Fortunes Fool 4
Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.
Kelda had shifted back into her fae body before her talons had touched the ground. The sun beat down on her as she assessed her surroundings. Lucien’s garden truly reflected the time he had spent with her father in the Spring Court. Flowers bloomed in a rainbow of colours around the well kempt lawn, the scent of them reminded her pleasantly of home. A light thud sounded behind her and despite herself her heart stuttered. Turning slowly, she tried to master her breathing again before speaking to him. What an odd sensation this was, to feel so deeply for a male she did not know yet. His back was to her, those enchanting wings flared out behind him as if he was sunning them. A small breathy laughed escaped her and his head whipped toward the noise.
“Are you laughing at me again?” he said cocking an eyebrow.
“No, I’m sorry. I just always thought of Illyrians are cold brutes. Not faeries who shamelessly sunned their wings.”
“Firstly, believe me they are. Secondly, I’m only one quarter Illyrian. Thirdly, it just feels so good.” his wings spread out wide as if to emphasis his point.
So strange, she thought. The male before her was so at odds with everything she had been taught, everything she had come to expect from the citizens of the Night Court, let alone a potential future High Lord. Not that she had ever known any, she mused.
“Arvan.” she said testing his name.
His violet eyes sparkled at the sound of it.
“Arvan” she continued but paused.
The splendour of him tumbled into her. He was darkness and night brought to flesh, but there was something about him. Maybe it was the sun shining down, or this beautiful garden but he looked like he was glowing. He looked like starlight.
“It’s so quiet here.” he whispered breaking her trail of thought.
“It’s beautiful.” she replied spinning slowly to take in the whole garden.
He smiled at her, bright and warm and genuine. The sight of it sent heat flowing through her body.
“What are you thinking?” the words were sincere and interested.
“That I don’t want to go back.” she admitted.
His eyebrows arched in confusion.
“You don’t like weddings? Or Lucien?” he guessed.
“I love them both. I just don’t like crowds. I prefer small affairs.”
That breath-taking smile he wore grew larger.
“You would have loved my Aunts Mor and Elain’s wedding. It was very small. And with only one family fight.” he chuckled.
“It sounds perfect.” she smiled back.
His face lit up when he spoke of his family, the sight charmed her. Looking at him now, she couldn’t believe the tales that she had grown up hearing. The ones that were about the sinister ruling family of the Night Court with their cruel and wicked ways. Nothing about this male seemed threatening let alone menacing. If anything he was slightly awkward.
“What are you thinking?” she blurted, hoping to see joy on his face again.
“That I can feel something between us, and that I don’t know what it is but I want to know you. Know everything about you.”
She blushed at his honesty. But that was all it took. Sprawling on the grass the two began to talk about themselves. They talked about their lives and their interests. Their homes and the places they wanted to visit. They talked and talked until the sun began to drop in the sky and an overwhelming sense of dread started to fill Kelda.
Her father she remembered. He had been looking for her before they had left. Would be beside himself looking for her now. It wouldn’t take long she realised, for him to come and look for her. She was surprised he hadn’t looked here first. But if he saw them leave – if he had seen them leave together. She stopped the image before it began to form in her head. What had she done? She had left with a male, and not just any male, a male from a court her father distrusted entirely. Without thinking, she reached her hand out to grab his. Her palms slick with sweat but she still held his firmly. Those remarkable eyes fixed on her, worrying plainly marked on his face. A shot of electricity, like a lightning strike, shot through her at the contact. With a start she became aware that it was the first time they had touched, the first day they had met. Being with him, it felt familiar and comfortable and right. It was not a feeling she wanted to give up yet, but she knew, knew she had to leave now. Before things erupted. If they hadn’t already.
“I have to go.” her voice was small, sadder than she had thought.
He squeezed her hand more tightly, a silent plea.
“I have to.” she repeated.
He rose to his feet, guiding him with her. He released her hand to cup her face gently, so heartbreakingly gently.
“I will see you again Kelda.”
Taking a small step forward, she closed the gap between them. The scent, his scent of jasmine and wind enveloped her. She looked up at him, his eyes were full of sadness and longing, and brushed her lips against his. When he didn’t pull away or push her, her hand reached up to the back of his head, her fingers entwining with his silken, ravens feather hair. His mouth opened to her and she deepened the kiss. It consumed her wholly.
The kiss was urgent and hard. With every stroke of her tongue against his something in her, a tether that tied her to him, strengthened. He pulled away slightly, gasping for breath.
“Do you feel that?” his voice came out is rasps.
She nodded, resting her forehead against his.
She nodded again. She didn’t need him to continue to know what he meant. Mating bond. The words echoed in her head, throbbed in her pulse, ran through her veins. Mate, mate, mate. It said. Every inch of her body felt connected to him.
“I have to go.” she said detaching herself from him.
The words stung her but they were true. She did have to leave - wars had been started over less she knew.
“I will see you again I promise.”
Before he could straighten his thoughts, could say anything to her, she had burst into a ball of light and that beautiful bird was soaring through the sky.
“Until the next time.” he said the spot where she had just been.
