A Court of Shift and shadow

XXIV

Galads POV:

Her back was a mess, in the darkness I could still see the outline of the scars. Katie was asleep, her breath calm. It was hard to see her like that, to hear her voice break as she told me about Casandra, and her family. She had a family, a brother and a mother. Her entire life had been turned upside down, and on top of that she had accepted the bond. A bond that right now keeps me awake. It was accepted, it was there between us like a bridge, but not flowing, not active. Like she still couldn't accept it full out. And I would not force her, I had already forced her to accept it by telling her my feelings. By telling her that we were mates.

It was not hard to be close to her like this. To wait, to get to know her before taking things further. That she had not gotten kissed before, and as a result... I turned from her, letting my mind travel. I had not been intrested in sex. Or anything like that since I first saw her, blaming it on the situation with Mor. But before that...

Cauldron I had been with lovers left right and centre, just this last fall had I been with a fae female a couple of times. It had been good, but I had made it a rule not to stay with anyone more than three times. To not have any longer relationships, it was a bad idea to bring anyone into the circle unnecessarily. Dad had figured things out almost immediately when we had entered the room. And I had told him that we didn't want to say it out loud until later. He had understood, but I am sure he had told mom directly for her eyes had changed.

Now that I was aware of all things going on inside Katies head. Her wish to wait was more than reasonable, and I could wait. I closed my eyes, trying to sleep. Katies breathe a steady sound, in... Out... In... Out... It wasn't hard to be near her, but it was hard not to be aware that I was near her. Her body, a warm present at my side. Her wildflower scent in my nose. And her breath, in and out. Just a month ago I had believed that she was going to die, that her existence in this world was over. Elaine's words had made her leave, and go through a tourtur worse than anything I could think of. To learn about the poison, to learn about her family. Next time I saw Elain I needed to say some well-chosen words about that.

Sleep never came, just some rest in the darkness. The morning sun came in via the window, making the room glow in the first beams of sunlight. Katie turned, her green eyes meating mine. A soft smile on her lips.

"Did you get any sleep?" She asked. Her hand travelled up my arm.

"Not much... But I managed." I said back, taking her hand in mine. The scars on them are so small and soft compared to the ones on her back.

"Because of me?" She whispered. I kissed her hand.

"No. It was just thinking that kept me awake." She seemed to believe me a little. "Like the fact that the meeting is on two days..." Katie gasped, sitting up. I concentrated on keeping eye contact. Not fully trusting my body not to tense up at the sight of her body.

"And you are telling me this now?" She grabbed a blanket and got up.

"Hey..." I followed "We didn't want you to be stressed over a deadline that didn't matter to us." I said. But it sounded stupid.

"Even if I'm not the heir anymore, isn't my pressens in that meeting required? I am related to him in blood. I can never escape that." It was not anger in her voice, but upset and fear.

"It was wrong of us to hide it..." I said, slowly letting my hands touch her arms "But the mountain will not punish him if you don't come. It will know that things are changing."

"I am not worried for him..." Her voice a rasp whisper "But for me..." she was trembling. "If I don't show up, what will happen to me? Or my brother..." A blood relative was required, if no mate exited. That was what the first invitation said.