Chapter 6
VIVIENNE
My eyes snap open, and I blink several times as my vision slowly adjusts to the bright morning light spilling in through the nearby window. I shake my head, trying to clear the fog of sleep from my mind.
I just had the strangest dream that I married a Dark Elf.
Something tugs on my hand and reality comes crashing back in. It wasn’t a dream after all.
A green silk ribbon still binds my right wrist to his left, the knot slightly loosened from sleep, the fabric crinkled from where my fingers curled around his during the night.
I freeze as Auren stirs, stretching in a slow, languid motion before propping himself up on one elbow, his expression bright and easy. Far too awake for this ungodly hour.
His dark hair is tousled, a few strands falling over his forehead. My gaze travels over his bare chest, and the thick cords of muscle along his arms. Warmth flushes my skin as I study the taut ridges of his abdomen and the soft knit pants that stretch tight over muscular thighs.
I’ve seen images of male anatomy in books, but I’ve never been this close to a man partially clothed. Heat curls low in my belly as my gaze lingers on the unmistakable outline of his manhood. I swallow hard. It seems… much larger than I imagined.
“Good morning,” he says, and I gasp, realizing that I’ve been caught. A handsome smirk curls his lips as his eyes meet mine, as if he knows exactly how much his dangerously gorgeous body affects me.
I grit my teeth, furious at myself for even ogling him in the first place. It’s much too early in the morning for this. “Is it?”
He chuckles, the deep rumble sending an unwanted shiver down my spine. Not of fear, but of something else entirely. “Come on. We need to get up. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
I lift my head. “Journey?”
His lips twitch as if he enjoys watching me piece things together. I’m not sure I like that.
“To the Dark Elf Kingdom,” he replies matter-of-factly. “To Valethryn—my home.”
The weight of his words crashes over me, and I jerk up to sitting, the sheets pooling around my waist. “You mean we have to leave? Today?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t you rather remain here?” I ask hopefully. “Live in the castle?”
His brows lift slightly. “Wouldn’t you prefer us to have our own home?”
“No,” I huff. “I happen to like it here.” In a castle. Surrounded by all my comforts…
“I’m sorry, Vivienne. I would stay for you if I could.” I’m surprised by how sincere his words sound. “But I swore an oath to my kingdom… to protect and defend my realm. I cannot go back on it.”
Reluctant admiration stirs at his sense of honor.
Auren reaches for the silk ribbon still binding us together, and loosens the knot, careful not to pull too hard or risk hurting me. His gentle touch sparks a flicker of warmth in my chest.
The fabric slides free from my wrist, and instead of tossing it aside, he folds it neatly and tucks it into his pocket.
I frown. “What are you going to do with that?”
“Save it for when you actually want to consummate our marriage.”
My head jerks back. “Excuse me?”
“The binding ribbon is meant to bless the union,” he explains calmly. “It’s said that keeping it ensures many children.”
I nearly choke. “Well, you can just throw it away right now.”
A faint smirk curls his mouth. “I think I’ll hold onto it.”
“Fine.” With an exasperated huff, I throw off the blankets and turn away from him, storming toward my dressing screen. “Keep your ribbon for all the good it will do you.”
“I’ll be back shortly,” he says, utterly unaffected by my fury. “Say your goodbyes and pack what you need. We leave in an hour.”
“You expect me to pack in an hour?” I ask incredulously.
“Yes. Pack only the essentials. We need to travel light.”
I start to protest, but he’s already heading toward the door. “I’m going to ready my things and speak with my fellow warriors. I’ll return soon.”
The moment he’s gone, I call in the servants. With their help, I fill six trunks with only the essentials—a truly remarkable feat, considering under normal circumstances, I would need twice as many.
When Auren returns with my father and brother, he stops dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he surveys the six trunks stacked neatly in the hall.
“What is that?”
I lift my chin. “The essentials.”
His frown deepens as he strides forward and opens them, inspecting the contents. He shakes his head when he sees my gowns, perfumes, and the entire collection of velvet-lined jewelry cases.
“I told you,” he mutters, rubbing his temples, “we are traveling light.”
“You did,” I say sweetly. “So I packed accordingly.”
Auren inhales deeply, as if summoning patience. “You have no need of all this. I will buy you whatever you require when we reach my home.”
“You’re a soldier.” I frown. “You cannot possibly afford to replace my things.” But then something occurs to me. “Ah, you mean you’ll pay for things with my dowry, is that it?”
“He refused your dowry,” Father interjects.
“He what?” My jaw drops as I turn to Auren. “Why in the world would you do that?”
“It’s quite simple,” Auren says as he takes my hand. He presses a tender kiss to the back of my knuckles and flashes an infuriatingly handsome grin. “Because you are all the treasure I need, my darling wife.”
I scoff, and jerk my hand from his.
My brother snorts, and I scowl at him.
“At least take this,” Father says, discreetly pressing a pouch of gold into Auren’s palm. “For the journey.”
Auren barely glances at it before handing it back. “We don’t need it.”
