Bound to the Elvin King (33 page)

His smile faded. “Really? It’s not good to lie, you know. Are you sure you don’t want to change your answer?”

She kept her mouth mulishly closed. Creeps like him didn’t deserve a response.

“So, you’re not going to humor me? As much as I’d like you to admit the truth, I don’t have much time. We won’t remain undiscovered for long.”

She released a pent up breath. Finally, she might be able to learn a hint or two about his motives. “Then hurry up and tell me whatever it is that you want.”

As he seemed to become serious and settle down to business, the twinkle vanished from his eyes. “My sister knows about you and the king. She’ll act the friend, whispering secrets in your ear. You best beware, lest you believe her.”

“Who’s to say I should trust you?”

He cocked his head to one side as if in thought before replying, “No one.”

Great. Just great. He’d practically come out and said she didn’t have any reason to trust him. “You’ve given me this spiel before.”

“I know she talked to you earlier today.”

She jumped a little. How did he know? Still, she wouldn’t confirm or deny anything. “Maybe she did, and maybe she didn’t.”

His mouth firmed. “Well, if she did, keep in mind she views the king as hers. He still confides much in her. Even with your bond, she merely views you as an inconvenience that needs to be pushed off to the side. She believes the king is simply fascinated with the unique challenge you present him right now.”

Maggie’s heart clenched in a most disturbing way. There were those pesky uses of
challenge
and
confide
again. She didn’t like them. Not one bit. Talion should be confiding in her, not Blondie. And all Maggie’s instincts cried out that she was surely more than a challenge to Talion. If she were stuck here, it had to be
more
than that, though she didn’t know exactly what “more” was. “I really don’t care what she thinks.”

“Maybe you should. Her husband has long been dead. Some say she had a hand in it. I cannot say what she’ll be driven to do if you stand in her way.”

A chill swept over Maggie as she stared at him. Alalise had murdered her husband? It was possible in theory. Complete bonds were a rarity, so it was unlikely they’d been connected to such a degree. She wouldn’t have needed him alive for her to stay healthy and sane.

If she had murdered her husband, had she done it to gain Talion’s notice? Even in a land of gorgeous people, she stood out. Arranging for her husband’s death would have allowed her to shed their bond. And did Talion know or suspect his lovely ex of foul play?

What if Alalise had been trying to hurt her? If she were guilty of murder, what would stop her from committing the act again?

Maggie bit her bottom lip. Were Alalise and Alanon both up to something? Could Maggie trust either of them? Should she? Her mind shouted an overwhelming
no.
“Okay, I listened to you. Now, I’m out of here.”

His hand shot out, and she flinched. But instead of the blow she thought he would deliver, he caressed her cheek for a second. His blue gaze seemed to soften. “Be careful.”

Words deserted Maggie. Then the shout of her name, plus the soft stomp of boots, from the market place roused her. She spun toward the opening between the buildings, but so far no one came within sight. Glancing back, she saw Alanon hold stock still before he whirled toward the back of the alley. In no time at all, he slipped around a corner and out of sight.

“Maggie!” The frantic shout sounded closer now. She frowned. That wasn’t one of her guards. Shit. That was Talion.

He’d have a million questions she wasn’t sure she wanted to answer—or even could. Plus, he’d be angry. She almost gave a panicked laugh. Talion angry? That had to be a huge understatement. Furious. Murderously so. Not that she feared for her life, but she’d hear an earful for God knows how long. And he’d be perfectly justified this once.

Belatedly, her Talion-o-meter blasted a warning. She trembled. Waves of anger not her own inundated her. Beneath it, though, was a gnawing worry that showed her just how concerned he was for her safety.

She looked wildly around until she happened to glance back at the way Alanon had escaped. That opening shone to her like a tempting beacon. Could she make it to the palace before anyone caught her? Nah, these were elves she was talking about. With their stealth, they’d catch up to her within seconds.

