I bit back my smirk. So much fighting spirit in such a small package.
Now that the lust-filled fog had left my brain, I managed a tost to keep nosy feckers from learning my business. “I spoke to my brother this morning. He’ll meet you in the garden on the night of your betrothal ball.”
She asked me why, as I knew she would, and I explained my reasons. But when she asked me how long she’d be gone, I found myself hedging. I added a piece of wood to the fire, watching the flames swallow it. “It’ll feel like you just closed your eyes.”
“That’s not an answer. Tell me.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No, I mean I physically can’t. It’s part of my brother’s curse. But I can tell you this.” I held up a single finger.
Her brows pinched. “What’s that?”
It was a feckin’ finger, obviously.
“One?” she said slowly.
I nodded.
“One day?”
If only. I shook my head.
“One week? One month? Oneyear?”
A year and a day, to be exact—same as all curses. But close enough, so I clapped.
Pebbles flew toward the fire when Aveen shot to her feet. “I’m going to be dead for a bloody year? Are you mad?”
“A lifetime of misery, a year of death, or destitution for your family. Those are your choices, are they not?”
Her brows pinched and lips pursed. “How do you know about my family’s . . . financial difficulties?”
“I make it a point to learn all that I can about those who wish to bargain with me.”It wasn’t that hard to see. The roof was in desperate need of repair, there were barely any horses in the stable, the staff was woefully small, and Aveen did all her own gardening. The last bit wasn’t necessarily an indication, but I didn’t think for a second that a proud man like Lord Bannon wouldn’t take issue with his daughter playing around in dirt if he didn’t need her to help maintain the estate.
She fell back to the stones with a huff. “Who will you torment while I’m gone?”
“Probably some orphan. Or a heartbroken widow. Or a crippled old man.”
She threw a stone at me. “You are awful.”
“I know.” More awful than she could ever imagine.
“Will you be there when I wake?”
I watched the sea, searching for merrow. Today had been a close call. Only time would tell if news of my recklessness would reach the Queen.
For the only way to save him. . .
“No. But I will ensure you are kept somewhere safe. And then you can put all this nastiness behind you and live out the rest of your short human life playing in dirt.”
That’s what she would have. A short life. Only a spark in the endless night, gone far too soon. I cursed fate again. Why hadn’t I been given an immortal soulmate instead of one that would barely exist?
“Until you come to collect your favor,” she said.
I had no intention of collecting that favor. After she died, our dealings would be through. “Right. Until then.”