Conspiracy (14 page)

I heard my door bang open and I reached for my sword, spinning to a fighter’s stance. Heather stood in the doorway, her hair tousled, hands clenched by her sides. Before I could relax, she was stalking toward me.

I lowered my sword. “What’s happened, lass?”

Heather’s finger poked my chest, her fingernail accenting each sharp word. “You are mine. You have seen it. I have seen it. I will not stand by and watch you give yourself to someone else. Take care of it.”

As I stood with my mouth hanging open, she spun and walked back to the door. “Heather…”

She paused, stood still for a second, and then turned and walked back. Before I could say a word, she reached up, grabbed the back of my neck, and pulled my head down for the fiercest kiss I had ever experienced. I responded immediately, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. She suddenly broke away, her faces only inches from mine.

“Take care of it,” she whispered, and then turned and left.

My brain was whirling as I dressed. I thought about her words, not having any idea what she could be talking about. My door opened again and I looked up, expecting Heather. Haslane entered, closing the door behind him.

“I come begging your forgiveness on behalf of my lovely wife-to-be.”

Realization started to dawn. “Haslane,” I started, “if Camille has interfered with Heather, I will not easily forgive her.”

“She meant no harm. She only meant to spur Heather to understand her own feelings for you by inducing a little jealousy.”

“Bring her to me, Haslane.”

He gave a slight bow. “As you wish, brother. Go lightly, please—I would hate to have to fight my future king.”

My lips twitched in amusement, but I answered, “We’ve played that one out before, little brother. No change would occur in the outcome of such a fight.”

I paced the room, waiting for Haslane and Camille to return as I thought of Heather’s reaction. I had just been thinking of the soft, sweet Heather who would be scared of a brute such as myself. There had been no sign of that fragile woman in my room. Not even the sight of a large, half-naked man with a sword of steel at the ready had dissuaded her from her passionate demands. Maybe Camille was on to something.

A few moments later, a soft knock and then Haslane entered, followed by a tear-stained Camille. As she saw me, she ran to my arms.

“Gregor, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to place a barrier between you and your lady. I only meant to help her realize her feelings for you. I thought she was wonderful and I would love nothing more than to see the two of you happily wed.” Her face wet my shirt with her tears, and I looked over her head at Haslane in exasperation.

“Camille,” I said as I placed my hands on her shoulders and leaned her back to look in her face, “Thank you.” I kissed her cheek and smiled.

“What? Why are you thanking me?”

“I know you did what you did out of love for me, and I appreciate that. You were right in your judgment. Heather was just here and ordered me to break it off with you. She was quite… forceful in her demands.”

Camille’s smile was brilliant as she hugged me. “Oh, Gregor! That makes me happier than you know. What will you do now?”

“I think I’ll ask my best friend to invite her to a special wedding,” I teased.

“No! I cannot go back now and tell her I misled her. Please, Gregor. Won’t you tell her yourself?”

I laughed. “Don’t worry, Camille. I’ll let you off the hook this once. This is one conversation I can’t wait to have.”

Chapter Seventeen

Reagan

I had finally found a quiet place in this bustling mansion and perused the books, unsure what I was seeking. The library in the king’s home was everything I could have pictured. The oil-rubbed wooden shelves were clean and polished, and just enough sunlight filtered in the window to give the room a cheery glow. Thousands of books lined the walls. I had come here not only to have a little peace, but also to look at the books and try to get a few answers.

Things were happening a little too fast for my liking. I was not the type of woman who jumped into everything headfirst without a care in the world.

Before I met Ian, my days were filled with work or being home alone. The occasional visit to see my dad or Heather was usually the extent of my social world. Meeting Ian and our immediate attraction had given me a jolt and taken me out of my comfort zone. Finding out six months later that he was not at all who he seemed had started us down a crazy, winding road.

I was totally in love with him, but I didn’t know if I was ready for all that entailed. It was a decision I would have to make quickly—I was fast approaching my ninth crossing, and that would mean an irrevocable change in my life. I would no longer age the same way and that would eventually become noticeable to my co-workers, not to mention my dad. The only comfort came from the fact that Heather was walking the same path as me, and that brought me some small consulation.

