AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cal cringed. “It wasn’t quite put that way. They think I have something to do with the solution, not necessarily that I’m the whole answer.”
Maggie made a disparaging sound. “Well, that’s a relief. Not putting too much pressure on a girl, then. You’re a normal woman with no magic tricks up her sleeve, but hey, I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”
Cal buried her face in her hands. “Our worlds are royally screwed. They’re not floating up shit creek. They’re sinking like a fifty-ton turd in it.” She didn’t have any special abilities. How would the bonding change anything for Eria?
Looking up, Cal pursed her lips. “Relian is also seen as part of the equation. We seem to be a package deal to them.”
“Like you can’t have one without the other?”
“Yeah.”
“Sheez, no wonder they don’t want to let you go. Not that I blame them if they’re right. This is so much bigger than either of us. What are two paltry humans to them if one of them can play a part in saving the world?”
“Worlds.”
Maggie snorted before a small smile curved her lips. “Hey, since it looks like you’ll be going nowhere, maybe you should think about talking to Relian.”
“Talk? Why?”
Maggie flashed her a look that said playing dumb wouldn’t work. “You share a growing bond with him. All that’s left is to finalize it and make it official. I get that you’re angry and hurt. You have every right to be. However, I do somewhat understand the logic of most of his points, even though he and his band of merry elves could’ve handled the whole situation a lot better. Besides, we both know that you’re crazy about Relian.” Cal tried to protest, but Maggie cut her off. “Don’t even think about denying it. I know better.”
Frowning, Cal eyed Maggie. “Whatever, Mom.” Was she so transparent? To Maggie, yes, apparently.
***
From the edge of the forest, Relian checked the position of the waning sun in the sky, though his gaze kept wandering toward the direction of Eriannon and Cal. Just the thought of her sent frustrated longing roaring through him. Since their argument six days before, the sensation of losing control of mind and body had brutally hit. Sleep had deserted him, and he was running on nerves alone.
All because of Cal.
He’d even tried to summon the veil. Of course the dratted thing didn’t respond. He’d thought a trip to see her family and friends might lessen her anger at him. But it seemed that the veil was done interfering, at least for the moment.
Gritting his teeth and ignoring his shaking hands, he resisted the beckoning call that was his tie to her. He had more important matters to think about than himself. His growing discomfort couldn’t be allowed to interfere in his duties.
Two of the scouts should’ve returned a long time ago from the plains that rested beyond this woods. He feared he knew what that meant—the darkindred had received their newest recruits. The trees behind him cast long shadows over the ground. Though they hadn’t seen a hint of their enemy, the darkindred had to be lurking out there somewhere. The empty farms they’d found proved it.
His patrol had ridden about five hours south from Eriannon because of reports of darkindred activity. The creatures pillaged farms for loot and elves to convert. They rarely killed outright during these sackings. Why would they? Always, more people were sought for their army.
Relian whistled to his company so they could move on. No sense in wasting time here. He wanted to find the miscreants and get home to Cal. His heart seized up painfully. Home to Cal. Right now, there was no such thing. He wasn’t sure if there ever would be, not after that argument where everything had seemed to explode in his face.
The worst part was that Cal had been right on so many accounts. His words had reeked of superiority. Anger had taken hold of his tongue, and hurtful things spouted from his mouth. He had kept so much from her. Had he lost her trust irreparably?
He remembered Cal’s words about his people and mind games. Because of their long years, his people did have a tendency to dissemble. A mortal would not suffer it gladly for long. They didn’t have the time, so could he and his kind fault humans for their impatience?
Though it pained him to admit it, he’d bumbled up everything with her right from the beginning. There had been so many times to reveal the full truth, but he’d never found the courage to do so until forced into it.
As his men gathered around him, he stalked to his horse. Out of nowhere, an even deeper hungry feeling crashed down on him, wringing a gasp from his lips. He clutched at the reins in an effort to stay upright.
“Captain, are you well?” Enven, his second-in-command asked, holding out a concerned hand.
After a few breathless seconds, Relian nodded and ignored the proffered hand. “I’m fine,” he said curtly, but it came out as more of a croak. Somehow, he managed to mount his horse, but once on, he swayed perilously.
This time Enven grabbed his arm and held him steady. “I don’t think you are, Captain.” He hesitated. “It is your binding with Lady Calantha that is affecting you?”
Relian scowled. Nothing remained secret for long among his people. “More than likely, but I have a job to do here, and I intend to do it.”
The red-haired sentential nodded warily. “And we will help you, but we need to know any potential weaknesses you may be suffering from right now. You’d ask the same of us in an effort to keep everyone safe.”
Relian sighed, his shoulders slumping for a moment. “You’re right. As my second-in-command, I should let you take leadership for now.”
