“What does that mean? You don’t want to…” She immediately trails off. I thrash my head back and forth and rush to explain.
“That’s not it, don’t even think like that. That contract was like the equivalent of a marriage and at the last second, my stupid emotions surfaced and I may or may not have thought about that fact I didn’t want to do this without my stupid triplets.”
I really want to lick the wrinkles that form on her forehead.
“Let me get this straight. You were just trying to marry me but then felt bad ’cause your brothers weren’t here to witness it or marry me as well?”
“Well, I guess I’m fine with them marrying you too. I kind of just wanted them to be here, though.”
She attempts to choke down her snort, but that fails and she falls right into a fit of laughter.
“You fucking psycho.” She carries on while I cross my arms and sneer at her. “Why don’t you just ask like a normal damn person?”
Where’s the fun in that?
Also, I don’t miss the fact that she isn’t denying my proposal.
She’s stuck with me forever anyways, so it doesn’t matter. But I want it official.
“Whatever, you little cackling Binder. Just remember, you already agreed.”
I push myself up to my feet, pulling her with me as I stand. She continues to fall into my side, allowing me to carry her weight since her laughing apparently hinders her ability to walk on her own.
Granted, having her so close to me drives me wild in the best kind of way.
“Enough of that. We’re here.”
She straightens herself out and stares ahead at the path we’ve got to go down.
“Holy shit. I completely forgot we were actually out here for something.”
“Good to know my role means so little to you. Which means it doesn’t need explaining.”
“Yeah, nice try, but that won’t work. You’ve kept me distracted, is all.”
I roll my eyes and pout. That pleases her to no end.
She’s bubbly with excitement as we make our way down the beaten path. I suck up her emotions, then will them to seep into my soul as a wash of vulnerability that I despise creeps up.
“Riven, if you really don’t want to explain this to me, you don’t have to.”
“Meddling goddess. Get off my soul.”
“Nope.”
I swear that’s a whole sentence with the tone she uses.
I don’t say anything as we approach a dry and dusty field. The wilting trees spread throughout the orchard should hum with life. Instead, the branches droop like tired, heavy arms and the brittle leaves curl like parchment.
“Oh,” she says low as she takes a small step ahead of me.
Our gazes roam over the rows of struggling trees.
“They’re dying. I’ve never seen an orchard just…die. I didn’t even know that was possible. Especially not here in the land of power.”
I smirk at her little dig she had to get in.
“Not dying. Just sleeping.”
