CHAPTER FOUR #3
I looked at the golden antique mirror, with its delicately embossed feathers, and then back to Corvin.
Should I admit I had seen him before today?
How much had he heard of my nighttime, mirror-based confessions?
I thought about our interactions during the day, reconceptualizing everything now that I realized he wasn’t just a random raven.
I tied a flower crown around his leg! The memory flashed through my mind, mortification left behind in its wake. Had I done anything else embarrassing?
Better to know the full extent of my humiliation now. “I’ve seen you before—once. In that mirror.” I pointed at the antique full-length mirror in the corner. “You haven’t seen me before, have you? Or, you know, heard anything coming from my side of the mirror?”
His grin faltered. “I’ll admit I heard you ask for help this morning. Can I ask your name?”
I felt a twinge of guilt over my bad manners. “Right—Elvira Hallwell.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Elvira. I wish our next Moonstone Maiden a successful reign.”
Confusion filled me. I’d never heard that title before. The Fae’s poem drifted back through my mind. Find a stone of moonlight. A moonstone. This man, Corvin, had just offered me a piece of the puzzle that was my life, and he didn’t even seem to know, mentioning it so casually.
I filed the revelation away for further consideration at a later point in time.
For all the history contained within the study, the books I had access to were curiously sparse on the island’s own history.
The historic role of the Midnight Sovereign.
But now I finally had something tangible to research—moonstones.
I mentally cataloged all the books in the study that might be relevant.
Corvin remained where he was, patiently regarding me, waiting for me to continue our conversation.
“You saved my life today,” I eventually replied, more as a question than a statement of gratitude.
He grinned again, an amused gleam shining in his eyes. “You didn’t make it easy. Have you always been so interested in the Bunyip’s…secretions?”
So, Froggie had a name.
I made a face, shaking my head. “No, but I am hoping to use the oil I collected from it, specifically to light the lampposts outside. You may have noticed they don’t work?
And why did you save my life? It was very risky of you to attack that monster just so I could escape.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely grateful to you. But…why?”
Corvin rolled his shoulders back, straightening his cloak. “I owe a debt to the Midnight Sovereign.”
“Is that why you’re here?” I asked, taken aback by his unexpected response.
He nodded. “That’s right. To repay the debt.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Hmm. But you saved my life. Surely, your debt must be fulfilled now.”
He shrugged. “Not yet. Some debts run deeper than life or death. I’ll know once the magic is satisfied.
This one is complicated. Layered. I can’t seem to decipher what I need to do to fulfill its terms. Unlike all of my other debts, I can feel it drawing me toward you—” A faint blush rose on his angular cheekbones.
“I would like the opportunity to help you again,” he finished.
I processed his words—so it wasn’t a mundane debt, easily satisfied by coin or noble deed.
It was magical in nature, and he was bound to it until the magic released him.
Such things were common amongst those with Fae blood, though I supposed they weren’t the only ones who could find themselves beholden to such things.
“It might take a while to fulfill if you don’t understand its terms,” I remarked.
The shadow of a smile tugged at his lips. “I don’t think it will be a hardship.”
I locked onto his steady gaze, the air between us suddenly charged.
I shifted on my feet, uncrossing my arms, and Corvin’s attention dipped momentarily to the plunging neckline of my nightgown.
He drew his lower lip into his mouth, the gesture setting off an answering dip in my belly before I tore my gaze away from him.
“Wait a moment. Shouldn’t you know how to fulfill the debt? Since you caused its existence?”
A crease formed in his brow. “The debts actually belong to my father. He’s sick.
I was hoping to finish paying his debts before—” He paused a beat, expression unreadable.
“I have other obligations. My attention will be dedicated elsewhere soon. And I won’t have nearly the time to put toward their fulfillment…
But I think if they were all paid, he might start to feel a bit better, regain some strength.
I don’t want to lose another parent. Not when it’s my fault he’s sick. ”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I replied gently. “It’s admirable of you to take on his debts.”
