Broken Promise (The Broken Ones Book 3) (26 page)

"Stop it." Rising, she moved
out of the sitting area and paused, uncertain what to do. Were they near?
Should she get her weapons, or would this be another kind of battle altogether?

Another tickle. The feeling of something
slithering through her skull. She shook her head wildly, as if the motion would
dislodge them.

Get out!

If they heard her, they didn't reply.
Maybe they didn't. They hadn't actually made any connection to her. She
couldn't see them and had nowhere to direct her words.

Hands clenching into fists, she squeezed
her eyes closed, trying to force down the growing dread rising within her. Too
well she remembered Damon's attacks on her mind. His forceful entry, tearing
down her walls, and then haphazardly rifling through her thoughts and memories.
The pain…

Slithering…crawling fingers…Was there
anything worse than feeling like something alive moved around in your head?

The attack continued, grew more forceful,
and she turned to face the door as she heard voices in the hall. Pressing her
hands to the sides of her head, she held in a scream.

A pressure built within her head,
pushing, pulsing, seeking entry. She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath.
They were so strong… how did you fight someone attacking your mind?

Tears brimming in her eyes, she gathered
the strength within, holding it tightly in her mind.

A sudden, clawing, tearing…pain ripped
through her head.

Forming a mental spear with the strength
of her mind, she threw it.

The door opened as something thumped in
the hall.

"Arowyn?"

Fingers buried in her hair as she held
her head, she glanced up to see Roan in the doorway. He frowned at her and
turned. Following his gaze, she saw someone slumped against the closed door
across from them.

Baelan.

∞ ∞ ∞

The Elf shook his head, winced, and then
pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I told him to stop," she
whispered.

Roan strode in and crouched before her.
"What did you do?"

She glared up at him. What did
she
do? "I…don't know. He was in my head. He was–"

The pirate raised a hand to silence her
sudden frantic rambling. "Are you hurt?"

Assessing her mind, she found all pain
gone. Her walls still held. Only the memory of the torturing invasion remained.
A shudder passed through her again, but she shook her head.

Roan stood, and after a moment, she
followed suit, looking beyond him to see the Elf leaning against the doorframe.

Seeing he had their attention, a cocky
grin spread across his face. "Such a welcome. I am honored."

She frowned as Roan narrowed his eyes
and gestured for him to enter. "Arowyn, get our guest a drink."

She stared at him in disbelief. He of
course ignored her.

As the Elf moved to find a seat, she
cast a harsh look at him before turning on her heel.

Roan grasped her hand, stopping her
suddenly. Pulling her gently toward him, he looked down as his thumb slid back
and forth across her wrist.

Her eyes flew to his face in surprise at
the tender gesture.

"Remember," he said softly.
His thumb pressed harder, and looking down, she saw one of the scars left by
the shackles.
Remember what was done, and why, and what we have discussed.

"How sweet," Baelan said
softly.

"I will," she muttered,
jerking her hand free. Cheeks flushing, she glared furiously at Roan. When he
smirked, she clenched her teeth and went to the liquor shelves.

The rotting pirate had done that on
purpose. But why? As she selected a small glass and an expensive bottle of
whiskey, her thoughts turned to what he'd been trying to tell her.

Elves had taken her to use against
Prince. She paused, realizing he also referred to how they'd done it, using
memory to show what they'd done to her. Obviously, he meant to warn her
anything she did or said could be passed along. What else had they discussed?
That Baelan had been sent to find Vesrin…yet Roan hadn't said who sent the Elf,
had he?

Don't trust anyone.

That was quite unexpected. I apologize
if I caused you pain.

The sudden voice made her slosh whiskey
across her finger. She sucked it off, keeping her back to everyone.

Did Prince Shael teach you that?

Stay out of my head
!

Tossing back the drink before her, she
refilled it and then turned slightly, looking for Roan. Finding him leaning
nonchalantly against his desk, she held up the glass. When he shook his head, she
took it over to their guest.

