23. Everyone Likes Snacks
CHAPTER 23
Everyone Likes Snacks
Melinda Mayweather
Don't choke. Don't choke. I slowly force myself to swallow the last bit of honey cake in my mouth.
I stare up at Hawke, unable to form a coherent response. The casual way he mentioned our engagement announcement, as if it were a foregone conclusion, sends a jolt of panic through my body. My heart pounds against my ribcage, threatening to burst free. Is he serious?
"Hawke," I begin, my voice trembling uncontrollably. "I–" The words stick in my throat, my mind reeling with a thousand thoughts and emotions.
He takes my hand in his, his touch gentle yet firm, and squeezes it reassuringly. His eyes lock onto mine. The world around us dissolves away. I'm drowning in a sea of uncertainty, my heart racing with a combination of fear and exhilaration. But his eyes, steady and strong, anchor me to the present.
"I know this is sudden," he says, his voice low and earnest. "But you are my soul mate. I know it. And there will never be another. I would rather have you than Avalon or my father's crown or anything else. Just you."
His words wash over me like a tidal wave, simultaneously overwhelming and comforting. The weight of his love and devotion presses against my chest, making it difficult to breathe. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes.
My mind races. Doubts and fears war with the growing desire to surrender myself completely to this man who has so boldly claimed me as his own. I breathe hard, my mouth is dry, and my palms are slick with sweat.
“But I’m cursed. That hasn’t changed.” I whisper, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart. The words taste bitter on my tongue, a harsh reminder of the inescapable reality that haunts me. My magick is deadly. And if we were ever to have a child… I’d lose him. Even the thought of it makes my heart shudder.
Hawke's grip on my hand tightens, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination that takes my breath away. "I don't care about the curse," he says, his voice unwavering. "I care about you, Melinda. I care about the woman who has captured my heart, body, and soul. The woman who has shown me light still exists beyond the darkness that haunts me."
He leans further over the table. "I will fight for you, Melinda. I will fight against the curse, against the darkness, against anything that dares to stand in the way of our happiness. You just have to be willing to fight with me."
I close my eyes, allowing myself to be enveloped by the strength of Hawke's presence, the unwavering conviction in his voice. "I want to," I whisper, my voice trembling with a mixture of longing and trepidation. "I want to believe that we can conquer this curse, and the darkness, that we can build a life together despite the odds. But I'm terrified, Hawke. Terrified of the power within me, of its potential to hurt people. My magick has always cost me everything and everyone."
A single tear escapes, trailing down my cheek. I voice my deepest fear. "What if we have a child, and the curse takes you from me the way it took my birth father from my mother? It broke her. She was never the same, even after she found my stepfather.”
Hawke reaches out, his thumb gently wiping away the tear from my face. "We will find a way, Melinda. Just say yes. Tell me you’re with me.”
“I am,” I whisper. Decision made.
He smiles. The kind of smile that chases away all the shadows. The kind that makes me want to forget I’m cursed. The kind that makes me want to believe in happily-ever-afters.
The moment breaks with a servant girl, carrying a tray of dishes, stumbling over the first broken pot. She drops her armload. The clatter of plates and utensils fills the air for a second time, along with some shouting.
"Tali! Be more careful. I don't have time to clean up after you and feed an entire castle!" the cook shouts, her voice stern but not unkind.
Hawke and Kellan stand, moving in front of the table.
“I’m sorry! I tripped.” She squats to the ground and starts retrieving the dishes she dropped. “Did you know the guards are all talking about chasing off a giant wolf-like creature?”
The cook looks up from her work, her brow furrowed with concern. "A wolf-like creature? How big was it?"
"Oh, they said it was enormous! Bigger than a man," the servant girl replies, her hands gesturing wildly as she describes the beast.
Intrigued, I peer between Hawke and Kellan, trying to catch more of the conversation. "What are they talking about? Is there something dangerous outside the castle? Is it your friend, the knight–Fenrir?" I ask Hawke, remembering that he had mentioned the ability to turn into a wolf.
Hawke shakes his head. "No, this beast is from the woods. It's the offspring of Fae creatures. We're not sure what it is exactly, but it's been hunting along the road between Camelot and Vandimoor. It's never come this close to the gates of Camelot before. I should check with the guards."
Kellan snorts, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The Upir will have it well in hand. Let it be, Princeling. Domina needs to eat and rest."
Hawke bristles at Kellan's comment, and I shake my head, sensing that Kellan enjoys getting under Hawke's skin. "I'm still in charge of protecting this castle until tonight," Hawke reminds him, his tone firm.
I stand from the table, grabbing a couple honey cakes for later. I wrap them in a cloth and stuff them into the outside pocket of Kellan’s tunic.
He looks down at me and snorts. “ Domina , what are you doing?”
I lift my hands and shrug dramatically. "I cross into an entirely new realm and women's clothes still don't have pockets, so I'm using yours. Just think of it as a snackhole." I pause, feeling a sudden surge of energy and determination. "I'm done resting and ready to go check in with the guards about the wolf-beast."
A quick laugh escapes from Hawke's mouth before he can steady his expression, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "There is plenty of food, Melinda. You don't have to hoard it in your dragon's pockets."
I grin, feeling a sense of playful defiance. "Yes, but this way I'm prepared for anything. Snacks while I hide from another assassin. Snacks while helping you chase a beast away from the castle." I pause, tilting my head to the side as a thought occurs to me. "Or maybe the wolf-beast is hungry and he wants a snack?"
