Page 62 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Darrow

J anaseed Park was the largest and most popular park in Porrine, situated west of the royal palace.

It was as crowded as I expected during mid-afternoon.

Fae of all types strolled along the paths, and vendors were stationed throughout to serve drinks and snacks.

Children played games on the blue-green grass in the central open area, kicking balls or chasing each other.

Their laughter filled the air. I tried to remember a time when I’d ever been that carefree, but nothing came to mind.

Above me, crabarry trees remained in full bloom under the late summer sun.

They regularly shed their numerous dark-red flower petals across the ground and pathways, adding pops of color to the greenery.

They would die back in a couple of weeks when autumn arrived, as the thinner and shorter mistarr trees took over with their violet flowers.

The park only had four types. They were equally spread throughout the grounds, each blooming in different seasons. The spring and summer trees lost their mint-green leaves during the colder months, but the fall and winter ones retained their dark green foliage year-round.

A buffryfly fluttered around me and the bench where I sat, waiting for Aella.

They were a cousin of the butterfly. Its body was round and small, no bigger than a fingertip, but its wings were large enough to cover my hand.

They had a wide variety of colorful designs.

This one was bedecked in swirls of blue and red, along with two black antennas that helped guide it toward the sweetest flowers.

It wasn’t interested in anything other than me right now since it had stayed here the entire time I waited—which was nearly an hour .

Aella was undoubtedly punishing me for the way our last visit went, but I had no doubt she would come despite what she told my sebeska.

For now, I waited in one of the lesser-used paths at the rear of the park where foot traffic was light and tree foliage was dense.

No one would be able to recognize me at the moment.

I’d added glamour to conceal my identity because I didn’t want anyone to recognize us together.

Zadrya’s capital city was rife with spies. If my plans had any chance of success, we couldn’t be recognized together. I emphasized that in the note I sent her. She was wise enough that she’d surely listen to my instructions no matter her resentment.

My wedding ring suddenly warmed as it sensed its mate nearby.

Aella must have just stepped through a portal and begun heading my way.

I took out a worn sheet of yellowed parchment containing a map of the kingdom.

A green dot on it showed her location, which was Porrine now.

I folded it back up, relying on my ring to grow hotter as she came closer.

It shouldn’t take her more than ten minutes to reach me.

An elf couple, walking arm in arm, passed by the bench. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t look my way, where I continued to sit with the buffryfly. It now rested on the seat next to me, crawling on tiny legs as it inspected the wooden slats.

Almost exactly ten minutes passed when a woman at Aella’s height came around the bend in the path.

She had golden-red hair, pale skin, and freckles across her cheeks.

Her look was certainly different, with nearly all her features altered except her eyes.

Their light-green depths fell on me with unrestrained irritation.

Despite my disguise, she recognized me as well.

At her approach, the buffryfly flew into the air to sit on her shoulder.

She gave it a brief smile before taking a seat at the opposite end of the bench.

I said nothing as she smoothed her lavender skirt and avoided my gaze.

At least glamour didn’t hide her intoxicating floral scent, which I relished.

“What was so important that you needed to interrupt my time with my sister?” she asked, every part of her body tense.

“It’s lovely to see you as well, dear wife.” I stared at her rigid profile. “As for why you’re here…we’ll discuss that somewhere more private.”

“Then why meet here? ”

I turned my gaze toward the place where I suspected Jax now stood. My close friend had the ability to become invisible, but now, he revealed himself and gave me a nod. It had been his job to follow Aella from the portal and ensure her trip here was uneventful. His gesture let me know all was well.

“I had to make certain no one followed you,” I replied.

She cast me a furtive glance. “Why would anyone do that?”

I stood and proffered a hand toward her. “I’ll tell you more when we reach the townhouse, but first, we must stop at the market.”

“For what?” she asked, standing on her own and ignoring my hand.

I sighed and dropped my arm. “You’ll see.”

Her posture couldn’t have been more rigid as we walked side by side out of the park. I’d expected her to have some lingering anger over our last encounter, but not to this degree. My sister had been right that Aella would still be upset.

