ARKAIN’S ADVISORS LOOKED SHOCKED TO see me as they file out of his meeting room.
Most of them give me a wide berth and while I spy disgust in some of their eyes, there are a few who rake me with appreciative stares. Gross. They are all dressed in Myrkorvin black, long red capes trailing behind them. Once again, the difference between our kinds could not be more apparent. But even after a week, the initial shock and curiosity I felt in seeing their faces has dissipated.
The only one I recognize leaving is the one at the end. Wylan’s red eyes harden as they see me and he mutters something under his breath that I cannot make out. It’s the same anytime I see him. He looks at me as though I am the filth beneath his boot.
I slip into the meeting room and Arkain whirls around, his mouth falling open as he sees me.
“What are you wearing?” he chokes out. I laugh and do a little twirl.
“Come on, don’t tell me you’ve never seen a female in pants before.” This pair is one of my favorites from back home. Loose linen pants that stop just at my navel with a matching top ending below my breasts. It is modest except for the strips of my stomach that it shows.
“I’ve never seen pants like those before.” He pushes away from the table and walks over in front of me. Something has changed between us since last night. I know he feels it too. And that knowledge makes me bold.
“For what I have planned I cannot be confined to a dress.” I slip my arm through his and try not to snuggle into his warmth. With a sigh, he follows me out of the room muttering something about removing the eyes of every male that has seen me in this outfit. I nudge him with my shoulder as we make our way towards my new favorite spot of the castle.
Our silence is comfortable as we arrive at the library. The librarian is used to seeing me but upon seeing Arkain, the ancient dark elf rises and drops into a bow, black cloak brushing the floor.
“Your Majesty, welcome.” Arkain nods and I lead him towards the back. The fire is roaring and the large leather couches are unoccupied. A stack of books I forgot to reshelve are still sitting on one of the end tables.
“I know this isn’t a magical fish, but I thought this could be a good way for us to get to know each other.”
“A trip to the library?” He raises his brows at me, but I ignore his quip.
“Here’s my idea: we could read each other’s favorite books. You tell me your three favorites, I’ll tell you mine. Then we can have something neutral to talk about during dinner.” I try to keep the hopefulness out of my tone. He could very well hate this idea and dismiss me. “What do you say?”
He’s quiet for a moment, cupping his chin with his clawed hand. He looks around the library as if he’s never seen it before. The silence stretches on and I just have to ask.
“You do have three favorite books, don’t you?” He nods his head slowly.
“Sure. A Formidable Water: A Comprehensive Guide to Sea Battle, Mountain Terrain Battles and How to Win Them, and The Complete History of the First War.” He lists them all off with a tick of his clawed fingers and my mouth pops open. He cannot be serious.
“What?”
“Are all the books you’ve read war manuals?”
“Yes,” he answers, confused. “What else would they be?”
“I don’t know, how about anything else? No tales of knight’s bravery? Of lost lovers and the poems they have written about them?” He looks at me like I’ve grown two heads and I sigh. “I am not reading a war book.”
“But this was your idea—”
“Well, I changed my mind,” I say and walk over to the stack of books I have left there. One catches my eye and I smile. “Here, how about this?”
Arkain takes the small book from my hand and reads the front page. “The Tears of the Sea?”
“Don’t act too excited.”
“What’s it about?” he asks, flipping it over to examine the back.
“It’s a beautiful story about a human knight and siren that fall in love.”
“That’s it?” he asks.
“No, that’s not it,” I grind out. “But if I tell you the rest then I’ll be spoiling what happens.”
“Very well,” he says and tucks the book under his arm. “I’m not sure what I should pick for you to read since you seem so opposed to my reading tastes.”
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t trust your choices when it comes to engaging reads.” I snatch the book back from under his arm and move to one of the leather couches. I sink into the cool, deep cushions and pat the space beside me. “My new plan is for us to read this together. One chapter a night after we have dinner. What do you say?”
He walks over to me, his massive frame blocking out the warmth of the fire before he sinks down, causing me to slide toward him on the cushion.
“Sorry,” he mutters, but I wave him off. Pressed against him like this, I’m having a hard time not nuzzling into his warmth. And the fact that I’m squeezing my legs together so hard so he does not scent just how much I like picturing nuzzling into his side.
Maybe I didn’t think this all the way through?
“So, do we have a deal?”
“Do you want to do the reading or shall I?” I contemplate this for a moment before answering.
“We’ll switch off. I like the sound of your voice.” I look up at him but he can’t meet my eyes, the skin under his eyes darkening. “So how about we get in a few chapters now before dinner?”
He nods his head and I open to the first chapter of the book.
“This was a very good courting suggestion,” He says before I can begin. Laughing I shake my head.
“Oh Arkain, you haven’t seen anything yet. Now hush,” I say and lose the battle with trying to remain aloof. I rest my head on his massive shoulder. Pulling my knees up I prop open the book and begin.
“Once upon a time, the last siren princess sang a mournful song…”
