Page 51 of Bound to the Elvin Prince

“But that’s all we have, isn’t it? That it’s not normal, not natural in a decidedly bad way.”

Cal dropped her head back against the cushioned chair and gazed at the ceiling with unseeing eyes. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right. We know nothing, and it’s frustrating.”

“And dangerous, don’t forget dangerous.”

Cal lifted her head. “Dangerous?”

“There’s something beyond those gates.” Maggie gestured toward the town. “Something we don’t know about that’s dangerous. This knowledge, in and of itself, is hazardous. Do you think humans can become like that elf-thing?”

“Good question. I don’t know, but it’s not like they let us roam around the countryside. I think we’re relatively safe.”

“As long as we remain here. You did venture beyond the gates today, though you did have a big, strong elf with you.” Maggie tossed her a small smirk.

“Yes.” The breeze that came through the balcony doors drew Cal’s attention to the setting sun. Its last blaze painted the garden below in hues of gold.

After a while, Maggie’s scrutiny made Cal twitch. Time for the inquisition. Without moving, she said, “What?”

“What happened out there?”

“As I told you, we went to a lovely waterfall. I took in the landscape as Relian led my horse.”

Maggie gave her an arch look. “It’s a good thing Relian did, given your extreme paranoia of all things equine.”

Cal shot Maggie a glare. “It still wasn’t a comfortable ride for me.”

“Why? Because of Relian or the horse?”

“The hor— Okay, because of both.”

Maggie propped her chin up on her hands and leaned over the table. “He still unsettles you, doesn’t he?”

Cal regarded her with annoyance. “Well, wouldn’t he unsettle you? He’s not human, not anything like the guys we’re used to.”

“He takes you out of your comfort zone. I can’t say how I would react, because his attention has and never will be focused on me.”

“No, maybe not him. But another unnamed elf really gets under your skin.”

Maggie glowered. “Yes, like a fungus, an annoying, arrogant, nit-picking one. My case is totally different than yours. We can’t be around each other without tearing the other apart verbally. You and Relian...well, you’re a different matter entirely.”

Cal cursed inwardly. Her friend could always hook and reel her in. Maggie would tell it how she saw it. Did she want that bluntness right now? Guess it didn’t matter. She’d give it to her, anyway. “How so?” Cal leaned forward, worrying her hands.

Maggie threw her a disbelieving look. “You honestly haven’t figured it out yet? Because you’re falling for him and he for you. Can’t you see that you’re crazy about him?”

Cal reared back in her seat as if she’d been hit. “Who said anything about love? I can’t love him.”

“I hate to break this to you, Cal, but you’re already halfway there. And why can’t you love him?” Maggie furrowed her brow as if she couldn’t understand all the possible reasons.

“He’s not human, for one. He’s immortal or close to it, for another. I’m going to die soon in comparison. He’s a prince, for a third—a prince in a land not of our world. We want to return home. Should I keep going? Why on Earth would you think we’re falling for each other?”

“What? You won’t love him, because he’s not human? Isn’t he close enough? Think of it as a different ethnicity. You’ve never had any problem there. For the immortal prince part, you’re on your own. We don’t know much about their ‘immortality,’ and I’m not even going to touch the prince part. As for you both being in love, the looks between you two scream that plain and clear to me. You light up when he’s around and vice versa for him.” Maggie shuddered. “It’s kind of cute but a little disturbing to see you together. You get so focused on each other, I think the sky could fall around your toes, and you wouldn’t notice.”

Maggie paused but hurried on when Cal opened her mouth. “Let’s also not forget you’ve got this whole binding thing going on, too. Not that I’m trying to convince you either way, but you have to consider all the facts, not hide some of them away.”

Cal shook her head, unable to form a coherent word. None of what Maggie said was true. How could other people be aware of their so-called feelings before they were? She did care for him...but love?

She’d been there for less than two weeks. It was way too soon. And just because “he was close enough” didn’t mitigate the problems she’d laid out. Would she want to stay when they had a chance to leave? Hell, would they even be allowed to go once the year was up? Nobody had made exact promises on that. Nothing promised, nothing lost—at least for the elves.

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