Page 39 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Aella

I was in one of the castle’s sitting rooms with Rynn, Tadeus, and Briauna after a tedious dinner with Lord Morgunn, who forgot about my birthday.

A custom he followed every year. We each had a piece of murtberry cake that the kind kitchen staff had baked perfectly.

It was my favorite kind—unlike my uncle’s.

The small tree from which the main ingredient came was one of many varieties that grew in the castle orchard, producing round, lavender fruit.

It wasn't very pleasant if eaten fresh, but sweet and delicious when baked in bread or desserts.

“Thank you for this,” I said to my older cousin.

Tadeus shrugged. “You always do something special for our birthdays, and I felt bad I wasn’t here last year to do anything.”

Per his father's orders, he’d been away at court, so it was hardly his fault.

“Do you like our gifts?” Rynn asked, blue eyes dancing with light.

I nodded. “Absolutely. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

She’d given me a beautiful diamond barrette, which had to be worth a fortune.

It was from her mother’s collection that she’d inherited.

I’d tried to refuse, but she insisted, saying I more than deserved it for the sacrifices I’d made for her.

If it reduced her guilt, then I supposed I couldn’t turn it down.

Also, it was perfect and could be paired with almost anything.

I’d told her as much, which made her happy.

My cousin had given me new gardening supplies, which had sat by the arched entrance this morning when I arrived to tend my plants.

My favorite was a sack of the best fertilizer in the realm from the Isle of Penoria.

It was located off the northwest coast of Zadrya’s mainland and home primarily to the faeries.

They didn’t sell much of their rich compost, but when they did, it was ideal for growing fruit and vegetable plants.

I could only imagine how much it cost him since I hadn’t tried purchasing any in years on my budget.

The price only grew with the blight and crop failures.

Briauna had woven me a beautiful shawl that matched my green eyes exactly. She knew I often used one while reading on my window seat, but mine had become worn and threadbare. I was touched by the thoughtful gifts the three of them gave me.

“How does it feel to be thirty-three now?” Tadeus asked with an amused look.

I shrugged. “For a couple of months, I’m only a year younger than you, so how do you feel?”

“Like time is passing too fast and also too slow,” he said with a laugh.

“That sums it up perfectly,” I agreed.

I wished Sariyah could have been here as well, but my best friend had to return to Tradain yesterday evening after recovering from the summer solstice celebration. They’d only let her off work for the holiday, but she’d promised she’d have a gift waiting for me when I returned in a couple of days.

Finishing my cake, I set the plate down. “Thanks, everyone, for remembering me, but I think I’m going to retire early tonight. Maybe curl up with a good book.”

“What?” Tadeus asked, surprised. “We usually enjoy a good drink on the north tower roof after cake.”

I wished we could tonight as well, but I had to make my excuses, whether I liked it or not. “Not this time. Camden and I broke things off, and I just want to be alone.”

Rynn leaped to her feet, anger in her youthful features. “You two were fine on solstice night. What did he do?”

“It’s complicated,” I said, giving her a meaningful look. “You know…with my upcoming potential marriage and all.”

She looked confused for a moment before light dawned in her eyes. Rynn might not have known Darrow had shown up that night, but she knew about my marriage to him and that I had to open portals for him frequently .

“Oh.” She settled back in her seat. “Yeah, I can see how that might make things weird.”

Briauna, the only one who knew what I really needed to do tonight, slapped her thigh. “We should leave Aella to it. If she wants to be alone in her room on her birthday, who are we to stop her?”

I gave everyone hugs, took my gifts, and hurried from the room.

A little over an hour later, I exited the portal into Veronna.

It was the same location I’d used to reach his great-aunt’s house the night we got married.

As a precaution, I wore a thin black cloak and some light glamour to conceal my features.

The last thing I needed was for anyone to know who was opening portals tonight, aside from my husband and his inner circle.

I only found Darrow’s sister, Faina, waiting for me. Why was I not surprised? I moved to sit against the tree next to where she rested with her legs crossed. Since she was in black battle garb, I assumed she’d also be fighting this time.

“Which of my villages am I assisting you in ruining?”

