Chapter Twenty
JOON
A white mare waits for us just beyond the palace walls. I help Violet into the saddle, then climb up behind her.
A fae path makes quick work of the wild woods behind the palace as we make our way toward the king’s road.
Upon my request this morning, Mingi had procured clothing typical of the capital’s citizens. It is nowhere near as comfortable as my own, which is to be expected of something not tailored to my body.
Violet twists around and puts a hand to the side of her mouth. “Can we talk yet?” she whispers.
“Yes.”
“Good. Because I have questions.” She takes a deep breath. “Do you use that way often? Do Mingi and Iseul know about it? Shouldn’t we have brought them with us? Where—”
I silence her with the press of my fingertips.
“One at a time,” I say. “To answer your first question, no, I do not use it often. At least, not anymore. As for the other questions, aside from myself, only Mingi, Iseul, and now you know. It is not necessary for them to come along, as their presence would give us away.”
I wanted time alone with you, away from duties and curses.
The thought comes unbidden. I had not realized it before, but I know it is true.
When I am with her, I can pretend I am someone else, someone without the burden of a crown or countless subjects waiting for me to assume my role.
I can be someone she might have wanted if I had not stolen her away from her life.
The familiar sensation of a shadow brushing the edges of consciousness returns, pulling me from my daydream.
A wild demon is near. Where Imugi’s power is strong, this one is faint—not unlike the one from earlier.
Did the small one summon the others that were with them during the attack on the bridge? I quickly dismiss that thought. Imugi would have been able to sense if there were others. Based on the earlier incident, I believe the demon is somehow connected to Violet.
“What will we do in the capital?”
“It’s a surprise,” I say, which earns me a half-hearted pout. “Now, it is my turn to ask you questions.”
Violet tilts her head.
“What dealings with demons have you had?” Out here with no one else to overhear seems like the perfect opportunity to ask.
She frowns, chewing on her bottom lip. “None… unless you mean the time we were attacked on the way here?”
“Have you ever attempted to deal with one?”
“Of course not. I am desperate to live, but I have no desire to end up demon cursed,” Violet says adamantly. “Why do you ask?”
“I believe you may have inadvertently attracted the attention of a demon.” I lower my voice. “They have been following you for a while… as they are now.”
Violet inhales sharply. Her gaze darts in search of the creature. Unable to find them, her eyes return to mine, worry etched in their depths.
“Do not worry. It does not appear as if they wish you harm.”
Her fingers curl into the material of her cloak with a death grip.
“I am looking into it, but in the meantime, I will keep them away from you,” I add. That comforts Violet enough that she relaxes back into me.
We reach the main road, and the fae road vanishes behind us. From here, it is only a short journey into the capital.
I cast a minor glamour over myself to hide my scar, change the shape of my face, make my one pale blue iris match the other, and turn the white ends of my hair as dark as the rest.
For Violet, I want her to look like herself today, only altering her appearance to instill doubt that she is anything other than fae. I give her pointed ears, darken her hair, and change her eyes to a deep brown, letting flecks of the honey color peek through.
Citizens converge at the crossroads where the six major roads meet. They travel on foot, horseback, by wagon, and by carriage in and out of the main gate. We merge with the market day traffic, unnoticed in our disguises.
At the gate, we dismount and enter, turning down a side street to leave our horse at a stable before we venture into the heart of the city.
Violet’s face alights with excitement as she tries to take everything in all at once. I tuck her hand into the crook of my arm to guide her safely through the crowd as we pass the gathering of small vendors from other cities who have traveled to trade and sell their goods.
She tugs on my arm as we come to the edge of the square. Her breath catches.
The entire business district of her city could fit in this space.
The cacophony of voices rises as citizens bustle from place to place.
The open square is sectioned off into a dozen temporary lanes, each separated by a variety of goods ranging from food, clothing, jewelry, hairpins, charms, specialty items for homes, and countless others.
“Joon…” My name is little more than a sigh.
I lean down, bringing my lips to her ear. “Careful with my name, Wife. It might be best if you call me Husband while we are here.”
