“Yes, that was a very frightening day,” he admitted and his face soured as he recalled the memory a moment. He shook his head as if flinging off the bad memory and his smile returned. “You know for someone who said she wasn’t a dancer, you’re a natural.”
I shrugged. “I never really thought to look at it like a synchronized drill until today. Now it’s rather simple.” I saw Favian dancing with another elf whose name I couldn’t remember and my happiness diminished.
Alex caught my eye and said, “It’s customary for the Prince, when single, to dance with all of the single females.”
I shoved the feelings down and smiled. “I know, Alex. I’ve just had a rough week.”
“Well then let me take your mind off of it,” he said seductively and suddenly the sweet stable boy I knew was replaced by a man I had not noticed before. He spun us around and then off the dance floor. He led me to a servant who was holding a tray of drinks and handed me one. “You look thirsty,” he commented as if that explained why we’d left the dance floor.
I was thirsty though so I greedily gulped the nectar down. Alex led me to the back of the room where other males were gathered and kept his hand on my lower back as we approached. I knew it was a sign of possessiveness, but it made me smile instead of feeling angry as I would have if another had done it. I expected him to stop and chat, but he simply walked passed them and to the hidden back door used for emergencies. He looked around to ensure no one was watching us and then pulled me through it and out into the main hall of the castle. “Where are we going?” I asked curiously.
He put a finger to his lips and whispered, “A surprise.”
I lifted the side of my dress and followed him out the secret door of the castle. The moon was shining brightly overhead and the stars glistened like diamonds in the sky. It was one of the most beautiful nights ever. I tripped on a root and Alex caught me. My hands had grabbed onto his arms and I realized how much more muscular he was than other elves from his work with the animals. I pulled my hands back and stood up. “Sorry, I’m not used to walking in these heels.”
He put my hand on the bend of his arm and smiled. “I’ll keep you from falling.”
I wanted to run my hand along his arm as we walked, but I kept it still. We approached the barn and then he led me to a back stall where I could hear soft whickering and neighing. He waved me forward. “Ladies first.”
I peered over the top and a smile split my face as I saw the twin foals lying beside their mother in the stall. They were palominos and judging by the mother, a very sturdy war horse breed. “They’re beautiful,” I whispered so as not to startle them.
He stood next to me and beamed as though the proud parent. “They’re why I missed dinner. I had to help the mare get the second one out. His hindquarters had gotten a little stuck.”
“Have you picked names yet?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I always wait until the next day to pick names so that their individual attitudes can come out.”
I giggled. “If we did that with elves you’d be ‘Quiet but lethal’.”
He laughed. “You only say that because I scared the crap out of you last year.”
“No one can sneak up on me,” I said.
“Apparently I can,” he said with a smile and then brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “You really do look amazing tonight, Marin.”
“Thank you,” I whispered before turning back to the horses.
The sight of the mother with her babies was wonderful and yet brought up my hurt feelings. I shoved the feelings down, but apparently not quickly enough because Alex put his arm around me and kissed my cheek. “Did you know that the King and Queen always look forward to the ball because it means that you’ll be returning?”
“I’m sure they look forward to Favian returning,” I said as I watched the mare stand to feed the foals who had started nickering for food.
“Of course they look forward to Favian returning, but you are the jewel of the Elves.”
I recalled him telling me that he would welcome me here and I hugged him. “You have been exceptionally kind to me and I fear I have not returned the favor. If you ever need anything, let me know.”
He smiled and kissed my cheek. “You are too kind to this humble stable boy.”
“We should go sneak into the kitchen and get you some food. You must be starving,” I said as I headed out of the barn.
He put my hand on his arm and we made it to the castle kitchen without me falling. I hopped up onto the counter and told Alex some of the funnier missions I’d been on while he made himself a salad and ate it.
We went back to the ball since it was a celebration for my birthday and I curtsied to him as we separated on the dance floor. “I had a great time tonight,” I said to Alex.
Alex kissed the back of my hand softly. “I did as well. Thank you.” I started to walk away when he asked, “Would you like to help me name the foals tomorrow?”
I turned and nodded my head. “I’m leaving tomorrow, but I’d like to do that before I leave.”
“I’ll meet you at dawn.” He said, beaming happily as he disappeared into the crowd.
I was asked to dance by Balon and a few others and then even more I did not know. Luckily no one tried to ask to court me, but I had an incredibly fun night filled with flirting and laughter. Sebastian stole the most dances with me, but I knew it was mainly to make Favian jealous. Favian had not once tried to dance with me, but then again I could not remember a single time we had danced together except during practice sessions with mother.
I had just crested the stairs when I had finally decided I was too tired to continue when Favian said my name softly behind me. I walked the last few feet to my door and then turned to face him. “Hello. Did you have a nice night?”
“You look beautiful,” he whispered as he walked closer to me.
My heart beat faster as he moved closer. His hair was shining brightly as though a part of the moon and his shirt and pants hugged his body in all the right places. “You look great as always,” I whispered back.
“I’ve never seen this dress before,” he said as he ran a hand down my arm slowly.
