Chapter 48

Rust and metal fill my nose as soon as we step out of the carriage. It appears we're in the middle of the city, the cobblestone shining in the low light of the lamp posts lining the street. Although it's late and there's not a person in sight, Acker keeps close as he escorts me to the stoop of a brick building, slamming the iron knocker against the wooden door. A sign hanging from the eave reads BLACKSMITH .

The door opens, revealing a man with dark hair and light eyes. His dark skin makes his features all the more prominent. The collar around his neck glows in the dull light.

He smiles with all his teeth. "All hail the prince," he says, bowing his head to Acker.

Acker shoves him in the shoulder. "Fuck off, you bastard, and let us in."

The man laughs and swings the door wide, pulling Acker into an embrace. "The food is fresh out of the oven," he says, eyes curious and on me.

"Wells," Acker says, taking me by the hand. "This is Jovie. Jovie, Wells."

Wells dips his head in greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He pats Acker on the back. "Olivia is excited to see you. The both of you," he clarifies.

Acker leads me through the door and into an open workshop. A giant brick fireplace is in the center of the courtyard, and soot covers the dirt ground and tables and weapons in varying stages of composition. Across the yard, we come to a second entrance, and Acker instructs me to remove my shoes. I follow Wells' lead and place my shoes next to his by the door.

"My wife would skin my hide if I tracked muck on her floor."

It's strange to enter another person's home in bare feet. It feels intimate, but I get what he means. The stone floor of the small entryway is dull but cleaned to perfection. I slide my hood back and take in the stairway and brass chandelier. The smells of food and spices fill the air.

"They're here," Wells yells upon entry, shutting the door behind us.

Acker keeps his hand locked in mine, guiding me forward with a tug. We round the corner and emerge into a dining area. A table fills the space with a total of twelve place settings, and a window against the far wall gives a view of the kitchen and the small, blonde woman behind it.

She erupts into a squeal when she sees us, shaking the mittens from her hands and disappearing, only to reappear on the other side of the kitchen entryway. "I wasn't sure what she likes, so I made a little of everything."

Acker is forced to let go of me to hug her. "As long as it's not fish."

I shoot him a scathing glare before pasting on a smile when Olivia looks at me. "I'm sure I'll love whatever it is."

"No worries," she says, hands balled into tight fists. "There are no hurt feelings in this house. "

I can tell she's struggling to hold herself back from bombarding me, but I kind of want to put her out of her misery, so I make the decision to initiate a hug. She's several inches shorter than me and I have to hunch for her to reach, but she's practically vibrating when I put my arms around her narrow shoulders.

"I'm so happy to see you," she says, squeezing me.

I glance at Acker over her shoulder, and he's all but laughing at my discomfort.

Wells rescues me by pulling her away with an arm around her waist. "Liv, babe, do you need help in the kitchen?"

"Oh, that'd be great."

Wells shares a knowing glance with Acker then winks at me as he follows his wife into the other room. Their hushed voices carry through the open window.

"…not to overwhelm her."

" She hugged me ."

Acker smiles, pulling out a chair for me at the end of the table. "She'll grow on you," he whispers in my ears when I sit.

Only visible from the shoulders up, she flits around the kitchen as she gets everything ready, instructing her husband on which dishes need to be served first.

"I like her," I say, meeting Acker's stare as he takes the seat next to me. "She's nice." Which is more than I can say for the majority of the people I've come across since being on land.

"Okay," Wells says, placing dishes on serving plates in the middle of the table. "We have roasted duck and cabbage, garlic potatoes, and green beans."

Olivia holds up two bottles of wine. "And your choice of red or white. "

Acker stands and takes the bottles from her hands. "You always spoil me, Liv. Thank you."

He pours himself a helping of the red then fills my glass as well. I pick it up and take a drink, realizing too late that it's terrible and there's no way I'm going to be able to swallow it. I look around at their expectant faces and deposit the liquid back into the glass. They all laugh at my expense.

"That's terrible," I say, wiping the liquid from my chin. "Maybe worse than mead."

"Nah," Wells says, sitting across from Acker. "You're just used to mead. Same goes for wine. It's an acquired taste."

Olivia retrieves another glass and pours an extra helping of the white. "I prefer my drinks a little cleaner," she says, handing me the spare glass. "Try this."