“Petosty,” Faina said, picking up a branch from the ground and pulling a knife from a sheath attached to her belt. She began carving into it as if she planned to make a stake.

I clenched my eyes shut. It wasn’t as if I had a favorite village, but that one crafted some of the finest furniture in all of Zadrya. How much would they destroy? Almost eight hundred people lived there, and I worried for their safety.

“How long until the others arrive?” I asked, listening to the sounds of the night and her carving.

Faina sighed. “Half of them will be here in two hours.”

“Half?”

“The rest are traveling through the mountain pass right now to take out the sentries, and they’ll wait until we’ve finished the ones on the ground before coming down.” She paused her carving. “Darrow is making sure our attack doesn’t incriminate you in any way.”

How very thoughtful of him.

She went on to detail the plan further. We would use the portal two miles from the village within a forest, which they somehow knew was rarely guarded.

It would be easy to sneak a few soldiers, especially with the right magic, to take out the tower at the base of the pass.

The two halves could join in the woods near the village without anyone seeing them before that.

I could understand why they’d chosen the location because it was the easiest to attack without anyone figuring out a channeler had helped them. At least, it was great for me, but not so much for the people there. I was helping to destroy their lives.

“Yes, glad I factor into his plans beyond aiding his attack on my people,” I said, bitterly.

Faina stopped carving. “Not the way you expected to spend your birthday?”

I stiffened, unable to read her expression.

“No.” I leaned my head against the tree. “I’m surprised you knew it was today, though it looks like Darrow doesn’t know…or is this his version of a morbid gift?”

She shrugged. “My brother has never been good with birthdays, so I doubt he realizes yours is today. I only knew because he had me look into you after you married, and I’m good with dates.”

“Do you think it would matter if he did know?” I asked.

Why I expected anything from a husband who married me to keep me out of enemy hands and to use my skills was beyond me. Never mind his possessive claims the other night because that didn’t mean he cared. He was like a child who didn’t want to share his toy.

Faina was quiet for a moment. “Darrow is cold but not callous. He would have likely chosen a different day if he’d known.”

“But you didn’t bother to point it out,” I said, annoyed.

“Why should I?” She lifted a brow. “You’re not my friend, nor do I like you, and it’s better you see my brother for who he is now rather than later.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What is that supposed to mean? ”

“There’s a curse on all the males of my father’s line. As soon as they come into their magic, they become incapable of love—that includes family. Even their other emotions are dimmed a little.”

Faina paused and sighed. “It has ruined every marriage for them for generations because they are charismatic and possessive despite the curse, and even if warned, their wives always fall for them eventually. Why should I have told him about your birthday when it’s better he doesn’t do anything for you that might make you feel something for him?

” She resumed carving the wood. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but that secret is my gift to you. ”

Her revelation was more than unexpected. “Can the curse be broken?”

“Every curse has a way to break it, but this one isn’t easy, or it would have been done centuries ago,” she said, not looking at me.

“How?” I asked, impatiently.

“It’s not for me to say, but you’re welcome to ask my brother.”

I snorted. “Think he’ll tell me?”

She gave me a scornful look. “It’s doubtful Dare will anytime soon since he doesn’t trust you, and for good reason.”

I decided I’d had enough of talking to Faina and didn’t respond. Even her telling me about Darrow’s curse seemed to have ulterior motives. She couldn’t possibly care about protecting my feelings, so there had to be some other reason. I just didn’t know what that could be.

The time passed in silence until hoofbeats began shaking the ground.

Faina and I rose to our feet upon their approach, and she mounted her horse.

I saw Darrow in the lead. Bracing myself, I met his gaze as he pulled his mount to a stop.

Heat filled his gray eyes as he looked me up and down—a blatant reminder I was naked the last time we met.

I stood my ground, refusing to let his hot gaze bother me.

At least with my glamour and cloak, he couldn’t see much of the real me.

“Good of you to join us, Aella,” he said, reaching out a hand.

“As if I had a choice.” I let him pull me onto his stallion before him, trying to keep a sliver of distance between my back and his chest.

Darrow leaned close to my right ear. “Too bad you chose to don your clothing this time, as I thoroughly enjoyed the full view yesterday morning. ”