AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Warm, misty spray washed over me—delighting my skin as it did the thirsty plants. Lettuce, peas, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, carrots, and herbs. Strawberries, blueberries, melons, cucumbers, and figs. I named all the plants and fruits I recognized, then jumped up and down, clapping to see even more that I didn’t.
The greenhouse was incredible. So big, my gleeful cries echoed against the cavernous ceiling. I walked the rows of the plant stands, stretching my arms out wide, and just barely brushing their leaves from fingertips to fingertips.
“Alisdair, what is this? It’s amazing!”
“I told you everyone in Lumenfell must be self-sufficient.” He plucked a ripe, juicy strawberry and tossed it to me. I took a bite and moaned. “Castle Riagin is no different. This is the greenhouse that feeds our table. I thought you might like it to be your greenhouse—”
“Yes.” I knew culture dictated that I hemmed, hawed, and demurred before accepting a large gift. We were supposed to go back and forth with me saying that Icouldn’t possibly accept.“Fuck that. I want it. I want it so much, Alisdair, it’s perfect. It’s the best gift anyone has ever given me!”
I ran to him, arms out—then abruptly remembered I couldn’t go around throwing myself on men who were only days out of their sickbed.
Chuckling, Alisdair came the rest of the way, tugged me off my feet, and buried me in his arms. I melted against him—bursting with so much love for him I couldn’t breathe for wanting to shower him in it.
I hadn’t told him I loved him since that night I held him dying in the snow. It wasn’t possible he heard me, and with each day that passed with me not saying it again, the words hung heavier around my heart.
Alisdair asked me to stay, but I didn’t know what that meant for us. For me. As much as I wanted to go home to my family, it was Emiana, not me, who would walk through their door. It was also Emiana who would walk right out and return to Lumenfell.
I knew this because over the last few weeks during the times she’d taken me over, she was nothing but pleased thatIfixed things with Alisdair, and nowshewould get her war. If anyone could’ve wanted to be high empress of Elva more than Constance, it was Princess fucking Emiana of Lyrica.
She wanted to stay here so that Alisdair, and his spies, and his army could give her everything she desired. I wished to staybecause Alisdair was everything I desired. But only time, and not very much time at that, would tell who would get their wish.
All I knew was that the war plans were already in motion. And Alisdair still hadn’t told me he loved me, and he didn’t know my true name.
I slid out of his arms, dropping back down on the floor. “I love my gift,” I said, forcing my mind away from my thoughts. “But I will need help if I’m to feed an entire castle.”
He chuckled. “You will have it. This area is your domain. Request all the help you need.”
Smiling, I curled my arm through his, resting my head on his shoulder. “Will you show me around? Tell me what some of these plants are?”
Alisdair did just that—giving me the tour and introducing me to the foods they nurtured to thrive in their cold, barren home.
“And in here”—we passed through a small door into another enclosed section of the greenhouse—“is where we grow the tropical flowers. You needn’t continue scratching away at the ground outside. Grow your flowers here.”
I poked his side. “I quite like what my scratching away has produced, but yes, I can do so much more in here.” I tossed my head, mind blown. “We have to introduce Lumenfell’s greenhouse system to all of Elva. Especially the magics used to keep plants growing in the wrong climate happy. This would feed so many struggling families.”
“These systems and magics used to come natural for us,” he replied. “Before we built cities and kingdoms in envy of humans, we lived simple lives in the forest where we grew and traded what we needed, instead of hoarding what we don’t. We’ve lost much in our pursuit of power and wealth. I can’t say if we’ll ever truly get it back.”
We passed by a collection of brilliant red roses, and I instantly flashed to that horrid, life-sucking thing in the tower.
“What is it?” Alisdair asked, feeling me stiffen against him. “Something not to your liking?”
“What—? No,” I cried. “Everything’s perfect, it’s just... Alisdair, are things truly different between us now? If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth?”
He frowned down at me. “I have always told you the truth.”
“You told me you were born with a full set of teeth.”
“One is allowed to flex the truth when blowjobs are involved.”
“That is not a rule anywhere,” I replied with a giggle, then I sobered. “Seriously, Alisdair. It’s about that rose you have locked away in the tower. What is it? Why is it so...?” I shuddered, not able to go on. “Will you tell me?”
Lifting his head, he nodded. “I will. Honestly, I’m surprised you waited this long to ask me. I’ve been expecting this question for a while, and— What did you say it looked like to you?”
Looked like to me?
“It’s a rose. A thorny rose encased in glass.”
“A thorny rose,” he repeated, gaze drifting off. “Beautiful but dangerous. Like you. Of course that’s what you see.”
