Fragile Eternity
Page 44
Her breath and his mingled into a hiss of steam. I dont want only part of you during the few years I have you.
He tucked an orchid in her hair. It shouldnt thrive here, but it did. Im not giving up on us or on peace between our courts. I love you. Im done pushing Aislinn. The strength of Summers made me stupid. She wants to be with Seth, and as long as she is, I can have more time with you. Id have forever with you if it were my choice. He kissed her gently. I dont love her. She and I talked already.
Donia looked away. I pushed her toward you. I just made a mistake when I let myself think that youd be mine for a few yearsshes your match. Im not.
Maybe someday, but right nowI was carried away by the first summer. Its a heady thing, but I can redirect that energy. Let me have the dream of us for as long as we can. Thats what the court needsa happy king, a king who cant stop dreaming of being lost in someone who wants to be just as lost. Tell me youll let me get lost in you.
She gave in.I always do.
I will. She pulled him closer. They were mud-caked and as tangled up as they could be without hurting each other. But that means that until hes gone, youre mine only. I dont want to see you here with her.
Or meddling in your court. I know. Your court, your rules. No meddling or manipulation. He gave a wry grin at the surprised expression she wore. Iwas listening, Don. Ill apologize to Evan, follow your rulesand youll stop stabbing members of my court?
She smiled. For now.
Ill settle for it, he whispered against her lips. For now.
Even if you are mine, even if this thing with Ash is not between us, I still need you to understand that I am not your subject. You cannot try to influence my court. She needed that made clear. It wasnt simply his relationship with his queen that was the problem. There were two issues before them.
I loved you when you were a mortal. I loved you when you were the Winter Girl who existed to oppose me, telling tales of how awful it was to trust me. He sprinkled kisses over her throat and collarbone between words. Im not here now because you are the Winter Queen, but despite that, Ill do my best. And when I slip
I wont show you any mercy just because I love you. She meant it and was grateful that faeries couldnt lie because for the first time in longer than she wanted to recall, they were being completely open with each other. But I will try to keep my heartbreak from making me vengeful when Seth dies and you
He stopped her with a kiss, and then whispered, Can we not talk about the end of us? Were at the beginning today. Im yours. Wholly without reservation. I wont try to interfere with your court. Can you kiss me now?
She smiled. I can do that.
It wasnt like any other kiss theyd shared. It wasnt about trying to consume each other, or comfort, or tinged with sorrow. It was slow and carefuland over far too soon.
He leaned against the tree and stared at her with the love shed dreamed of forever written plainly on his face. In a few months, Ill be able to spend several days in your arms, but right nowhe carefully stepped farther awayIve reached the edge of my self-controlwhich Imadmitting . You see? We can do this. We can be together.
On Solsticeshe let a tiny shower of snow fall over themthere wont be any stepping away.
Solstice cant come soon enough. He darted forward and kissed a snowflake from her lips, and then he was gone.
Hes a fool.She smiled to herself.Hes myfool, though. For now. Eventually, hed be in Aislinns armsthat,Donia was near certain of. When Seth was gone, Donia would need to let go of Keenan. It might mean moving away from Huntsdale for a few decades when that happened, but until then, she had reason to hope.
Maybe Bananachs visions of war were wrong. She and Keenan had only needed to move forward. Wars visionslike Sorchas reputed far-seeingwere about probabilities, not certainties.
And those probabilities just changed.
Chapter 17
Aislinn woke by midday. She was alone in Keenans room. Her clothes were laid out on an ottoman that someone had brought to sit beside the bed. A tray with breakfast foods sat on the bedside table. Before she dealt with food or dressing, though, she called Sethtwicebut he didnt pick up.
She called Keenan.
How are you? were his first words. He sounded calm, friendly, like nothing had happened.
She sighed in relief. Better. Im better.
Theres foodhis voice was tentative thenbeside the bed. I had them bring new trays every half hour so itd be warm for you.
I could warm it. Sunlight, remember? She felt relieved that they were able to talk, that they could feel comfortable with each other. Where are you?
The orchards outside the city. Its beautiful here. Theyre healthy now.
So youre there because?
I just wanted to give them a little extra attention. Check on them. Warm currents thrummed in his voice. He rarely sounded so at peace.
The depth of his joy at seeing the earth thrive again wasnt something she could quite reach, but she shared it to a lesser degree. Shed known less than two decades of bitter cold; hed known centuries of itand had felt responsible for not being able to end it. The truth of that was epiphanic. Thats where you go when Im in school, isnt it?
To the orchard? Not always. His tone grew evasive.
But other places like it. She uncovered her plate. It wasnt cold, but it wasnt steaming hot either. She let a little heat into her fingertips and warmed the plate and its contents.
