Bound to the Elvin King (13 page)

Talion attempted to shut the door on Relian. “It’s time for you to go.” And for Maggie to explain her antics. His nails dug into the palm of his hand. For someone who claimed she didn’t want people knowing about them, her actions sorely defied her words.

His son’s foot stopped the door. “You’ve been acting more secretive than usual. I’ll go, but we will talk later.”

Talion frowned and knocked aside the offending appendage. “Really? Who’s the father here, not to mention king?”

“And I’m your adult son who expects some answers.”

When had his son turned so demanding? Not too long ago, he’d been having this kind of conversation with Relian. He hadn’t experienced much success. Relian had clammed up tighter than a seeing crystal in a darkindred’s hand. Why did his son think he’d be any luckier in this situation than Talion had been?

Talion wanted to smirk at the change in circumstance but settled for merely shrugging his shoulders. “We’ll see.”

Relian’s mouth firmed. “Yes, we will. An—”

Without a further word, Talion shut the door in his son’s face.

He shook his head, looking at a delightfully nude Maggie. “What part of “later” doesn’t the boy understand?”

Her lips twitched. “That’s the cry of parents the universe over, I guess.”

He raised a brow. “Heard that one more than once?”

“More than you’ll ever know.” She crossed her arms over her breasts. Surprise flared in her eyes for a moment, then she glanced as if she’d forgotten she was naked. She hopped off his desk. Instead of pulling on her clothes like he’d suspected, she wrapped a blanket around herself that had been lying over the back of one of the chairs.

He stepped toward her. “You shouldn’t cover up such beauty.”

Her face darkened. “You’ve already enjoyed the goods, so you can stop with the compliments.”

“You think I have an agenda?”

“Don’t most men?”

So untrusting. She never accepted anything at surface glance. But often neither did he. One couldn’t stay alive, let alone remain king, for long, otherwise. “I don’t need to use flattery to have you again.”

She rolled her eyes. “Such arrogance.”

“I’ve felt how your body responds to mine. From the moment you stepped into Eria, you sensed something awaited you. When you laid eyes on me, the tension you emitted resonated within me.” Oh, he’d known it all once he’d seen her. Whether she admitted it or not, her body and spirit had reached out to his.

Her insolent look vanished as an expression of panic flittered over her face, and she took a step back. She thought to flee? That couldn’t be allowed, so he stalked toward her until he stood a few feet away from her. “There is no escaping. Us. Our bond.”

“This is too much.” She shook her head and held up a hand to ward him off. “You’re too much. We satisfied the bond, so I’m outta here.

“We only satisfied one condition of the bond.”

She reared back like he’d slapped her.

“Just because we made love doesn’t mean the bond will disappear now.”

She stiffened. “I know, but we’ll live with it and go on with our lives.”

“And how do you see us doing that?”

“Separately, of course. I won’t be tied to you or to this land.”

Annoyance seeped into him. They were soul-bonded. There was no living separately. At least not for long periods of time. Their spirits fed each other. Maggie would have to make her peace with the bond—and him.

“And what would happen if we live apart?” His voice was silky quiet. He knew the effect it had on people.

She quivered. It appeared he hadn’t lost his touch.

“I guess we’d feel a sense of loss and not be happy.” At first, she didn’t look at him as she spoke, but then apparently gathered her courage, for she stared him in the eye. “Happiness is highly overrated.”

The little vixen had an answer for everything. Too bad her words showed how she underestimated the consequences. “Apparently staying alive is overrated, too.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“Why do you think we could live apart when others who are soul-bonded cannot?”

“Because we didn’t choose this.” She flung up her hands to emphasize her words. “And I didn’t know bond mates had to live together…permanently?”

“Permanently.” Though “permanently” had a different connotation to elves, given their lifespans. He wouldn’t tell her yet that once the bond was stabilized, the couple could be apart for years. “Proximity is what feeds the bond.”

Her face crumpled when she apparently realized there was no going back to her old life. A pang assailed him, but he swiped it away. Did she think he liked being so dependent on anyone, especially a human? His enemies could use her to strike against him. But neither could he deny how she drew him.

He neared her until only a heartbeat separated them and grasped her chin. “What we choose doesn’t matter in this case. We must make do with what we have—and that’s each other.”

Indecision clouded her face. It wasn’t a look he saw on her face often.

She knocked his hand away. “I—I need time to think.”

Grim amusement tickled his insides. She wasn’t going to give in easily and would probably keep looking for a nonexistent way out.
Let her try.
It would keep her busy and allow him to continue with his plans for her and the kingdom.

“You might have all the time in the world now, but don’t take long. Others will soon discover the bond.”

She tensed up. Hmm, was she worried people would find out about their bond, or was she concerned about something else? She’d reacted more to his first words than his last. Could his reference to time have upset her? But why? A human should be happy to have the lifespan of an elf.

“Great, a lifetime of you,” she muttered. “Sign me up now.”

He frowned. Really, there were worse things in life. She needed to learn that and her place in his world. “You are. Blood and soul.”

“Could this day get any more horrible?”

He tsked at her. “Is that a dare?” It probably wasn’t wise to bait her, but he couldn’t help himself. She resembled an angry kitten when mad.

She glared at him. “Why are you such an ass?”

Ah, her favorite insult. He was becoming quite fond of it himself. “What other people call dynamic and witty, you call an ass.”

“Yeah, they must be imbeciles.” She turned her back on him and gathered up her clothes. “Where can I get dressed?”

“Right here.”

A snort escaped her lips. “I think not.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen or tasted.” And would taste again.

