by Kit Morgan
“… because you could never have come to Asger otherwise.”
“But how did you know?”
“Some of us are very good at locating fellow Muirarans who are lost, alone or growing up among humans. Once they’re found, they search for someone compatible.”
Mitzi shook her head. “Freaky. So what would’ve happened if you hadn’t brought me here?”
Shona took her hand again. “You would have died.”
Mitzi took a shaky breath. “After what I’ve been through, I believe that. And Asger?”
“He’s human – he would have lived, so long as he never began to bond to you. But not now – you two are already bonded.”
“So if I go home without him … we both die?”
“Yes. He’s answered your call. I think.”
“A call … feeding … wow, this is a lot to take in.”
Shona took one of her hands and gave it a pat. “You’re handling it very well, I must say.”
“Thaaaanks,” Mitzi replied dryly. Her mind raced over the information Shona had given her, putting it in order the same way she would evidence for a crime while watching one of those CSI shows. She was always able to figure things out well before the end of the program. All the evidence in this case led up to one conclusion: Shona was telling her the truth, weird though it was.
Okay, then like a CSI case, let’s fill in the missing pieces. “More than anything, before any of this happened, I wanted to be a cop.” She looked up at Shona, smiled and stood. “I wanted to make the world a better place by busting bad guys. To serve and protect.”
Shona’s eyes widened. “You really are a guard. Tell me, who have you been guarding while you’ve been here?”
“What? I …” she stopped and thought. “Me, mostly. My sanity. But … I’ve been protective of Asger.”
“Of course. That happens naturally while bonding, more so after joining. But for you, if your heart is feeding off protecting, then you’ve probably been feeding all the time and didn’t even realize it.”
“So wanting to become a cop …”
“… was the best path you had to what your heart naturally feeds on.”
Mitzi pulled her hand from Shona’s and covered her shocked face. It all made sense. Maybe her instinct to protect wasn’t the only thing her heart fed on. But she sensed there was no time to explore that now. Asger was … “I can feel him,” she stated.
“Yes, that’s part of it too,” Shona said. “Wait until after you join – it only gets stronger.”
“He’s upset.”
Shona slumped in another chair. “I was afraid of that.”
Mitzi let her hands drop. “Asger and I, we can … talk to each other … like, telepathically.”
“It’s not telepathy per se, your hearts are talking to each other. Dallan and I can do that too.” Shona stood wearily. “In fact, he just asked us to come. Things are happening, but I’m not sure what.”
“You can do that, even though he’s not here?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Wow.”
“Come – I’ll explain more on the way.”
Mitzi followed Shona out the door, her unease growing as she sensed Asger’s distress. As strange, wonderful and frightening as everything Shona told her was, it made perfect sense. There were still gaps, but she’d deal with those later. For now, she needed to focus on she and Asger getting married or joined or whatever you wanted to call it.
Putting off questions didn’t make them go away, though. If she was Muiraran, what were her parents? Were they even human? If they were, was she adopted? Who were her real parents? Now that she thought about it, she didn’t look much like either parent. Did they know?
Never mind – she had to get to Asger. In the half-hour or so they’d been separated, the pain and emptiness within her had been growing. The only way to alleviate it was to be near him.
With all this bonding stuff, had she actually fallen in love with him? Did she have a choice? Good grief, what happened if a Muiraran wound up with someone with a compatible heart, but was a total jerk? Did they have to go through with it anyway?
They reached the Great Hall to find only one guard outside. Was anyone even in there? Shona hummed a merry tune as they approached, went straight to the doors and opened them. The guard didn’t bat an eye – in fact, he looked like he was in shock. The two women approached the dais, where Dallan, Asger and Andel were sitting on the steps talking. “What happened?” Shona asked.
“Andel’s not happy, Flower. I’m afraid we’ve shaken up his happy home.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Mitzi went straight to Asger and sat next to him.
He put his arm around her and sighed in relief. “Ah, that’s better.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” She gazed into his eyes and smiled. “I’ve missed you.”
