by Kumar, Lisa
The women fidgeted. They watched the elves and the elves watched them, nobody wanting to disturb the silence first. He prodded himself to say something, anything. Where was his famed control?
His father came up behind him, with Kenhel following closely. Relian stifled a curse and prayed this wouldn’t turn into some kind of comical farce. As king, his father needed to greet new guests. Talion would also be insatiably curious about these two human women, one of whom would be Relian’s complete-bond mate. Kenhel, whose duty rested in protecting him and his father, should know little chance of harm existed. He probably felt his duty now lay with satisfying his own inquisitiveness. Kenhel could only do this through close observation, very close observation, apparently. Relian groaned internally.
The king stepped beside Relian. “Dear Ladies. I see my son is lax in introducing his king and father.”
Relian sent him an annoyed glance. His father knew full well he hadn’t had the time to introduce anyone but himself. Through tacit agreement, they’d decided Relian would speak to the women first. Cal would surely appreciate a familiar face.
His father ignored him and, instead, turned his most charming smile on the two young mortals. Relian didn’t offer an introduction. His father gave him a pointed stare.
Cal and Maggie looked on, their posture tense. Being around so much royalty seemed to be stretching their already taut nerves to breaking.
He strived not to roll his eyes at Talion. “My ladies, this is my esteemed father and king.” The sarcasm bled through his tone. No one, not even his father, paid it any attention, though.
Both women bowed their heads mechanically, looking perplexed and awkward while chorusing, “Your Majesty.”
The king gave them a pleased smile. “I am King Talion. Welcome to Eriannon, the capital of Eria. I hope you will enjoy our hospitality to its fullest. I realize you’ve both experienced much distress by coming here, or should I say, by being brought here.”
Cal and Maggie gave a nod at this but otherwise remained silent. Of course, a human would be hesitant after finding herself in the midst of a celebration where everyone but she and her friend were elves. He would allow Cal and her friend their trepidation.
Part of him wanted a private moment with Cal, but the proper protocol didn’t permit this at the moment. Besides, he wasn’t sure if he trusted himself—or his hands—to be alone with her.
Relian gestured to a side path. “Please, would you like to sit and talk with us in a more private setting? As you can see, we were in the midst of a celebration.” He wisely didn’t tell them the cause of the festivities.
Cal and Maggie traded a glance. His breath stilled. Would they show trust? When they both answered, “Yes, thank you,” he released the pent-up pressure in his lungs.
His father motioned to him and Kenhel. “Splendid idea. Relian, escort Lady Cal. Kenhel, you’ll accompany Lady Maggie. We will retreat to the private gardens. The celebration can go on without us. Excuse me while I make a few preparations.”
The avid throng of onlookers parted to let his father pass unhampered. Talion swept ahead to pull aside one of the advisors, while Relian stopped a servant to request refreshments for the women. Something fortifying like alcohol might be needed.
But for whom?
Chapter 10
Cal suppressed a sigh of relief at the thought of a more private locale. She straightened her shoulders and turned to face Relian. But her foot caught in the strap of her bag, lying forgotten on the ground. Oh, shit. She teetered. Maggie tried to grab her but managed to trip over her possessions, too.
The ground rushed toward her, and she closed her eyes to ward off the impact. But just as in the mists, strong arms swept her up and cradled her against a muscular chest. The scent of pine hit her nose. She glanced up and fell into gray eyes dark with emotion. Desire?
Maggie, ever being Maggie, replied, “Good save.”
Kenhel laughed. “I think I’m going to like this human woman.”
As Relian’s gaze held her mesmerized, all pretense of a nonchalant façade slipped away. “Th—thanks.”
Suddenly breaking eye contact, Relian murmured in a strangely distant voice, “You are most welcome.” When he looked back, he was fully composed. He offered her his arm. She hesitated, but he reached down and lightly placed her hand on his forearm. “Do not worry. Your belongings will be brought to your chambers.”
