36. The Mist Thief
Chapter 36
On the docks was a great huddle of blue and silver robes and gowns. Courtiers and palace guards all surrounded my grandfather who stood in the center of it all.
My spine was as stiff as a tree. Jonas tugged me against his side, drawing his lips to my brow. “What is troubling you?”
“I’m ashamed.”
“Of what?”
“I should be overjoyed to see my land, but it doesn’t feel . . . like home.” I let my head fall to his shoulder.
Jonas led us to one side of the deck, out of the way for the small crew of sea fae to secure the sloop. Near the end of the gangplank, palace guards arranged themselves into two stiff lines on either side of the dock, spears tilted in a sort of tunnel for us to walk beneath.
Jonas watched the uniformity with disquiet written over his brow. He was a prince, he knew how to be regal, but it was not a constant thought on his mind.
Not like it had been for me.
All at once, the difference of my life with my nightmare was stark to what it would’ve been as Arion’s wife. As an elven prince’s bride, appearances would be everything. I would be a quiet face in the shadows, compliant to the future king’s rule.
The alver clans were at ease around their royals, engaging with them, dining with them, like old friends in the palace.
I leaned in close to speak. “You’re to disembark first. The king will greet you and they’ll expect you both to walk a step ahead of me.”
“They can kiss my ass, Fire,” he whispered from the corner of his mouth. “You’ll walk with me where you belong.”
A bloom of heat filled my chest. “As you say, Nightmare.”
Jonas stepped onto the dock, eyes heady with suspicion as he took in the curious faces of the Dokkalfar court. One palm reached for mine, and he eased me down the gangplank. As promised, he kept his stride in time with my own, hands clasped.
“Prince Jonas, you grace our shores.” My grandfather approached, arms outstretched. “And my Skadinia, how lovely it is to see your beauty back home once more.”
Clad in his finest doublet of blue silk, my grandfather looked like a glittering king. A circlet of bronze topped his smooth, silver hair, and gold adorned his fingers. The bands were cold against my cheeks when he took my face in his palms.
“You look well, dear girl.” He kissed my cheek. “Dorsan sent a report that you seem to be acclimating to alver lands.”
“They have welcomed me with open arms, Grandfather.”
Eldirard made a sound like a hum of delight and gently patted one of my cheeks. “I am pleased to hear it, Granddaughter.” The king faced Jonas. “And you, Prince Jonas, I assume the alliance has been favorable.”
“I have never been more certain the right moves were made, King Eldirard.”
Grandfather studied our clasped hands for half a breath, then opened an arm toward the wood. “Come. Let us take this back to the palace. I wish to hear all you’ve done these first weeks.”
Jonas kept his tone to a playful whisper once the king turned away. “I doubt he wants to know everything we’ve done.”
I jabbed his ribs with my elbow, drawing out his low chuckle.
Courtiers parted and bowed their heads as we passed. I drew in a long breath of sweet honey air from the misty trees. The procession wove through the black wood. Planks and wooden pathways honeycombed across the groves and swamps.
When I did not fall back as my grandfather took Jonas’s other side, the king shot me a look. I could feel his annoyance when I ignored it and merely tightened my hold on my husband’s hand, keeping right at his shoulder.
Flares of the sunset carved through the lush canopies of dark leaves and twisted limbs. Sun Wings and their flickering bodies winked in the shadows. Chirps of rousing night creatures were a lullaby I missed. Air was cool in the wood below the palace, damp and fragrant enough to taste.
Halfway over a stone bridge, I paused, leaning over the rail to peer down at the swampy ponds below.
Instead of tugging me onward, Jonas came to the rail and leaned over with me. Steps shuffled as the procession came to a halt.
I ignored them all.
“There are such unique trees here,” Jonas said. “I never took the time to appreciate them after the vows.”
Roots grew in serpentine tangles in the center of black ponds. Over the surface was a thin layer of vibrant moss and tiny clovers, so green they seemed to glow in the dim light.
“I would sit by the ponds after lessons as a girl and read my fae tales. I always had a fascination with fae realms and wondered if they truly existed. Sometimes I thought they might live at the bottom of the ponds since I couldn’t see below the surface.” I smiled up at him. “Strange that now I live among the fae.”
“Better than fae,” he said, pressing a kiss to the top of my shoulder. “You live among the alvers. We don’t have the strange ears like you pointy lot.”