How did he even know she was down here? One of her guards could’ve alerted him somehow, but more than likely, it was their damnable bond that led him to her. Hiding from him would be impossible.

Not sure to run or stay put, she bounced on her heels in agitation. What to do? She’d have to face Talion sometime. Time and distance might calm him, but if she took the cowardly way out and wasn’t caught, Talion and his soldiers would still be looking for her.

Forcing the dread down, she moved from behind the trash receptacle. She might be many things, but a wimp wasn’t one of them. Too bad her body didn’t believe that. Sweat trickled down her back, and each step she took caused her muscles to tighten with ever-mounting tension. She stood in the entrance of the alley, the light from the afternoon sun pouring across her. Quite a few people still loitered in the market, apparently trying to see what would happen next.

Two details struck her at once. The first—that Talion bore down on her with the force of a tornado, fury leaking from every pore. And two—she hadn’t thought of a cover story to tell him. Her heart thundered so fast it felt like it was going to implode. Telling him the truth didn’t sound wise. If Alanon were right, Alalise couldn’t be trusted and, by extension of that, neither could Talion. Not if he viewed Alalise as a close friend or more. Until Maggie knew the truth of his relationship with the other woman, she wasn’t going to make herself more vulnerable to him.

As she tried to concoct a plausible tale, her mind spun uselessly. A groan of frustration escaped her. She’d have to wing it.

Talion lurched to a stop before her, his soldiers and guards almost stepping on his heels. His chest was heaving as if he’d been running or experiencing some great emotion, and a dark expression covered his face. “Where have you been? We have a search party sweeping the market, looking for you. You aren’t supposed to leave the palace without my express permission.”

She flinched, not used to him being so loud…or quite so imposing. What happened to him being relieved she wasn’t hurt? He’d totally skipped that stage. Licking her lips, she considered what she could say without making a scene. Yeah, right. Like that was possible with everyone already staring at them, and Talion having his freak-out.

If she talked to Talion here, their bond would be the latest news of the day. “I needed some space.”
And you should know why.
She stepped closer to him and placed a placating hand on his arm, casting a glance to the nearest crowd of people. “Let’s talk about this in private, okay?”

He reared back as if she struck him. His voice was tight and clipped when he spoke. “Yes, we have much to discuss.”

She’d been right. It was going to be one of
those
conversations where he raked her to hell and back. Yippee. But he, himself, had a lot to answer for, and she planned on reminding him of that every chance she received.

He held out his arm so he could escort her. She eyed it, pretty sure she shouldn’t defy him right now but not wanting to feel the anger leaking from him. Heck, touching him was the last thing she wanted to do when she was mad.

Talion grabbed her hand and tucked it into the bend of his arm. “Let’s go.”

The jaunt back to the palace was going to be a short one, it seemed. Maggie huffed. He walked so fast, she practically had to run to avoid being dragged. The steep incline of the stone-paved path caused her legs to yearn for mercy. Only pure adrenaline kept her going. Hopefully, she wouldn’t trip and fall on her face.

Okay, he was mad, but he didn’t have to act like a moron. If he thought she’d put up with it, he’d find out how wrong he was. “Can you slow down a bit?”

He didn’t look at her but slowed his pace. “Can’t keep up?”

“Not everyone has your monstrously long legs.”

“You don’t have any complaints when they’re wrapped around you,” he said softly, his profile betraying no emotion.

She gaped at him. The nerve of him. Had anyone heard? A quick glance around revealed no suspicious behavior, so she figured she was safe. She quietly shot back, “That’s because when your legs are wrapped around me, you’re the one trying to keep up.”

Talion’s jaw twitched, which was his elf version of a hissy fit. The guards and soldiers either walked paces ahead or behind them. Maggie almost gave a wry smile. So they wanted to avoid his simmering temper, too?