She shivered, her hand clutching the blanket around her tighter. “Grr, don’t remind me.”

“Afraid of wanting a repeat performance?”

She spoke between gritted teeth. “Where. Can. I. Get. Dressed?”

He considered his options for a moment. She wasn’t rising to his challenge, and he did have work to do. “Through the door to the right.”

“Finally.”

She marched over to the door leading to his bedroom and opened it, sending it banging against the wall. When she yanked the door closed, the sound was no softer.

He winced. Remind him to have doorstops installed in all his rooms.

A few minutes passed, and Maggie still hadn’t returned. His mind froze on that one thought. Why would she when they’d already finalized the bond? He sighed. She was going to lead him on a wild chase, one he could ill afford. Follow her he would, but not right now. There was work to do. Personal matters would have to wait.

A ripple of pain pierced his chest, but he ignored it. The twinge would go away over time. Until then, Maggie would find herself in his company often.

He grinned. She’d love that.

***

Maggie wandered the halls. She didn’t want to go back to her room and face Cal.

She gulped. Would Cal know just by looking at her? Talion had left his imprint on her. Surely, it showed on her face, on her skin, like an ink stamp. In fact, the elves she’d run across stared more than usual. She was sure of it.

The skin on the back of her neck itched. She turned around to see an elvin woman gazing at her. The woman was everything she hated, with a thin, willowy figure that could do a supermodel justice. Long, silky, platinum hair cascaded in waves down narrow shoulders. Maggie wanted to barf. Her own golden-brown hair and average figure seemed plain and frumpy in comparison.

She shrugged off the feeling. Why was she now worried about her looks in Elfland, when she hadn’t been concerned before? Back on Earth, she’d never lacked for dates when she’d wanted them.

The woman walked toward her. Maggie stifled a groan. She didn’t feel like talking to a living fashion doll.

“You are Lady Maggie, are you not?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I’ve wanted to meet the woman I’ve heard so much about. Rumor doesn’t lie. You’re a very pretty human.”

Maggie scrunched her brows together. “Uh, thanks?” What did this elvin woman know of human beauty? Or was she just giving her an underhanded compliment?

“You’re a musician, it is said.”

“Yeah, I play the violin, guitar, and piano, along with other instruments.”

The lady’s shrewd gaze swept over her. “The king loves music and appears to think highly of you.”

What the heck? Why bring up Talion? “He does?”

“He’s mentioned you a few times in passing.” The elvin lady’s lips thinned. “Besides, I know him quite well and can tell when someone has his regard.”

Emotions thundered through her. Why and when had he been talking to this woman? They seemed way too chummy to her. As the possible implications hit her, the sound of her heart hammered in her ears.

“Really? My, you do know each other well, then.”

The woman either ignored the barb, or wasn’t familiar with her personal brand of mockery. Either way, it pissed Maggie off.

“We were lovers, yes. I still care deeply for him, but he was…never free to return my affections. So I made do with what he could give me.”

Yeah, and I can guess what that was.
“When did you stop...
seeing him
?”

“The night you arrived in Eria. He felt it was in my best interest to halt the affair.”

Maggie’s mouth went dry. “Best interest? He didn’t want to see you anymore?”

“While we still enjoy each other’s company, he no longer beds me at the moment.”

Maggie winced at the matter-of-fact words and the images they conjured. This lady was beyond blunt about her relationship with Talion. Normally she’d appreciate such a trait, but in this case….

“Why are you telling me this?” Was Blondie trying to stir up trouble? Because regardless of her intentions, this was what she’d achieved. Talion would be getting an earful.

“I want Talion to be happy. And you seem decent enough, for a human.”

Wow, the compliments just kept pouring in. Really, it was as if being human was considered a bad thing. She may not have been born to live freakishly long, and graced with stunning looks, but being human was pretty nifty.

She crossed her arms under her breasts, which she noted with satisfaction were larger than Blondie’s size As. “Well, thank you very much. I’ll be sure…to take your words into consideration. A good day to you.” With a spin of her heel, she turned around, only to nearly stagger. Her lungs felt constricted, and her heart seemed determined to follow the same path.

Damn Talion and Blondie. They’d riled her up and literally sent her off-balance. She smiled grimly. Now, Talion better be ready for the consequences.

***

Maggie stalked toward the great hall.
Let the dinner from hell commence.
She was still smoldering from her run-in with Talion’s piece of fluff.

She’d felt off ever since. But that was surely because she now found herself bound to him. Hell, she’d “been off” since she met him.

As she entered the cavernous room, her stride almost faltered as the very awareness of him seeped into her soul. She didn’t need eyes to pinpoint his location. His energy pulsed through the air. A homing beacon couldn’t have been any stronger. It took all her power not to immediately seek him out. She gritted her teeth. What the hell was he doing to her? This loss of control had to go. No man would lead her around by the nose.

She knew the moment his gaze zeroed in on her. Sparks played over her skin like lightning. Their gazes met across a sea of tables, and she was sucked into the typhoon that was Talion’s eyes. Immeasurable moments passed before she yanked herself out of the swirling waters.

She made the mistake at looking at his mouth. And what a mouth it was. Those lips were gifted. By the smile spreading over his face, he knew it, too. She rolled her eyes. He really was insufferable.

He crooked his finger at her. Crooked his finger! Like she was a servant. And in front of everybody. Who did he think he was? King? The absurdity of her last thought hit her, and she came to a halt.
Yes, stupid, he is a king.
Used to getting everything—and everyone—he wanted. And in the end, she’d caved like everyone else surely had. It didn’t matter she’d had a raindrop’s chance in hell concerning the whole matter.