Chapter 24 Paeonia
?PAEONIA
Goodwin greeted Paeonia as she made her way into the dining room, closing the doors behind her.
Her breathing went unsteady, a small noise sounding in the back of her throat as she caught sight of Rowan perched in one of the ornate wooden chairs, leaning back, eyes glued to her, a key aimlessly toyed between his fingers.
She kept her chin low as she silently made her way to the seat across from him, the room silent apart from their breathing.
His chair groaned as he moved. “Finally decided to join me for meals again?”
Paeonia bit her lip, her eyes not moving from her empty plate. The smell of sugared waffles and sweet berries made her stomach grumble. She clutched her hands around her stomach to try and stifle the sound.
“Eat,” he commanded flippantly.
She risked a glance at him, and he had retracted in his seat, hands on the armrest of his chair, his eyes laced with something heavy.
She hesitated, not filling her plate as much as she would like, wary under his watch. She began to eat when Rowan dropped another waffle on her plate along with the bacon she had been eyeing.
She froze, fork against her lips, staring at him.
“Why do you do that?” he asked.
She hesitantly put the strawberry into her mouth, chewing and swallowing. “Do what?”
He shook his head as he began to fill his own plate.
His hair curled at the ends, his stubble on the cusp of turning into a full-fledged beard.
He had on a tan long-sleeved tunic, a black jacket hanging from the back of his chair.
His dark eyes seemed more sunken than usual, dark circles just barely visible against his deep skin.
When he caught her staring, she quickly looked at her plate, shoving a piece of waffle into her mouth.
“We will marry today,” he said flatly.
Paeonia almost choked on her food, coughing several times and lifting her chin to stare at a vexed Rowan. “What?”
“You heard me.”
She wiped the honey that lingered on her lips, and Rowan narrowed his gaze on her. “You still never told me why you want to marry me.” She swallowed. “You said you’d tell me if I accepted—”
“I know what I said,” he gruffed. He cracked his neck, his hands resting on the table beside his half-eaten meal.
“Whether you like it or not, you’re my mate.
” The words left his mouth in harsh syllables, like it pained him to say.
Like he was being forced to utter them. “If you’re married to me, you’re bound to me beyond just that of a silly bargain. ”
Her eyes went wide. He spoke to her like his soft gestures last evening never occurred.
“Relax. I plan on releasing you from my terrible clutches as soon as this month comes to an end.”
She nodded, slightly relieved, but her heart still raced. His fingers rapped along the table, soft thumps against the tablecloth.
“Married to me, you won’t be available for Barth’s hand. Or any other man for that matter, should you wish to keep our marriage intact.”
A small sigh slipped between her lips, adjusting her gaze on him.
“You’ll never have to take another man’s hand.”
She kept her head high, reining in her emotions. “My father—”
“Your father will be glad to know you’d be taken care of if he passes.” He gestured around the room. “A grand castle, food, comfort. You’ll be safe here.” He paused, taking a painful breath. “That is, if you ever wish to stay.”
“And…if I don’t?”
“No matter. I only need you tied to me until the month is over.”
She gave him a quizzical look.
“I’m cursed, Pae.”
That short nickname again. She glazed over it, surprisingly unbothered. “Cursed?” She already knew pieces of this, but this was the first time she heard it from Rowan’s mouth.
He nodded. “Actually, magically cursed.” He scoffed. “Having a mate bound to me gets me one step closer to breaking said curse.”
“What kind of curse is it?” Her voice fell to a whisper.
“I’m bound to Lyth. Cannot leave it.”
His answers only raised more questions.
“The human realm? You’re stuck here?”
He laughed, his eyes darkening. “You think just because humans reside here, that it makes this the human realm?”
She gritted her teeth, her jaw tensing. “I…I’m sorry.”
He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Yes, I’m trapped here.
” He had so much disdain in his voice, she wondered if he hated being here for more reasons than just being forced.
“Before you ask more foolish questions, I cannot tell you more than that. All you may know is that I am cursed and stuck here. And finding my mate grants me an advantage.”
She blinked several times as she thought. “How did you know I was your mate?”
He began eating. “I could smell it on you.” He swallowed before speaking again. “I didn’t know what it was right away. Didn’t understand why you smelt so dissimilar. Then, it slid into place. It made sense.”
Her cheeks went ablaze. “Why can’t I smell it on you?”
Rowan sized her up, ripping a piece of meat between his teeth.
“Your blood is muddled. You seem to only be half fae, if that. Your senses aren’t as keen as mine.
” He spoke so flatly, so monotonously, that Paeonia wondered if he hated this as much as her.
“And even if you could smell it, you wouldn’t be able to place it. Wouldn’t know what it meant.”
“And you don’t…like me?”
He raised a brow.
She looked awkwardly about the room. “Well, how can we be—” She lost her voice. That final word tripping her. She forced her lips to form the shape of the word. “Mates if you don’t like me?”
“You don’t need to like your mate. It’s not something we control, Paeonia. I never wanted one.”
Her heart became sore at his words. “And the Stoneborne,” she quickly rushed. “They’re cursed along with you?”
He continued to eat. “No. Well, at least, not from the same curse.”
“But they’re bound to you somehow?”
He nodded.
“Does that mean they might betray me?”
He shook his head, his fork falling to his plate. “Where is all this coming from? How could they betray you?”
“I only meant… I’m only wondering how they’re bound to you.” Flashes of that Stoneborne who led her to the garden clogged her mind.
He examined her for another moment. “They’re bound to the Alder Court. And I am the last member of that court that remains here.”
She nodded, pushing her food around her plate, her appetite suddenly absent. “And, when we’re married…”
“Yes?”
“Are we to—I mean, will we—Am I expected to—” She stuttered, her eyes slipping away from him, her cheeks a bright red, her entire body growing hot.
He laughed, and she almost slithered away from the embarrassment alone.
“You wish your maidenhead to stay intact,” he said as a statement rather than a question.
She swallowed thickly but didn’t respond.
“Thought as much,” he mumbled more to himself than to her. “No. Nothing beyond taking my hand is expected of you. Not unless you want to.”
She picked at the loose threads of her dress. “But…you want to?”
He gave her a sideways smirk, almost shocked that she might be so bold to ask him these types of questions. “You’re my mate.”
“So?”
He leaned forward, and Paeonia’s eyes widened, her lips tugged between her teeth.
“So…I cannot stop thinking about how much I want you. How visceral my need for you is. Even in sleep, I cannot escape you. It does not matter whether or not I find your personality alluring.” His voice lowered.
“And when we’re finally bound, it’s going to be hard to keep myself at bay. You think I’m feral now?”
He teased her, his lilt raised in a jest, but she could sense a tinge of truth laced in his words. Something warm nestled in her stomach. His looks grew serious. “Once we’re married, you are to stay away when night falls. Truly stay away. No more disobedience.”
“If I don’t?” Her breathing wavered.
He let out a soft breath. “If you don’t, I will take that as an invitation.” His eyes flashed, like the idea of her inviting him to her chambers was enticing, like he was imagining it now, what he’d do to her.
“But Paeonia, I will get you to want my touch. Better yet, I will get you to beg for it.” He gave her a wicked grin.
Her blood thrummed in her ears, the sound so loud she was sure Rowan could hear it from where he sat.
Her bold speech seemed lost to her. She had nothing more to say.
All she could do was tamper the terror that coursed through her.
And something akin to excitement seemed to riddle that terror. She winced.
Rowan stood, and Paeonia’s breathing halted altogether. “We’ll be wed at noon by Castor.”
And with that, he left the dining room. Paeonia stared at her plate and decided she no longer wanted to eat.