She is fragile, my human mate. More so than I realized. She probably would have died of cold this night, if she were traveling alone. The thought settles like a heavy weight in my chest as I regard her.
A smile tugs at my lips as I study the softly curved shell of her ear—so different from my own. If we were to have had children, I wonder whose features they would have inherited. Mine or hers?
I reflect on all that has happened. I hate that she is alone in the world. I cannot imagine being with no family. My thoughts turn to Bran. She considers him a best friend, but it is easy to see he regards her as much more.
I wonder how long after our annulment he’ll wait before making his feelings known and approaching her about becoming her mate.
The thought burns like bitter acid in my throat as jealousy twists deep inside me. She does not want me, and I must accept this. She said as much when we discussed our marriage earlier. I entered into this arrangement believing that ours would be a union based solely upon political gain for both our sides.
However, when we married, I’d thought her human vows to love, honor and cherish me were as binding to her people as the words of the Elvish ceremony are to mine. So, I had already softened my heart toward her before discovering too late that I was mistaken.
And now, I find myself in an impossible situation. I actually care for her. I had not planned on this.
Even as I think this, I know it is not entirely correct. My feelings extend beyond simply caring. I am falling for her. This leaves me with only two choices. I must either force myself to let her go or convince her to be mine.
Closing my eyes, I send out another mental threat to the creatures that watch us from the shadows, warning them to stay away or suffer my wrath. When I’m satisfied they’ve retreated further into the rock, I let myself drift away.
When I wake in the morning, she is still fast asleep. The soft light of early dawn filters in from above, casting her in an almost ethereal glow.
She shivers slightly and I instinctively tighten my arm around her waist, pulling her close. She responds by nestling further into me.
Before I even realize what I’m doing, I gently nuzzle her hair and inhale deeply of her delicate scent.
Mine. The word flashes through my mind as a low rumbling growl vibrates my chest. Everything about her calls to me. The soft press of her body to mine, her scent, the memory of her smile.
With a heavy sigh, I push away these errant thoughts. She does not want me. She desires to break our bond and be free of our marriage. I force myself to pull away and stand.
Carefully, I tuck the blankets up around her shoulders as I scan the cave. I issue another warning to the spiders that observe us from the darkness. In searching their intent, I find only curiosity, not danger or hunger, but I know Lyana would not understand this. So, I order them to stay back under threat of death.
Wanting to take my mind off Lyana, I quietly dress and decide to scout ahead a bit. I leave my boots behind so as not to waken her with the sounds of their steps.
I haven’t gone very far when a piercing shriek echoes down the tunnel, stopping my heart in my chest.
Without hesitation, I race toward the ear-splitting sound to find Lyana whacking at a spider with one of my boots. I reach for the spider in my mind to make it retreat, but too late.
With a sickening crunch, she squashes it with my boot. I wrinkle my nose at the green goop now splashed across the leather. A large glop of spider entrails slides off my boot and slaps on the stone floor. I loved those boots.
Her triumph is short-lived, however, as several other spiders takes its place. She grabs my other boot.
“Lyana!”
“Caelen!” She spins and rushes forward, climbing up my body in a desperate attempt to escape.
Fierce protectiveness fills me as I hold tightly to her and glare at the spiders, sending a threat full of rage, promising a swift death if they do not retreat immediately. I will not have anything scaring her if I can help it.
I watch in satisfaction as they scurry back into the shadows. “They should leave us alone now,” I inform her.
I hold her securely, oddly relishing the weight of her soft, pliant body plastered against me. Dressed only in her underwear and bra, my hand cups her backside to give her support as I hold her close. Her heart pounds against my chest.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“Yes.”
A smile tugs at my lips as her golden-brown eyes meet mine. “I promised them a swift death, like I did with the others. It kept them away until now. I think perhaps, because I had traveled further on, they—”
“What others?” She levels an accusing glare at me. “You told me there weren’t any spiders in here.”
I have made a mistake.
I move quickly to explain myself, hoping to avoid her wrath. “After your reaction to the rat, I did not think it wise to bring the spiders to your attention.”
She narrows her eyes as she pushes away from me. I lower her feet to the ground and she stomps toward her folded clothing.
“And here I thought you were being the perfect husband,” she murmurs under her breath.
She thought I was perfect? My chest swells with pride.
“But I guess I was wrong,” she continues mumbling to herself in a voice so low I almost miss it. My chest quickly deflates at her words.
I know she is angry with me and that I should avert my eyes from her partially nude form, but I cannot force myself to look away. My mouth goes dry as I stare appreciatively at the sensuous curve of her breasts and the gentle flare of her hips.
She pulls the tunic over her head and then glares up at me. “Do you mind?”
My entire body flushes with heat as I stumble over my words. “Of—of course. Forgive me.” I quickly lower my gaze to the floor.
I move to retrieve my boots, sighing heavily as I hold up the one covered in green goo.
“I’m sorry about your boot,” she offers.
My gaze goes to her boots as I remember they were right next to mine. As if sensing my unspoken question, she shrugs. “Yours are bigger. Better for squashing monsters.”
I raise my brows, and she laughs. “Don’t look at me like that. They’re just boots.”
“I rather liked that pair of boots. They were the only thing I had that does not stink of Dwarf.”
She rolls her eyes in mock irritation. “I’ll wash them for you later, all right?”
My lips twitch as I tease. “I doubt any amount of soap and water will cleanse them now.”
Laughter bubbles up from her throat, and it is the most enchanting sound I have ever heard. “I did not know Elves could be so dramatic.”
I purse my lips even as a smile threatens to break free. “I believe you are confusing my kind with the Fae. You have not seen drama until you’ve spent some time amongst them.”
She laughs some more. “Good thing I’m married to an Elf then, isn’t it?”
My heart stutters as her lips curve into a stunning smile. “Yes, it is.”
