“Who else would be walking with that kind of energy after last night?” Avery retorted with a muffled laugh.
Avery rolled onto her side as Darby peeked into their bedroom, a serene smile on her face. “You’re welcome, dear. Is there anything else you’ll be needing this morning?”
“You shouldn’t even be out of bed after all the work you’ve done for the Night of Feasts. Go get some rest. We’re quite comfortable here,” Savine said.
Darby leaned against the doorframe, laugh lines brimming her face. “It gives me joy to serve you, Savine. You know that.” She crossed her arms and seemed to be thinking of a different time altogether. “I just wish your mother had been here to see you. She would have been so proud of you! King of Latiah and with a soulmate wearing the boughs and the antlers.”
“I’m just grateful Savine has you, Darby. You’ve been a lifesaver for both of us as we adjust to Orofine,” Avery said, leaning against Savine’s upper arm.
Darby nodded, “If that’s all, I need to see to the cleanup from last night. Then perhaps I will take a rest.” She left the room, her brisk steps tapping on the wooden floor and out the door.
Savine went to the table and brought the two breakfast trays to their bed.
“It smells delicious!” Avery said, taking her tray. There was a small vial next to her teacup, something for the headache no doubt. She lifted it up and picked up the paper folded on the tray. “Hyacinth suggests I take the tincture with food then says we should get some fresh air to ensure I don’t have my symptoms return. That’s funny. The first time I got drunk my mom had no sympathy for how hungover Morgan and I were. She made us go outside with her, even though we were miserable.”
She tipped the contents of the vial into her mouth and grimaced as she struggled to swallow it down. “That’s disgusting!” Avery grimaced.
Savine took the vial from Avery, tasting the remnants from the bottle. The flavor was sharp and bitter, burning his taste buds. “Pine needles and bitterroot, I’d suspect. Hopefully it helps with the pain. If your healer is ordering us outdoors, where would you like to go?”
“Can we actually go talk with the trees? I would love to know if Morgan is okay.”
Savine pressed the palm of his hand to her cheek. “Of course, Little Flower.”
Avery
The chill of the fall air had already killed the plants that Avery and Savine had grown when they accepted their soulmate bond. In fact, the biting wind made tears stream down Avery’s face as they quickly walked past the hot springs.
“I knew they wouldn’t last, but it still makes me sad to see what we created dead, you know?” Avery said as she led Savine deeper into the forest.
“It was inevitable, but I agree.” As he spoke, he sent a passionate wave of emotions down the bond. “But I’ll admit, I was thinking of something else.”
Avery turned and lifted an eyebrow at him. “Savine!” she teased, “We’re never going to make it to the cedar grove if you keep doing that!”
Savine grinned, and Avery thought his smile when he was actually content was the most sincerely beautiful thing she’d ever seen. “Little Flower, you have ruined me. I’ll never be able to get anything done when I have the memories of those hot springs in my mind. Goddess above! I can’t even walk into the woods without being distracted.”
Avery giggled and kept walking. “Don’t blame me!”
Savine slapped her on the ass and she let out a surprised shriek. “The blame is all yours, Ave.”
God, she loved it when she could draw out this side in him. It was so unexpected— this grumpy, old-ass fae man teasingher and laughing with her like this. She’d never believed it was possible a few months ago.
The trail grew steeper, the wind whipping through the limbs overhead, causing branches to sway and bend. “How far do we have to go? This wind is brutal! We should have never left our bed.”
“I had no intention of leaving our bed, but remember Hyacinth insisted you get some fresh air. The cedars are getting close. Look to the left and you can see the first one.” Savine pointed ahead, and Avery could make out the cedar boughs rustling in the breeze.
Pushing through the wind, they made it to the copse of trees. The cedars were so large, even Savine was dwarfed by their massive girth. He approached quietly and Avery stood back, letting him connect with the trees through mycillious, the language of the trees. The cedar’s trunk began quivering and Avery gasped at the way its branches stooped and shook low in the wind.
She could hear Savine speaking in a strange, whispery language, and the sound of it soothed her. Like it was a comfort to hear him speak in that mysterious language. Finally, he drew back, his face hardened with the weight of his duty again. Gone was her playful soulmate, and before her was the king with the weight of a nation on his shoulders.
“What is it?” Avery couldn’t stop from asking.
He shook his head. “Your sister really will be traveling with King Rylo to Onyx Caverns in a few days' time.”
Avery felt a tightening in her chest. Would Rylo take Morgan somewhere and abandon her if it fit his needs? “That’s what her letter said, but what does that mean? Why?”
“If I had to guess, he most likely seeks an alliance, although I do not know why he brings Morgan with him. Goldoths are faewho draw their essence from rocks and minerals. Their military might and wealth are profound.”
Avery chewed on her lower lip. “Why would Rylo ally with them? Does he want to go to war with Latiah? We did what he asked!”
