Chapter Four
Thade
I watch with amusement as Wren pauses mid-bite, eyes wide like a deer caught unawares in the forest by a hunter.“I don’t know if you believe in Fate,” I continue as she puts the fruit down, chewing on her mouthful discretely behind her hand, buying herself time.“But the fae do ...Ido, and I felt our connection instantly.I feel it even now.”
Wren clears her throat and licks her lips, twisting her fingers in her lap once more as she stares at her bare feet.“We, I mean, where I come from, God’s Word is what we follow.His commands are absolute.Our God above in Heaven is good, his nemesis the Devil is evil and dwells below in Hell.So, I’ve never really thought much about the concept of Fate.For women, it is merely our duty to marry a God-fearing man and give him children.They teach us that love is something that grows over time, with hardship, toil, and prayer.Our path is laid out for us before we even draw our first breath.”
“That sounds awful,” I say, scrunching my nose in distaste.“The fae are certainly not devoted to God.We chose to take no sides and for that we have been eternally punished, concealed to live behind the Veil.”
Wren’s gaze flies up to meet mine and the sound of her laughter fills the room.“Awful?”she repeats.“What else should a marriage and life be about?I admit, I’ve always hoped to marry an educated man who would appreciate my mind, as well as my ability to bear him children...”
My heart races, though you’d never know it, and I reach out to touch her face, trailing the backs of my fingers down her rosy cheek.“Two hearts should only be wed when they want it,” I answer.“When they’d rather die than live unbound.When the thought of living another day without their other half is so painful that they’d walk through the very fires of Hell to reach them if necessary.Marriage is love, passion, connection, and friendship.It is not some meagre duty.We live to love, Wren, not to merely endure.No one should ever bind themselves to another unless that person can see their truth, their light—the inner flame that makes us who we truly are.Without that ...there is nothing.Nothing worth having, anyway.”
Wren gasps, her eyes glazing over slightly with my subtle allure.“We do not have such luxury where I am from,” she says.“If we do not wed young, we become burdens on our family.We grow old and childless and end up spurned by God, himself.”
“But you are not there, anymore, pretty bird,” I remind her.“You are in Faery, and you are free to do as you will.There is no one here to force your hand, not even I.”
My mortal beauty smooths out the fabric over her lap before lifting her eyes once more.“You believe in your heart that we are destined to be together, yet you will not make me your wife?”she asks, her brow furrowing.“Am I not enough?Is it because I’m mortal and that I will be Common and not Highborn?”
I reach for her hands, grasping them in my own.“No, Wren, you are more than enough.In my eyes you are everything.You’re perfect.I yearn to take you as you are, I accept you as you are—but I cannot force you to bind yourself to me.I would sooner meet True Death.We can only be together if it is whatyoudesire, also.I am no brute, and I will not take you against your will.”
Wren’s honeyed gaze shimmers with tears, and the way she fights them back only makes her all the more beautiful to me.“I thought I felt something for someone, back in the village,” she says softly, sniffling.“But he wed another.I thought we had a connection, a friendship, but it wasn’t to be.We were ill-Fated from the start, and so, I ran and...”
“And here you are,” I finish for her.“Though you couldn’t have known it, you followed your heart, and it led us to one another.Fate ensured that our paths crossed.”
Wren pulls one of her hands from my grasp to delicately wipe at her tears, sniffling again as a smile trembles on her lips like morning dew on a blushing petal.“I feared I’d never find someone who saw me, who appreciated books and beauty—an educated man—and now I have stumbled upon a royal bard!A beautiful and learned man of talent and standing.It seems perhaps you’re right.Maybe Fate took pity on me when God wouldn’t.”
My immortal heart rejoices and before I can stop myself, I sweep to my feet, bringing her with me and catching her lips with mine.The taste of her salty tears, combined with the sweetness of the fruit still on her tongue and the heady warmth of her mortality set my soul ablaze.“Wren,” I breathe against her lips as our tongues dance.My mate is surprised at first, caught off guard, and she freezes, her kiss hesitant and uncertain, but then she relaxes into the kiss, the soft curves of her body melting against my ice, and it’s everything I ever dreamed love could be.
With one hand supporting the small of her back, my other combs through her tangled locks.She smells and tastes like paradise.My yearning for her is so tangible, so painful, that I know I love her more than the moth loves the flame or moon.Wren O’Connor is my muse, my reason, my everything ...and I will adore her always, regardless of how fast or slow our bond grows.Regretfully breaking our kiss, I hold her to me and gaze down into her beautiful eyes.“I’m sorry,” I whisper.“That was very forward of me.I just couldn’t resist.”
Wren shakes her head, reaching up cautiously to trace my jaw with her warm fingertips.“Don’t be sorry,” she answers, catching her breath.“I’ve never felt this before.My heart is racing, I can’t think straight, and my body...It yearns for yours in a way I’ve not—” She breaks off, her innocent gaze seeking reassurance.“I’m...”
“You’re a virgin,” I say softly, cupping her cheeks and kissing her brow.“It is nothing to be ashamed of, pretty bird.”
She swallows hard and nods.“We are taught to wait, to only give ourselves to our husbands, lest we be cast out and called unsavory insults.Wanton women, they say, are temptresses who lead good men to wickedness.”
Still holding her lovely face, I speak from the heart.“I care not for some antiquated ideal of purity, Wren.In Faery, we pursue love and passion freely.I only desire to be with you and hope that in time, you may consider me a suitable and worthy mate.”
