Page 55 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Aella

A week and a half had passed since I visited the Andalagar chief.

We’d returned to my uncle after leaving the mountains, with Orran praising my battle skills and magic.

He’d done an impressive job showing interest in me, which wasn’t all false since he saw me as vital to returning the fountain to our world.

While we’d waited for me to regain my strength, I’d explained how much pressure my family placed on me to do well at the visit. The Prime Chief had taken it to heart.

Lord Morgunn was so pleased with Orran’s report that he said I could return to the castle and continue my weapons practice at the garrison training field instead of going back to Tradain.

He didn’t even mind that we hardly saw much while at the tribal lands, or that he’d mostly been sequestered to a few key places in the village.

The Andalagar took their privacy very seriously with outsiders.

Since then, I spent my mornings practicing with my swords and daggers, but each afternoon, I spared two to three hours for my garden.

The plants had been in poor shape due to a lack of attention over the last few months and the high heat.

Rynn had watered them now and then, but she was busy with her studies and practicing her new magic, so she hadn’t been able to make it by there often.

I’d snuck into the garden when I could as well, but it hadn’t been enough for my high-maintenance plants.

They could have used their own nanny if the risk of that person getting eaten wasn’t so high.

After being snapped at several times, I’d had to wear gloves to protect myself.

Only after they’d all received rich mulch, had the weeds picked from around them, and been given regular waterings mixed with vital nutrients, did they finally forgive me.

There was no way to explain to them that I would never neglect them willingly.

I also acquired plenty of mice and rats from the castle rodent catcher for the carnivorous plants. He was a kind, older gnome who thoughtfully held them in cages alive until I could collect them. It deeply touched me to see how good some people here were despite my evil uncle.

Now that all the plants were nourished and happy, I had turned my attention to pruning the ones that required it.

To keep certain varieties healthy, it was necessary to trim any foliage near the ground to reduce the risk of disease.

It didn’t happen often since the garden courtyard was mostly closed off, but a couple of times over the years, a contagion had found its way inside.

I wasn’t always able to save them in time. Though my plants could be antagonistic toward each other, they mourned if any died, and I’d spend a week dealing with sagging, depressed flora. They were like siblings that way.

My mardizold plants were a prime example of needing careful tending. As they grew larger, they also became bushier but were susceptible to contagion brought down by rain and mixed with the earth. I had to keep their foliage at least six inches from the ground.

They were well worth having if they were healthy and well-tended since the orange blooms produced a soothing, fragrant scent that could calm anyone—people, plants, and animals—within their vicinity. Their scent turned putrid and sour if I allowed them to become sick or withered.

After finishing the pruning, I spoke and comforted each plant so they knew I still cared. I had been doing it each day since returning. The positive energy in the garden had improved to almost where it had been in the spring. That lifted my spirits as well.

Finally, I left to bathe and prepare myself for dinner.

I’d play nicely with my uncle and other family to avoid suspicion, and then later tonight, I’d make a surprise visit to Siggaya.

It was Darrow’s forty-sixth birthday, and I wouldn’t forget his like he did mine.

Revenge was best served with unexpected gifts.

I stepped from the portal into the Veronnian trade city an hour before midnight.

It was still quite warm outside, so I was glad I’d chosen a low-cut sleeveless gown with wide shoulder straps, a tapered waist, and a skirt hem that only reached my knees.

The fabric was royal purple, and fine lace accentuated the bodice.

It was a little strange dressing up for a man who’d been my husband for nearly four months, yet we’d never had sex.

Still, after what he’d done to me at the summer court ball, I wanted to finally consummate our marriage—to find out if it would be as good as I imagined.

Of course, I would have stood out in my attire, so I wore a thin black cloak that covered me from head to toe. Darrow would see the dress later.

With that thought, I moved to sit on one of the benches in the courtyard so I’d be less conspicuous, figuring my husband would find me soon enough when his tracking spell alerted him of my arrival.

He should realize my uncle wasn’t crazy enough to attack a city this size and that it would only be me.

While I waited, I watched the night butterflies flit between flowers in the garden beds dotted throughout the area.

They were beautiful, glowing in various pastel colors as they danced together.

I rarely had the opportunity to appreciate them since I often didn’t visit gardens in the evening, and they didn’t dare enter mine since it was too dangerous.

One of the plant varieties I had there produced a scent that discouraged them from getting close, which was its intended purpose.

I didn’t want my carnivorous varieties eating the beautiful, harmless insects.

A dark figure entered the courtyard and immediately cast his gaze on me.

I stood, moving toward him. Darrow met me halfway with suspicion in his eyes, which was disconcerting, but I wouldn’t let that get to me.

I walked right up, rose on my toes, and kissed him.

His mouth tasted of alcohol, which wasn’t unexpected.

He stood frozen for a moment in what I suspected was shock before warming and returning the gesture .

We pulled apart, him with a frown. His voice was low as he asked, “What are you doing here?”

“It’s your birthday,” I said, following his example and whispering. Just this once, I wanted to be the one planning and acting first. Maybe he couldn’t ever love me, but he could feel many other emotions. I wanted to test them all and see where it led.

His gaze changed to one of surprise. “How did you know?”

“I saw the date on our marriage contract.”

