Chapter 15

VALLON

I breathed deeply, in and out, trying to cool my boiling blood. Impossible after seeing the stark desire in Murgha's eyes…for me. But we did have things to discuss first.

Sensing her sweet presence, the scent of wildflower and that quintessential smell that was her, I turned. "Come and see."

She joined me, the silky robe too long for her, dragging a little on the stone balcony. "Are your feet cold?" I asked.

She shook her head. "It's rather warm here. So different than in the mountains."

I smiled. "Even in summer, it is cold in the Solgavians."

Placing her hands on the stone banister, she looked out. Easing behind her, I cupped her delicate shoulders. She shivered then leaned back into me.

I pointed to the fields. "See them all."

"They're lovely," she said with sincerity. "They're blue?"

"Purple actually. The moonlight tints their color blue. Wait till you see them under the sunlight."

"You come over these fields often?" she asked curiously.

"As High Priest, I have many duties and errands for the royal family that take me outside of Gadlizel. I like passing over these fields in summer."

"You enjoy the beauty of nature?" She sounded disbelieving.

Squeezing her shoulder, I pressed her back against my chest and murmured against the crown of her head, "I enjoy beauty in all things."

She went quiet after that. An awkward silence stretched between us, and yet, I could smell her arousal. My demon fae instinct was to take her, and to fulfill what was my right given to me by the gods nearly overwhelmed me into action. But I wouldn't until she understood.

"Aren't you going to ask?" I finally offered into the quiet.

"Ask you what?" Her voice trembled.

I smiled at her pretense. "Why I would put your welfare above everything else. A high priest of Gadlizel doesn't switch allegiance on a whim."

"It was your father's dying wish. You said that vows on the deathbed are considered sacred."

"They are. But it wouldn't make me abandon my vows to the royal family of Gadlizel."

"Then why are you?"

Gently, I turned her to face me, finding a myriad of emotions flitting across her face—fear, wonder, hope.

"Because you are my mate."

There was no surprise on her face, but her eyes narrowed as she finally spoke with defiance. "That can't be true."

"Why not?"

"Because you're a shadow fae, and I'm a light fae half-breed. The gods would not tie us together."

I coasted my hands to her throat, tipping her chin up with my thumbs when she tried to look away. "Are you disgusted by being with me?"

"No!" she exclaimed quickly. "It just doesn't seem right. It doesn't make sense."

"It does to me."

She stared, unblinking, her violet eyes bluer under the moonlight, just like the wildflowers. Utterly enchanting. I wanted to sweep her into my arms and show her the pleasure of a mated couple. I'd only heard about it through others, the complete joy of sharing your body with a god-given mate.

I yearned for it, but she needed to accept what we were first. Because after I took her to bed and sank my fangs into her flesh and my cock into her body, she would be mine forever.

"So the gods just tell us who we must be with," she snapped angrily. "We have no choice."

"Perhaps the gods already know who we will choose because they're gods," I offered calmly. "Rather than choosing for us, they simply help us along by showing us."

"Show us how?"

"With the marks on our hearts." I took her wrist and placed her palm over my heart. "I feel it here," I said, hearing my voice drop darkly. "Every time you're near me. Even when you're not." I searched her face intently. "I could've kept my vow to my father by sending a shadow guard to watch over you. I could've done my duty without ever laying eyes on you." I shook my head. "But something pulled me down out of the mountains."

"What did?"

"You."

I pressed my hand over the left side of her chest, engulfing half her breast. "Don't you feel me in here?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation, her eyes wide and wild.

"Don't you want me in here?"

"More than anything. I want you everywhere." She closed her eyes for a second then opened them and licked her lips, her voice shaky when she added, "But I made a promise to myself. I would only give my body to one male. My husband."

"Then marry me here under the moonlight and let me make you mine, sweet Murgha."

She scoffed. "Marry you here?"

"Why not? Do you need witnesses?"

"No, but—" She shook her head. "Weddings take time and planning."

"I don't need a ceremony. The vows are between you and me and the gods. Don't light fae marry under Lumera's light?"

She glanced up at the moon. Lumera, the Goddess of the Moon, was the favored goddess of the moon fae.

"We do. With a handfasting and request for the Goddess of the Wood's blessing as well."

"Then so be it. Tell me what to say, and I will say it."

