She Dies at the End (November Snow Book 1) by A.M. Manay

Author:A.M. Manay
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Pythoness Press
Published: 2015-08-04T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“It’s all my fault,” came Pine’s voice, despairing. “If I had just been a little faster. . .”

“Nonsense. I kept that viper in my nest for 200 years. Hazel tried to warn me, as did my children, and I wouldn’t listen. The blame is mine,” Ilyn replied, determined to take all the responsibility for November’s injury.

“It was my job to keep her safe. She trusted me. Lord William trusted me.”

Ilyn studied the young fairy sitting vigil with him. “Do you love her?” he asked in a deliberately casual tone, noticing how hard Pine seemed to be taking this turn of events.

Pine raised his eyebrows. “Yes, but not the way you mean, sir. I’m gay.”

“Ah. Do you have someone?” The king seemed uncharacteristically talkative and curious about matters of the heart that evening.

“I did. He died a few years ago. Old age. We had nearly 50 happy years together. I have the gift of illusion, so his family and friends thought I aged with him.”

"What about him? Did he knew what you are?" Ilyn sounded a bit scandalized.

"Yes. I broke the law," Pine admitted. "He was my mate. I wasn't going to lie to him his whole life, our whole life together."

“You aren't the first to break that law, I suppose." He shrugged before adding, "You won't be the last. I’m sorry for your loss, truly. You still wear the ring?”

Pine nodded, looking down at the scuffed gold band on his left hand. "I can't seem to manage to stop wearing it."

"Neither can I. And it's been centuries." The king shook his head. “Sometimes I think it’s easier for us vampires. We can make the humans we love immortal, so we can have more time. But then they can still die, and it isn’t any easier for having had more years with them.”

“Life always contains loss. I believe in finding happiness where I can, for however long it lasts,” the younger man replied philosophically.

“November said almost the same thing to me the other day.”

“Maybe that’s one reason the two of us get along so well.” The men lapsed into silence. Pine screwed up his nerve and asked his king, “Do you love her?”

He looked sharply at the much younger man. “I don’t believe that I’m capable of feeling . . . for a human . . . I know her suffering grieves me. I know I enjoy her company, which is more than I can say for anyone else since my wife died. I know her gift is remarkable. But how do I compare this child to a wife I loved for thousands of years?” Ilyn looked down at November, who looked so very small and fragile as she whimpered and trembled, insensible, in his lap.

“You don’t. You can’t. It isn’t fair to either of them.” Pine managed a half-smile as he added, “If you do pursue her, please do try not to hurt her, your grace. I’d hate to have to take a swing at you. It was all I could do not to break Lord William’s nose for leading her on.

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