Fae of the East by E. Hall

Author:E. Hall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy romance, paranormal romance, fae romance, sweet fantasy romance, clean fantasy romance, clean paranormal romance, sweet paranormal romance, vampires, shifters, split world
Publisher: E. Hall
Published: 2021-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Asher

It’s nearly dawn. Elsie’s eyes twinkle in the golden light. In my eyes, I want her to see that I hear the thunder, the elnord, drawing me to her, but I cannot give in. I will deny it until my dying breath. It’s not because I don’t want her.

It’s because I’m not worthy of her.

I’m not good enough for her sweet gaze, her lips, her kindness, and especially not her trust. If only I could go back in time, if things were different, but I wouldn’t have it that way either. I did what I had to do to protect Sigge and I’d do it all over again if I had to. My loyalty runs deep, but I’m afraid I don’t have enough for both of them and my brother came first. I had to protect him from the kind of king he’d have become and I have to protect Elsie from the king I have become.

The sun shines overhead. The black spot on its rim is a reminder of the dark work I’ve done.

A light breeze murmurs an invitation toward the mountains. I pick up a handful of dirt, inhale, and then cough. We’re on the right path for sure and if my tracking abilities are any indication, the warriors will be behind us before long.

Although I’ve seen this scenery filtered through my lessons as a young elf, being out here in the open and away from the trappings of the castle is like a warm, bubbling pot of stew, the underside of furs and blankets, and Elsie’s smile. It’s beautiful and comforting in its wildness. Yet, it’s none of that. The crisp fallen leaves, the earthen scent of decay and renewal, and wet stones have a unique scent. It’s familiar, different, a surprise, but also exactly what I expect.

Lonely shrubs populate the mossy mud and earth. The branches are tender and fragile as we move farther from the forest.

My chest aches as though the mountain hovering in front of me already crumbled, burying me beneath the rubble. I don’t know what would be worse, that or giving into the craving from the crown on my head for darkness.

After another day’s journey, we reach the impossibly tall mountains. From the edge of the Nouliv, I could see the range of its peaks, but now they hide in a bank of clouds. Except for the whipping wind high above, it’s quiet much like the forest before we brought it back to life with the rustling of leaves, the snap of branches, and low sounds of creatures hidden from view.

Soren sizes up the mountain as if it’s something to be defeated. “When I was younger, Bjorn and Trotter would tell tales of the kings and battle arms going on quests and returning with riches and stories of success. I never thought it would be this difficult, fraught with so much peril and uncertainty. I imagined the heroes riding off into the sunset and returning triumphant. I knew there were battles

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