Page 158 of Primal Bonds

Harsh words rose in Fane’s throat. It was too little, too late. But this was his grandfather—and he hadn’t seen his father in years. They never seemed to be at the court at the same time.

“I can’t,” he said. “Not tonight. I’m sorry.”

And damn it, he was sorry. He’d thought he was done trying to win Roald’s approval, but apparently he wasn’t. Still, a formal fae dinner lasted for hours. No way was he leaving Marjani alone for that long.

“The king’s business?” murmured Roald.

Fane stared back expressionlessly. An envoy didn’t speak of what he did for Sindre.

“Tomorrow evening then,” his grandfather said. “I’ll speak to Arne when he arrives.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” Tomorrow night Fane would be sneaking Marjani out of the castle, but he’d fit in the drink somehow. It would be the perfect cover if Sindre got suspicious.

“And thank you for the invitation,” he added. “Please tell Arne I’m sorry I can’t be there tonight. Now if you’ll excuse me—”

The other man inclined his copper head. “Until tomorrow.”

Fane turned to leave and then halted. “My lord?”

His grandfather had already turned to gaze at Saga’s portrait. “Mm?”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention my daughter to the king.”

Roald turned his head and their eyes met. “No,” he agreed. “It would be best if he didn’t know.”

“Thank you.” Fane nodded to the two elves, who were holding open the door for him.

Back in the hall, he expelled a breath. For six decades, his grandfather had pretty much ignored his existence. So what had changed? Unless he suddenly felt a belated duty to his deceased mate, who after all, had been one hundred percent human.

With a shrug, Fane set the puzzle aside. He had a bigger problem waiting in his room. One he needed to get back to before she took it into her head to come looking for him.

Returning to the great hall, he heaped a large plate with food—cheese, herb-encrusted roast chicken, salad, whole-grain rolls fresh from the ovens. He popped a silver cover over the whole thing, pocketed a couple of apples, and wended his way back through the bluish-white maze to his room.

Stars, he was sick of all the unending white and silver and blue. He yearned for green grass and lush trees and flowers that bloomed longer than a few short weeks.

Back in the room, Marjani was fully dressed down to her boots, but she was slumped in the easy chair, eyes half-closed. One hand cupped the quartz on her chest, a pretty conglomeration of amethyst crystals in a soft gray and purple. The center glowed weakly.

His breath snagged. She looked so exhausted, her beautiful oval face drawn.

The earth fada didn’t share the secrets of their quartz with anyone, but he knew it was a symbiotic relationship. A quartz didn’t come to “life” until chosen by an earth fada, and the earth fada in turn drew life energy from the quartz’s crystals.

But both Marjani and her quartz looked depleted. He grimaced, helpless and not liking it.

He eased the door shut as quietly as possible, but her eyes opened. She straightened, her gaze on the plate. He passed it over and set the apples on the table.

“Sorry I took so long. I ran into my grandfather.”

“Your grandfather?” She paused in the act of lifting her fork and frowned. “He’s at the court?”

“Yeah, but don’t worry. He won’t be stopping by. We’re not exactly friendly.”

He tried to keep the bitterness out of his tone, but the way Marjani tilted her head told him he hadn’t succeeded.

“No?”

“He’s a pureblood.”

“Ah,” she said, a world of understand in that single syllable. Everyone knew how purebloods were about tainting their bloodlines.

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