He laughed. “I’ve missed you too.”
“What did I miss by not being here?” Shona demanded.
“There’s a formal ball tonight,” said Andel. “And your husband and my son have explained to me his … affection for this young woman.”
“Nothing else?” Mitzi asked, curious. Let’s face it, she’d just gotten an earful.
“King Bjorn doesn’t know of this yet,” Andel went on. “I managed to appease him this morning by explaining that Asger was ill and apologized for his lack of manners in not informing us he wasn’t coming.” His jaw tightened. “You and your husband have put Maddie and I in a precarious position. King Bjorn is adamant that Velta marry.”
Mitzi felt Asger stiffen. “Can this Bjorn force you to marry his daughter?”
“Of course not. I can’t. I won’t.”
Andel frowned fiercely. “You may be putting us on the brink of war, son.”
Dallan stood. “One wee lass shouldna cause all this fuss. Think about it – what if Asger had shown up this morning and Velta had decided he’s not to her liking?”
“Indeed,” Shona added. “Would the deal be off? Would her father force her to marry Asger?”
“From what I’ve heard,” Mitzi said, “what Velta wants, Velta gets.” She saw Shona smile, and suspected she was the only other person in the room who got the reference.
Asger laughed. “That’s true. Who told you that?”
“Mildred, who else?”
Asger looked at the doors. “Where is Lady Mildred? I’m surprised she’s not with you.”
“Where is Velta, for that matter?” Shona mused.
Mitzi looked at Asger, then Dallan and Shona. “And where’s Albert?”
Dallan closed his eyes, and his smile broadened. He looked at his wife. “Shona, tell me what you sense.”
Shona glanced between him, Mitzi and Asger, shrugged and closed her eyes. Andel squeaked when she fluxed, but thankfully didn’t faint this time.
Mitzi gulped and looked at Asger. “So, um, did Dallan tell you a few things?”
He nodded. “You?”
She nodded back. “Sounds like we have to get hitched whether we want to or not.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Definitely. You?”
He cupped her face and kissed her. “What do you think?” he whispered against her lips.
She sighed in satisfaction. At least she had an answer to one of her questions. Make that two. “I think I love you.”
He smiled. “I know I love you.”
Andel groaned and tossed his hands in the air. “And to think I have two more children to marry off.” He eyed them. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!”
Dallan laughed and slapped him on the back. “Dinna fash, my friend – ye’ll survive it. Now let me explain how this works, so ye’ll ken what to tell yer wife …”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mitzi let Mildred dress her and do her hair for the dance. Andel and Maddie had reluctantly agreed to let their son follow his heart and marry whom he wished. What remained to be seen was how King Bjorn would react – Heaven forbid his da
ughter not get what she wanted – and what the relationship between the two tiny kingdoms would be once the dust settled.
The bottom line, Dallan had clarified, was that if Mitzi and Asger did not marry/join, they would both die. Shona displaying her alien features and singing to Andel had also helped. Mitzi hoped she hadn’t put thoughts in his head to make him more agreeable to the whole thing. Call her old-fashioned, but she wanted Asger’s parents to approve. Just like she wanted … “Oh, Dad.”
“What’s that, my dear?” Mildred pulled her hair back and began styling it.
“I was thinking about my father. I wish he could be here.” She studied her attire in the mirror, a navy blue gown trimmed with gold. “He’s never seen me in clothes like these.” And I might never see him again. So what if he might not be my real father. He’ll always be my dad.
“Don’t sound so sad, my dear. I’m sure you’ll get a chance to visit him soon.”
Mitzi watched Mildred fuss with her hair in the mirror. “Are you sure about that?”
“Of course. You’ll have to let him know where you are eventually, and I’m sure he’ll be overjoyed you’re marrying a prince. What father wouldn’t be?”
