Chapter 14
My back slams into the bar. I clutch the sticky, solid surface, my heart racing at the murderous gleam in Captain Steelvice’s glare.
Chairs scrape violently as patrons leap to their feet. Steel flashes as soldiers draw their weapons without hesitation, loyal to their captain first, questions never.
Rian and Jaxon shift in front of me, growling in perfect, primal unison. I barely register the protective gesture before the sharp crack of a chair toppling over snaps through the air, followed by the sound of a scuffle.
Lev’s voice rises, but I can’t make out what he says before Captain Steelvice bursts through the chaos, shoving a dazed man aside.
Then he’s here, face-to-face with the Fae, weapon raised.
“What are you doing here?” he snaps.
I suck in a sharp breath. This man must have a death wish to speak to the males in front of me that way. But then I realize…he’s not glaring at the Fae.
No. He’s looking at…me.
I gape at the high-ranking soldier, wondering what in Velmira’s name I could have done to warrant such a greeting.
Shadows jump off Jaxon’s back and slither along the warped floorboard.
He steps forward. “Is there a problem?”
Beside him, Rian is still as the Gods’ statues flanking the entrance of their holy temple. Not even his shadows move. They’re frozen. Hard. Stoic. Waiting.
Steelvice’s eyes flick to the Fae. His scowl remains, but his throat bobs as he swallows. “Not with you, my lord.”
Good to know the safety of Verdanthia isn’t in the hands of a complete idiot.
Then his hate-filled glare returns to me. “But you should not be here.”
My brows knit, the crease deepening as I lock my gaze on him.
“What is the meaning of this?” Lev shoves through the crowd gathered less than a foot away, the drunk men eager to witness whatever is about to unfold.
Blyne reaches for Lev’s arm, but Lev rips out of his grip and stomps forward until he’s at Steelvice’s side. “What is going on, Steelvice?”
“I do not answer to you, soldier.” The captain sneers.
Lev stiffens, his eyes darting to mine, before he rolls back his shoulders. “The Elders abandoned the curfew.”
My eyes widen. Why in the heavens would they do that?
“Elara breaks no laws being out this late,” he finishes, chest puffed out with authority.
“Wrong.” The captain waves his sword in a small circle toward me. “Our laws forbid unwed women to linger outside their homes past the moon cresting in the sky.”
My jaw drops. Seriously?
I don’t realize I said the word out loud until Lev and Jaxon both look at me. Rian doesn’t move an inch, his glare locked on Steelvice.
“Yes, seriously,” the captain hisses. “Now, get out of here.”
The other women in the crowd wear equally shocked expressions. In the corner, I see Dian quietly nudging Gayla toward the door.
“Is this how you let someone speak to your woman?” Jaxon growls at Lev.
I bristle even as blood rushes to my face.
Lev’s eyes narrow. “With all due respect, my lord, this is not your business.”
Jaxon snorts. “Worthy men defend their women.”
“I do not need anyone to defend me,” I snap, equally infuriated and embarrassed by this situation.
Jaxon frowns. “Of course not, but nor should a male stand by while his woman is disrespected.”
Still a little sexist…but my irritation fades. Just a tad.
Lev clears his throat. “That law is outdated, Captain. No one enforces it. Especially not with the Elders lifting the curfew for the festival.”
“Tonight we do,” Steelvice snaps. “By General Ironheart’s orders.”
At the mention of the military leader, every soldier in the bar stiffens.
I wish I could say I’m surprised, but this sort of unjust power display is so up the general’s alley, part of me is ashamed that I didn’t see it coming.
It isn’t the first time General Ironheart has used his rank or influence to keep his son away from me. But this is the first time his actions have affected other innocent women.
Steelvice finally lowers his sword. His hard glare pierces every soldier in the tavern as he orders, “Escort Healer Stonebloom and any unwed woman home immediately, then report to the barracks for your punishment for allowing this lawlessness to occur in your presence.”
I gape in disbelief as the soldiers who just minutes ago were joking and laughing with their female companions turn on them with apologetic but unrelenting frowns.
Lev glares at the captain, unmoving. But then his regretful eyes slide to meet mine.
Shadows whip out from Rian, radiating fury. His dark power spreads the suffocating emotion throughout the room.
Soldiers fumble for their weapons. Unarmed men and women cower under tables as the shadows shroud the tavern lights. Their cries echo in my ears.
Rian takes a menacing step toward Lev, who takes an instinctive step back.
“No.” My hand flies out, grasping blindly for him beneath the heavy cloak of darkness shrouding his body.
