Page 157 of Crown of the Courtesan

“I need neither magic nor sight to hear your sloppy movements—to smell your rotting blood.”

Hurtling toward me again, Rett clings to my skirts.

Lir comes from behind, twisting Rett’s injured arm, forcing him to his buckled knees deep into the snow. I turn away, unable to watch. “This has gone far enough. You are going back to the ship,” Lir says through gritted teeth.

Rett wrenches free, seeming more like a wild beast with every passing second. “Don’t touch me!” He staggers, clutching his wounded arm before fleeing with surprising speed into the shadow of the snowy woods.

Listening to the snow crunching away from us, Lir moves to pursue his trail, but I touch his shoulder. “Don’t force him.”

Leaning on the cottage door, Valora says, “She’s right. He’ll only hurt himself or others in our care. This is a healing journey only he can take now.”

Lir stands next to me, his face toward the sea. “When this ends badly, know that I’ll always be your sanctuary.” He delicately touches my hand before marching toward the ship.

I steel myself and step into the cold, dusky sunlight in the opposite direction.

Sixty-Five

The sound of giggles, murmurs, and chatter tinkles in the air as the villagers, bundled in cloaks, furs, and knitted hats, leave their snow-capped cottages. A surge of emotion washes over me as they line the streets, their faces beaming as they point in a surprising direction. I thought we might marry under the Alexra Tree, but it seems Ashland has other plans. A little girl with silver eyes runs out from the crowd and hands me a bundle of forget-me-nots tied with twine.

The townspeople’s cheers and applause multiply as I journey toward the edge of town, where the worn path forks in two directions. One way leads to the frosty beach dunes and the other into the Forest of Devana, where, as far as the eye can see, there is nothing but ivory trees in every direction. The call of the whispers pulls me into the wilderness. I don’t fight them because I’m done worrying about whether my choices are right or wrong.

Beneath a towering canopy covered in a thick layer of white, snowflakes tumble through the hanging icicles and crystals. Along the trail, a babbling brook winds serenely, singing its song to the prancing deer and frolicking foxes who watch with their young.

Once my cheeks are chilled and I’m deep into the forest, I find Ashland standing before a pillar of a tree trunk. Letters and symbols are carved into its ancient bark. On either side of him, his shadow hounds sit—waiting. He’s dressed in his usual warrior armor and blackened breastplate, but a white fur cloak wraps and cascades down from his shoulders.

This is really happening.

The Witch-King will be my future husband—and I’ll be his bride. My heart skips a beat on that last word, and I have to remind myself how short this arrangement will be.

Ashland wears a reserved expression, making him appear mysterious and stately, even though I can only see half of his face. I would give anything to know his true thoughts right now.

Next to him, a female elder in flowing, wispy robes clears her throat and waits with a patient smile.

I suppress the nervous energy feathering through me like a bird about to take flight. Valora steps forward and kisses my cheek as she joins the crowd standing in a semicircle around us.

An attendant drapes a matching fur cloak around my faded black gown, shrouding me in warmth and protection. I glance up, startled, to discover Ashland’s silver eyes fixed on mine as he smiles. Searching his face, I look for something I’m not sure of. Power pinches my palm as he takes my hand, and we step to the base of the tree trunk. He glances over his shoulder, giving me another wry half-smile. Another spark ignites deep in my chest.

“We are here today at Ancestors’ Grove under extraordinary circumstances,” the elder calls to the crowd. “The union of a new Witch-King and Witch-Queen of Ashland, the highest commitment of the realm, a renewed hope to the world, forever corded and forged. Linked in Bonded Matrimony.”

There’s a murmur of appreciation from the crowd of witnesses.

“A Bonding Replacement demands sacrifice. It demands repayment of broken oaths. No longer shall a betrothal do, but a marriage in its stead, to fix what was shattered, what was due.” She opens her arms wide to the crowd, declaring, “Two halves become one where those before failed. Do you promise to fulfill your vows before these witnesses, lest your lifeblood consume you until you are no more?”

My breathing quickens. I look at my future husband, but he nods while holding a diamond dagger that is identical to the blade I used with Rett. The only difference is that, instead of two blades, there is only one between us. His voice rings out as he declares, “I do.”

Rather than waiting for me to prick my own hand, Ashland takes my shaking palm and drags the blade across my scabbed wound. I wince, sucking in my breath. He presses his thumb over the cut and holds it in place, applying pressure. The crimson lines etched into my skin ache and pulse in response.

Ashland passes me the dagger before flipping over his free hand, waiting for me to speak. The diamond fractals glimmer as I hold it to his pale flesh, and my voice is whisper-soft as I murmur, “I do.”

The gemstone blade silently punctures his palm as I slide it across his flesh. Droplets of crimson blood trickle out. Something in me is relieved that he bleeds the same as I do.

Ashland retrieves a ring carved from ivory wood from his pocket and slides it onto my finger. It fits perfectly. He does the same with a matching band on his own ring finger before taking the dagger and carving ‘G & T’ into the tree trunk among the numerous other initials and names.

Then the elder wraps our wrists together in a thin evergreen garland dotted with red berries and petite white flowers. The inflamed flesh sizzles beneath my skin as the crimson lines recede down my arm and fade to iridescence along my ring finger. My heart races as new lines appear and spread under Ashland’s ring, mirroring my own.

The elder says, “Face your future.”

We bring our hands together, entwined.