Riley flinched. “I didn’t want to hurt her. But-“
“But you did,” he cut her off ruthlessly. “Did you know that she was pregnant? Did you care? Your hex caused a car accident that could have killed her or her child, and yet you kept on going. How is that justice?”
“No,” Riley said, and Allie could feel how genuinely upset she was at the idea. She felt an unexpected surge of sympathy for the other woman, and shook herself slightly.
“Bleidd, ease off a little or you’re going to hurt her,” Allie said, suddenly realizing that the sword was continuing to slowly press downward. He shook his head slightly and Allie bit her lip.
“I already hurt her,” he said.
“Bleidd, please. Don’t. You were right to stop me before. Don’t do this now.”
“What’s going on?” Sam asked, still curled on the ground, blind.
“Sam,” Allie said slowly. “I need the handcuffs.”
“Sure,” he said. “They’re in my jacket pocket.”
Allie eased back over to Sam, her eyes on Bleidd. “Bleidd please,” she said this time directly into his mind. “Let the Law handle her. At this point our child will be an adult before she gets out of prison.”
“You trust the human legal system?” he asked her, his emotions boiling. On some instinctive level she knew that standing over Riley with his sword at her throat was focusing his anger in a dangerous way, and she moved faster to get the handcuffs.
“At this point, yes,” she said, trying to project every soothing emotion she could. “This isn’t just about us anymore. She attacked Sam when he tried to arrest her. The police really frown on that kind of thing.”
Pulling the handcuffs out of Sam’s jacket she moved back to Riley. “Bleidd, let me put the cuffs on her.”
At first she thought he wasn’t going to, she could see his hands going white on the sword hilt, could feel the terrible emotional struggle. So she spoke again into his mind, “There’s been enough vengeance around here, and what good has it done? Let her go and stay with us.”
She was next to him then, and she knelt down as if she was confident that he would back off even though she was terrified that she was about to watch him murder the helpless woman. She managed, somehow, to get the first cuff on and only then did he step back, the sword disappearing with the motion. She wrestled Riley’s other hand up and fastened the second cuff, eliciting a small moan from the woman as her magical ability was temporarily cut off.
“I think her hands are supposed to be behind her back,” he said.
“Yeah well,” Allie said, wiping sweat off her forehead. “Cut me some slack I’ve never handcuffed anyone before.”
She watched the ghost of a smile cross his face but the expected joke never came. In the distance she heard sirens and Sam groaned. “That better be back up. And an ambulance.”
“I think the cavalry is about to arrive Sam,” Allie said, giving up any pretense at dignity and sitting on the ground.
“Good,” he said, sounding as tired as Allie felt. Bleidd still stood uneasily over Riley. “But when they get here can we pretend that I didn’t get sucker spelled in the face please?”
Even Bleidd snorted at that, before saying, “The Fey never lie Sam.”
“I don’t suppose you could just smile and nod and let me handle the lying then?” he said with a bit of his usual spirit.
Allie laughed out loud at that and soon the two men joined in.
When backup did indeed arrive they found Riley bleeding and handcuffed and the other three exhausted but still laughing in a helpless sort of way.
**********************************
Late that afternoon Bleidd pulled back up to the house, parking in his usual spot. They both sat in the car making no move to get out.
“I’m glad Sam’s going to be okay,” Allie said finally, listening to the birds in the yard.
“I’m glad I broke that woman’s jaw,” Bleidd said, calmly.
Allie sighed, but couldn’t keep from smiling. “Okay. Fair enough. I’m glad you didn’t kill her.”
“Are you really?”
“Yeah, I really am,” she said. “If you’d killed her it would be you sitting in jail right now waiting to be extradited, although you’d be waiting for the Guard to pick you up not the state police. And I think we both know how badly that would end.”
“You don’t think we have to worry about her coming back? Or someone else in her family?” he asked quietly.
Allie sighed again. “She was wrong Bleidd. Wrong to blame you the way she did and wrong to hex us the way she did. She’s the bad guy here not you. You have to believe that.”
She could feel him pulling away from her, and it worried her. She unclipped her seatbelt and leaned over, reaching out to stroke his face, “Hey, I mean it. You are not the bad guy here.”
“Allie-“
“You are not the bad guy.”
“Everything that happened, happened because of me,” he said softly.
“No,” she said still caressing his cheek. “Everything happened because of one young woman who decided that revenge was the same as justice and that hurting people now would fix something that happened 60 years ago.”