His touch burned, as if he were on fire. “I’ve never worn it before,” I said in barely a whisper.
“Why did you avoid me all night?”
The question snapped me back to reality and I stepped back from him. “I was giving you space to court Emily. You could have come and asked me to dance.”
“I’m not courting Emily,” he said calmly.
I rolled my eyes. “Your mom explained everything and you giving her a gift is your way of showing interest in courting her.”
“The gift wasn’t for her,” he said as he watched me. “Where did you go? I saw you leave, but couldn’t see with who.”
“Alex took me to see the new foals.”
“Alex?” he asked in shock and then frowned, deep in thought.
“I’m tired, I’d like to get to bed so if you have nothing else you’d like to discuss…”
“Did you accept a gift from him?”
“No, no one offered me any.”
“Favian!” a female called from downstairs. “Where are you?”
He exhaled in frustration. “I’ve got to see her out. It’s proper etiquette.”
I opened my door without looking at him. “You can call it whatever you’d like.”
“Marin,” he said in exasperation, “It’s not like that.” I started to close my door and he stepped inside. “Why are you being so cold to me?”
“Your father told me that since I’m a demigod that I’m better suited for an eternal as a mate.”
Favian’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh. What else did my father say?”
“Nothing I need to repeat. Go attend to your duties,” I said pushing him out the door.
He let me push him out and then grabbed my hand in his. I watched in shock as he bowed over it and kissed it softly. “Good night, Marin.”
>
I couldn’t move or breathe or think. He slowly dropped my hand, smiling happily, and then walked down the stairs. It made me recall the one time he had kissed me when we were at the Academy and it made my stomach flutter. I shook my head and shut my door. It didn’t matter that I wanted him; he needed a full blooded elf for a mate for when he succeeded his father no matter what father said. I had to keep remembering that.
Chapter Fourteen
I said goodbye to mother and father as the sun rose the next morning and then hurried to the stables. I hadn’t spoken to Favian or advised him of my plan to leave because I knew he wanted to stay longer at the castle. I on the other hand needed to find something to kill. The stables were noisy as the animals voiced their hunger. I could see Alex inside tossing hay and apples into each stall. I walked inside and then blinked as my eyes adjusted to the light.
“Good morning,” Alex said cheerfully as he fed the last steed.
“Good morning,” I said as I pet Fire on the nose.
Alex led me to the foals’ stall and folded his arms over the top as he looked in at the horses. “I think I have a name for the male, but I’d like you to pick the female’s name.”
I leaned next to him, touching shoulders with him as I looked at the now rambunctious foals. “What’s the male’s name?”
“Hero,” he said. “A very large spider was crawling towards his sister and he hopped up and then stomped the spider to death.”
“That’s a good name.” I looked at the female who was pushing her head against her brother’s side and trying to get him to play, but he wasn’t having it. She didn’t give up though and continued to butt him with her head. She reminded me of me. “Morrigan,” I whispered.
Alex looked at me a moment in contemplation and then smiled. “It’s beautiful.” I looked one last time at the horses before walking to mine and starting to saddle her. “Are you sure you have to leave so soon?” Alex asked.
I nodded my head. “I need to head towards my house to check on the ogre problems.”
“Shouldn’t you wait for Favian then?” he asked as he helped me adjust the saddle pad and saddle.
“Yes, she should,” Favian said as he walked into the stable and began saddling Ice.
I cursed softly and stepped out of my horse’s stall to look at him. “You don’t need to come. You should stay here.”
Favian turned and looked at me and I saw the anger and tightness in his posture. “Why should I stay here?”
“Because you aren’t home often and I’m sure father has more to teach you about being king.”
He set the bridle back on the hook where he had just taken it from. “Are you saying you don’t want me to come with you?”
I noticed Alex finished bridling Fire and acting as though he wasn’t listening. I met Favian’s eyes. “It has nothing to do with whether I want you to come or not. You should start learning from your father and trying to court one of the females.”
“I’m coming with you and that’s final,” he said angrily as he picked the bridle back up.
I hated when he was so stubborn. I tied my bedroll and pack to my saddle and then waited until Favian walked Ice from the stable before turning to Alex. “Thank you for last night and for allowing me to name one of the foals.”
He kissed my cheek and put something into my hand. “Thank you, Marin. And please be safe.”
I looked down at the bracelet made of horse hair. “Is this…”
“It’s not a courting gift. I never have the opportunity to give you a birthday present so I thought you’d like this. It’s hair from the foals’ tails, so you’ll always remember me.”
I slipped the bracelet on and then kissed his cheek. “I have never forgotten you.” I led Fire out of the stable and mounted her, waving to Alex as I rode towards the gate.
Favian looked down at the bracelet and I heard his teeth grind together. “Courting?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s for my birthday.”
