by Lisa Kumar
“Show?” She really believed him so vain? After a few failed assassination attempts on his life, he’d learned the vital importance of relying on his guard.
“Relian doesn’t have that many guards, if any,” she said as if accusing him of lying. “So why would I need tons more?”
“He doesn’t have any? Of course he does, though not as numerous as mine.”
She scowled. “But I don’t see any trailing him.”
“You won’t. Most of the time, our guard melts into the background. That is their function—to protect but not be obtrusive.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip, her brow scrunching up. “Ah-ha! Relian took Cal to a waterfall that was way outside town, and they didn’t have guards following them. How do you explain that?”
He nearly groaned. Of course, she’d pick the one time Relian had left his guard behind, much to Talion’s disapproval. “How can you be so sure a few didn’t follow at a distance that wasn’t detectable?”
“Because I remember Relian was freaked out and wanted to get Cal safely back to the palace.”
“It is possible to order our guard to stand down, but it isn’t wise.”
“So you’re saying that was what Relian did?”
“Yes.”
She threw him a hateful smile. “So I can do the same thing. I’ll just tell them to stand down.”
His hands fisted. Did she have to fight him on everything? “No you won’t.”
“Yes, I will. I don’t want to be watched every moment of the day. It’s freaky, and I won’t allow it.”
Anger flooded his bloodstream, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “You won’t allow it?”
An expression of unease played over her face, but it fled as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Yes.”
“You’re having a full guard, and that is the end of it.”
“No, it isn’t!”
He grabbed her by the arms and hauled her toward him. “You better not try me farther.”
Her eyes widened as if she had become aware of the precarious ground she was perched on. If she only knew the truth of his analogy. The loyal eyes of his guard were the least of his worries. He released her arms and framed her face between his hands before she could to pull away. Maggie tried to turn her head away, but he held fast and made her look at him. “You must accept your position and all it entails.”
Her mouth set in a mutinous line. “After what you did, I don’t have to do anything.”
“Wrong. Hate as me you will, but you will do as I say when it comes to your safety.”
She clawed at his hands. “I hate you so much. Everything about you and your stupid position sucks.”
He forced himself to shrug, though her words cut deep, and let go of her face. “Be that as it may, all my precautions are necessary and much better than having a knife in the back.”
She flinched, but didn’t say anything more about the guard. “I don’t buy your lame excuses.”
“My reasons are valid.” He paused, trying to decide how much to tell her about Eamon’s letter. “There was—”
Turning on her heel, she presented him with her back, and cut him off. “Whatever.”
Ire at her disrespectful demeanor made him itch to spin her around, but touching her again would only fuel her anger. “If you would just listen to—”
“Yeah right, I’m done listening.”
He almost said, “No, you’re not,” but snapped his mouth shut before the childish retort escaped his lips. “I refuse to engage in this juvenile game.”
She faced him slowly, her body shaking. “Juvenile? I’m the one being juvenile? You had no right to spring that announcement on me in front of a gazillion people. That’s no way to find out. I should’ve known your intention way before getting on that platform. You blew my trust to smithereens and don’t seem to give a shit.”
A sliver of fear entered his heart. Had he irrevocably lost all her trust? By Eria, he hoped not, but he’d had no choice. Why couldn’t she see that? “I’ve told you my reasons for doing so.” And wouldn’t continue to repeat them. He’d apologized, but she wouldn’t acknowledge the wisdom of anything he said.
“It still should have been my choice. My choice, not yours.”
And she’d never let him forget that, would she? He inhaled deeply, trying to find a scrap of patience. How could one human woman be so infuriating? The obstinate set of her mouth hinted that her attitude wouldn’t abate anytime soon. Against his will—and his better judgment—his gaze strayed to those luscious lips. He toyed with the idea of kissing her into a good mood or at least a forgetful one, but knew it would only be a temporary solution. Still, it would be a delectable temporary solution.
