Page 41 of How to Claim A Shadow King

"I have a way with horses myself," Druze says, patting the horse's huge head. "Does he have a name?"

"Not yet," Aveline says, her expression falling slightly at the question.

"Well, go on now, you two," he says, taking the horse's lead. "I can hear your stomach grumbling from here," he calls over his shoulder as he leads the horse around the back of the building.

Ter takes off with a huge flap of his wings, following the dryad and the horse.

Aveline lets go of my hand and gathers her skirts, before brushing past me to open the carved door to Longleaf Brews.

I’d rather have held the door for her, but I’d follow her anywhere.

16

AVELINE

The interior of Longleaf Brews delivers on everything the Wild Oak Woods has promised. A myriad of species—magical and human—mix and mingle under the wooden beams that stretch from one wall to another. The air is warm and spiced with the scent of herbs and tea, and the entire place feels as though I've stepped into a late summer day.

A huge wooden counter lines the back wall of the shop, and several rooms pinwheel off the main room.

"I'm Lila," a sweet voice says. "I'm so happy to finally meet you, Aveline. Or should I call you 'my Lady'?"

"You're Fae. Seelie," Malakai says at once, a slight growl to the words that immediately has me on edge and annoyed all over again.

"Enough of that," I snap at him. "Leave Lila alone." I turn back to Lila, who wears an apprehensive expression, and I can't blame her. "Please call me Aveline. This is Malakai." I throw a hand up towards Malakai's face, nearly brushing his cheek with the careless gesture, and I couldn't care less. "Your husband told us that there was a table here for us. We'd love to sit and eat."

No sooner have I uttered the words than my stomach makes another horrible noise. I grimace at Lila. "I'm so sorry."

Lila looks completely taken aback, either by Malakai's rudeness or the fact that my stomach is loudly protesting the lack of food. "Is there somewhere in particular you'd want to sit? We're actually not full up, so you can have your pick of tables. Somewhere pretty?"

I cast a glance back at Malakai. "Private," I say in a lower voice, irritation rising all over again.

She beams at me. "I think I have the perfect place for you. Come on, come on," she says. "Follow me." As if I would do anything else.

"It smells incredible in here. Your restaurant is stunning," I compliment her, and she beams at me from over one shoulder as she leads us into one of the many rooms.

Live flowers hang from great wooden beams along with green vines that trail across every wall and surface. Little fireflies bounce around the ceiling, providing soft ambient light.

"There's a table just past here," she says, and my eyes widen at the sight of a real tree trunk hiding a small booth. Magical orbs float lazily in the space above the table and a few candles flicker. It's slightly more romantic than I would have liked, considering how irritated I am with Malakai, but I can't deny that it's adorable. "This will be perfect. Thank you so much, Lila. I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to sit down and rest."

"It's my pleasure, Lady Aveline," Lila says, blushing furiously.

"Just Aveline.” I don’t want to be a duchess ever again, I decide. I don’t want anything to do with Stormspire, not when they so readily sent me away.

My heart aches with sudden pain, and a shadow crawls over my hand, a cool touch.

"All right then," Lila says, smiling wide. "What can I start you off with to drink?"

A vine unfurls onto the table, unrolling a bone-colored parchment with perfect, neat writing. Lila looks fondly at the vine, which rolls itself back off the tabletop, but not before gently touching a strand of my hair. I don't quite know what to say to that, so I don't say anything at all. I just blink at the menu in front of me, trying to steady myself.

"You're not used to magic, are you?" she asks me, not unkindly.

I can see why she and Druze make such a nice match. They both seem to be as kind a couple as I've ever met.

Or maybe, I think sadly, I'm just unused to kindness.

My throat tightens a little, and I try to banish the thought of my stepfather and my mother from my mind. Malakai is watching me carefully, though, so I make myself sit up straight and smile through watery eyes at her.

"I'm not. I'm not used to magic at all," I finally answer, though it’s a few seconds too long since she asked. "Though I have to say, I very much like the kind of magic you're using here."