Bound to the Elvin King (17 page)

His lips twitched. “This wasn’t what I had in mind.”

She flashed him a cheeky grin. “It keeps you on your feet, remember?”

“That it does. You made every moment novel, if not always pleasant. You relieve my…tedium.”

She rolled her eyes, ignoring the warmth from his words kindling in her chest. “We wouldn’t want you to get bored.”

“That would be a tragedy.”

“Yeah, I can only imagine how insufferable you are when you don’t have anyone to torment.”

“You know me so well. But I now save my special treatment just for you.”

“Lucky me.”

“Mmm, you are blessed.”

“Can you get anymore conceited? No, don’t answer that. I already know the answer.”

His brow lifted. “Which is?”

She frowned. He didn’t sound concerned at all—more like he looked forward to her reply.

“Your ego can always reach new heights.”

“Ego. I love this new word of yours.”

“You would. It describes your condition perfectly. After all, not everyone can be so smug about pulling the puppet strings.”

Some of the humor drained from his face. “I assure you, I have no more control over this situation than you do.”

“Somehow I highly doubt that.”

“Believe what you want. It won’t change anything.”

This was getting her nowhere. She sighed in frustration. “So, what’s the plan? We don’t want to raise suspicion.”

“We need to tell my people. I will make the announc—”

“No way.” She crossed her arms over her chest and took a step back.

“It must be done sooner or later. Why not now?”

Panic shot through her heart. “I’m not ready.”

His jaw tightened. “How long do you need?”

“Forever.”

“I’ll give you a week.”

She shook her head and shot back, “Four months.” Four months to get herself out of this mess.

“It’s impossible. One and a half months and no later.”

His hard tone commanded compliance, but she’d only meet him part way. “You give me a good two months and tell me before you make
any announcements
.”

“So you can try to talk me out of it?”

“I need the heads up to prepare myself.”

His eyes narrowed. “And what is the month and a half I’m granting you, then? Is this not enough time for preparation?”

“No. And I want those two months.”

“You know it will be hard to hide our bond for that long. Already, ever-curious minds are turning in our direction. It’s only been a day, and you’re stalking me while dressed in night clothes.”

“I don’t care.” No matter what he said, she wasn’t going to budge.

He shrugged lightly. “Have it your way.”

The light note in his voice sent unease crawling up her back. She’d have to be vigilant and watch for any trickery. “Don’t worry. I will.”

A devilish gleam shimmered in his eyes. “In the meantime, we might as well indulge ourselves.”

One long stride brought him to her. He crushed her to his chest, and her mind hazed over. She wanted to call up her anger, but her body just wanted to party with his. A shake of her head cleared out the cobwebs enough for her to get one breathless word out: “What?”

“We may as well enjoy ourselves until we make public the knowledge of our bond.” His hands ghosted down to her rear end. “The secretiveness will lend a clandestine effect to all our intimate moments.”

She snapped fully awake, anger driving away the fog. So, he thought it would be a free-for-all, made all the more titillating because no one knew about their bond? The erection prodding her stomach left no doubt he found such a covert affair alluring.

He wouldn’t get his kicks from her. She was no one’s piece of fluff, no matter how handsome or sexy the person was. “I’m not sleeping with you unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“So say you.”

She lifted her chin and pushed away from him. His arms fell back to his sides, and blessed distance leaped up between them again. “Is that a challenge?”

“Hmm, take it as you will.”

“It’s on.” She jammed a finger into his chest before spinning around on her heel.

“Are you forgetting something?”

She lurched to a stop and turned to face him. “What?”

“We need a dose of the strengthening our bond gives us.”

Well, that took her newfound resolve right out of her. “Great, a dose of Talion.”

A smirk curved his lips. “I know many ladies who’d love a boost of me.”

“And I’m sure you’ve given a lot of them a taste.”

“Surprisingly little. I’m choosy. I have no need to settle for just anyone.”

Normally, such words would’ve sounded arrogant, but coming from him, they had the ring of truth. So what the hell was he doing with her? Not that she had an inferiority complex, but her sight was good enough to tell her she was stuck in a land of gorgeous people. She was only an opinionated human woman who fawned over no one, be it a king or not.

And she wore this persona proudly. “I’ll put up with a little heartburn for now.” She headed for the door, and on her way glanced back over her shoulder. “I’ll get my…
boost
later.”

Instead of showing anger at her words, he only sent her a slow smile. “Make yourself ready for me.”

She stumbled over a nonexistent bump in the floor and gave up all pretense of walking, outrage and disbelief stuck in a mutual headlock. Did he just tell her to “ready” herself? He should know better than that. “If you want someone on tap, go to Alalise. I’m sure she’d be happy to perform.”

“She would be, but she bores me. You’re delightfully entertaining.”

“Stop being such a pig. I’ll see you at supper, and you can have a “dose” of my entertaining nature there. If I have any say about it, that’s as close as you’ll get to it—and me—again.” Of course, she may very well have to sleep—or spend time in close quarters—with him, but she’d worry about those irritating temptations when she crossed them.

She waited for his response, and when it came, it threw her off-center. Like always. She stalked to the door with his chuckle ringing in her ears.

Chapter 9

“Your Majesty, are you well?”

The questioning voice snapped Talion out of his revelry and drew him back to the council room. He waved away Alegrian’s concern. “I’m fine.”

He wasn’t, but he knew what ailed him—and who. Pain and exhaustion tore through him. The little witch played games she didn’t understand. He’d have to visit her. The thought caused him to stifle a groan. Though he loved her fiery nature, he feared he didn’t have the energy and patience to deal with her today. He’d have to dredge up the tattered remnants of his pride in order to get what he wanted—and he would. No other alternative was acceptable.

