Page 92 of Marked By the Dark Lord
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said. “When he showed up at House Mirgave like that, I worried I might not see you again.”
“Quite the change from the Korr’ok of a few hours before,” I said, unable to keep my voice even.
“I thought you had lied to me,” I said. “The idea that you could go through your entire life unaware that you were different seemed impossible.”
“There’s a big difference between knowing on some level that you’re different and realizing you’re a half-breed between humans and Fae,” I countered, crossing my arms. I felt a bit silly with his shirt half-adhered to my forehead, but I knew we needed to get this out and over with. “I spent most of my life being beaten up. I thought that, and the fact I healed quickly, was what made me different. Not … this.”
I gestured around me for emphasis.
“I believe you now,” he said. “And I’m going to spend a long,longtime making it up to you so that you believe me.”
“Are you now?” I said with a wry smile.
“Oh, yes,” he said.
“And what makes you think I’m going to let you?” I teased, my lips moving upward in a smile, my tone light.
“Because you want to live,” he said deadpan.
“Excuse me?” I blinked rapidly, licking my lips. “Are you going to kill me if I don’t?”
“Of course not,” he said. “I would die defending you. But I promised the Dark Lady of Mirgave that, in exchange for not pressing any charges against me for striking her guards and letting me go, I would take you as my wife and rid her of a thorn in her side.”
Now my jaw really did hit the ground. “So, you … just offered me up as your bride to some random lady?”
“To myself,” he said firmly. “I didn’t offer you to anyone. Iclaimedyou. You’re mine, Mila. And that is the way I intend it toalwaysbe.”
I stared at him. He stared back. Red eyes into blue.
“Can we even do that?” I asked, recalling those differences. “I’m part of a different house. Are we able to just … marry?”
He grinned.
“What?”
“You’re asking if it’s possible,” he said. “Which means you’ve already accepted the idea of being my wife. You just have doubts that it’s allowed. Not that you don’t want me.”
“Well, um, uh, I mean, I just …” I fell silent.
Shit. He was right. Ihaddone that.
“I’m glad it’s settled, then,” he said.
“It isnotsettled,” I said defiantly, my mind suddenly engaging again. “There are two problems here.”
“There are?”
“Yes,” I said, tapping my breastbone. “First, you take this thing out of me. I amnotgoing to be controlled like that by anyone ever again. I am going to befree.”
“Of course,” he said instantly. “Once you’re healed, we will undo the marking. Now that I am Lord of Duloke, even Dannorax won’t challenge that. It’s over. What is the second thing?”
“Secondly,” I said, crossing my arms, “I’m not going to marry someone unless they love each other.”
“Love,” he repeated.
“I’m not into arranged marriages. You had better figure it out, mister. I’m not sure if Fae have a concept of it, but I am half human, and to me, it means a lot.”
“What does it mean to you?” he asked softly.
