I pushed away from the door and strode into my room, shutting the door and walking over to the window, peering out. Twilight was falling, the magical lights beginning to glow throughout the court. Normally, the sight filled me with happiness and pride. Tonight, all I couldsee were the shadows gathering in placed, the wilting plants that spoke of deeper problems.
But I’d faced challenges before. Political intrigue, magical threats, and the weight of a crown I’d never expected to wear so soon. I could face this too, if only to show her I was competent beneath the laughter.
For my court. For my people. And maybe, if I was very lucky and very careful, for the dark-haired witch in the next room who’d promised partnership even while I’d made a mockery of her sincerity.
Although, I couldn’t help fearing that once the giggling and wilting stopped and life turned ordinary, she’d see no reason to stay with a king who was just…me.
Another giggle escaped, quieter now. I grimaced and turned away from the window.
Tomorrow I’d start looking for answers.
Tonight, I’d give her the space she needed and try to figure out what in the Fates’ name was happening to me.
CHAPTER FOUR
SASHA
Iwoke to pale dawn light filtering through unfamiliar curtains, my body instantly tense before memory reasserted itself. The fae court. The manor house. My wedding night spent alone in a room that smelled like cedar and magic.
My childhood stuffed rabbit, Jasper, lay tucked against my pillow where I’d positioned him last night. His worn fabric and missing eye had witnessed every significant moment of my life, and somehow having him here made this strange new home feel slightly more bearable.
I rose and washed in the bathing area, then returned to my room and dressed quickly, choosing a deep green gown that was practical enough for exploring but elegant enough to meet court standards. The fabric whispered softly as I moved, and I appreciated the way it allowed for full range of motion while still looking polished. Strategy extended to clothing choices too.
Savory ruffled her feathers from her perch near the window. I’d sent the perch ahead with my belongings.
The morning shows truths that daylight often hides,she said.Perhaps we should explore before the court awakens.
“Good idea,” I said, braiding my hair quickly. The tighter the braid, the more in control I felt. After yesterday’s disaster, I needed it extra snug.
I slipped out of my room and into the hall with Savory swooping ahead. I paused at Dominic’s door, listening for any sound of movement, but heard nothing. Either he was still asleep or he’d already left for the day.
The thought of him stirred an uncomfortable mix of emotions inside me. The humiliation of our wedding ceremony still burned, but underneath it lurked something else. Curiosity, maybe. Or the faint hope that perhaps there was more to him than yesterday’s endless giggling had suggested.
Hope is a seed that needs careful tending,Savory said as we descended the stairs.But even careful gardens can surprise you.
“You’re very right,” I said softly.
The manor house felt different in the early morning quiet. Softer somehow, with the magical lights dimmed and without the usual bustle of servants. My footsteps echoed on the stone floors as I made my way toward the back of the building, Savory flying ahead.
I wasn’t entirely sure where I was going until I found myself pushing open the door to the greenhouse Dominic had shown me yesterday. The plants had pulled me here, so I told myself.
The glass structure was warmer than the rest of the house, humidity hanging in the air, making my skin feel as if I could suck in my first true breath of the day. Rows of plants stretched out on either side of the big room and down the middle, most as wilted and unhappy as the onesI’d seen throughout the castle the evening before. Whatever was affecting them had hit this space particularly hard.
But it was the figure kneeling near the back corner that made me freeze.
Dominic bent over a cluster of drooping flowers I vaguely recognized as bellaburst blossoms, a common species in the fae kingdom though rare everywhere else in the realm. His dark blond hair fell forward, mussed from sleep or work, and his simple pants and a loose white shirt with the sleeves rolled up made him look more like a farmer than a king.
I liked the lack of a crown, formal robes, and courtly pretense.
His low voice echoed back to me.
“Come on now.” He kept his deep voice barely above a whisper. “I know you’re struggling, but you’re stronger than this. You’ve weathered worse seasons.” His hands cupped a wilting bloom with gentleness, and a soft green glow emanated from his palms.
My chest squeezed tight.
This wasn’t the giggling fool from yesterday’s ceremony. This was someone who cared deeply, who was trying to heal with his own magic. One who spoke encouragement to dying flowers with the same sincerity I’d heard in our diplomatic negotiations.
The unexpected tenderness in him brought out something warm and unwelcome in my chest. I wasn’t sure I liked feeling attraction for this serious, capable version of my husband. I couldn’t afford distractions like this. I needed to stay focused. I was here for the alliance, for the people depending on me, not for feelings.
