by Kumar, Lisa
Maggie, the king, and Kenhel…oh, lord. What had she been thinking? To nearly lip-lock with Relian? In front of everybody at the table? A cringe shuddered through her. Her childhood and teenage years had been destroyed by him, by this world. She couldn’t forget that so easily.
Noise pierced the silence again. She and Relian each whipped their head toward the direction of the sound. The sight of Maggie’s red face almost caused her to huff in exasperation. Maggie and alcohol—nothing ever good came out of that match. On second thought, Maggie’s interruption saved her from a potentially embarrassing gaffe. Let her drink on.
Maggie’s flush deepened while she coughed. Cal groaned and glanced around the table. Kenhel looked amused, whereas King Talion apparently couldn’t decide between amusement and annoyance. Relian? She didn’t know and didn’t care to look.
Nobody said a word until Maggie’s sputters died away. Her voice was hoarse when she spoke. “Sorry, I guess this wasn’t a proof that should be guzzled down.”
King Talion recovered from the situation the quickest. “Lady Cal, your tea will get cold if you don’t drink it soon. Lady Maggie, you might want to slow down.”
Cal froze at his last words. Oh, no. Maggie was somewhat of a loose cannon when angered, and what he said seemed designed to arouse that emotion. But Maggie settled for throwing him a dirty look. A silent sigh of relief escaped Cal as Maggie scowled into her wine cup. Giving the king a tentative smile while she tried to moderate her breathing, Cal reached for her cup.
Relian moved away from her to sit again. “Ah yes, you should drink your tea.” His normal reserve snapped back into place. But were the points of his ears, which were peeking through his hair, just a little red? Did elves blush? The idea was oddly endearing, especially on him. Cal started. That thought couldn’t be good. She needed to be impartial.
Taking a moment to glance sideways at him, she processed the fact he wore very formal robe-type garments. That mode of dress was not unfamiliar. In some of her dreams, she saw him clothed that way. Well, when he had clothes on at all. Heat flickered through her core when she remembered what all too often happened to those fancy garments of his when they removed them.
Her gaze encompassed the two other males at the table. A combination of light and dark is how they all appeared seated next to each other, their hair capturing the rays of the setting sun. Even their dispositions spoke of contrasting traits. The prince gave the impression of being imposing and introspective, whereas Kenhel was somewhat audacious. Even though the king’s personality resembled Relian’s, he possessed their shared traits in a more pronounced manner. Talion had a relaxed self-assurance she attributed in part to his prominent station and the authority he wielded. And age. He seemed more devilish and sardonic, though Relian could probably hold his own in these areas if need be.
Overall, the males at the table offered up a powerful and heady combination. She flushed. Clothes. Yes, turn to the clothes. That was a much tamer subject.
Both Kenhel and the king dressed similarly to Relian. Hadn’t the king said something about a celebration? That would explain the lavishness of their robes. What had they been celebrating? Probably some harvest or some other such rite.
The king graced her and Maggie with a smile. “You probably wonder what you two are doing here in Eria. I wish I could give you a short and simple answer, but we don’t know all the details ourselves. So please bear with me as I attempt to explain what we do know. We also have many suppositions, but those can wait for the most part.”
Cal threw Maggie a desperate, yet eager look. Finally, they might discover what was happening and why. When and if they could go home was a question running forefront in her mind.
No matter how attractive she found Relian, Cal longed for home, for Earth. The familiarity and safety it represented couldn’t be denied. Not to mention, her family would become worried if she were gone too long. So would Maggie’s. A twinge of guilt assailed her. Regardless of what Maggie said, she shouldn’t have involved her. Now she’d not only the problem of getting herself home, she had to worry about Maggie, too.
“Lady Cal, you know of the dreams you’ve been having. My son has been having the same precise ones as you, we believe. While I won’t go into detail as they are of a private nature, I can’t stress how important this sharing of dreams is to you and your life.”
She kept her eyes centered on Talion’s face. Where was he going with all this? Fighting down the impatience to prod him along, she knew she would have to just sit back and wait.
“When elves court, they often do so in the hopes of finding the one who completes them spiritually and physically. By that, I mean a joining between two individuals who can meet soul-to-soul, freely and willingly, in a completion bond that is unbreakable except by death. By contrast, other levels of bonding exist, which are much more common. But while many elves strive for a complete or total bond, only some are lucky enough to find it. Of our own volition, we may choose any form of bonded mate, though we don’t take this process lightly. Any bond is a serious one, no matter the depth.”
Cal nodded her head, listening intently to what the king said. Any clue was invaluable, but the churning in her gut alerted her she wouldn’t like the next words out of his mouth.
“But you ask, what does this mean for you? That bracelet on your wrist, Lady Cal, can answer much. You see, Relian has such a one on his own wrist. Yours is black. His a dark auburn.”
With every eye turned to her now, her stomach dropped and her throat tightened. Even though she’d had some strong suspicions before the king even began his dialogue, to hear it was another matter.
Talion cast his son a look of expectation. “Would you please show Lady Cal your binding?”
