When I wake in the morning, I find Caelen has already packed our things. He gives me a folded cloth containing cheese and dried meat, but he keeps his gaze averted. Things are awkward between us, and I hate that I’ve caused this strained tension between us.
Why did I flinch when he bared his fangs to me? He was simply following Elvish customs, not trying to hurt me. We need to talk about what happened. I touch his shoulder, and his eyes snap up. “Caelen, I think we should—”
“We should be on our way,” he interrupts. He studies the sky. Storm clouds gather overhead and thunder rumbles in the distance. “It is a long journey to Solwyck. We’ll need to find a ship from there to reach my kingdom. It will be faster to travel by sea. Only then will we be safe.”
I nod. He is right; we need to focus on reaching Solwyck. Princess Halla is a distant cousin on my mother’s side. Although I have not seen her since we were children, I hope she will honor the blood ties between us and offer us aid. Surely, she will.
As we travel, Caelen offers several times to carry my pack, but I refuse. I do not want him to shoulder most of the burden.
“It is too heavy for you,” he protests. “Please, allow me to—”
“I am stronger than you think.”
He arches a brow. “Humans are not as physically strong as High Elves.”
I clench my jaw. “I’m not some weak and pitiful creature.” I lift my chin. “And despite what happened, I know you think I’m afraid of you, but I’m not, Caelen.”
He tenses. “I could smell your fear.”
“Yes, but that does not mean that—” I break off as a loud crack of thunder booms overhead. The skies open up and rain pours down in thick, heavy sheets.
I pull my hood up over my head, but it does little good. Caelen takes my hand. “We must find shelter.”
He pulls me alongside him, moving so quickly I can barely keep up with his much longer legs. My foot snags on a root and I stumble, but he catches me, helping me regain my balance.
A cottage is just visible through the deluge in the distance. “Look!” I point toward it and Caelen snaps his head in that direction.
With no other choice, we head to the small building as I send a silent prayer that whoever is there will be welcoming and allow us to seek shelter within.
As we draw closer, I notice the cottage appears to be in a heavy state of disrepair. With broken windows and holes in the siding, surely it must be abandoned. The small, wooden fence surrounding it has seen better days. The gate squeaks on sagging hinges as Caelen pushes it open.
When we reach the front door, he knocks, but no one answers. Carefully, he tries the handle and then pushes it open, the heavy wooden door creaking as it moves. The entire space inside is dark and has only one small cot near the fireplace, a rickety table, four chairs, and a rocker across from the bed.
The floor is nothing more than bare earth. In a small kitchen area to one side, two rows of shelves flank the sink, cups and plates stacked haphazardly atop them. Cobwebs full of dust hang from the ceiling. Caelen brushes them aside as we make our way toward the fireplace.
He releases my hand and gestures to the grate. Closing his eyes, he speaks words of enchantment, lighting the hearth in the blink of an eye.
I smile and raise my hands out toward it, basking in the warmth. “Oh, thank goodness,” I murmur. I remove my cloak and hang the sodden material on a small hook on the mantle. Caelen does the same with his.
Our travel packs are drenched, so we remove our bedrolls and place them close to the fire to dry. A musty blanket on the cot draws my attention and I shake it out, coughing as dust motes float through the air, while Caelen places two chairs before the hearth.
When I’m finished, I push the chairs close together and motion for him to sit. I wrap the blanket around our shoulders as we stare at the dancing flames.
I’m tired, but I’m not sure I can sleep. Not here anyway. Something about this place unnerves me. Despite its current state, something feels strange. As if perhaps its owner has merely stepped out for a moment but will return soon.
I turn to Caelen. “This place feels off, does it not?”
He nods, his eyes scanning the room, searching for danger. “We will leave here as soon as the rain stops.”
“Agreed.”
As we sit side by side, I consider the events from last night. We still haven’t talked about it. I turn to him and place my hand atop his own. His green eyes snap up to mine. “Caelen, I—”
A loud knock on the door startles us both. Caelen jumps to his feet. I stand as well, but he motions for me to stay behind him as he nears the door.
It cracks open just a bit before he reaches it and he steps back, spreading his arms out to his sides as if to shield me from whatever approaches.
Rolling thunder booms overhead, rattling the windows and the plates on the shelf.
An old woman shuffles in, her back hunched and her head staring at the floor as water drips from her sodden clothes. She lifts a weary gaze to us as she pulls back the hood of her dark, tattered cloak. Her face splits into a smile, revealing several missing teeth. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” she says cheerily. “Oh, it has been so long since I’ve had any visitors.”
I move beside Caelen. “Forgive us.” I bow slightly. “We sought shelter from the storm; we did not mean to intrude.”
The old woman waves a dismissive hand. “It is no trouble, my dear. You are welcome to stay as long as you need.” Her eyes flick to Caelen. “Both of you.”
Gnarled fingers struggle to unfasten her cloak, so I rush forward and help her remove it. I hang it on the mantle to dry. “Thank you, my dear. That was very kind of you.”
