Page 20 of Stolen Thorn Bride

But the law of the Hedge must not be violated. The queen who established it had recognized the acquisitive nature of humanity and chose to deal with it as best she could—by sealing the elves away behind a curtain of magic and mystery until the threat of the wraiths could be dealt with.

She’d never dreamed their conflict might drag on for over a century, or that the lands lost to the wraiths’ darkness would not be quickly regained.

And yet, here they were.

Lost in his thoughts, Dechlan stumbled again and cursed his weakness. He was gaining strength by the hour, but the wraiths had drained most of his life’s energy before he’d been reclaimed from the brink of oblivion. It would take time to recover. Time he did not intend to spend in Caislan Daire.

His first task was to alert the stables, but his path through the castle halls was suddenly impeded by the appearance of three familiar faces.

Nuala, Callum, and Fionn had been with him since the beginning. Friends as well as retainers. Daughter of his father’s closest friend, his first personal bodyguard, and an orphan raised at Northwatch Keep—and yet they, too, had betrayed him.

They ranged themselves across the hall ahead and regarded him with varying degrees of mutiny written on their faces.

“Move,” Dechlan growled harshly. “I have nothing to say to any of you.”

“You shouldn’t be up and about yet,” Callum said, his expression turned carefully neutral. “Healer Ultan said your strength would be slow to return.”

“My strength is sufficient to make my way home,” Dechlan returned icily. “And even if it is not, the three of you have thoroughly broken my trust. I cannot imagine placing my safety in your hands again any time soon.”

Fionn’s devastation was visible in his light green eyes. “We had to try,” he said fiercely. “When Miach thought there was a chance, we had to attempt it, or how could we have lived with ourselves?”

“And did you spare even a moment’s thought forafter?” Dechlan snapped. “For whether I could live with knowing how my life had been bought?”

Nuala’s eyes blazed up. “The human trespassed,” she spat. “It was within our rights to take her. And we did not force her—she agreed to the bond.”

She had?

Then why was the human so angry with him? Why did she expect him to abandon her? And why had she accused them of choosing to involve her in their affairs if it had been her own choice to accept the bond? Had no one explained what that bond would entail?

Obviously, that was a subject he would need to discuss in more depth with his bondmate. And now that he observed the glances passing between his retainers, with them as well.

But it changed nothing.

“You all knew I would not have wished for this,” he said, looking them each in the eye and letting them see his disappointment. “And it is notyouwho must bear the consequences of your decision. If you would have any hope of regaining my trust, show me that you can respect my wishes in such a small request as removing yourself from my sight. Once I have returned home, we will discuss this further, but at present, I have no desire for either your company or your assistance.”

Callum bowed his head. “I would beg your forgiveness,” he said in a low voice, “but I am not ready to apologize. What would you have us do?”

Dechlan eyed them, too weary for weighty decisions. “Return to the Keep,” he said briefly. “Be quick, so that you may prepare for my arrival, and that of my bondmate.”

Confusion crossed their faces.

“We wish to accompany you,” Callum insisted. “You will require protection. Could you not send a swift ahead of us with a message to inform the Keep that we are on our way?”

“And surely,” Nuala blurted out, “there is no need for the human to travel with you. The thing is done. There is no true bond, and no obligation! She is the one at fault here—for trespassing on our lands.”

“And the penalty for that is the same as ever!” Dechlan burst out angrily. “To never return to human lands. She did not deserve the additional uncertainty of an untried bond with a complete stranger, or of a relationship she cannot hope to understand! One I begin to believe was not truly explained before she was asked to agree to it.”

He was finished with this conversation. The fact that they’d done this at all meant that they were unlikely to grasp the reasons for his anger, and he had neither the patience nor the energy to clarify.

“No birds will be dispatched. You will proceed ahead of me, as ordered. But first”—he pierced Nuala with a stare—“you will provide my bondmate with what she requires for the journey. Starting with appropriate clothing. We will be riding, so be sure to acquire the necessary gear.”

Her hands clenched at her sides, and he saw the questions piling up—questions he had no intention of answering. The fact that he’d already encountered the human in an embarrassing state of undress was not one he intended to share with anyone.

Although privately, he thought that the fact she’d seen him in a similar state first did seem to balance the scales of embarrassment by a fair bit.

The three retainers bowed before retreating. Nuala’s back remained stiff with anger, and Dechlan found himself rather grimly pleased that she would be forced to deal personally with the consequences of her actions. The human was no pushover, and he had no doubt she would tell Nuala precisely what she thought.

It was, he reflected, probably a boon for his bondmate, if not for him. She would find her new life easier if she were willing to stand up for herself. And he would need not fear leaving her to her own pursuits.

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