Chapter Thirty-One #2
I glanced at him, hoping my words didn’t hurt him. They were harsh, but I couldn’t keep bottling my feelings.
‘Maybe I’m just shit at explaining what you mean to me,’ he said after a while.
‘I—‘
‘Ava, I'm not saying it to guilt you into anything.’ A shy smile twisted his mouth. ‘I know our arrangement. Platonic, right?’
I could hear my heart beating.
‘Right,’ I murmured, slowly taking my hand away. ‘This is so… how do I even look him in the eye after what he’s done?’
‘He’s your father, even if he’s an idiot who makes me want to strangle him.’
I laughed. ‘Relatable.’
‘Did you talk to him about it?’ River’s tone eased. ‘I think it’s important you talk it out.’
‘I've been avoiding him recently,’ I said, a little ashamed. ‘I know we need to have this conversation, but it’s hard.’
He nodded. ‘Take your time. I’m sure it will all be fine. We just need time.’
Whether the Lord of the Isles had ever realised his actions were wrong was the question we should have been asking. Could he ever? Tension built in my forehead the longer I thought about it.
Out of nowhere, River chuckled. ‘I mean… If you ever decide to forgive me, the wedding might be a little awkward, but at least it won’t be boring.’
The idea made me laugh too. ‘Imagine. My father against yours. Alec against you. Willow against… everyone.’
A sly grin twisted his face. ‘You think she’d show?’
‘She wouldn’t miss it. She would probably wear white too,’ I said disapprovingly.
‘Emily would probably trip over her with a canter of wine,’ River laughed, and so did I when I envisioned it.
It would end up in the history books, the passionate culmination of centuries-long war. Water and Fire united at last. It was nice to dream. ‘It would probably turn into a bloodbath.’
He smiled. ‘Meh, just a regular fire wedding. By the way, I have something for you,’ he said proudly. ‘It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for us, but I hope you like it.’
A gift? ‘What is it?’
‘It’s only a short drive; let me show you,’ he said, grabbing the wheel once more and leaving the garage.
Just before we reached the gate where we had once exited the castle grounds, River turned onto a dirt road I never paid attention to before.
It was bumpy and unruly and stretched through the forest. Wild and unkept whilst remaining safe within the castle grounds.
A perfect place for driving lessons if I ever decided to learn.
After turning left, we drove for a few minutes before arriving at a medium-sized chalet with a wraparound porch. The mix of dark wood and stone reminded me of our estate on the Isles.
‘It’s beautiful; do you come here to relax?’ I asked him, as we both took in the sight of modernity coexisting with nature.
Birds chirped in the tall trees surrounding the house, and a short distance away I spotted a fox with several cubs. They fed on wild berries, undisturbed by our presence.
‘No, I only restored it recently. It’s been unoccupied for a long time. Come on, let me show you what I’ve done,’ he encouraged, and his cheerful tone made me excited.
We walked to the front door, stopping just before it as he kneeled, and knocked on the floorboards. ‘Had to replace all of these because they caved in.’
‘Caved in?’ I asked, subconsciously stomping harder to check if it was sturdy enough.
‘Well… It’s over two hundred years old, and it’s been in a state of disrepair ever since I was a kid,’ he shared. ‘But it’s completely redone and fully functional now. Come.’
River grabbed my hand and led me inside. A glimmer overhead caught my attention instantly. ‘Wow, this chandelier is spectacular.’
‘I know, right? My mother had it commissioned from the same designer who crafted the one in the Air Castle. Have you ever been?’
‘No, but if it’s anything like this, I might just pay the queen a visit—if only to admire her fixtures,’ I teased, watching the sunlight catch on thousands of tiny crystals.
We moved further inside, reaching a medium-sized kitchen with a marble island. The open-plan layout made it feel spacious and inviting.
‘There are three bedrooms upstairs and a portal in the basement. What do you think?’
I ran my fingertips over the marble surface and the meticulously carved cabinets. ‘It’s wonderful. Are you moving here?’
‘No, it’s… yours.’
