57. The Mist Thief
Chapter 57
Natthaven faded for what I hoped would be the final time.
A dozen shadow elven stood with me in the wood, each of us beseeching the trust of the isle to move us to different seas. Called the fading isle, but in truth, if the isle did not wish to abide by the request, it would not go.
I did not know how Eldirard moved the land when I was forced onto its shores. I guessed it was taxing, and I wondered if it was the reason Natthaven did not drift deeper into the far seas where it would have been nearly impossible to find again.
I was the only one capable of forcing the isle by stealing it away with my mists. When fae and elven battled, Arion demanded I shift my land often. The cold was unbearable, there were times I believed I felt the heart of the isle breaking as its will was stripped away.
“I am honored to have gained your trust after such turmoil,” I whispered against a tree.
Jonas was perched atop a stone, dragging a knife across a piece of wood. I didn’t know what he intended to carve, but after his sleep was tumultuous and heated with a threat of another mesmer fever, I thought he found a bit of calm in whittling.
He lifted his head and gave me a small grin.
Our folk left with sea fae not long before, and the isle felt too quiet.
“Ready?” I asked, not even convinced the isle understood words, more actions.
Trees swayed. Once more dark seas rolled inland, swallowing the shores and lands into a cloak of darkness.
After a time in the damp nothing, it was a relief when the familiar air of the eerie Klockglas docks brushed across my cheeks.
I opened my eyes, once more feeling like I wasn’t leaving home, but returning to it. From behind, Jonas wrapped his arms around my waist, holding my back to his chest.
“Do you see them, Fire?” One arm remained around my middle, but he pointed into the distance. “They came for you.”
Docks and harbors around the shore were tangled in endless longships. Sea fae vessels remained out in the deeper tides, but skiffs and rowboats were tucked alongside the rest at the docks.
All along the shoreline were huddles of people. More than those who fought with us for the isle. Klockglas docks were packed with Rave warriors and fae folk from across the kingdoms. They’d answered the distress of the alver clans and never hesitated to guard our kingdom and stand at our backs with their blades.
Night Folk fae, Glamour fae, mortals, kings and queens, they all greeted the returning fleet of alvers and sea fae. Others gawked at the isle when it settled just along the edge near the warm sea pools.
Within moments of stepping onto the docks, we were surrounded.
Mira raced for us and hooked an arm around our necks.
“I have done nothing but worry. Nothing. Then, I brought them all here, dressed for battle, and waited in the tides even more. When I saw the ships return . . .” Mira squeezed our throats even more. “I have made a decision that I will never remain behind again.”
The Ever Queen approached and when I reached for her hand, she did much the same as Mira and wrapped me in her arms. “You have won your crown, Queen.”
“Thank you for standing with us,” I whispered.
Livia took hold of my hands. “You were never our enemy, Skadi. Know that.”
The queen went on to Jonas with harsher words leveled at him for worrying them and still not responding to her missive.
I was left to accept the cold greeting of the sea king. His red eyes were like dark blood, but he did not seem as indifferent on whether I lived or died. The calmer demeanor might’ve been because Livia’s young brother instantly ran to Bloodsinger’s side upon their arrival.
No doubt the Ever King did not want to scar the boy with his darker instincts.
“What will you do with it, elven?” Erik tipped his head at the looming isle.
“I don’t know. I wanted it to be part of our home here.”
“Then make it part of the land.” Mira waved her hands in a flourish, as though I ought to understand exactly what she meant.
“Make it part of the land?”
Mira gestured at Livia. “You’ve met the Night Folk king. The Night Folk fae have magic of the earth and it just so happens their king can bend the soil. Or, you know, fashion some sort of strip of land to the isle.”
Livia did not give us a moment to protest before she summoned her father. Behind the Night Folk king were Jonas’s mother and father, and the other fae kings and queens in attendance at our vows.
Jonas draped an arm around my shoulders while we all watched with a bit of awe as Livia’s father pressed a hand on the soil and the bedrock shifted in a great heave.
Sea floor raised, shorelines shifted, and when it was over, a smooth curve of land had fastened to the edges of Natthaven, securing the isle to the lands of the alvers.
Kase grinned when one of the kings with wheat-golden hair grunted in annoyance. “This should’ve been discussed. Tell me how it is fair that House Eriksson simply gets an entire isle for their lands and Night Folk have claim to the sea. It will be no time at all before you overrun our humble little kingdom.”
Kase chuckled with a bit of smugness. “Arrange vows and you get land.”
“You may be right.” The second king turned on his heel. “Mira my girl, there is something I wish to discuss with you. I urge you to keep an open mind.”
His voice was lost through the chatter and new thrill from the alver folk interested in exploring the isle and the shadow elven tentatively peeking around shops and dock houses in a new land.
“Some Dokkalfar have never stepped foot off Natthaven,” I whispered.
Jonas smirked. “They will be corrupted soon enough.”
Debauchery of the Black Palace great hall lived on well into the night, long after Jonas urged me back to our bedchamber. The door hardly closed before Jonas had his fingers unlacing the back of my gown in a frenzy.
His mouth demanded mine. I parted my lips, needy for his taste, and I didn’t break away when he pinned me down over the bed.
Jonas braced his palms on either side of my head, watching as I unbuckled his belt. Before I could remove his trousers, he pressed gentle kisses to my still-healing wrists and pinned them over my head.
“Hold there, Fire.” He kissed across my chest, peeling my gown away as he went until I was bared to him. Jonas tossed the garment aside and kissed and licked his way down my middle.
I shuddered in desire when his teeth nipped at the sensitive skin of my thigh. With a soft moan, my hips rocked against his cruel, beautiful mouth. “More.”
Jonas followed his tongue with two fingers, filling me to the point I couldn’t draw in a breath.
I writhed and sighed until my thighs clamped around Jonas’s head and fell apart with a cry of his name.
My body still burned in pleasure when Jonas reeled back to finish ridding himself of his clothes, then he fitted his hips between my legs.
He shifted into a man undone.
Movements were fast and messy and deep. His breaths heated my throat. I thought he might split me in two, and gods, how I wanted him to.
I moaned and scraped my fingernails down his back, desperate to cling to him as he drove me to the edge again. I shuddered and clawed and reached for him, my head spinning in a delirious fog.
“Skadi,” he whispered my name like it was a secret vow. In these moments, when he spoke my name in such a way, I felt as though my heart melded with his, never separate. “Together.” Jonas deepened each thrust. “Come with me.”
I didn’t know if it was his words or his deep movements, but my body bowed into his, shattering against the pieces that had already come apart before. Jonas went rigid, his soft gasps nestled against my neck as his release spilled into me.
For a long pause we stayed that way, tangled up like we’d grown together.
“I always thought if I loved someone this way,” he whispered into my hair, “the fear of losing it would be constant. I was wrong.”
“How so?”
“I never knew the happiness would outweigh the fear.” Jonas rolled onto his shoulder, facing me. “Making you my wife was the best scheme I will ever think up, Fire. I am desperately in love with you, I hope you know.”
“As am I.” I kissed him gently. “You are my sweetest nightmare.”