22. Nahomie
Nahomie
“Nahomie.”
Tassarion called my name for the umpteenth time. I kept quiet. Since he didn’t want to talk about where he’d been or what he was up to, I suddenly found I wasn’t in the mood to talk at all.
I scooted away from him on the loveseat, turning my knees in the other direction. My gaze remained on Vivienne below as she shyly began her first song of the twinight. Tassarion nudged my side of our bond with one of his souls. I shuddered at the touch, but I refused to cave in.
“Don’t push me out.”
“Tassarion, I’m watching Vivienne’s performance.” I tossed a few braids over my shoulder. “We need to get you a new favorite singer after all.”
Tassarion snorted, turning to look at me. His gaze burned a hole in the side of my face. I kept my eyes forward, refusing to look at him.
“Petty.”
“You call it petty. I call it dancing on the same sheet of music.”
“Phantimèssa," Tassarion purred.
Relentless. Insufferable...
I wanted to kick him off the loveseat.
Tassarion leaned over and playfully tugged on my braids, while sneakily using a wing to curl around my waist and drag me close. By the time I realized what he’d done, I was trapped. His wing moved to my arm and didn’t let go.
“Since you can come and go for as long as you please, I want to do the same. Can I leave Everthorn Manor for a dawn to frolic in the closest village? I’d like to see what Mortevain is like for myself.”
Tassarion didn’t hesitate.
“No.”
My back stiffened. I finally turned to him.
“You’re joking.”
“For the love of the Infinite, Nahomie. You won’t be safe outside of this manor. You’ve no idea what I’m protecting you from.”
“I’m not safe on your island?”
“No, you’re not. Not until my business with Marcèllian is handled.”
While I appreciated his candor, that wasn’t good enough for me. I frowned, tugging at my skirt. I dusted it off, though it was polished to perfection thanks to Saundeiah. The Nanmiess had me back in the stunning crimson gown that hugged my body like the stars clung to twinight.
“What in the stars does your quarrel with Marcèllian have to do with me?”
Tassarion looked at me as if I’d grown ten heads. He squeezed my shoulders with his wing, scrunching his nose, his eyes narrowing to slits.
“You are my wife. Have you misplaced your senses? The first thing that rot-eating swine would do is come for whom I love most. I lost my family once already, Nahomie. I’m not doing it again.”
My hearts stuttered.
Whom I love most.
I coughed, my eyes watering. I didn’t know how to process those words.
Their meaning. Their truth. My body was engulfed in flames as I turned to give Tassarion my full attention.
I looked at him as he looked back at me.
Neither of us had the bravado to address his slip-up, so I tapped danced past it.
To my relief, his shoulders relaxed in gratitude.
He wasn’t ready to process what he’d just accidentally confessed, either.
“So now there’s a chance I can end up as collateral?”
“You should’ve known that when you said ‘yes’ to a king, Phantimèssa.”
He wasn’t wrong. It didn’t mean I liked it.
“The arrangement of our bond is not convenient. I get that,” Tassarion said after a moment. “Being with me is dangerous. I am cursed. Exiled. Hated.”
He looked away. His throat bobbed with emotion. My hearts twisted in agony for him. I hated that he carried so much emotional turmoil. Even when he’d come home, I could feel the weight on his shoulders weighing him down.
I scooted close to him, pressing my thigh against his.
He sucked in a sharp breath. Bit his lower lip.
A spike of heat pooled in my stomach, making my toes curl.
I leaned closer to the king, hooking a finger beneath his chin, turning his face towards me.
His eyes glistened, but he did a rotting good job of keeping his tears from falling.
My throat swelled. I just could not see him like this.
I brought a hand to his cheek. Brought his forehead to mine.
“You are not a burden, Tassarion. Nor are you hated. Especially not by me.”
Tassarion was shaking. His breaths came in ragged bursts as he leaned into me.
“I am a monster, Nahomie. One such as I doesn’t have the privilege of dreams. Desires. Being wanted... Chosen. I’m too...”
He choked. His shoulders wouldn’t stop trembling. Without thinking, I pushed into his lap and wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight. He gripped my waist and took several deep breaths.
“Deformed,” he whispered down the bond. “An ogre. A monstrosity. A blight.”
It pained me to hear him speak about himself like this.
I remember when I first met him, and his sheer size alone was intimidating.
But his scars never scared me. They never pushed me away.
If anything, they’d immediately triggered a desire in me that only grew with every dawn I spent in this manor.
I could sense he didn’t want answers right now.
Didn’t need me to fix anything. To pretend that I could.
So, I didn’t. Instead, I listened and sat with him in his pain.
In his unexpressed grief. I held him tight, littering his forehead with endless kisses, as we listened to Vivienne’s enchanting voice.
For the first time since being brought to Everthorn Manor, I wanted to know Tassarion, and I meant really know him, for who he was.