Before we parted ways again, I needed to return to her good graces, no matter what it took. While I was incapable of having any deep feelings for her, I did regret hurting her, and I could manipulate what little I did feel to aid my cause.

“I know you may choose not to believe it, but I am sorry for how things went the last time we saw each other,” I said just before we stepped onto a main street beside the park. “It was my fault for not warning you that it would be dangerous to visit Siggaya again.”

She cast me a cold look. “It’s no problem. I was the fool who tried to make more of our marriage than what will ever exist, and I should have known better.”

I flinched. “It meant something to me that you remembered my birthday.”

“I doubt that,” she said curtly.

I stopped and waited until she turned to face me. No one was nearby at the moment, so I took advantage of it. Whatever it took today, I would make it up to Aella.

Stepping closer, I cupped her cheek. “Your thoughtful and priceless gifts meant a lot to me and my sister. Considering the history between our lands, it caught me off guard that you would do such a thing. I was also sorry when Faina pointed out that not only did I miss your birthday, but I also forced you to aid in an attack on your people that night. If I’d known, I would have chosen another date. ”

“Why bother?” she asked, brushing off my hand. “I’m your wife in name only, and you hate my family and land. Please don’t bother to pretend you care just to make me feel better because you need me for something. I learned my lesson and won’t make that mistake again.”

I couldn’t stand the look of aversion on her face, even in her disguised form.

It bothered me in ways I couldn’t describe.

“You do matter to me, Aella—more than should be possible. We are simply in a precarious situation where we must tread carefully in everything that we do. It doesn’t mean I don’t want more from this marriage. ”

“Really?” Her expression turned skeptical. “You can’t ever love me, so what does it matter?”

I scrambled to find the right words. “Because a lack of love doesn’t preclude me from caring about your well-being, hence why I was so upset that you put yourself in danger. I’d also like to build respect and trust in our relationship—even if there aren’t deeper feelings.”

Her expression softened a few degrees.

“There is so much…” she began.

Unable to resist another moment, I dipped my head and kissed her.

She whimpered. I pressed gently, coaxing her lips to open as she slowly melted against me.

One thing the curse did not do was curb my passion for my wife.

I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted any woman, and that was enough to spark my need to work through this rift between us.

Those three days I’d had her in my home—even unconscious— made me despise the fact that I didn’t have her close anymore.

I couldn’t protect her when she was far away.

Watching the Cù Sìth attack her a few days ago had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done, though I was awed and proud that she defeated a creature most couldn’t.

Through the sebeska’s eyes, I’d seen how she didn’t hesitate to fight and protect her younger cousin.

Aella was valuable far beyond her channeling abilities for her heart, compassion, and courage .

The heat between us grew, and our tongues danced.

She couldn’t resist the pull any more than I could.

As ruthless as it might be, I would use that to my advantage.

While I had her, I would kiss and touch her at every opportunity until she forgot about her previous anger.

I would use her desire for me until her heart and soul were bound to me.

The urge to make her mine grew stronger with every meeting.

She clutched my shirt, panting heavily by the time I pulled away. Her lips were swollen, and her eyes glazed with pure lust. I felt supreme satisfaction until her expression morphed into horror, and she stumbled back.

Aella scowled at me. “Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” I asked with an amused grin.

“Kissing me.”

I ran a thumb over my own lips where I could still taste her. “Admit you enjoy it.”

“That’s not the point,” she said, turning and beginning to walk again. “I shouldn't want to kiss you, so we shouldn't do it anymore.”

I easily kept up with her. “Last time you saw me, you indicated otherwise.”

She shot me a venomous look. “And you ruined it.”

“Why? Because I was more concerned with your safety and put that ahead of our desire for each other?” I asked. I’d turn the tables on her every chance until she looked at that previous encounter differently. It wasn’t as if I was lying. That was the reason I’d scolded her and pushed her away.

“If you cared at all, you would have been nicer about it,” she retorted.