“I . . . I did promise Torin a quick chat,” I said shakily. The gazes of both men swung to me with my statement.
But Lord d’Refan neither moved nor removed his hand from my waist, his grip tightening to the point it was almost painful. I hissed in a breath and Lord d’Refan relaxed slightly.
“Are you planning on not honoring the agreement, Lord d’Refan?” Torin asked quietly, a lethal purr in his voice that sent shivers down my spine. “I’m not sure how that would look to certain . . . leaders, do you?”
Lord d’Refan released me with a grunt and a short bow. “We will continue this later, Ellowyn,” he said sharply, before striding away, his gait and movements rigid. I was certain he would come to collect on that promise before the night was through. I tracked his movements as guests parted to let him pass as he walked purposefully toward the General. Rohak bent slightly so Lord d’Refan could speak with him privately. Lord d’Refan’s face betrayed the anger he felt, but I could neither hear their conversation nor read their lips from across the ballroom, and the General’s face gave nothing away. After a clipped nod, the General strode from the ballroom, his strides purposeful but graceful. The General turned and met my eyes from across the room and I felt a distinct chill climb up my spine, and I shivered despite myself.
Torin must have seen my body shake because he placed a hand gently and my lower back and leaned to speak in my ear.
“Want to tell me what that was all about?” His voice was soft with no note of accusation, only that of comfort.
I broke my gaze from Lord d’Refan and turned to smile at Torin. I’m sure it was forced, but politeness was paramount in this situation, and I lightly shook my head.
“I’d rather not bother you with trivial matters that don’t affect you, Lord d’Eshu.”
His hand gently guided me to a relatively empty table and the seats that were taken were quickly vacated as their occupants saw who approached. Torin guided me to a seat, patiently waiting until I fluffed my skirts and found a comfortable position before taking the seat directly to my right. He quickly turned the chair so that his body was angled toward me, and he propped his head against his fist as he leaned against the table. Up close, I noticed that his eyes were an interesting hazel with flecks of molten honey, and they currently regarded me with a type of intensity I wasn’t used to.
“See,” Torin said softly, “that’s where you’re wrong, Ellowyn. Everything that concerns you affects me.”
I barked laugh. “Excuse me, Lord d’Eshu, but while we’ve had a wonderful night, we know nothing about each other. That’s quite a statement to make after just meeting someone.”
“Hmm. Yes, though I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.”
“That’s corny.”
“Perhaps.” He smiled and I was once again dazzled by how beautiful he was. His skin was a golden tan that only made his hair appear blonder. His square jaw covered in a light stubble worked as he continued, “But that doesn’t make it any less true.”
I raised my eyebrows slightly before he continued, “But enough of that. Let’s actually get to know one another, as you suggested.”
I inclined my head for him to go on and he sat up straight in his chair, hand extended as if greeting me for the first time. “Hello, Miss Ellowyn, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Lord Torin d’Eshu from the Southern Territories of Elyria. I am a thirty-two-year-old Elemental Mage and not looking for a Vessel, but I am looking for a wife. I have no siblings and my parentsare deceased. I enjoy reading and ruffling the feathers of foreign dignitaries.” I gave him a real, deep laugh and placed my hand in his.
“Lord d’Eshu, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you. I will turn twenty-five in”—I glanced up looking for signs of the time—“roughly thirty minutes and will discover my magic at that time as well. I have no clue what I’m looking for, to be honest. It’s my family’s desire to see me married to a kind but influential man. They’d prefer my match to also be my Bonded, but they also take my desires into account.”
“And what do you like to do for fun, Miss Ellowyn?” Torin didn’t release my hand, just stroked his thumb over the top, causing my thoughts to scatter.
“Uh . . . fun?”
“Yes, Ellowyn, fun.”
“Well, I spend a lot of time with Peytor and Finian, he’s a close family friend, practically a brother, and we discuss current events and such. Uhm, I volunteer at the temple and enjoy my time giving back to my community.”
He cocked his head at me. “That’s it? You discuss policy and help with Bond aftercare, which is most likely a duty set by your parents?”
I roughly took my hand from his grip, rather offended by his line of questioning.
“Yes. Not all of us have the ability to simply ‘ruffle feathers’ for fun, Lord d’Eshu. There are certain . . . expectations I must adhere to.”
Torin must have detected the defensiveness in my tone because his eyes went wide, and he placed a hand on my leg. My body zinged at his touch, even through the heavy fabric of my dress.
“I wasn’t trying to offend you, Ellowyn. I’m simply trying to get to knowyou, not what everyone else makes you to be.” I opened my mouth to object, but he continued before I could. “But, from what little you’ve told me, you’re a passionate person who loves their family immensely, even at the sacrifice of herself and her own desires. It’s an incredibly admirable trait. Loyalty is exceptionally hard to find nowadays.”
I relaxed a bit at his words.
“My family is everything to me,” I said softly, “I would do quite literallyanythingfor them.”
“Yes, I suppose you would. Though I hope that you don’t have to.”
I opened my mouth to ask what he meant by that, but we were interrupted by my father and brother.
