AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The children who come to Castle Riagin. This is where they live, and no,” he said, meeting my eyes, “not as slaves. They are free and safe here. They have three full meals a day, their lessons in the morning, and then they run around like hellions in the afternoon.”
I sat back, taking it in. “Are you telling me that you care for these children? And the fox boy?” I cried. “After all that bullpie about our castle not being an orphanage? Why would you lie to me?”
“I did what I must. That morning in the throne room, I was testing you.”
“Testing me?!”
Alisdair gave me the same hard look. “Yes. I told you I had spy reports on you. They all said you were harsh, prejudiced, and unforgiving. You cared not for anyone below your station. Worse, you treat them likebullpiestuck to your slippers.
“I won’t entrust my people to someone who sees a hungry, desperate child, and pulls out a sword to chop off their hand.”
I sputtered. “But that was your idea! I chose mercy from the start. You were the one spouting mad, crazed nonsense.”
“And you didn’t back down,” he shot back. “You physically stood between me and Foalan to protect a boy you didn’t know. You even kept searching for him to make certain he was safe.
“I won’t lie, you quite endeared yourself to me through those actions. I bedded you twice as hard that night in reward.”
I fell back, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable. Only you could lie and manipulate me, and then act as though it was a reasonable thing to do.”
“It was reasonable. Talk is pointless. Action is all,” he said. “To know the true you, I had to see what you do, not bother about what you or otherssay.”
Rubbing my temples, I let it go. Arguing with Alisdair on if he was right or wrong would go nowhere, especially since I understood his reasoning. The true Emiana would’ve been a terrible ruler of faeriken. If she’d been put through that test, she’d have sharpened the sword herself. She cared not a whit about the troubles of a hungry little orphaned child.
“Why do this, though? Why keep them hidden away and separate?”
“It’s for their sake,” he said, gesturing with his chin. “You know how our people behave when the day’s work is done. That’s not for a child’s eyes.”
I did think of the many orgies taking place everywhere and every night. “That cannot be argued with,” I muttered. Finally, I relaxed—gazing upon the happy children with a smile. “How did they come to be here?”
Alisdair relaxed too. The smile he gave me did funny things to my stomach. “The usual unfortunate ways. Either their parents passed away or abandoned them. But they aren’t commonly dragged in by irate jam-sellers. My soldiers know to bring every lost child they come across here.” He nodded firmly. “Where they can be safe and cared for.”
“But, Alisdair, I don’t understand. Why in the name of Meya did you tell me I should stop looking for the boy, because if I discovered what you did to him, it would forever change my opinion of you?”
He trapped my gaze, a smirk stretching his lips. “Well... hasn’t it?”
I swallowed hard, pulse picking up. By the All Mother, yes. My opinion had changed. That morning, when Alisdair sentenced that boy to slavery, I thought him the lowest form of slithering worm. Even as we got to know each other, and our nighttime activities became more fun and frequent, what he’d done to that fox boy was always at the back of my mind—reminding me that I couldn’t fall in love with him.
Because Shadowsoul was a monster.
But looking at him then, I was thinking other things. About how sweet he would have been to Meli when she was little. About how sweet he would be to our children from the moment they were born.
Alisdair wasn’t the kind of beast who abandons. He was the one who stayed, who protected, who cared when everyone else forgot to.
He was the beast I loved.
I stood up. “Well, well, well,” I sang. “This looks like a fun game, but it’s missing something.”
The fox boy skidded to a stop. “What?”
“A tickle monster!” Roaring, I chased the kids shrieking around the courtyard—tickling breathless whoever I caught.
Everyone laughed, but no one as loud as Alisdair.
THAT NIGHT, WE WEREback in our bedroom, and I was finally tending to his bandages.
“Although, it doesn’t look like I need to,” I said, examining the closed and healing scars. “You’re healing better without my fussing.”
“Don’t say that.” Alisdair sat up in bed, reclining against the pillows while I unwrapped each bandage; checked his healing,pink scars; and rewrapped the wounds that needed more time. “Your fussing brought me back. I heard you when I was in the Meadows. Something or someone wanted me to stay, but you wanted me here.
