Bound by the Mist (Mists of Eria) (33 page)

“You like this, do you?”

“I like it so much we won’t finish this conversation if you keep doing it.”

“I thought we were done.” She kept trailing her finger along his ear.

He scowled at her. “We haven’t finished discussing the darkindred because we got off tangent.”

“Oh yeah, with the social discourse. Interesting but not quite on topic.” She gave a pout, moving her hands to fold them before her. “Better?”

He grimaced. “I would much rather that your hands were on me than off, but it’s much easier to concentrate this way. That is, if you hold still. Your squirming is having the same effect.”

She froze. It did appear her fidgeting was causing a
big
problem she wished he’d sate with her. But they said they’d wait, so she wouldn’t push him.

“Thank you. Now to return to the problem of the darkindred. A frightening correlation has become clear to us—the loss of magic only exacerbates the problem of the darkindred and they the loss of magic. The fragile hold we have on the whole situation is slipping. And when it does, the whole landscape will rend right along with any remaining peace.”

The light seeping into the room appeared more muted than it had half an hour ago. She shivered as her thoughts cast a shadow across her heart. Relian was looking at her and probably expected a response of some kind. “That’s not very good news.”

“I don’t say these things to scare you. The fight is far from over, and the people of Eria are strong and will not admit defeat. We won’t. It’s not an option.” His eyes gleamed with a steely light that made the room brighter.

“When you say it that way, I somehow believe it.”

“Good. So you believe everything will be fine when I leave tomorrow?” His eyes grew mischievous as he reached out to tug on a wavy tendril that hung in front of her ear before letting his hand trail down her back. She shivered under his touch, and a satisfied smile spread over his face. “After all, I have seen battle for untold centuries. This skirmish should be no different. We’ll go and come back as quickly as possible, for while I have never sought out war, I seek it even less now.”

The burning sincerity in his eyes, coupled with the way he gazed at her, shot through her body. Her veins suddenly seemed too small to handle the blood coursing through them and overwhelmed her already beleaguered senses. “Why?”

“You.”

As the word flooded through her, she pushed him back on the settee. She didn’t want to think anymore. If he was leaving tomorrow, she was determined to spend what hours she could snatch with him in more pleasurable pursuits. A make out session was just what she needed.

***

Relian watched his sword as it flashed in the sunlight. It was tainted with the red of blood, as it had been so many times before, and no doubt would be so again. The thought was ironic. He received no pleasure from it but would have to stain it with the blood of many others before he could return home. To Cal.

As he dispatched the darkindred in front of him, a tingling awareness came over him. He swung around and slashed another enemy figure cleanly across the neck. He grimaced. The one he just ran through had looked so Elvish, except for the yellow eyes. It should’ve gotten easier over the years to kill such creatures, but it hadn’t. He was still disturbed to see enemies he might’ve once called brother or sister. He had to remind himself there wasn’t much left of who or what they used to be. At least, that was what he told himself.

Surveying the area during a brief respite, he took in the causalities suffered. Other than a few minor injuries, the elves were in good shape. The darkindred didn’t fare so well. Those still standing would be quickly subdued, a few kept alive for the information they may carry.

Once every enemy was in hand, Relian wiped the blade of his sword on the grass to get off the worst of the gore. A few scouts would check the rest of the area for any lingering bands of darkindred while those staying behind would dispose of the bodies properly. Even amidst the carnage, his heart lightened with the knowledge that in a few days he would be home with Cal again.

He froze as the air stirred. As he whirled to the side, an arrow thudded into the ground no more than a foot away. His gaze traveled from the yellow fletched arrow to the area from which it’d been shot. The figure standing near a tree was a sight that chilled him.

Andrian, his yellow eyes shining malevolently, gave a cocky wave before turning and leaping into the nearest tree. Relian cursed. A horse would most likely be waiting under the coverage provided by the trees to spirit Andrian away. To give chase would be futile and probably deadly. No doubt darkindred waited in ambush should he or any other elf give chase.

Chapter 31

Cal glanced up from the very old book she was supposed to be reading. The small, private library she and Maggie sat in was actually more like a den than a true library. She figured it had once been a previous resident’s study, one who apparently had loved to read. Shelf upon shelf of books strongly hinted at that.