I hum my agreement after I take a sip, a very conservative one. "Still not great, but better," I agree.

Olivia smiles at my honesty. "I'm not much of a drinker myself."

"That's because you can't handle more than a glass before you start taking your clothes off," Wells says.

She smacks him with the back of her hand and waves a hand over the table. "Let's eat."

My mouth waters at the steaming food as I wait to dish out my servings. Acker cuts and places a portion of duck on my plate, and I can't deny that it chips away at the lingering frustration I'm struggling to hold on to toward him.

We're all consumed by digging into our meal, the sound of silverware meeting the porcelain plates filling the space.

"Everything is delicious," I say, holding my fork laden with beans. "Do they grow this green?"

She smiles at my question. "Usually. Why?"

I shove them in my mouth, savoring the flavor with a shake of my head. "Fresh fruit and vegetables are hard to come by in Alaha," I explain. "They're often dehydrated for preservation."

There's an awkward moment where Olivia and Wells send looks at Acker, but it's quickly forgotten as the conversation moves on to other topics, like the commissions Wells has been working on and Olivia's herb garden. They ask about Acker's travels before he had set off to find me after the Market. I never thought to inquire, but his answer is short.

"I spent the spring in Strou."

It's enough to settle their curiosity, and they move to a more interesting subject: the uncommonly high level of summer storms they've been experiencing. I watch the way they interact, the ease they have with each other, and it makes me miss the comfort of my friends. Kai, or hell, Messer as a freaking bird would be pleasant enough.

I wait for a lull in the conversation to speak. "How do you all know each other?"

Acker and Wells share a subdued look, but it's Acker who answers. "Wells was one of the five I left training with."

Understanding dawns as I look back at Wells.

He seems mildly surprised by Acker's candid answer but does a good job of covering it with a pleasant grin. "I saved his life."

"Bullshit," Acker snarks. "I saved your life."

They go back and forth over their differing opinions, and Olivia shoots me a look that sums up their bickering: Men. It's not until after dinner when all the plates have been cleared that the focus of conversation shifts in my direction.

"So, Jovie," Wells says, throwing an arm over the back of his wife's chair. "How've things been since you arrived at the palace?"

I thumb the stem of the wine glass. "Well," I say, glancing at Acker as he leans with an ankle relaxed over a knee. "It's… different , as many things are on land."

"I imagine it's a bit of a culture shock," Olivia says, leaning against Wells' side.

I tilt my head. "If we're putting it politely."

"The ‘welcome' home didn't help," Acker says.

Wells waves a dismissive hand. "Your father has hunted down every last one of the inciters. They're hanging on the wall as we speak, so I doubt you'll have any more issues with naysayers."

Acker shifts in his seat, eyes sliding to me.

"What is it?" Wells asks, sensing the tension.

"I didn't want to say anything until I spoke to my father, but his whereabouts are unknown at the moment." Leaning forward, Acker deposits his glass on the table then turns his head to look at me. There's something unspoken in the gaze before he looks back at them. "Jovie and I are matched."

Olivia's gasp drowns out Wells' curse, but they're both out of their chairs in the next second. Tears are welling in Olivia's eyes, and Wells looks…

Wells looks terrified. Elated, but terrified.

Olivia storms around the table and throws herself around Acker's shoulders, tears escaping down her face. "I told you."

Acker rubs small, reassuring circles on her back. "I know you did," he says, voice tight. "You were right all along."

"Right about what?" I asks.

She pulls out of Acker's arms and dabs at her eyes. "About you being his match."

"She told me when we were children," Acker says.

I stumble over my words. "I—wait, you knew me when we were children?"

"I did, yes," she says, mellowing some. "My family used to be nobility, so we spent many summers together when your family came to visit."

"That explains your request for an impromptu dinner date," Wells says, finally coming to after the shock of it all. He slides back into his chair, eyes jumping between me and Acker.

"I didn't want to risk the news getting out before I'm able to call off my betrothal to Irina, but it's only a matter of time before she hears about my nights spent in Jovie's bed."

I stare at Acker in irritation, already knowing there's no stopping the heat from coloring my complexion.

Olivia tries and fails to hide her grin. "It's the one and only thing I don't miss about court."

"You said your family used to be nobility?"