Ripping his gaze away from that siren call, he stared at the wall above her head. “Sometimes choices are taken from us, especially when it comes to our safety and welfare.”
Maggie made a huffing sound. “What kind of philosophical spiel is this?”
“Nothing but the truth.”
“But not your honor when you went back on your word?”
He flinched. That was a low blow, but no more than he deserved. Maybe that was why he willingly lay himself bare before her. “Yes, when it comes to protecting you, honor comes second.”
Her face softened, and she cleared her throat as if dislodging a frog from in it. But the tender expression all too soon slipped away into the wrath spreading over her face. “That is a sacrifice I ask of no man.”
“Whether you ask it or not doesn’t matter. It’s my decision to make as a king and your spouse.”
Maggie’s hand shot out and grabbed a vase from a table, and she lobbed it at him. The porcelain shattered on the wall behind him, though a few pieces landed on him.
“Of all the arrogant things you could’ve said, this takes the cake,” she said, the venom in her voice strong.
He brushed the fragments of vase from his tunic with a calmness he didn’t feel. What more could she want from him? He placed her before his honor, and she called him arrogant? While he hadn’t expected instant forgiveness, this animosity was too much. No more humoring her. “Most women would be flattered at what I’ve said.”
“Ha, I fail to see how most women would want their life planned out and decided for them. If so, they’re a far different breed than I am.”
“And what breed would you be? A stubborn, cantankerous one?”
She took a threatening step toward him. “It would take one to know one, you jerk ass.”
“Jerk ass?” Her little display of intimidation almost amused him. “I never said it didn’t. I know my faults well.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
“You’d be surprised. And even if I didn’t know, I have you to tell me all about them.”
“That would take forever.”
“Oh, that we have,” he reminded her with dark satisfaction.
Her face darkened even further, and with a glare, she pointed a damning finger at him. “You’re a complete ass. I can’t believe I’m stuck with your ass-holiness for eternity.” She whirled around, but lurched to a stop mid-turn. Her hand sought out the hard surface of the table.
He arrived at her side in an eye blink, worry eating away at his former exasperation with her.
Her mouth compressed into a thin line. “I’m fine. Get your hands off me.” To apparently back up her words, she wiggled in his grasp.
Though her pale face did nothing to calm his fears, he reluctantly let her go. No need to fan the flames of her anger even higher, especially when she was unsteady on her feet.
She sent him a fierce frown and marched toward the door. When she slammed it closed behind her, he didn’t flinch.
He walked to his desk and slumped into his chair. Was she just overwrought due to the stress and emotion brought out by the announcement, or was it something more? Could she be sick? If so, she’d probably hide any illness from him out of sheer stubbornness. Though she now shared his lifespan, she could still
fall prey to human ailments. That possibility caused an uncomfortable twinge in his chest, so he locked this worry deep away, not wanting to examine it too closely.
He would keep a keen eye on her health. When it came to him and proving a point, she couldn’t be trusted to look out for her own wellbeing.
Chapter 20
Maggie stalked through the web of halls, ignoring the sentries’ perplexed expressions and their hasty greetings to their queen as she walked past them. The reminder of her new position only soured her mood by a thousand more degrees. She didn’t feel like being placidly elvish today. So sue her.
To back up her mood, she’d ditched her guard by taking one of the secret passages Talion had shown her. Bet he never thought she’d use the tunnels for such a purpose. She growled under her breath. Like she gave a flying shit about what he thought. He shouldn’t have pulled what he did, so he better be ready for payback.
Rage vibrated inside her skull, and her stomach churned. She didn’t even know why she was so mad at Talion. He wasn’t the first to betray her trust. Sure, his reasoning sucked, though on some level, she understood it. But he’d given her a piss-poor apology and acted like she should be glad he cared about her safety.
A half sob escaped her throat, and tears burned her eyes. How could she let him get to her like this? No man had ever had that kind of power over her, except her father. And from that, she’d determined no man would ever have that kind of control again. Damn him, how had he gotten past her defenses?
