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Her eyes watered, though she couldn’t tell whether it was in response to tiredness or emotion. After her little trip through the veil and then her discovery of the mysterious bracelet, her not-quite-an-argument with Maggie had soured any hope of salvaging the day.
Turning her thoughts to the bracelet, she hazarded a guess as to whose hair twined through it so elegantly. It had to be Relian’s. While weird, it added up to the rest of the strangeness that was now her life. There was also the fact she couldn’t imagine wearing anyone else’s hair. In her mind, it almost seemed like infidelity to think otherwise. Maybe that was why she’d never been able to get very emotionally involved with any of her boyfriends.
As she walked toward a study lounge area, she shrugged off those thoughts. Stewing over it would solve nothing. She didn’t have any control of the situation where it concerned the elf. A spark of anger ignited in her gut. Hadn’t he ruined her life enough already?
Her flare of ire died. Something beyond both their powers and her understanding was bringing them together. Cal collapsed in a chair and pulled out a book. She was free until one in the afternoon and wanted to appear busy when Maggie showed up for them to eat lunch. Fanciful—though real—events had no place in her time-consumed thoughts. College was something uniquely hers, something normal. He couldn’t take that away, though a sourness in the pit of her stomach warned that his strange world would soon again collide with hers.
***
The plaster walls of Relian’s study closed in around him. He was in a quandary, a state he found he didn’t like in the least. Though he desired escape, he found none. At least not from his mind. Ignoring the work set out before him on the desk, he leaned back in his chair.
He’d nearly kissed his human, as he now thought of her, and had wanted nothing more. That should make him want to sneer in disgust. A human! Damn it all to Eria, he still wanted her, though. Maybe she was superior for a human. Yes, that had to be it. He’d never desire a merely common one.
That had to account for her effect on him. When confronted with her, his composure fled. Worse, he wasn’t sure if he wanted it back. Relian had always thought humans to be bold and crass, often to their own detriment. So far, she appeared to have neither quality in an overabundance. She didn’t repulse him, but her humanity was still hard to stomach.
Relian growled. His body certainly found favor with her. She aroused him like no other, left him in need every night. Should he slake his lust elsewhere? He discarded that idea, nothing in him responding to the idea of soft arms and thighs unless they were hers.
This dilemma, though, paled in comparison to what encircled his wrist. No normal means could remove the binding. Knife and scissors wouldn’t work against it. He’d know—he’d tried both in desperation. The bracelet couldn’t be removed unless both parties mutually agreed upon it. But that option might not be open to them. The very appearance of the binding overrode any notion of free will. Even if they both wanted the damned thing off, who knew if it would comply? As it was, the binding now only waited for the last step to make it permanent, just as legend and tradition dictated.
Could he conceal the binding? Some perverse part of him didn’t want to hide it away at all, while another side railed against the injustice of this being forced upon him. He laughed bitterly. When used together in conjunction, “forced” and “binding” should’ve been an impossible endeavor to bring about.
How would he explain to his people the existence of a human woman, one he met through dreams and mist? He’d sound demented. But to deny Cal seemed wrong. Cal. The whisper of her name felt strange on his lips, but she had felt so right in his arms, almost like a part of himself.
If he didn’t hide the binding, it could cause nearly immediate problems. Everyone would know he was betrothed. Even if he kept quiet about who the lady was, someone would soon notice that no Erian woman sported a corresponding binding. Every couple’s binding, every thread and weave, was unique from all others that had come before and would come after.
The parchment underneath his fingers crumpled. After gently smoothing out the abused paper, he straightened resolutely in his chair. He’d spent enough time vacillating and would soon be expected elsewhere. Until he could come up with a well-thought-out plan, the only thing to do was hide the binding under long sleeves. A wry smile lifted his lips. That was not hard, given he often had to wear formal robes.
Later, tonight even, he’d have a chance to reason through the unexpected turn his life was taking. While he’d expected their fates to join, at least for a time, he hadn’t foreseen anything of this magnitude. Its far-reaching consequences were almost inconceivable, for once a couple completely bonded, the tie was irrevocable. Throwing down the quill onto the parchment that hadn’t even seen his perusal, he stood up and walked from his study.
Silence echoed in the halls of the family wing. As if to escape his thoughts, he quickened his pace. Soon, the corridors of the public wings awaited him. Relian slowed to a more circumspect stride, and after he stepped into one main artery, he returned greetings from courtier and servant alike.
“Relian, my friend, how are you? You’ve been scarce of late,” called out Kenhel, who strode down the hallway toward him.
Relian stopped, and a real smile came to his face for the first time that day. Kenhel’s teasing manner was widely known, especially when circumstances didn’t warrant his serious concentration and focus. This lightheartedness was often a balm to Relian. “I’ve been scarce? I believe you’re the one who just came back from the border.”
Kenhel still had on his warrior attire, which looked none too fresh. His friend’s silver hair was pulled back from his face in warrior braids, but bits and pieces threatened to come loose. He also had a stray leaf or twig here and there located amongst the strands.
“Too true, too true. But even when I come back for a brief time, I don’t see much of you unless it’s in an official capacity. And that’s so very tedious.”
Relian couldn’t deny that accusation. “Many things are coming to a head. Everyone’s time is apparently consumed with the tedious right now, including yours.”
Kenhel let out a guffaw. “Indeed, life is filled with monotony. How do we bear it?”
It felt good to laugh with Kenhel. “I don’t know—betimes I wonder how we are to live thus for an eternity.”
“Now come, Relian. You almost sounded solemn when you said that. This can’t be. When did you become such a sober elf? Are there not enough already?” His friend’s blue eyes twinkled, the pupils a glowing gray.
“There comes a time when most responsible elves must be serious. I can’t help it if you’ve not reached that time, not that you ever will.”
“Oh, you wound me with your aspersions to my character. I assure you I can be as somber as the next elf.”
“I’m positive I’ve shattered your confidence. Talking about wounds, Commander, were there any to our warriors?”
Kenhel, as the commander of the king’s warriors, became serious in a way only his position could make him. “The sentinels and guardians sustained minor injuries rebuffing a small group of darkindred. Loran had to be taken out of the skirmish, for he thought he saw his son amongst the newly turned.”
“I remember that his son has been missing for some time. We feared such a fate for him. Was the creature in question killed and recovered so we could properly identify who it used to be?”
“No, unfortunately, he was one of those that managed to escape, though most were killed and a few captured. Identification is ongoing while we speak to those retrieved. How I wish we could offer Loran some definitive news. He and his wife can’t grieve properly until they know.”
