Page 82 of Bound to the Elvin Prince

He hesitated. “In theory, I could have tried, but I doubt it would’ve worked. The veil wants you here.”

“But you conveniently didn’t try,” she said, her voice rising with each word.

He winced. Oh, did that hurt his sensitive ears? Too bad.

“I thought elves were more honorable than this.”

He stood deftly and held out a placating hand. “We are. Please, there were extenuating circumstances.”

“And I suppose you want to tell me about them now.” She sneered. “I really don’t care what they are. The time for that has passed.”

The sound of a throat clearing broke into her spiraling thoughts. “This is a private matter,” said Talion. “Let us retire and give them time to talk.”

Cal closed her eyes, having forgotten their audience. She only hoped this argument wouldn’t be all over Eria by this evening. But then, maybe it would be better if it was. Then everybody would know exactly why there would be no bonding.

Maggie made no protest at leaving, as Cal feared she might. What did Maggie think of Relian now, hmm? She glanced at her friend.

Her friend leaned close and whispered, “They thrive on secrecy to the point of stupidity. I don’t like it any more than you do, but just listen to him, okay? Then do what you want.”

Well, that answered her question of approval. Maggie would support her either way. She nodded mutely.

Maggie reached over and squeezed her hand. “We suspected they were hiding something major. Really, I guess this latest bombshell wasn’t too surprising. Just find out what it is and then decide.”

Cal blinked. Maggie could astound her with her level-headedness at the most unexpected of times.

She watched as Lord Avrin, his sleek brown head bent solicitously, escorted her friend out. After contemplating them for a moment, she gave herself a little shake. How could she think about matchmaking at a time like this?

Suddenly, she was tired, bone-tired. After a few steps, she slouched down in a chair.

As the door shut on the last person out, Relian took up the seat next to her and gazed steadily ahead. She didn’t know how long they sat in silence, but her anger started to slip away like sand through a sieve. She would’ve preferred it to the forlornness overtaking her, so she desperately gathered the remaining grains of ire.

“Why?” The weary sound of her voice surprised her.

He finally turned to her, and she almost gasped at the bleakness in his eyes. “It wasn’t as though I’d planned any of this. I wish I could offer you the freedom you so crave, but I’m as much a victim of circumstance as you. Yes, I won’t deny I knew more of the situation, but knowledge doesn’t necessarily equate to power of choice. Believe it or not, we don’t hold the key to all answers.”

“What are you gabbing about? Why all the half-truths and lies? The omissions?”

He shook his head, seemingly talking to himself. “I didn’t want to burden you with more knowledge. Didn’t want to scare you away. The knowledge that you had no choice in the end.”

“Scare me away to where? It’s not like I could go anywhere.”

“I needed you to fall in love with me.”

“Really?” She gave a bitter smile. “Congratulations, you were so close, and you destroyed it.”

“I know,” he whispered, devastation flashing across his face. It also flowed from him in potent waves that nearly made her gasp. Was he such a good actor that he could fool the bond?

“Why did you do all this? It makes no sense. I get that you want to see the darkindred restored, but you didn’t even know about the prophecy when this all started.” A horrible thought intruded. “Did you?”

“No,” he said emphatically before he stared down at his clasped hands. “Quite simply, the magic of this world is disappearing.”

“What?” She reared back. Whatever she’d been expecting, it hadn’t been that.

“The veil...it seems to be seeking a resolution to a problem that we don’t know the cause of or solution to. Well, other than it has something to do with your dimension, something to do with you. The fading of our magic will impact both our worlds, both our dimensions.”

“My dimension? Me?” she said, her voice doubtful. “And you never thought to tell me this tidbit of information before?” Ire and disappointment churned in her stomach like a poisonous cocktail.

“I didn’t want to put this knowledge on your shoulders. Not right away, at least. I wanted you eased into it and bonded with me first.”

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