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Relian shifted in his chair as the walls of his father’s study closed in about him. He, Talion, and Kenhel were discussing the recent happenings in an unofficial capacity. What better time to do so than when most everyone amused themselves at the celebration? Merriment practically sparked in the air. It was in stark contrast to what he was feeling about lying to Cal. Well, in all truth, he didn’t know if the veil would let her go if he did ask it to send her home. It was a moot point, anyway. The bonding had to happen. He had to convince her.
Her happiness—and his—were small matters in the scheme of things. The fate of their worlds took precedence. His lies and machinations were a necessary evil, and his father had agreed with him. Kenhel, too, after a brief hesitation, and he was usually a stickler for the truth.
His father folded his hands on the desk, looking across at him. “Did you send a chambermaid to them?”
“Not as of yet. I did assign one to them but gave the maid instruction to not disturb them for a few hours.”
“Do you think that is wise—to leave them alone after so short a time?” Kenhel laced his voice with concern. “They just arrived and might need comfort.”
“I believe they are overwrought enough from their journey as to desire rest and even sleep,” Relian replied dryly. “Plus, they have each other.” He had the distinct feeling Cal would be quite relieved not to be in his or any elf’s presence for a while. She needed time to gather herself and her thoughts. That was no easy task. He still hadn’t gathered his.
“I bow to your superior wisdom.” Kenhel bent shallowly from the waist to punctuate his words.
The king gave them both an amused glance. “Did you happen to assign one you believe will be...open-minded toward mortals and any special needs they may have?”
“Yes—” He stopped and looked askance at his father. “Special needs?” What could those needs be, as the women seemed young and healthy?
“If I remember right, humans can be frail creatures, always becoming sick and coming down with this ailment or that.” Talion emphasized his somewhat disdainful words with a wave of a hand.
Relian stopped the biting retort that was forming upon his lips. For some reason, remarks about the superiority of elves weren’t appreciated right now, but he kept his voice patient. “We can also become sick, though it’s rare. I think our two women are in good health, Father. They are young, after all. If we make sure they receive proper nutrition and get exercise and keep their minds busy, I’m sure all will be well.” Even as he finished his last sentence, pangs of doubt threatened to sprout beyond his control. What did he know of humans?
“I suppose you’re right. However, I still think it best to keep a close watch on their health.”
“Yes, of course.” Relian tamped down his rising worry. Were humans that sickly? Did his father know something he didn’t? Could a sneeze turn into something deadly within a day?
Talion must’ve noticed Relian’s growing distress because his next sentences were soothing. “Do not worry unduly about it. I’m sure all will be fine.”
Before he could answer, Kenhel broke into the conversation. “I wonder how Lady Cal’s friend came to be here?”
The king sent Kenhel a humorous smile. “Dear boy, the veil brought her along with Lady Cal.”
Kenhel rolled his eyes and looked at Relian. “I always said our people were too literal.”
Relian and his father gave a short laugh. Once the last chuckle escaped Talion’s lips, he answered Kenhel’s query. “I wasn’t being entirely facetious when I said the veil brought that hoyden. It surely had the power not to do so. Hence, it must’ve desired her presence here. For what reason, I don’t know. The veil may have decided Lady Cal had need of another lady from her dimension. Who can say with any surety? The veil does its own bidding, often offering no clue as to why.”
His elbows on the armrests, Kenhel steepled his fingers in front of him. He appeared deep in thought, his blue eyes narrowing. “We’re not even certain of the true reason for Lady Cal being allowed here. Except for the binding, we know little of the situation. Never before has the veil taken such bold action since removing us to this dimension.”
Relian shrugged. “We can only hope she holds some key to the dwindling magic. Whether she does is totally another matter. Regardless, she is my fated bondmate. I find I can’t turn my back on this fact, no matter the ambivalence it causes me. I can no longer think of breaking the binding.” Though he should find her distasteful, he’d never wanted anyone so direly.
“I’ve noticed that the binding is strong upon you, my son. It’ll be hard for you to not seek her out, whether you will it or not.”
His father’s sympathetic gaze weighed on him. He clenched his jaw before he spoke. “That’s a worry I have. I find I don’t have the control I’ve always been able to call forth. It’s disconcerting,” he unwillingly found himself admitting. “She doesn’t seem affected as I do. When I talked with her, she was unwilling to accept the idea of a bond. I’ve learned to do so, though it grates upon me.”
Talion nodded. “The binding is operating the way it was meant to—to see the bond completed. Once a binding is undertaken, free will hardly pertains here, even though our people bandy these two words about as if they’re a viable reason for breaking a bond. I don’t think she’ll walk away from this, as it’ll come at a heavy price. She also can’t leave unless we will it. Even then, the veil might not let her.”
“I don’t like lying to her, and keeping her here against her will... It’s something I would’ve never imagined I’d do,” he said in a low tone, giving his father a stabbing look.
