Chapter 6
Breathe.
It was the only thing that she could do. But the closer they got to the Silver Palace, the more her hands shook—the more her fear and anxiety seemed to latch itself onto her, curling around her spine, digging its venom-tipped claws in her stomach.
Kaya swallowed, lifting her eyes from the iridescent runes that marked her wrist and looked at the males riding to her left.
Keegan Aeros was the general of her father’s army. And his aura just seemingly emitted a raw, carnal energy that was both terrifying and comforting. It made sense that they were brothers, sired by the same male who had served as her father’s advisor since before she was born.
He smiled when he caught her staring at him, a kindness and gentleness to his face that was utterly shocking.
Keegan officiated their mockery of a wedding ceremony the night before, both her and Ilias exchanging rushed vows and a chaste kiss before a couple of Keegan’s men arrived with Ilias and Kaya’s belongings that’d been left in G’Illach. Even her goats were amongst the caravan—strategically harnessed to her horse as they’d been the day she claimed them as her own.
She thanked the Mother that she’d been able to change into actual clothing before they left the Borderlands because the shocked expressions of the Holidonian soldiers that saw her…scantily cladappearance was enough for her to want to hide her entire body in thick, oversized clothing for the rest of her life.
With a small smile, she looked back down at her wrist, tracing over themarkings that entailed their union was blessed by the Mother—a union that had been written in the stars, long before they were a thought in their parents’ minds.
Married.
She was a married female now. And though she hadn’t the slightest idea as to what her union with Ilias meant, it was not what mattered. What mattered was the panic she felt when she imagined her father’s face when they told him their news—if his face would turn red and purple or if he would just look at them with disappointment. She didn’t know which would be worse.
And she feared for Ilias, that his position as captain would be ripped from him for being so foolish. Because theywerebeing foolish, weren’t they? Eloping late in the night in hopes to keep her from being forced to wed a spineless brute that was keen on killing their people…
It didn’t sound foolish to her. Not really.
And Ilias was just as stoic and calm as always, the only telling sign that anything bothered him was in the occasional way he rubbed at that awful, hideous, and absolutely gorgeous beard of his.
“Are you sure you’d want to marry a halfblooded bastard like me, princess?”
She didn’t care about his humanity at the time. She didn’t care about it now, either. And she wondered, as she watched him exchange a few hushed words with his brother, if it was his humanity that made him such a peculiar creature.
But he was just as much fae as his brother—both of them with that wildness in their eyes, the silver gleam that proved Cadaith’s life force ran through their veins.
It didn’t matter.
It didn’t bother her.
The only thing that haunted her thoughts was that she found herself looking at him more, going over every single word he spoke and hanging on to each word as if they were prophecy. Kaya had been in love before. And she’d given her heart so freely and willingly that she hadn’t cared to look for warning signs. She knew the warnings now, but Ilias displayed none of them.
He was gentle. He was just and kind and he followed rules, but he was alsoimpulsive in many ways, like there was a part of him that was just as wild as she was.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Feelings. So much that she hadn’t realized she was walking into the great hall of her father’s palace until she saw her father sitting on his throne, his head knocked to the side as he listened to the whisperings of one of his advisors. Alder Aesa’s eyes locked with her own, his strong brow drawing downwards at the center.
He knew. That was for certain.
“I suppose congratulations are in order for the two of you.” His voice echoed, splintering through her fractured heart. Because when she looked at him, all she could think about was the fact that he was willing to sell her off to their greatest enemy in exchange for peace.
She once viewed him as the king of all kings—he was a god in her young and naive eyes. And now, looking at him, her throat burned with acid.
Ilias stooped into a bow and waited, breathing slow, until the king signaled for him to raise to his feet. “Mi-lord, I must ask for your forgiveness. Not only for taking your daughters hand without your knowledge, but also going against your orders. I will accept my punishment, as you see fit.”
Kaya’s teeth could have turned to powder with the force that she ground them, her eyes now narrowed and carving holes in Ilias’s face. “And I would like to add,” she began, “that he taught me nothing.”
“Iwould like to to add that she made it very difficult for me to teach her anything.” Ilias snapped, his face void of emotion.
Alder let out a tired sigh, head dropping into his hand. “Ailikaya. Leave us.”
The princess balked, eyes darting back and forth between Ilias and her father. Even now—even as a married female, she was still unworthy. A child, a pawn, a spoiled little princess who was expected to blindly obey. “I am not going anywhere.”