My fingers catch on smooth fabric stretched taut over a strong forearm.
Rian’s head snaps to me with predatorial sharpness, his strong chin pointed down as swirling silver eyes lock onto me.
My heart races, and I swallow to clear my throat, then croak, “Don’t... It’s fine.”
His eyes flash.
My grip tightens. “Please.”
A snarl warps his lips before he rips his arm free of my grasp.
Shadows explode outward, writhing around him like a living cloak as he storms through the tavern. Tables screech across the floor, chairs topple, and patrons stumble back, shoved aside by the sheer force of his power, though he never lifts a finger.
Jaxon follows, but not before leveling a disapproving scowl on me.
I frown. What in the hells did I do?
The flickering lights stabilize the moment the Fae cross the threshold and disappear into the night.
The room remains silent. A tight coil forms in my gut when I realize every pair of eyes is fixed on me.
“Lara.” Lev steps to my side, extending his arm. “Allow me to escort you home.”
I glare and brush past him, ignoring Captain Steelvice’s triumphant smirk.
Murmurs and whispers float into the air. I hold my head high even as my stomach sinks.
What in the Gods’ names was I thinking?
I never should have grabbed Rian like that.
My neighbors were already giving me a wide berth since I started trying to heal Darius. How will they treat me now after witnessing that?
Ferria sidles up next to me just before I reach the doors. Her eyes blaze with anger, but she keeps her mouth shut. She grabs my hand, and we walk into the dark, followed by Lev and the other women who are forced to leave the tavern because of the asshole general and his captain.
The soft sound of shuffling and stumbling footsteps fades the farther from the tavern we walk. Lev’s sturdy boots keep a steady pace behind us.
He waits until we reach our street before he says, “I’m sorry, Elara.”
“Don’t,” I snap.
Ferria’s grip tightens. My power rises to the surface, coaxed by the warmth of my sister’s power emanating from her palm.
“I cannot go against a direct order,” Lev continues. “Hesitating was bad enough.”
I don’t know why I do it, but I stop, spin around, and drop Ferria’s hand. “Why did you commission a circlet from Ferria?”
Lev’s eyes blow wide. He glances at Ferria, then back at me.
He licks his lips. “It was meant to be a surprise.”
“A surprise?” He can’t seriously mean he was going to propose.
“Calm down, Elara.” He chuckles, but the amusement sounds forced. “I got it as an anniversary gift.”
I frown. “Anniversary?”
Hurt flashes across his face. Ferria mumbles something about waiting for me inside, then she continues down the street. Lev watches her go, but I keep my eyes on him.
When Lev doesn’t reply, I ask, “What anniversary, Lev?”
He presses his lips together, then lowers his voice. “Of our first night together.”
I rock back on my heels.
That night?
How in the world does he remember the night we first slept together after all these years? He’s never attempted to celebrate it before.
Lev bristles at what must be an incredulous expression on my face. “There’s no need to look so mortified, Elara. It’s not a betrothal circlet.”
“Are you sure?” I search his eyes. “Dian seemed to believe otherwise.”
“Dian was drunk and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
I bite my cheek and look at Lev. Really look at him. His handsome face is drawn tight. His fists clench at his sides, opening and closing.
He knows I don’t want to get married. We’ve talked about it several times. And he understands why.
Marriage in Verdanthia means a loss of freedom. I won’t be able to own property. I could continue to heal, but my spouse would oversee every aspect of my business. His decisions would override my own. He’d be able to control my actions. I refuse to give another such power over my life.
And Lev understands. He values my position. I have to believe he wouldn’t purchase a betrothal circlet against my wishes.
I sigh and tension flows out of my body. Picking up on the change, Lev takes a hesitant step forward.
“Lara.” He reaches out to take my hand.
When I don’t pull away, he gathers my hand in his and brings it to rest against his chest.
His heart thrums against my palm. “I am sorry about tonight. I don’t know what got into my father.”
I do.
I swallow down my bitterness and murmur, “It’s not your fault.”
His eyes search mine. His heartbeat slows. “I wish I could stay with you tonight, but—”
“You need to go to the barracks.” I take a deep breath. “It’s okay.”
His other hand tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, then cups my cheek. “Can we talk tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
His thumb brushes across my cheek, and then he bends down to press a sweet kiss to my lips.
He waits until I step inside before turning and striding to the center of town to face whatever punishment Steelvice creates for young men who are guilty of nothing but treating their female friends and lovers as equals.
A thing that the older generation tries to beat out of them at every opportunity.
I close the door and find the sitting area empty. A quick search reveals Ferria lounging on my disheveled bed.