"Thank you, my lovely."

His words made her bristle, but she
forced herself to take a seat across from him without smacking him upside the
head.

As he sipped, she took the time to look
him over. She found him inhumanly beautiful, of course. His features though,
differed from Prince's: his chin more pointed, nose smaller, brows more arched.
His hair startled her the most, not golden as she'd first thought, but a
strange molten silver. Unevenly cut, it settled around his face and shoulders
in wavy locks. It matched his gray eyes, light yet not pale, with a darker gray
ring on the outside. Even his clothes were too pretty. Perfectly cut expensive
materials, embroidered with flowing designs, covered him from neck to toe.

"Humans can't help it, you
know."

She blinked at him in surprise and shook
her head slightly. "Help what?"

"Being drawn to us, infatuated with
us." His broad, teasing smile disarmed her as he winked.

"Yet we're still quite capable of
hating you," she snapped.

He laughed and leaned back, clearly
comfortable, almost childlike in his manner. "This is also true."

She found him unnerving. He smiled too
much, was simply too…happy. Like he had not a care in the world. All other Elves
she'd met had a cold sternness about them. Even Prince had rarely laughed or
smiled. It certainly hadn't reached his eyes or filled his entire being during
a common conversation.

"You wanted to speak with me?"

Smiling again, he looked over to Roan.
"I'd like to speak with her alone."

"No," Roan said flatly.

Aro grinned. She saw that answer coming.
The two stared at each other for a long moment and she rolled her eyes. Having
a conversation without her, she wondered what they said.

Baelan finally gave a little huff, yet
still smiled when he turned back to her. "Your lover is quite protective
of you."

"He's not my lover," she said
sharply.

The Elf raised his perfect brows and then
gave her a knowing smile. "As you say." He took a sip of his drink.
"It is hard, being rejected. None would blame you for moving on."

She stared at him in surprise, which
turned to anger. Biting her tongue, she kept her mouth shut. Roan should be
proud of her.

I am.

Snapping her head around, she found him
watching her with what might have been a small smile curving one side of his
mouth. She thought a number of curses at him and he actually chuckled as she
turned her attention back to their visitor.

Baelan looked back and forth between
them for a moment and smiled broadly. "So, I was sent to see how you are
doing, to ensure you were safe."

"I am," she said stiffly.

"And you are well?"

"Yes."

Baelan looked her up and down.
"Lies are not appreciated, my lovely. You are addicted to riath, yes? That
is not what I would call well."

"It's being dealt with."

"I see." He glanced over at
Roan again and then back to her. "You understand, until Lord Vesrin is
caught and returned to Rivenward you remain in danger."

"So Roan has told me."

"It is unfortunate past actions
have resulted in this."

Unfortunate wasn't quite the word she
would use. "Is he doing well?"

The cheerful smile returned. "It
has been a difficult few months for our prince. He has recovered physically and
continues to regain his power. His status in court is another matter
entirely."

"What do you mean?"

The Elf's smile grew condescending.
"Our prince was one of the most powerful of the Elves. He was strong,
noble, cold, and one both respected and feared by the court. There had been
talk he should be the next heir, not his sister. Possibly one of the reasons why
he left, I can't really say. Yet now, he is not the man he used to be, not at
all, and he suffers for it."

"Because he's not strong
enough?"

"Partly, yet that will change soon
enough. No, I speak of him as a man. I'm not even sure I can put into words the
changes that have come over him. He is…quiet, morose…and yet more angry."
Baelan shrugged. "Then again, I don't know what has been done or said
since his return. He spent quite some time with his family. They, too, seem
displeased with him."

Her heart settled somewhere in her
stomach. Was she the cause of this?

"Your…kiss, has become quite the
fodder for gossip. Most Elves have seen it, and so very few are pleased."

She'd grown so tired of hearing that.
"I don't know why," she said angrily. "It was a kiss. He left.
I'm here. What is the problem?"

