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Chapter 28
Cal swung her head back and forth in stunned denial. The room’s plaster and stone walls spun around sickeningly, the cream and silver colors swirling together in a most unwelcome way. She was glad to be sitting down. As she waited for Talion’s study to right itself, she willed away the nausea.
Her gaze sought out Relian as he stood in front of her. “No. It’s not possible.”
She’d have an immortal life if she bonded with Relian? Anger seeped up through the shock. Relian had never once hinted at this. Well, she’d wished for revelations ever since arriving in Eria, and now they appeared to be flooding toward her in biblical proportions.
She pinned an accusing stare on Relian. “Why was I not told of this earlier? If you want me to seriously consider bonding to you, I need to know these things. You promised me no more secrets.”
“I’m telling you now,” he said quietly. “I promised not to lie to you from that day forward, and I haven’t.”
Cal crossed her arms. “Yeah, you’ve told me six months after you should’ve. I’m not impressed, Relian. How would you feel if you were in my place?”
“I...I wouldn’t like that I hadn’t been informed earlier.” He grimaced and dipped his head. “I apologize. I should have told you sooner but was afraid of how you would take it. At that juncture, I didn’t want to scare you away. To make up for my lack, I’ll gladly explain everything in detail. May I call in the others now? We can answer any questions you and Maggie may have.”
She nodded, not able to find words right now. Thought was barely possible right now. Though she was still sort of mad at Relian, there were so many other emotions swirling around in her head, she didn’t know how she should feel. Relian was probably hoping that by having the others join them, she wouldn’t blow up at him. And she wouldn’t. She’d save that for later.
In a matter of minutes, Maggie, Talion, Kenhel, and Avrin joined them. Given her friend’s dazed expression, she guessed they’d dropped the bomb on her, too.
Maggie sat heavily on the chair next to Cal’s. “I can’t believe it.”
Talion, sitting in a corner where he could easily watch the proceedings in the comfort of an exquisitely upholstered chair, questioned gently, “Are elves supposed to be possible in your world?”
Maggie tossed him a look of challenge and answered for her. “Yes, some people believe in them, particularly in other countries than the one we’re from.”
Talion shifted languidly in his chair. “It’s nice to know we’re remembered.”
Maggie snickered. “Yes, as the Wee Folk.” Her thumb and pointer finger approximated a height of a few inches. “A little, itty-bitty people.” She sniggered again. “Or sometimes you’re stuck in a tree, baking cookies. My personal favorite: snowed-in at the North Pole, making Santa’s toys.”
Talion merely lifted a brow before he looked at his son. “This, Relian, is why we left mankind a long time ago.”
Relian sighed. “Am I going to have to separate you two in order to continue this conversation? I knew it wasn’t a good idea, Father, when you suggested attending along with Maggie. How Kenhel and Avrin came to be here, I don’t know.”
Kenhel, seated in a chair by Avrin, offered a frown that would’ve been convincing if not for the twinkle in his eyes. “I’m here to offer you emotional support, remember?”
“Ah yes, how could I forget?” Relian said, his face implacable. “You are the undisputed master of emotional support.”