I whipped toward him. ‘What?’
‘The chalet… is yours,’ he repeated a little shyly.
My throat dried, making it challenging to speak. ‘W-Why?’
He stepped closer, leaning on the cupboard opposite to where I stood. ‘You need a place to sleep.’
Oh my Gods. My eyes stung. ‘No, River. I can’t–’
‘It’s yours. You don’t have to live here if you don’t want to, but I want you to have a place where you can sleep undisturbed.’
I didn’t know how to react.
‘It’s not that bad. Sure, Alec and Willow are…’ Fuck it. 'Yeah, I might sleep here once in a while, actually. But I can’t accept it as a gift.’
A soft smile warmed his face. ‘It’s a gift from you to me if I know you have a safe place to rest. Those bags under your eyes are starting to make me worried, Ava.’
‘Don’t worry. Fae can’t die of sleep deprivation, can they?’
‘But witches can,’ his tone was solemn enough that I didn’t know what to say.
Miriam did say I looked horrible; maybe she was right if they all suddenly seemed so worried. ‘Okay then, show me your favourite spot of the house. Something you’re most proud of.’
The amber eyes of his darkened before he grinned in that scandalous way that made me ignore better judgement. ‘There is a spot.’
My pulse hammered in my ears. ‘Sounds dangerously ominous, River.’
He ate up the distance in a few strides, forcing me to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. ‘If I take you there will you indulge me?’
‘Um… It depends on what you mean.’ I shuddered. Resting him was growing harder.
There was a dangerous kind of knowing in his eyes. He was fully aware of what he was doing to me—and he kept pushing, like he wanted me to unravel.
‘Strictly platonic. Purely recreational,’ he purred, and my fire fought for control.
‘You’re worrying me,’ I said honestly, and he grinned harder.
‘Because you’re overthinking it. Come on,’ he urged, leading me out through a door on the other side of the house, his hand never leaving the small of my back.
By the wall, surrounded by planted flowers and bushes, sat a massive rectangular vessel covered by a tarp that River rushed to remove.
‘The lights are useless now that it's daytime, but you need to see them at night,’ he gestured toward lightbulbs built into the tub.
A hot tub.
The muscles in my back and legs moaned as ferocious bubbles roared to life under his touch. Then he dipped his flaming hand in the water to warm it.
I touched the surface—the gentle massage was heavenly.
‘If I get in, I’m never leaving,’ I warned, unable to look away.
‘Don’t threaten me with a good time,’ he said, stripping before stepping in.
With his head against the headrest, he reached for a remote and switched on the head massage. I might have drooled.
‘I’m sensing some apprehension,’ he said, almost curious, spreading his arms along the edges.
‘It’s just… I’m not wearing a swimsuit.’
One brow arched, a small smile tugged at his mouth. ‘Neither am I.’
Could I do this? Anya kept saying I needed to loosen up. I didn’t care about that, but… that water looked seriously tempting.
‘Okay. Look away,’ I demanded before taking my clothes off. I kept glancing his way, surprised he listened.
It wasn’t that my underwear wasn’t nice. Miriam stocked my wardrobe, and she obviously had a thing for lace. The thin straps were rather provocative. I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
I slipped in opposite him, the heat making my head spin.
River watched me for a moment before leaning his head back and relaxing.
‘I had a plan for a swimming pool over there,’ he gestured toward the tree line. ‘But that would take a few weeks and I couldn’t wait.’
‘Gods, do I look that bad?’ I chuckled.
‘You’re beautiful,’ he said, straightening. ‘But you need rest. Let me care for you.’
‘River… it’s not that—’
‘Simple,’ he finished. ‘I know. But I will always provide what you need, as long as you let me.’
‘Thank you. But at some point we have to get back to searching for the Crones. Time is a luxury we don’t have.’
‘But you have me, and I have armies,’ he replied. ‘I’ve sent out several troops in various directions. Don’t worry, we’ll find them.’
With a click of a button, he switched on my head massage. I leaned back and allowed the world to fade away.