Chapter 12
Ashtine
She’d been in the Water Court for four days.
Four days since she’d been home.
Four days since she’d walked among the winds.
Four days of a peace she had never thought she’d know again.
Her days were spent in Briar’s rooms or on the shores of the sea. Her nights were spent in Briar’s bed, both pleasure and rest being found.
She shifted on the sofa she was lounging on as she remembered waking to Briar’s head between her thighs that morning, a soft smile forming. Then that smile widened as she realized she had smiled more in the last four days than she could remember doing in the last four years.
Briar was also making sure she wasn’t only fulfilled intimately, but physically as well.
She slept soundly next to him, and he made sure she was eating.
There always seemed to be food available no matter if they were in his rooms or on the beach, and she’d finally been given the opportunity to try these oysters he hoarded.
She’d decided he could keep those for himself, but she did enjoy the food of the sea, particularly the fresh fish they had for dinners.
Their cuisine in the north tended to be more fowl and animals of the earth.
Ashtine readjusted the book she was reading where it rested against her bent knees.
Briar had secured texts from the Fire Court library, and she had been leisurely reading through them the past few days.
Briar, of course, had things to tend to, but he never left her alone for long.
However, they’d agreed to gradually make his absences longer in the hope that she and the winds could come to an …
understanding. She had been hesitant, but he’d reassured her she only needed to send a wind message and he would return immediately should they become too unrelenting.
The first day of this had been … taxing.
The winds sought her out, and she’d had to summon Briar more than once.
Then it had become a battle of wills, hers versus the winds that had controlled her for centuries.
Even now she could feel them drifting around her, wanting to come closer.
She lifted a hand, air swirling in her palm and pulling more wind towards her.
Breaking laws of old angers more than just gods of past, they whispered.
There are dozens of realms. They will care little for this one, she replied, turning the page of the book.
Tempting fate tips the balance.
Allies will stand on separate sides.
A prince of water will fall.
She tensed, wondering if they would continue, but the winds curled around her, flowing through her hair, before letting her be.
A slow give and take.
Testing limits.
That was what they were learning.
Briar’s Inner Court were the only ones who knew she was staying here.
She and Briar had discussed it over a midday meal that first day.
They’d woken when the sun was high, and he’d retrieved a silk robe the color of the sea for her to wear while he’d simply donned pants.
A spread of food was waiting for them, and they discussed how to move forward.
They agreed to keep it a secret for now, not wanting more turmoil among the Courts.
More than that, if war was truly coming, this was not the time to push against long-standing traditions.
But if she were staying here for an extended period, his Inner Court needed to know, especially if they were venturing down to the water.
Sawyer was her escort whenever Briar could not be with her, and they’d formed the start of a friendship of sorts.
At least, she thought that was what it was.
He was like his brother in so many ways, and despite his words at the Wind Court, Sawyer never brought up disclosing the relationship again.
He was carefree and jested as much as Briar, but he was astute and observant.
She suspected he knew more than he let on about many things.
That was why when the knock sounded, she assumed it was Sawyer or Neve. She did not expect Briar to come through the door, and she certainly did not expect Ermir to be with him.
You could not warn me of this? she demanded of the winds.
But they were silent.
Traitors, she muttered, to which she felt them kiss her cheek before moving on again.
“You are well?” Briar asked, coming to a stop beside her as she closed the book and set it aside.
“Yes, thank you,” she answered, immediately standing and falling into her role of princess. Admittedly, a role she had been enjoying the reprieve from. “Is there news I need to be aware of?”
“Relax, my dear,” Briar answered, his hand running the length of her spine and instantly making her tension ease. “Ermir wishes to speak with you, but only if you are amenable to that.”
“Of course,” she answered, glancing at her Second. But Briar was gently taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning her back to him. She felt a shield slip into place around them, keeping their words for their ears alone.
“If you need more time or do not wish to do this right now, simply say the word,” he said.
“I cannot avoid him nor my duties for days on end, Briar,” she answered. “This is one of those things we must learn to navigate.”
“You are not meek, Ashtine Evermorn. You are their sovereign, and while you indeed have a duty to your people, your Inner Court answers to you. Do you understand?”
She smiled softly up at him. “I do.”
He held her gaze a moment longer before releasing her chin and letting his shield disperse. Stepping back from her, he added, “You know what to do should you need me.”
Ashtine nodded, looking at her Second once more. He was waiting patiently near a window, his hands clasped behind his back. He did not look upset or worried, only calm and welcoming, as she had always known him to be.
The door clicked shut behind Briar, and she smoothed her hands down her dress.
It was nothing like what she wore at home.
Neve had brought her clothing, and this teal dress was lightweight and revealing.
Sleeveless, it dipped low in the front, reaching halfway to her navel, with the same in the back.
The fabric was partially sheer in some areas, and slits up the sides allowed for air movement in the oppressive summer heat.
Ashtine cleared her throat lightly before saying, “I apologize for my extended absence.”
Truth be told, she hadn’t expected him to come looking for her. It wasn’t uncommon for her to disappear among the winds for days on end. Although perhaps four days was pushing it.
“It is I who should be apologizing to you, Prin— Ashtine,” Ermir said, regret filling his features. “May we sit?”
“Of course,” she answered, perplexed by his admission as she reclaimed her spot on the sofa.
Ermir took an armchair across from her, the low-lying table laden with plates of food situated between them. He glanced at the plates, then back to her. “You have been eating. I am relieved to see that.”
She was unsure how to answer that, so she simply folded her hands in her lap. “May I inquire what you feel the need to apologize to me for?”
Never one to skirt around what needed to be said, Ermir shifted in his chair. “I should have handled all of this differently. I observed your mother battle the same persistent winds, and I felt just as helpless then.”
Ashtine looked away at the mention of her mother. The one person who would have had the capacity to truly understand what these last months, years, and decades had been like.
“Ophelia managed the winds as gracefully as you do, even before she learned how to live in harmony with them,” Ermir went on.
“There has been nothing graceful about how I have managed the winds in my years of life,” Ashtine replied. “I have allowed them to control me and drive me mad.”
“You did the best with what you were given,” Ermir countered gently. “That is all anyone could ask of you.”
She met his silver stare at his words. “Much is asked of me because of both my title and my gifts.”
“I know, Ashtine. You were born with the weight of ruling from the moment you entered this world, and I …” He released a harsh breath, shifting once more. “I tried to shield you from so much. I wanted you to experience life before you were thrust onto a throne, but time was not on our side.”
Ashtine nodded. She knew this. Knew that all Ermir had done when raising her was trying to not only prepare her for her role but also keep her from expectations as long as he could.
There was no preparing her for battling the winds, though, let alone finding a way to love them.
For a time, she had. Ermir and others made sure to constantly tell her how special her gifts were.
“You said my mother eventually found a way to live in harmony with the winds,” Ashtine mused, forcing herself not to break her stare with Ermir.
“She did,” her Second answered, relaxing back into his chair some and crossing one leg over the other.
“As you know, unions are traditionally arranged for the Court Royals. Your mother was no different. Ansel was a powerful Wind Fae. It was a union planned from birth despite them not joining in marriage until Ophelia was well into her second century of life.”
“I know of this history,” Ashtine cut in. “What I do not know is how she harnessed the winds.”
Ermir smiled at her sharp tone. “There is much of her in you. The grace and poise, but the tenacity and authority as well. Know she would be proud of you, Ashtine. So incredibly proud.”
She swallowed against the emotion threatening to spill from her eyes, but she remained silent, waiting for him to answer her question.
His smile faded, that same regret filling his features as before when he said, “I have always known how to calm the winds that plague you.”