5
Valen
I keep my attendance at the party brief. Requests for meetings, congratulations, suggestions on what I should change first…invitations to bed. I humor them all, offering diplomatic responses and vague promises. Really, I don’t hear many of the details. The only thing on my mind is how the hell I am going to get the Winter Lands out of the hole I dug.
By the time I make it back to my room, I’m exhausted. Peaceful oblivion is at the top of my to-do list. Unfortunately, my day isn’t over quite yet.
I put on a robe over a set of training leathers and slip from my room.
“Lord Valen?” The two Fae standing guard at my door jump to attention. “Where can we escort you this evening?”
I gesture to the room a few doors down. “I’m just going to have a visit with Zana. I think for this particular event, three—or four—would be a bit of a crowd, don’t you?”
The guard on the right blushes, while the one on the left flashes me a knowing grin. “Of course,” he says. “We’re here if you need us.”
I start down the hall, calling over my shoulder, “If I need you for this , Gods help the Winter Lands.”
After knocking twice on the door at the end of the hall, I duck inside. A blue-haired Fae woman sits by the window, leaning over the edge. As I close the door, the latch clicks into place with a snap .
“How wonderful of you to finally grace me with your presence.” Zana, a Fae from Delkin’s treetop village, crosses her arms and glares. She’s insufferably impatient, unforgiving and unrelenting, and her irritating voice haunts both my sleep and waking moments.
Of course, that’s probably why I’ve grown quite fond of her.
I seem to have a thing for the stubborn ones…
“I’m only twenty minutes late. How would it look if I showed up on time?” I puff out my chest and wink. “Besides, I’m the Winter Lord now. Shouldn’t you be thanking me for showing up at all?”
“Like you give a shit?” Tania snorts as she climbs through the window and drops into the room, graceful as a cat. The dress is gone—unfortunately—and she’s changed into black-and-blue leathers. I can’t complain, though. She could wear a flour sack and I’d find it appealing. “The day you’re on time for anything is the day the world ends.”
“So dramatic.” I roll my eyes. “Besides, I needed to take my time to make myself presentable. No one would have believed I was sneaking off to brash our pretty guest here if I looked like I’d just rolled out of bed.”
Zana opens her mouth, then snaps it closed with a shake of her head. “Are the wards in place?”
Tania holds up her hand, palm out. In the center is a small, glittering white circle with several markings on the inside. When Aphelian manipulated our link, the druid markings—previously dull, angry red—changed to glittering white. Like newly fallen snow. “I refreshed them this morning. We’re good to speak freely within this room. No one will hear what we say.”
“Good.” Zana takes a seat on the edge of her bed. Tania sits next to her while I settle on the floor, several feet in front of them. “Have you both been practicing?”
While Zana is helping me control my magic, she’s mainly here at Delkin’s request to help Tania and me learn to control the link. The very thought of someone else knowing our secret makes me twitchy, but Delkin insists it’s necessary. If we don’t gain some semblance of control, we won’t be able to keep it hidden. And if the Winter Fae find out I’ve been linked to a druid…
In the short time she’s been here, not only has Zana helped Tania learn to suppress the empathetic ability that comes from being connected to druid magic, but we’ve also found some success in muting our connected sensations for short periods of time…though it requires immense concentration. But, regardless, it doesn’t matter. It’s a last resort. Something Tania insisted on learning just in case .
Since my every move is scrutinized during the day, the only time we’ve managed to carve out for training is at night, when it’s easy to dismiss me visiting a woman’s room. The training is a bit tedious, but it’s time I get to spend with Tania, so I don’t complain. Much.
“I think, like Valen’s magic, the link is very much tied to our emotions.” Tania glances at me, then quickly looks away again.
“I see.” Zana offers a smile. “And matters of the heart are hard to contain, aren’t they?”
“Surely you’re not implying there’s anything going on between us.” Tania laughs. It’s effortless and genuine. She scrunches up her nose. “I can barely tolerate him most days.”
The ease with which she pulls off the lie is a little unsettling. Then again, if anyone is as schooled at hiding behind a mask as I am, it’s Tania.
“It’s true,” I say. A bubble of anxiety rises in my chest, but I force it down. I know we’ve been careful. “I mean, she’s—”
“Relax.” Zana winks. “Delkin already warned me. Tania, you have my respect for doing an impeccable job of keeping things casual. Valen, on the other hand…”
I fold my arms and snort. “I’m perfectly casual .”
“Yes. Well, I imagine that’s the only reason no one’s questioned the way you stare at her all the time. Because of your reputation . Eventually, though, this is going to get you into trouble. Add the link into the mix, and the Winter Lands are in danger of rebellion.”
I don’t want to believe her, and up until today, I wouldn’t have. But Celpin’s comments start banging around inside my head. The people of the Winter Lands are good. But they suffered for years—even if they hadn’t known it—and deserve their peace. That peace won’t come from living in fear and suspicion as their new monarch is connected to what most of them perceive as a potential enemy.
“What Delkin told you may be true, but it doesn’t matter.” Tania leans back against the windowsill. “Valen and I are devoted to restoring the faith of the people. Both in the monarchy and in the druids. We won’t allow anything to jeopardize that.”
Our eyes meet, and a ripple of longing floods between us. The moment Tania turns away, it’s muted. I still feel the emotion, but it’s nothing more than a shadow. A whisper at the edges of my mind.
She’s so much better at this than me.
“Be that as it may, the people have started to talk. Be aware.” Zana frowns. Squaring her shoulders, she gestures for Tania to take her seat. “Let’s get started.”