Her eyes slide to her husband's. Wells holds out a hand to her, and she walks into his embrace, sitting on his thigh.

"Wells is from a merchant family, so our marriage was frowned upon."

Wells glances at Acker, and there's a noticeable unease in the look. Acker releases the tension in his jaw and gives me his undivided attention, dark eyes all the more mesmerizing in the soft light of candles flickering from above.

"Wells' lack of inheritance could have been overlooked if Olivia hadn't awakened. Breeding between Heirs and commoners is considered blasphemous to most within the royal court."

I shake my head. "That's absurd."

"It is," Acker agrees. "I've been working with my father's council to advocate for more acceptance of marriages between the gifted and giftless."

"How's that been working out for you?" Olivia asks, tone dry.

Acker's silence is answer enough.

"Anyway, here we are, happy and married regardless of those bigots," Wells says, kissing Olivia's cheek with a flourish. "Mother Nature knew what she was doing when she matched us."

I start. "You're matched?"

Olivia beams as if she's revealing it for the very first time. "We are."

Looking toward Acker, I debate revealing the book I hid under my mattress but decide against it. "I thought bonds only happened between Heirs."

"It's what is taught," Wells says. "And it's why Liv and I keep our bond under wraps. No one knows about it besides Acker and Hallis—and, I suppose, now you."

The implication is clear: I need to keep this secret as well.

"I was hoping you could share your insight," Acker says. "There's a lot we don't know about matching bonds."

Olivia and Wells share a look, and it's a full conversation without words, I'm convinced of it. There's a knowing, teasing glint in their eyes that makes me feel like I'm invading their privacy by witnessing it. I look at Acker, thinking he's as uncomfortable as I am, but he's staring at me, unaware of the conversation we're not privy to.

"Well," Olivia says, moving to her own seat once again. "What stage of the bond are you in?"

Acker and I are equally stumped by the question.

"You've at least reached a point in the match where you've both become aware of it, yes?"

I nod.

"Yes," Acker voices.

"Okay, so there's always going to be one who accepts the bond before the other."

Neither one of us needs to speak because the answer is written in the space between the two of us. Physically and emotionally, there's a clear disconnect. Olivia and Wells have both seen it since our arrival, but it's even more pronounced with Acker's blithe announcement.

"In our case," Olivia says, placing a gentle hand on her husband's thigh. "Wells refused to acknowledge the bond for months and months. It was truly the epitome of stubbornness."

"I was a stupid, adolescent boy, Liv. You're going to have to forgive me sometime in our lifetime," he says.

"In his defense," Acker says, "you were pretty terrifying."

Olivia is outraged by the accusation, eyes swinging to me. "Does anything about me scream scary to you?"

I smile, because while the answer is no…it is also yes. But I'm obviously going to take her side. "Not in the slightest."

Olivia looks at them as if to say, See.

"Not everyone was born with your assuredness, Liv," Acker says. "You've got to cut teenage Wells some slack. I once watched him forget how to tie his shoes."

Wells points at Acker. "I was hungover and you know it."

Acker raises his hands in defense. "I'm just saying, I've never had that problem."

"Anyway," Olivia says, getting everyone back on track. "With a one-sided acceptance, the bond will force you together."

"Like the dreams," I say.

"Oh, so you're at the beginning," Wells says.

"The beginning?" Acker asks.

"Dreams are only the start," he says. "It's as if the bond refuses to take no for an answer. The dreams will eventually trap you inside of them to keep you together, if they haven't tried to already."

I shake my head. A new sensation begins taking root in my chest—fear, I realize.

"They will if you're not careful. It's impossible to wake you, and it leaves your body vulnerable. Then it was on day three without sleep when my mind left me while I was totally conscious."

"Hit the ground like a sack of potatoes in the middle of training," Acker says.

Wells smirks, but it's filled with warning. "I couldn't find my way back for an entire day."

"Will the same happen with the mind jumps?" I ask.

Wells' eyebrows pull together in confusion. "Mind jumps?"

"She means melding, kind of like an oracle," Acker clarifies. "She can see from my perspective, and sometimes I can see hers."

"I don't think that's a matching bond thing," Wells says.

