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He studies my eyes like he’s looking for my true emotions. It’s then that I realized I had been masking them. It was an instinct, drilled into me by my father. I allow Stellan to see what I’m truly feeling, but I wonder what my eyes portray. Mostly, I’m hurt by my father’s words andconfused. I’m so, so confused.
How did I not know that I’m a hybrid? And nobody ever suspected that I was part elf because, as far as I know, nobody knows what an elf is like. They’ve been believed to be extinct for many centuries now.
Stellan, with his hand still holding mine, turns to look at his father. “What are we going to do about the fae?”
King Basilicus sighs. “Forget the fae—they’re a nuisance, but I’m more worried about what we’ll do about the elves.”
I swallow hard.
That’s right… the elves aren’t the passive race the fae are. Even if the fae monarchs wanted a war against the dragons, they would be easily defeated. Fae don’t have magic for fighting, at least not for a long time. I was—am—their strongest warrior, but they’d never risk me like that, not that I would aid them against the dragons.
King Basilicus stands from his desk. “I will address the council—I left them to come meet with Emperor Emrys.”
“Do you need me?” Stellan asks, but he doesn’t even attempt to move from my side.
King Basilicus looks between Stellan and me and he shakes his head. “You stay with Wisteria. I know you won’t leave her side anyway. Though, now that I know she’s an elf, I imagine she can protect you better than you can protect her.”
The thought makes me laugh.
He can’t be serious.
But Stellan doesn’t argue. He just nods thoughtfully as King Basilicus leaves the office to head to the Dragon Council meeting.
I glance at Stellan, wishing I had the ability to read his thoughts. I’d give anything to know what he’s thinking right now. Does he hate me for what I am? Does he think I deceived him? But Stellan watches me with an expression that I can’t read—a reminder that we still don’t know one another that well.
“You never answered my question earlier,” Stellan says, breaking the silence.
“Question?”
“Are you okay?” He looks into my eyes like he’s trying to read my soul. I should warn him that knowing what eye color represents which mood won’t help him truly decipher what I’m feeling. Emotions can be tricky.
“I am okay. That was just a lot.” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth as I look into his eyes, wishing they conveyed something to me about what he’s feeling. “I guess I’m a hybrid.”
Stellan furrows his brows. “You know that dragon shifters don’t have the same negative connotations towards hybrids that most of the supernatural community does, right? Because, if you want to get technical,alldragon shifters are hybrids.”
At his words, I feel the tension ease from my muscles.
I should’ve known that the news wouldn’t change what Stellan thinks about me.
“You were worried?”
I nod, unable to hide the truth from him.
He gently traces his thumb along my cheek. “I knew there was something special about you. You’re not like other fae.”
I want to lean into his touch, but I’m too shocked to do anything but gape up at him. He’s just accepting my mixed blood with no negativity whatsoever. He’s acceptingeverything.
“Do you want to go get breakfast now? I’m starving.” He looks at the time on his phone. “Though, it’s closer to lunch now. We seem to always have breakfast interrupted.”
Stellan pushes to his feet and I try to do the same, but my legs refuse to work. He effortlessly tugs me up. Upon seeing the look on my face, he pulls me closer to him.
“This changes nothing between us, Wisteria. You’re still my wife and nobody can take you away from me,” he vows.
Iamhis wife, but only in title and name. We haven’t even kissed. We’re practically still strangers.
Yet, when he looks at me like this, I want to believe him.
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his embrace. I don’t relax until I feel him gently kiss the top of my head.
