Red Rope of Fate (26 page)

“Do you think what I did today was motivated by the best interests of our people?” Tari asked, her posture becoming perfect in her anger.

“No, that was sheer stupidity.”

“WHAT?”

“Giving into blackmail is never the best plan.”

“He said he would help you, he would help your sister!”

“I want no help from Benjimir of any kind. And blast my sister! She is a spoiled child who is being forced to live with consequences for the first time in her life. She was the one who decided to marry a prince, and she was the one who wanted to be a princess. She can find her own happiness, and blast her if she tries to steal my joy to make her situation better.”

“None of that doesn’t mean I wasn’t operating out of loyalty to you,” Tari said.

Arion held one hand out, palm up. “Have you not just proven my point? Loyalty is not the same as affection.”

Tari couldn’t hold herself back anymore. “Stop it, quiet, shut
up you great big brainless thug!” she said before picking up the empty goblet and throwing it on the ground. It clanked against the stone floor and rolled a few paces, the rim newly dented. Tari stared at it, her shoulders heaving with aggravation.

“Feel better?” Arion asked.

“
YOU
!” Tari said before reaching across the desk and grabbing Arion by his armor. She yanked him in her direction and growled, “Stop it. Stop it! You don’t understand it at all!”

“The fact that you are getting so upset can only mean you see the obvious proof that I am correct,” Arion stiffly said when Tari released him.

Tari glared at him before she burst into a mixture of hysteric giggles and tears. “All of these
weeks
spent silencing myself and you doubt
me
?” Her laughs were so consuming she bent over, her arms wrapped around her stomach as she tried to gain a grip on herself. Her carefully constructed control was toppling. She had fought her own cousin, almost left the man she loved for his sake, been forced to hide her feelings like she was some kind of pervert, and now the object of her affections was claiming she was shallow?

“Tari,” Arion said, stepping around the desk. H
is voice was tight with concern. “Tari,” he repeated, placing a hand on Tari’s shoulder.

Tari lessened her laughing until it was only the occasional snort. “Arion, oh Arion. How wrong you are,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye before meeting Arion’s gaze. “
You think my
affection
is shallow? I have been in love with you since the night I broke into your sister’s tea.”

“Impossible,” Arion said, his voice was soft but as strong as iron. “Not once have I ever detected love in your emotions.”

“Yeah?” Tari drawled in Calnoric, borrowing Grygg’s pronunciation. “I believe you’ve reminded me before: you read emotions, not minds. I
can
hide things from you, Arion.” Tari reached out and pat Arion on the cheek. “I have to go,” she said, a hysterical giggle escaping her control before she turned and swept out of Arion’s office.

The hallway was dark, illuminated only by the occasional torch, but Tari ran. She didn’t care where she was going, she just had to leave, run, get away. Tari halted and backed up a step when she ran past an intersection, distracted by the silvery moon at the end of the hallway.

She bolted towards the moonlight, choking on the fresh air of the open corridor she swung into. “I think I just ruined everything,” Tari hiccupped, leaning against the railing.

A door closed in one of the hallways behind her, and without thinking Tari kicked her legs over the banister and jumped off the side. She landed gracefully in spite of the one story drop, stumbling only when she tried to stand.

“What else could possibly make this day worse? Maybe a rabid dog will come bite me,” Tari threw her arms in the air, raving in a confusing muddle of elvish and human. “I know, my parents could arrive in Haven to find out their youngest daughter is in love with a human.
Oh lands’ sake
, my
parents
will find out,” she groaned, momentarily throwing an arm over her eyes.

T
ari stopped stalking along the palace and plunged into the first layer of Rosewood Park. She stopped when she reached a stone bench and sagged against it, mindlessly staring at the trickling fountain in front of her.

Tari shut her eyes, scrunching them together as she swished her hair. “Having High Elf blood is exhausting. The complex emotions are horrid. Why couldn’t I have been more like Kiva?”

“Because if you were more of a Lesser Elf I doubt you ever would have mustered the passion to love me.”

Chapter 12

Red Rope of Fate

Tari’s eyes popped up and she shrieked in surprise. Arion was crouched in front of her, somehow soundlessly spiriting his way in front of her without her hearing it.

Arion nodded before he stood and bent over, picking Tari up.

“Arion, what are you doing, put me down!” Tari begged.

Arion sat on a small patch of grass that was within eyesight of the torches that circled the fountain, but was in a dim section of the gardens.

Tari’s eyes grew increasingly wide as Arion set her down, but did not release her. She squeaked when he tipped her against him. “Arion, what is going on?” Tari asked in a whisper
ed hiss, her face pressed into his neck.

“Nothing.
If you’re in love with me I have no reason to hold back,” Arion said.

Tari could
feel his voice from the vibrations of his neck. “Pardon?” she said, almost jumping out of her skin when Arion kissed the top of her head.

“I thought I was being obvious. The informalities I took against you were
shocking. Just about all of the humans knew, but I suppose I did not think to ask any of the elves if my intentions were apparent.”

“
What intentions
?” Tari asked, pulling away.

