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“Consider my proposal,” Azur says, then turns around and walks away.
There’s ice forming on the floor, and I need to get Marlak to calm down. “You said there are alcoves upstairs, husband.”
His face is puzzled when he looks at me.
I smile. “I want to see one.” I hope he doesn’t decide to be an asshole right now and tell me I’m being pathetic.
“Sure.”
He takes my hand and we climb the marble steps. I don’t get any thoughts or visions from him this time, but I sense he’s troubled. The second floor is a mezzanine from where we can still look downstairs. We dodge a couple kissing, then he pushes me against a niche, makes an ice wall behind us, and lights his ring.
“What happened?” I ask.
Marlak closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “I hate them.” Then he looks at me. “Did you… did you by any chance….” He puts a hand on his head.
“What?”
He shakes his head. “I was wondering if you spoke to anyone, but I don’t think you did. And it’s stupid. Everyone knows I got married. It’s obvious Renel also does. And now they want you.” His voice is shaky.
“I think he was just testing you.”
“Obviously. And it doesn’t bode well.”
“You didn’t seem to give a crap for me, Marlak. They won’t think you care what happens to me.”
“But he wanted you. He had a proposal that I’m sure he believed was good enough. In exchange for you.” His eyes are wide and wild. “Why would he propose that if it wasn’t you he wanted?”
“As a test?”
Marlak shakes his head. “It doesn’t work like that with fae. If they propose a deal and someone else agrees, then it’s done. A fae’s words are binding. Renel sent his henchman here for you. I just don’t understand why.”
“He must have known you’d say no.”
He rubs his chin. “If that’s the case, that’s incredibly troubling.” He looks at me. “I’m so sorry, Astra. The way I treated you, the words I let him say.”
I shake my head. “You did what you had to do.” I hated being told to fetch a drink, and having my hair pulled, even if gently, but in retrospect, I can understand why he did it. “He was goading you, Marlak. Who is he, anyway?”
“Azur. Renel’s number one man. General, spy, bootlicker, I guess the job depends on the day.” Marlak sighs. “People say that he can sense emotions.”
“He won’t know why you were agitated.” At least I hope so.
His eyes meet mine. “You noticed it.”
“You were already agitated before, with all the freezing. Does your magic usually do that?”
“Get out of control?” He chuckles and looks down. “Yes, Astra, my magic is renowned for going berserk.”
What happened twelve years ago? The question is at the tip of my tongue, but I know this is not the time.
I try to say something that will comfort him instead. “It doesn’t matter. He said it: you’re always hidden. He can’t find you, therefore can’t find me. It makes no difference if they’re looking for me or not.”
He takes a deep breath. “I’ll make sure he never finds you.”
We’re so close. He touches my face and runs his finger down to my chin.
The way he looks at me makes me believe that he cares. More than cares.
I feel his movement in my spine, lighting it with a strange feeling, like charged clouds in the sky. I feel it in my core, with a new warmth. I feel it in my chest, in a fluttering feeling. I need some air, and my legs are wobbling.
