Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
GAVIN SMYTH
I’ve had a lot of time to think, and you’re still the person I trust most in this world, despite everything. I’m not sure what that says about me.
I don’t know that I care.
I thought time and distance would pull me away from you, and I thought that was what I wanted.
But they haven’t, and it wasn’t.
—UNSENT CORRESPONDENCE FROM QUEEN ARYELLA I TO THE BUTCHER OF NYRIDA
31st of Helios, 402 Years Ago
Two weeks passed without my seeing or hearing from her. Three times I’d climbed the cliffside path with every intent to barge into that castle and make sure that she was okay. That I hadn’t fucked everything up somehow.
I only sat in this loud, raucous tavern in a sad attempt to keep my mind off her.
It wasn’t working, and I didn’t really want it to. I was a glutton for punishment. Missing her was better than not thinking of her at all.
I felt like half my body, heart, and soul weren’t even mine anymore. I dangled aimlessly in space with no direction or purpose outside of her. She was my home now.
“I like her best when she has my cock in her mouth.”
I ran my palm over my face and scowled at the three idiots sharing this table with me.
Keeves, Dawes, and Royce. I’d spent a good portion of my younger years trailing after them, only to grow up and realize they were assholes I couldn’t stand.
Vile, childless, and wifeless, they now followed me around.
I’d put up with their company before, but now all I could think was that every woman they degraded could be someone’s Ella.
My mug spun in slow, methodical circles beneath my fingers as I glared at Keeves. My leg bounced under the table, an outlet to my irritation.
“What the hell’s wrong with you, Smyth?”
“You’ve been boring as shit for weeks,” Royce said, picking food from his teeth.
“Fuck off,” I grumbled.
“Holy shit!” Keeves shouted an exclamation over whoever had just entered the pub. “That one’s a beauty. I’d pay to have that hair wrapped around my fist while I shove my cock?—”
“You’re fucking vile,” I grumbled, shifting forward as something cold and dark crawled up my spine.
“But look at her, man!” Keeves pointed behind me. “Her hair is fucking silver .”
I choked on my beer and was on my feet before my next heartbeat, chair kicked out from under me. Sure enough, my Ella stood in the threshold of the pub, looking around with her big, breathtaking doe eyes. The most beautiful thing the assholes in this tavern had and ever would see.
Her loosely flowing, short-sleeved pale pink cotton dress was cinched at the waist to hug her perfect curves. A pale silk shawl covered her shoulders, attached to a thin hood draping over silver-blond locks. She was somehow more beautiful every time I saw her.
Her smile was too hopeful and bright to exist anywhere near this place, oblivious to the stares that made me feel like someone had gripped my heart.
All I could think was mine, mine, mine, she’s mine as shadows crowded my vision.
I barreled through the crowd and only let myself breathe when I got to her before someone else could.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I grabbed her shoulders, shielding her from greedy eyes. The moment she walked through those doors, she’d become their prey. As if I could expect any man to look at her and not want her.
“I was looking for you.” Her smile disappeared at the sight of my panic and rage. “Should I not have? I’m sorry.”
“You did nothing wrong.” I cupped her face, forcing my rage away. It was my fault that this was where she found me. “This just isn’t the place for you.”
“Why?” She peeked around me. “Aren’t these your friends?”
“Not friends,” I sighed. When I laced my fingers with hers, my grip nearly swallowed hers whole. There could be no question she was off-limits. “Just stay close to me. Understood?”
She grinned and nudged me playfully. She had come a long way from the shy, timid young woman who’d shown up in my shop two months before. “Gavin Smyth, are you giving orders to a princess?”
I leaned down, tracing the shell of her ear with my lips, reveling in how her body shivered under my touch, then hovered over the pulse point in her neck. “Yes, and I’ll bend you over my knee if you don’t follow those orders.”
Pink splotches scattered across her cheeks and down her neck. I longed to take my damn time kissing each spot.
“New friend of yours, Smyth?” asked a voice behind me.
I stiffened and pulled her into my chest. Duncan Hayes was another acquaintance I’d tolerated but never really liked. Now, I sorted everything and everyone through a filter that detected threats to my Ella, and Hayes was a fucking threat.
He peered at her closely with light gray eyes that had most women swooning. She’d barely left that castle, and there were a lot of men in this city. I swallowed down my fear that she might want him. Fuck , would she?
“Smyth,” Hayes said my name again. “I didn’t know you had a second job as a guard dog.”