How could he run so hot and then so cold? She shivered at the memory of his gaze upon her. How could she possibly hide her attraction to him? Control ran low when he was around. He upset her balance, literally, in more ways than she previously imagined.
A thought stilled her mind. Chambers? Would she and Maggie be staying that long? Could they even go home? The time for questions was not now, though. She put them aside as they set off toward the palace and its private gardens.
While being led by the two males, she and Maggie marveled at the sights around them. As far as she could tell, the elves constructed their buildings with nature as their chief concern. Beauty came in a close second. Plants and trees wove throughout the architecture. Many of the houses and shops they passed were airy and open looking but still provided plenty of shelter against the elements.
As they neared the main part of the grounds, she and Maggie exclaimed their surprised pleasure that the palace followed in the same beauty. It was like no palace Cal had seen on Earth. Made of white stone, it consisted of several stories, being more sprawling than tall. Covered hallways and open paths led between different sections. The white rock gleamed in the fading sun as the mica reflected some of the rays.
Relian and Kenhel guided them through many hallways and paths until they reached an intricately carved door, which Relian pushed open. There, beyond the threshold, another path led up to a silvery-white gate. As they neared it, the gate swung open before them, almost as if it sensed their approach.
“That’s something you don’t see every day.” Cal glanced back at her friend in awe, expecting a response and wanting to find some normality in the situation.
“Yeah. Well, except at a superstore, though I don’t think the doors here have an electric sensor. I wish I could do that, though.”
Cal let out a snort. “You wish.” Actually, she did, too. It might be a useful skill when confronted with locked doors. After all, they knew little of this place. Eriannon might be beautiful, but could everything possibly be as it seemed? She would have to reserve judgment until later.
Kenhel chuckled softly. Apparently their wonder and little repartee entertained him. Even Relian lightened up a bit, cracking a smile.
Seeing her and Maggie look at him, Kenhel explained, “It’s good to see you both relax enough to tease one another. To Relian and me, such enchantment is so commonplace in Eria that we often take it for granted. It’s quite refreshing to have it viewed from a different perspective.”
“How can you ever get used to that?” Maggie gaped at them.
Relian’s contemplative voice broke the silence. “It’s easy, my lady, when you have something akin to forever. Life loses a lot of its glitter over the ages. I realize that sounds dour, but for elves, life can become such.”
“Akin to forever?” Cal squeaked. Forever as immortal? Both Relian and his father felt old to her, but she hadn’t considered what that actually meant.
He nodded. Well, she would definitely have to mull over that one later. An oddly overwhelming need to offer comfort flooded her. Cal patted his arm. “Surely life cannot be as lackluster as it sounds. Family, friends, interests, hobbies—these must be things that bring joy.”
“I cannot deny they bring joy, but it’s always tempered by a limitless life.”
Looking askance at him, Kenhel shook his head. “Our lives are not necessarily limitless. Though immortal, it doesn’t mean we can’t die or seek out death.”
Even Kenhel turned serious when the conversation sailed into apparently uncomfortable waters for elves. Her heart suffered a surprising
pang. Such a life view seemed sad. What would it be like to live an immortal life? Her mind rebelled at the very thought.
Relian gently tugged at her, stepping through the open gate, followed by Kenhel and Maggie. What surrounded them more than lived up to every notion Cal could’ve had. Many varieties of plants and trees that neither woman recognized surrounded them in the lush garden. It was beautiful, just like everything else they saw in this place.
They walked on and met the king at an elaborate scrollwork table set underneath a white gazebo made of metal and wood. How had he arrived before them? Maybe there were short cuts. Looking at the scene around her, the surreal quality of it all struck her. On the gazebo’s roof, ivy twined its way through the wooden slats, not leaving one visible gap to her eye. She drew her gaze away when Relian pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit. Collapsing into the seat, she prayed some of her vulnerability would disappear. What she really wanted to do was hide underneath the table. She wasn’t a coward, though, and would try to face whatever came next.