Arion blinked as he looked down at her. “I am courting you. I have been for quite a while.”

Tari stared at him, utterly unamused, and pulled her head back slightly when Arion did not smirk or start laughing. She turned her head and stared at the fountain for a few moments before she jerked her gaze back to Arion. “What?”

“Courting. I’ve been attempting to bedazzle you so I
could convince you to marry me. My sisters told me it would never work, but King Petyrr has been a staunch supporter.”

Tari narrowed her eyes in concentration as she stared at the flourishes on Arion’s armor. (It was easier to stare at his armor than to meet his
eyes.) “You mean all of my pain…”

“Has been self imposed
. I have been in love with you for almost as long.”

Tari
slumped into Arion. “Is being in love supposed to be this exhausting?”

“No.
We are a special case.”

“I feel awful. All of this ridiculous self control for
nothing
. And that confession. That confession was horrible! You can’t just nonchalantly say you love me. For elves love is forever! It is an emotion elves hold for one other person, ever. This isn’t trivial to me!”

“
Nor is it for me,” Arion said, kissing the side of Tari’s head. “And I apologize if I made you feel that way. Allow me to add to my confession. Tarinthali Ringali, I am, without regrets, your devoted servant. Your wit and intelligence stun me, your beauty eclipses the sun itself. Your warm personality is enticing, and I highly prize your ability to disembowel anyone stupid enough to wrong you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I selfishly want every part of you. It would be an honor, and my greatest desire, if you would allow me to protect, love, and serve you for the rest of our lives. And if you ever flirt with Eric or drink with another man again I am going to slaughter them without hesitation.”

“I accept. I love you Captain Arion Herycian.”

“And I love you Tarinthali Ringali.”

Tari closed her eyes and reveled in the warmth of Arion’s love. The knowledge seemed to wash away the day’s exhaustion, and Tari happily sighed. “You mentioned courting. What did you mean? And what of Eric?”

“Ah yes, Eric. My younger brother knew I had fallen for you, but he persisted in approaching you and flirting. The only reason I didn’t outright stab him was because it might make you suspicious. But now…,” Arion let the suggestion hang with a dark chuckle. He rested his chin on top of Tari’s head before continuing.

“As for courting, I attempted the usual human customs, which was probably my first mistake now that I think of it. I bought you the hair ornaments, I expressed physical affection to you at every opportunity—I was not lying when I said I noticed Benjimir acted as I did. We both despised Seer Ringali for a time.”

“
What?
”

“I did think for
a few days he may be your lover.”

Tari hacked and wordlessly shivered.

Arion chuckled. “My first flawlessly pronounced elvish word was Tarinthali. I lost all hope when I kissed you and you did not respond at all.”

“I was trying hard not to overreact.”

“So you say. I did not mind my new position here in the palace. No one complained that I had an Honor Guard following you most of the waking hours. That’s how I knew you were going to meet Benjimir. I almost went wild when you announced you were leaving.”

Tari
pulled out of the embrace to look Arion in the face. “I don’t think I ever thanked you for that. Thank you for helping me. I was worried you were unhappy, Benjimir and Claire seemed to think you were.”

“Only when I thought you were leaving,” Arion said, leaning forward to kiss Tari square on the lips.
His mouth was warm and insistent, and his hands followed the curves of her shoulder and back before resting at her waist.

He was
much more demanding this time, but Tari could tell he still bridled and tempered his passion for her sake.

Arion kissed her until Tari’s mouth tingled and she felt as if she didn’t have the strength to breathe before he finally released her.

“Wow,” Tari muttered, bonelessly falling against Arion.

“
How long is a typical elvish engagement? I suspect anything longer than a month or two is going to be irritating,” Arion asked, his voice rough.

“You said King Petyrr s
upports us. Any idea of King Celrin?” Tari asked, marveling that she could still think.

“
Ah.”

“Ah?”

“King Celrin was there when I informed King Petyrr of my ambitions. A translator was present as well, I would assume he translated for King Celrin.”

“Then what was the ‘ah’ for?”

“King Petyrr said on the rare chance that I really was so lucky as to not only receive you as my bond partner, but also my marriage partner, we would have to be officially presented to the courts. Both of them.”

“Ah.”

“Indeed.”

Tari was silent for a few moments before laughing. “You know, I d
o not care. We have borne so much, what more is a public spectacle?”

“It will give me the opportunity to simultaneously intimidate all males from both races to stay away from you,” Arion seriously said

“Arion!”

“I am also very grateful to hear that Seer Ringali is married.”

“
Arion
!” Tari laughed. She laid her head against Arion’s chest.

“You once
complained to me that a translator thought we must be connected by a red string of fate. I disagree with him.”

“Oh?”

“Indeed. Our connection is so strong, and we are so devoted to each other it must be a rope,” Arion rumbled.

Tari lifted her head up and leaned into Arion until their noses were brushing. “Perhaps,” she smiled.

Arion half smiled as well. “Perhaps,” he said before kissing her. After a few moments he pulled back and whispered in Tari’s ear. “I love you Tarinthali Ringali.”

“And I love you, Arion Herycian.”