“Happily,” I growled. “Best job I’ve ever had.”
I’d always had a violent streak. But murder? I’d never felt the urge to take it that far until Hayes devoured Aryella’s body with his licentious gaze.
But to kill him, I’d have to let go of her, and that wasn’t an option.
She rubbed soothing circles over my heart, dulling my aggression. Her eyes were like a beacon in a storm, calling me in from the raging sea of bloodlust.
I remembered that I was in a tavern, and she was safe in my arms. Hayes needed to be dealt with in a civilized way. I was bigger. Angrier. If he tried anything, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
“What’s your name?” Hayes asked.
“Ella.” Her too-kind voice was like the chirp of a happy little bird oblivious to the wolf about to devour her. I needed to teach her how to deliver a vicious throat punch and run. For now, I tucked her into my side. She clasped the back of my shirt.
“Ella,” Hayes repeated. “A beautiful name to fit a beautiful girl.”
“Thank you,” she answered shyly.
Hayes held out his hand. “Care to walk with me, Ella?”
“No.” I used my arm to block him.
Aryella, painstakingly polite as she was, lowered my arm and shot me a look telling me to calm down . “That’s generous, but I’ll be staying with Smyth.”
Hayes stared down at her chest. “I’m sure I could give you better company.”
Motherfucker.
“Are you deaf?” I lowered my voice in a way I hoped made him realize I would rip off his limbs and enjoy it. “She said no. Fuck off!” I stepped forward, placing her out of his sight, now and forever, but held her hand behind my back so no one could snatch her away. “ Now. ”
“Since when have you been averse to sharing?”
“Last warning before I rip your throat out!” I snarled.
“This isn’t like you,” Hayes said with a chuckle. “You’re insane.”
I grinned back—eyes wild, teeth bared. “Insane,” I agreed. “That’s right. Look at her again, I fucking dare you.”
Hayes shook his head and walked away. My smile grew as I watched him go, because having purpose fueled by her light and beautiful life felt incredible. Whoever I’d been before didn’t matter anymore. Being needed by Ella was the only thing I wanted for the rest of my life.
“Hey.” She rubbed my chest again. “Are you okay?”
“I’m great, actually.” Because the whole tavern heard my outburst, and the number of people staring was now nearly zero. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, rolling her lips together.
“Good,” I said just as the music picked up. “Dance with me.”
She laughed nervously and whispered. “I know I’m royalty and all, but I haven’t danced with anyone before. Only alone in my room. I’ll probably step on some feet.”
I grinned. That was a sight I wanted to behold. Her, consumed by pure joy with no one watching. I drew her toward the middle of the room where others gathered. “Perfect. Step on mine.”
She squealed when I secured my arm around her waist, spun her, and led her to the upbeat melody.
Her pale skin flushed rosy pink, an intoxicating hue that made me ache to taste her.
To claim more of her in every way I could.
Her laughter was contagious. Everything about her made my heart and mind soar.
She was an angel, and her happiness had the power to give us both wings.
We danced to three songs in total. Three more than I’d planned on dancing to this evening.
“Are you hungry?” I asked. “Thirsty?”
Her eyes lingered on a woman holding a cup of wine. “I could use a drink.”
“Are you sure about that?” I had been thinking about water . Having lived with her controlling uncle all her life, I doubted she’d ever had more than a sip of wine before.
The smile she gave me was bright, trusting, and sure. “I’m safe with you.”
“Fuck. All right.” I surrendered, trying not to get too lost in the shimmering golden specks within the green ocean of her eyes. She had me in a chokehold I never really wanted to break free from.
“Is ‘fuck’ your favorite word?” She smirked up at me after I led her over to the counter.
I barked out a surprised laugh and whistled for the tavernkeeper to get her whatever she wanted, then shamelessly boxed her with my arms between me and the counter. It would remain clear to everyone in this tavern who she belonged to. “No. My favorite word is?—”
“Smyth!”
I smiled at the familiar voice. Despite his ill-timed humor, my friend Victor was just about the only living person in this town who didn’t disgust me. As he approached us with a shit-eating grin, I wondered how long that would remain true.
“Well, hello there,” Victor crooned. “Name’s Vic.” He offered her his hand. I glared at it like I was ready to chop it off. My grip on the counter grew increasingly strained the closer he got to her.
She shook his hand, answering sweetly, “I’m Ella.”
Vic, the fucker, winked at me. I’d told him weeks ago I had found someone, that she was perfect. That was all he knew.