by Nelson, JD
Kristian’s expression was dubious. “You do not want a royal wedding?”
“Not unless you do. It’s your tradition, after all.”
Kristian kissed my cheek and squeezed my hand. “You are right as usual, love. We should not flaunt extravagance when so many elves are suffering with hardship and grief. However, we should at least record it, so that the elves of Álfheim will have proof that the wedding has taken place.”
“I’m perfectly fine with that.” Actually, I was more than fine with it. If the fake Freyr were able to see me getting married on television, maybe he would abandon his assassination attempts—fingers crossed.
“Do you have a specific location in mind?”
“Actually, no, I don’t have a prefer…” I lost the ability to speak when I looked up and saw Jakob and Viveka kissing over their teacups.
I felt a sudden urge to push him away from her. Jakob deserved someone sweet and intelligent. Viveka couldn’t be good enough for Jakob on her best day. She was too…evil.
Nils gave me a ‘What the hell?’ look and spoke to me with his mind. I think we’re going to need Sherlock Holmes for this mystery.
Yep, I answered back.
Jakob glanced at us with a raised eyebrow; he knew we were talking to each other. I gave him a raised eyebrow of my own and opened my mind to him.
You two are staring at us.
Well, it is kind of hard to look away from a train-wreck. Nils answered.
Yes, I agreed. It is rather like he’s grown a third eye, isn’t it? Seeing Jakob with her was sickeningly fascinating, I couldn’t look away.
“It’s nice to see that you’ve overcome your differences.” Kristian said, interrupting our private conversation.
“It has been overdue for quite some time.” Jakob replied, smiling like a simpleton at Viveka, who was alternating between basking in his attention like a house cat and shooting hateful glances at me.
“You were saying, Emelie, about the location?” Kristian asked. He was genuinely interested—bless him.
“I was saying that I don’t have a preference for a wedding location.”
Evangelina spoke up from behind the stove. “My lady, if I may offer a suggestion?”
“Of course, Evangelina, you needn’t ask my permission to speak. Treat me as you would any friend. And please, call me Emelie.”
Evangelina looked at Kristian, who nodded his approval.
“Very well, I was going to suggest the garden. Not only is it beautiful this time of the year, but it is also safe; it’s been used as a meeting place for decades.”
“That is a fantastic idea, Evangelina! Can I call you Lina?”
She beamed as she put the pancakes and bacon on the table. “All my friends do.”
“Get a room, you two.” Nils griped.
I stuck out my tongue and Lina giggled.
He rolled his eyes, grabbed a few slices of bacon, sandwiched them between two pancakes, and left with a “See ya.”
Kristian called out to Nils and excused himself from the table. They walked out the door together and after a minute or so, he returned alone and sat down as if he had never left.
Nils brushed against my consciousness and I opened to him. Well?
He was just telling me where my room was, and that the harem had been alerted that they might have a visitor.
Gross.
Jealous?
My mind filled with laughter, and then he was gone. I guess the old Nils was back.
“Will there be anything else?” Lina asked, as she set a large carafe of coffee in the center of the table.
“No, thank you.” Kristian said, dismissing her.
“Wait, you’re not going to eat?” After she’d cooked all this food? There was more than enough to feed all of us.
She smiled politely. “I eat with the other servants.”
I frowned. “Oh.”
“You may leave,” Viveka added coldly, finally breaking her silence.
Lina’s eyes widened and she hurried to the door, leaving quickly.
I turned my frown on Viveka.
“What?” She asked haughtily. “Will you have us all associating with the help under your rule?”
I sneered at her. “Let me get this straight, these elves are good enough to fuck and serve your food, but not to sit at your table?”
Viveka smiled sweetly. “Would you like me to call the whores to breakfast?”
I stood and put my palms on the table. Leaning close to her, I spoke in a scathing voice. “If you don’t want to end up a servant yourself, I would watch your mouth.”
She looked to Kristian for help, but found no pity, only humor.
Viveka folded her napkin and laid it on the table, disgust plain on her face. “Jakob, I’ve lost my appetite. I’ll be in the drawing room.”
“Emelie, that was not necessary.” Jakob scolded after she left.
Kristian cut off my snappy comeback. “She’s had that coming for a hundred years. I think a little perspective might be exactly what she needs.”
He stood and laid his own napkin on the table. “Even so.”
Kristian ignored him. “Emelie, will you accompany me to an impromptu meeting of my hird?”
“What is a hird?” It sounded like he-erd with his accent.
“It is a small battalion of soldiers that accompany me when I’m in public. I’ve known them all for a very long time, most of them for at least half a millennia. They are very anxious to greet you properly.”
“They follow you everywhere, even on the grounds?”
“No, you’ve seen how well protected the castle is. I usually tell them where I’ll be going and they meet me there.”
“How many of them are there?”
“Twelve, but you won’t see but a few at a time. The rest could be spying in the trees or concealed amongst the townspeople—whatever is necessary for the situation.”
