by Amy Patrick
“I am also grateful,” I said. “It shames me that my people created such an agenda and that so many in the Ancient Court seem to support it. I assure you my family and I do not. Not anymore, anyway.”
“That’s good to hear. There are good people everywhere—even in the darkest places—I’ve learned that. And we’ve all made mistakes. It’s what we do from this point forward that matters. Speaking of which…”
He turned to listen to the older healer, then back to Macy again. “I know you’re tired. We’ll take it easy on you today, just take a few blood samples, if you don’t mind.”
She started pushing up her sleeves. “Whatever you need. I’m used to it by now.”
Before he touched her, I reached out and gripped his shoulder lightly. I’d been right about his mixed heritage, but I hoped he could communicate in the Elven way. Be careful with her. Nothing is more important to me than her safety—not even the human race.
He gave me a smile of reassurance. Message received loud and clear, my friend. She’s in good hands here.
I nodded and released him, and he went to work, inviting Macy to sit on one of the tables then glancing at the bandage on the inside of her left elbow before reaching for her right arm instead. He spoke to her as he applied a band of cloth tightly to her bicep. His tone was calm and relaxing.
“So, I understand you’ve been doing quite a bit of ‘donating’ lately—this guy’s drop-dead gorgeous sister is transporting some blood samples to L.A., right? My father lives there and serves Nox.”
“Yes, but you might be too late to get in on that one,” she teased. “Nic’s sister Estelle is traveling there with a friend of mine, and he had his eye on her big-time.”
He laughed. “Oh no—I didn’t mean it like that. I’m very happily bonded to the most beautiful girl in the universe.”
He glanced between Macy and me. “I recommend it by the way, if you’re on the fence because of the whole star-crossed-races thing. I’ve never been happier, and my being half-human has never been an issue here. I feel completely welcome. Unlike the Ancient Court rulers, you’ll find the Light King to be quite open-minded about the issue.”
I moved closer to Macy and enveloped her hand in mine. “There is no ‘on the fence’ here. I jumped off that fence with both feet the moment I saw her face.”
“Awwww,” she purred and tilted her face up for a kiss.
Completely unable to resist the invitation, I bent and pressed my lips to hers, encountering softness and warmth that drew me deeper and made me want to lift her up and carry her away to some dark corner of this subterranean world, where I could have her all to myself.
“Okay, you two,” Asher teased. “Langnon will show you to your rooms shortly—as soon as we’re done here.”
Finishing with the final blood draw, he pressed his thumb to Macy’s arm while Wickthorne removed the tight cloth from her bicep and busied himself with the samples. He hadn’t yet engaged us in conversation, keeping to himself on the other side of the office.
“Okay, one more thing before we let you get some rest,” the younger man said to Macy. “We need a sample of infected blood before we can begin testing. You spent some time with the other fan pod girls, right? Do you know where to find any of them?”
Infected blood. Of course. They’d need a sample of the virus to create an antidote or vaccine for it.
Olly immediately came to mind. But I knew Macy didn't want to involve her. The Ancient Court had already tapped into her social media accounts and emails, and any further contact between them could make the girl a target. They might even torture her for information if they believed she might know of Macy’s whereabouts.
“There was a girl from Australia,” she said. “She was the one who initially got me to go to Corsica. Her name’s Ella, but I don’t know her last name or her hometown. And Australia’s kind of… big.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. Kinda. Anyone else you can think of?”
Macy gave me a miserable glance. I couldn't read minds, but I knew what she was thinking. We’d have to get the Plague-infected sample from Olly. There was no choice.
“There is… one girl. In England. I know where she lives,” Macy admitted with obvious reluctance.
“Excellent. Nox was able to convince some of the Dark Court members in England to break with the Ancient Court and give up their fan pods. We’ll have to prevail upon one of them to collect the sample. They’ll have to sway the girl afterward, of course, because it’s all too much to explain and we’re not allowed to reveal the secret to humans anyway. Just tell us where to find her, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
“Oh. Sway is not going to work in this case—it doesn't affect her,” Macy said. “That’s what actually drew us together in the first place. We were the only two in Nic’s fan pod who were lucid—the only two who wanted to leave.”
I backed her up. “It’s true. It’s unusual, but it happens. Some humans can’t be swayed.”
“That is odd,” the young healer said. “Someone once tried using glamour on me—back before I knew about my true heritage—and it didn’t work. But of course, I later learned why. Are you sure she’s human? If not, her blood may not be helpful after all.”
“I’m pretty sure of it. I’m adopted, but she’s not. She knows her birth parents. They’re regular people.” Macy thought for a moment. “She’s been begging me to visit her. I can use that as an excuse and go collect the sample myself. She trusts me, so it’s probably best that I go. She’ll help if I ask her too, even if I can’t explain the reason.”
Asher’s brow furrowed. “I’m afraid we’ll need for you to stay here a while.” He turned to me. Can you go instead?
“No,” Macy blurted, apparently guessing what he’d silently said to me. “You can’t send him away.” She slid from the table and flung her arms around my waist, surprising me with her vehemence. I liked it.
“You can’t leave me—not now,” she commanded. “Not after all we’ve been through and all you did to get to me.”