“The wolf-beast will not want to eat the honey-cakes.”
I shrug again. “You never know.”
Hawke's expression grows serious. He shakes his head and glances to the door before looking over my head at Kellan. "Your people are watching Darkwood and the other Fae councilman?"
Kellan nods, his posture alert and confident. "Both, yes."
I chew on my lower lip, my gaze darting between Hawke and Kellan. "Even if you had people watching them, how would we know about them? I haven't seen any cell phones or walkie talkies around."
My guard grins down at me, his eyes glinting with a hint of amusement as he cocks an eyebrow, like he's waiting for me to think of the answer. But I don't have it. I have no idea.
Suddenly, Siva's voice echoes inside my head, startling me. He gave the spies one of his guardians. We’re psychically connected and can communicate with him when we’re in close enough proximity.
"Wait, you can talk to Kellan?" I ask Siva aloud, my heart racing.
Hawke captures my chin and turns my face back to himself, before glancing down at the slithering, shimmering tattoo on my wrist. "Are you talking to the guardian?"
I nod, my mind spinning with questions. "How close do you have to be?" I ask Siva, my voice barely above a whisper.
We can go several miles. Certainly enough to cover all of Camelot, Siva responds, her tone reassuring.
I glance up at Kellan again, a mixture of awe and apprehension coursing through my veins. "So not only have you lo-jacked me, Siva can also talk to you and tattle on me."
No, Domina! I would never. Unless your life was in danger. Siva pauses, her voice growing quieter. Then perhaps.
“You called him when the assassin came?”
Yes, Domina.
"Kellan?" I ask, seeking confirmation if he heard her.
"Yes, she called for me, but I can't hear what she says unless she speaks to me, Domina ," Kellan explains, his voice calm and reassuring. "And you don't have to speak aloud to speak to her. You can just think in your mind and she will hear you."
“Okay.” I take a deep breath, letting the new information sink in. The knowledge that Siva can communicate with Kellan is both a comfort and a source of unease. It's like a double-edged sword, offering protection but also a potential loss of privacy. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to reconcile the conflicting emotions swirling within me.
As I stand there, the world seems to slow down, the bustling kitchen fading into the background. My mind wanders, drifting to the incredible man who has declared me his soulmate. Hawke. The connection between us is undeniable, a force that pulls me towards him like a moth to a flame. I can't explain it, but every fiber of my being yearns to be near him, to bask in the warmth of his presence.
I want to believe him, to trust in the depth of our bond. The idea of being his soulmate, of having found that one person who completes me in every way, is both thrilling and terrifying. It's a promise of love, of a future filled with happiness and adventure, but it also comes with the weight of responsibility and the fear of loss.
But I can’t let fear keep me from living. That’s not what my family would want. The task at hand, getting outside the castle and investigating the mysterious beast, suddenly seems like a welcome distraction. I know that there are people out there who want to harm me, who would stop at nothing to prevent me from being with Hawke. But I refuse to let them win. We are stronger together.
With renewed determination, I square my shoulders and meet Hawke's gaze. "Let's go talk to the guards and find out more about this beast. Maybe take a peek at the party outside?"
A smile tugs at the corners of Hawke’s lips. "I think we can manage that, my lady," he says, offering me his arm.
I loop my arm through his, feeling a spark of electricity at the contact.
Kellan falls into step behind us as we make our way out of the bustling kitchen and back into the cool, stone corridors of the castle.
As we navigate the halls, the sound of music and laughter grows louder, drifting in from the outside. I’m excited to see more of the market and the festival. The air is filled with a palpable sense of excitement and joy. Everyone is celebrating.
We step out into bright sunlight, and I'm momentarily dazzled by the vibrant colors and lively atmosphere that greets us. There are stalls lined up as far as the eye can see with vendors offering everything from intricately woven tapestries to mouth-watering delicacies. The aroma of roasting meats and sweet pastries mingles with the fragrant scent of exotic perfumes, creating a heady mixture that makes me want to explore everything at once.
We weave through the crowd and unlike this morning, I really take my time studying the people around me. Well, some of them look like people. And some of them look very different from me. Some look like Wraith, tall, onyx skin, raven black silky hair, and bright gold eyes. “They’re the Upir, right? Like Wraith?”
"Yes, the Changing of the Guard ceremony tonight is why this whole thing is happening." He casually waves at the festival, but I can hear the pain in his voice. "It's the Upir's turn to be Camelot's caregivers," Hawke says, his voice laced with pain.
"Why does it sound like you're unhappy about it?"
Hawke sighs and stares off into the distance. "Camelot belongs to the Fae. Belonged–" His words trail off, making it obvious he doesn't want to explain.
I open my mouth to press further, but I'm interrupted by a cheerful voice beside us. "M'lady, will you come and see my puppet show?"
I turn to see a handsome man with a colorful puppet on his hand, its bright button eyes and stitched smile inviting me to join the gathered crowd. The puppet waves its tiny cloth hands, beckoning me closer.
"Oh, I don't know..." I hesitate, glancing back at Hawke and Kellan.
Hawke's expression softens, a small smile tugging at his lips.
The puppeteer smiles, his whiskey-brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Excellent. You’ll love it!" He exclaims and flits off disappearing into the crowd.
I take Hawke’s hand to tug him along after the puppeteer went, but a blood-curdling scream sends me scrambling into Hawke’s arms instead.