Page 22 of Chorus of Ashes
“You’re asking me on a date?” Terra demanded, putting her hands into the air and looking around the meadow as though to ask where he planned on taking her for dinner.
“I’m not asking, darling. I’m taking.” Rian knew it would anger her and was rewarded when her lovely skin flushed pink and she muttered something beneath her breath.
Likely a murderous threat.
Cheered, Rian turned and walked to the marker. Bending, he pocketed his winning stone, and glanced over his shoulder to see Terra glaring at him.
“I look forward to collecting my prize tonight,” Rian called, baiting Terra as he turned and walked toward the cliff’s edge where she had given him so much pleasure the night before.
“I’m nobody’s prize,” Terra yelled after him.
Rian began whistling a cheerful tune and, despite everything, he found himself laughing out loud, the wind tearing the sound from his mouth and carrying it over the cliffs and to the churning waves far below. When he reached the edge of the cliffs, the laughter turned to tears, and he found himself confused by the moisture that dripped down his face.
He'd never cried over the loss of his mother.
Not once. No, anger had ruled there. It was easier to be furious with the Earth Fae than it was to let himself feel the grief he so expertly concealed.
Rian hadn’t kept his promise to his mother, nor would his decision to work with the Dark Fae please her. But today? In this moment? He could feel her smiling at him, their energy interconnected through the veil that shrouded life from death, and he understood, once more, just how much she loved him and wanted for him to find his happiness.
Rian hoped it wasn’t too late for him to make her proud.
12
A date.
Terra couldn’t recall ever having gone on an actual date before. Life didn’t quite work like that in the Fae realm. Instead, they’d meet lovers during wild celebrations or bond over shared tasks in the village. She’d heard tell of these “dinner dates” the humans loved so dearly, and now Bianca explained more as she braided Terra’s hair back from her face.
“So you look at your phone and see a pleasing picture and choose the person you feel like pleasuring that evening? But first, you share food?” Terra squinched her nose in thought, and Bianca laughed.
“That’s the way of it, I suppose. Yes, dating apps are quite the rage in the human realm. It takes some of the anxiety out of approaching someone in person. Or, honestly, people are so busy these days. They work long hours and often don’t have the time or opportunity to meet new people. The apps can help make connections when you’re very busy.”
“That is unfortunate. It must be hard to live in a society that demands you work all hours of your day,” Terra mused. “Not that I meet many new people either. I spend too much time in the woods. However, I have no problem finding a lover when the need arises.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Bianca murmured, standing back to look at her handiwork. “Just look at you. I’m glad you packed a secondary gown — this is stunning on you.”
As an afterthought, Terra had added a gilded gold gown that looked like liquid moonlight. It shimmered and danced with her movements, looking as though someone had poured liquid gold over her curves. At the time, it had seemed a frivolous choice, but now she was happy she’d done so. With no mirror in their accommodation, Terra had to rely upon Bianca’s assessment of her look.
“Thank you,” Terra said, reaching up to pat her hair.
“I’ve braided it back on both sides but left it to fall down your back. And I think this will be pretty, no?” Bianca held up a flower crown made of white sea campions and simple yellow buttercups.
“It’s lovely, yes.”
“It will go nicely against your hair.” Bianca bit her lip as she reached up and affixed the flowers to Terra’s hair, their sweet scent soothing Terra’s nerves.
“Once you find a match, then you have dinner? What do you speak of? Are there rules?" Terra wasn’t sure why she was asking. Rian wasn’t human, so why would he follow the human culture of dating? Yet he’d lived there long enough now that maybe that was the way he preferred it. If there was a protocol to follow, Terra didn’t want to mess anything up. Not only did she need to win Rian over for her people, but also because her fated mate bond sang to her in her soul. Perhaps tonight would be an opportunity to reveal to Rian what they were. It was obvious he hadn’t yet pieced together that they were meant for each other, and she wondered if she should sing their heartsong. She voiced the thought to Bianca.
“Sure and I can’t be telling you the best way to deal with all that,” Bianca said, stepping back once more to glance over Terra’s appearance. “However, I might be saving that until we get a better idea of how Rian’s going to proceed. You wouldn’t be wanting him to think you only brought it up to use against him because he has the knife now, right? If it’s meant to be a special thing, it might be best to wait. But you’re a good leader, Terra. I’m sure you’ll have the best sense of how to be handling things, no?”
“I believe so. I’m just…” Terra gave a small laugh and smoothed her gown. “I’m nervous. And that’s not a usual emotion for me to feel. I’m quite confident in my life and the role that I play for our people. It’s just…”
“He’s a man who has been dealt a difficult hand. Wounded men are…” Bianca sighed and shook her head. “You just want to wrap them up and give them a hug, don’t you? Except they’d bite your head off.”
“Exactly.” Terra started at the knock at the door. “Come in.”
“Lady Terra? Your date awaits.” Callahan stood at the door and held his arm for Terra as though she was going to a fancy party at the palace. Once outside, Terra’s mouth dropped open.
“Well played, man,” Bianca whispered behind her.