Jem awoke with a start. She looked around to find herself inside the carriage again—someone must have carried her here. She looked out of the window. The sun was low in the sky, and in the distance, Jem could see a small estate. Its buildings cast long shadows, making it look foreboding. What would her life be like there?

She looked out of the other window. Matias was sitting tall in the saddle a few paces away. Jem studied his face, trying to see any signs of weakness or fever from his injury, but he seemed whole. There was a tear in his tunic, and a dark red stain spread through the fabric. But the wound beneath was completely healed, only a faint scar in its place.

Jem sat back. Seeing Matias wield magic back at her father’s estate had been shocking, but that memory seemed trite compared to what she had witnessed this afternoon.

Five mages fighting two raveners. These strangers could shoot arrows made of light and create magical platforms in the air and wield lightning and one of them possibly had the power of invisibility? It was completely shocking. It was like someone telling you that your dreams were actually real. You couldn’t believe it until you saw it.

And even when you did see it, it was still hard to believe.

Jem thought back to what Lukka had told her about the mages. That they had been in some kind of explosion at Mt. Teluria and had absorbed their magic there. They seemed so practiced when fighting the raveners. Jem wondered if they had needed to practice their newfound powers and learn to control them, or if their instincts on how to use magic came along with the magic itself.

The carriage slowed to a stop in front of the estate. Jem took in the buildings and yard, trying to get herself to believe that she was now the lady of the house—this house. It was much smaller than her father’s estate, where she had grown up. But there was a main house, stables, and a few outbuildings. There seemed to be a small garden off to the side.

But it wasn’t exactly grand. Some of the paint was peeling from the walls of the main house, and weeds choked the walkways. One of the windows of an outer building was shattered, with jagged glass at the edges. The whole place had a feeling of age and decay about it. The property must have been without a lord for at least a year, if not longer.

Jem watched as a handful of servants lined up outside of the house. Matias swung off his horse and strode up to greet them. He didn’t turn to help Jem out of the carriage. Jem sat for a moment, unsure what to do—Tauriel’s etiquette lessons didn’t include “what to do if your husband ignores you.”

Finally, Ronar opened the door of the carriage and offered her his hand.

“Thank you,” Jem said quietly. Then she noticed the blood on his sleeve and gasped. “Are you injured?”

Ronar smiled at her. “It’s not my blood,” he replied. Jem glanced over at Matias and wondered if all the mages had the ability to heal themselves. Ronar guided her to stand at Matias’s side. He still wouldn’t look at her. The other mages stood in line a few paces behind their leader.

Jem glanced down the line of servants. There weren’t many of them. Jem counted eight. Some of them were looking wide-eyed at the bloodied clothing of their party. Jem could tell they were shocked at the gore but were trying to hide it. Some of them seemed nervous, fidgeting slightly as they stood.

“These four are all to be given their own suites,” Matias said, gesturing to the other mages. “Please prepare baths for each of them.”

An older woman, close to Jem’s father’s age, stepped forward. She wore a maid’s uniform, but she wore it as if it were a beaded gown. Every single thing about her was calm and dignified. Jem felt a twinge of envy—this is what she, Jem, was supposed to be. Not a servant, but one who took on the duties assigned to her with both grace and authority. The woman wasn’t nobility, but she conducted herself with the kind of poise Jem had always been taught the nobility should have.

The woman dropped into a curtsy before Matias. “I am Adora, My Lord,” the woman said. “I am the head housekeeper, and I shall make sure your friends have suitable accommodations.” She turned and curtsied before Jem as well. “I am at your service, as well, My Lady. Is there anything you need after your travels?”

Jem started to open her mouth to reply, but Matias cut her off, speaking for her. “We will need dinner prepared. We’ve been traveling all day.”

Adora turned to him and bowed her head gracefully. “We will see to it that you are properly fed. We took the liberty of preparing the largest suite for you, Lord and Lady Aodren.” She gave me a small, warm smile.

“Prepare separate rooms for my wife,” Matias said.

Jem’s face snapped up to Matias in shock. Separate rooms? Adora looked between Jem and Matias, trying to hide her surprise. “Forgive me, My Lord. It is usually customary for husbands and wives to share a bedchamber.”

“My wife will sleep in a separate bedchamber.” There was a note of finality in Matias’s voice.

Jem saw Adora’s questioning look, and she turned away. But it was only to see the rest of the servants gazing curiously at her. She lowered her head in embarrassment. Her husband was rejecting her again, in front of everyone. What kind of first impression were they making on their new household? Was their relationship to become the source of gossip and speculation?

Finally, Adora nodded. “Of course, My Lord. Please come inside.”

Matias followed Adora up the steps, and Jem walked slowly after them. Matias didn’t turn around to acknowledge her, or even the mages behind him. Once they were inside, a maid came and curtsied before Jem. “I’m to show you to your rooms, My Lady,” she said shyly. Jem glanced over at Matias one last time, but he had his back to her. She followed the maid up the stairs.

The maid pulled a heavy key out of her apron and unlocked a door. Jem stepped inside and looked around her. The room was dusty, and sheets covered all of the furniture. Cobwebs draped the wall sconces and mantlepiece. The maid must have seen Jem’s dismay, because she spoke quickly. “Our apologies, My Lady,” the maid said. “We’ll have a fire and fresh water in a moment. We didn’t…we didn’t know to have a separate room prepared for you.”

Jem hid a sigh. She knew the implications of her and her husband staying in separate rooms. No doubt the rest of the servants were already discussing it. The maid bustled around the room, pulling the sheets from the furniture. A few minutes later, more servants entered the room, dusting, starting the fire, filling the tub with warm water.

Jem sat on the bed, feeling useless. She unclasped her travel cloak and laid it beside her, then pulled off her gloves. She looked down at her hands and gasped. They were covered in dried blood, the dark red stain gathered beneath her fingernails and in between her knuckles.

From Matias’s wound, Jem thought grimly. She remembered the weight of his body in her arms after he had been bitten by the ravener, the hazy look in his eyes as the venom had started to enter his body. She shuddered and pushed the memory away.

Once in the bath, she scrubbed her hands hard. She dressed in the one nightgown she had brought with her. After all the servants had left, she lay in bed, wondering if she could send for her belongings, or if she would have to purchase a new wardrobe of clothes.

A knock came on the door. Jem sat up and wrapped herself in a dressing gown. But when she opened the door to her room, the hall was empty.

Another knock. Jem turned and realized that there was another door on the opposite wall. She frowned and walked toward it.

When she opened it, Matias was standing there, wearing only his night clothes. She could see another bedchamber behind him, and with a start she realized that her and Matias’s bedrooms were connected.

Why didn’t anyone tell me? Jem thought.

She looked up at Matias. There were so many new details about him now that she was intrigued by. The light hair on his chest, the hard angle of his jaw, the muscles that no dressing gown could possibly hide.

Jem met Matias’s eyes, and he suddenly stepped into the room and closed the door swiftly behind him. Before Jem knew what was happening, he pulled her into his arms.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Jem managed to stutter.

“Fulfilling my husbandly duties,” he said. Then he kissed her.