Betrothed (32 page)

‘I have a brother!’ I looked at Leif and I knew my face was flushed with excitement. ‘I have a brother, Leif!’ He was smiling at me, as always taking pleasure from mine. ‘We have to find him!’

‘We will, Marla.’

‘Imagine, Leif, a
twin
brother. I’ve
always
wanted a brother!’ I couldn’t keep the excitement from my voice.

But Leif didn’t appear to be listening—his attention was somewhere else. I was about to ask him what was wrong when he spoke.

‘Marla, there is something I need to do, somewhere I need to go.’

‘Can I come?’

‘No, it will be quicker if I go alone. I don’t have much time.’ He turned to Asher. ‘I will need to leave Marla in your care. She is without protection.’

‘I’m not a child,’ I protested.

‘I know, but there are dangers you are not aware of. I will be back within the half hour. I will explain then.’

‘My granddaughter will be safe with me, Highness,’ Asher said. Then Leif kissed me and was gone.

Asher stood and held his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me to my feet. He was taller than I realised. He spoke to the girl he’d been painting, dismissed her with the promise of finishing the work another day, then wove my arm in his.

‘Shall we walk, granddaughter?’

‘Sure.’

My grandfather pointed out this and that as we strolled through the markets. He answered my questions and admired everything beautiful with me. But his thoughts must have been elsewhere, because his eyes kept flickering to my face, and each time they did, he smiled a radiant smile and gave my arm a squeeze. He just didn’t seem able to get enough of looking at me. It made me feel warm inside. It was difficult to comprehend that this man, Asher, was my blood—I’d come from him. If Asher didn’t exist, then neither would I. The thought sent chills through me. I’d never known the feeling before.

‘Tell me about our family,’ I said.

‘What would you like to know?’

I thought about this for a moment. ‘Well, my surname for a start.’

‘Your surname?’ Asher asked, tipping his head to the side.

‘You know, last name. Like back on Earth my name is Amy Smith. Amy is my Christian name and Smith is my surname.’

‘In Faera we have three names. The first is the name our parents choose for us, the second, our father’s chosen name, and the third, the name of our king.’

‘So my Fae name is Marla Tobias Telophy?’

Asher inclined his head. ‘Until your father’s name is replaced with your husband’s.’

‘That’s similar to Earth—but some girls don’t change their name when they get married these days.’

‘Why would they not?’ my grandfather wondered.

‘It’s all about identity, equality, that kind of thing.’

‘Well in Faera a woman desires to take her husband’s name—maybe because there is a soul connection.’

‘Leif mentioned that. How does it work?’

‘It is thought to be a gift from God—to encourage fidelity, perhaps. It is believed that a portion of a male’s soul is released when he is born, to roam and join with the soul of his chosen one. That’s why, above all other women, a man will choose his betrothed.
He
is drawn to her because she contains a part of him and
she
is drawn to him to complete him. Humans have a similar belief in their Adam and Eve, do they not? His rib for her?’

‘Well,
some
people believe there was an original pair who had that connection, but I can tell you, most people share themselves around where I come from.’

He had no words.

‘What’s your full name, Granddad?’

Asher smiled and lifted my hand to his lips. I loved him already. ‘I was born Asher Adair Mirren, but when King Telophy came to power, my last name changed to reflect my new king,’ he told me.

‘And my brother?’ I held my breath as I waited.

‘His name is Lysander.’

Lysander
. ‘Let me guess, my parents were fans of Shakespeare?’

‘My son enjoyed Shakespeare very much. His desire was to name you Titania—which would have suited you very well considering the identity of your betrothed—but your parents agreed that your mother should choose your name, and your father, your brother’s.’

‘Tell me about Lysander?’

‘I am afraid I have little to tell. I saw you both only once, soon after you were born, both of you swaddled and nestled against each other in your basket. You were sleeping, content to be together I suppose.’ He looked far away for a moment and I could have wept as an enormous sense of loss seared through me. I should have had my brother in my life. I should have had my birth parents. I should have had this grandfather. I hooked my arm through his again and lay my head on his shoulder. He smiled, and closed my hand in his. ‘Neither of you woke as your father tucked you both into my arms.’

