by J. L. Madore
I rolled my eyes. "Our privacy lasted all of thirty seconds once your friends saw us together. Are we really that transparent?"
He chuckled kissing down my neck. Gently grabbing my backside, he pressed his hips against me. I was pinned between Galan and the stone wall of the castle, literally between rock and a hard place. "Nyssa knows me very well."
The hair on the nape of my neck stood on end. One look at him and she seemed to know exactly what was going on with him. It was unnerving. "Did you two ever date?"
Galan pulled back. There was nothing in his eyes except genuine male amusement. "No. Elves feel emotional connections more intensely than other races. From a human perspective, mayhap it seems like more." He kissed my nose, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"But you have been her consort, right? You've spent time with her . . . with them . . . behind closed doors?" My chest tightened at the images in my mind.
"Of course, what has that to do with—" His expression became wary as his eyes narrowed. "You are not envious, are you?"
Yes. "No." I raised my hand and tried to sound confident. After drawing a deep breath, I met the concern in his blue eyes. "I'm not jealous in the way you mean. I'm not thrilled that you've been naked with practically every female in your village, but with Nyssa . . . it's just . . . I envy how well she knows you."
He smiled and ran a finger down the side of my cheek. "Iadon had his sights on her since we were saplings. The moment they were eligible to be together, their union was consummated. To everyone's astonishment, when they bound as mates, they Recognized. Our lore spoke of Elves Recognizing since the beginning of the Highborne race, though it had not occurred in millennia. It is a rare bonding of mates where the union is blessed by the gods. They share a synergistic connection beyond all others. Two halves of the same soul. There is nothing for you to be envious about."
I peeked around the corner where they watched Ella sleep. "They are great together."
"That is what it is to Recognize," Galan said, returning to the column of my neck.
"Apologies." Aust had stepped around the corner, his head bowed to give us a moment to straighten ourselves. "If I might interrupt, Naneth ventured through the mirror this morning and has been toiling in the kitchen. If the two of you would join us for your evening repast, I would appreciate your support to her."
Galan stepped back and took my hand. "It would be our pleasure, brother mine."
Little more than an hour later Aust helped Elora clear the dinner plates and our intimate dinner group moved to the main floor lounge.
"You knew, didn't you?" I whispered to Nyssa as Iadon refilled our glasses. We thanked him, scanning the dessert plates lining the buffet. "What was happening between Galan and me?"
She slid two flan-custard things covered in honey onto plates and chuckled. "Of course. The two of you are as obvious as the sunrise each morn. You simply needed to steady your footing." She handed me one of the plates and paused. "You love him?"
The directness of the Highbornes really kept things honest. Galan sensed my attention from across the room. His gaze lifted from his conversation with the men and met mine. My skin tingled hot and I blushed, knowing they could smell my need for him. "Hopelessly."
Nyssa beamed. "We could not have chosen a better mate for him if Iadon and I tailored you ourselves. The two of you shall be extraordinary together."
"Even though I am the most illogical, infuriating, confounding female he has ever met, who does not possess the grace or etiquette of any of the females he has courted?"
Nyssa seemed to recognize the tone of the words. Her mouth fell open as she drew herself up. "He said that to you? I cannot believe—"
I shook my head. "It was a shimmer of memory, a conversation between him and Tham. I saw it when I healed Tham in the cavern at Dragon's Peak."
She laughed, tipping back her glass of cider. "His opinion was moot regardless; Tham said he was lost to you even then, from the moment he lay over you in the forest scrub."
"Nyssa, could I ask you an extremely personal question?" I hesitated, taking a deep breath. "What did you and Iadon do for your first night together, to make your bonding special?"
She studied my expression and leaned closer. "Are you planning a night of bonding?"
Heat flushed to my cheeks. "Obviously not right now. Maybe once Lia is home."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Galan downed his fifth flagon of dark mead like he wasn't even tasting it. Alone amongst our group and the rowdy Hearthstone dinner crowd, he stared out the picture window watching the brilliant sun sink behind the violet mountains. After three long days of training and waiting to hear about Lia, Galan's mood had hit a wall. The rest of the Highbornes had taken my challenge in good humor, venturing beyond the meals at the castle or even what Elora had come to prepare, to try something new.