Relian slowly drew back the long sleeve that covered most of his hand. As he inched up the brocaded silvery-blue material, he revealed what she most feared. There, on his wrist, rested a bracelet made of intertwined gold threads and auburn hair. The hair color was a precise match.
Cal shook her head, hoping it was all a weird dream, but knowing it was not. Then her bleary mind recalled something the king said. Binding? Was her bracelet a binding, then? How did strands of their hair end up on the other’s wrist? An answer shouted out in her mind—the mist.
“W...what is a binding, and is my bracelet one? How did it get there?”
Talion’s face set in solemn lines. A certain amount of underlying sympathy lay in the gray gaze that reminded her so much of Relian’s.
“Yes, what you have on your wrist is a binding. As to what it is, well, it’s simply the first step in the completion of a total bond. A binding signifies that a complete bond can and should take place if both parties are in agreement. It’s rare that a person denies such a gift—not only because of negative consequences, but because, once denied, the individual can never hope to find such a bond again. At least, that is how it is for us elves.” He gave her a sad smile.
Cal drowned in panic. Did he just say what she thought he had? Before she could grab hold of her jumbled thoughts, her words tumbled out with an edge of hysteria.
“I’m supposed to marry, bond, with your son? A prince who is from another world and an elf? That can’t be right!” She desperately pleaded this last part, somehow hoping that begging would solve this conundrum.
Rigidity overtook Relian at her words. His features became as immovable as stone. Cal shrank back at the ire that radiated off him. In her dreams he was passionate. To see his tight control slip so soon, and in anger…. Her body shook and her mind whirled. Even if she tried, she couldn’t have grabbed a coherent word.
Relian drew himself from his chair. “I’m sorry, my lady, that you find such a bond with me unappealing. I’d also hoped someone of my race would be gifted the binding that matches mine, not a human. Humans have long not been seen, and we’ve no need of them, either!”
His eyes spit fire at her, gluing her to her seat. She feared she would never move again. Then Talion spoke, bre
aking the trance.
“Now, children, play nice. Relian, you know the stress Lady Cal is going through, as you went through it not long ago yourself. She just learned of the truth but hasn’t had the time to process it. Lady Cal, so long have we been apart from humans that we find ourselves at a loss on how to handle the situation. We beg for your patience and understanding. We’re as strange to you as you are to us. I think we all need to keep that in mind.” After throwing Relian a disapproving glance, he looked to Cal. “My lady, does this sound agreeable to you? We must better strive to understand each other. That’s all I ask for now.”
She nodded wordlessly, her shivers dying away slowly.
***
The chastisement from his father’s words washed over Relian. Though tense and struggling for control over his emotions, he would have to be the first one to make a placatory gesture.
Cal looked down, not seeming to want to raise her head any time in the near future. His temper had slipped unreasonably during her last remarks. He’d not acted any differently than Cal when discovering the truth for the first time, but she didn’t have to act as if it were a death sentence. As an elf, the true indignity was that he agreed to a bond with a human.
But in ages past—before the veil had closed—elf and human had united through marriage and even complete bonding. It had been relatively uncommon but not unheard of. He sighed. An apology was in order. Throwing a measured look at his father and Kenhel, he warned them not to interrupt. Both elves signified their acceptance with a slight nod.
Going to kneel before Cal, he moderated his voice. “I always seem to be offering an apology during our meetings. As this is only our second one, I’m afraid I’m not leaving you a very favorable impression of me.”
She still wouldn’t glance up, so he took her chin in his hand. Her eyes looked misty. Guilt tugged at him. “Come, let us go farther into the gardens for some privacy. I believe it might be better to finish the rest of this talk by ourselves. Kenhel will see to Lady Maggie until your return, so do not worry for her comfort or safety.” He sent a questioning glance to Kenhel to make sure his friend would fulfill his wishes.
Kenhel gave the two women a charming smile. “I would be very happy to entertain Lady Maggie until you return.” Turning to her, he raised his brows. “What would you like to do, my pretty lady, in the meantime?”
Maggie snorted at this flattery. “You’re a silver-tongued devil, I think.” Turning, she caught Cal’s gaze, who gave her a weak smile and agreed to Relian’s proposition.
As everyone said his or her farewells, a mischievous smile flitted over Maggie’s face. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Cal!”
Cal rolled her eyes. “Yeah, guess it means I can do about anything I want then.”
Chapter 12
With avid eyes, Cal took in her surroundings and worked to match her strides with Relian’s as he led her deeper into the gardens. She loved the way plant life merged with the structures and statues. Art and nature melded together in a way she’d never seen perfected quite so well.
Even though truly enthralled with her surroundings, she purposefully focused her attention anywhere but on the male by her side and the strange feelings he created. Her hand tingled where it rested on his arm, but she wouldn’t draw notice to herself by removing it.
They walked on for a few more minutes, the whisper of leaves and the song of birds surrounding them. The marbled statues of elves and forest creatures glowed in the waning light.
Relian stopped before a stone bench. He waited until she seated herself before folding down to sit beside her. They remained silent in the falling light. Cal fidgeted. Would he talk first or should she?
