Page 33 of Bound to the Elvin Prince

Talion broke the tension. “It wouldn’t be befitting of a princess, even a human one, to kneel at your feet, Relian.” He drew the focus back to the original discussion. “Regardless, the longer you are exposed to one another, the greater the pull of the binding.”

Relian sighed and rubbed his temple wearily. “Yes, and the more disastrous the outcome, if she cannot overcome her denial.”

***

Cal awoke to a knocking on the door. She burrowed under the massive amount of pillows on the bed, not wanting to be disturbed. Her hazy mind stuttered and lurched as one word intruded. Pillows? There weren’t normally this many on her bed. Memory seeped back, and she shot up.

Gazing around the dim room, she gave a soft damn as horror shivered through her. Mellow candlelight, not the artificial light she was used to, glowed softly off the cream-colored stones of the room. Her bedroom at the apartment could fit into this chamber at least three times over. Cal quickly swallowed the bile that rose. She hadn’t been dreaming.

Despair welled up. She wanted her life back and the relative normalcy that came with it. A hand smacked her in the ribs and jerked her out of her thoughts. Grimacing, she pushed Maggie’s hand off. Her friend stirred.

The knock grew more insistent, and she huffed, rising. Her foot caught on one of the pillows that’d fallen on the floor. She crashed onto the surface of the marble-like stone beneath her. A large oomph escaped her. Apparently, whoever had been outside the door heard the thump because the knocking stopped and a pretty elvin woman entered.

Cal, her cheeks burning, looked up from her place on the floor. “Hi.”

The blond elvin lady clucked her tongue and hurried over, helping her rise. The elf swept her gaze over Cal. “My lady is not injured? The floor is slippery, no?”

Cal shook her head in confusion. While she understood the woman, her words were nowhere as smooth as Relian’s had been. The newcomer spoke musically. There could be no doubt about that. But the language started to sound more foreign and lilting and so much less like English. Yet she understood it.

The language had to be the same one she’d briefly heard as a girl, although she hadn’t been able to understand a word. It was also the same language from her dreams. Her heart and mind knew this. More importantly, her body knew it—had been intimately caressed by lips murmuring the language. Heat stole over her.

Cal shut out the increasingly steamy thoughts. “I’m fine, thank you. I just tripped on a pillow.”

The elf broke out into a smile. “Yes, very many pillows to trip on.” She turned and took a few long strides to the bed. Reaching under the left side, she then pulled out a basket. “This is for the pillows. If they are corralled, they cannot cause harm.” With that, she started tossing pillows into the basket.

Cal looked over to Maggie, who’d sat up in bed to watch the whole fiasco. Her friend shrugged. Apparently, Maggie didn’t know what to make of the elvin woman, either. But for an elf, she seemed nice enough.

The elvin lady’s voice drew Cal back to her. “Oh, excuse my manners! I am Arrein, your maid. My ladies, I am to see to your comfort and provide you with anything you need.”

Cal, dazed, traded a glance with Maggie. They were to have a servant? To wait on them? “Thank you, Arrein. It’s nice to meet you.” Pausing there awkwardly, she added, “I’m afraid we’re a bit lost and out of our element right now.”

At that point, Maggie gave a little laugh. “Yes, we’re quite clueless as it all stands right now.” She apparently remembered her manners. “Pleased to meet you.”

Arrein acknowledged Maggie’s greeting and gave both women an understanding smile. “Don’t worry. You will soon become accustomed to us, as we will to you. King Talion and Prince Relian care much for your comfort and happiness. They have only assigned those to you who can provide for such needs.”

Cal’s heart fluttered at the thought of Relian truly caring for her comfort. But she still wasn’t used to anyone making such a fuss over her. She turned slightly to see if Maggie fared any better. That would be a no by the glazed expression in her friend’s eyes.

Cal prayed for the strength to dredge up another sentence. “Please thank the royal family and everyone else you mentioned for their hospitality.” Royal family? What rabbit hole had she fallen into?

Arrein beamed in approval. “I will do so, my lady, but you should also be able to do so in person if you wish.”

The thought of meeting more elves made her head spin and her pulse thud. Cal didn’t know how to respond to this suggestion other than by giving a hesitant “that’s good to know.”

Arrein turned back to business. “Do you wish for a bath before retiring for the night, or maybe a light repast?”

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