Page 107 of Black Sea

I noticed I shifted to the side when my heel hit the first step of one of the two staircases. Almost automatically, I climbed up, reaching back with my arm to keep the handrail from pressing too hard onto my back.

“I didn’t say that,” I replied, my breath suddenly going serrated.

“ Why, Nauriel?” Amlach said again, with such vehemency that my heart skipped a beat.

Of course, I had been frightened by Mornon the Abomination and by the evil he embodied and shaped. Why was Amlach acting so strangely? Where did those enigmatic and dangerous thoughts come from? And why was he staring at me so rapaciously?

And then, I saw it.

Behind his eyes, devouring and cruel and inexorable.

“ You are scared,” I said under my breath.

He went still.

I peered closely at him, finally understanding what was upsetting him. “You’re scared to lose me,” I whispered, astonished, and reached out to his face.

Amlach caught my hand before I could stroke his cheek, a movement so fast it startled me. So fast it awakened my fighter’s instincts.

But before I could use my strength to wriggle free, he let me go as if he’d burned himself.

“You overestimate yourself, Elf,” he said without even looking me in the eye, then abruptly headed toward the palace entrance.

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My face crumpled with anger and disappointment.

Why did he persist in resisting the bond we shared? In refusing to see? What was between us was not mere lust, as he wanted me to believe.

Why wasn’t he willing to admit it?

Why was he so afraid of it?

I looked daggers at his back as he walked away from me. No, I wouldn’t let him do that. We needed to talk. We had to sort this out. And we would do it right now.

I didn’t care that we were expected.

I didn’t care that our absence would be noticed.

The King of Men was mine, and it was time for me to claim him.

“Amlach, wait,” I called out, catching up with him just as he was about to exit.

“Mother, look, it’s the princess!” burst out the voice of a little elf.

I froze on the threshold with Amlach. I had completely forgotten that all our people had been invited to the celebrations, filling every garden and courtyard, making the palace overflow with smiles, food, music, and dancing to bursting point.

I greeted the river of elves that the sentries were guiding toward the two arches on either side of the small square in front of the main building with a deep nod. They bowed and then stared at me with wide-open eyes.

Suddenly, I regretted my daring choice. Why did I think it was acceptable to wear such a provocative dress around my people? It was one thing to stroll in low-cut, sleeveless attire among the women and men of Rubra, where emphasizing feminine curves was common, but it was entirely different to present myself like this before my own kind’s sensibilities.

I hadn’t shown any consideration; I had been selfish and . . .

“Relax, Elf.”

Amlach’s warm voice tore me away from the panic that had gripped me. I turned to him, who was glancing sideways at me with that arrogant half-smile that had the power to calm my inner storm.

Whatever turmoil had beset him before was gone. And my Amlach had come back to make me feel safe.