Fast food.
I wished I had a video camera as Galan stared down at his untouched platter. "I don't understand. Why would one grind vegetables to make them appear as meat? If you wish to eat meat, eat meat. If you wish to eat vegetables. . . ." Galan cocked a brow and raised an onion ring. He scrunched his face up and dropped it back to his plate.
I sighed. "It's a veggie-burger. Don't try to understand it. Just try it."
"Indeed," Tham said, chipmunking his way through the entire menu. "Strange as it seems, it is quite flavorful. This is our Ambar Lenn, Galan. Live the adventure."
A crash at the next table had the Highbornes jumping to their feet.
"Duck," I shouted, dropping my head below the table just as two quarrelling Lightning Sprights flew through the air. A mass of colorful fire and sparks, the size of a large bowling ball, shot out as the two tumbled and twisted in their struggle, ricocheting off the lantern above our table. "Don't let the sparks touch you."
Tham dove forward and saved his plate as Iadon turned Ella's carrier and gained some distance. The snap and sizzle of the altercation filled the air with the pungency of potatoes burnt to the bottom of a copper pot. The shriek of angry Spright chatter was as biting as a Banshee cry.
"Stand down and move off, ye wee miscreants. Ye ken there's no feudin' in my pub." Hugh barrelled out from behind the bar. The sea of patrons parted, tripping over themselves to let the burly Were Lion Prime pass. Even in a dirty cook's apron with a bar rag hanging from his back pocket, Hugh was an intimidating sight.
"Got it, Hugh." Nash, stepped into the skirmish from another table, wand extended. With a dip and a twist of his wrist the fireball froze. "You want them outside?"
Hugh's wavy mane of gold swung as he nodded. "Aye, that's a good lad. Take 'em outside and let 'em calm down a spell." He held up his hands and turned to the other diners. "Sorry for the commotion, back to yer business." After righting Galan's chair, Hugh tucked mine under me. "Bree." He waved thick fingers at his ward and she strode over from behind the bar. "Bring Jade and her friends some dessert, would ye lass?"
Bree, a lone coyote pup raised by Hugh's pride, was built like a miniature marathon runner, sleek and wiry. She'd come a long way since Hugh took her in, but her gunmetal eyes still held a warning of the animal she was made at a young age. Coyotes were bred from tough predatory stock. They were cunning and Bree was no exception. "Sure Da. The usual, Jade?"
When she headed to the kitchen we watched Nash out the window. He released the spell and the flaming ball of Spright fury resumed its flight. It tussled and sparked in the dusky sky all the way to the forest beyond.
"What was that?" Nyssa asked.
"Lightning Sprights. They're fairly common. They keep to themselves as a rule, but get them drunk and they're just plain nasty." I picked up a fry and popped it in my mouth.
"You have sauce on your face, Tham." Nyssa giggled, offering him a napkin as she sat down. "What did you call it, Jade?"
"Mustard." I grinned at the mess Tham made with his burger and how well they were doing with learning English. "Wait until dessert. I'll introduce you to the weakness o
f our race."
"Truly?" Iadon set the carrier on the chair beside him, dipped an onion ring in his mead and gave it a taste. With a shrug, he tossed it into his mouth. "And what might that be, neelan?"
"Chocolate."
The clatter of someone tripping over a chair caught my attention. Samuel staggered toward the door and stumbled to catch the frame. As he gripped the handle he glanced back and threw me a look so cold it chilled me to the bone.
Galan followed my gaze and made to stand.
"No," I whispered. "I've got this." I hustled between tables and pushed out into stale night air. Samuel was trying to put some fast distance between him and the tavern, but his feet weren't cooperating. He was pissed . . . in more ways than one.
"Ah, sweet Jaysus," he growled when he saw me. "Jade, I'm in no mood. I had the brutal pleasure of watchin' your domestic bliss all night. I canna stand much more." He threw a disgusted scowl toward the tavern window.
I cringed at our audience of Elves and sent Galan a warning glare. I didn't want him anywhere near a drunken and angry Samuel. The two of them were a powder keg ready to blow without adding booze and poor judgment into the mix.
