I yelp as he relaxes his arms long enough to let me slip a few inches closer to the ground. “You are such a bastard,” I hiss, clinging to his chest.
Altair chuckles low, adjusting his grip. His hand grazes my ass and my breath hitches in my throat. “If that’s what I have to be for the pleasure of feeling you in my arms,” he purrs. I go stiff, a blush creeping to my cheeks. “Do you know it’s been weeks since I last held you close?”
“No,” I stammer. I’ve kept Altair at a distance since the night I broke his curse.
“Liar,” he murmurs. “Let me hold you like this.”
We fall silent as he strides out of the library. I relax into his arms as he sweeps out the main door and down the castle steps to the awaiting carriage. I bite my lip as he sets me down gently in front of the door. I climb onto the first step, hands on the door frame to hoist myself in. I can feel Altair’s eyes on me and it sends a thrill coursing through me.
There’s a loud clatter and I turn instinctively to find the source of the noise. My heart beats out of time in my chest as I make eye contact with a Fae gardener. His eyes are a deep brown, black from a distance, and his skin is pale like ivory. He’s tall, with a lithe figure. His lips are quirked into a wicked smile as I meet his gaze. He turns away to pick up his fallen tools and I can’t help but stare at his lean muscles. It feels as if time itself has frozen in that instant, everything falls away except the gardener’s eyes.
Behind me, Altair gently nudges one of my hands free, as if to assist me. I blink, drawing my gaze away from the beautiful Fae. With Altair’s help, I clamber into the carriage and settle in the corner. The cushions of the carriage seats are a plush, red velvet with gold trim. He slams the door as he sits. The carriage is large enough to fit Altair’s large frame and then some.
We trundle away from the palace as I quell the excitement in my chest. Altair smiles at me from across the carriage; a patient, hopeful smile. I meet his gaze, chewing on my bottom lip. I’m not used to the thoughtful and kind version of Altair that he’s projecting today. I turn away, pretending to stare at the palace grounds as we approach the gates. I imagine I see the gardener again, this time in the shade of a mulberry tree. I drag my gaze away from the tricky shadows and peek at Altair from behind a sheet of my brown hair.
He seems so at relaxed now that the curse is broken, and his country is his again. He’s fallen back into his duties without any trouble, and I know it makes him happy to be working again. Be stagnant for so long should have driven him mad. He lounges back in the chair, comfortable in the silence between us. I should be happy for him. But my own questions and doubts are always lingering in the back of my mind, like a cobweb in the corner.
Chapter 2
Altair
Verity is warm in my arms as I carry through the castle halls. Her petite frame has grown even lighter in the past weeks since she’s been injured. I hide a frown, wondering if she’s eating well enough. I should be eating with her and spending more time with her, but my duties as King keep me away for most hours of the day.
I hold her a little closer, wishing again that she hadn’t jumped in front of the blade for me. It shocked me then, and I still haven’t been able to fully understand why she did it. Verity and I keep each other at arm’s length despite what we’ve been through together. The only thing that brings me hope that she might feel as strongly for me as I do for her is that she sacrificed herself for me. She’s settled in my arms, but her lips are twisted into an expression of discomfort. I suppose after losing so much precious time to be with her, it’s only natural that we’ve lost the familiarity between us.
I don’t know that I would even kiss her the way I used to. My heart clenches in my chest. Verity is to be my wife. I can’t let this distance continue. It’s too much already, a small rift between us where we should only be knitted closer together. She peeks up at me with her pale blue eyes and I grin at her. I’ll pretend I’m not worried. I’ll pretend that we’re alright.
Outside, the sun is still high in the sky. It warms my skin and I smile more broadly. Only a few weeks ago, I hadn’t felt the sun on my bare skin in a thousand years. I missed its warm glow. No one could possibly understand just how much I cherish being in my Fae form in broad daylight now. It’s a gift.
The carriage is waiting outside and I set Verity in front of it gently. She pauses and stares into the distance, her hands on the doorframe. I trail a finger down her back and follow her gaze. There’s a gardener collecting some fallen tools. He and Verity lock eyes before he glances sharply at me. I curl my lip at him on reflex, my more territorial Fae nature revealing itself. I nudge Verity forward, drawing her attention away from the handsome gardener. She moves sluggishly, as if waking from a dream.
I follow her into the carriage and draw the curtains on my side so the gardener is hidden from view. But Verity seems to have forgotten about him now; she stares out her own window at the familiar gardens.
I watch her carefully