“Thank you for remembering, but you shouldn’t be here.” He took my hand and guided me toward a copse of trees at the back of the courtyard, where the shadows were deeper. “You’ll be in danger if you’re seen.”

We continued to keep our voices low.

“Which is why I’m wearing a cloak,” I replied, drawing it closer around my face.

He worked his jaw. “Yes, I see that, but every moment you’re here puts your life at greater risk. It’s not worth it…even for my birthday.”

I couldn’t help feeling a little hurt, considering he’d forgotten about mine and then didn’t want to see me on his. It was frustrating. At the ball and Jolloure, it seemed like he wanted more from our marriage, even if it was only physical, but now he pushed me away.

“Fine, I should be able to go home in an hour.” Shoving my hands into my cloak pockets, I pulled small, wrapped gifts from each one. “These are gifts for you and your sister.”

I pushed them into his hands as he gave them a bewildered look. “Why would you give us gifts?”

“Do you really have to ask? This marriage is a secret now, but it won’t be forever, and I’m just trying to make it work,” I said, growing frustrated with him.

He shook his head and put the gifts back into my cloak pockets. “You should save those efforts for the future when things are safer.”

“Are you serious? Every time I come to you, I take a risk, but I do it anyway because you ask it of me. Even after my uncle caught me, and everything that he…” I clenched my fists, unwilling to tell him what I’d endured since he probably didn’t care regardless of what he claimed.

“Anyway, I’m fu lly aware of the repercussions, but since the ball, I thought you’d at least be open to this. ”

He sighed and ran a hand through his loose hair.

“Those were different circumstances where I had everything planned and coordinated. This city is full of spies for nearly everyone in the realm, and I have no way to shield you from them all, especially without adequate warning. You might have made it through here once without being noticed, but it’s unlikely to happen again. ”

“Yes, we wouldn’t want anyone to suspect we’re married, such as the leader of the Andalagar tribe,” I said in a scathing voice.

His lips twitched. “So he told you about that?”

“Yes.” I lifted a brow. “After he kissed me.”

Darrow stiffened, and his eyes narrowed. “He did what ?”

“Orran had me open a portal to where the Naforya Fountain should be located. We were discussing it, and then he kissed me out of nowhere,” I said, shrugging. “Guess he wanted to see how committed I am to you.”

Darrow turned his face away, but I managed to catch a glimpse of his anger. The hard line of his jaw told me he was fighting a much stronger reaction. His voice came out cold, “Did you enjoy his kiss?”

I let out a low, bitter laugh. “Does it really matter when you don’t want to see me on your birthday or accept my gifts?”

“You’re still mine, dear wife. No one touches you except me,” he said, voice menacingly low.

“Then why don’t you take me somewhere and prove it?” I challenged, trying to turn the situation around. Why couldn’t anything ever be on my terms?

He let out a growl of frustration. “Because this isn’t the time or place, and you should know that by now. If someone sees you, it could ruin all my plans, which are more important than a damned birthday.”

Yet, obviously, he could sit around drinking with others. Just not his wife. Despite everything he’d said recently, he likely still saw me as the enemy. Playing with me could only be on his terms, never mine. Red, hot anger poured through my veins .

In that moment, I was sorely tempted to punch him.

“Tonight, I was prepared to consummate this marriage, but thanks for making it clear that even fucking me isn’t worth your time.

” I pulled the gifts back from my pockets and shoved them into his chest, but he let them fall to the ground.

“Hope you have a happy birthday, Darrow.”

His expression hardened. “You’re being ridiculous.”

I backed away toward the ring, letting him see all the rage in my eyes. I’d taken a whipping to protect this marriage and lain in horrific pain for a week, but this was how he greeted me when I tried to do something nice despite everything? Now, I felt as ridiculous as he claimed.

“So you know,” I said, now halfway to the ring.

“I pushed Orran away the second his lips touched mine because all I thought of was you, but I see now how stupid that was to do since I doubt you really care beyond some ridiculous possessiveness. I’m nothing more than an object for you to use at your whim. ”

Then, I spun around and moved to face the ring.

A tear ran down my cheek as I lifted my shaking hands and began channeling.

I hadn’t regenerated my powers enough, but I pulled everything I had anyway.

It only needed to stay open long enough for one person to pass, and there were no wards on the portal to my garden.

The distance was the only thing that made it more difficult.

My knees began to shake next as I kept trying to find scraps of power to complete the connection.

Darrow had moved from the trees, stopping just within my line of sight. “It’s too soon. You’re going to burn yourself out.”

I couldn’t respond to him as I continued chanting. The frustration on his face only made me want to leave that much sooner, so I dug to the bottom of my well and found the last bit of magic I needed. The connection snapped into place.

He stepped closer. “Aella, I…”

“Fuck you, Darrow.”

The blue light appeared, and I stumbled toward it.

My legs barely wanted to cooperate because I’d used everything.

My well was almost dry. I continued pushing with everything I had as I fell to my knees and crawled the rest of the way.

If Darrow reacted, I couldn’t say at that point, but I made it across those final few feet and entered the portal. It closed right behind me.

Shortly thereafter, I popped into my garden courtyard.

I dragged myself toward my vine plants and sobbed.

Several blooms leaned down and brushed the tears from my cheeks.

The mardizolds released their soothing fragrance, giving me a measure of calm.

I lay there for a while, letting my flora comfort me until I regained the strength to return to my room.