"Let me walk you home." I nudged his arm and moved to slide under his shoulder.
He jerked as if my touch scalded him. "Feck, Jade, I'll manage. I'm no bloody bairn."
"I know you're not, but I care about you, Samuel."
"Ye don't say! Ahhh, grand." He staggered to the side and steadied before he fell. "Am I like a brother then? Or a BFF?"
"It wasn't your fault," I choked. "I told you. I was the broken piece in the puzzle."
"And everything's the mutt's nuts now, no?" His gaze flew over my shoulder, back to the window. "For him? Ye're miraculously whole and in love and ready for a life with him after what—a couple o weeks?" The agony in his eyes was unbearable. It clawed at my insides. "Well, balls to ye, 'cause never once did ye look at me like that."
He turned to the tree line, rubbing his chest.
Something about the energy in his stare kicked my instincts into high gear. An Arctic chill shot up my spine and I scanned the tree line. Something was off. The sun setting across the horizon was too bright, the heat too intense. The hair on the nape of my neck prickled.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "Tell me how to make this better for you?"
He recoiled, his eyes as dark as night. "Tell me ye've been holdin' out on him too. Can ye do that?" My heart cracked wide open. He winced at my reaction and swung toward the forest, shoulders stiff. When he turned back, his gaze was hollow and unrecognizable. "I may be thick as a stone, but I've got it now." His mouth twisted in some dark moment of dawning. His voice was too calm, too quiet. The turmoil churning in him was palpable. "I wasted two years being a sound man. That's not what gets ye, is it?"
I stepped back. "What's wrong, Samuel? Tell me what's happening."
Samuel grabbed both my arms, pinching my biceps. He pulled me crashing against his chest. Hot breath washed my face with the rank stench of his afternoon's binge. "Ye like the angry, wounded prick, no?" His eyes were frantic, darting unfocused. "What a grand arsehole I've been. You and your Elf must have died laughing."
"No!" I grunted. "That's not true." I struggled against his steel hold, wrenching my arms. "Samuel, you're hurting me. Let me go."
The seam of my blouse couldn't withstand the strain, tearing under the tension of his grip. Samuel's eyes were dead black. I don't think he even heard me. He released one arm and grabbed a fistful of my hair. White-hot pain tore from my scalp as he pulled my face to his.
"Go on. Tell me. How do ye like, the misunderstood prick now?"
"Samuel stop. What are you—"
The hammering in my ears drowned out my voice. I squirmed, pushing against his chest with all my force. He tightened his hold on me. Strong fingers dug into my scalp and he crushed his lips against mine.
The stale aftertaste of his stupor churned my stomach. I shoved with both hands clawing at his chest. With his lips forced against mine, my temper ignited. I opened my mouth and bit. Hard. Warmth seeped into my mouth as I twisted free. Reeling, Samuel's arm connected with my cheek, launching me backwards.
Dazed and disoriented, I spun from the force of the blow. My feet left the ground and I threw my hands out. Everything happened so fast. A blur of silver flashed in my periphery and familiar arms caught me before I hit the cobblestone.
In the next instant I was surrounded.
Aust, Iadon, Tham and Faolan became an ominous wall of protectors separating me from Samuel. Hugh's two oldest cubs, the bouncers working the door, filed in too. With arms outstretched, everyone braced for a fight.
Galan's heart pounded against my chest, his arms wrapped around my shoulders. I shook my head and salty tears stung the scrape on my cheek. "Stop. Stop this . . . everyone, please."
Galan let me stand, but held my shoulders, his hands trembling. "Is this how you treat a female, Samuel?" he growled behind me. "They bow to your advances or you assault them?"
Samuel's lip curled. "I'm the last man ye want to end up in a mangle with, Elf."
"Actually, wizard, you are the first."
I pressed at my wall of protectors. "Back down boys, this is between Samuel and me." I half-turned and braced a hand flat on Galan's chest. His eyes were wild, stormy and ice-blue. "Calm down. Let me handle this. Please."
"Not possible." Galan shook his head and grabbed my wrist.
He didn't just say that. "Galan, I get you're upset, but you are not, nor will you ever be, my lord and master. If I say I will speak with Samuel, you and your well-meaning family will back the hell off and let us speak." Sparks fizzled from my fingertips. "Something's not right here and I'm going to figure out what it is."