“Because of something I did 60 years ago.”
She shook her head. “It could just as easily have been Jess, something Jess did in the Guard, someone seeking revenge on him. It could be the Dark Court trying to hurt me again. Life is a dangerous chancy thing sometimes. But today we won.”
“I suppose we did,” he said, although she didn’t think he was convinced.
“Well here we are at home, and the person who was causing our problems is in jail waiting a trial on, like, a dozen pretty serious charges,” Allie said. “I’d say that’s winning.”
He nodded then leaned over and kissed her lightly before sliding out of the car. She followed suit, taking extra care as she got out of the car and walked across the yard. The last thing she needed now was to trip on her own feet. She wrapped her arm around Bleidd’s waist, doing her best to match his stride. “So speaking of winning, how are we going to explain all this to Jess?”
At that his mood did lighten a bit and he smiled. “I’m looking forward to it actually. It will make quite a good story, especially the part about you handcuffing someone.”
She rolled her eyes, and gave him a squeeze. “Don’t get any ideas. I have my limits and bondage is where I draw the line.”
He laughed, “Don’t draw any lines until you try it…at least once.”
She shook her head, then sobered. “Bleidd?”
He chuckled, “I was only kidding about the handcuffs Allie. Unless you decide you want to.”
She bumped into him lightly as they walked. “I want to ask you something if you can be serious for a minute.”
“I’ll try.”
She paused as they reached the steps of the house. “Remember when I mentioned…umm…when we were talking about me marrying Jess and being with you too, and possible solutions to that?”
He tilted his head, giving her his full attention, “I remember.”
“It’s just…” she stumbled, nervous, then just blurted it out. “Do you want to marry me?”
He blinked at her in surprise. “You were serious about the polyandry then?”
She shrugged, afraid now that he was trying to find a way to say no. “It really is the best solution, under the circumstances. If you’re okay with it.”
He looked thoughtful for so long she started to feel nauseous. Then he cracked his usual cocky grin. “Of course I’ll marry you. And I want it noted for the record that you asked me I didn’t have to resort to asking you and forcing you to take me out of pity.”
She rolled her eyes so hard at that it hurt a little, knowing he was referring to the fact that Jess had flaunted elven tradition by asking her to marry him in desperation when his family was planning to marry him off to someone else. Usually it was the woman’s place to ask the man, and even t
hat was a formality dependent on his family accepting the marriage contract; marriages were really negotiated between women with the man’s consent little more than window dressing. “What record? Who’s keeping a record?”
“Oh there’s a record,” he laughed, pulling her with him up the stairs. “Right here in my head.”
She snorted, hoping he didn’t tease Jess too badly over this.
“Of course you realize it all depends on whether Jess’s family will allow you to take a second husband under the terms of their contract,” he said as they walked through the door
Allie shrugged, “Let me worry about that – I’ll find a way to make them accept it.”
“Knowing you, I believe it,” he said. As they walked into the house Bleidd called out loudly, “Hey Jason, guess what?”
“Bleidd!” Allie said, but she was laughing as she said it. Jess and Brynneth were in the living room, Jess looking much better today, although still pale and tired. He saw the joy shining on Bleidd’s face and smiled. Jason walked in behind them from the kitchen looking curious. Meeting Allie’s eyes Jess asked, “Did you catch them?”
“We did, and she’s sitting in jail as we speak,” Allie said smiling. “But I told Bleidd that he could tell the story.”
Glancing at Bleidd his expression softened, “You asked him?”
Brynneth looked curiously between the three of them as Allie’s smile widened. “I did.”
“I said yes,” Bleidd said. “Although why she wants two husbands is beyond me.”
Jess ignored the joke and smiled widely, “I’m glad.”
“Oh my wow,” Jason said, clearly thrilled. “This is so exciting. I’m not sure its legal in the human world, but I guess it doesn’t need to be. Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” Allie said, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in weeks.
“Well that’s it, the hexer’s been captured, you guys are all engaged, tonight we celebrate. What should I cook?” Jason said.
“You always cook Jase, let’s get take out this time,” Allie said.
“Dynasty Moon?” Bleidd suggested.
“Perfect,” Jason agreed. “I’ll call the order in. Let me go get a menu.”
Allie went over and sat down next to Jess, leaning her head against his shoulder, as Bleidd began to recount the story of how they’d finally caught Riley.
