Vade took a long drink, nearly finishing his mug.
“What did he mean by ‘claiming’?” she asked.
He let out a deep breath and looked like he’d hoped she wouldn’t ask. “It’s a thing fae do when they find a partner they want to be with long term.”
Heat coursed through her body. “Oh . . .”
“And it’s the reason you aren’t leaving my sight tonight. The group that was in here earlier scented I hadn’t claimed you, and if I know those assholes, at least one of them will be waiting for a chance to get you alone just to spite me.”
She fiddled with the emerald on her necklace, the heat inside her increasing, and not just from the ale. “They can scent that?”
He nodded. “Once the claim is accepted by both parties, there’s some kind of connection that happens. No one really knows how it works, but it must be accepted honestly and willingly by both parties. If someone tries to enter a claim falsely, the scent won’t stick, and once a claim is made other fae are forbidden to pursue that fae’s partner. It’s the only law we really abide by.”
She wondered if he had ever claimed anyone before. Immediately, the ridiculous thought dissipated. He only cared about himself, and she already knew his thoughts on how trite he believed love to be.
“Why would you care if someone claimed me?”
His lips pursed. “They’ll do nothing but use your body for their own pleasure, then leave you in the middle of the night.”
“You mean like you do with pleasure girls?” The snarky comment surprised even her.
Vade’s onyx eyes bored into her. “You don’t even know them. And trust me, you don’t want to.”
The ale gave her confidence. “They didn’t seem so bad. Maybe I could flirt with Balor, get him to wait for me until after we get this spell reversed, then see if mountain life is for me.” She flashed a teasing grin.
“No.”
“It’s my choice. You don’t get to control everything I do, or don’t do.”
Vade finished the rest of his drink. “Yes, I do. And I’m not letting you near any one of them.”
Orelia swayed slightly, letting the liquid confidence come to the forefront. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous.”
He scoffed. “Jealous of a hypothetical situation you just made up? I don’t think so.”
“Fine, then I’ll go find Balor and test out my flirting skills.” Orelia stood, not having an actual plan in mind, but Vade didn’t let her get far. He grabbed her arm and yanked her back down.
She fell into her chair with a squeal.
“You’re staying with me, and I won’t say it again.” He released his rigid grip, watching her intently.
Orelia rubbed her arm. “I was just joking. Relax.”
“Your safety isn’t a joke to me.” Possession laced his words, and she swore there was more than concern for wellbeing in the look he gave her. Trying to understand him was like trying to harness the wind. Impossible.
She brushed off his incomprehensible emotions and pictured Elshar happily headed to the love of his life, ready to declare his intentions and wondered if she’d ever have a connection like that again.
Vade pulled the tracking stone from his pocket. She didn’t bother looking at the name.
“Finish your ale,” he said. “I can’t let you out of my sight anymore. You’re coming with me for this one.”
eighteen
They left the tavernjust after sunset and stepped out into the warm night. Her skin immediately broke out in a sweat, and the smell of manure returned with force.
Vade secured them a room at the inn next door with a bed made of raggedy blankets and pitiful excuses for pillows. Melted candle wax covered the top of the dresser that was missing two of its drawers. Without any other furniture options for Bute’s jar, she placed him on the bed, whispering to the frog that they’d be back soon.
Once they were outside, Vade walked in a circle with the stone in his hand until it pulled him southwest. The silver moon guided them through the woods consisting of an excessively loud orchestra of crickets, frogs, and shrill sounds she’d never heard. The muddy road quickly disappeared and turned into marshland, and they had to choose their footing carefully so as not to end up waist-deep in mosquito-infested waters.