I heard the door click and turned to see Ian. He closed the door behind him and crossed the room to me.

“You won’t find any hot and steamy romance novels in here, love,” he teased.

“I’m pretty sure I’m living in a romance novel, and mystery, and science fiction too, for that matter,” I shot back at him.

“At least what you used to believe was science fiction. It’s now moved over to nonfiction, darling.”

He pulled me to the couch and sat me down next to him. “I can see something is bothering you, Reagan. We’ve been moving non-stop for weeks and we haven’t had a chance to talk about all the changes going on. Are you still okay with all of this?”

“I’m not sure what to even say to that, Ian. If I wasn’t okay with it, there’s not much I can do about it. Nothing will change. I feel helpless, and that’s not a feeling I have very often.”

Ian looked at me, concern on his face. I placed my hand on his cheek. “Ian, don’t look like that. I’m fine. I just have so much to think about. I haven’t had a moment to let it all sink in.”

“I want you to be happy, Reagan. If I don’t make you happy, let me know and I’ll walk away. It would kill me, but I’ll do whatever you want.” He paused and then added as an afterthought, “Just know that I would stalk you for the rest of your mortal life.”

I laughed. “Good to know! I want to be with you, Ian. The thing I’m most worried about is giving up my mortality.”

“I understand. When we leave here, you can stay behind in D.C. until we figure out what you want to do, and I’ll be there as much as I can. I want to go with the delegates who are exploring the Northern Realm. Everything I’ve heard about their culture fascinates me, and I’d love to talk with them.”

“You know nothing about them. What if they’re hostile toward the people who imprisoned them in the first place?”

“We’ll have enough people with us to protect each other, Reagan.” He soothed me. “Besides, they don’t have the same powers anymore that we do from what I hear. We shouldn’t have any problems.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned into him. “One thing I do know for sure, Ian. I love you. Wherever the future takes us, I want it to be together.”

“I love you too. We’ll make this work, one way or another.”

Chapter Eighteen

Heather

After my confrontation with Gregor, I headed back to my room. Our relationship was getting more complicated by the moment. On one hand, I felt like I could do no wrong. We were destined to be together, right? So any move I made would be the right one. I’d been in plenty of relationships where I went home and talked with my friends for hours about every nuance of “he said this and then I said that.” With Gregor, I felt none of that. I knew how he felt about me and I knew where this was headed. On the other hand, I knew what the end game was, but not what was in between. For all I knew, he would marry this other woman, have a family, and then she would come to some tragic end and he would eventually marry me. That’s why I went to talk to him—I wanted him—now.

A loud knock on the door surprised me and I hurried to open it. Gregor stood in the doorway, with two people behind him.

“May we come in?”

I nodded and stood aside. Gregor walked in first, followed by the beautiful Camille and Gregor’s brother, whom I had briefly met earlier. I could already tell this was going to be awkward. Gregor had wasted no time in telling his betrothed that I was giving him ultimatums.

We all stood silently for a moment until Gregor heaved a sigh and nudged Camille.

“Oh, fine,” she pouted.

“Heather, I’d like to introduce my betrothed.” She pulled Haslane over to her and linked her arm in his.

I stood dumbfounded for a long moment. Elf ritual was confusing enough, but was this woman engaged to both brothers? “Wait, I don’t understand.” I looked at Gregor, confused.

He laughed. “Camille was doing one of those things that she thought was a good idea at the time. She was trying to make you jealous.”

Camille nodded and looked guilty. “I’m so sorry, Heather. I think you’re wonderful, and Gregor is like a big brother to me. He told me about what happened between you two and I thought I’d give things a nudge. I just stretched the truth… a lot,” she added.

I raised my eyebrow, the light beginning to dawn. “What truth is that?”

Gregor stepped in. “Camille and I were betrothed for most of our lives. Our parents arranged it when we were very young, but we decided early on that we didn’t feel at all romantically inclined. While I was fulfilling my obligation in the Eastern Realm, my brother and Camille discovered they were more compatible, and that’s the wedding that’s being planned as we speak.”