“Night will soon fall.”
Relian’s voice startled her out of her thoughts. “Yes, it seems so,” agreed Cal quietly, not wanting to be the first to break the triviality of their conversation. However, this stilted exchange wouldn’t solve anything. Would nothing be easy between them?
“Cal...Lady Cal, may I call you Cal in private?” She nodded, and he continued. “You may also address me as Relian, if you desire to do so. Such formality when we’re alone seems outmoded given the situation in which we find ourselves.”
Cal let out a rueful laugh. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
“Why do I have the feeling you won’t so readily agree with me in the near future?”
He gave a small smile that made her heart rate lurch and speed up. Damn him. “Because, Relian.” She stumbled over his name, still unused to speaking it aloud. “We’re still from different worlds. We can’t change that. I suppose our views will be quite different and agreement hard to reach.”
“You speak wisely for one so young.”
Cal stared ahead but gave a slight shake of the head. “Not wise, just realistic.”
She leaned forward and dropped her elbows to her knees, turning to look at him. Cal almost wished she hadn’t. Seeing him just compounded the dilemma. Relian resembled no man she’d dated or even seen. His features were undeniably elvin, but she couldn’t give a concise answer of what made them so. He, like the other elves she noticed, had winged eyebrows that arched more sharply than most humans’ would without the help of wax or tweezers. Then there were the slim ears that gently curved into a point at their tips. Still, she didn’t know what made him so different from a human man. He just was.
His puzzled voice broke into her scrutiny. “Why do you look at me so intensely?”
She sighed. How could she explain? “You’re so different. I’m not just referring to the cultural aspects, either. You look like no man I’ve ever seen, and I admit I’m finding that hard to digest. And you’re immortal, which is totally impossible.”
“Well, I don’t look like a human man, for I’m not one and have something akin to immortality. But that is a subject we’ll discuss at a later date. I’m not that different, though. Our two races were designed along the same fundamental lines. I have two hands and feet, just like a human male. If it would make you feel better, I am a man, just an elvin one.”
He talked so matter-of-factly and with such pride, Cal stifled an urge to laugh outright. Yes, she’d been well aware he was male. She supposed males—no matter what race, species, or whatever she should call it—were not so very different. It appeared, elf or human, both had egos their female counterparts had to watch carefully.
“That’s true. But everything, from the landscape to the people here, seems so foreign to me.” While saying this, she gestured at the garden surrounding them and then at him.
“I can’t deny that much of what you see here is strange to you. That fact will only abate with time and effort.”
“Time and effort?”
“With time, our ways won’t seem so strange to you. With effort, you should be able to adopt them as your own.” He said this as though he thought it were the simplest thing to achieve.
Her ire flared, and she pulled herself up straighter. Relian didn’t ask her if she wanted to adopt his people’s ways—he just assumed she would. He took too many suppositions for granted. She didn’t know how long she would stay here, let alone anything else. At this moment, she would leave if she could. Even as that thought flickered through her mind, though, she didn’t quite believe it. As she remembered her dreams and the contentment that often arose from them, her anger sputtered.
She didn’t know what she wanted.
***
Relian sensed the agitation his words caused. “My lady, nothing has been decided as of yet.”
As he spoke, he knew the untruth of what he said. It had all but been decided. By him, his father, the council, and, most of all, the veil. If they could keep her here, they would—even by force. Somehow, she tied into the future of their survival, all of theirs. Her world and theirs. He didn’t want to burden her with that news, unless he had no other choice. Finding out they not only expected her to bond with him, but that they also thought she might play some part in saving two interconnected
worlds would be too much for her right now. It was almost too much for him.
Cal took a deep breath. “So what happens next? I’m kind of at a loss here.”
There had to be a way to reassure her staying in Eria was in her best interest, as well as his. He’d have to phrase his words carefully so as not to offend her. The best course of action lay with some cautiously placed truths. “My people, for the most part, are now aware of the binding. Those that are not will surely know by tomorrow.”
“Why is that?”
“We announced it tonight. My father and a select few have known about it longer. We—my father, his council of advisors, and I—thought we could no longer hide the truth safely. Please don’t get upset, young one, by what I am about to tell you. Humans and elves have long been apart, and I’ll admit there is some prejudice against the thought of humans here in Eria. That’s what I meant when I said the truth could no longer remain hidden. It would only appear for the worse if the binding were not announced with all the joy it would normally bring.”
Cal sent him a questioning look. “The celebration tonight?”
“The very same one.”
“So I’m basically ruining any chance you have for a normal bond with a woman—female of your kind? Or can we somehow break this binding?” She pointed and then plucked at hers.
His breath caught in his throat. He would indeed have to choose his words carefully. No matter what occurred between them, she shouldn’t feel guilt over something she couldn’t control. But he couldn’t tell her the full truth, not yet. “As my father said, bindings are rarely broken, if ever. We receive that one chance to completely bond with someone, if fortune shines upon us. We don’t receive another chance if the first opportunity passes us by, either due to our own devices or death.”
“Even if one of the pair to bond dies?”