Elissa had spent the last two days crying on her pallet.
Drayton had tried to cajole her into joining him in the main living space of his cave, but she’d had no desire to join her captor, and didn’t hide her glares when he brought her food.
He was gentler to her now, since he’d announced her pregnancy. The old mage hadn’t lifted a hand to her for disobedience or sharp tongue, either. But she could feel his patience waning through their link.
And she was so weak. Her magic was there, but being denied access to it gave her a constant headache, plus she could feel Drayton drawing on it. Little by little, as much as his bracelet allowed. When he called her powers, Elissa’s head would spin and the stone would alight, shooting out a column of red illumination.
Afterward she was always so sleepy she couldn’t fight the heaviness of her eyes.
Elissa worried Drayton’s actions would harm her baby. Mischief, too. Was her magic hurting their bond? Even though she couldn’t feel her bondmate, she didn’t stop calling out to him every day. So far, it’d yielded nothing, but she couldn’t lose hope. If she sunk into the hovering despair, she’d die. Then her child would die, too.
She thought of Alasdair way too much. Fantasized about being a family with him. Pretended he’d want her, want the child she carried. She closed her eyes, imagining a dark-haired little lad with big blue eyes and her grin.
Smiling, she sighed and put her palm flat to her stomach. Elissa looked down. “I promise we’ll get out of here.” Her whisper bounced off the curved walls.
A noise caught her attention and her gaze shot to the entrance of her little nook. The outline of a wolf stood in the doorway.
The bracelet on her wrist opened and fell off, hitting the ground with a thud. The red stone was black as night.
Elissa blinked. Surely she was dreaming—about both?
Then Mischief barreled into her chest, whining.
Why’d the bracelet fall off?
Her magic rushed to the surface of her skin but exhaustion enveloped her and she reached for Mischief with both hands. She threw her arms around her wolf and buried her face in his neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for finding me, Mischief.”
She wanted to ask him how, but he couldn’t answer how she needed him to. In words.
Why hadn’t she sensed his closeness?
He sent her feelings of warmth and love and she sucked in air. Wagged his tail so hard his body shook, but he didn’t leave her embrace.
She needed his warmth, his furry muscled form against her torso. Needed to feel his rapidly beating heart and smell his familiar scent. It made her know—really know—he was real.
He’s here.
Elissa was afraid to look away from him.
Pebbles sliding across the cave floor had her gaze darting up against her will. The frame that filled the space was too tall to be Drayton.
“My lady,” he said.
Mischief broke away from her body and whirled. Hackles up all the way to his tail. He hunched, ready to pounce.
“I mean you no harm. Drayton is dead. And the knights have come for you. Listen.” The familiar voice jolted her as much as what he’d said.
My half-elfin captor.
“Dead?” Shock about his presence, as much as what he’d said washed over her.
He nodded. “I must go, but you’ll be safe. They came for you.”
“What’s your name?” she blurted.
He flashed a smile and shook his head.
Then he was gone.
Her heart thundered and she clutched her bondmate to her torso in tight arms. Mischief whimpered and licked her cheek.
The pounding of boot steps had her tensing, and kicked her heartbeat up all over again.
Alasdair gasped when he saw her, but he didn’t say anything. His eyes darted all over her, although he probably couldn’t see much of her, since her bondmate was plastered against her. Her gown was dirty and torn, a mere shadow of the beauty it’d been.
She resisted the urge to tug it straight or brush the sandy dirt from it.
“Alasdair.” His name fell from her mouth in a cracked whisper. The first thing out of her mouth should’ve been that she carried his child, but when Elissa was enveloped by his heat, she forgot she was filthy. Forgot her whole body ached.
When she felt his lips on her gritty forehead, tears leaked from her eyes. She melted into his chest, wrapping her arms around him.
He squeezed her back. Alasdair chanted, “Lass, lass, lass,” right above her ear, his warm breath shifting her stringy hair.
Somehow, she wished he’d say her name.
“Alasdair…” There was so much she wanted to say. Nothing would cooperate.
“Don’t cry. I’m—we’re—here, my lady. There’s no more danger.” He didn’t wipe her tears away as he had in the past, but his gaze didn’t waver from her face. “Are you hurt?”
Elissa shook her head. “Did you see him?”
“See who?”
“The half-elfin man?” She quickly launched into her captor’s appearance and what she knew of his identity, as well as explaining to her knight of his companions.
Alasdair listened intently but kept repeating she had nothing to worry about. The men who’d had her were dead.
She didn’t correct him that it was only one, nor did she ask questions. Fatigue had her melting into his comforting embrace. Elissa couldn’t even muster the strength to tell him about the bracelet or Dimithian.
“Let’s get you to Lord Cam.”
“Lord…Cam?” Her heart plummeted to her knees.
“Your betrothed is anxious to see you, lass.”
Elissa swallowed as a new bout of tears threatened and her throat closed up. The man she loved scrambled to his feet with her in his arms, against his hard body. He strode out of the cave, but he didn’t have to go far.
To give her to another.
The Duke of Dalunas sheathed his sword when he saw them, his face a mask of concern. “Elissa!” He rushed toward them, and before she could blink, she was transferred to Lord Cam’s arms.
“I can walk,” she whispered.
“Nonsense,” Lord Cam said, about as stern as she’d ever heard him. His lips brushed hers and Elissa tried not to wince.
Their gazes locked and she stared into his crystal blue eyes.
They’re the wrong color blue.
“Elissa, are you hurt?”
“Nay, my lord. Sir Alasdair rescued me.”
The duke looked at her knight. Something passed over his expression, but what, she couldn’t name. “For that, I’ll be forever grateful. He brought you back to me.”
Alasdair gave a curt nod and muttered something about duty.
Elissa blinked to clear her vision but the tears wouldn’t stop. Her magic didn’t push back for once; she was too tired.
The only thing she was to him was a duty, like it’d always been.
Foolish lass.
The hope she’d felt after Drayton had told her she was with child dissolved. She’d felt deep down that Alasdair would find her, come back her as promised by the tree all those days ago.
She’d entertained stupid ideas of being his wife and raising his child at his side. He’d demanded her hand before, because he’d taken her innocence. He didn’t want her. Still. The presence of his child would make no difference.
He’d given her to Lord Cam without hesitation.
“Elissa?” Lord Cam whispered. Her name was a question, but she wouldn’t explain even if she could.
Not to him.
She shook her head and nestled closer to the duke, sliding her shaking arms around his neck.
He hiked her higher, held her tighter. But so gently, mixed emotions churned her stomach. “I’m so glad I have you back.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say.
Mischief circled them, whining.
Elissa thought-sent to her bondmate that she was all right. At least on the outside.
“Is he well?” Lord Cam asked.
“Aye, my lord. Anxious to leave from here, as am I.”
A smile played at the duke’s full mouth and Elissa forced one in return, albeit the tiniest curve of her lips.
“Let’s get you home.”
Home?
She whimpered and his step paused.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Aye. I’d like a bath.”
Lord Cam nodded. “Of course. We’ll go to Castle Rowan for the night, we’re close. We’ll consult the king. You can soak all you want. We’ll depart for Dalunas tomorrow. There will be no pressure. Everything’ll be at your pace, Elissa.”
Her name didn’t roll off his tongue with a Terraquist brogue. Somehow the southern lilt didn’t sound right. She swallowed again and begged the tears to cease.
The arms that held her were warm. The chest she was against was firm, muscled and protective. The blue eyes that regarded her were kind, caring.
Too bad it was all wrong.
Elissa bit down on the sob threatening to escape.