She glanced down at the tome again, knowing she was procrastinating. Since Relian left, she didn’t feel like doing anything. Seeing how lost she was, Henril guided her and Maggie to this little room, instructing them to read and summarize in Elvish whatever they read. She wasn’t having much success in that endeavor.

Did Relian feel the same listlessness, the same sense of loss? She glared at the words before her, though she didn’t truly attempt to read them. For his safety, she hoped he wasn’t experiencing the same emotions. If he were fighting, she didn’t want him distracted. He was an excellent warrior, or so she’d heard, but that didn’t negate the importance of caution.

The sound of Maggie’s voice floated into her awareness. “Hey, what are you doing now?”

Cal schooled her scowling face into a neutral look before glancing up. “Reading. Just like you. Why?”

“I can’t make sense of this.” Maggie sighed, pointing down to an old scroll lying open before her.

“Are you sure you have the translation right?”

“Relatively.”

Her weary body protested the thought of movement, but as the scroll was delicate and shouldn’t be pushed around, she forced herself to go to Maggie’s side.

Maggie pointed to the troublesome passage. “Here it is.”

Cal quickly scanned it, unease welling up in her stomach, and then read it out loud. “What once was lost can be found, for it plays under the guise of the moon. The crimson dawn need not be all that remains. Broken must be the bonds chaining original thought and emotion from instinct. Life’s blood must be spelt, freely given. The maddening ties can then be sundered once mortality cuts the link. And then magic will abound.”

She finished and gripped Maggie’s shoulder for support, leaning heavily against the table. Her breath, short and choppy, accompanied her racing heart.

Maggie’s face turned ashen. “I thought that was what it said.”

“What you found is next to unbelievable. Do you know that?”

Maggie glanced up at her uncertainly. “Sounds like those creatures. The darkindred.”

Cal fumbled for her seat, sitting down with a thud. “It does.”

Her friend bent low over the parchment, scrutinizing it. “So what does this all mean? It sounds ominous to me.”

Could it be? She closed her eyes as she retreated into thought and absent-mindedly rubbed the band on her finger. “Mortality.” Just one word. Yet it stood out in her mind. Her eyes snapped open.

“Mortality? The darkindred will be dead once they’re killed. That’s true.” Maggie’s solemn face lightened, a smile spreading over her face. “Kind of the purpose of death. Staying dead and all that.” As quick as it had come, the smile slid from Maggie’s lips. “What?” she mumbled to herself and scanned the scroll again. “There’s no way they would willingly spill their own blood. Unless they have to spill elvin blood, willingly given? But how would spilling elvin blood cut this so-called link?” She bit her lip, hesitating. “It does mention mortality, so maybe an elf has to be willing to die?”

Cal shook her head slowly. “No, I don’t think that is what it means.”

Maggie glowered at her. “Oh, then what, Miss Smarty Pants? Do please enlighten me.”

Her thoughts coalesced, ordering themselves in a somewhat coherent fashion. “I don’t know for certain, but it does mention restoration is possible.”

“How so?”

Cal got up and pointed to a sentence in the passage. “The part about ‘maddening ties can then be sundered once mortality cuts the link’ refers to a kind of reversal of the conversion process, if I’m not mistaken. Mortality and blood—I think they go hand-in-hand.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that. But
whose
mortality and blood fit together like pieces in a puzzle?”

“Ours. We’re of mortal blood. Thus we fit the ‘mortality cuts the link’ part.”

“You won’t be technically mortal anymore once you bond. And don’t even say we have to kill those darkindred to restore them because we’re human. I’m so not going there.”

“I’ll still be human. Relian assured me of that. So I’m not sure how much my genetic makeup will change, if at all. Also, the blood has to be willingly given, remember?”

“Yeah, right! Like they would willingly let us
spill
their blood so they can return to normal. Not believable in any fantasy world, even this one.”

Cal shook her head. “I think it is referring to our own blood, willingly given.”

