Page 78 of Bound to the Elvin Prince

Avrin shot him a smile. “I’m here to offer Lady Maggie any guidance I can in this trying time.”

Talion rested his chin on his steepled hands, looking thoughtfully at Avrin. “And who will support you, Avrin, in your laborious, if nonexistent, duty?”

Avrin favored Talion with a tranquil smile, not replying. He didn’t need to. Cal knew what would come next and gave a silent groan. It was a sound Relian echoed through their growing bond. Now that she understood how the bond functioned, she was learning not only to identify which emotions she leaked to him but also to discern the ones from him. However, she suspected that he was much more adept at closing himself off when he wanted to.

“I’m sure he’ll use whatever support he’s utilized for the last millennia as an advisor to you, King Tut.”

Cal choked, somewhere between laughing and wanting to bang her head against the wall. Though nobody but she and Maggie probably recognized the reference, calling the king a “you’re so ancient, you should be dead in your grave” old wasn’t the way to go.

The king shook his head in a pitying way and gazed at Maggie through lowered lids. “My dear child, my name is Talion. Whoever thought humans were such forgetful creatures? As you’re young in years, I suppose your mind hasn’t had time to fully grow. A tutor shall have to assist you in the rudimentary basics.”

Maggie’s face turned blotchy red, and her breath quickened. Cal froze, fearing her friend would spout out a nasty comeback.

After a few moments, Maggie replied in a carefully controlled voice, “Your Majesty, I assure you nothing is wrong with my mind, only with other people’s asinine observations.”

Relian snapped, though Cal sensed no true anger. “I don’t know why I thought this was a good idea. Out, everyone out!”

No one moved, and Talion reclined deeper into his chair. “Out?” he drawled. “Last time I looked, this was my study, as was the rest of the palace.”

Relian inclined his head, sarcasm written in his every move. “Be that as it may, I didn’t intend this to become a comedic spectacle put on for your collective amusement.” He raked his gaze over the assembled males, daring any to argue.

Talion stared drolly at his son. “I think we can control ourselves if you go on.”

A sardonic smile lifted the corners of Relian’s lips, and Cal willed her thudding heart to cease its rapid tempo. She shouldn’t want to kiss him. As if aware of her eyes upon him and the direction of her thoughts, he turned and fixed her with a dark, heated stare. She’d have to mask her emotions and thoughts better if she were going to keep much private from him.

A strong bolt of desire not her own ran through her, and she nearly gasped out loud. It seemed someone else felt like sharing. Relian's smile hadn’t diminished, though it was more of a smirk now. “Cal, I believe you were expressing your disbelief when we last left off.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Yes, thank you, I was.” Curiosity soon overtook annoyance. “How?” The thread of command in her voice wouldn’t fool anyone, but hopefully, it’d bring about the desired response—a straight answer. Little hope of that happening, though.

“We can bestow immortality on those whom we will.”

Cal glanced at Maggie, and both rolled their eyes. He’d given the requisite vague answer. The very voice of God could come down from the heavens demanding an answer, and an elf would still dissemble, finding the most circuitous reply to give.

“How?” both she and Maggie prompted.

This time Avrin spoke. “Through bonds of love, romantic or otherwise, it does not matter.”

“Ugh, what does that mean?” Maggie glared at Avrin, who offered her a grin.

Kenhel fielded that question, apparently wanting his turn to play with the humans. “It means love can forge a bond that can grant immortality. It’s not lightly done.”

“No, it is not,” Relian agreed. “The giving of immortality cannot be forced by either party, to give or to receive. The process won’t work unless true love is found on both sides, as there’s no way to fool the magic that controls that aspect of a bond.”

Cal rubbed her forehead. “A good way to ensure it’s not taken advantage of or used wrongly. You call it a bond. Is it like the one between us now?”

“The bond we share as of now won’t grant you immortality.”

“As of now?”

Relian placed a hand on her shoulder. “If we complete the bond, it’ll affect changes upon you—mainly immortality.”

What? “I thought you said it was voluntary—the immortality thing. Why would I have to become like you if I have a choice?”

He drew circles on her shoulder. “You’ll not become like me. You’ll stand to gain a long life, not become an elf. No magic exists that could make you one.”

Relief flowed over her. She liked being human and didn’t relish any transformation negating that fact. Still, immortality...

He let that sink in before continuing. “For a mortal, accepting the fulfillment of the completion bond is seen as the concurrent acceptance of immortality. Both of these are intertwined and can’t be separated in the immortal person—one cannot exist without the other. Our very nature allows this whole process to occur. Thus, immortality is granted to the human partner through the bond.”

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