To think she’d almost convinced herself that she loved that damned— She froze. Loved? No, never that. Affection? Yes. But nothing deeper. She’d be crazy to believe in anything more.
Still, she couldn’t get the idea out of her thick skull. Her and Talion. In love. It would’ve been a one-sided love, though, with all emotion coming from her side. The notion was too ridiculous to contemplate, yet it infested her mind like a swarm of termites. For all she knew, he could still be involved with Blondie. In fact, she was sure he was—just not sexually but that didn’t make it right.
A few tears broke free and slid down her cheek. She angrily swiped at them. He’d turned her into a watering can. Stupid ass. How would she handle said ass? No matter how she wanted to pretend he didn’t exist, their bond didn’t exist, she didn’t have that luxury—for many reasons. Could she ever forgive him?
How could she not when she was stuck with him for next to eternity? With a grimace, she rubbed her aching temples. Even more, could she trust him again?
She shook her head. Everything was so jumbled in her brain. Any forgiveness would have to be earned. Since he wouldn’t come clean about the exact nature of his relationship with Alalise, even without considering his latest betrayal, Maggie couldn’t blindly throw her trust at him. Hell, she hadn’t even confided in him about any of her run-ins with the twin menace. Why should she? They were all whispering different things in her ear.
She had to get out of the palace and clear her mind. That, or hole up in her room. Might as well use her chamber while she could. Talion would make sure to take it away from her at his earliest convenience and move her into the room that connected to his.
First, she needed to figure out how to get back to her room. Since she hadn’t been paying attention, all the passages now looked unfamiliar. Great, just great.
After a few failed attempts at discovering an identifiable landmark, she started looking for a servant who could tell her where she was. Her search turned up empty handed. Where had they all disappeared to? She slapped her palm against her thigh. Duh, some special harvest court was being held this evening. The servants had talked about nothing else for days, because they got to mingle with the king and eat all the lavish food they wanted.
“Lady Maggie. Or should I say ‘Your Majesty?’” a lovely voice all but sang.
Maggie closed her eyes for a second. God, not her, not now. But God wasn’t on her side. Alalise glided—damn her gracefulness—down the hall toward Maggie. Too late to run for cover.
“What do you want?” Maggie asked. She wasn’t in the mood for any crap. The way she felt, she’d hurl all over the blasted woman. Actually, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing and might qualify as the highlight of the day.
“You look peaked, my dear. Are you not getting enough rest?”
Alalise’s question, along with the faux concern in her voice, made Maggie feel even queasier. The elvin woman was like sugary candy that turned the stomach after a little taste. But Talion hadn’t had that problem, had he? He’d certainly tasted Alalise plenty and had kept coming back for more.
“I’m fine.” Not that it was any of the witch’s business.
The pleasant mask slipped from the other woman’s face. She eyed Maggie with a disapproving frown. “You know he only did it to protect you.”
Maggie didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Whatever. You elves each have your own agenda.”
“I only seek to help you.”
“Oh, please, you only “seek” to help yourself to my husband.”
“Maybe. But for now you make him…happy. If you believe anything else, you’re a complete fool. But if your relationship sours, I’ll be here to comfort Talion.”
“Wow, why don’t you tell me how you feel?” Maggie’s sarcasm lined her voice.
“I have nothing to hide in regard to my intentions, should they so line up with his. Fortunately for you, his interests in my charms lie short of the bedroom at the moment.”
Yeah, for the moment, but how about later? That thought rested on Maggie’s shoulders like a lead mantle. She sneered. Jealousy sucked, but she couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Didn’t stop him from sharing your bed before I came on the scene.”
Alalise huffed impatiently. “He’s a male, with a male’s needs. His wife died a long time ago, as did my husband.”
“According to your brother, you didn’t mourn your husband long.” According to your brother, you killed him.
