Page 45 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Darrow

I kept my attention locked on Aella as I slowly pulled on my clothes.

Her green eyes held defiance, but desire swam underneath as she shamelessly stared at my body.

She knew as well as I did that she could only resist me for so long.

Hunger and longing always simmered in her gaze whenever I had her close, but especially now that she’d gone over two months without another man’s touch.

I enjoyed the thought of her need for me growing by the day, slowly torturing her.

Tonight, she’d attempted to wrest control.

I wholly approved of her methods, but she’d also proven that her resolve was weakening.

She had blazing passion burning within her that couldn’t be denied for long, and I would continue to wear away at the protective walls she’d built around herself.

She would surrender to me before much longer.

The nameless ones knew I’d given up on being with anyone else.

Try as I might, I’d found little pleasure with any other woman since marrying her.

It was always Aella’s face that I saw in my mind’s eye, and it was her that I had to envision when I found release.

Of course, my curse kept me from having deep feelings for her.

It was likely just as well since the physical need I had for her was more than enough, not to mention the jealousy and protective urges she invoked.

I sat to lace my boots. “You look strained, Aella. Is there something I can do to help with that?”

“No,” she said, turning her attention toward the woods.

“My tongue is quite skilled, I assure you. It would only take a few minutes. ”

She tensed, and I wondered if she grew wet at the thought of my mouth between her legs. “Please stop, Dare.”

Even when she was angry or frustrated, I enjoyed hearing her say my name.

I finished with my boots and stood. As I moved toward Aella, she grew even stiffer, if possible. That didn’t deter me. I took hold of her face and kissed her tight lips. She didn’t respond at first but gave in quickly, as always.

Her body melted against mine, and she clutched at my tunic. If I kept going like this long enough, I knew she’d lose all resistance. My wife might not know I was her true mate, but her soul recognized our connection. That worked to my advantage.

Unfortunately, our time to play had come to an end. We’d be late if we didn’t leave soon. I would have to save my seduction plans for next time, but Aella would explode under my touch once I had her alone again.

“Let’s go,” I said, taking her hand and guiding her to the ring.

She said nothing more until she began channeling.

A stream of golden light hit each of the runes before the wind joined it to suffuse the entire circle.

Then, she murmured in a low voice as she built the power necessary to bridge the two locations.

As always, when we went to Jolloure, the portal took longer to open than anywhere else, but I swore she cut a second or two each time.

Aella’s powers were incredible. I hoped they would continue to develop enough for what I had planned for the future, because that would require far more strength than reaching the island.

The air popped, and a blue light shone from the ring. I took her free hand, guiding her through it with me. After a dizzying ride, we stepped from the other side to the shadowy island where few could survive for long.

It had an unwelcome presence, but the dark half of me enjoyed the feral magic soaking the atmosphere here.

If I allowed it, the feeling could take over my mind and body, but I’d avoided doing that again for a long time and had no intention of allowing Aella to see it.

She’d run screaming from me for certain.

“Come,” I said as the portal closed behind us.

She frowned. “Aren’t you leaving me here? ”

“Alone? No.” I tugged her along. “Believe it or not, I didn’t meet you tonight only to seduce you, but also because someone requested your presence.”

“Who?” she asked warily.

If I told her, I’d likely never get her to cooperate. Best not to ruin the surprise. “You’ll see.”

She dug her heels into the ground. “Darrow, if you’re taking me to see someone dangerous…”

“I would never do that.” I stopped and turned to face her.

“Get this through your beautiful head. I will never put you in unnecessary danger if I can help it. Despite everything, I want to protect you, not only because you’re my wife or our vows.

I want you to be safe. Whatever happens, I wouldn’t have brought you if I thought any harm might befall you. ”

Uncertainty swam in her green eyes. “I must be a fool because I want to believe you.”

I had the sense that she didn’t speak only of this matter but also of the other discussions we’d had tonight.

“You’re not a fool, Aella.” I sighed and traced my thumb across her cheek as if my touch could somehow convey my intentions.