My heart melting, I wrapped both arms around her small form and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I don’t want to leave you, piccola. Ever again. But you said you’d do anything it took to save the humans. This is necessary. It will be only a short separation.”
The frown she wore told me what she thought of the idea, but she said no more in protest.
“How quickly do you need it?” I asked Asher.
“The sooner the better. It will take us a week or two to do the necessary research and find out if Macy’s blood can even counteract the virus. And according to what Nox said, every minute counts at this point.”
I nodded. That was it then. I had to leave for England tonight— early evening, if it could be arranged. No rest for the weary. No sex for the weary, either, apparently. I was desperate to seal the bond with Macy, but there was no way I’d make our first time a quickie and then run off to another country and leave her behind. It would have to wait until my return.
We'll have plenty of time for that, I reminded myself. We have eternity.
My body wasn’t as convinced as my mind. Maybe it was having been forced to spend so much time away from her. And the fact that while I was bonded to her, she wasn’t bonded to me. Not yet. As soon as it was feasible, though, I’d change that. I’d bind her to me with every convention, law, and physical act I could find. Now that I had her back in my life, I was never letting her get away.
I turned back to Macy and took her pouting face between my hands. “I’ll take Nox’s jet. I’ll go there and come right back. You’ll hardly know I’m gone.”
“I’ll know you’re gone,” she grumped. “I don’t like this—at all.”
“I know you don’t, piccola, but it’s a necessary evil. And when I return… we’ll take care of… unfinished business.”
That drew a reluctant smile.
“Okay,” the young healer said. “Time to make arrangements then. Macy, you’ll have to contact her a
nd gain her cooperation. My grandfather still has an old wall phone at his house. There is no digital signal to trace, and even if someone managed it, it would lead them to a property that is quite… well-protected from Dark Elves. I think it’ll be safe for Macy to use it for one phone call to this girl, if you can keep it kind of short. You can let her know Nic is coming. That way she won’t be alarmed, and she can make herself available for the blood draw.”
She nodded, liking that idea. “Good. And we’ll need to make the arrangements on our end for the clinic appointment. She’s only fourteen.”
“No problem. I’ll drive you both to my family’s home in a little while, and you can make the call,” Asher said.
Langnon returned to lead us to our guest room within the palace so Macy could rest and I could shower and change before setting off again. Before I left the medical office, the voice of the older healer, Wickthorne, stopped me.
If I could speak with you a moment, your highness.
I looked into his serious brown eyes and knew this would not be a casual chat.
“Macy.” She turned back around to look at me. “You go ahead and get settled. I’ll be right there.”
She looked worried but nodded and continued following the guide. When she’d gone, the older healer walked over and offered me his hand.
It’s good to meet you, Nicolo. Nox has informed us you are an ally in the Ancient Court, and those are too few and far between.
Yes, I have… broken with most of them recently. Thankfully my father has re-thought his path, and my sister and mother are on our side as well. They are, literally and figuratively, an island of compassion in a sea of animosity, I’m afraid. What is it that I can do for you?
Well your highness… I’m actually going to ask you not to do something. He looked uneasy.
Oh?
Yes. Pardon my forwardness, but I perceive that you and the nymph girl have not bonded. Am I correct?
I hesitated before answering, not sure where this was going. That is correct. Not physically anyway.
I have been reading up on the nymph lore we have on hand—I’ve also requested materials to be sent from Europe—older texts that may be more accurate. He paused again, looking acutely uncomfortable.
Go on.
I hate to intrude, and I certainly don’t want to impede your relationship with your betrothed, but what I have read strongly suggests that not all nymphs possess healing power in their blood.
Oh. And you’re worried that Macy might not?
No. I feel sure that she does. My concern is… that could change if she… if you two were to… you see… all the lore suggests it is only the nymphs still in possession of their… virginity… whose blood is capable of healing and enhancing health.
Wham. A great, heavy door shut in my mind.
Perhaps it is only legend and not truth, but it’s mentioned in several accounts, and the possibility is there, he said. I apologize for eavesdropping, but I could not help but overhear the two of you a few minutes ago, and your comment about “unfinished business” concerned me. I know it is a lot to ask, but if you could possibly…
I interrupted. I know. I get it. You want us to wait to bond.
He heaved a visible sigh of relief at not being forced to say the words. Yes, your highness. Thank you, your highness. If that is at all possible, it could make all the difference to our cause. Otherwise, I’m not sure that anything my apprentice and I do in our laboratory will have an effect.
I understand. I paused, deciding how to word my next question. I wonder… that is, how long exactly do you think you’ll need to create this… cure or vaccine or whatever?
He let out a long breath. It’s hard to say. This is something entirely new for me. We’re dealing with very old magic—and modern technology as well. At the very least… a few weeks?
And at the most?
He flinched. It could take us years to land upon the correct combinations and create enough vaccine for the whole human population.
Years. I let out a laugh born more of despair than humor. Okay then. I’m glad you warned me—I think. I’ll… take this information under advisement.
Yes, your highness. He gave a curt bow and went back to his bottles and tubes.
