Chapter 12
AVELINE
When I wake up, it's like coming out of a bad dream. Groggy, I look around the room, trying to figure out my surroundings as the reality of my situation comes crashing back down on me.
I slump back into my pillow.
Ah yes, I've been betrothed to an Elder God, a Shadow King named Malakai. I'm a witch, apparently. And I was attacked last night by some sort of Fae creature who shouldn't even be able to cross into this plane. Delightful.
I frown.
Where is Malakai? I can't imagine he's gone too far, since he seems utterly obsessed with me—or at the very least, obsessed with making me marry him.
I sigh forlornly and throw my head back into the pillow.
Hopefully he's changed into something more normal, because I don't think I can stand one more day of staring at all that bare chest. Not that I was staring or looking.
Not that I noticed. I definitely didn't notice.
“There was no noticing,” I say out loud.
A gentle rap sounds on the door and I startle. "Who's there?" I call out.
"It is I, your betrothed," a male voice calls back.
I pull the sheets up to my chin, not remembering at all how I even got into this bed last night.
Slightly concerned, I peek down at myself under the covers and breathe a sigh of relief as I take in the sad state of the absolutely stunning dress I ruined last night.
I'm also filthy, which isn't the greatest.
The door handle turns and Malakai walks into the room. I blink. He almost seems normal. He follows my gaze, glancing down at his own clothes—a fitted vest, a loose shirt over a pair of pants that do nothing to hide the muscles of his legs.
I divert my eyes. I really have to stop staring at him.
"How did you sleep?" he asks.
"I don't remember," I tell him honestly.
To my surprise, he smiles. "You fell asleep as soon as you walked into the room, face first on the bed," he adds. He doesn't quite seem to be making fun of me, but I'm not sure, so I simply blink up at him in complete confusion.
"Oh," I say. Clever as always, that’s me.
"What happened to my shoes?" I ask, swinging my legs out from underneath the bed.
“My feet...” I trail off. They should be filthy like the rest of me, but they're not.
In fact, they've been cleaned up and fresh bandages are on the sore places of my heel and toes where I ran through the delicate material of the slippers.
"They were hanging off the bed last night, and while I did not feel comfortable..." He clears his throat. "While I did not think you would feel comfortable with me tending to your wounds everywhere, I thought the least I could do was tend to these."
He does indeed look distinctly uncomfortable, and my heart softens for a split second. "Thank you," I tell him, oddly moved. "That was very kind of you."
"I want to take care of you," he says. "I don't think I've made that clear to you. And that is..." He pauses, shaking his dark head. He's braided back his lovely long hair, and dressed like this, I could almost forget that he's some sort of Eldritch being who is pure magic.
He looks like a handsome lord. Handsomer than any I’ve met, but not… an Elder God in ceremonial battle lingerie.
I clear my throat, shaking my head to dismiss the stray thoughts and focus on the task at hand. "Well, it was very kind of you," I repeat.
He gives me a soft smile, as though my words have truly encouraged him. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
"Your coven has been speaking to me all morning." His eyes glance to the side, towards the window overlooking the deep green boughs of the forest we fled through last night. "They say that I am to court you if I want your affection."
"Court me?" I repeat, somewhat thrown. "I've already agreed to be your wife."
"So you say." He takes a few steps forward and sits down at the edge of the bed. It creaks underneath his weight, and shadows flicker out from his ankles, writhing before they disappear beneath the bed.
"We may be betrothed," he says, "but you are clearly not comfortable with me, or you would not have run away last night. And it is my fault that you chose to do so. I have not been a good fiancé, nor, I fear, have I even been a good host."
I blink, completely taken aback.
"You look upset," he says, stopping short.
"Do I?" I ask.
He just waits for me to say more.
"Well, I am not upset," I clarify. "I am surprised."
He reaches out his hand as though he is going to take mine in his own, but something in my face must stop him, because it falls to the bed without ever touching mine.
"I must teach you how to wield your magic appropriately, Aveline. As for the rest..."
"You mean our marriage?" I prod, and then, feeling unkind, I offer him a slight smile.
He stares at me, a bewildered expression playing across his face.
"Quite right," he says. "Our marriage, and that of my brothers," he clarifies, looking back towards the door.