“Trust in the fact that I need you alive more than anyone else in this world, and I’ve known that since the night you showed up in that tavern begging me to save your cousin’s life. ”

“You threatened to kill me that night, and so did your sister,” she said, green eyes flashing.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I dropped my hand from her. “That was part of the show. Neither of us had any intention of killing you, but we needed you to think we did for bargaining power.”

Aella took a step back. “So, how do I know you’re not lying now?”

The road to earning her trust wasn’t going to be easy, especially since I needed her to earn mine before I could tell her everything. Only then could she understand my true intentions, but that wouldn’t happen tonight. I could only do and say so much.

I sighed. “Very well, you may stay here. I’ll tell her you refused to come. ”

With that, I turned away and began heading down a narrow westerly path.

I had to make some decisions for Aella out of necessity, but I tried to give her as many choices as possible, recognizing that she needed them.

Her uncle allowed her too few. I most definitely had no desire to be anything like him.

If she were to come with me now, it had to be her choice.

“Dammit, wait.”

A smile formed on my face when I heard the sounds of Aella’s soft steps behind me. I didn’t bother to turn or acknowledge her at first, letting her catch up at her own pace. When her hand joined mine, relief filled me. Perhaps I was making progress after all.

While the island wasn’t massive, it was big enough to take time to cross, with thick vegetation that made traversing it slow.

We had to travel nearly the length of Jolloure to reach our destination, which took over half an hour.

Now that we’d reached the height of summer, the humidity was high, and the oppressive moisture clogged the air.

When we broke through the trees to the western beach, we both had a light sheen of sweat glistening on our skin.

Aella’s blonde hair lay wavy and limp against her shoulders and back.

We spotted a lone woman in the distance, staring at the tide and wearing a black halter dress that reached her feet but left her back bare.

It was covered only by her long, dark locks that lifted with the breeze from the Bassaci Sea.

She looked young from this distance, but in truth, she was nearing middle age for a fae at seventy-five years old.

“Who is that?” Aella asked in a whisper.

I pulled her along as she grasped my hand tightly. She was nervous and clutching at me for strength—further progress. “That is my mother.”

She shot me a look. “But I thought you never see her anymore since…you know.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I slowed my pace so I wouldn’t have to drag her along as her steps slowed. “She betrayed my father, not me or my sister.”

“You know what I mean,” she said.

“For a while after the treachery, I didn’t see her, but eventually, we began exchanging messages through sebeskas and meeting here twice a year. It’s a pain and time-consuming to reach this island by boat, so it was only when I gained your assistance that I could visit her more often,” I explained.

Aella’s eyes rounded. “So that’s who you visit every time you come?”

“Usually,” I hedged. She wasn’t ready to know much more yet, but I could give her some of the truth. Not that my mother gave me much choice.

We finally came close enough that I could make out the fine lines of Zareen’s brows as she watched our approach.

She was still considered a beauty, but time and life’s difficulties had worn her down.

It was there in her dark gray eyes that matched mine.

Despite that, she held herself with a straight posture and moved with grace as she closed the distance.

“Darrow, it’s good to see you, son.” She leaned forward and kissed my cheeks before pulling back to study the woman beside me. “And you’ve finally brought your wife for me to see. I am Zareen, by the way,” she said, extending her pale hand with bejeweled fingers.

To her credit, Aella kept her expression neutral and clasped my mother’s hand. They squeezed and let go. It was a very formal greeting among high-fae women.

“I’m afraid your son failed to tell me who we were meeting until a few minutes ago, so I’m at a disadvantage, but I am pleased to meet you,” she replied, giving her a tight smile.

I could detect the annoyance by her stiff shoulders, but she didn’t direct her feelings at my mother. She was irritated with me.

Zareen sighed. “Darrow has always been good at keeping secrets and surprising us. I apologize that he didn’t prepare you better, but I’m pleased to meet you all the same.

He has told me how powerful you are with your channeling abilities.

I was quite surprised you could bring him here with so little trouble.

Even our people struggle to open the ring on Jolloure without the extra wards you must bypass. ”