She laughed again. "And just like that, we will be husband and wife?" Her expression was still disbelieving.

"If you will have me, Murgha," I added softly, picking up her palm from my chest and pressing a kiss to the center of her palm. "Will you put me out of my misery and become my wife?"

Her brow puckered into a frown. "What misery?"

It was my turn to huff a laughter of disbelief. "Being near you without having you is sheer torture. Don't you understand that?"

When I thought she would deny it, she said simply, "Yes. I understand."

Clenching my jaw, I wrapped a hand around her waist. "Then marry me. Right now."

She searched my face, finding only sincere honesty there, for that is all that I felt. "What about shadow fae? How do you marry?"

I dropped my head back, laughing toward the sky.

"What?"

I met her gaze, finding that intensely curious expression I adored. "It's not as civilized as light fae mating ceremonies." Though ours wasn't as barbaric as the wraith fae's either.

"Tell me," she demanded.

Staring into those fathomless pools, I said, "The shadow fae prefer private ceremonies between only the couple. We fly high up into the Solgavia peaks and beneath the sun god Solzkin's light, we pledge ourselves to each other."

"With certain words?"

"Yes. But it isn't the words that bind us." She remained silent, waiting, so I continued. "It is the bite the male leaves on her throat." I pointed to the base of mine to show her where. "And we consummate our binding in the open air beneath the sun."

I waited for a look of revulsion but found the opposite. A flicker of desire darkened her eyes.

"Let's do it your way," she said with confidence. "Beneath Lumera's light." Her gaze drifted to the moon then back to me while my heart tried to pound through my ribcage and out of my chest.

"You want to marry me in the shadow fae way?" I asked to be sure I heard her correctly.

"Yes. With the blessing of Lumera's light, we will combine our faiths of dark and light. Since we are both, the binding should be both." She blinked nervously. "Don't you agree?"

"I agree."

Unable to wait a moment longer, I reached for the tie of her robe then loosened it slowly. Her hands clenched into fists at her side, but she didn't protest. Easing the robe open, I slid it off her shoulders and let it pool on the cool stone beneath our feet.

By the gods, she was lovely. Achingly beautiful.

Her body was sweetly made. Her small breasts with tight pink peaks pressed against the sheer lace of the shift's bodice. Her hips flared wide, which made me grunt in pleasure. It would be easier for her to take me and to bear my children.

I pulled the ribbons at her shoulders, letting the shift fall next, revealing her entirely to me. Swallowing hard, I pulled the toweling from my waist and dropped it aside. Her gaze lowered, taking me in, her mouth falling open before she squeezed her eyes shut then looked back up at me.

"How does it work?" she asked, voice quivering.

"I'll give you my vows. Then you give me yours. That comes first."

She nodded, so I took her small hands in mine and stepped closer, ignoring the painful erection between us.

"Murgha," I began softly, "I pledge you my life and my heart from this day forward. I will protect you and keep you safe always. Beneath Lumera's light, I give you my love till my dying breath."

She stared wonderingly, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Love?"

"Yes." I nodded. "Love."

"How can you speak of love? We only just met. You don't even know me."

A laugh rumbled in my chest. "I know that your kind, giving spirit will warm me on many cold nights. I know that your curious nature makes me smile. And I know that your tender, loving heart is worth cherishing. It's worth fighting for." I pressed my forehead to hers. "My heart began beating only for you since the moment I saw you in that inn. If that isn't love, then I don't know what is."

Tears streaked down her cheeks then fell away. I stepped back, waiting for her vows.

She licked her lips and lifted her chin, holding my gaze. "Vallon of House Hennawyn, I promise to care for you, to be faithful, and to…"—she paused, her heart in her eyes—"and to love only you from now and into the afterworld. I ask for Elska's blessing beneath Lumera's light to shine upon us with the gifts of marriage—enduring companionship, children if the gods wish it, and steadfast loyalty. I will never abandon you or our marriage."

This was important to her. Her mother had essentially abandoned her husband when she'd fallen for her true father. And though the mating bond was strong enough to lure her mother into infidelity, it obviously placed a mark on my Murgha. For her mother had abandoned her as well, leaving her with a parent who wasn't truly hers and who didn't truly love her.

"And I will never abandon you," I vowed.

Then I pressed my mouth to hers, sealing our vows with a tender kiss.