Bound to the Elvin King (8 page)

“Fine. I’ll get dressed.” She heaved herself off the dresser with one arm and held onto her clothes with the other. As her feet hit the floor, the surrealism of the situation struck her. She was completely naked before a king. Well, except for her slippers. She hadn’t bothered to remove them when they were mauling each other. And she stood before not just any king. No, he was a supreme Elvin ruler she happened to be bonded to and loved to hate with a passion. How fucked up was that?

She’d laugh if she weren’t so pissed—and unsettled. She quickly crushed the thought. He didn’t unsettle her
. Yeah, right. His presence never fails to rattle me.

Not wanting to dwell on this, she pulled on her garments. “How are you going to explain my presence?”

“I’ll think of something.”

“That’s reassuring.”

He gave her a gimlet stare. “Are you done?”

She bristled at his double meaning. “Hardly. But you have pressing matters to see to, so it’ll have to wait.”

He held out his arm. “One of your more rational responses.”

She shot him a dirty look as she took his arm. “Ass.”

“That’s King Ass to you.”

***

Maggie had the uncharacteristic urge to fidget under the speculative stares of the elves who gathered in one of Talion’s meeting rooms. They weren’t even subtle about it. The few females present glared at her as if she were poaching on their territory. Maybe she was. Not that she believed Talion had slept with the three women—at least, he better not have—but she
was
interloping on their council.

Normally, her inner feminist would delight in knowing that women could hold positions of standing in Eria. Right now, all she wanted to do was flip them the bird. Though she doubted the hand gesture translated to the same exact insult here as it did on Earth. But surely they’d grasp the intent. She clasped her hands together so she couldn’t carry out her impulse.

Resentment kindled in her chest. And now she was paraded around like some human on a leash for their collective amusement. And Talion coolly ignored it all. The jerk.

Only a few elves had taken seats. Talion and the rest remained standing, so she loitered near his side. She’d learned her lesson more than once. On the way here, she’d pulled away, only to stumble when pain shot through her chest. Talion stopped walking but didn’t come to her. The whole while, Evander—whom she found out acted as administrative steward to Talion—watched the scene with a stupefied look on his face. Once she steadied herself, she hurried to catch up. Talion had merely taken her arm in an iron grip and pulled her along.

What cock and bull story would he tell everybody? Or would he take a kingly stance and refuse to offer an explanation? Her mind turned aside the notion he truly didn’t have any control over the situation they found themselves in. This all had to be part of some master plan so he could inflict pain upon her. He was diabolical to the core.

Inside, Maggie knew she was being childish, but she needed someone to blame. He happened to be the most likely target.

Avrin strode into the room and, as soon as he saw her, flashed her a puzzled smile. She practically flew to his side and latched onto his arm like a tick on a dog.

He raised a brow. “What are you doing here?”

She coughed and ran a few fingers over her nose. “Good question. Ask me once I know.”

“Hmm.” He eyed her with an intensity that seemed to strip all the secrets from her soul.

Tension ping-ponged through her. She felt all twitchy. “Let’s sit down.”

His lips quirked. “We can do that.” With a flourish, he gestured toward a couple of empty seats near the largest one, which surely had to be Talion’s. Nothing but the best for him.

“Yes, let’s.” Talion’s voice sounded behind her.

She startled before she whipped around. “Do you have to do that?” A part of her registered the fact he didn’t seem happy to see her talking to Avrin, but she ignored the pesky notion.

“Do what?”

At the smug look on his face, she clenched her jaw. “Sneak up on me.”

“I can’t help if you’re not paying attention.”

“If you didn’t walk like a fricki—”

Avrin cleared his throat. “It’s time to sit.”

Talion scanned the room, and she followed suit. Damn, everybody was staring. Just what she needed.

The royal-pain-in-her-ass sent a cool look to their audience that caused them to glance away. Well, well, being arrogant had its uses after all.

“Where shall we seat Lady Maggie, Your Majesty?”

“A chair can be placed to the right of mine.”

Oh, shit.
Why did she have to sit directly next to him? It would only fuel more talk.

“In between your chair and the prince’s?” The normally unshakable Avrin spoke with a falter. “Is this wise?”

“Wise or not, it is as I’ve commanded.”

Avrin inclined his head, and if he felt any chastisement at his king’s rebuke, he covered it quickly. “Of course.” He gave a shallow bow and walked away, likely to see Talion’s will done.

She gritted her teeth and spoke under her breath. “Why are you such a bastard?”

“Because I can.”

“Just because you can doesn’t mean you—”

He took her elbow by his hand. “Ah, your seat is ready.”

As he guided her to a gilt chair located in the ring of seats, the hair on the back of her neck prickled. A quick glance showed why. Everyone had commenced their staring. Well, it was no wonder. Talion was treating her like an invalid who couldn’t walk without his esteemed help.

He deposited her before the chair and left without a word. She glared at his back, but as soon as he sat down even that was taken from her, so she settled for his head. A few elves nearby attempted to talk with him. His profile revealed he mostly listened in silence, his hands clasped loosely under his chin and his elbows on the armrests.

Avrin sat next to him and seemed to be trying to grab his attention. Talion ignored him. Great, everyone was acting strange.

Turning her attention away from them, she took in the tastefully decorated beige room. Though a few tables were scattered around the perimeter, there appeared to be too many elves in attendance to use them. Was this why they were all in a stupid show-and-tell circle?

A few stragglers wandered in, one of them Relian. His gaze slid past her, then his head stilled before whipping back to her. A small groan escaped her. Lovely, her dear stepson was suspicious.