He didn’t look like he believed me, but some of his tension eased out of him as we rode. The silence was awkward and I tried to think of a way to disperse of it. I never got the chance though because a group of goblins jumped us. They were silent and the only warning I had was the shifting of leaves before one jumped onto Fire behind me. I elbowed him in the stomach and then pulled my reins, signaling Fire to stop and rear up her front legs. She did as commanded and the goblin fell off and then she kicked out with her back legs, sending him flying backwards. Favian had been knocked from his horse and was battling three goblins at once. I dismounted and ran to assist him, slicing the goblin’s head off that was closest to me. Favian’s blade flashed in the sun three times and then we were alone.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
I nodded my head and then pointed to the unconscious but still alive goblin Fire had kicked. Favian walked towards him and punched him in the face to wake him up. The goblin groaned and rolled onto his side. “Why did you attack us?” Favian asked.
The goblin looked up at me and whispered, “We were hired to kill her.”
“Who hired you?” Favian asked as he jerked the goblin up.
“Karr.”
I cursed and then kicked the body of one of the dead goblins. “That rat!”
Favian dropped the goblin and mounted his horse. I did the same and we ran our horses until we reached the nearest town. The stable owner promised to cool the horses and dry the sweat from them for us.
I could see the rage simmering beneath Favian’s calm exterior and wondered when he was going to snap. We paid for a room for the night at the Inn and I sat on the bed, waiting for him to speak. He paced back and forth across the room with his hands clasped behind him. It was the same thing his father did when angry.
“I knew he didn’t like you, but I didn’t think he’d stoop so low as to hire assassins to kill you.”
“They aren’t very good assassins,” I noted. “Maybe he was just trying to keep me on my toes.”
Favian turned and glared at me. “Do not make light of this situation.” I raised my hands in surrender and flopped backwards onto the bed, running my finger over the bracelet. “Do you like him?” Favian asked.
“Not particularly, but if he’s hired assassins against me I won’t feel bad…”
“Not Karr,” he said, “Alex.”
Oh. “He’s nice and attractive, but so are ten other elves I know. Besides, we both saw what happens when I try to have a relationship.”
Favian lifted my feet up and sat on the bed next to me. “Father told me most of what you talked about.”
I closed my eyes and swallowed. “What did he tell you?” I asked, refusing to look at him.
“Everything I pretty much already knew, that you think you can’t have a relationship because you think they’ll end up getting killed because of you.”
“Alexandre…”
“Alexandre is not an elf,” Favian said.
“I don’t know if I can be with an elf,” I admitted softly.
He pried open one of my eyes and stared into my pupil. “Why not?”
Of all the times I needed to be honest, I figured now was it. “Because I can’t have the one that I want and I don’t want to watch him with another female the rest of my life.”
He released my eyelid and stared at me in shock. “Who?”
I just stared at him like he was dumb.
“Who is the elf you want?”
Apparently father hadn’t told him that bit of information. “It doesn’t matter,” I said as I stood up and walked to the window which looked out over the town.
“Is it Maddock?” he asked, sounding mad.
“No,” I said exasperated. “It’s not Maddock.”
“Balon?”
I laughed. “Of course not!”
“Then who?”
“It doesn’t matter! Not even he knows!” I yelled angrily. Six large shapes moved through the alleys of the town and my fear skyrocketed. I couldn’
t let Favian get hurt. I shouldn’t have even let him come with me while a contract was out on my head. “I’m going to my house,” I said with as much steel as I could muster, “Do not follow me.”
He grabbed my arm, stopping me before I reached the door. “Do you love me?” he asked.
It was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, but I knew I had to lie to him to keep him safe. I kept my face even and said, “No.” His eyes blazed with hurt and fury and he released my arm. I opened the door and whispered, “I’m sorry,” and then hurried down the stairs and ran to the stables.
“She’s not ready to be ridden yet,” the owner said.
“Can we trade for a week? I need to leave, but will return for her when I can.”
He looked over my mare and then pointed to the end stall where a mare similar to mine was standing. “We can trade for her.”
I nodded my head and saddled her quickly before racing out of town. The ogres caught my scent and charged after me, but luckily they weren’t distance runners. I galloped for a few miles and then slowed my mare to conserve her energy.
For three days I rode, only letting my mare stop for short naps and for food and water. The rain started the second day and the third day as the sky unleashed buckets of water a goblin jumped me. I was pulled from my saddle and onto the muddy ground. I rolled away from the goblin’s sword only to have him kick my ribs. I grunted in pain, but rolled up and pulled my sword. He charged forward and I sliced at his body, but he dodged and then slammed me against a tree. A broken off branch stabbed into my leg, making me cry out in pain. Fury overrode my senses then as I tried to ignore the pain and I stabbed my sword through the goblin. He pulled a dagger and sliced open the top of my sword hand, making me release my sword, but the damage was already done. He staggered backwards and then fell to the ground.
I used my other hand to pull my sword from his body and then limped over to the mare. I quickly bandaged my leg and then screamed as I was forced to put weight on my leg to mount her. Thankfully the mare stayed still and after a little encouragement took off down the road again. Every step she took sent a huge spike of pain up my leg. I urged her to go faster and almost cried out in joy when I finally saw my house. I corralled her and then hobbled into the house to treat my leg and hand.
Protector (Little Death Bringer, #2) Page 21