AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I glanced down at the ring on my finger, the smithy seemed to realize what had happened. Perhaps he’d even seenhis son forge it at their kiln because then he’d asked, “Did Dellyn give that to you?”
I was frozen, not knowing what to say, because his voice was harsh, angry, and obviously disapproving. Then Dellyn entered the room, and his father commanded darkly, “Whatever game you’re playing, son, you best end it.Now.”
That was when Dellyn took me outside, not angry with me but frustrated that I’d come to see him, to thank him. Because I was a green girl when it came to relationships with males, I’d asked him if he was courting me to be his wife.
Dellyn had flushed red and shook his head. “Not to be my wife. You know I could never take you as a wife. But I would be a good and kind lover to you, Murgha.”
The way he’d offered to be my lover, like it was a gift, and then told me I could never be his wife, like the idea was preposterous, still tore me up inside to this day. That was when I realized I was a loathsome creature as a half-breed, an unwanted child born of a deceiving wife who cuckolded her husband. Perhaps they thought my mother’s blood had tainted me to be the same sort of female. An unfaithful one. A female only good enough to warm their beds but never to let into their hearts.
I’d handed him his ring and walked back to the inn with my head lifted and tears streaming down my cheeks. I’d never needed Tessa more than that moment.
But that day had taught me a fine lesson. That no matter what other males thought of me and the blood coursing through my half-breed veins, I was an honorable fae, and I would be a loyal wife if I ever found a male worthy of my love. So I guarded the one thing I could offer a true husband more preciously. I’d vowed not to give my virtue to any man but my husband.
Tessa had thought me silly since she’d had a few lovers and told me it was fun and pleasurable. But Tessa was a pure-bloodwood fae. And men didn’t look at her the way they did me. She couldn’t understand why I was so wary of men.
So the shadow fae standing before me, giving my appearance a thorough and approving perusal, could look all his fill. Even if his heated gaze made warmth bloom beneath my skin with desire, I would not give him what he wanted.
“You know lots of small fae females you can snatch nice clothing from?” I asked.
That seemed to snap him out of his stupor. He settled back on his side of the coal-fire and turned the rabbit on its spit. The heat from the blue coal seemed to be cooking it quicker than a natural flame.
“I know a wraith fae female who lives in the Borderlands close by. She sold me the clothes.”
“And you caught a hare as well in that short time? You’re quite an efficient male.”
His brow puckered uncomfortably, and a swath of pink climbed his neck. Was he actually blushing?
“She had been hunting so I bought the rabbit from her as well.” He found my gaze across the coal-fire when I sat back down, cross-legged. “I thought you’d be hungry.”
I was, but I had more important things to tend to than my stomach.
“Your name is Vallon.” I nodded to the sleeping wood sprite. “Gwenda told me. What’s your full name?”
His pause was brief then, “I am Lord Vallon of House Hennawyn, high priest of Gadlizel.”
There was pride in his voice as he stated his name. As there should be. I knew by the four horns curling out of his head that he was a noble-born dark fae. And by the gold rings decorating them, I was aware he had high status.
Even so, hearing him say it made me understand why this shadow fae carried himself with such confidence and importance. He should be confident. Because he was important.
“And why has a high priest noble kidnapped a common-born wood fae?”
His gaze was sharp and assessing. This was the warrior I’d seen walk through Papa’s tavern door.
Fierce yet cool, he held my gaze as he told me with unwavering certainty, “It was my father’s dying wish. As well as yours.”
Chapter
Seven
VALLON
Her violet eyes rounded in surprise, but she didn’t say a word. What I had to tell her would come as a shock, and it would hurt her deeply. It was a sad story, and it was hers. I had to tell her for her to trust me at all.
“My father,” I began, “loved to hunt. Have you heard of the black-horned mountain deer?”
She remained quiet but shook her head.
“It’s a giant of a beast. Some grow as big as Pallasian stallions.” And those horses could grow twice as tall as a dark fae. “They live high in the snow-capped mountains. And though we can easily fly up to hunt them there, it’s rather difficult to carry them down the mountain. So we hunt them in the spring when they come lower for fresh grass.”