“If everyone would have a seat, we can begin.” Those who were standing complied, including Relian. Talion continued. “Lady Maggie wishes to listen in on a meeting. Please speak freely. She can be trusted.”

She wishes to listen in on a meeting?
She choked back a snort. But really, what could he say?
I got horny, and now look what you’re stuck with as queen
? Yeah, that would go over fantastically. “That’s right. I wanted to see how he runs his ship.”

One of the councilors furrowed his brows. “Ship? We’re near no major body of water.”

Talion steepled his fingers before him. “I believe it’s merely an expression originating from her homeland.”

She pasted a smile—or was it a grimace?—on her face. What a royal know-it-all. He had a comeback and answer for everything. “Yep, he’s right. I want to see him in action
.
”
Oh Maggie, you’ve seen him in action, even if you don’t remember it.
She cursed her stupid, lust-addled mind, but it kept whispering perverse sexual innuendos to her. “I mean, how he rules. Yes, that’s what I meant. How he rules.”

All the elves stared at her. A flush heated her cheeks. She normally didn’t embarrass easily, but these damn elves knew how to turn her into a babbling idiot. “Hey, I loved sociology in college. Call this a case study.” As soon as the words escaped her mouth, she wanted to shove them back in.

Confusion creased most of the elves’ faces. Talion’s expression remained level as he spoke. “Be that as it may, we have other matters to discuss.”

Though she wanted to light into him, maybe agreement would be the best thing right now. Her verbal diarrhea had to stop. She opted for a safe “hmm.”

“Now, with that settled, I need to hear the commander’s brief.”

Avrin shuffled some papers in his lap. “I have it here, Your Majesty.”

Talion glanced at those assembled. “Where is Kenhel?”

A young-looking elf coughed before speaking. “Commander Kenhel is still out on the field. I’ve been sent in his place.”

Talion nodded in approval. “Ah yes, Ravin. You’re one of his captains.”

The elf flushed at the king’s recognition. Maggie trampled the urge to roll her eyes. Did everyone need to act like an eager puppy around him? Thank God, she had more tact. Okay, she didn’t, but she wasn’t going around flaunting it.

Ravin’s voice broke through her thoughts. “The darkindred breeched our barrier in great numbers today. Not a mere one or two scouts, as is common. A whole band of them were roaming close to Eriannon.”

The air in Maggie’s lungs turned to shards of ice. Those freaky monster things who used to be elves were on the loose?

Talion stroked his chin. “Have they been routed?”

“We met many in battle.” Ravin paused and bit his lip. “The rest scattered and are being hunted down.”

“Sounds like this may have been a deliberate plan on their part.”

“That’s what Commander Kenhel said.”

“Avrin, let me see the commander’s report.” He held out a hand, and Avrin placed a folded piece of parchment within it.

Talion quickly unfolded it and scanned the missive. “The report says much the same thing. We also had two casualties. This is troubling news, indeed.” The parchment floated, forgotten, to his lap.

She frowned. So, what would be done about the darkindred? Were they going to discuss the situation to death before they did anything? Impatience thrummed through her body. She was a quick answers kind of gal, and elves seemed to move in perpetually slow motion. At least when it came to decision making.

“So, what are you going to do?” Everybody stared at her, and she froze. Damn, had she just spoken out loud? What a fantastic queen she’d make. She couldn’t even control her runaway mouth. Talion was insane if he thought she could pull the whole royal thing off.

“Why, my dear, you decided to take an active part in this discussion? What do you suggest?” Talion’s voice drawled.

Heat rose over her cheeks. His endearment sounded anything but affectionate. No worries about people discovering their bond this way. That should make her happy, but the heaviness in her chest hinted otherwise.

She shrugged with a faked air of nonchalance. “Just want to make sure you have a plan.”

“Am I to understand you care about the people of Eria?” A pronounced glint of something—maybe smugness—shone in his eyes.

“Sure. I’m not heartless.”

“No, you’d never want to be guilty of it.”

The innuendo in his voice caused her to stiffen. What could she say to that? He headed off all her witty retorts like a concrete barricade. But she had to think of something. She couldn’t let this challenge go unanswered.

A perfect quip came to her. “Only to people who deserve it.”

His mouth tightened. “I can see that.”

Relian leaned forward and appeared to be trying to catch his father’s gaze before he said, “We need a decided course of action in regards to the darkindred.”

Talion nodded. “We’ll call in the garrisons from around the land. The darkindred wants war. We’ll give it to them.”

At his fervent words, a chill skittered up her back. War. It was such a major step. But what choice did Talion have? While she preferred pacifism to warmongering, she knew there came a time to fight.

As Talion opened the floor to his assorted councilors and advisors, they argued and offered up their own opinions on how to carry out a conflict. The cacophony of voices buzzed in Maggie’s ears. That, along with the idea of actually being stuck in a land at combat, caused her to zone out. She didn’t belong here and going home had never sounded so good. But it might not be an option.

During the whole ordeal, Avrin’s gaze weighed on her. Did he suspect something? Knowing how that smart brain of his worked, he sure had to be putting all the clues together. And Relian wasn’t much better. Damn all smart people. They were trouble.

Tension tightened her chest, and she rubbed at her forehead. The mother of all headaches was settling between her eyes. Yeah, this was going to be a lovely day.

Chapter 5

Talion watched the last of the councilors trickle out of the room. Relian turned away from the door at the last moment and sent him a piercing glance that promised questions. Many of them. Fortunately, his son spun back around and left. So, he not only had a visit from Avrin to look forward to, if the man’s inquiring looks had meant anything, but also one from Relian. They were the only ones who thought he answered to them in any way. Indeed, they were the only ones to whom he gave this honor.