Talion shook his head in astonishment. “Of course not! No one says you should like that feeling, because you shouldn’t. But do you not have eyes or elvin senses? She notices the effects of the binding, or should I say, she feels them. It shines in her just as it does you, even if not as brightly. I admit that the binding has affected her to a lesser degree, probably because she is human and has only newly come to Eria. Give it time. I believe it shall overcome her soon, as the magic here will accelerate the process. Have patience—she can’t possibly feel its full effects yet.”
Before Relian could acknowledge his father’s wisdom, Kenhel offered up his own particular kind of insight. “Yes, give it time. In a few days, you’ll have her languishing at your feet, begging for the binding to be completed.”
“I don’t want her at my feet.” He just hoped he wouldn’t be at hers, though. “I just want this over and done. It’s galling. It’s been going on for too long.”
Kenhel gave him a puzzled look. “It’s been going on for a matter of months, not that long. We’re nearly immortal, after all. That is nothing to us.”
He shook his head. “The dreams started over twenty years ago. They’ve grown steadily worse in the last months.”
Talion broke the tension. “It wouldn’t be befitting of a princess, even a human one, to kneel at your feet, Relian.” He drew the focus back to the original discussion. “Regardless, the longer you are exposed to one another, the greater the pull of the binding.”
Relian sighed and rubbed his temple wearily. “Yes, and the more disastrous the outcome, if she cannot overcome her denial.”
***
Cal awoke to a knocking on the door. She burrowed under the massive amount of pillows on the bed, not wanting to be disturbed. Her hazy mind stuttered and lurched as one word intruded. Pillows? There weren’t normally this many on her bed. Memory seeped back, and she shot up.
Gazing around the dim room, she gave a soft damn as horror shivered through her. Mellow candlelight, not the artificial light she was used to, glowed softly off the cream-colored stones of the room. Her bedroom at the apartment could fit into this chamber at least three times over. Cal quickly swallowed the bile that rose. She hadn’t been dreaming.
Despair welled up. She wanted her life back and the relative normalcy that came with it. A hand smacked her in the ribs and jerked her out of her thoughts. Grimacing, she pushed Maggie’s hand off. Her friend stirred.
The knock grew more insistent, and she huffed, rising. Her foot caught on one of the pillows that’d fallen on the floor. She crashed onto the surface of the marble-like stone beneath her. A large oomph escaped her. Apparently, whoever had been outside the door heard the thump because the knocking stopped and a pretty elvin woman entered.
Cal, her cheeks burning, looked up from her place on the floor. “Hi.”
The blond elvin lady clucked her tongue and hurried over, helping her rise. The elf swept her gaze over Cal. “My lady is not injured? The floor is slippery, no?”
Cal shook her head in confusion. While she understood the woman, her words were nowhere as smooth as Relian’s had been. The newcomer spoke musically. There could be no doubt about that. But the language started to sound more foreign and lilting and so much less like English. Yet she understood it.
The language had to be the same one she’d briefly heard as a girl, although she hadn’t been able to understand a word. It was also the same language from her dreams. Her heart and mind knew this. More importantly, her body knew it—had been intimately caressed by lips murmuring the language. Heat stole over her.
Cal shut out the increasingly steamy thoughts. “I’m fine, thank you. I just tripped on a pillow.”
The elf broke out into a smile. “Yes, very many pillows to trip on.” She turned and took a few long strides to the bed. Reaching under the left side, she then pulled out a basket. “This is for the pillows. If they are corralled, they cannot cause harm.” With that, she started tossing pillows into the basket.
Cal looked over to Maggie, who’d sat up in bed to watch the whole fiasco. Her friend shrugged. Apparently, Maggie didn’t know what to make of the elvin woman, either. But for an elf, she seemed nice enough.
The elvin lady’s voice drew Cal back to her. “Oh, excuse my manners! I am Arrein, your maid. My ladies, I am to see to your comfort and provide you with anything you need.”
Cal, dazed, traded a glance with Maggie. They were to have a servant? To wait on them? “Thank you, Arrein. It’s nice to meet you.” Pausing there awkwardly, she added, “I’m afraid we’re a bit lost and out of our element right now.”
At that point, Maggie gave a little laugh. “Yes, we’re quite clueless as it all stands right now.” She apparently remembered her manners. “Pleased to meet you.”
Arrein acknowledged Maggie’s greeting and gave both women an understanding smile. “Don’t worry. You will soon become accustomed to us, as we will to you. King Talion and Prince Relian care much for your comfort and happiness. They have only assigned those to you who can provide for such needs.”
Cal’s heart fluttered at the thought of Relian truly caring for her comfort. But she still wasn’t used to anyone making such a fuss over her. She turned slightly to see if Maggie fared any better. That would be a no by the glazed expression in her friend’s eyes.
Cal prayed for the strength to dredge up another sentence. “Please thank the royal family and everyone else you mentioned for their hospitality.” Royal family? What rabbit hole had she fallen into?
Arrein beamed in approval. “I will do so, my lady, but you should also be able to do so in person if you wish.”
The thought of meeting more elves made her head spin and her pulse thud. Cal didn’t know how to respond to this suggestion other than by giving a hesitant “that’s good to know.”
Arrein turned back to business. “Do you wish for a bath before retiring for the night, or maybe a light repast?”