Galan's glare narrowed. "Jade, I am looking at what a few moments alone with Samuel has done and it is a macabre sight. You owe him nothing."
I caught my reflection in the tavern window. It was grizzly. My cheek was a violet patch. My mouth and chin were stained with Samuel's blood and my blouse was ripped and falling back to expose bruises already blooming on my shoulder and neck.
Okay, I looked like shit.
Drawing a deep breath, I softened my voice. "It looks worse than it is." No one moved to let me pass. I closed my eyes and steadied my nerves. Not waiting for a reply, I built up some juice and pushed past them with a jolt. Thankfully they parted and gave me some space.
Samuel looked spooked, like a cornered animal about to bolt. I walked slowly, gauging his mood with each approaching step. The emotions on his face didn't make sense. He was so conflicted. "I am sorry you're hurting," I whispered. "But I don't understand. You said you needed more than I could give you. You broke it off. You said we were over."
Samuel's expression contorted and he rocked on the balls of his feet.
"Why are you doing this, Samuel? You're like one of my family."
"Family?" he snorted. "Are ye really that blind? Ye think ye know the people around ye . . . what's going on. Ye've no idea. Castian. Reign. It's all a fucking charade." He glanced at the trees in the distance and seemed to gain focus. He moved directly in front of me, glaring through glossy eyes to where Galan was standing behind me.
"Take her Elf, for all the good it'll do ye. She's a honey, I'll give you that. Though I wouldn't have wasted so much time if I'd known her silken thighs are locked tighter than a vault. Two years for nothing but bursting bollocks and a broken heart."
Samuel spat. Saliva hit my eye and ran warm, down my cheek. In a fog, I raised my hand to my face. I didn't see when he lunged, but I felt the force of a truck hit my chest. I gasped, staring down at what was left of my shredded blouse. Pain ripped through my body before my mind could understand.
Samuel whispered something and disappeared.
Stunned I clutched the hilt of the dagger protruding through my chest. Wet heat washed down my belly. I crumpled.
"NO!" Galan cried. "Oh, no, no. Jade." Warm arms lowered me to the cool cobb
lestone path. His hands fluttered over me. He gathered my hand, cradled it to his chest. "Blossom, if I remove the dagger can you heal the wound? Jade, can you?"
"No." I coughed. Blood spewed from my mouth. "Too much . . . can't focus."
"All right," he sobbed. "What can I do?"
All sounds receded from my mind as a hazy, cold fog enveloped me. I was struck by the desperate love brimming in those glossy, blue eyes and the soft lines of his chisel-cut face.
Everything went black.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Through the fog, I strained to focus. My body was blurry, detached. I wanted my arms to move, to pull myself up. I couldn't find them. My eyes refused to open. I tried to remember. Stabbed. Samuel stabbed me. Shit . . . I'm dead.
Dead was uncomfortable. I didn't want to be dead.
The blanket of fog drifted. I felt my feet, then my knees. Inch by inch, limb by limb, I became more aware. Soft breathing close to my ear. Sweet, warm breath brushed my cheek. I listened through the foggy mist, fixated on the rhythm in my ear. I tried to find my eyes again. They fluttered open a sliver. I searched for something—anything—to settle on.
Nothing. They closed.
My head spun. My eyes remained closed. The scent of lilacs drifted in on the breeze from an open window. My fingers twitched, tracing the detailed embroidery on the bedspread . . . my bedspread. I sighed. Warmth skimmed across my cheek. Liquid sunshine washed over me. My skin tingled with the touch. Someone was with me . . . holding me, stroking my face.
"Au' laccer en lla coia orn ne' omenta grantha." The silky voice whispered, but I couldn't translate the Elvish. "Cormimen niuve tella' tue les lla au'."
That voice. What was it saying? I tried to rouse. My head was cradled. My eyes opened. Church glass blue. I knew that color. "Galan?"
"Blossom," Galan exhaled on a sigh.
"What happened? I—"
"Shh, Blossom." His voice was shaky, his eyes swollen and bloodshot. "Are you well?"