33. Maeyve

Iabsentmindedly stroked Anevae's hair as I stared out the carriage's window. After about twenty minutes, her breathing evened, and I knew she was asleep, comfortable, and safe in my lap. I let out a long sigh, leaned back, and closed my eyes.

There was so much going through my mind that I wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep. The biggest concern plaguing my mind was how the king would react to the news that I had mated his granddaughter. Would he be as stunned as I was that we were able to do so? Would he be disgusted by our union? Even if I weren't a half-breed, I couldn't provide Anevae with the heir he desperately desired. Same-sex relationships were common in Caellaias, but I'd never seen them publicly amongst the royal family.

It was within his power to separate us if he saw fit. I had heard rumors of magic users powerful enough to sever mate bonds, and I had no doubt that King Casimir would hire one if he were angry enough. Then, there was always the possibility that he would try to turn Anevae against me. I didn't think he would be successful. After all, Casimir had been so terrible to Cordilaen that she had fled the entire realm and lied to her children for decades.

King Casimir hadn't even bothered to try to talk to Anevae before he attempted to kidnap her. Sure, as king, he was used to getting his way, but a little diplomacy tends to go a long way. Did he just want to bring her to him so she wouldn't fight or question him? She likely wouldn't have understood what was going on and would have been scared out of her mind. Maybe he assumed that her parents had turned them against him, and this was the only way to get to her.

I wasn't even sure how he had found Anevae in the first place. She had barely been in her new home a week when Emrhys attempted to steal her away. He had to have some knowledge of the girls if he was able to locate her that quickly with the wards and Cordilaen's glamour magic.

Looking down, I admired the perfect woman lying in my lap. She looked so serene lying there, oblivious to what we could encounter when we entered the castle. She hadn't been exposed to this world like I had; she didn't understand how cruel some of these beings could be. During my time in Maiviraea, I'd heard how cruel her grandfather was from others, but had he changed since I'd been gone?

Tears welled in my eyes. For the first time in years, I was scared. I feared the happiness I found with Anevae would be ripped away from me, and I would feel the emptiness that plagued me when I fled from Caellaias all those years prior.

Continuing to stroke her hair with one hand, I moved the other to cup her rosy cheek. I would fight to keep her by my side at all costs. My life had started to turn around and mean something since she had entered it. My days no longer blurred together; every day was an adventure with her. I never, ever thought I'd find love after all the things I went through at the brothel.

One of my tears landed on her cheek, and I hurried to wipe it away. I didn't want to wake her. She needed the rest, and I didn't want her to worry about me; she had enough to worry about with her sister being taken.

Looking out the window again, I wiped the tears from my eyes. We were gaining distance from Ceraias, but the forest kept steady to the East. It extended into Eirvanna, stopping just outside the castle walls.

With Calli's estimations, we'd make it to Castle Rilvara by midday the following day. Running into her had been pure luck, but I was thankful for it nonetheless. I appreciated her help in arranging a carriage to get us to the castle. It kept us hidden from sight and sped up our travel significantly. Getting to Eiri quickly was critical. We both dreaded the long walk, but I knew she'd do whatever it took to get her sister home.

A few hours after the sun had set behind the horizon, I finally began feeling sleepy. Judging by the wide open fields ahead, we were nearing the border of Eirvanna, which meant we were about halfway to the castle. Anevae had barely stirred in my lap for the entirety of the ride; I was glad she was able to sleep so soundly.

My anxiety about entering the fae territory plagued me, preventing me from sleeping. I'd never been there and had very little interaction with the fae while in the brothel. One of the other women there was part fae, but she'd never lived in Eirvanna, and she had been abandoned as a child by her birth parents. Most clients who entered the brothel were shifters due to our location, but I'd heard the other women say the fae weren't often found outside Eirvanna. No one ever told me why, but I assumed it had to do with the status of the fae society.

When my heavy eyelids could no longer stay open, I rested my head against the side of the carriage. It was unlikely that we would encounter anyone this far from any of the cities, which was a comforting thought.

I slept lightly, awakening at every little sound, and when the sun began to rise, I was wide awake again.