That meant they’d been there when we met in the cemetery, the day at Soren’s when I had agreed to see his home, and the night we’d first met. Every time I’d thought we’d been alone, they had been lurking.
Of course, I could appreciate that they were essential to his safety, and I was thankful for that, but they’d seen our first kiss. They saw my ridiculously over the top flirting to get him to taste my blood. Hell, they’d probably even saw our fight over the harem. I felt like such a fool. He was king for goodness sake. Why did I think he would come alone?
“Are you feeling well?” He asked, a concerned expression making a furrow between his brows.
“I’m well, I just feel a little embarrassed for being so forward with you in front of an audience.”
His expression changed to one of amusement. “Don’t worry, they like you already. They have not stopped mentioning you storming out of the castle since the day it happened.”
Well, that answered that question. “I had no idea we were under surveillance. Had I known, I wouldn’t have been so brazen in our meetings.”
“I am glad you were unaware. Otherwise, I would have never seen the side of you I saw that night. I will never forget how extraordinarily beautiful you were when you offered me your blood.”
I blushed again. He was such a smooth talker. His ability to enamor was effortless. If I weren’t very careful, he would charm the panties right off of me.
When we finished eating, I took his plate to the sink and started loading the dishwasher.
“Let Evangelina do that, Emelie. It’s her job, after all.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to be a good guest.”
Kristian stood and claimed my hand, leading me away from the sink. “You are not a guest, this is your home to do as you like. I imagine a great many things in the household will change when you are mistress, but for now, try to let things flow as normally as possible until you announce the changes you’ll be making. It will make the transition to a new regime easier.”
“Regime?” I laughed.
He smirked.
“I don’t have my thesaurus handy.”
“Ah.” Was every guy in the Norse-lands a smart ass?
“Are you ready to go, then?”
I smoothed a hand over my hair and straightened my top. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He pulled me into his embrace. “You are perfection, they will love you.”
I sighed, worriedly. “I hope so.”
“How could anyone not love you? I can hardly keep my hands off you.”
Smiling, I encircled my arms around his neck, and whispered seductively, “I don’t think that’s love, Kristian. That sounds like lust.”
“A little of both, I think,” he said huskily.
I sensed an unknown creature outside the door just before he entered and bowed. Kristian acknowledged him with a nod.
He looked much like the others, dark featured and tall, but when he spoke his voice was unlike anyone’s I’d ever heard. It was beautiful, lyrical even. It was like a lullaby and a favorite teddy bear, soothing and comforting. “We are ready to move to the garden if you are, Sire.”
I hung on this stranger’s every word. He was mesmerizing. It was almost as if he was unintentionally hypnotic. Weird.
“Emelie, this is Axel, commander of my guard.”
I took the gloved hand he offered. “It’s nice to…” My words faltered as I met his eyes—they were cat’s eyes. No, they were cold, shrewd, like a snake. He had yellow reptilian eyes. I sucked in a shocked gasp. This male was no dark elf. He was something altogether different.
Kristian’s voice interrupted my close scrutiny. “We will arrive in the garden momentarily.” He put a possessive hand lightly around my waist.
Axel quickly dropped my hand and bowed. “Yes, Sire.” He turned his intimidating stare back to me. “It has been a great honor, Lady Emelie.”
“Thank you. Just call me Emelie. There’s no need for formality.”
His answering smile was truly nightmarish, full of fangs and sharpened teeth. “I’ll do that,” he said, raising an eyebrow at my slight flinch. “Sire, if I might suggest it. It is very chilly outdoors. Emelie might need a shawl to keep warm.”
“I’ll just run and get something.” I volunteered, before Kristian could send a servant. Finally, there was a chance for me to leave this bewildering meeting.
Kristian stopped me as I started for the door. “I will retrieve your coat. Stay and become accustomed to Axel. You will be spending a great amount of time with him.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.” Damn it.
He kissed my forehead. “It is a pleasure attending to you, my love.”
He left the room purposefully and I turned my attention back on Axel—who was now brandishing a knife and looking murderous.
“Who are you, female?” he hissed.
I pivoted to run, only to be stopped in a blink by his blade at my throat.
“I thought you might see things my way, Imposter. I do not know who you are, but you are not the daughter of Anders. You are not a light elf.”
Trembling, I swallowed dryly and said, “I am light elf and Ander’s daughter. I swear it.”
He laughed bitterly. “You lie, your eyes have gone silver, the color of the most powerful of ancients, and I know you saw through my glamour.”
I started to cry. “I swear, I am. How can I prove myself?”
His forked tongue flicked out and tasted the air. “You can’t. I can smell you. You aren’t elven. You are human and…something unrecognizable.”
I spotted a houseplant hanging in the window and concentrated on incapacitating him with it. I pushed my will into the plant, hoping it would respond. It instantly sprang to attention, ready to assist.
Axel didn’t realize the plant’s tendrils were inching their way up and around his legs until it was too late. The arm holding the knife to me was jerked away and wound up tight with vines. His bound feet were then dragged up to the ceiling.
“Release me.” He fumed.