Mitzi smiled weakly. She didn’t know how much Mildred knew about what was going on, but she was trustworthy enough to be informed of her upcoming marriage to Asger by Dallan. Mitzi noticed the Scot didn’t ask about Velta or Albert when they ran across Mildred on their way to the north tower – he just told her to prepare Mitzi for a wedding. Tonight. She’d immediately pictured herself turning into a pumpkin if they didn’t say their “I do’s” before the clock struck twelve.
This really was like living in a fractured fairy tale. The only thing missing was a cackling wicked witch and maybe a troll or two.
“Now that’s what I like to see,” Mildred said.
“What?”
“A smile on your face, what else?” Mildred stuck some pins in her hair. “You look lovely, my dear. The prince will be very very pleased.”
“Yes, but what will Princess Velta do? This will come as a shock to her.” Mitzi had visions of Velta throwing herself at Asger’s feet, begging him to marry her – or throwing herself at Mitzi and trying to yank her hair out. The latter fit with what she’d heard about the woman. And what about her father the king? Would Andel announce her marriage to King Bjorn quietly, or with blaring trumpets and a royal proclamation?
Too many questions. Too few answers. How was she supposed to deal with being a Martian – well, Muiraran, but still? Would she ever see her father again? Was he her real father? What would happen to Albert? Would anyone believe him if he told them what happened? And if he did, was there some horrible punishment if they thought he was making it all up? She wished she knew that, and a lot of other things.
“There, all done,” Mildred announced.
Mitzi studied her hair in the mirror. It was a simple yet elegant style. She couldn’t get over how good she looked in period clothing with her hair up – it was like she was born to it. Maybe she was.
“Shall we go, my dear?” Mildred reached for a gold-and-silver hand fan. “Here, you’ll need this. It will be frightfully hot in the ballroom.”
Mitzi took it and flipped it open. “It’s beautiful.”
“And so are you, my dear.”
Mitzi looked at Mildred in the mirror. “This has all happened so fast. What if I wake up and none of it’s real?”
“You can’t deny it at this point, child. All you can do is accept it as your destiny. Though in this case, destiny needed a little shove.”
Mitzi was about to ask her what she meant when there was a knock at the door. Mildred went to answer it. “That must be our escort,” she sang.
Mitzi took a last look at herself in the mirror and sighed. “Destiny,” she whispered. Was it true? She understood compatibility. She’d analyzed everything Shona had said on the matter, along with her own experiences, and came to her own conclusions. She couldn’t argue with hard evidence, and pain had a way of convincing a person quickly. She couldn’t imagine what Shona and Dallan must’ve gone through during their own bonding. It was hard enough for her and Asger to deal with it.
“Och, ye look fine, lass. Asger will be pleased.”
“Dallan, what are you doing here?” Mitzi asked as she joined Mildred by the door.
“I’ve come to escort ye to the ball.”
“Why?”
He smiled. “Weel, ye canna verra well go with Asger. But ye can leave with him. Shona’s ensuring he gets to the ballroom.”
Mitzi eyed him as her mind raced. “You’re guarding us, aren’t you?”
“Ye’re quick, lass. That’s good.” He looked at Mildred, then offered Mitzi his arm. “Shall we?”
“I have a question before we go,” Mitzi said as she took his arm. “What if this doesn’t work?”
“It will,” he said firmly. “It has to.”
“Why didn’t you just have Asger and me get married before the ball?”
“For one, I want to give King Bjorn the chance to do the right thing. If he found out the two of ye married without being told, he’d be miffed.”
“Very.”
“So this has to be handled delicately.”
“I understand,” Mitzi said solemnly. “Thank you.”
“For what, lass?”
“For bringing me here. For keeping me alive. After listening to some of the things Shona told me this afternoon, if it weren’t for you two I’d be dead.”
“But ye’re not, are ye?”
She shook her head. She was very much alive and had the stabbing pains to prove it. Yet when she saw Asger in the Great Hall earlier, the pain vanished. Maybe the bonding was growing past the labor of it. She’d have to find out later. Right now, the most important thing was to get through the evening with no drama. That joining with Asger could cause a war was overwhelming enough.