‘You never saw us after that?’

‘You all just disappeared. There were rumours, but nobody really knew what had become of you. I have always been comforted by the thought that the four of you were together, though I had long since given up hope that any of you might still live. I would never have guessed that your parents would have left you. And to separate you from your brother . . . ’ His brows furrowed as he shook his head.

‘How can I find him?’

‘How did you find yourself?’ he asked. ‘You could not have known your identity.’

I thought about it for a moment. ‘Leif came to me while I slept. That’s what started my search.’ I felt defeated already. ‘Lysander could be anywhere and he won’t have a prince to call to him. And wherever he is, his name won’t be Lysander.’

‘I wonder if Tobias would take him far from you.’

Our contemplation was interrupted by Leif’s voice in my mind. ‘Leif’s calling me.’

‘Come then,’ he said and, holding my arm still, he led me back to my betrothed.

Leif was crouching down examining my grandfather’s paintings when we returned. He looked up and smiled when he heard us approach, and as always that consuming rush of wanting raced through me. He stood and opened his arms for me, and I noticed that he was almost completely healed from his injuries. How was it possible? But his arms were beckoning and I had to go to them.

‘It’s time to go,’ he said after a moment.

‘May I hold you, Granddaughter?’ Asher asked me.

I went to him and he wrapped his arms around me. How strange it was to be resting my head on his shoulder—this grandfather who looked like he could have been my brother. Leif sent me a silent reminder that we were running out of time.

‘I have to go,’ I told Asher. He gripped me tighter still for a moment, then released me with a long sigh and turned to Leif.

‘Will I see my granddaughter again, Highness?’

‘Be assured of it, Asher. Where can we find you?’

‘We live on the river Lorel, just past the third bend from the fork at Elir. Ask for Asher and Faun.’

‘I will bring Marla to you soon.’

‘I am forever in your debt, my prince,’ my grandfather said, bowing low to Leif.

When he rose again I dropped a kiss on his cheek and said, ‘See you soon, Granddad.’

As we flew off I turned back and waved just in time to see Asher wipe the tears from his eyes.

My mind was filled with thoughts of my Fae family. I couldn’t get my delightful grandfather and missing brother out of my head. The idea that Asher—who looked my age at most—was my grandfather was incomprehensible, and the knowledge that I had a brother, irresistible. Leif was patient, listening to my musings and answering every one of my questions.

‘Leif, if my name is Marla Tobias Telophy, does that make yours Leif Telophy Telophy? I asked as we landed on the balcony outside his bedroom.

Leif smiled and let us inside. ‘It is a little different for me. For now I am Leif Telophy, but when I become king, I will be simply Leif.’

‘Simply Leif? As if! More like mighty King Leif or Marla’s King Leif.’

Leif laughed and kissed me before heading for his wardrobe.

I sat on the edge of his bed. ‘Don’t you think it’s weird our grandfathers look the same age as us?’

‘It has never occurred to me, Marla.’

I watched covertly as he changed out of the thin cotton pants and into the more formal pair he’d selected to wear to dinner.

‘Believe me, it’s weird. My grandparents back home are all wrinkly.’ My eyes lingered on him as he pulled the black pants up long, strong thighs.

‘But they’re not really your grandparents,’ he said, smiling when he noticed me watching him.

‘Don’t say that! They’ll always be my grandparents.’

‘You know I mean no disrespect.’ He selected a silky shirt and put it on. It clung enticingly to his broad shoulders and muscled arms.

‘I have a brother, Leif,’ I said, as I jumped up onto his bed and began to fasten the shirt. ‘Did I tell you his name is Lysander?’

‘You did.’ He smiled.

‘A brother, a twin brother.’

‘Yes,’ he said, then lost patience with me as I became side-tracked with what was beneath the shirt. He removed my hands and finished the task himself.

‘Will you help me find him?’

‘Of course. Just as soon as we are free, my love.’

‘You’re free already.’