"You are human."

"And I will die soon enough. Why do
you all get so upset over this? I fell in love with him, but don't for a moment
think either of us didn't understand everything standing between us. He is immortal
and royal, and I…I am not."

Gray eyes watched her thoughtfully as she
spoke, and once finished, he laughed lightly. "It is you who doesn't
understand." He paused. "Does he love you?"

Why did everyone ask her that? Looking
away, she shrugged a shoulder. "He never said. Even if he does, is it a
crime to love?"

"No," Baelan answered softly.
"But it is a weakness, and you have now become his."

His words hit her hard, stealing her
breath away.

The Elf looked to Roan and again they
conversed silently.

"I will be off, then," he
finally said, finishing his drink and rising.

Startled, she rose as well. "But…is
that all?" He looked at her, tipping his head to the side in question.
"Did he have…is there a message? Anything?"

"Did you expect one?"

Her mouth opened and closed, his words
leaving her totally at a loss. She remembered Roan's warning and shook her
head. "Are you returning to Rivenward?"

He nodded. "I must report in. However,
I will return as the matter of Lord Vesrin is still to be resolved. The court
is not pleased he has broken our laws or attempted to coerce the prince."

Please tell him I miss him,
she said
quietly as he left.

He paused for a moment. With a grin, he
almost bounced out the door.

She wondered if he was even sane.

Chapter 22

Fighting and Fighting

The visit with Baelan left her confused,
angry, and uncertain. She should have said more, should have asked more
questions. As the days passed, she couldn't shake the feeling everything had
gone completely wrong.

"Stop pacing, Arowyn."

She turned on Roan, once again sitting
at his desk. "Do you think he believed me? About us?"

Sighing, he set down a paper and looked
over at her. "You're still thinking about that? Does it really
matter?"

"Of course it matters!" She
took a deep breath, trying to hold back her temper. "I love him. Having
him think I…" She shook her head, not even able to put it into words.

"Have you considered," Roan
said quietly, "it might be best for all if he did believe you'd found
someone else?"

Of course she had, more than once. Even
the boys brought it up when she'd met with them earlier that day. At least Roan
kept his word about her seeing them, though he still insisted they meet in a
public place and his men accompany her.

When she didn't reply, Roan leaned back
in his chair. "Vesrin continues to search for you. I've reports of him
hiring a growing number of men to do so. Since we still don't know if the other
Elf you wounded lived or not, he too may be an issue. Eventually he will find
you."

"You think me being your lover will
change that?"

"No. Vesrin now has a personal
grudge against you. Yet it would make those who may help him hesitate, and
should word spread amongst the Elves in Rivenward, it would prevent others from
coming after you."

"If you're so powerful," she snapped,
"then why are you here?"

"I'm powerful enough to do as I
please," he replied harshly.

"Yet I've never seen you do any
magic."

"Magic is not a toy, or a thing to
be wasted."

She turned her back on him. He always had
the perfect response to anything she said. Arguing with him was as effective as
banging her head on a stone wall.

"Don't you worry what people will
say, for being with someone like me?"

"I care not what others may think.
Who shares my bed is no one's concern but my own."

Of course, such a typical thing for him
to say. Why couldn't Prince think like that? An irritated huff left her lips.

"Arowyn…" Casting him a hard,
angry look, he didn't finish and went back to his papers.

Pacing around the bookshelves, she
paused now and then, fingers tapping against books as she read their titles.

"It seems we will have another long
night." When she turned in surprise, he continued with an exasperated
sigh. "It's been three days." He nodded toward her fidgeting fingers.

Though part of her cursed, the rest of
her relaxed in relief. The dreams would be a welcome respite.

∞ ∞ ∞

A few weeks passed in a blur. The
weather turned fair, or back to normal, as Roan said. With the warmer
temperatures and the lack of storms, ships once again came and went, and she saw
little of Roan.