Tania stands. She looks at me, then quickly away. Closing her eyes…
“Valen?”
I lumber to my feet, surprised. Tania’s voice, clear as day, inside my head. Her lips haven’t moved. “What the fuck?”
Zana’s delight is unmistakable. She clasps her hands together and leans forward, grinning. “You heard her.”
“Now you try it.” Tania positions herself in front of me, stopping just short of taking my hand. “Concentrate on me, on the link. Use your mind to relay your words…”
I close my eyes and focus—reciting a rather nasty lyric in my head. When I’m done, I crack an eye open. “Anything?”
Tania rolls her eyes. “Nothing except you standing there looking like you’re about to shit yourself…”
“Let’s keep trying.” I grin. “This little trick has interesting possibilities.”
It takes several hours, but I finally get the hang of things. Realizing we can communicate without speaking to each other is monumental. Considering the situation, the physical distance we have to keep, this feels like a game changer.
But Tania’s not nearly as excited about it as I am.
As I finally climb into bed, alone, just after three a.m., I focus on her. Can you hear me?
“Unfortunately.”
What do you suppose the range is on this?
“I don’t know, but I have no doubt that you’ll keep testing it until we find out.” There’s a flicker of irritation from her, but it’s tinged with amusement.
I take it that you don’t want me singing to you all night?
“I will end you.”
I snicker. I like this new ability. I get to experience your colorful wit even when others are deprived of it.
“Careful. You keep it up and you’ll experience more than my wit.”
Promise? There’s a glimmer of something sad in the link, but it’s gone so fast… Why does it feel like you’re disappointed this worked?
A few moments of silence tick by. “Because it comes in handy but only exacerbates our problem. It makes things harder.”
I disagree. This makes things easier. We can speak freely now.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
While I understand her hesitance, I can’t say I share it. The link isn’t ideal, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. I count on it. The idea of not feeling her here leaves me cold. She’s stronger than I am, far more capable of walling off her feelings. What she said to Zana was true. She wouldn’t risk the work we still have ahead of us for her own happiness.
“Get some sleep.”
Last chance. I can still sing to you. Or I can tell you what I’m wearing for bed. In exquisite detail…
“Goodnight, Valen.”
Goodnight, Fungus.
As I curl into the comforter, a small part of me wonders if she’s right. Is this a way for us to be closer, or will it drive us further apart?
…
The next morning, I’m the last one to arrive to the throne room for the council meeting—as usual. We were up well into the early hours, and even after our communications stopped, I found myself unable to sleep. It’s slightly irritating how wide-awake Tania looks.
I take my seat at the head of the long table and yawn loudly. Everyone stares at me.
They probably assume I was up all night entertaining .
To be fair, I was. Just not like that.
Guria awkwardly clears her throat. “I think the first order of business is the, um…the tree?”
“Right, the tree. Aphelian…”
I glance at Tania, but her face is expressionless, and when I try to catch her attention, she does her best to ignore me. Well, she can’t ignore me if I’m inside her head.
What do you think? We could hang a swing on one end? Maybe a bunch of windchimes on the other?
Her eyes widen slightly. “Will you please focus?”
I am focusing. I just have no idea how to handle this. Of course, I have no intention of letting anyone know that—including Tania. They’re all looking to me to lead them, and I’m fairly sure I’ll disappoint. “Obviously, we’ll have it removed.”
“How?” Guria frowns. “Isn’t it, well, magical?”
“It’s a tree,” I reply. “If we can’t cut it down, then maybe we can get some really strong weed killer?”
“Valen!” Tania glares at me.
You think I should have suggested beavers? How many do you think we’d need? The trunk is quite wide.
“Oh my Goddess…”
“We’ll figure it out.” I slump back in my chair, and Delkin frowns at me. Right. No slouching. No signs of weakness. I’m supposed to be strong and confident, like I have everything under control. “What else?”
Guria bows her head for a moment. When she lifts it, she turns to Tania. “Please don’t misunderstand me. I have no issue with your presence, nor do I mistrust you. I truly believe you have our people’s best interest in mind.”
“But?” Tania’s voice is even, and her calm filters through the link—which worries me.
“People are fearful.” Guria frowns. “When the truth about Aphelian came out, about how she helped Liani control Orbik, there was widespread panic. They want to trust the new monarchy, but…some fear you are controlling Valen the same way Aphelian controlled Liani.”
Tania shakes her head. “I would never—”
“That’s ludicrous,” I snap. “Even for the rumormongers.”
Guria glances at me, then back to Tania. “Maybe you should step back from the council. Just for a little while?”
“You want her to what—”
“Their mistrust in understandable,” Tania says as a flood of soothing calm washes over me. “But they must see that I’m on their side. That I’m on Valen’s side…” She points in my direction. “And if I were controlling him, don’t you think I’d make him act more mature?”
Hey…
“The distrust is a problem,” Guria says gently.
“She’s right,” Celpin says. “While Keltania is here, a druid so obviously close to the Winter Lord, the people’s trust is going to be…hard to maintain.”
I’ve heard enough.
“Tania stays on the council,” I tell them all as calmly as I can. “No one brings this up again.”
“Not exactly subtle.”
When have I ever been subtle?
“Now, let’s get back to something that matters,” I say. “Suggestions. Let’s hear them.”
Celpin glares and opens his mouth.
I fight the urge to growl at him, my wolf just beneath the surface clawing to break free. “And in case it was unclear… Suggestions on how to deal with Aphelian .”