Father begins to tuck it away, but I snatch it the moment Auren turns his back.
My brother stifles another laugh but quickly clears his throat to cover it.
He and I argue every now and then, and perhaps I’m a bit trying, but he’s my brother. Surely, he realizes this entire thing is ridiculous.
While Auren is talking to Father, I grab Aldric’s arm. “Meet me at the edge of town,” I whisper urgently in his ear. “I don’t need a marriage. We can hide at the summer home until my birthday passes. If the Goblin King can’t find me, the bargain will be broken, and I’ll be done with this nonsense.”
Instead of answering, he remains silent, which I take as a yes. A faint smile crests my lips.
Father may think he’s won, but he has no idea I have Aldric on my side.
Auren, none the wiser, turns back to me. “Do you have travel boots?”
I blink. “A lady does not wear boots.”
He gives me a look that tells me he disagrees, but he wisely chooses to remain silent.
When we step outside, my heart stops. A massive Dire wolf stands in the center of the courtyard. It’s taller than any horse I’ve ever seen, with thick, silver-white fur, and fangs nearly as long as my forearm.
Its golden eyes lock onto mine, and I immediately get behind Auren.
“It’s alright, Vivienne,” he says calmly. “This is Vaelen—my wolf. He will not harm you.”
I’ve heard the Elves ride Dire wolves, but I’ll admit that part of me always believed this was mere rumor. A sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach, but I force it back down and tip up my chin, feigning a bravery I do not entirely feel right now. “Where is the carriage?”
At least once I’m inside, I can close the curtains and pretend there aren’t wolves all around me.
Auren frowns. “There is no carriage.” He gestures at the Dire wolf. “We’ll be riding on—”
“You cannot possibly expect me to ride that,” I snap.
“Vivienne,” he says calmly. “You have nothing to fear.” He glances at the wolf and makes a low whistling sound.
I press myself into Auren’s side as the beast lopes toward us on silent paws, each one nearly the size of my head.
Auren wraps an arm around my waist. “Vivienne, meet Vaelen.”
Gods save me.
The wolf’s sharp golden eyes meet mine with an unsettling awareness.
“I am not riding a wolf,” I whisper, my fingers curling involuntarily into the fabric of Auren’s tunic.
His hand immediately covers mine where it grips him, holding it there instead of pulling it away. “You ride horses, don’t you?” Auren asks. When I nod, he adds, “Riding a wolf is much the same.”
“I very much doubt that,” I reply tartly. “For one thing, horses don’t have fangs the size of daggers.”
Auren doesn’t argue. Instead, he takes my hand in his warm, steady grasp and slowly brings it forward.
I stiffen. “What are you doing?”
“Vaelen needs to learn your scent,” he murmurs, his voice a soothing contrast to the thunderous panic in my chest. “He will never harm you, but he needs to recognize you as mine.”
Mine. The word settles strangely in my chest. Not like a command, but like something already decided. Warmth coils deep within, unsettling and… entirely inappropriate.
Forcing myself to push aside the odd sensation, I focus on the wolf instead.
Vaelen lowers his enormous head as Auren gently presses my palm against the thick, warm fur along his neck.
“There now,” Auren murmurs, his strong hand resting atop my own. Heat rushes to my cheeks as he threads his fingers through mine and whispers in my ear. “That’s not so bad, is it?”
The wolf’s ears flick forward, listening.
Hesitantly, I stroke his silver fur.
Vaelen turns his large head toward me, his golden eyes gleaming, and I freeze, thinking how easily that massive jaw could snap open, those razor-sharp fangs slicing through flesh.
Auren must sense my concern, because he moves closer, his broad chest firmly against my back. Warmth pools deep within as his other arm tightens around my waist, not enough to trap me, but enough that I feel every inch of his muscular body pressed to mine. Far too close and distracting.
“You’re safe,” he murmurs, his soft mint breath warm in my ear. And despite myself, I believe him. “I swear it, me'lira.”
My face heats at the endearment as I stroke Vaelen’s thick fur again, slower this time.
The Dire wolf lets out a deep huff, as if amused by my hesitation, before slowly wagging his tail.
Auren squeezes my hand. “He likes you.”
I snort a nervous laugh. “I highly doubt that.”
“He does,” Auren insists.
The Dire wolf lowers his head, nudging my side with his massive snout, as if satisfied with whatever judgment he’s made.
An image of me standing beside Auren appears in my mind and I gasp as it’s quickly followed by another of a forest. “I just saw a flash of something. What is that?”
“It’s how they communicate,” Auren replies. “Touch contact helps strengthen the connection.” He gestures to our hands on Vaelen’s soft fur.
“I saw an image of us, but… what does a forest have to do with anything?” I ask, my curiosity temporarily overriding my nerves.
“The forest is sacred to Dire wolves. It is their heart.” His luminous blue eyes meet mine. “It’s his way of saying he understands who you are.”
Auren’s words touch something deep within… like a quiet, unspoken truth. And something about that unsettles me more than it should.