Page 76 of Winds of Darkness

“Tell me, Ashtine,” he urged.

“They speak of a prince of water falling.”

His movements paused, and she stiffened against him. “I upset you. I apologize.”

“No,” he said, resuming the soothing strokes of his fingers. “I am not upset. I am told the winds speak of past, present, and future. Perhaps they speak of my father. Or a prince in another realm.”

“And if they do not?”

“We will go mad trying to figure it out,” he answered, pressing a kiss to her brow when she looked up at him. “Did we not agree to take trials as they come?”

“We did,” she answered. “But that does not quiet the worry.”

“Worrying about something that may not even come to pass steals joy from the present.”

“Perhaps,” she murmured.

She was asleep before she breathed another word, and he certainly wouldn’t wake her when sleep came easily after months of insomnia. And as the first light of day filtered into the room, he sent a message to his Court telling them not to expect him for meals today.

Chapter 12

Ashtine

She’d been in the Water Court for four days.

Four days since she’d been home.

Four days since she’d walked among the winds.

Four days of a peace she had never thought she’d know again.

Her days were spent in Briar’s rooms or on the shores of the sea. Her nights were spent in Briar’s bed, both pleasure and rest being found.

She shifted on the sofa she was lounging on as she remembered waking to Briar’s head between her thighs that morning, a soft smile forming. Then that smile widened as she realized she had smiled more in the last four days than she could remember doing in the last four years.

Briar was also making sure she wasn’t only fulfilled intimately, but physically as well. She slept soundly next to him, and he made sure she was eating. There always seemed to be food available no matter if they were in his rooms or on the beach, and she’d finally been given the opportunity to try these oysters he hoarded. She’d decided he could keep those for himself, but she did enjoy the food of the sea, particularly the fresh fish they had for dinners. Their cuisine in the north tended to be more fowl and animals of the earth.

Ashtine readjusted the book she was reading where it rested against her bent knees. Briar had secured texts from the FireCourt library, and she had been leisurely reading through them the past few days. Briar, of course, had things to tend to, but he never left her alone for long. However, they’d agreed to gradually make his absences longer in the hope that she and the winds could come to an … understanding. She had been hesitant, but he’d reassured her she only needed to send a wind message and he would return immediately should they become too unrelenting.

The first day of this had been … taxing. The winds sought her out, and she’d had to summon Briar more than once. Then it had become a battle of wills, hers versus the winds that had controlled her for centuries. Even now she could feel them drifting around her, wanting to come closer. She lifted a hand, air swirling in her palm and pulling more wind towards her.

Breaking laws of old angers more than just gods of past,they whispered.

There are dozens of realms. They will care little for this one,she replied, turning the page of the book.

Tempting fate tips the balance.

Allies will stand on separate sides.

A prince of water will fall.

She tensed, wondering if they would continue, but the winds curled around her, flowing through her hair, before letting her be.

A slow give and take.

Testing limits.

That was what they were learning.