AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Entering felt surreal, not because I felt like I was entering his past, but because the place was so… barren. There was barely anything in here except for a bed, a couple of chests, and a large wardrobe. There was a table, too, and a single chair. Both table and chair were covered in weapons and bits of armor, from daggers, to swords, to leather corslets.
There wasn’t a hint of anything remotely homely, or comfortable, or decorative. This place was spartan, and purely functional, just like he was. And maybe he liked it that way, maybe he enjoyed the ascetic life, one where everything he surrounded himself with had a purpose, a reason for it being there. I supposed I was disappointed.
At least, I was until I realized I could smell him on everything.
No one had been here since the last time Valerian had opened that door, and his scent lingered. I could smell his hands on the pommel of the swords strewn across the table, on the armor hanging off the chair, on the feather pillow at the head of his bed.
Weirdly, that was all I needed, enough to soothe the disappointment. He had already opened up to me about having had nothing, and how he’d had to fight to survive his entire life. He didn’t care for small comforts, let alone luxuries. Entering his safehouse confirmed all of that. It confirmedhim. Another reminder that I could trust him at his word.
“What a boring room,” Gullie said as she buzzed around.
“It’s perfect,” I said.
“Perfect? What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know. I guess it’s… him.”
Gullie hovered in the air not far from my face. She moved in slowly, watching me carefully. “You’re totally smitten by him, aren’t you?”
My cheeks reddened. “What? Absolutely not.”
“So, when did you know?”
“Know what?”
“When did you know you had feelings for him? Was it before or after you learned about your bond?”
My eyes widened. “We are not having this conversation right now…”
“Seems like the perfect time to have it, doesn’t it?” Gullie buzzed away, hovering over to the table with all the weapons on it, her green Pixie glow casting light on each individual blade of metal around her. “So?”
“So, what?”
“When did you know?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
“Come on, that’s not true.”
I groaned. “I really don’t want to have to do this.”
Gullie smiled. “Your mother knew almost right away.”
My eyes narrowed, and I paused. “Didn’t my father kidnap my mother and bring her here against her will?”
“Kind of, yes.”
“Kind of? That’s what happens to everyone who gets drafted into the Selection. Even Valerian.”
“Okay, that’snottrue. Most of them know they’ve been called in, they spend years and years training for the event. Those who don’t need… fetching.”
“You’re starting to sound like Tellren.”
Gullie shook her head. “Maybe I am, but the guy knows what he’s talking about, so I’m going to choose to take that as a compliment. Anyway, your mother… yeah, she knew pretty much right away. She knew before she had the whole soulmate thing explained to her,” Gullie paused. “Which made things really weird considering the Royal Selection is supposed to seal a two Fae into a soul bond.”
“Yeah, thatisweird. It’s almost as if Fate has a sense of humor, forging bonds between two Fae only to then shove them into the Royal Selection where they risk not being able to act on that bond—or worse, have it get destroyed when someone else wins.”
“They always act on the bond,” she added, chuckling. “Trust me.”
