Summer of the Summoned Sword: A Lohengrin Retelling (Seasons of Music and Magic) by Sarah Beran

Author:Sarah Beran [Beran, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter ten

Hope and Resolutions

Lowen

Lowen stilled, his eyes staring out of focus at the shadows of the hedge over Elsa’s shoulder. Her words bounced and echoed in his mind, drowning out the sounds of the summer night and the splashing, gurgling sound of the fountain:

“I’ll have our marriage bond dissolved.”

The logical part of his mind argued that it was for the best, that he should be grateful that she was willing to amicably part ways if the situation didn’t work out. After all, even if he did win, it was only a matter of time before his curse was triggered and they were separated. He could only continue to pray that it wouldn’t happen until after he had made good on his promise to find her brother, or his wife would once again be in the same predicament as when he met her.

His wife.

It still felt strange to think of her that way, but Lowen couldn’t deny the fact that the longer he spent in her company, the more his connection-starved heart reached for her. His heart battled with his mind, selfishly declaring that if he only had a limited amount of time to call the noble, selfless, beautiful creature before him his own, he would make the most of it. From the moment they said their vows, he could hear the ways their heart-songs began changing, notes and lines altering to harmonize together. If they were to separate, his own song would only be half of a whole.

It wasn’t love yet—it was much too soon for that. But Lowen knew that it could be, and he had already given his word to cherish and honor her.

Dissolve the bond? No. He would fight in the tournament to win Elsa’s right to the throne, and then he would fight to win her heart every day the Almighty gave him until Lowen’s curse separated him.

But how could he plan to win her heart when he knew he had no way of protecting it? If only he knew how to be rid of the curse that plagued him…

“Green?” Elsa’s voice was quiet and hesitant.

He blinked and looked at her, his eyes tracing the way the moonlight highlighted the lines of her face and brought out a slight shimmer in her hair.

“I am a fae of my word, Elsa,” he stated quietly. “I made vows before the Almighty and I intend to keep them, no matter what happens at the tournament.”

Elsa’s brows drew together. “But what about your work? Surely you can’t mean to just give it up? There are probably already so many who need your help but won’t get it because you’re here with me.”

Lowen took a moment to consider this. Since his resolution to stay with Elsa, his heart and spirit had settled into a quiet contentment. “This is where I’m meant to be right now.”

“But what about later?”

He reached out for her hand, covering her cold, slender fingers with his own. “Then you can come with me. But Elsa.” He held her gaze.

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