‘I won’t be free until you are. Now quickly, get dressed.’ He kissed my belly, then lifted me down from his bed.

I tried not to think about being in the same room with King Telophy as Leif and I made our way to dinner, and kept up a constant stream of chat. But as we drew near to the dining room, I ran out of things to say as every thought aside from how scary Leif’s father was fled my mind. I began to tremble and breathe too fast. And when I walked through the door and saw the king sitting at the table looking regal and fearsome, I thought the strength of my racing heart might just crack a few ribs.

Leif must have known my panic because he put an arm around my waist and soothed me with silent words, pulling a chair out for me when we reached the table, creating a space between me and his father.

Relax my love, everything will be all right. This meal with my father is a positive thing . . . You look very pretty in your new dress, by the way.

You’re trying to distract me, Leif?

Is it working?

A little,
I said. But it wasn’t—nothing could ease this tangle in my belly.

Leif sat in the seat between me and the king. Atara reached across the table and took his hand.

‘You look well, my son,’ she said. Leif gave her hand a squeeze.

Telophy motioned to the maid standing nearby. She curtsied and left the room. Then the king fixed his attention on me.

‘Marla, I will not pretend that I am pleased to have you here. But since my son has gone to the trouble of arranging this assembly, I find myself committed to keeping you until that time. When the decision is made, I will honour it, but my son must also be prepared to do the same.’ He looked pointedly at Leif before returning his attention to me. ‘Leif seems to think the outcome is decided. I do not share that view. Is there anything you wish to say on the matter?’

There were lots of things I wanted to say, but with my insides shaking uncontrollably and my knees knocking together under the table, speech—had I been brave enough to attempt it—was impossible. I shook my head.

‘I will not speak of it again,’ the king said.

An ugly silence followed. Leif’s anger pulsed right along with his heartbeat. Atara, her eyes fixed on her plate, was unreadable.

What is his problem?
I asked silently.

I have many theories . . .

I hate him.

I know.

The first course came. The maid set a basket of bread on the table and a bowl of what looked like pumpkin soup with a little swirl of cream on top in front of each of us. Steam curled from the surface, wafting up my nostrils. My stomach grumbled in
response, reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day. I pushed the bowl away from me.

‘I’m sorry but I don’t know if I can eat that, I’m allergic to just about everything.’

Leif pushed the bowl back in front of me. ‘You’re in Faera now, Marla. You won’t be allergic to anything here.’ I looked at him, uncertain. He was smiling.
Did you have a problem with the fragrance you added to our bath?

My eyes widened.
I didn’t even think of that.

There were other things to think about.
He was right about that.

I tried a small mouthful of soup, and as the flavour rolled across my tastebuds, I forgot everything else. I waited a minute to check for a reaction, vaguely aware I was being watched. Nothing, no reaction. This was good. I took a chunk of bread. I wasn’t able to eat it back home, but I’d always loved the aroma. Walking past a bakery in the morning was like torture mixed with bliss. After checking to make sure there was no reaction to the bread, I devoured both it and the soup without looking up, finally sitting back when the bowl was empty. Leif and his parents were watching me, their food barely touched.

I lowered my face.
Why’s everyone staring at me?

Marla, you ate like you haven’t been fed for a year,
Leif said, adding out loud, ‘Here, try the wine.’ He poured me a small glass.

I tasted it and scrunched up my nose. ‘I don’t know.’

‘It’s like Coke: it grows on you.’

The main course was just as delicious as the soup, but the coffee with curls of creamy chocolate afterwards was amazing.

‘I can’t believe what I’ve been missing,’ I said, as Leif and I walked back to his room. ‘I finally know why my mother drinks so much coffee and refuses to keep chocolate in the house.’ I froze just outside his bedroom door and felt myself become pale as the most appalling thought occurred to me. ‘Leif, my parents—they
don’t know where I am, and Ashleigh! Oh my God, I hope she’s all right!’

‘Everyone is well, Marla. That’s where I went before. I brought some things back for you.’

‘How could I have forgotten them?’

‘Marla, you have had a lot going on.’

‘But you remembered!’