22. Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
Leena
W hen I awoke, Bratan was trailing a map along my back, his fingers dancing down my spine. “Good morning, little dove,” he said when my dewy eyes found his.
“Good morning,” I said sleepily.
“Even in the morning, you’re perfect.” He stroked my hair, and my head fell back in bliss. When he then kissed the tip of my nose, I smiled and sat up, scootching against him and pulling up the duvet to cover myself from the morning chill.
And then the memory of last night came back. Of what he’d said about our wedding. Our arrangement. “Bratan?”
“Hm?” His hand paused on my shoulder blade.
“I believe you that you didn’t know I was forced into this. I felt something when we were wed, something in the power that flooded through me… When I came to this realm, and you told me I belonged to you, I thought you simply needed a bride and that you would take me because I filled that need. I hated you for it. ”
“I’m so sorry, Leena, I was an ass and had no idea I was being one.”
I laughed. “I know that now, but that isn’t the point.” Still nestled under his arm, I threaded my hand in his and looked up at him. “After we wed, I felt a bond with you beyond explanation or understanding. There was something both supernatural and spiritual about it. I thought maybe it was fate and that we were somehow meant to be, but I quickly dismissed it because of everything that led me there. But now, I’m wondering if I’d been right.”
“You were,” he said, and I was surprised at how quickly he’d said it. “I believe that anyway.” Gently, his fingers found my chin, and he lifted it, gazing deeply into my eyes. “I believe we were supposed to meet, Leena,” he said, but his eyes turned somber as he continued. “But I was told you’d come willingly, and I am so sorry that wasn’t the case. If you’d like to leave, you’re free to go.”
Warmth soothed the last tangled edge of my feelings for him, convincing me he was telling the truth. The last thing I wanted was to leave. “It’s okay. Oddly enough, I’m glad I’m here.”
“Really?” He leaned closer.
“Really,” I said, and my mouth opened for him.
After one unhurried kiss, he leaned back. “Is there anything you’d like to know about me? I want you to be comfortable and to know you can trust me.”
Maybe I was a fool, but I did trust him. And I wanted to know everything there was to know about him. “Tell me about your family.” The words tumbled out before I could think, but I wanted to know. I wanted to understand him—to learn how his world worked and what secrets he’d locked away.
“They were very special,” he said. Again, I was surprised at how quickly he’d responded, but I didn’t want him to stop. Closing my eyes and nestling against his chest, I listened to the hum of his voice as he continued. “I haven’t seen them in years and unfortunately never will.”
“Why not?” I asked.
His hand had been lazily stroking my arm, but now it stopped.
“My mother was killed in this very forest. Turned to ash like she was nothing but a pile of wood.” The silence that fell between us was suffocating. He buried me deeper into his chest, and I wondered if it was so I couldn’t see his face.
“I’m so sorry.” It was such a flimsy response, but I didn’t have the words to express my true sorrow for him.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not,” I replied, but if he’d heard me, he didn’t acknowledge it.
“It’s a long story for another day, and I want you to get some rest. For now, I’ll say that I was young. I was raised mostly by my mother. My father…” His body tensed. “He was never here to begin with. It was just my mother and me, and a friend of hers, and we were the Keepers of the Woods. Technically, my father had been the official Keeper, but since he’d been gone for many years, my mother took over. She should have been the Ke eper from the beginning anyway, but she didn’t have Leshy blood. When I was born, I had the powers and form of my father, so I was next in line.” There was a beat of silence. “She was the official Keeper until I took over. Even then, I wasn’t ready.”
His hand swept over my back, softly playing with the loose hair falling over my shoulder. I felt his throat bob, but still, he stroked me in a loving way I’d never felt from anyone else. I never knew someone’s touch could be both exciting and soothing.
“And then the humans came.” His tone was sharp. “They burned down half the forest before I could do anything. I was still young, but technically, I was a man at that point. I felt every flame, every sharp, splintered snap of wood. And then almost everyone I’d ever known was either killed or captured. And my mother…she was just as part of the forest as I was, but since she was the Keeper, losing half the forest like that burned her alive from the inside out. And then there was only me and a handful of my people.”
“Bratan…” My arms slid over his shoulders, wrapping around his neck. He held onto me like I was his lifeline. “I’m so, so sorry.” I stroked his hair until I felt his arms loosen. “What happened to those humans?”
There was an uncomfortable silence before he pulled away. A dark flare lit in his eyes. “I killed them. Every man responsible. I killed them all.”
My eyes widened. “What? ”
He looked at me heatedly. “They deserved to die, Leena. They killed my people and nearly burned down the forest. It’s my job to protect it. I had no choice.”
“But what about the children? The innocents?”
“Of course, I didn’t kill them! Do you think I’m a monster?” The question hung in the air, and his jaw clenched when he clearly remembered that I’d accused him of that very thing not long ago. His voice lowered. “Do you still think I’m a monster?”
I couldn’t answer. I didn’t know the first thing about being a Leshy, and I still didn’t know him very well, but I couldn’t bring myself to accept what he’d done.
“I-I don’t, but—”
Hurt flashed in his eyes. He bit his lip, nodding swiftly in pained understanding. “I see. You’ll always think I’m a monster.” He whipped off the blanket and strode to the wardrobe.
“I didn’t say that—”
He slammed it shut, putting on his clothes and throwing a cloak around his neck. “You didn’t have to.”
“Bratan, wait!” I reached for him, covering myself with the blanket as I scampered over. I let it fall as I took his face in my hands, but he wouldn’t look at me. “I don’t think you’re a monster. I just…I don’t understand.”
He took my hands and returned them to my sides. Still avoiding my gaze, he said, “I have business to tend to today. You need rest. Sleep here until you’re ready to leave. I’ll fetch Theodora to bring you breakfast and to watch over you so that you don’t get hurt again.”
“Bratan…”
He took one step down the stairs before turning enough for me to see the side of his face. “We’re both part of this forest now, Leena. If it dies, so do we, and our people would follow soon after.” My chest cramped with guilt, but I didn’t know what to say. He waited a moment, probably waiting for a response, but when I didn’t give one, he was gone.
My heart was heavy when the front door closed much more quietly than usual. I knew I wasn’t getting any rest today. And I had no idea what to do or where to go from here.