Page 38 of Winter Gods & Serpents

He laughed. “Please, call me Albius. Only Eren insisted on calling me Lord. The boy was always too polite.”

All expression cleared from my face. “You remember my brother?”

Something in his stare turned mournful. “Of course I do. He was tasked under me to learn ways of court. He became the son I never had. I see you have his sword.” Albius said pointing to my back. “I took him to a forger to inscribe your name in it.” He approached and planted a hand on my shoulder. “Arynth is your home, visit whenever you wish.”

I was envious of him. To remember and have spent time with Eren, the memories and time I could not recall myself.

* * *

We returned to Tenebrose just before evening. I sat in the servant dinner with Penelope, devouring the mushroom stew Ken, the cook, had thrown for me. Hunger made me anxious and remindful of times I wanted to forget.

“Aren’t you meeting mister sharp smile?” Pen teased, dunking bread in her pot.

I coughed, almost choking on food. “Shit. You could have reminded me long ago, Pen.”

She shrugged. “Not particularly fond of him nor you partake in adultery. Had you cared enough to meet him you would have not forgotten.”

I ruffled the top of her hair till she was left resembling a running hen. “I will deal with you once I return,” I said throwing her a glare.

How did I forget? I was late, but I did not rush. If he left, he would have wasted his last opportunity at a moment alone and I knew he would wait.

The massive library flocked with robbed librarians, the odd mapmaker, healers, and no frilly captain. Dim candles shone above reading tables, everyone draped in their chairs reading and writing, paying no mean of attention to me. The smell of musk and dust enveloped me while passed I through the mahogany shelves lining in long corridors.

I spotted Elias resting by a shelf, a book in his hand and devoured in concentration. He was so still, he looked like a statue.

I reached and grabbed the book out of his hand, startling him to attention. “Your moment alone Elias, use it well,” I said, shutting the book and placing it back on the shelf before leaning against it.

He swiftly trapped me between his arms, his hands clasping tightly the shelves behind, knuckles white from the force. “Last night, what you said about my father planning to sabotage your arrangement, I thought you had heard or known something I didn’t. After returning, I asked my informants if any of what you said was true and then confronted my father, both of whom denied any claims as such. And then I came to realize those had been your assumptions.” His eyes narrowed, his voice raspy and deep, “Wrong assumptions.”

I approached, inches close to his face. “You think I believe a single word of yours? He is your father after all, it is expected that you protect him and that is without considering your deep loyalty to Isjord,” I replied sternly. Was this why he had wanted to see me?

He inched closer, his body touching mine pushing me back to the shelf, my hand slid down to the dagger sheathed in my thigh.

“My father might be who you think he is, and one son of a selfish, greedy bastard but he does not keep word from me, and I do not make up empty lies for that I give you my word, if it means something to you.”

I scoffed. “Not really.”

He drew even closer, and I unsheathed my dagger at the ready. “Do you think I asked for this? To like you, to not be able to think of anything else day and night?”

I swallowed, the smell of pine and mint strong in my throat. “It seems to be your problem, not mine Elias.”

He pulled away leaning back on the shelf opposite me. “It seems it is,” he said, his voice soft. He rubbed his eyes with his palms and turned to leave.

I do not know what took over me, my limbs moving at its own volition and grabbed his arm. As he turned facing me once again, I grabbed the collar of his coat, lifting myself to my toes and planted a kiss in his lips for a few seconds and then pulled away. Just before I let go of his collar his hand went around my waist pulling me close to him and he kissed me back long and hard.

Steps sounded approaching our direction, my eyes closed annoyed and thankful at the same time.

He lifted his head, his eyes onto mine, his chest raising rapidly. Panting softly, he observed around, his dishevelled golden hair falling over his face.

“I guess today is not your day after all,” I said patting his chest. So much for a test through the waters between my father and the lords. A damned fool, what was I thinking?

“It appears not, my raven,” he said, before pulling away and fixing his jacket.

“It is odd, Elias. My senses never betray me but this once they might have. I do trust you, somehow.”

“Good to know, but to me it is sounding like regret.”

“If it was?”