I gasped, feigning offense. “Pardon me, Husband, but I have a very respectable size of ear. Perhaps it is alvers and your stubby, rounded ears that are strange.”
“Stubby?” Jonas patted at his mortal-like ears. “You think they’re stubby?”
I touched the curve of one, arching into him. “I do, but they are my favorite all the same.”
He began to lean forward, like he might kiss me, like he’d forgotten we had dozens of eyes watching us.
My grandfather cleared his throat. “We should carry on.”
Jonas took my hand again and we followed through the rest of the wood.
Pathways faded into the thick stone steps leading up to the front entrance of the palace. Jonas’s refusal to leave my side had the king walking a step ahead of us, while we were followed by the endless stream of servants and courtiers.
Palace doors were already open when we arrived, allowing for gusts of the twilight air. Marble floors and gold trim made up every corridor and room. Grand tapestries of starlight and dark cliffs covered the wood on the walls, and from the rafters were blown glass chandeliers.
In the great hall, a long table was arranged in the center. Every leg on the table bent and coiled like the roots on the trees outside, and pieces of blue satin draped over the edges. Servants arranged silver plates and forks, crystal flutes and polished horns, in front of each black velvet chair.
“Why the hells would we need so many forks?” Jonas said under his breath, and I wasn’t certain he meant to admit it out loud.
A bubble of a laugh wanted to break out. How different feasts here would be compared to the boisterous ordeals of nightly meals at the Black Palace.
“Your rooms have been readied.” My grandfather spun into us. “Go and dress. You’ll forgive me, but I was preparing dull missives and should see to finishing them. We will meet again soon in the hall.”
Dorsan followed behind us, stern as always, but his shoulders were not as tense now that we were back in Natthaven. I thought the king might’ve placed us in my childhood rooms, but the servants guided us to a second level corridor.
There, waiting, was Cara.
“Prince. Princess.” Cara dipped her chin in a greeting. “Gods, child, what is this gown you’ve selected? And where is your circlet? Your hair is terribly windblown.”
Jonas raked his fingers through the tangles of my hair, messing it even more. “Perfect. My feral wife.”
Heat bloomed under the neckline of my dress. I needed to get the man alone.
I smoothed the woolen skirt of the simple gown. “It is more comfortable to sail in this than a gaudy dress, Cara. And alver folk rarely wear their crowns.” I gestured toward Jonas’s empty brow to prove my point.
“True,” he added. “They're horribly uncomfortable, and don’t you think it’s a little pretentious to wear proof of rank at all times? Does anyone truly forget who takes up space in a palace? Gods, we’re flaunted about enough.”
My mouth twitched in a battle to keep a strangled laugh at bay.
Cara looked at Jonas like he’d slipped into madness. She sniffed and shook any confusion away. “Different customs for different folk, of course. My Lady, I will assist you in dressing. Prince Jonas, your chamber is there.” She pointed to a door across the corridor. “I’m sure you’ll find it to your standards.”
“I’m sure I will,” Jonas said. “But I certainly will be sleeping with my wife. In fact, I’ll help with her gown. Dressing her is my favorite thing to do.”
I was nearly trembling against the exertion not to crumble in laughter in front of Cara’s horrified expression.
“Well, that is wildly improper.”
“For a man to assist his wife with a gown?” Jonas arched a brow. “All respect, lady, but I fear I’ve exposed Skadi to sights vastly more improper.”
I couldn’t keep it in any longer. The laugh rattled through my chest. Cara looked upon me like a changeling had robbed me of my face. I clutched Jonas’s wrist and tugged him toward the door to my bedchamber. “Cara, don’t fret. The prince has proven time and again to be quite skilled with removing my gowns.”
“Lady Skadinia.” Cara pressed a hand to her chest, aghast.
Her horror was the last thing I saw before I closed the door behind us and clicked the lock into place.
Jonas laughed first, his brow falling to mine. “You are witty when you want to be, Fire.”
“I beg your pardon.” I flicked one of his stubby ears. “The words you meant to say were I am witty all the time.”
Jonas cupped one side of my face, drawing his mouth closer. “My mistake. Now, let’s see about getting you into that gown. Might take some time and I can’t promise my hands will keep to themselves during the process.”
I curled a fist around his tunic. “They better not, Nightmare.”