“No!” I raised a hand to block my face. Before I covered myself, I realized that her eyes were already scrunched closed.
My near panic subsided, and I stepped in front of her, touching her shoulder so she knew where I was.
She sniffed and wrapped her free hand around my wrist, squeezing it.
That emotion in my chest fluttered to life again, as if her desperate touch woke something up. Even if I hadn’t promised to do my best to keep her happy, I hated the sight of her sad.
“Can you help him without your bear horn?” Auria whispered.
I set one hand under hers so she knew I was checking him while I let go of her shoulder. I did not expect to feel something in my chest when I touched her fingers, but there it was. I shifted my attention, concentrating on the bird’s head and letting my light magic flow through its body. The silly thing had another concussion, but its heart still beat strong.
Directing my magic to heal the damage and swelling inside its head, I answered her. “Yes.” A few seconds later, the bird shook itself and started climbing up Auria’s shoulder.
She rubbed her nose. “Thank you.” No tears marked her face, but her voice caught.
I couldn’t help smiling at her attachment to the bird. “Keep your eyes closed. I’m going to take us through the shadows to our rooms.”
Chapter 17: Auria
Keeping my eyes closed was never a question. Not looking at his face for a year was all I had to do to break his curse. I wouldn’t ruin it during the first week.
He nudged me forward a few steps, and then the rest of his words sank in.Through the shadows. What did that mean?
He had a hand on my arm, so I asked quietly, “Bylur, can you control the shadows?”
“Of course,” he murmured. “They are part of my magic.”
Hismagic?!
“Did you send them to attack me?” The accusation came out louder than I’d expected. “In the dungeon? In Dedalus’s room?”
He stood in front of me and carefully gripped both my upper arms. “I sent them in the dungeon to find and protect you.” Images ran through my mind. That horrible prison—the shadows had attacked Amatavi, not me. Bylur went on. “In Dedalus’s room, I surrounded you with them so you would not see me. I did not attack you. But—”
His voice wavered. “When I realized how much they scared you, I pulled them back and turned my face away instead. I am still… sorry for how angry I was in that moment.”
I hugged my waist and nodded. I would have hugged Rat, but the thankless animal had flown off my shoulder.
“I—” Bylur started to say something and then trailed off. I hated not seeing his face. How was I supposed to know what he meant when I could only hear him? He squeezed my arms gently. “I will leave you now. Give me a second or two before you open your eyes.”
“Wait!” I threw a hand on top of one of his. “Where are you going? I… I know we didn’t really discuss this, but I’d like to see you more often than once every two or three days. I’d… like to help you with whatever you have going on with your council. And learn everything about your kingdom and home and fae in general.”
He took my hand off his and wrapped it up in both of his. “You can ask Brielle and Dearan anything. They are like siblings to me.”
“Yes,” I whispered, getting distracted by his warm touch on my hands. His skin was more callused than I’d expected, but still so gentle. I gripped his hands with my free one. “But Brielle doesn’t understand your council plans or know about your curse. And Dearan is friendly enough, but I think he’s avoiding me for propriety’s sake.”
He half huffed, half chuckled. “The fae culture does not expect propriety.”
I tipped my head, trying to imagine what his face might be saying if I could see it. “But you do?”
He pressed his thumb against the top of my hand, and the pressure felt like a confirmation. “I do not care what people think as much as I care what they do. I think people should be treated with dignity and respect. That includes honoring boundaries and vows with fidelity. Most fae insist on oaths being sealed with magic to ensure they are not broken. Marriage vows are usually made with magic, and married fae are more devoted to each other than to any others. Single, unattached fae have nothing forcing them to behave with honor.”
I ran my thumb absently along his hand, processing those ideas. “But some must anyway. I’d expect people who cannot lie to be relatively honorable.”
He snorted. “Fae cannot speak a lie. They can act with deceit and their own self-serving intentions.”
“So—” I probably shouldn’t ask this, but my mouth couldn’t help it. “Should I have asked for a fae marriage?”
“I will not break my vows to you.” He answered without any pause. “I know we did not discuss anything besides my curse and your safety, but I will not expect anything from you besides your efforts to break that curse.”
