Page 3 of Her Ivory Flame

“Same day every year,” she replied.

She watched him grab two large chunks of meat and wrap them in a clean white cloth. Once wrapped he rolled another small patch of burlap around it and handed it to her.

“You are too pretty to rot away in this town my dear, maybe you should think of leaving with this male.” His smile fell and his eyesgave her a pleading look. “If not him, I have my handsome nephew that could be a good fit.”

“It’s not as easy as it seems, but thank you for the offer.” She grabbed the meat from him and tried to hand him the coins he was owed.

“Your money isn’t good here this year. Keep it.” He let a small smile resurface on his face but she could tell he was serious.

“Thank you Victor.” She leaned across the counter and gave him a light kiss on his cheek. “You are too good to me.”

“Only you my lady.” He winked and returned to his cutting table to help the people waiting in line next to her.

She turned and started towards her home, his words fumbling around in her mind. If it was easy, she thought, she would ask Silas to take her back with him and start a new life. She cared for the male, but there was too much of herself that was broken and it wasn’t fair to him right now.

She took a turn off the main path to avoid Thron again and listened to the birds around her as she walked the dirt path towards the woods, towards home.

Chapter 2

The venison steak sizzled on the skillet behind her while she cut up the potatoes and carrots from her garden. She had learned to grow her own food shortly after settling in this home, the large garden outside currently thriving in the spring climate.

Sometimes she would donate to the Charity Kitchen in the neighboring town a few miles the opposite of Helen, one without a large market or much money. They got hit harder by thieves than her village due to lack of any protection and it made her sick that she couldn’t do more.

She heard hooves on the compact road outside a few yards down from her house. She was expecting the sound of only one horse, but she could detect two sets approaching in unison.

She set down her kitchen knife and made her way to the door grabbing her bearded axe off the table just in case a randomstranger had wandered down her path. She could never be too careful.

Through the small window in her door she could see the horses come into view, but only one rider could be seen. It was Silas, accompanied by a second horse he was leading next to him.

She relaxed her shoulders and set the axe down before opening the door. Her eyes watching the red-haired Fae dismounting off his black horse, another grey one next to it. Both equines were dressed in Royal garments and a slight feeling of anxiety sparked in her.

She smiled when his eyes met hers, his lips curving into the same welcoming grin he gave her every year. Her legs moved towards him, gaining speed till she was in a run just a few steps away. He had just finished tying the horses before catching her in a tight hug, her head burrowing into the curve of his neck.

He was the only one she could let touch her, the only one she trusted enough to never harm her.

“Hello Alyra.” His voice soft as her real name rolled off his tongue.

“Silas,” she mumbled.

She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent of vanilla she loved so much. She remembered that smell from him carrying her out of the cell in Mavros’s dungeon, the smell of freedom that soaked all the way down to her bones.

She pulled away from him and kept her hands on his sides not wanting to let him go just yet.

“You look beautiful as always.” His yellow eyes scanning over her face, his finger grazing along her hairline scar before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“And you look handsome as ever.” She chuckled, her eyes looking over him slowly.

He had changed since last year, which was odd for him. His hair was not its usual shoulder length she was used to, now cut short just above his pointed ears. His tight leather under his armor showed off more muscles and his body was more lean now than she remembered. “Your new look suits you.”

“Yeah, I've been training a lot more than normal.” Hesitation lined his voice.

Her heart sank.

“The hair though, that was just for a change of scenery. Ladies seem to like it,” he said, his grin widening.

“I don’t know, I miss the long hair.” She smirked while finally removing her hands and took a step back. “But that could just be because I loved braiding it for you.” she teased.

“Never tell anyone I let you do that.” He laughed.