Sander tapped his chin. “I’ll read up on it and let you know what I find.”
“I already have a shipment of new writings from the Ever Kingdom on the way,” Niklas said.
My mother sighed. “An honest shipment, Nik? Peace with sea fae is still rather new.”
“Why does everyone assume every shipment is smuggled?”
“You’re a wise man.” Maj rolled her eyes. “You tell us.”
Niklas waved her away and hooked an arm around Sander’s neck, already lost in their theories.
“Would you like to know something baffling, Husband?” Skadi said, back toward me, watching them go.
“I love to be baffled.”
“We are to go to Natthaven next week, and I . . . almost wish we weren’t.” Skadi paused for a breath. “I think I might miss your lands, your folk, and I hardly know them. I have never felt so accepted, I suppose.”
“You’re not a creature to them, Fire.” I stepped close to Skadi. “They are not studying your affinity because they fear you.”
“My people fear me. It is strange to be around those who don’t, even if they should.”
“Welcome to the Black Palace.” My mother strode past, a devious glint in her eyes. “We all embraced our darkness long ago. It is home now.”
Alone, Skadi seemed completely confused.
“What my mother meant is you will never be shunned because of magic you never had a choice in receiving.” I tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “We know it is not the power that makes a monster, it is the heart. There is nothing wrong with your heart, Fire.”
“Do you mean what you say?”
“Every word.”
Skadi fiddled with a ring on her finger. “You do not know how much that matters to me.”
I took one of her hands and squeezed. “The alliance was not because I fearedyou, Skadi. I feared the light elves and how they would use you.”
“Arion and his court were always fascinated by my affinity once it was made known.” She shook her head. “I tried to be good as a girl, obedient, docile. I knew what people believed me to be, I knew the fear of me. It is rather lonely.”
I cupped one side of her face. “Now you have vowed into the most meddlesome house in the fae realms. You won’t even know they are there, yet they will know everything about you.”
“I don’t think I will mind.”
My smile faded. “About last night?—”
“Please.” She turned away. “I can’t bring it up without wanting to fade away from embarrassment.”
“You were upset because you saw a woman with me.” I nudged her arm, turning her back into me. “Before all this, I did not refuse lovers often.”
“You don’t need to explain yourself.”
“I want to.” I took her hand and rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “There were still some who believed I would be the same, but I made it clear I would not betray you.”
Skadi shook her head. “I hardly know what to make of you sometimes. You are a strange man, Jonas Eriksson.”
“Better than being dull and uninteresting.”
She arched into me, like she might be leaning in to kiss me, but changed her mind at the last moment. Skadi stepped back, chuckling nervously. “I, uh, I should wash. I’m filthy.”
She was stunning to me.
