Page 95 of Fate's Wicked Oath

“Parties aren’t meant to stop time, Mariana, they’re meant to make life more bearable.” Hattie poked my leg, and I snatched her wrist in a vise-like grip. She stuck her tongue out at me,wrenching her arm free. There were few who did not cow to my threats, and it seemed most of them were located in this Fates-forsaken town. “Did you enjoy the ceremony, at least?” Hattie pressed.

That, I couldn’t deny. “It was lovely.”

She clasped her hands together in a romantic gesture. “Itwas, wasn’t it? I’m so happy for them. They had to overcome so much to get to this day.”

I bobbed my head.

“They’re grateful to you, you know,” Hattie went on, crossing one leg over the other and readjusting her skirts. “For your hand in their escape from the Western Wood.”

I grunted, obscuring how touched I felt.

“Idris said you threatened him, and told him that he would owe you for the kindness, but that was a lie, wasn’t it?” She didn’t allow me the chance to counter. “You did it out of the kindness of your heart.”

“I don’t have a heart,” I told her.

“Of course you don’t.” She brushed a curl out of her face. “I’ve been working on a theory,” she continued cheerfully. “About the Well of Fate and Oaths.”

“What is it?”

“It’s…just a theory,” Hattie replied cryptically.

My hand found the dagger hidden under my dress. This was hardly a place to threaten the officiant of a wedding, but if I had to, I would.

Seeing the outline of the sheath under my skirt, Hattie tisked. “Come now, Mariana, don’t be impatient. I was about to say this: of all the Oaths and all the magics and all the alchemy, love is the most powerful.”

I wrinkled my nose. I’d felt sentimental earlier, but her cloying words were of no use to me in this matter. “That’s a stupid theory.”

“She said to the alchemist who uncovered the cure for abominations,” Hattie replied tartly.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“All this love and sweetness in the air has me feeling generous.” A shrug. “My apologies.” She stood and left, skipping over to where a pair of fire dancers were twirling ignited batons.

A growl of frustration rumbled in the back of my throat. A breeze ruffled my hair, and with a shiver, I rubbed the gooseflesh that sprouted along my bare arms. The night had brought a chill, the stars sparkling coldly overhead.

“Fates, those lines were endless,” Faren said, appearing with plates and cups balanced precariously in his hands. A bundle wrapped in twine was wedged under one arm. He held his spoils out to me as if I’d been expecting him. “For you,” he said. “Or, rather, us.”

“You were…?” I trailed off.

“Getting us drinks? Supper?” He smiled and sat next to me. “Did you think I’d abandoned you?”

Without reply, I helped him unload his haul: steaming ciders, savory hand pies, and an assortment of fruity confections for dessert. When his hands were finally free, he presented the bundle that had been tucked under his arm. I stared at it.

“Go on, I know you’re cold,” Faren said, jerking his chin at my bare shoulders.

Accepting it from his hands, I tugged at the twine, unraveling the binding. The bundle was a shawl of fine quality, woven with soft yarn in shades of brown that complimented my dress. With care, I wrapped it around my shoulders, appreciating the lush texture. My eyebrows pinched as I sat with the relentlessness of his kindness.

“Suspicious, isn’t it?” he joked.

“What?”

“You’re frowning.”

“It’s…nice.” I waved a hand at the party happening all around the bench we shared. “All of this is…nice.” It made my heart ache.

Faren reached for his supper, the wax paper crinkling as he exposed the hand pie and took a bite. “Caring about things is always a gamble.” His sentiment was heavy, yet his tone was light. “But enjoying them doesn’t mean you’re more likely to lose them.”

It was shocking, how well he’d come to know me.