Olivia lifts a shoulder. "Hard to say. We've only met one other match before, and their experience was similar in a lot of ways, but also different. I think the fact that Wells and I were teenagers played a huge part in it."

"No impulse control," Wells says, making a face.

Olivia smiles. "Also, we had limited contact with each other due to living apart and my parents disapproving of our friendship."

"You never told them?"

Her smile turns sad. "They disowned me when they realized I wasn't going to awaken."

Wells rubs a hand along the length of her back as support, but he doesn't offer any platitudes.

"I'm sorry," I say, feeling inadequate.

"It's not your fault," she says. "Plus, Acker's made their stay at the palace as minimally palatable as possible."

Acker reaches for his wine and takes a drink. "I'll be happier when my father strips them of their titles."

"Hate to break it to you, but I don't think it'll happen until you're the one sitting on the throne," Wells says.

I lift my brows at the implication, looking at Acker to gauge his reaction, but he maintains a mask of passiveness at the prospect.

Olivia breaks the moment of disquiet by announcing dessert and returns from the kitchen with a chocolate cake. Wells cuts and serves the slices, declaring it a celebration cake for the happy couple—me and Acker. It's said in jest, but the lack of enthusiasm on my part can't be missed.

Still, the cake is delicious, and the conversation shifts to easier topics, like what it's like living on the water and what training is like for the guard. They listen and ask questions when I run out of words.

"Thank you for accepting me into your home," I say when Acker announces our departure. "The meal, the company, everything was amazing."

"We've loved having you," Olivia says, pulling me into another hug. "You're welcome any time." She holds me at arm's length and looks me in the eyes when she repeats the sentiment. "Any time."

I dip my head in a nod. "Thank you."

"I'll walk you out," Wells says, reaching for his shoes.

Acker stops him with a hand on his shoulder. "Stay. Keep the floors clean."

Harold is waiting for us at the carriage when we return. The ride back to the palace is silent aside from the wheels against the cobblestone and the horse's hooves. Acker leans against the far seat, elbow propped against the window, running the back of his knuckles across the seam of his mouth. His face is blank, but I see the worry underneath.

"What are you thinking?"

He doesn't move, eyes heavy on me as they slide my way. "You already don't want this."

My heart skips a beat. "I never said I—"

"You don't have to. I can see it. Beau can see it." He drops his elbow and stares at me. "And I never wanted to rush you to accept it, but now I'm faced with the reality that I might not be able to keep you safe if you don't."

I can practically feel his turmoil humming through the cabin. "I've never felt pressure from you, Acker, and that means more to me than you know. But…I can't ac cept a match who doesn't trust me enough to be honest with me."

A crease forms between his brows.

"You hid the bond from me, your betrothal, and you knew how your people would react to me yet you let me go in blind. Then I find out Irina is at court." It's my turn to look out the window, not wanting to see the truth in his eyes when I say, "You would never have done those things if you didn't have doubts."

The city is cast in shadow, empty aside from the critters taking advantage of the abandoned streets. I hear him shift in his seat before I feel a featherlight touch at my knee. Looking down, I watch as he slides his fingers forward until they link with mine, pulling my hand into his. I look up and am met with Acker's soft gaze, softer than I've ever seen before.

"Know this, Jovie: I have zero doubts when it comes to you. You heard Olivia—I've always known you were it for me. I may have thought I lost you for a while, but I knew no one would ever take your place." Bracing his elbows on his knees, he brings my hands to his lips, eyes closing as he holds them there. "I'm sorry I made you doubt me ," he says, eyes staring up at me.

I can feel my heartbeat in my throat, and I swallow in an effort to force it down before speaking. "Promise me you won't keep things from me."

"I promise," he says, voice low.

My chest nearly caves in with my next exhale, and I lean forward to kiss him. He meets my lips with a sweet, melodic pull, his hands holding my face to savor the kiss. It's all-consuming and dizzying in the best way.

There's a loud bang on the front of the carriage that breaks us apart. "We're here, my highness. "

Acker licks his lips and slides back into his seat, hand still intertwined with mine in my lap. "Thank you, Harold."

I look at the window and see the arching gates to the palace up ahead. It's easier to take in since we're not barging through at breakneck speeds like before, and I'm able to get a clearer view of the cages hanging along the palace walls. I realize what I thought were animals are not animals at all.

They're people.