19. Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Leena
S trings from wood-carved instruments hummed beautiful, upbeat melodies through the village square. Creatures from every part of the wood were happily participating in the festivities, enjoying themselves with sweets, dancing, and simply spending carefree time together. But there was still no sign of Bratan, causing my stomach to coil in distress. Wrapping my arms around myself, I remembered Ani’s words, hoping they weren’t true.
No, Theodora is right. He wants me. Why would he need an heir? He lives forever, doesn’t he? He’s immortal.
But I didn’t really know anything about him or his kind—about what his duties were, or mine—and if we were to be Keepers of the forest forever or not. How many leshies were there in the world? If he found an heir, he would likely not need me anymore, and maybe he’d be free. Maybe he was confined to these woods until he had someone to take his place. Would it have to be someone of his blood if he did ?
A loud pop from a party cracker split through the air, and the glee of children dancing beneath falling confetti pulled my lips into a smile. Their laughter was infectious, and my heart warmed at the bliss in their expressions as they closed their eyes and let the colorful pieces of paper fall onto their faces. One giddy child poked another, and an impromptu game of tag ensued.
I watched them as the sounds of the party settled in the evening air. What was first quiet, hesitant chatter at the party’s start was now an orchestra of merriment, fiddles, and laughter from creatures of all ages. These were my people—these wildly dancing, beautiful villagers. And I had managed to bring them joy despite my grumpy husband’s strict reign. If only that heart of his could soften just a little.
“Your Majesty!” Theodora called, skipping over to me, a mug of cider in hand. “The party is a huge success!” She clutched my hand in hers, eyes wide and bright. I’d not seen this side of her, but it was comforting to know that she could let loose a little. “Come join us!” she said before being peeled away by the hand of a handsome fae male who’d grabbed hold of her and swept her onto the makeshift dance floor.
“Why shouldn’t I?” I said, more to myself than anything. Bratan didn’t deserve my stewing, nor did Ani. I was just as much of a ruler of this kingdom as he was, and I’d enjoy the party I arranged. No one deserved the right to rule over my emotions. No one .
I dropped my tense shoulders, took a deep breath, gathered my skirts, and jumped into the middle of it all. Some of the villagers appeared hesitant to enjoy themselves around their dancing queen, but when they saw my awkward movements and the way I laughed with my whole body, they must have realized that I wasn’t the stuck-up tyrant my husband was.
Theodora grabbed me by the hand, and I joined her in a chain of dancers. At least thirty of the villagers were a part of the skipping chain. Laughter spilled from me like a music box. The fiddles and clapping from musicians rose to the starry sky like sun-soaked mist.
It wasn’t until I let go of Theodora’s hand and lifted my arms above my head to dance on my own that I saw him across the square. His eyes hooked mine into an almost physical trance. His hair was a mess of dark waves around his usual stoic expression, but his attire was unlike his usual garb. Switching out from a three-piece suit and cape, he wore a thin, black tunic unlaced at the top, the material casually falling untucked over black trousers with matching boots.
His eyes briefly flickered to my legs, and then he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. This was my night. I wouldn’t let him ruin it.
I plastered on a smile and raced over to him. He staggered back in surprise, appearing unsure what to do with himself. He clearly wasn’t expecting this response, and his shock only increased when I took hold of his hands.
“Dance with me!” I said .
“I don’t dance,” he grumbled, and I could barely hear him over the music.
“Nonsense! Come on!” I tugged harder, but it was like his feet had sunk into the ground, rooting themselves like the trees canopying the space around us. His forehead creased, and there was a hint of worry in his expression like he was afraid to dance, so I smiled brighter, my cheeks hurting at the effort. His green eyes inspected the crowd, and then he sighed and let me drag him into the square.
I jumped in glee, twirling myself under his arm with his long fingers. But then the music stopped, as if his presence had sucked every shred of merriment away from the party and villagers. My hand fell, but I didn’t let go of him. I beamed at our people, then turned my attention to the musicians.