I can get used to this she thought still smiling. So much has changed, but I could get used to this life. I’m actually excited to see what tomorrow brings.
Epilogue
Salarius pulled the hood of his sweatshirt down lower over his face as he walked down the street, the bag of groceries swinging against his leg. It was a useless, paranoid gesture but he couldn’t stop himself. No one on the street looked twice at the young Dark court elf as he passed, because no one cared. He knew it, but he pulled the hood down anyway.
He’d been staying in the cheap apartment for the last several months, long enough that the neighborhood had grown accustomed to him. The brief stir he’d caused when he’d first moved in with Alice was long over, given way to newer more interesting gossip. He rarely left the place, relying on her for shelter and clothes and watching her children while she worked. As far as she was concerned they were a couple and his reclusiveness suited her own antisocial tastes. As far as he was concerned he’d do what it took to keep her satisfied with him so he could stay there, because it was the perfect cover; certainly the Elven Guard would never look for him here, nor had his presence been noteworthy enough to get back to them. This part of Ashwood was the lowest income area, a rundown, depressing place where few people could afford more than the most basic amenities.
He sometimes thought that most of the reason the children liked him was that he used his magic to make the electronics work better in the magical atmosphere of the Bordertown. The truth though was that he paid them far more attention and gave them better care than their mother ever had, and they adored him for it. He didn’t need to wonder why Alice liked him.
His human benefactor was currently at work, so as he slipped back into the apartment he was greeted only by the children. The oldest, Tommy, who had just turned 8 grabbed Sal’s hand as soon as he stepped in, “Sal! You came back!”
“Of course I came back Tommy,” Salarius said, allowing himself to be dragged across the room. The other three children were sitting on the couch eating dry cereal. He shuddered at the thought. “Here, I went and got some more milk. Who’d like some?”
They all looked delighted, even 18 month old Evie who he wasn’t sure understood anything he’d said except ‘milk’. He quickly opened one of the bottles he had with him and poured a bit of milk into each of their bowls. Tommy ran into the kitchen to get his own, looking at the young elf with open hero worship. As soon as that was settled Sal went and put the other bottles in the antiquated refrigerator, taking a moment to add a little more magic to the spells that kept it working. Truthfully the machine was barely functional but it was worth the effort to keep it going to be assured of fresh food, so Sal made sure he kept up with it.
“Sal?” Maggie, the 4 year old, said timidly.
“Yes?”
“The tv isn’t turning on,” she said looking up at him cautiously. “Can you make it work?”
“Don’t bother him about the stupid tv,” Tommy said belligerently and Maggie shrank back, easily cowed by her older brother.
“It’s okay Maggie,” Sal soothed, knowing that if he fixed the television the children would sit and watch it and be quiet for several hours at least. Let them think he was doing it out of kindness. He crossed the small living room, ignoring the grainy feel of the old carpet beneath his feet, palpable even through his shoes, and knelt down to get the television working. A moment later the screen flickered on followed by the sound. All four children squealed in delight and sat with their bowls on the couch to watch cartoons.
That’s well enough Sal thought to himself they’ll be out of my hair for a while. Much like everything in his life right now he neither liked nor disliked the children, just as he didn’t particularly like or dislike their mother. They were simply something to be tolerated, and he had long ago learned that it was often better to be on good terms with the people that had to be tolerated in life than to pick fights that might be avoided. This place served a useful purpose right now and it was in his best interest to make his time here as pleasant as possible.
Soon though he thought as he drank milk straight from the open bottle. Soon I will have enough freedom of movement again to return to my pursuit of the girl, and once I have her I can return to my father without fear of reprisal. It had been worth using the last of his money to plant the false trail into the Queen’s Holding; once he was certain that the Elven Guard was well and truly misled he could breathe a little easier. Of course it had been far more difficult to avoid the agents his father had sent after him, to drag him back after Ferinyth had disappeared. He’d managed that as well though. He knew all too well that if he returned now his father would take out his frustration on Salarius, and the thought of being tortured until his father’s temper was appeased made him shake, even now in the safety of this obscure hiding place. No the only viable option was to hide until he had a chance to redeem himself. And that meant keeping the favor of Alice and her children for a little while longer.
But soon enough he’d have his chance to move freely again, and when he did he’d find a way to get to the half-elven girl his father wanted so desperately.
And once he had her, he could safely return to his own people.
It was just a matter of time.
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Heart of Thorns: a Between the Worlds novel Page 27