Corvin moved closer to me. “Here, before I forget. The Green Man wanted me to give these to you. He also healed your leg while we were in the Spring Court.” I opened my hand, and Corvin placed a number of flat, oval-shaped, dark brown seeds into my open palm.
“Do you know what kind of seeds these are?” I asked, not recognizing them, even with all of my gardening experience. “And how exactly did the…Green Man…heal the gash on my leg?” I added as an afterthought, committing yet another new name to my vocabulary.
Corvin tapped a finger to his lips. “He used his watering can. I’m not sure about the seeds. Has your leg started sprouting leaves yet?”
“What!” I examined my leg, angling my hip to get a good look at it through the slit of my nightgown.
I didn’t see any leaves growing, just smooth, pale skin.
I looked up to find Corvin’s eyes dancing with mischief.
Realizing he’d only been teasing me, I shot him a glare, but it lacked any real hostility.
“As you can see—no leaves.” Wait, did I just invite him to look at my leg?
He took a step closer to me, thoroughly inspecting my skin.
A slow, amused smile played across his lips. “Yes, no leaves.”
I was suddenly very aware of how close we were standing and how little I was wearing.
My cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of pink, a warm feeling unfurling within my core.
There was something about his devastatingly handsome smile that made me want to take a step closer to him.
And his scent—he smelled amazing, like fresh rain and sweet honey.
Resisting the impulse, I shifted my nightgown to cover my exposed leg and took a step back instead.
Awkwardly, I cleared my throat. “I’m not sure I need your help.”
He frowned. “That’s too bad. I do know a bit about the Midnight Sovereign. I think I could help you.”
“I don’t need you to tell me about my position,” I shot back at him. “I can do this all on my own.”
His expression grew serious. “You’ve mastered all the powers of your predecessors then? You can bend moonlight to your will? Enter dreams? Use a moonstone’s power to portend the future? Summon wings of moonlight and journey wherever you want, unhindered, throughout the realm?”
I fell speechless. He seemed to know more about my potential powers than I even did. I rubbed the back of my neck; somehow it felt easier to admit my substantial shortcomings to a stranger than to myself, especially one who spent the day fighting a swamp monster alongside me.
I threw my hands up. “You’re right. I can do none of those things.
I’m not even certain this island recognizes me as the next Midnight Sovereign.
There’s an entire gated area near the cemetery that I can’t figure out how to access.
I found a key, but I have no idea what it opens.
I don’t know what the lampposts even need in order to successfully light.
My mentor Kaylin had no interest in this position, and she has left me with nothing.
I don’t have nearly enough training. So where, exactly, do you recommend I start? ”
Corvin’s eyes were sympathetic, seemingly unfazed by my passionate response.
His voice was calm when he replied, “I don’t know.
I promise I’ll ask my father more about it though, next time he wakes up.
He might know. And I could come back tomorrow if you’d like, to brainstorm more about the lampposts with you. I want to help you any way I can.”
I hesitated, debating the wisdom of inviting a stranger back to my island, but there was no denying I’d learned valuable information from him.
Besides, if I were truly to fulfill my position, I would have to get used to strangers showing up on my doorstep.
Perhaps this would be good practice. Perhaps he was exactly what I needed.
During our short conversation, he’d shared more with me about my position than I’d ever been able to glean from the pages of my books.
And if allowing him to repay the debt would benefit his sick father, could I really justify refusing him?
Besides, if I were being honest with myself, I could use the assistance.
And the company, a small part of me confessed.
“Alright,” I said softly. “I accept. Until your debt is repaid. You can come back.”
Corvin gave me another small bow. “See you tomorrow then, Elvira.”
“Wait! One more question before you go—how did I get back to the boat? I can’t figure that part out.”
His eyes met mine. “I carried you back.”
Without waiting for a reply, he shifted into his raven form—a sudden, instantaneous blur of motion—and flew gracefully away.
I pictured the strong lines of his arms wrapped around me.
How long had he carried me? Alone once more in the study, I realized I still didn’t know who he was or where he came from, only that I owed him my life.