The elvin woman shrugged nonchalantly, though her lips thinned. “It was a political alliance, nothing more.”
Geez, that was cold. But if she had killed him, that would be doubly worse. “You sound almost happy he’s gone.”
“He wasn’t a nice man. After his death, I was…free to live as I please.”
A moment of uncertainty hit Maggie. But she knocked it away. “Yes, I’m sure you started living high and free straightaway by jumping into Talion’s bed. Or maybe you didn’t bother waiting until your husband croaked?”
“I see my brother has been spreading more venom in your tender ears.”
Tender ears? Alalise was surely not earning any brownie points. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It is of no consequence. My brother and his rumors are well-known and disregarded.”
Yeah, Maggie bet they were. Alalise seemed far too unconcerned, given the nature of Alanon’s accusations. Was she just cocky or merely sure of her innocence? “Why are you even giving me advice? I know you don’t like me.”
“No, I don’t. I doubt we’ll ever be friends. Believe it or not, I want Talion’s happiness more than my own.”
“You love him.”
The other woman shrugged. “In my own way. After all, I’ve far outlasted all his other lovers.”
The witch. Did she have to remind Maggie of the longevity of her affair? And what was this about “all” his other lovers? Maggie sucked in a breath. Why was she letting Alalise get to her? The past was gone, and she didn’t want to know about Talion’s past amours. If they were like Alalise and popped up when least expected, she would kick them back to the past, where they belonged. Except she’d had no luck kicking Alalise to the past, so that might not be the best comparison.
Still, Maggie had to put Blondie in her place, if only for a moment. “He shares a complete bond with me. His prior…entanglements are insignificant compared to that.” Take that, witch.
Alalise’s mouth twisted. “Point taken. Just watch you don’t
drive him away with less than ladylike behavior. After all, you’re human and still don’t know all our ways.”
Was she slamming her humanity? “Oh trust me, he likes slumming with humans like me.”
The elvin woman looked down her perfect nose. “I’m sure he does. He’s likely learned a lot of inventive…things from you.”
Maggie smirked. Miss Fashion Doll was trying to find out about their sex life by making potshots? “I may have taught him a thing or two.”
“Swimming in the gutters will do that.”
“You would know, wouldn’t you?”
Alalise blinked once then twice, but then quickly recovered her composure. “He was in no hurry to get out of my waters.”
Good comeback, not that Maggie would admit it. “Until I came to Eria. Then he only had eyes for me.”
“Funny, he always knew he had a complete bond mate in the human world, and yet he lived his life unfettered by that knowledge.”
Her words squeezed a vice around Maggie’s throat. “What?”
“He knew you existed, but still chose to bond with someone else and sire a child upon her. He didn’t care to wait for a human woman who’d never be fully accepted.”
Another wave of betrayal pummeled Maggie. The world seemed to tremble under her feet, as if an earthquake had hit. And it had, in the form of Alalise and her news. Talion had never uttered a word about this supposed knowledge. Why was that? Possibilities, each worse than the one before, blared through her mind, causing spots to form before her eyes. The room tilted and spun, with Alalise smack dab in the center of the eye of the storm. Maggie did the only thing she could—she ran like hell.
Maggie stumbled through the hallways, not stopping until fresh air surrounded her. Her legs shook like jelly, and she collapsed down on the nearest bench she could find. Why had Talion kept something this important from her? He’d known that a human was his destined bond mate but still chose to marry an elf? Had the idea of wedding a human really been that repugnant to him? Was it still?
Images of them in bed—and out of it—occupied her mind. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her and never acted disgusted by her touch. In fact, he sought it out as often as his busy schedule would allow. The thought of those quickies warmed her, mentally and physically, more than the sun ever could. All this pointed to her former belief of their relationship: that he cared about her. While she wouldn’t go as far as to say he loved her, surely he felt some affection for her? After all, he put up with her sass without kicking her out the door like some men would’ve.