Slowly, she weaned herself from the riath.
When awake, she was allowed to meet with the boys, and even on days she didn't,
she still talked to them often. When boredom and loneliness overcame her, Kei
remained a silent comfort within her.

Though Baelan returned, he met with
Roan, not her, before he once again went back to Rivenward.

With Roan gone she spent more time on
exercises and began to practice again, dancing around the room with imaginary
weapons.

Even doing that didn't lessen the
growing need to fight, to move, to do…something. She felt trapped and alone,
restless even when withdrawal symptoms weren't upon her.

The occasional visit from Aya helped
somewhat, but even when she convinced the woman to practice with her it wasn't
the same as being free, or at home with her boys.

Roan's growing absence left her with
mixed feelings. Though she still didn't trust him, she'd become used to his
cold presence and their verbal sparring.

After a morning with her boys, she
managed to talk Silas and Raythe into returning to her room. Getting them to
train with her took some fast talking. She tried using a bit of her command
voice on the Were, though whether it worked or not, she wasn't sure. They
outright refused to use weapons, which left her a bit disappointed, but hand-to-hand
combat was still something she needed to work on.

They began slowly, hesitant and holding
their strikes, even only coming at her one at a time. She didn't hold back, and
she didn't hesitate.

It didn't take long to pull them in. Soon
she was blocking and twirling, taking a few gentle hits but giving back more.

Heart pounding in her chest, sweat soon
beaded her forehead as elation filled her. There was nothing quite like the
rush of a good fight.

Dodging under a punch from Raythe, she
turned on her heel, raising one arm to block a strike from Silas as she swung a
fist at his head.

Silas caught her fist, but remained
perfectly still otherwise. She froze, seeing his attention locked on something
behind her.

Glancing at her quickly, he shook his
head slightly as he released her hand. The silence behind her indicated Raythe
stood motionless as well.

She really didn't want to turn around.

Wincing, she sucked in a slow breath to
calm her sudden nerves and then turned, wiping all emotion from her face.

Roan stood in the doorway, arms crossed
and looking entirely unamused.

Seeing he had all their attention, he
stepped to the side. "Out."

Heads bowed, the Were made a hasty
retreat. She watched them flee the room like two pups with their tails between
their legs.

"Before you take it out on them, it
was my idea."

"That's not the point,
Arowyn," he said harshly. "Have you not listened to a word I've
said?"

Head tipped to the side, she gave him a
flippant grin. "Which lecture was that?"

"I don't want you fighting."

"I wasn't. I was training."

"You're supposed to be
recovering."

"I'm perfectly fine." She
shook her head. "You're not helping me with these stupid rules. Our
bargain was only until spring. What do you think I'll be doing then? Embroidery?"

"Your tone is not
appreciated."

"Neither is yours," she
snapped.

"I'm more concerned you brought
them in here with you alone."

A laugh sputtered out of her. "Have
you been drinking?" When he frowned, she continued angrily, "I might
not trust you, but you trust them enough to be my escorts. Besides, they're
Were."

"You'd trust a Were over an
Elf?"

Her eyebrows rose in astonishment that
he'd even ask her such a thing. "I most certainly do."

Unsettling pale eyes stared into hers
until he let out an amused grunt. "Can you not stay out of trouble?"

"I'm not in trouble," she
muttered. "There's just nothing to do. I don't want to rest anymore. I'm
tired of reading. I'm dying of boredom."

"That is quite unlikely."

"You know what I mean."

"Very well, you can practice with
them."

"And Aya?"

He sighed. "Fine. That is it."

Just to annoy him, she jumped forward
and with a girlish squeal of delight, gave him a tight hug.

Not returning her embrace, he scowled
down at her.

Grinning broadly, she stepped away.
"Thank you, Roan," she said in her sweetest voice.

Returning to his desk, he muttered
something under his breath she didn't catch. His discomfort amused her. She'd
won this round.