“Our blood cuts the link if willingly given.” As the full repercussions of what she uttered dawned on her, Maggie’s face blanched. “They can’t ask that of us! I’m not opening a vein for anybody.”

“They can’t?” Cal leaned against the desk, arms crossed. “We’re the lone humans in a land of elves. They can ask about anything of us. And I don’t think anything we read in the passage actually alludes or calls for our death.”

“That’s reassuring.” Sarcasm dripped from Maggie’s voice. “It only calls for our blood.”

Cal couldn’t keep the snark out of her own tone. “Trust me, I’m not wild about the idea, either. Plus, I’m not sure my hypothesis is correct. Even if I’m right, I don’t understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of it.”

***

Relief washed over Relian as he exited the antechamber of his father’s meeting room. As his father was handling matters of court, he’d been able to deliver a blessedly short debriefing with the understanding they’d discuss the particulars later in private. Particulars like Andrian.

He was weary and dirty. But he didn’t want to take time to bathe before seeking out Cal. Maybe he could persuade her into helping him get clean. That would turn a previously relaxing routine into a highly sensual one. At the thought of her hands gliding over his skin, desire slammed through him. His smile faltered. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could wait before the urge to take her crumbled his reserve. But if she stayed dressed and outside the tub….

Anticipation flooded him and added a spring to his step that had been missing. He stopped a servant or two in the corridor to inquire the whereabouts of his soon-to-be mate before heading for one of the studies.

Feminine voices floated down the hallway as he approached his destination. His grin widened. Almost there. He slowed his pace. Cal wasn’t alone, so he had to enter with some decorum. As he took the last few steps to the door, which stood ajar, his smile faltered at what he heard.

“We have to tell someone.” The panicked desperation in Cal’s voice made him draw up short.

“Do you think that wise?” a voice, which he identified as Maggie’s, replied calmly. There was also an undercurrent of worry threaded through it. He frowned. He didn’t know what was going on, but he wouldn’t stoop to lurking outside doors to find out. Rapping on the door, he alerted the two women within of his presence.

“Yes?” Cal called out.

His lips twitched in humor. That was his cue. He entered, and Cal’s surprised squeal greeted him.

“You’re back! When did you get back?” She flung herself toward him, but he easily caught her before she could dirty her dress against his armor.

He held her at arm’s length. She puckered her brow in dismay, and he chuckled. “I’m not clean. I don’t want to sully your gown.”

As she inspected him, she gasped at the blood, dirt, and other things smeared on his leather and metal armor. “Are you okay?” Her gaze traveled frantically up and down his form.

“I’m fine. Along with a few bruises, all I suffer from is weariness. And grime.” He looked down distastefully at his accouterments. He glanced back at her, letting her see the passion in his eyes. “I need a bath, my lady.”

Maggie let out a laugh. “That is my signal to leave, I think.” As she passed them on her way to the door, she welcomed him home. “I’m glad you made it back in one piece.” Her face turned devious. “I believe he could use some help in the tub. Enjoy!” With that, she walked out of the room, her chuckle growing fainter.

Relian pulled a blushing Cal out of the room, hurrying to follow Maggie’s advice.

***

Cal’s hands kneaded Relian’s muscular back and shoulders. She sat behind him on the ledge of the spacious stone tub that dominated his bathroom, entranced by the feel of his slick skin under her fingertips.

“That feels good, my love. But the water’s getting cold, I fear. Our food will also soon arrive. Since I can’t satisfy one kind of bodily hunger, I’ll have to nourish another kind.”

Cal gaped at him. How did he expect her to wait when he talked like that? “If you’re so randy, we don’t have to wait.”

He shrugged and turned his head to look at her. “I’ve been away from you too long.”

“It’s only been for a week and a half,” she protested, even though she agreed with him. Just being in his presence rejuvenated her.

“Ah, but that’s a week and a half too long.” Before she could reply, he stood up, and rivulets of water cascaded down his body. His sculpted body. She swallowed thickly as those drops created fascinating trails over his lightly tanned skin. She snapped out of it when he pulled her up and said, “I think someone else also has a hunger of a different kind than the one we go to feed. But soon, my love. Then you can have me at anytime of the day—or night.”