“Why did you stop? The night is young! Let’s dance!” It took a moment before the lead fiddler started up again, slowly at first and then faster, the others in his accompaniment following suit.
My husband’s look of annoyance was deep and searing. Ignoring it, I twirled myself under his arm until my back was pressed against his chest. I winked up at him, and the tight line of his mouth finally broke into a smile. Soft clapping erupted from a handful of villagers, and I made it my mission to loosen Bratan up.
To my immense surprise and relief, he twirled me back out until I was spinning on my toes in giddy laughter. I stumbled in a fit of dizziness, but he caught me before I fell. My breath caught in my throat. His nose brushed mine, and time stopped. We looked at each other, the music around us spilling away. Before I knew it, he was pressing a soft kiss to my lips, the taste intoxicating, dizzying me more than the cider or ale. When he released my lips, he dipped me until my head fell back. He kissed my throat, and his mouth left sparks against my skin. I was lightheaded as he lifted me upright and pulled me in close. Our fingers laced together, then our arms stretched out, and he led me in a methodical dance, pulling me in and moving in step with the music.
I tried suppressing an impressed smile, but it didn’t go unnoticed. “I said I don’t dance, not that I couldn’t.”
My tongue pressed coyly against my cheek as I stifled a laugh. “I see.” I looked back up at him, amused, and he spun me again. The merriment was back. Everyone around us danced and hooted, and the sounds of everything were loud and beautiful and free.
My new husband and I danced and laughed all night, especially when he gracelessly spilled wine down his tunic. He didn’t look amused at my hysteric laughter until he scooped me up and kissed his wine-covered lips all over my neck, which only made me laugh harder.
The energy eventually died down, and the music slowed. The fiddlers had traded spots with other musicians so they could enjoy the party too, but the melodies soon turned into unhurried sonnets of sound, graceful and smooth. Bratan held me against him as we swayed, slow and heady. He was different than I’d thought, and despite my initial hesitation, I was enchanted by everything about him. The way he smelled of rich spice and cloves, the sound of his deep voice, and the way he held me and looked at me like no one else in the world mattered. But above everything else, I loved the way he smiled tonight. It opened a curtain to who he truly was. The man behind the monster facade.
My face fell softly against his chest, and I could feel the quick beats of his heart. I breathed in deep, content, and winding down from the exhilaration of the evening. His arms wrapped around me, lifting me until his lips pressed against my ear. “You are such a magnificent creature, Leena.”
“I know,” I teased. When he chuckled, my heart skipped. My voice quieted. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
We continued swaying in slow, dazed steps. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me,” he said, “but I can’t stop thinking about you.” I looked up without a word, not knowing what to say and desperately wanting to hear more. “All day, all I can think about is your curious eyes and the rush you send through my blood—a sensation you can bring on at any given moment with just a touch. Just a kiss.” He leaned in, cradling my jaw in his hands. “You have a good heart, Leena, and you’re incredibly beautiful and a crack of thunder. My precious bolt of lightning…” He kissed the space beneath my ear so slowly it made me weak. “And I am drawn to you so much it hurts.”
My blood heated, and against my better judgment, I slid my hand around the nape of his neck, closing my eyes and listening to the hum of his voice. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you either,” I whispered in ragged breaths. My head was still cradled in his hands, his face buried into my neck. His teeth gently grazed it, down to my shoulder and then back up to my ear.
“You’ve poisoned me, little dove. I crave you. I crave you.” He growled, and my knees nearly gave out. My fingers gathered the cloth of his tunic.
“I can’t escape you, can I?” I said, a deep ache thickening in my blood.
He chuckled into my hair. “Not if you desire me half as much as I starve for you.” His already sultry voice was low; the bass of it thrummed in my ears. I had to silence a sound as he pressed another kiss into my neck.“Do you want to go home?”
“Yes,” I whispered, breathless. He clutched the back of my dress as he brought me into a deep kiss. He tasted of wine and frosting and something only of him. “Take me home.”