Realms of Stone and Gold by C. E. Olson

Author:C. E. Olson [Olson, C. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emily Wilson
Published: 2021-08-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

As they near the edge of the Sun Court, Varis is exhausted. Not just of walking, hiding, and barely sleeping, but of trying to figure out what he did to offend Aine this time. The lack of proper alcohol isn't helping in the slightest, but that's something he's starting to get used to after weeks of traveling with the Queen. “Are you going to talk to me yet?” he asks.

“I’m not not talking to you,” she quips. “You’re the one who said we should keep the talking to a minimum when the forest is thick.”

He did say that, but they haven’t had to rummage through foliage all day, yet she still hasn’t said more than two words to him.

“And now the forest has thinned.” When she keeps walking, Varis jogs to get in front of her and stops dead, facing her. “Aine, talk to me.”

“About what?” Aine practically stomps her foot when she’s forced to stop. “About how we shouldn’t have had sex? About how you’re going to kill the King and there’s still a very high chance you end me as well? Or how about how the fact that we’re mates is so laughable to you you’d joke about it minutes after you were inside of me?” Those purple eyes widen in shock, and her jaw snaps shut just as Varis’ drops.

“That's a lot to unpack,” he says when all other words forsake him. “Should we start from the top? You kissed me first, not the other way around. You walked your little sex dreams into my head, and you're going to tell me you regret having sex with me? Also, should I remind you who put me up to killing Sontar? It wasn't my idea.” He turns slightly; not one part of him wants to address the next item, but there's one he can't ignore. “And... what was the last thing? Oh. We’re what?”

“Never mind.”

Aine attempts to walk past him, completely averting her gaze, and he doesn't stop her. He doesn't move, either. “Aine,” he says quietly as something strange spreads throughout his body. Suddenly, everything and nothing makes sense. “Come back.”

He can sense her hesitation without even looking at her, but she ultimately listens and stands in front of him once more. Varis searches her face for any sign of trickery or deceit and finds none, but what he does find makes him frown. “You hate the fact that we're mates,” he says simply. “That's why you're angry with me, really. You wish it wasn't me.”

The fact that she looks pained only confuses him further. “No, Varis. I don’t hate that it’s you. I fear it. I came on this trip knowing I would probably never go home again, but now, I can’t stop thinking about what’s to come. I hear rejection is the most painful death there is, and I—” Aine stops, tears welling in those purple eyes “—well, I don’t really want to die from rejection. Better you chop my head off and be done with it.

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