The Fae King's Ruin

Apology

"I'm sorry," Aislin murmured dejectedly. 

She sat gingerly— almost hesitating— on the edge of an armchair in Avery's parlor. She had come to him straight after dinner, choosing to delay her conversation with Aelthrys for this, needing to make sure that none of her actions tonight had offended him.

No one had to tell Aislin that she had made a mistake, that she should not have lost control over her temper like that in front of the people that she was trying to win over. Even if she was defending her cousin, she should have just overlooked the comment that was made. After all, she let the one Avery unwittingly made slide.

But that guilt was what propelled her to want to make her right her wrong. She wanted to let Aelthrys know that she was on his side, despite being the reason that her cousin was in this sticky predicament in the first place. And after hearing the plan on a Seelie attack earlier, she could not help but be a little bit on the defensive. 

None of those made what she did right, however, hence the apology.

Avery sighed, pouring them both drinks in scotch glasses, handing one to her before saying, “It could have gone worse.” He took a sip and sat on the couch beside her. “Grishan could have walked out and taken offense. Elena could have cried or made a nasty rebuttal that could have set off even me. Calix could have felt that his duchess’ honor was being challenged and defended it in a duel on her behalf. But none of those things happened, so I am considering the night as a success.”

She frowned, staring at him with equal parts confusion and disbelief. “‘A success’?” she parroted. “I have effectively estranged the only set of in-laws I will have with you, who are infinitely much better than the ones you will have with me, by the way. And I might have just destroyed any chance of getting the Montfoltiers to accept Catteline and Aelthrys’ marriage to each other. How is that a success?”

“Look,” he said seriously. “They are family. They might disagree and go be all overprotective of Catteline, but they would never overstep by undermining a decision that is already up to the Great Council.”

“But what about our relationship with them?” Aislin chewed on the bottom of her lip, her stomach twisting into knots. “They are leaving the day after tomorrow. Aelthrys and I would need longer than that to make any kind of significant progress with them.”

Avery chuckled, finishing off his glass and getting up to top himself off. “You two don’t need to do anything. From the looks of it, Catt already has it handled.”

“Yes, by threatening to pull rank,” Aislin replied with a roll of her eyes. “I don’t like it, Avery.”

He dropped a kiss on her hair. “None of us do, dear.”

She pinched her lips together. He was being far too light about this for some reason and she did not like it one bit. Where was the anger— the reproach for doing what she did? Aislin did not feel like she deserved how calm and blasé he was being about the catastrophe that was their family dinner.

But she did lean back on the armchair, scooting over so Avery could scoop her onto his lap. He put his forehead on hers, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. His warm hand came up, cupping her cheek as she lost herself completely in golden irises.

“Will you believe me when I promise you that everything will be fine?” he whispered. “That Grishan, his wife, and Calix do not have to be your concern?”

She pouted. “Eventually, yes,” Aislin said, conceding. “But is it wise to leave it up to time? We are getting married in a matter of months and I am assuming that Aelthrys and Catteline’s wedding will not come long after that. I don’t have much time to see if they would want us to grovel or not.”

Avery reared his head back to be able to look at her better. “First of all, a simple apology will be more than sufficient, not that you need to issue one in the first place. Second, under no circumstances will you grovel to anyone. Do you understand me?”

Aislin nodded timidly, sighing as her shoulders drooped dejectedly. “I understand.”

“Good,” he replied, nodding once. “No Queen of the Faes bows to anyone less than them.”

He kissed her, meaning for it to be light and chaste. But Aislin grabbed the front of his dress shirt and deepened the kiss. She granted him entrance into her mouth, his tongue sweeping as he met with hers. He consumed the fire that burned within her, willingly taking what he gave. Avery’s fingers twisted in her hair, making her gasp in both pain and pleasure. Her whole body tightened in anticipation as his lips trailed kisses down to the line of her jaw, going lower as the sleeves of her dress unraveled to show her collarbones.

“Avery,” she sighed softly, biting her lip so the name came out a bit mangled. “Slow down.”

She felt him smirk against the hollow base of her neck. “You don’t sound too sure about that.”

Aislin whimpered as his fingers pinched her n*pple through the fabric of her dress. “I am,” she whispered weakly, surprised that her thoughts have not completely melted away yet. “But you are not playing fair. And Aelthrys is waiting for me.”

He scoffed. “Me? Not playing fair? You were the one who grabbed me.”

With lust-heavy lids, Aislin summoned all of her willpower to gently push on his shoulders. She squirmed on his lap, making his already soulful eyes turn into the stare of a man burning with desire, and stopped immediately once she saw his response. 

“Look,” she murmured. “It’s not like we won’t get there, won’t we? I just need you to wait a bit.”

Avery frowned at her. “Aislin, I can wait until the stars start crashing down on us for you. I’m not impatient for s*x. I’m merely weak.” A finger stroked her cheek. “I cannot get enough of you, but that does not mean I will not honor your wishes. If you need to go, then we shall bid each other good night and see each other in the morning. Right?”

She smiled, slow and shy and ultimately grateful. “Right.” Kissing him one last time full on his mouth, she whispered, “Sweetest of dreams, my King.”

With simples puckering his cheeks, he mumbled in reply, “Sweetest of dreams, love.”

Aislin fixed her clothes and hair and got off Avery’s lap despite all of her body’s protestations and not wanting to leave his side. But she had things to discuss with her cousin and they were important enough to set aside her relationship with Avery for now. 

But knowing that she was getting ahead of the case did not do anything good for Aislin’s peace of mind. Because somewhere deep in the castle, someone was plotting against her and she would move heaven and hell first before they laid a finger over the people she had vowed her life to.