Page 17 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Durelle accepted a kiss on the cheek from Darrow when he passed and then motioned for him to take Rynn into the next room, where I glimpsed a large bed with a silver metal frame.

The cabin was cozy and warm, thanks to a large fireplace in the sitting area, which took the chill from my skin.

Faina kissed her great aunt politely as well upon entering before settling on a small couch across from the hearth.

Jax and Loden took seats at a sturdy wooden table at the back of the room where finger foods and drink pitchers had been left out.

Briauna guided me to her sister. “This is Aella. She is the one who requested you help her cousin, but I’m the one who suggested it.”

The healer studied me for a moment. “I’ll do my best for Rynn. I’ve no doubt if Briauna says she is worthy, then she is, but I should warn you there is a catch with doing this.”

“What?” I frowned. “Darrow didn’t mention anything.”

“He wouldn’t have said, I’m sure.”

I took a deep breath. “Tell me.”

She glanced toward the bedroom as Darrow came to join us, wrapping an arm around his aunt to give her a sweet hug.

I was surprised by the gentleness of his expression when he looked at her.

Not a hint of his usual coldness lurked in his gaze.

He appeared like a doting nephew and certainly not someone lacking a soul.

Did that mean he was capable of affection with more than just her?

“I’m only strong enough to do this one more time,” Durelle said as she pulled away from him. “But this won’t only be a healing. She will take my powers into herself as well, assuming the duty.”

Briauna cleared her throat. “I talked to her about it before coming, and she understands the outcome. She’s agreed to do it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, giving her an accusing look. That was a significant detail. My cousin would have the ability to cure diseases no one else could, and who knew how my uncle might use her if he found out.

She patted my arm. “You have enough trouble with other matters, and this was Rynn’s decision. Not yours. Some regular healing powers come with it, so we should be able to hide the rest from everyone else.”

I prayed to the nameless ones that she was right. “Is that how the gift is always passed along? ”

Durelle nodded. “Usually. It was that way in my case, but if I died without transferring it, then the universe would have chosen who should take it after me. There is always one of us in the world.”

“Okay, so what’s next?” I glanced between the sisters. “Is there anything I can do?”

Briauna gestured toward a rocking chair by the fire. “Sit and relax. I’ll assist my sister while the rest of you wait here.”

I didn’t want to let my cousin out of sight in a strange place, but I understood I’d only be in the way with such a small room. “How long will it take?”

“No more than an hour,” Durelle replied, pulling away from Darrow with a kind smile for him.

With that, the two healers went into the bedroom and shut the door. As suggested, I sat in the rocking chair and stared at the fire. From the back of the room, I could hear Darrow and his friends eating and shuffling a deck of cards. At least they’d prepared a way to entertain themselves.

About ten minutes passed when Faina spoke from the couch where she lay comfortably. “So, is that the dress you’re wearing to get married?”

“Does it look like I brought anything else?” I asked, not bothering to look at her.

If not for the wedding, I would have come in a tunic and pants, but knowing I’d see the king tonight, I’d chosen the newest of my riding dresses.

It was a soft blue that hugged my waist, had tight long sleeves, and a full skirt.

My favorite part was that it buttoned up to my neck, showing no cleavage.

What was the point in wearing anything remotely flattering?

“Hmm, I assumed you’d dress up more,” she said, sounding bored.

I had a feeling she only asked to irritate me. Undoubtedly, she would have nitpicked anything I wore. I’d agonized over my choice all day, aware someone would say something, but I’d chosen to be practical in the end.

I finally looked at her. “There’s no point when it’s a marriage on paper only, and no one is going to know about it except those of us in this cabin and the king.”

Darrow’s face was in profile to me, but I gave him credit for appearing as if he wasn’t listening to us as he tossed cards on the table. At least he wasn’t making any snarky comments. Perhaps he was letting his sister take over for him.

“You’re right, of course. It’s just that you only get married once, and you seem like the romantic type who’d want to make it special regardless of the circumstances.” She sat up to look at her brother. “But you two must think alike because Darrow is also in simple riding clothes.”

“It’s called being pragmatic,” I said.

Her brother turned to look at us. “Did I mention the king insisted we stay the night at the palace after the ceremony?”

“What?” My jaw dropped. “I thought we’d go home afterward.”

“He’s aware we aren’t a love match, but he thinks we should spend some quality time together in the hope it could become one.

Misguided as it may seem, he believes we should try to make it work if we want his approval.

A room is being prepared for us,” he said, amused—likely at the horror on my face.

“But don’t worry because nothing is going to happen in there. ”

Despite his words, I dreaded spending an entire night alone with him.

It wasn’t as if I could argue with the king, though.

If he wanted us to spend time together after agreeing to a secret marriage, we had to go along with it.

I only wondered how we would manage all this without anyone at court finding out.

“Fine.” I met his gaze. “We’ll just sleep and go our separate ways in the morning.”

Darrow set his playing cards facedown and leaned back in his chair. “I must insist you don’t seduce me while we’re there, though.”

Faina coughed to hide a laugh. The other two men in the room seemed abnormally interested in their hands and didn’t look at any of us.

Fine. If he wanted to play games, then so would I. “Are you implying I could seduce you?” I batted my eyelashes. “Or are you hoping?”

Darrow lifted a brow, surprise in his gaze. “Only if you beg on your knees…again.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re such an ass. I’d rather be eaten by a sea snake than ever be touched by you…again.”

He snorted and picked up his cards. “We’ll see about that soon enough when we kiss before the king. ”

I ground my teeth and turned to face the fireplace.

Though it seemed like hours, a short time later, Briauna opened the door and gestured at me.

Her expression was calm. I rose from the rocking chair and went to the bedroom.

Inside, I found Rynn sitting up with the color restored to her face and the blackness that had covered her hands gone.

A blanket covered her feet, but I was sure they were also better.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

She smiled. “Great…and different.”

My gaze moved to Durelle in the chair by the bed. I found her complexion pale and her face drawn. Curing my cousin had taken a lot out of her. She seemed less vibrant, and her body slumped in her seat.

“Thank you,” I said, hoping my gratitude showed.

She nodded almost imperceptibly. “Rynn is a good girl and will carry on my work. I’m glad you brought her.”

“Will someone be staying with you after we go?” I asked.

“Faina and the two boys.”

After we arrived at the cabin, I’d seen them in the light. They didn’t look like boys to me but rather strong, grown men. Of course, almost everyone probably seemed very young to a woman over two centuries old. Life among the fae was dangerous, so few of us made it to that age.

“Good. I’m glad you won’t be alone.”

She let out a weak laugh. “I wouldn’t have minded, but Darrow insisted. For a cursed man, he can be surprisingly protective.”

“What curse?” I asked.

“She is being figurative,” he said, coming directly behind me. “Rynn, how are you feeling?”

I stepped to the side, needing to put distance between us.

“Much better,” my cousin replied, pulling away the blanket and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “I can already feel the magic inside me.”

She leaned down to grab her slippers and slid them onto her feet.

“We took a few minutes to explain matters to her,” Briauna said, glancing at Darrow with an anxious frown. “I’ll assist her with my sister’s magic so she can properly hone it. ”

“Good.”

Rynn walked over to us on steady legs, truly looking a hundred times better. “I’m ready to go when you all are.”

Nerves churned in my stomach. I’d been looking forward to saving my cousin, but not the next part of this journey. Was I really doing this? Of course, because I had no other choice.

“Excellent. We’ll leave in five minutes,” Darrow said, spinning on his heels.