An awkward silence falls and I let it sit between us as he collects his thoughts.
"We are betrothed to the three witches of this powerful bloodline of the Wild Oak Woods.
Things have greatly changed since I last walked this land, this plane, and I fear that I may need your assistance to guide our relationship.
" Shadows swirl around his hands, and it's then I realize he's incredibly uncomfortable.
"Right," I say, strangely touched by his awkwardness and by his pronouncements.
"I would like to do right by you," he adds hurriedly, like he's afraid I'm going to turn him down, but I'm not sure how to do so.
"I am now and evermore..." He hangs his head slightly, looking for all the world like a chastised child. "...yours to command."
I'm taken aback completely by this.
For one, it's much too early to pronounce I command him, but for two, I can't deny that I very much like the change wrought in him. It’s much better to be the one doing the commanding than receiving said commands. Gone is the overbearing Elder God from yesterday who demanded I mate with him.
I stare at him for a long moment, trying to collect myself before I speak. The last thing I want to do is ruin the sweet moment that he's created for us.
Or, more importantly, have him second guess letting me lead.
"I appreciate that," I say slowly, taking a deep breath before I speak again, trying to choose my words.
"And it means much to me that you would take the time to speak to the other women.
" I almost say witches, but I catch myself on the W at the last moment, still not quite sure about how that label pertains to me.
"And I am willing to try," I tell him awkwardly.
A slow smile turns up one corner of his mouth. The effect on his features is immediate, making him look roguish and young. "That means the worlds to me, Aveline," he says, his voice husky.
I swallow, unsure what to do with this new version of this man. My cheeks heat as he continues to stare at me, his dark gaze dropping from my eyes to my cheeks and lingering at my lips.
"I need to get dressed for the day," I tell him as brightly as I can manage, breaking whatever spell has begun to spin between us. "I need new clothes, though."
"Right," he says awkwardly, standing up. "Well, yes. Your coven did have fresh clothes for you. They're not as fine as—as what you have here, but they will do for our journey today."
"Our journey?" I repeat, perking up. I might have traveled for the last week to get here, but there's nothing I love more than exploring a new place. "Where are we going?"
"I thought you might enjoy a day exploring the Wild Oak Woods. The town, I mean," he amends, looking slightly bemused at my question. "Where else would we go?" he asks. "Was there somewhere else you wanted to go?" he tacks on, looking hopeful.
"No, the Wild Oak Woods. I—I didn't have much of a chance yesterday to..." My face falls immediately at the words, and I realize I've made things awkward.
I didn't have a chance to explore yesterday because he and his brethren interrupted the festival by claiming their brides.
Or making an ultimatum to claim them.
"I'll go get your clothes," Malakai says without another word, as I stare at his retreating form. He simply dematerializes, shadows curling around the closed door where he was standing just a moment ago.
"Well," I say to nobody, “that will take some getting used to."
Outside the window, a raven caws, reminding me that Ter must be somewhere nearby. My familiar, according to him, and to Wren and Piper. How strange it is, how much my life has changed in a mere day's time.
By the time I'm dressed and ready to go, it's fully mid-morning. The sun is warm, and the clear blue sky is overhead. I shield my eyes against it as I walk out of the beautiful inn and into the late fall sunshine.
I run my hands down the lavender-colored linen shift and pretty floral-patterned overdress that Wren was able to find for me. It's pretty and simple, and much less formal than my normal attire in Stormspire, and I'm grateful for the chance to blend in with all the people.
As far as I can tell, the inn is at the very outskirts of the small town, and the thick, green boughs and limbs of the Elder Forest are almost too close for comfort after last night's little adventure.
The sound of hoofbeats captures my attention, and I swing my gaze back to where the cobblestone road and tiled and thatched roofs wait to be explored.
Malakai appears beside me, and for once, it doesn't scare me—which, frankly, is surprising.
I didn't expect to get used to him, especially not his penchant for appearing and disappearing at a whim.
"I had a feeling you wouldn't be far behind," I say.
He's watching me carefully, like he expects me to sprint back into the woods at the first opportunity, and I can't quite blame him for that. In the distance, the horse I heard whinnies, and I crane my neck to watch its white tail flick as it disappears behind another building.