Maddox has been forthright about what he wants; I’m the one holding back for fear of being abandoned.
Maddox isn’t like Nolan or Jonathan or any of the other men I’ve been with.
All that’s left is to make it official.
An Unseelie courtship begins when a gift of sustenance is offered. I need to find us food.
Unfortunately, I don’t see any berry bushes close by, and I know better than to venture past the village for fear of meeting a wolf on my own.
The river. I’ll catch us a fish.
I’ve watched Maddox fish for our meals over the last few days. It didn’t look that difficult. I’m an intelligent woman; surely I’ll be able to figure this out.
My stomach roils at the thought of eating another trout, but it’s clear no one else here is going to offer me sustenance. I need to do this myself.
I grab what looks like a small spear and make my way down the steep bank to the shore.
The water moves swiftly over the stones, but there are a few eddies behind the larger rocks where I might be able to find purchase.
After tying the skirt I was given yesterday between my knees, I wade into the frigid water, doing my best not to slip on the algae-covered rocks lining the riverbed. My knowledge of fish might be limited, but if I were one of them, this is the spot I would choose to hide.
Hopefully, this won’t take long.
I have an Unseelie to feed.
I hate fishing. Not only is it boring, but also catching one is nearly impossible.
From this angle, the fish are the exact same color as the bloody stones. By the time I see one and adjust my hold on the spear, the damn thing has darted off.
At this rate, I’ll be here all day. Maddox is going to wake up starving, and he’ll have a whole horde of women offering him food that’s been cooked and prepared, and I can’t even find a fish.
If only we were in Rosehill. I could bake him a giant pie.
But we’re not in Rosehill. Not yet.
If I don’t catch something soon, we might not have time to make the trek today. Another night wouldn’t be so bad; the mattress was comfortable enough, and sleeping with Maddox wrapped around me is heaven. But every moment we’re here is one more moment he might change his mind.
Look at all his options. Why would any man want to settle with just one woman when he could literally have a whole harem?
Something moves beneath the water, right by my feet.
I jab the spear into the river and?—
Empty.
Bollocks.
Every curse word I know climbs my throat. Maybe I should’ve grabbed one of the nets instead. Too late now. I’m here and I’m ready to kill something. Perhaps I’ll see Raven and use her for target practice.
The thought has me chuckling.
Looks like I have a new nemesis.
Two Unseelie walk toward the river, spears in hand. If they come in, they’re liable to scare away the fish or steal them all before I even have a chance.
I want Maddox to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m choosing him. That his customs are important to me and I want to keep them.
Something white flashes by my left ankle.