Hopefully, her fortitude wouldn’t be tested and ripped to shreds.
After Relian and Kenhel seated her and Maggie, they took seats on either side of the king. Everyone seemed to wait for the king to talk. They didn’t have to wait long.
***
“I hope the setting meets your approval.” his father asked the women, apparently trying to set them at ease before turning to the crux of the matter. Relian approved of this maneuver. He didn’t want to upset them further before knowing if they could handle more stress. Besides, until the quavering in his stomach abated, he could take refuge in social pleasantries.
Cal looked up briefly. “Yes, Your Majesty, it does.”
Maggie met his father’s gaze. “Fabulous like everything else I’ve seen, and private, too.”
Relian frowned. Maggie was more carefree and irreverent in manner. Somehow he didn’t think his father would ignore that trait.
He was right. Talion turned a thoughtful gaze to Maggie, making her squirm under his regard. His father’s lips twitched as though he fought back a smile. Relian stifled a groan. Hopefully Maggie wouldn’t respond. She must keep her composure if she were to have any chance of handling the king.
But the woman’s blasé attitude developed cracks. Her pulse and respiration were too rapid, even for a human. Her pupils dilated, making the black disks overtake the brown-colored iris of her eyes. Maggie looked to be young, about the same age as Cal. A loose chignon held back her light golden-brown hair, which probably would be shoulder-length if left free. A few inches taller than her friend, she also had slightly tanner skin. She was pretty enough, for a mortal.
Why was she here? As a social support to Cal? He grimaced. They didn’t know the truth behind Cal’s appearance, so how could they guess at her friend’s?
His gaze wanted to seek out the woman who sat adjacent to him, though his mind resisted that siren call. The binding certainly didn’t help matters, as it forced an almost compulsive need on the wearers to be near each other and magnified any emotions felt. It was obvious it didn’t affect Cal to the same degree. Whether this was due in part to her worry or her being human, he couldn’t say. All he knew was he wanted her in a way he’d not wanted another. This was troubling.
His kind, being so long-lived, didn’t hastily engage in pleasures of the flesh. Though their society encouraged sexual exploration, most didn’t engage in their more base instincts without some measure of restraint. Pleasure a fine wine to be savored, not engorged upon. The quantity didn’t matter as much as the quality, for they had untold years to partake of variety. Many elves his age could count their partners on one or two hands after leaving behind the wilder years of their youth. His last relationship with an eivai was many hundreds of years ago.
And now there was Cal. Relian steeled himself and froze his face into a neutral mask. He had to truly look at her sometime. It might as well be now.
Cal’s countenance hit him like a punch in the stomach, and his mouth became dry. His hands tensed on the table as he crushed the urge to draw nearer. She looked beautiful. Her deep auburn hair caught the warmth of the sun’s dying rays. A clawed hairpiece pulled her hair atop her head and let the tresses tumble down to her neck. The strands curled gently, forming waves of their own volition. Her green eyes appeared startlingly bright in her pale face.
He inhaled a shaky breath and forced order on his mind—and libido. Her appearance didn’t really matter, for the veil had already chosen her. Even if she were unattractive, in truth there was little he could’ve done. An insidious voice crept in. Your body doesn’t care about the veil. It wants her, regardless. You want her, regardless.
Relian shifted his perusal to Maggie, trying to guide his mind down a cooler path. He grabbed at the first thought to present itself. Both women dressed in much the same manner, the material of their knee-length dresses gauzy and of some type of chiffon-like material. Cal wore ivory, while Maggie had on a vibrant yellow. Their ensembles held true to their respective personalities, in his mind, at least.
The silence stretched on too long. His manners had disappeared, along with his mind. “Do you require any refreshments? There is tea, wine, biscuits, and honey cakes. If you desire anything else, don’t hesitate to ask. We might be able to procure it for you.” More than likely, the women wouldn’t eat much, if anything.
Maggie gulped, slamming a hand down on the table, and broke the visual war with his father. “I think I could use a glass of wine.”
