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Chapter Seventeen
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The night was a restless one, filled with Aien’s moans, and the spice of spell-component scented sweat as his body worked through the magic of Isyl’s potion. There was little that I could do but make him drink in order to replace the fluids that he lost and wipe the cloth over his face and chest in an effort to keep him cool and comfortable.I found that I could distract him from it with my hands, my mouth, and my body on his, confusing his senses with a combination of pleasure and pain. In the morning I awoke, therefore, bare, and in a tangle of sheets stained with tides of sweat and passion. Aien lay on his back, his face turned my way, the light that crept through a kink in the curtains picking out that faint silver-white scar that ran down his cheek, and his arm propped upon cushions.He was beautiful in the soft morning light, and I lay for a long time, as he slept, lulled by the rhythm of his breath, and watching the sunlight creep over his skin. He was exhausted from the night,
The Villain's Hero Chapter Nineteen
There was a natural flow of people from the main hall out into the courtyard and I shivered in the cold of the air, my dress not up to holding off the lingering chill of the fading winter. Rue started to take off his surcoat for me, but Aien placed his coat around me first. Rue shrugged, sliding me the shadow of a smile before pushing his way into the crowd. Aien’s arm rested on my back, using his greater size to protect me in the movement of eager courtiers. It was a breathless crush until we passed out from under the balcony and the crowd spread out. The courtyard was already busy with people. Every servant and guard within the castle it seemed, from the lowest rat catcher through to the captain of the guard had gathered to gawk at the frozen monsters. The wagons that had been used to bring them to Nerith had to have been specially made, as the monsters were massive in scale, easily as big as my father and siblings in dragon form. That was not something that I had realized before
The Villain's Hero Chapter Twenty
Aien did not want to talk to me and actively avoided doing so, locking his door each night, and either leaving in the morning before me or, when I tried to out-rise him, stubbornly refusing to leave his room until I was forced away by my own embarrassment at being caught by the servants scratching at his door like the distraught rejected lover that I was.He did, however, spend a lot of time in the training courtyard, practicing his sword skills with anyone who shared the grounds with him, attending classes although he did not need to do so as he was meant to be preparing for the campaign, and I even saw him attempt the gauntlet several times. If he saw me, he would turn the other way, and I wasn’t sure what was worse, the pain in my heart at his rejection, or the embarrassment that surely everyone had noticed.I concentrated on preparations for the campaign in order to distract myself and make his abandonment of me less noticeable. There was much to do, I found. Not only were there n
The Villain's Hero Chapter Twenty-One
“In this…” Daerton said anxiously to me.All around us in the grey dawn light, those joining the campaign hurriedly added their last belongings to the wagon caravan, whilst the knights and their squires adjusted their saddlebags and weaponry. I saw Aien, the hood of his cloak pulled up around his face, cross the courtyard to the wagon behind mine, throwing a bundle of clothing into the back before climbing onto the seat next to the driver. They talked casually as they waited, and I saw Aien offer the driver sunflower seeds from a bag.He did not look my way. I did not know if he knew I was in the wagon, or if the arched canvas cover of the tray hid me from his sight. “I know,” I told Daerton, focusing on the mage and not the man I loved. “The anti-venom for the spider creatures.”“And this…”“I know, Daerton,” I told him gently, placing my hand over his. “I have listened and paid attention to the entire process. I know what each vial contains.”“Of course, you do,” he said, meeting
The Villain's Hero Chapter Twenty-Two
Derien Verstarjen’s stronghold was nestled in the one pass through the mountains. It had originally been built as a human military point when they had been forcing the Fae from the lands. The Fae had, however, not lingered on the other side of the mountain range but followed its curve toward the coast. The land on the other side of the mountains had become little more than a wilderness as a result, with a few small villages clinging on, isolated between the Fae forests no wise human would traverse and this intimidating mountain stronghold with its temperamental and murderous owner.The road up to the stronghold revealed its lack of use in the overgrowth of weeds and deep potholes. It would not have been an easy journey, even if the road had been well maintained, as it was steep and winding, picking its way through the ramble of the rocky terrain. We were forced to dismount the wagons to ease the load on the horses and make our way on foot, the stones slipping beneath our feet and dust
The Villain's Hero Chapter Twenty-Three
The open doors shed light into the chamber hopefully before fading away into shadow as if unable to combat the darkness of the mage who lived within, and our footsteps echoed hollowly. There were more statues in the entry hall. Servants I assumed, who had been turned to stone due to the displeasure of their master.A large, grand fireplace stood cold, and the torches on the wall had long burned out. The chill of the mage’s magic, I realized. A chill that probably prevented the grand fireplace from being lit. I had heard of such things occurring, where the magic was steeped with profound sorrow and grief, usually accompanied by the presence of shades.Drifts of dust scattered under the movement of air through the door, and along the wall, I saw several rodents pause in their scurry to sniff at us, evaluating our threat to their missions, before dismissing us and continuing along their paths.Derien stood on the first landing of the staircase and for the first time swept back the hood
The Villain's Hero Chapter Twenty-Four
“It is a shame that there is no lady’s maid,” Tarragon observed. “A dragon’s braid is hardly the height of Fae fashion.” “You are doing very well,” I told her. In the polished metal of the looking-glass, I could see that she had started the braids over my ears, in several thicknesses, and was winding them back into each other. “Father would be proud.” She flashed me a grin in the reflection. “It is a pity you will not let me use any of the pins,” she returned her eyes to her work. “I understand why, but they would look fair in your hair.” I had explored the various dainty little boxes on the dresser and the drawers, finding pins and other trinkets that a lady would use to do her hair and decorate it, as well as the remains of cosmetics and perfumed water. In one drawer were miniatures of the family – a little folding frame. On one side was a very pretty woman with Aien’s eyes. To the other, a little boy whose face was lit with rosy-cheeked happiness. Aien - before the loss of his mo
The Villain's Hero Chapter Twenty-Five
Tarragon did not give me the option to argue, catching me by the elbow and propelling me down the stairs at a pace that took all of my concentration not to fall. Before I knew it, we were entering the grand hall of the keep. There were swags of sweet-scented greenery, flowers woven into long chains, and tables heavy with tablecloths, candles, and platters of food.Considering the state of the household when we arrived, Derien had used some magic to transform the chamber, making it what it had been before tragedy had struck the household despite his earlier cautions that the household would not wait upon us.I wondered at his change of attitude.Not all those gathered were from the campaign. Many were from the villages at the base of the mountains from their clothing and as I had not seen their faces before. They looked terrified. Had Derien abducted the poor villages from their homes and forced them to attend? Why?The mage sat in the head chair upon the raised dais, a table that held
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