He was more than a king with a hated throne and an empty court.
More than what happened to him in captivity.
He was more than whatever Marcèllian tried to break him into becoming.
He was my husband. My wingmate. And I wanted to discover all the hidden parts of his six Mortent hearts. His mind. To soak up all of his wit.
I traced the many stitches on his face, neck, and chest, where he’d left his tunic untucked. I kissed his temple, and he sighed, leaning into me as if he was finally at peace. At rest. I petted his hair before resting my head on top of his.
So much of what I’d believed before coming here had changed.
I initially thought he was a monster. A traitor to his angels.
An evil unleashed on this island. But Tassarion was just a devoted king who wanted to love, lead, and care for all of his citizens well.
And though he wouldn’t say it, he also wanted to be seen for who he was after his captivity and still be loved, too.
We remained in silence, arms wrapped around one another, the walls between us broken.
Vivienne sang brilliantly. She made me proud.
I’d have to visit her and let her know. Tassarion swayed under the sound of her voice as if in a hypnotic spell.
He took my hand, intertwining our fingers.
He was lost in the music, but I was lost in him.
I watched a veil of peace settle over his features.
He brushed a thumb over my hand as he breathed deeply, sighing.
I understood it then.
The music helped him with whatever darkness he possessed. Whatever turmoil he fought against. He needed the music. But if the music could help him, why did he need to bond to me?
“Music is a balm, mi Phantimèssa. Your blood is a cure.”
I swallowed. My blood. Stars. Why blood? Why couldn’t it be a kiss? Or a hug? Or a homemade meal? Tassarion chuckled down our bond. I’d forgotten he could hear my thoughts.
“I’d happily take all of those. But alas. It will only break by bond and blood. Without both, I will remain cursed.”
I clung to Tassarion’s hand, lost in my thoughts. Then Tassarion leapt from the loveseat, distraught at the commotion below. I looked down and saw what I’d known would happen.
As Vivienne sang, three of the Cherubim behind her began choking on shadows. Shadows colored like midnight with infinitesimal lavender starlight. The Cherubim screamed as they burned from the inside out.
I took my seat and watched my handiwork. Those three had visibly shown their disdain for Vivienne. They mocked her, and while she wasn’t listening, planned to sabotage her this night. Vivienne hadn’t been listening while I worked with her. She even called them friends.
But I had.
I calmly watched on as they burned. Screamed. The audience shrieked in terror, mortified by the horrendous sight. I chuckled darkly to myself, pleased with my fruits. If the Gargorètti were going to bully me into having a protégé, no one would surpass her in this manor.
“Nahomie.”
Tassarion turned on me, walking over. He pushed me back into the loveseat, resting his hands on either side of my body. The king leaned down, coming so close our noses could touch.
“Tassarion,” I answered cooly, batting my lashes at him.
“You cannot keep doing this.”
“They’re not dead.”
His lips twitched.
Amusement danced in his eyes.
“Will I be punished for this?” I asked sweetly. I curled my knees beneath me, leaning towards the behemoth of a male. “Will I be shackled to my bedchambers?” A tilt of my head. “Or yours?”
His eyes fell to my lips. His gaze darkened with molten heat, eyes like lightning threatening to consume me.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Everheart.”
Everheart. Stars. He said it again.
My chest squeezed.
“Games and danger. Two of my favorite things, Amouré.”
My love.
I bit down on my lip. The endearment slipped out before I could stop myself.
Tassarion froze, eyes burning holes into me.
He leaned closer, a low snarl rising to his lips.
I slipped a hand into his hair. Pulled him even closer.
I licked my lips before tilting my head towards him, waiting to see what the Monster King would do with his bride in this boxed chamber.
A knock at the door threatened to break the spell.
“This better be important,” Tassarion growled, tossing the words over his shoulder, eyes never breaking from mine.
“Mi Roi.”
It was Obsidian.
For rotting sake.
Of course, it was Obsidian.
“A tribunal has been set. Jacques Beauradèl has been found guilty for the murder of Richard Beauradèl and has been sentenced to death.”
My eyes widened. What was Obsidian prattling on about?
The grin that spread across Tassarion’s face made me shudder.
What had my mate done?
Tassarion rolled his neck before cracking them on both sides.
Then the king turned that monstrous gaze on me.
“Games and danger. I’m sure I can give you both my Everheart.” He brought his lips to my neck, biting the skin, sucking on it, before pulling away, leaving me breathless. “We’re not done here.”
Tassarion smiled like sin, turning my breathing ragged.
“This better not take another five dawns,” I hissed, baring my teeth at him.
He chuckled, peppering my neck with several kisses, tugging at my skin in a way that flushed my whole body with heat. Then Tassarion snapped open his wings and clapped them together. A star gate surfaced, and without another word the Monster King stepped through, and he was gone.