She’d denied him entry to her rooms last night, claiming he didn’t need his “fix” yet. For some unfathomable reason, he hadn’t pressed the issue, but he would this evening.

“I believe our king is preoccupied with a matter of a personal nature.”

Talion leveled a glare at Avrin. “It is of no consequence.” He gazed at the rest of the people assembled and flashed them a charming smile. “Just a beautiful distraction that needs to learn its place. You know how it is.”

“I hope my lovely Alalise is offering you no trouble.”

Mecebrin’s ingratiating voice scraped against Talion’s fragile nerves. Did the man ever tire of bringing up his past relationship with his daughter? “I assure you, she’s not the distraction I’m talking about.”

A scowl flittered across Mecebrin’s face before it faded, and his usual benign expression was back. “I was given to understa—”

“You were misinformed,” Talion cut in, voice like ice. The platinum-haired simpleton flinched, but Talion couldn’t dredge up any remorse. He’d made Alalise no promises, but this was something she and her father seemed to forget.

Mecebrin used his daughter to reach all the important families of the land by placing her in the bed of any randy lord who could further his ambitions. Alalise had never been faithful, and Talion hadn’t expected it of her as long as she’d shown discretion. She accorded him the same respect, and the arrangement had benefited them both until now.

As her father’s aspirations were worrisome, Talion found it all the better to keep him close. He couldn’t accuse Mecebrin of disloyalty, or worse, of treason—yet. Mecebrin wasn’t terribly bright, so Talion didn’t fear he was the mastermind of any mutiny. People such as he served as lackeys, nothing more. But if a mastermind like Baltor, who was another council member, were to direct him…. This was something to fear, because even Mecebrin could prove to be quite dangerous. Talion had more than a few suspicions about who would guide Mecebrin if the situation arose.

Alalise was another problem entirely. He should’ve never mixed pleasure with business. It made for a plethora of possible, sticky situations, like the one Maggie had walked in on. Though he hadn’t touched Alalise since Maggie’s arrival, what Maggie had witnessed would seem to indicate otherwise. Alalise’s behavior hadn’t helped, either. The seductress in her was so ingrained she could barely drop the persona even when she’d no need of it.

With Mecebrin properly cowed, Talion gazed around at his council. “Any more pressing questions into my personal life, or can we discuss what’s truly important here?”

No one offered up a sound—the way he liked it. “Now, back to the darkindred. They are slipping past all our measures to keep them beyond our borders.” He idly tapped a finger against the arm of his chair. “Why is this?”

Though he gazed at Kenhel and Avrin as he said this, he posed the question to all assembled there.

Kenhel spoke up, a steely glint in his eyes. “There must be an informant in the palace.” His foster son’s mouth tightened. “It’s the only possibility that makes any sense.”

Though he kept his face impassive, turmoil roiled in the pit of this stomach. A traitor within his home? Though rare, it’d happened before. And in one instance, the persons involved had been well acquainted with him. Memory hammered away at him for a second before he quelled the visions flowing like water in front of his eyes.

Avrin nodded. “We’re harboring a traitor in our midst, one who’s privy to much knowledge.”

Mecebrin’s friend, Baltor, stuck his nose up in the air. “And how would you know this?”

Avrin’s acidic voice cut through the air. “How else could the darkindred forecast our every move so well?”

Talion bit back a smirk. Avrin didn’t like the brown-haired ass any better than he did. Unfortunately for Avrin, said ass was his brother. Baltor had always used his brother’s position, and then his sister’s, to secure a place at court. Not that Talion would normally grant any rank or influence upon the unworthy, but Baltor was a case that was best kept under his scrutiny. Let the fool think he curried the king’s favor. If he stepped out of line, he’d find out quickly that his favor was nothing more than a case of keeping a possible enemy close.

Avrin lifted a brow. “Indeed, brother, how could they?”

Baltor, the idiot, was nearing this line quite perilously. Amusement and ire mixed in Talion’s blood.

Avrin stiffened. “You would be wise to think carefully before making any kind of accusations against me
, brother
.”

Though Avrin could handle himself effortlessly, Talion would add his own special brand of sparkle to the situation. “My advisor is one of the most trust-worthy men I know. Only a simpleton would cast aspersions on him.”

Baltor flushed an unbecoming red. “I meant no offense, Your Majesty.”

Talion raised a brow. “Really? I could’ve believed otherwise.” He shrugged and waved the incident away. “But it’s of no importance.” Baltor was of no importance.

Apparently Baltor understood that because his face darkened even farther to a crimson hue. A trickle of dark humor flowed through Talion. If Baltor were human, Talion would’ve suspected a fit of apoplexy had gripped the man. Too bad this was impossible.

Talion flicked off a non-existent piece of lint from the sleeve of his robe. “If that is enough, let us get back to the real threat to our people. An informant to the darkindred is very serious.”

And probably in this room, but he wasn’t idiotic enough to say so. This was a matter best handled by Kenhel, Relian, him, and most of all, Avrin. “Since you made me aware of this…possibility, Commander, what is your course of action?”

Kenhel sent him a knowing look, and Talion nodded faintly. They’d rehearsed for an instance just like this and had scripted responses prepared.

“To ferret out the informant, we’ll have to double up our reconnaissance. A special team will be formed to handle the information gained from this endeavor.” Kenhel inclined his head toward Talion. “With your permission, of course, Your Majesty.”

“You have my permission. Avrin can help. As my chief advisor, he’ll head the committee when I cannot be present.” Talion swiveled his head to look at his old friend. “That is if there aren’t any complaints from you, Avrin?”