Violet’s lashes flutter as she turns her face toward me. Her entire focus narrows, and pink stains her cheeks as the movement causes her nose to brush against mine.
Satisfied, I straighten. “Shall we?”
“There’s so much I want to see…” Violet trails off. “Will we have time?”
The sparkle in her eyes makes it difficult to keep myself from dedicating the entire day to fulfilling her every whim.
“Today, we are here for a specific purpose.” I watch her face fall. “Perhaps after we have accomplished what we set out to do, and before you leave, I will bring you here again. “
Though she nods, some of her brightness has dimmed behind the smirk she throws my way. “I will hold you to that, Husband.”
“I count on it, Wife.”
We weave through the throng. I catch the longing look Violet gives a booth selling pastries, and despite what I said, I stop to buy her several of the jam-stuffed pastries in the shape of fat little dragons, tipping the vendor an extra gold coin.
Violet devours the delicacies as if she hasn’t eaten in weeks. I can’t help staring at a smear of winterberry jam in the corner of her mouth. Her tongue darts out but misses it completely.
The urge to lean down and taste it on her skin strikes. I am partway there when I catch myself, using my thumb to wipe it away before my baser instincts take over.
“Thank you.” She echoes the movement and laughs at herself. “Talya always said it was impossible for anyone to take me anywhere.”
“I hope that never changes.”
Violet blushes again. It makes me want to find every possible way to pull that reaction from her.
When I reach for her hand, she weaves her fingers through mine, letting me guide the way.
She is too distracted by the activity in the square to notice where we are headed until we stand before a bookstore three stories high. Her mouth parts in realization.
“It is not the same as the one you wanted to go to—”
“No. It’s even better.”
Hands still linked, she half-drags me inside. Reluctantly, I release her. She stops in the center of the first floor, pressing her fingers to her mouth to stifle her gasp, and slowly turns in a full circle.
“You can have whatever books you can carry,” I say, then motion for her to explore. She does without hesitation, knowing I will follow close behind.
Violet runs her fingers over the covers of books with gold corners and the most intricate embossing ever created—one-of-a-kind books intended to be works of art as much as something to read.
But she doesn’t take a single one of them.
She asked for access to the palace library to research, and I assumed she wanted to visit the bookstore in Lummi for similar reasons. But until now, I had not realized the joy she found in books themselves.
After an hour, she has amassed a small stack of books, most of which are no thicker than a notebook.
Violet has barely spoken since we entered the store, her attention stolen by the books. I could be a ghost standing at her side, for how little she notices. Yet her joy has completely ensnared me. Such happiness is foreign to me.
Is this what life away from curses and the weight of the crown is like?
Never in my life have I seen anyone so happy over anything, let alone being the reason for it.
I bring out my pouch of coins, barely taking my eyes off her long enough to pay. There is enough to buy half the books in the store if she wanted them.
“You must be newly bonded,” the man behind the counter says.
I turn to the merchant, an older gentleman graying at the temples. He looks between us with a warm smile as he wraps each of the books except the one Violet is lost in. His voice takes on a dreamy quality.
“I remember those days with my Corine. Things will change with the passing years, and your love will grow and temper, but such moments are worth enjoying each other while the passion still burns.”
A heavy possessiveness settles in my chest. Violet doesn’t hear him, and I am glad. If she is made to blush, then it should be mine alone to claim.
I mutter a harsh goodbye and usher Violet out into the bustling square. She adds the book she was reading during the exchange to the bag with the others. I insist on carrying it for her as we make our way back toward the city’s main gate.
We only make it a few blocks before Violet stops at a corner. I turn to her, expecting something to be wrong.
“I was thinking…” she says with a look of such innocence that it makes her seem guilty.
I narrow my eyes, instantly suspicious. “Yes, Wife?”
“Should we get something to take back for Mingi and Iseul? We haven’t exactly made things easy on them.”
“All right,” I sigh. With the streets this packed, it will be much faster if I only need to worry about getting myself through the crowd. “Wait here. I will only be a few minutes.”
Violet leans into me and takes the bag. Her broad smile is warm and filled with victory. She sees me in a way no one else does. She instinctively senses my weaknesses and doesn’t hesitate to use them against me.