“Oh, so that means you don’t have any romantic entanglements?” I said. I could feel the beginning of moisture in my eyes but did not want to cry, certainly not in front of Gregor’s former fiancée, whether she had really been in that role or not.

“I’d say I’m pretty entangled at the moment.” Gregor looked at me and stepped closer.

His brother, who had been watching with amusement, cleared his throat. “I think that’s our cue to leave, my dear.”

Camille giggled and they left, shutting the door behind them.

I stood anxiously as Gregor moved closer. From the first there had been no games between us, no false dating ritual. And now the path had been cleared. Was this really my future husband?

“So, you demanded that I free myself for you, and here I am, free and unencumbered.”

“Yes, so it seems.” I answered.

“I might ask the same of you.” He said lightly, but the look in his eyes gave away how serious he was.

“Done.”

He looked surprised. “What happened?”

“I decided to have a talk with Mick. He took it well.”

“So there’s nothing standing between us?” He asked with a playful growl as he took the final step toward me.

“Not from where I’m standing.” I responded with a slight quiver in my voice. I tried to look nonchalant, but there was a small part of me that still feared him. Not because I thought he was a threat to me, but because he was a danger to my heart.

Gregor leaned down to gather me in his arms and just hold me close.

“Heather, from the first moment I had the vision, all I wanted was to know that you wanted it too. You do, don’t you?”

“You underestimate your powers of persuasion. Telling a woman you want her for a wife before you’ve had your first date is risky, but very sweet,” I teased.

“I do want you, Heather. I would have you for my wife tonight if I could, but I have to fulfill this last mission for my father. He doesn’t have long to live, and we need to learn more about the Northern Realm before his time runs out. Do you understand?”

“Of course. You will be careful, won’t you?” I asked suddenly recalling the other vision I’d seen of him lying hurt on the battlefield.

“I have too much to return to, my love. I will return as quickly as possible.” He hugged me close again, his heart pounding loudly in my ear. “I’d like to be with you in every possible way, Heather. You saw that at the cabin in a moment of weakness. I want you.” He whispered in my ear, sending chills down my back. “I’m also a man of honor. If you would wait for me, I would have you be my wife before I take that final step with you.”

My eyes teared up at his sweet words and I looked up at him. “I would be honored to have you, Gregor. Be safe and come back to me soon.”

With that, he kissed me softly and sweetly, and then he was gone.

Chapter Nineteen

The Northern Realm

The small group quickly assembled and William began to prepare them for departure. Those in the travel party were William the Elder, Queen Eimile, Queen Mallorie, Prince Gregor, Ian, and Michael.  They tried to keep the group as small as possible. They all knew how dangerous it was to have the leaders of three Realms together on the expedition. If anything happened to them, chaos would shortly ensue.

When Mallorie returned from the Eastern Realm, she had come with the good news that during her absence, the
Olc
had been defeated by loyal forces. Ian had questioned the trip, thinking it strange that Mallorie had returned with just a few of her personal soldiers, but Gregor had assured him of the resourcefulness of the elves of the Eastern Realm.  “I knew they wouldn’t allow their freedom to be taken away for long,” he said. “It was only a matter of time.”

She also returned with the news that Alisha had made it back as well. Alisha explained that she had seen the
Olc
and hid in the woods. After seeing everyone sift out and not knowing where they went, she sifted back to a trusted friend in the Eastern Realm and heard the good news that the
Olc
had been defeated. She was in the castle and relieved to know her mother was safe, but of course shocked to hear of her father’s death.

When they had all gathered, William began the briefing. “I see you have all taken my advice and brought warm clothing. The Northern Realm, even in summer, can be very chilly in the evenings.

“Prince Gregor asked how I knew the truth about the Northern Realm and if I had firsthand knowledge. As I said earlier, I have, in fact, visited the Northern Realm approximately every twenty years for the past three centuries. It has been my intent to maintain contact with these banished Elven.”