I headed for our guest room, where my irresistible fiancée waited. My irresistible fiancée whom I would somehow have to find a way to resist. For weeks. Possibly for years.
Though I was eager to see her as always, I dragged my feet and slowed my pace. How was I going to tell her this piece of news? More importantly, how was I going to keep my hands off of her?
When I reached the room, Macy was not in sight, but the clothes she’d been wearing were draped on the bed. Hearing the sound of running water, I turned and saw a closed door, most likely to an attached bathroom.
I stared at the bathroom door. Stared harder when I heard the sounds of someone stepping into a bathtub. It was utterly impossible to keep from imagining Macy in there, slipping into the bathtub with nothing on. No. I shook my head, actually debating slapping myself. I had to put those thoughts out of my mind for now. I had to ignore the fact that every cell in my body demanded that I walk through that door, pluck her from the water, and throw her onto that very large and very comfortable-looking bed. Right. Now.
No no no.
I was two years past Elven bonding age. I was five feet away from the girl I loved, who loved me back, who wanted me back. Who was naked. And I couldn’t have her—unless I was willing to sacrifice the lives of every human being on the planet.
The gods hated me.
19
Macy
Our room was the perfect honeymoon suite. Well, okay, maybe I was rushing things a bit, but it was a lovely room. It was cozy and beautiful with an incredible carved wooden four-poster bed and an upright chest for storing our clothes.
I’d gone straight for the bathtub once Langnon had left, planning to be clean and sweet-smelling for Nic when he arrived. Thirty minutes later, I emerged from the steamy room, pink-skinned and fresh-scrubbed and wrapped in a thick towel. Nic was sitting on the bed. Was sitting. When he spotted me, he sprang off the mattress and started pacing.
“Hi. Everything okay back there?” I asked. I didn’t like the look on his face.
“Um… yeah. Wickthorne wanted to tell me some things about… what they’re planning to do.” He finally glanced at me but then darted his eyes away again quickly.
“The tub is awesome,” I informed him. “I wonder where they get the hot water?”
“There are hot springs running beneath the earth. They tap into them for bathing and cooking.”
“Oh. Cool.”
Nic was definitely acting strange, not quite looking at me. Was he thinking about the flight to Europe tonight? Or maybe he was as nervous as I was about all the possibilities now that we were finally alone together and clear on where our relationship stood. We’d spent plenty of time together but never under circumstances with this much… potential. Even on our spontaneous holiday in Italy, we’d had separate bedrooms.
“It’s a nice room, isn’t it? I feel like I’m in a fairy tale,” I said, walking over to him, running my hand down one post of the bed and across the elaborately stitched blanket on top of it as I went. I was a little nervous myself but eager all the same.
He cleared his throat and moved away, going to open the armoire and examine the clothing someone had hung there for us. “Yes. It’s… lovely. I’ll be staying in a similar one down the hall.”
“What? I thought this was our room—they put your clothes in the chest there.”
“I’ll have someone move them.” He glanced around. “Is my overnight bag here somewhere? I should pack.” He was acting as if he was ready to move his things down the hall right this instant.
“Nic.” I closed the distance between us again and touched him on the arm.
He flinched.
“What’s going on? You’re acting funny.”
Finally he made dir
ect eye contact. “You’re in a towel,” he informed me, his voice sounding tight.
“Yeeeesss?” I dragged the word out into a question. “I just got out of the bathtub. Do you want to take a bath now? I’ll wash your back,” I teased. Sort of. Actually the idea of sluicing hot water and soap over Nic’s body had me ready to jump right back into the tub with him.
“No thank you. I mean, I will—bathe—in my own room.”
“What’s wrong with this one?”
“Macy I… can’t stay in here with you. I can’t… take a bath—in here—with you—in here.”
Something was terribly wrong. When we traveled together in Italy, Nic hadn’t been able to keep his hands off me. Now he was acting like I’d bathed in liquid kryptonite.
“Nic—what happened? Do you not… want me like that anymore?” And then a horrible thought occurred to me. “Did what Dr. Schmitt did to you make you unable—”
He whirled around and caught my shoulders in a crushing grip, molten emotion flashing in his eyes. “No. No, Macy. Believe me, I am ready, willing, and able. And now that we’re actually in the same place at the same time and I’ve determined you are not in love with another guy, I would love nothing more than to rip off that towel and bond with my bond-mate.” He let out a growl of restraint. “I don’t know how much longer I can stand to wait.”
Shaking my head, I started to say, “You don’t have to wait, idiot.” But then his choice of wording struck me. I blinked at him. “Your bond-mate? I thought it was called ‘your betrothed’ before the actual wedding, or am I messing up the Elven lingo?”
Nic’s dark eyes shuttered again. “I… didn’t want to mention this before I was certain that you actually did want to spend your life with me.” He licked his lips, hesitating. “I don’t want to make you feel… obligated to be with me.”
“Don’t be silly. You know I want to be with you forever. What did you not mention?”
“Macy… I am already bonded to you.”
I blinked. Blinked again. “How is that possible? Did we… um… did something happen that I don’t remember? Maybe I had a few too many glasses of Romigi’s wine or something and passed out?”