I gaped at his audacity. “You just held a knife to my throat; you can rot up there for all I care. I tried to tell you I was an elf. So, what if I’m not? You aren’t either.”
“You did see through my glamour.”
“Yes.”
“Can you see through this?”
He disappeared. I backed myself into a corner so he couldn’t get his blade back against my neck. His laughter at my terror came from the cocoon of vines and leaves. He was still bound. Thank goodness.
He chuckled darkly. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“Is this really the way you want to start our relationship?” I asked, fixing my attention to him and using my magic to locate him. He wasn’t invisible, just cloaked against his surroundings, like a chameleon—amazing.
“I will do anything I have to do to protect my king.”
I nodded. I knew he meant every word. He wasn’t the head of the hird for nothing, he held Kristian in the highest esteem. Kristian had rescued him when he was at his lowest, he would defend him with his very life and kill anyone who set out against him, even if that someone was his future queen.
I looked up at him with solemn eyes, hoping to convey my honesty. “Axel, I only hope to bring his and my father’s race together once more and to help him with his curse. I mean him no harm, I promise.”
He reappeared. “Who is your mother?”
I shrugged and told him a half-truth. “I do not know my mother.”
He breathed a cloud of black out of his nose, poisoning the houseplant. It shriveled and dropped away dead in an instant. He landed lightly on his feet. “We all have our little secrets, do we not?”
I smiled. “We do. Does Kristian know about yours?”
“No, no one but you and Freyr have ever noticed. That fucker had me pegged as soon as he came in the castle.”
“I take it you have no allegiance to the Freyr imposter?”
He looked angry with me for even asking that. “Absolutely not, what do you mean by imposter?”
I sighed in relief. He was telling the truth. I could see exactly why he hated him so much. Axel had definite issues with the doppelgänger, and rightly so. He just wasn’t strong enough to kill him.
“I mean that the Freyr that is with Katrine is a doppelgänger.”
“The abomination?”
“Yes.”
Kristian walked back into the room. “Has Axel kept you entertained with his battle stories, Emelie?”
“Oh yes, he is quite the fierce warrior.”
He draped a mossy green shawl over my shoulders and held out his elbow to be. “Shall we?”
“Yes, thank you.” I walked away with Kristian, not giving Axel another glance. He wouldn’t tell him about the doppelgänger, or me. I was sure of it. He understood what that was like to have secrets that had to be kept.
A forest of trees, with a huge, brightly colored tent erected directly behind it surrounded the garden.
“Come, Emelie. They will be waiting under the canopy.”
I followed him up the stairs leading to a stage, and immediately felt out of my element when I saw the amount of dark elves assembled there to meet me.
Kristian stepped in front of the podium. “My hird, thank you for meeting me on such short notice.” He smiled as he looked around. “I see your families would not be deterred from coming to meet my queen.”
A female stood up and said, “I would like to see him try to stop me!” Everyone laughed.
“As would I, Lady Adria. Now, allow me to formally introduce your future queen, Emelie Andersdotter.”
I stepped forward, terrified. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you all. Please forgive me if I do not remember all of your names right away.”
Through the applause, I heard the males exclaim things ranging from, “Look at how small, and fair she is. She’s like a doll.” to “There’s no way she’s going to survive the wedding night. The king will snap her like a twig.”
Kristian clearly heard that last remark; he was already looking my way ap
ologetically when I glanced over. “Just ignore it. They know nothing but rumors of my personal life.”
“You shouldn’t let them talk about you so. You deserve respect.”
“And I get it.”
I arched a disbelieving brow. “Just not in your personal life?”
“Until yesterday, I didn’t really have a personal life.”
“Well then, this ends today. I don’t want to hear them talking about our sex life.”
“Very well, I will reprimand them if you like.”
I looked out into the audience searchingly. My grandmother was here. I could feel her. I waved to her when I found her in the crowd and sent her a silent message. She waved back and disappeared. “No, I think I can handle this without all that.” I answered.
“What will you do?”
“You’ll see.”
He laughed. “Should I be afraid?”
“Depends, how do feel about marrying me today—right now?”
“I will marry you at any time, why?”
I put my arms around his waist and stood on my toes to reach his mouth. “You and I will be married in less than an hour. The official is already here to marry us, and the rest of the castle is on the way.”
“How did you do this, Emelie? This was a spontaneous meeting.”
“I have a very good friend of the royal court.”
“Who?”
Myrgjöl appeared out of nowhere with perfect timing. “Ah, here she is now. Myrgjöl, please meet my betrothed, King Kristian Väsen of Svartálfaheim.
She curtsied. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Kristian.”
Kristian bowed deeply in return. “The pleasure is mine, Lady Myrgjöl. My bride has many powerful friends. First, I find she knows my brothers, and then she brings the Fenrir Wolf; one of the fiercest warriors in the Norse-lands to live in the castle, and now the most famous of all the Norns is standing in front of me. How do you know them all, Emelie?”
Myrgjöl answered for me. “Now that she is without her parents, it is up to us to look after her. Her new Fate with you is a dangerous one.”