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He sighs before answering. “Unfortunately for us, Velora tends to share a lot of the same opinions with my mother, including her view on humans as mates.”
“Ah,” I mutter, hit with a stinging disappointment. “I see.”
“It’s even worse that she’s brought her snobbish mate, Dravank, with her. He’s everything that my parents look for in their children’s mate, so if we were to go there together, it’d be an open day for comparisons.”
I remorsefully gaze at Valkus. Words are hard to find for just how badly I feel for him. I may not have been here long, but I’ve already witnessed how hard he works to help ensure my safety on the manor grounds.
His relationship with his family serves as a reminder that I have no one to call my own. He may as well not have one, and in that sense, I feel I have a duty to make him feel better. He deserves his happiness just as much as anyone else does, no matter what his family thinks of him.
I return to face him, stroking his cheek. He peeks up at me, his frown curling up into that handsome signature smile of his. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulls me in for a quick kiss.
“Enough painting for now. How about we retreat to the gardens and have some tea?”
“I could do with that,” I say with a smile.
Soon, we find ourselves seated on a blanket by the fountain. The aroma of the plants reinvigorates my energy, and the peace is undisturbed with nothing but the sound of the water flowing to complete it.
A zagfer – luckily, not Yiosha – drops off a delivery of nimond pastries and tea and leaves us to our rest.
Together, Valkus and I eat in comfortable silence. Occasionally, we feed each other, smiling and giggling as we do so. I allow myself to soak in all of the ease these gardens bring me, even imagining what I would do with the place should the future hold that opportunity.
“Althia. You really like it out here, don’t you?” asks Valkus.
“It’s my favorite part of the manor grounds. It’s so tranquil. I could spend all day out here.”
“Luckily for you, there’s nothing to get in the way of that.”
“True. It doesn’t seem like your family comes out here that much. I mean no offense by that, just so you know.”
“None taken. Maybe I should take a page from your book and retreat out here more often.”
“It helps me forget about the kind of people living here. It’s the one place in all of Pyrthos where I’m not judged for who I am.”
“Kind of people?” chuckles Valkus.
“Yeah, you know… Dark elves.”
“Ah,” he mutters, nodding in understanding. “I can’t disagree with you. I know many of my kind are quick to throw the matters of humans aside for their own gain. I certainly hope I haven’t made you feel that way.”
“No, no, you haven’t,” I reassure, laying a hand on his arm. “In fact, you’ve been more of an escape than anything. I just wish more elves were like you. Thank you for seeing me as more than garbage.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he says, holding his penetrative gaze on me for a moment. I’d fall to my knees from that look if I wasn’t already kneeling down. “Now then, speaking of escape, it’s best we start discussing part of the reason why I brought you here.”
“The wedding?” I ask, being the first thing to pop into my head.
“Indeed. Carrying through with it would ensure your security here and make you untouchable by any of the other residents in the manor.”
I ponder to myself for a quick moment, envisioning this life being a permanent fixture following the completion of the mating ceremony. It would fully put my past behind me, and I’m not about to hesitate to do that.
The only big question that remains is what happens between Valkus and. I had come here on the notion of a fake marriage, but feelings are undoubtedly developing for the dark elf who saved me.
Valkus pours us another cup of tea. He then unrolls a fresh parchment of paper also delivered by the zagfer and dips his quill into a small pot of ink.
“This wedding was my proposal, but you, of course, have a say. My first question to you is where would you like for the ceremony to be officiated?”
For a second that lasts as long as a minute, I’m distracted by his lips. Kissing Valkus is no new idea, but doing so at the wedding carries a seal, a stamp that will forever bond us two together.
The idea of being tied to the artist sitting in front of me makes me hot under the collar, hotter than the heat of the afternoon sun.