Yes.
He tucked an orchid in her hair. It shouldnt thrive here, but it did. Im not giving up on us or on peace between our courts. I love you. Im done pushing Aislinn. The strength of Summers made me stupid. She wants to be with Seth, and as long as she is, I can have more time with you. Id have forever with you if it were my choice. He kissed her gently. I dont love her. She and I talked already.
Donia looked away. I pushed her toward you. I just made a mistake when I let myself think that youd be mine for a few yearsshes your match. Im not.
Maybe someday, but right nowI was carried away by the first summer. Its a heady thing, but I can redirect that energy. Let me have the dream of us for as long as we can. Thats what the court needsa happy king, a king who cant stop dreaming of being lost in someone who wants to be just as lost. Tell me youll let me get lost in you.
She gave in.I always do.
I will. She pulled him closer. They were mud-caked and as tangled up as they could be without hurting each other. But that means that until hes gone, youre mine only. I dont want to see you here with her.
Or meddling in your court. I know. Your court, your rules. No meddling or manipulation. He gave a wry grin at the surprised expression she wore. Iwas listening, Don. Ill apologize to Evan, follow your rulesand youll stop stabbing members of my court?
She smiled. For now.
Ill settle for it, he whispered against her lips. For now.
Even if you are mine, even if this thing with Ash is not between us, I still need you to understand that I am not your subject. You cannot try to influence my court. She needed that made clear. It wasnt simply his relationship with his queen that was the problem. There were two issues before them.
I loved you when you were a mortal. I loved you when you were the Winter Girl who existed to oppose me, telling tales of how awful it was to trust me. He sprinkled kisses over her throat and collarbone between words. Im not here now because you are the Winter Queen, but despite that, Ill do my best. And when I slip
I wont show you any mercy just because I love you. She meant it and was grateful that faeries couldnt lie because for the first time in longer than she wanted to recall, they were being completely open with each other. But I will try to keep my heartbreak from making me vengeful when Seth dies and you
He stopped her with a kiss, and then whispered, Can we not talk about the end of us? Were at the beginning today. Im yours. Wholly without reservation. I wont try to interfere with your court. Can you kiss me now?
She smiled. I can do that.
It wasnt like any other kiss theyd shared. It wasnt about trying to consume each other, or comfort, or tinged with sorrow. It was slow and carefuland over far too soon.
He leaned against the tree and stared at her with the love shed dreamed of forever written plainly on his face. In a few months, Ill be able to spend several days in your arms, but right nowhe carefully stepped farther awayIve reached the edge of my self-controlwhich Imadmitting . You see? We can do this. We can be together.
On Solsticeshe let a tiny shower of snow fall over themthere wont be any stepping away.
Solstice cant come soon enough. He darted forward and kissed a snowflake from her lips, and then he was gone.
Hes a fool.She smiled to herself.Hes myfool, though. For now. Eventually, hed be in Aislinns armsthat,Donia was near certain of. When Seth was gone, Donia would need to let go of Keenan. It might mean moving away from Huntsdale for a few decades when that happened, but until then, she had reason to hope.
Maybe Bananachs visions of war were wrong. She and Keenan had only needed to move forward. Wars visionslike Sorchas reputed far-seeingwere about probabilities, not certainties.
And those probabilities just changed.
Chapter 17
Aislinn woke by midday. She was alone in Keenans room. Her clothes were laid out on an ottoman that someone had brought to sit beside the bed. A tray with breakfast foods sat on the bedside table. Before she dealt with food or dressing, though, she called Sethtwicebut he didnt pick up.
She called Keenan.
How are you? were his first words. He sounded calm, friendly, like nothing had happened.
She sighed in relief. Better. Im better.
Theres foodhis voice was tentative thenbeside the bed. I had them bring new trays every half hour so itd be warm for you.
I could warm it. Sunlight, remember? She felt relieved that they were able to talk, that they could feel comfortable with each other. Where are you?
The orchards outside the city. Its beautiful here. Theyre healthy now.
So youre there because?
I just wanted to give them a little extra attention. Check on them. Warm currents thrummed in his voice. He rarely sounded so at peace.
The depth of his joy at seeing the earth thrive again wasnt something she could quite reach, but she shared it to a lesser degree. Shed known less than two decades of bitter cold; hed known centuries of itand had felt responsible for not being able to end it. The truth of that was epiphanic. Thats where you go when Im in school, isnt it?
To the orchard? Not always. His tone grew evasive.
But other places like it. She uncovered her plate. It wasnt cold, but it wasnt steaming hot either. She let a little heat into her fingertips and warmed the plate and its contents.
Yes.