Dallan escorted her to the Great Hall, where men and women in fancy clothes spilled into the wide corridor. “Weel now,” the Scot drawled, “this looks like quite the party.”
Mitzi saw all the finery and gulped. This would be her world from now on. Could she handle it? She wasn’t sure. She felt as far from royalty as one could get. She wished Mildred had come down with them, but she’d had to change into her own “party clothes” and would join them later. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”
“Trust me, lass – when it comes to this sort of thing, ye’re never ready.”
She looked up at him. “Thanks a lot.”
“‘Tis true. I ken I wasna when it happened to me. Now let’s find Shona – she should have come down with Asger already.” He escorted her into the hall, which was filled to the brim with people.
“I thought this was supposed to be a dance,” she commented.
“Aye, there’s no room for it in here. I’ll wager there are a lot of people from Lacona.”
Mitzi gulped. Great – they’d not only disappoint King Bjorn, but his subjects too. They’d probably run straight back to their little kingdom and load their rifles … she shut her eyes against the thought. She was jumping to conclusions. Maybe this would go off without a hitch.
“There you are,” Shona said as she joined them. “Asger is speaking with his parents.”
Mitzi craned her neck, saw him sitting with the royal family and sighed in relief. He was safe. Good.
“He’s no going anywhere, lass,” Dallan said.
“I know. Just… checking.”
Dallan laughed. “Shona told me what yer heart feeds on. I think it’s grand. Ye’ll be the perfect wife for him. He’ll need protection – lots of it – when he’s king.”
Mitzi rubbed the back of her neck. “I’d rather not think about that right now.”
“You don’t have to,” Shona said. “Just concentrate on being joined later and having a good time now. Dallan and I will take care of the rest. So enjoy yourself. How many girls from Vegas get to attend a royal ball?”
/>
She had her there. Mitzi looked around her at all the sights and sounds.
As if on cue, people dispersed to different parts of the room, opening up an area for dancing. This meant more people were shoved into the hall outside. She noticed doors on the other side of the wide hallway opening into what looked like sitting rooms. People were already entering them, thinning the crowd. “These people really know how to throw a party, don’t they?”
Shona smiled. “They sure do.”
Mitzi smiled back and, with the Queen’s guests cleared out of the way, finally got a good look at Asger sitting on the dais next to his mother. His siblings were there too, speaking with their father. Asger must have sensed her watching him – he stopped, turned his head and looked right at her. She smiled and waved.
He didn’t wave back, but stood and headed straight for her in his royal garments, a small crown on his head. Her heart lurched as if trying to get to him. But now she knew that was her other heart. She was hit with the sudden realization she would not only be guarding him, but the kingdom as well.
“Aye, lass, look at him,” Dallan whispered. “Is he everything ye’ve hoped for? Could ye ever have imagined him?”
She shook her head, unable to speak. The sight of Asger approaching was overwhelming. It wasn’t that he was a prince, but that he was perfect for her – compatible, Shona called it.
“Mitzi Fine,” Dallan said, “never doubt that he loves ye. The bonding is one thing, but love is another. When the love is there, the pain is not.”
She looked at him, tears in her eyes. “He really does love me? He wasn’t just saying it?”
Dallan cocked his head. “What makes ye think he’d lie about such a thing?”
She swallowed hard. “Men do, so they can get what they want from you. It’s the way things are.”
“Aye – and from what I’ve heard, women in yer century are no better. Love is an old-fashioned idea there, I suppose. Not many ken it or how to cultivate it, or even how to recognize it.”
She looked at Asger, back at Dallan. “How do you recognize it?”
The big Scot smiled. “Consistency and perseverance. This man will never stop pursuing yer heart, even when ye’re married. He’ll never stop pursuing ye. He will be consistent in his actions toward you, in his care of you, his provision and protection. And he’ll endure through thick and thin. A man’s love canna be measured in deeds so much as time. Any male can do things for ye, impress ye, give ye gifts – time will reveal his true motives.” He looked at Asger as he drew closer. “But a man, lass, will keep going. Because he has the maturity to do so.”