Cal blanched at the suggestion of food and drink, throwing Maggie a wary look. Relian raised an eyebrow. What did that signify? Hopefully, it didn’t speak of foolish mortal superstitions about elvin trickery. For the most part, humans had falsely perpetuated those tales.
He would have to settle any doubts. “My lady, why do you look leery at the offer of refreshment? I promise we’ve not enchanted it or whatever nonsense you may have heard.” Cal’s eyes widened and met his. Ah yes, he’d guessed the problem correctly, after all. “Considering this belief, I’m surprised you gave your names so easily, though we never use the power of names for nefarious purposes. We’ve no need of it, as we prefer to avoid such methods.”
Both women paled. He shifted in his chair. Maybe he shouldn’t have let such news slip so soon, but he’d wanted to show no harm would be done to them through the bounty served. The women should recognize that his honor could let him do no less. “Eat. Everything is safe. And you also have our true names in turn.” Not that they’d know what to do with that information, but they had it, nevertheless.
Cal glowered at the food, apparently still distrustful. When she looked up, doubt shadowed her face. “Okay.”
Maggie resorted back to her impertinent attitude. “That’s reassuring,”
His father shot her a stony stare. She visibly swallowed and didn’t speak for a few minutes. The king lounged back in his chair, a smile on his lips.
Relian narrowed his eyes as he cast his father a look. It seemed Talion’s biting wit found a target. Would he have to referee his interactions with Maggie as if they were two recalcitrant children? By the skies above, he hoped not. He’d enough to contend with.
Chapter 11
Cal threw a look at Maggie but said nothing. Even if the food wasn’t enchanted, she didn’t want to be unwisely trusting or drunk. While she avoided it whenever possible, Maggie seemed to seek it out, unfortunately.
Relian’s gaze followed her. She twitched, trying to control every movement she made. Her body threatened to explode in a thousand different directions, otherwise. Her hands clenched in her lap. God, would he stop staring? Sensations, disturbing yet exciting, stirred within her. But she tamped down the emotions. Denial was much easier.
In direct opposition to her will, steamy images roared through her mind. Heat spread over her face and down her neck. Him and her. Together. Oh, lord. She refused to think of that right now. But so far out of her element, where did she begin in her dealings with him?
Though every corded muscle and sleek plane of his body was familiar, she tongue-tied herself into a twisted noodle when faced with the truth of him.
She cleared her throat and attempted to steady her voice in vain. “Please, I think I’ll have a cup of tea.”
Relian nodded. Kenhel poured a glass of wine for Maggie, while Relian did the same for Cal. When Kenhel set the drink before Maggie, Relian had still not moved to place the cup before her.
She forced herself not to stir, even though his close presence caused her hormones to sit up and beg for his attention. He seemed to be waiting on something but what?
“Do you require cream or sugar?”
Cal jumped in surprise. Oh, cream and sugar. He waited for her to tell him how she liked her tea. “I'll have both. Thank you.”
Relian gave her a stiff nod that looked odd coming from him. “Think nothing of it.”
His strong, lean hands swiftly, yet gracefully complied with her wishes. Many women would die to move like that back on Earth. Heck, she’d love to be able to move like that. But somehow it didn’t seem feminine on him.
Relian moved closer to set the cup down, his hair gliding over her bare arm as he leaned over. As she reached for that dang cup, her fingers brushed his. She froze, just as he did, and glanced into his eyes. Big mistake. All intelligent thought fled her brain as her world narrowed to one person, and she couldn’t remember why she was afraid.
Even their audience faded as he lowered his face, and her lips parted. His warm breath played across her lips. Her eyes fluttered closed. All worries, even her past, ceased to exist. Only this moment mattered until a coughing, hacking sound rudely forced its way into her consciousness. Coughing sound? Reality intruded and broke her little bubble. Cal’s eyelids shot open, and her gaze met Relian’s glassy stare.