I flash a warm smile. “It’s the least I can do for you allowing us to stay here.” I glance at the kitchen. “Would you like me to start some tea?”
She shakes her head. “I’d be a poor host indeed if I had a guest wait upon me, now wouldn’t I?”
Caelen stands beside me, his entire body alert, but he says nothing.
“Sit by the fire and warm yourselves,” the old woman says. “I will make you both a nice cup of tea.”
Caelen motions for me to take the seat furthest away from her, angling his chair so he can watch her covertly as she putters around in the kitchen.
“My name is Glenda,” she says. “What is yours?”
I share a worried glance with Caelen before answering. “I am Lilly and this is my husband Callen.”
Caelen’s brow arches slightly. He’s probably surprised at how quickly the false names spilled from my lips. Little does he know I already had them made up in my head after our meeting with Malak, prepared for a moment just like this.
A smile tips her mouth. “A High Elf and a human. I’ve not seen such a pairing in many years now.”
Caelen takes my hand, squeezing it gently while his eyes remain trained upon her. His every muscle is tense, as if coiled and ready to spring into action if she so much as breathes wrong.
I do not understand his concern. She seems like a harmless, old woman. Even so, I trust him. And if his instincts are telling him something is off, I will not let my guard down either. I glance at the broken window, watching as the rain pours down heavily outside. Unfortunately, this storm doesn’t appear to be letting up anytime soon.
The old woman hobbles over to us with two cups rattling in the saucers from her trembling hands. I jump up from my chair and move to help her. She smiles brightly at me. “Thank you, Lilly.”
She sits beside us, turning to Caelen. “The Fae Prince of Anara has bound himself to a human as well, recently. And surely you’ve heard of the dragon and his human mate.”
Caelen raises his brows. “A dragon and a human?”
“Aye,” she replies.
“I’ve heard of this as well,” I offer, knowing she speaks of the cursed dragon that lives at the edge of our kingdom, near the sea. Father was informed not long ago that the dragon had taken a village maiden as his bride. “I have heard she is happy with her dragon.”
Glenda shivers, and I move to drape the blanket around her shoulders. She grasps my hand, patting it gently as she smiles. “You are most kind, dear girl.” She narrows her eyes at Caelen, a grin tugging at her mouth as she wags a finger at him. “And you are most protective, dear boy, of your mate.”
Caelen straightens but says nothing.
“You are wise to be this way,” she says. “My sister wishes you both harm.”
Without warning, Caelen shoots to his feet. He places himself directly between me and the old woman. A low growl vibrates in his chest as his nails lengthen into deadly claws. “What are you really, old woman?” he snarls. “Speak truth or I will end you.”
She takes a sip of her tea and then sighs heavily. She waves a hand over her form and I gape as she transforms into a beautiful woman with pale lavender skin. Long purple hair falls around her shoulders in silken waves. Dressed in a long, green velvet robe, her amber, reptilian eyes study us both with a piercing gaze.
“Goblin,” Caelen mutters, more to himself than to us. Magic sparks like electricity across the tips of his fingers. “If you dare try anything, I will end you.”
She sighs again. “I suppose I might react the same if I were you, Prince Caelen, but I assure you, I mean neither of you any harm.”
“Why lie about what you are then?” I ask.
She shrugs. “The easiest way to see into someone’s heart is to observe how they treat those who are… lesser in some way.” Her eyes meet mine evenly. “You, Princess Lyana, are pure of heart. And you, Prince Caelen, are firmly devoted to your bride.” She pauses. “In return for your kindness, I offer you a gift.”
“Goblins do not give gifts,” Caelen says, his voice low and menacing. “They make bargains that benefit only themselves.”
“Not all of us are wicked,” Glenda says. Her gaze sweeps to me. “But he is right that we do make bargains. But what I offer will not harm you, I swear.”
Caelen bristles. “Say nothing to her, Lyana. Gather your pack. We are leaving.”
Glenda shakes her head and gestures toward the door. “Do you not see the storm still raging beyond these walls? Your human bride would catch her death out there. And that is something neither you nor I want.”
“Why do you pretend to care?” Caelen snaps.
“You hesitate to kill me because something inside you recognizes that I mean you no harm,” she replies. “It is fate that led you to me. I saw it in a vision many nights ago.” A sly smile curls her lips. “Just as it was fate that bound you both together.”
Her eyes slide to me again. “There are two paths before you, Princess Lyana and Prince Caelen. In one, you unite and rule over the kingdoms of Eryadon and Rivenyl, ensuring its peace.” She pauses. “And in the other, the princess dies.”
Caelen growls even louder. “You will die before you touch her,” he grinds out.
“How?” The question escapes me almost at the same time as his threat.
Anger rolls off Caelen in heated waves as he stands protectively in front of me.
Glenda snaps her fingers, and a mirror appears in her hand. She meets Caelen’s eyes impassively. “Calm yourself, Prince. Allow me to explain.”
