but with how easily you responded to my touch, I have worried you’ll eventually want more, and Camden won’t be enough. Let me know if that’s the case, and perhaps if you beg prettily, I’ll consider obliging you.”

He urged his horse forward, leaving me to sputter. “Arrogant prick!”

Darrow just laughed in response.

The rest of the ride only had one close call.

Midway on our journey, a group of chiggarbats came out of the dark forest at breakneck speed, coming straight for us.

Black scales covered their bodies, except their heads, which had dark fluffy fur inhabited by blood-sucking mites that could jump onto other victims. They also had broad wings and sharp teeth, able to cut deep into their prey.

Fae, with any sense, avoided them at all costs, considering their viciousness.

Darrow lifted a hand and forced them into a different direction, but he didn’t kill them.

“Why did you let them live?” I asked, surprised.

He glanced back at me. “They keep the wiggarwart population under control, so they have their uses. My aunt would wring my neck if she found out I harmed a single one. ”

Wiggarwarts were small, furry ground rodents that fed on plant roots.

They were harmless to fae and other creatures but could decimate a forest if their numbers grew too great.

Chiggarbats were their most active predator.

Considering the rate at which we were losing fertile land, we couldn’t take any chances.

It made sense to let them live and do their work.

“I look forward to meeting your aunt if she strikes that level of fear into your heart,” I said, grinning.

He grunted. “Durelle is possibly the only one with such power over me, but I’ve known her since I was a small child. It is doubtful anyone else will ever accomplish such a feat.”

The implication that I’d never succeed at the same hung in the air.

“The rumors claim you have no soul.” I didn’t think that was true, especially if he cared about his aunt, but I barely knew him.

“Hmm, I’ve heard that, too,” he said, then rode ahead to leave me in silence.

We didn’t encounter any more dangerous creatures, though I continued to sense them nearby.

It was a relief when a moderately sized log cabin appeared with lantern light filtering through the closed curtains.

The place looked warm and inviting despite the eerie location.

Trees surrounded it except the narrow road we’d used to reach it.

Jax and Loden dismounted first. One helped Briauna from her mount, which was good since she rarely rode anymore and had to be stiff and sore. The other took the reins of my horse from me while Darrow grabbed hold of Rynn.

As we made our way to the cabin, the door opened, and an older woman with gray hair in a bun appeared.

She wore a dark blue dress that covered her softly rounded form.

Her gaze immediately went to her sister, and a smile spread across her face.

Briauna rushed as fast as she could on stiff legs, hugging her.

They spoke for a moment before gesturing the rest of us inside.