Once they reached the palace’s main courtyard, the unit that consisted of sentries and sentinels peeled off to the right, probably to the military area located within the palace’s grounds. Their steady march was a balm to her ruptured nerves. Even though she dreaded her soon-to-be encounter with Talion, she couldn’t help but notice they looked mighty fine in their uniforms. Kenhel had told her where the offices of the captains were located, not to mention the training grounds and the barracks for those who desired them—mostly single males. Yeah, she couldn’t imagine why Talion wanted her to stay away from that area.

The guards escorted them to the royal wing, where they left to take up their appointed stations. Talion didn’t take her to his library as she suspected he would. No, he headed for his bedroom. She wasn’t sure which she would’ve preferred. The bedroom held many steamy memories, but then, so did the library. Heat burst to life within her lower regions, and she shifted uncomfortably. Now wasn’t the time to think of sex with Talion. But did her body listen to her?

She scowled. It was all his fault for being so good in bed. And sexy. She couldn’t forget how sexy he was. He positively oozed with it.

With every step she took, her libido warred with her common sense. She should hate him, but everything concerning Talion was complicated. So why would her feelings be any different? After they had their “talk,” she wasn’t sure if she’d want to smack him or have her way with him. Both sounded like very real possibilities, but she knew she could never allow herself to give into him. Otherwise, he’d take over her life.

He opened his door and ushered her inside. Taking off his outer robe, he remained silent. Each deliberate movement he made was coiled with suppressed anger. The tense moment stretched into the quietness until it was a palpable thing prancing on her nerves.

With a slowness that was nerve-racking, he gestured to a couch that rested in one corner of the room. His intent was clear: sit down and be quiet.

Well, if he wasn’t going to talk, neither was she. Two could play that game. And she wasn’t going to sit down like a good little girl, either.

As if he realized this, his face darkened. He stalked to her, and with his hands behind his back, gazed down his nose at her. “Why didn’t you meet me as scheduled? Instead, you sneak down to the market without my leave?”

Her tongue seemed to have frozen to the roof of her mouth, so it took her a few seconds to get it functioning again. “By your leave? I don’t need your permission.”

“You forget yourself, my lady. I have a say in everything you do.”

“Oh, really?” She congratulated herself for keeping her voice cool.

“You’re my spouse and mine to protect. Not to mention the fact that I’m the supreme ruler of these lands.”

She shot up from her seat. “Since when did I become your property?”

A growl emanated from his throat, and as he closed the distance between them, her stomach lurched. Nothing good could come of them being close to each other. She dashed behind the sofa. But he followed, backing her up against the wall until he’d pinned her in with a hand on either side of her head. “Listen and listen to me well, as you purposefully misunderstand what I say. I only seek to cherish and keep you safe.”

At his words and his closeness, her heart almost melted. Almost. But the memory of Talion and Alalise in his office rose up before her, and Alalise and Alanon’s words whispered in her ear. It took all her effort not to move away from him. “I’m sure you say that to all the ladies.” Well, except for the spouse part.

His lips thinned. “I say that to no one but you.”

“Ha, you and Alalise seemed awfully comfortable when I walked in on you two.”

“That again?”

“You deny there’s anything between you now, but you refuse to tell me why she hangs around you like a bee to flower.”

“It doesn’t concern you.”

She could only stare at him, disbelief stunning her into silence for a moment. It didn’t concern her? He actually said it didn’t concern her? “It doesn’t? I’m only your wife, and you have the nerve to say whatever relationship you have with Alalise has nothing to do with me? What the hell?”

“All you need to know is I’m not sleeping with her.”

An unintelligible screech left her mouth, and before she knew it, she was hammering his chest with her fists. “You’re fricking unbelievable.” She accentuated each word with another hit. “I hate you.” And right now, she meant it. She hated him so damn much.

He grabbed her hands in his and then held both wrists in one hand. Sliding an arm around her waist, he yanked her against him. His harsh breath puffed against her cheek. “I don’t think you hate me. In fact, I’d wager you feel quite different,” he said harshly.