Page 95 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

It was too much and, somehow, not enough.

“I love you too,” I whispered, our foreheads pressed together.

Today was the day I bound myself to my husband, to this crown, yet somehow I’d never felt freer.

CHAPTER 52

Lor

Iheld my wife’s hand as we strolled through town. A woven basket full of bread hung at Aoife’s side, and we went from house to house, handing out loaves that Chefs Elowyn and Liam had made early this morning. The royal guard was preparing to defend our castle, and we were doing what we could to talk to our people, assure them that we would do everything we could to fight the brotherhood and keep Fairwitch Isle safe.

Despite being up most of the night, exploring each other’s bodies, I was wide awake, a combination of nerves and dread filling me.

I looked over at Aoife, who wore her leather trousers and sleeveless tunic. Her long hair hung down her back in a braid, and she looked every bit the warrior queen this morning, ready for battle. I wanted to hide her away in the castle, but of course, she’d never agree to that, and I couldn’t expect her to. She wanted to defend her people, her home, just like I did.

It was hard not knowing what to expect. I’d seen the brotherhood conquer and burn hundreds of cities. I’d seen firsthand the magic they had at their disposal. Fairwitch Isle was strong, our castle was strong, but I didn’t know if we could outmatch them after all these years.

It was a beautiful day, the sun high and bright in the sky, the air cool but not too cold. Winter would set upon us in a few months, but for now, we could enjoy the mountain weather, and yet, the mood in town was somber.

We knocked on a door, and it swung open to reveal Myrna, the owner of The Deerborn. I handed her a loaf from Aoife’s basket, and she accepted, the wrinkles on her face more pronounced as she frowned.

“Get to the castle as soon as you can,” I said. “Everyone will shelter there, and it will protect you while we fight off the brotherhood.”

Myrna nodded, eyeing us. “It’s nice to see you two working together instead of against each other. Finally.”

Aoife and I shot each other a look, and I would’ve given anything to have her back in my bed chamber again, naked with my cock buried inside of her.

Myrna closed the door, and we walked back out into the cobblestone road.

We walked around a fire pit, embers still glowing from the night before. Aoife stepped over an empty jug of wine that lay on its side.

“I think we did everything we could for our people,” Aoife said. “They’re ready to defend Fairwitch Isle, to defend their home.”

I hoped she was right. We’d need everyone to do this. The elderly and children would be in the castle, but every able bodied citizen who wanted to volunteer had an opportunity to, and almost everyone had. I didn’t fault anyone who didn’t want to fight. It was a personal decision, one every mortal and faerie had to make for themselves.

I didn’t know when the brotherhood were going to arrive, but Fargus had told me that the captain of the guard believed it would be today. Our scouts had spotted them a half a day’s a walk away last night. These might have been the last few normal hours we got together, and I didn’t want to talk about the brotherhood or our impending doom. I wanted to pretend like we would have a future together.

“So are you going to continue sleeping in your chamber?” I eyed her. “Or are you going to move into mine?”

Her head whipped in my direction, golden eyes wide.

“It’s your choice,” I said. “I meant what I told you all those weeks ago. I’ll sleep by your side every night in that closet if that’s what you want.”

“Maybe Castle can make us a new room,” she said, playing along with my game of pretend. “I hate being so close to Fairwitch’s bed chamber.”

I kicked aside a stray burnt log as we wound around the bend in the cobblestone road as we approached another door.

“I hate that every part of your home reminds you of your past,” I said. “I wish we could do something, change something . . .” I trailed off.

“What?” she asked. “I see that look. You’ve got an idea.”

“Why don’t we just ask Castle to change its form? It’s always adding new rooms, taking rooms away, shifting. Surely it can become something entirely new.”

“That seems extreme,” Aoife said. “It’s going to confuse people.”

Aoife knocked on the wooden door of a bright blue building that housed our butcher. It swung open, and she handed him a loaf of bread.

I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “If you’re planning to fight, meet in the courtyard at the first bell. If not, get to the castle as soon as possible.”