Page 47 of Secrets of Avalon
“But I’ll kill you. My magick will kill you. We can’t be together.” Her voice trembles, and the fear in her eyes is a knife to my heart.
“I’m holding you right now, and I feel quite fine.” I tighten my grip on her, wanting to shield her from all her fears. “Why do you think you’re cursed?”
“Everyone on Earth with magick is…” Her voice falters.
“Is what?” My heart races faster, anxiety creeping in. What if things have really changed? What if shutting the door to Earth really did damage the magick? “Magick wasn’t dangerous when we lived there. There was no curse.”
She wipes the tears from her eyes and looks up at me, her gaze searching mine. “You lived on Earth?”
I nod, trying to convey reassurance through my eyes. “Yes, I did.”
“How old are you?” Her curiosity momentarily eclipses her fear, and it brings a small, bittersweet smile to my lips.
I grin just slightly. “Quite older than you, I would imagine.” I chuckle softly, hoping to lighten the mood. “Fae age very differently than humans. We live a very, very long time.”
“But I’m not human, either.” Her voice is filled with a mix of revelation and confusion. “Kellan proved that with Calix. With the goats. With Ares. My mother was Fae, and she aged normally. At least she looked like she was. She did always look young for her age.”
“Fae grow and mature and we mostly stay looking like I do for quite a long time before we start showing signs of aging.” I keep my voice gentle, hoping to soothe her while she processes this new information.
Melinda burrows into my shirt, her breaths slowing with each inhale. “We have to have sex to bond, don’t we? That’s how it works in all the fantasy romance books.”
“What? What books?”
“Fantasy stories. Romances.” She murmurs into my clothes. “You smell so nice.” Her breathing deepens, and she drifts off, leaving me with so many burning questions.
I lean my head back against the bedpost and close my eyes, a mix of emotions swirling within me. Sleep sounds like the right choice. I didn’t get any last night, and I can’t even begin to imagine how tired she is. But more than that, I am honored that she felt safe enough to sleep in my arms. The warmth of her body against mine is a soothing balm to my frayed nerves, and for once in a long time, my soul is at peace.
The noise of the door closing wakes me. Melinda’s warm weight is still nestled in my arms. The room is bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, and the scent of savory food fills the air. Glancing to the side, I notice a tray laden with cups of wine and a large plate with a variety of meats, cheeses, and some fresh bread on the floor next to me. One of the maids must have just brought it in while we slept. Probably what woke me.
A glance at the window tells me we slept for hours, not minutes. The sky outside is dark. I’m surprised no one’s come looking for me, but my brother and the other knights have probably taken it upon themselves to make sure no one knows where I am. Still, it’s been hours. I should leave her for the night. Even good servants talk sometimes.
Melinda stirs, her eyes fluttering open. She looks up at me, a mix of emotions playing across her face - comfort, uncertainty, and a hint of something deeper, more profound.
"Hey," I whisper, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "They brought us food. Hungry?"
She nods, sitting up slightly but making no move to leave the circle of my arms. I reach over and pull the tray closer, the aroma making my stomach growl.
She starts to unfold the blanket to get an arm free.
"Let me," I say softly, picking up a morsel of tender meat and holding it to her lips.
Melinda hesitates for a moment before accepting the offering, her eyes never leaving mine. She takes the bite, chews, and swallows. We continue like this, me feeding her bit by bit, the intimacy of the moment wrapping around us like a cocoon.
"Tell me about how you got here," I prompt gently.
She takes a deep breath, her gaze turning inward.
A slight wave of nauseating magick rolls through my body, but it stops quickly as she gets control again.
"My mother... she was executed. She took the blame for me losing control and hurting people. I don’t know how she convinced them it wasn’t me. But my father–my stepfather–hid me away after that. After the Inquisitors burned her at the stake."
“Burned her–” My heart clenches at the pain in her voice. I tighten my hold on her, offering silent comfort as she continues. “By fate, Melinda. I’m so sorry.”
“It was terrible. I killed more people that day.” A sob slips out.
I can’t imagine the depth of pain she experienced watching her mother burned to death. The idea of that happening to my mother would… I’d kill people too.
"My stepfather and I, and some close family friends… we went searching for Avalon. My mother spent her whole life trying to find a way here. She knew it was real. A place where magick wasn’t considered evil. We found a map in her journals after she died. The one Nimue claims to have planted. That map led us to a cave, and the door..."