∞ ∞ ∞

As the days passed, she fought her way
through more withdrawals, holding out as long as she could. It felt like she'd
never be free of the drug. She could go almost five days without it, and now
slept less than a day, yet when the need for the drug came over her, the pain
and wanting didn't lessen.

Her multitude of questions went unanswered
by Roan. He would only tell her she was a unique case and should be happy she
lived at all. Not heartening words. She feared her recovery would drag on
forever and worried what would happen if she remained addicted when spring
finally came. Roan made it quite clear he would not be staying in Westport.

She heard nothing from Damon regarding
Kei. She heard nothing from Prince. Despite frequent visits with Bo and Garen,
and even Hale, an empty hole grew within her.

Her love for Prince didn't wither or die
despite his absence and the words of doubt everyone seemed to try to stick in
her head. No matter how hard she tried not to think of him he remained a
constant presence in her heart.

Kei's comfort within wasn't enough. She
missed him by her side. Losing her best friend continued to leave her shaken, alone,
and angry. Even with their connection, not being able to see him, talk to him,
hurt just as much as his own pain she would feel.

She vented her frustrations physically,
training hard on her own or with Aya or the Were. She even talked the young boy
into finding her an old barrel lid to use for target practice. Asking the Were
to let her know when Roan returned gave her time to hide it and her throwing
knives. Of course, she told them it was so she could put the furniture to
rights, since finding his room in chaos irritated him. It wasn't quite a lie. She
did push everything back into place.

Once, she asked
if she could go out with Roan into the city. The look he gave her was so hard
and cold the urge to run and hide nearly overpowered her. She never asked
again.

When she'd awoken a few days before,
Roan surprised her by stating he would be gone for a few days. She'd stared at
him in shock at the time. Never had he left her alone overnight.

He instructed her to not go out while he
was gone, which put her in a foul mood. His trip would be for at least three
days, if not four. Not being able to see her boys did not go over well. Yet she
found herself agreeing quietly. How could she not? Caring for her had disrupted
his routine and business.

The nights alone disturbed her more than
they should have, and by the fourth day, she became impatient for his return.
Even though she found no physical comfort with him, her nightmares had been
worse with him gone. Perhaps he'd come to mean something to her, even with all
their fighting and lack of trust.

Pacing the room, she forced herself not
to contact him to see when he'd arrive.

Miss Arowyn, Baelan is here,
Silas said.
The
captain will be returning shortly. He said the Elf may wait with you, should
you so wish?

She smiled.
Though I doubt he worded
it like that, yes, Baelan may wait with me.

Very well, I'll bring him up.

Being close to dinner, she'd already
cleaned up. She didn't really care what Baelan thought of her, anyway.

The beautiful Elf smiled when Silas let
him into the room. As before, she found him too well dressed and too pretty.

I will be outside, should you need me.

Thank you, Silas.

"I hope you've been well,"
Baelan said brightly.

She almost believed he was sincere.
"Can I get you something to drink?"

Taking a seat, the Elf shook his head.
"Please join me. Your captain hasn't allowed me to see you again. I would
like for us to talk."

"He's not my captain," she
said automatically, sitting across from him. His words set her on edge though.

Baelan grinned, drawing her attention
back to him. "So you've said."

"You don't believe me?"

"I'm not blind, my lovely."

"Don't call me that," she said
forcefully. "And you should know, what you see isn't always the truth."

"True," he agreed, his grin
widening. His amusement lit his face, leaving crinkles around his sparkling
eyes.

"You're too happy for an Elf,"
she muttered.

He laughed. "I suppose Roan has told
you a few things about me? I'm not bound to the court. I am free of the
politics and nonsense."

"Are you?"

His eyes narrowed slightly and his grin
vanished.

"You're here," she continued.

"So I am." His head tipped to
the side as he regarded her thoughtfully. "I wish he'd let me see you
more. I've so little to base any opinion on."

"I don't really care what you think
of me."

"You should."

She shook her head. "What would it
matter? I'm quite aware of how Elves view us."