Steam practically rolling out his ears, Thane dressed and made his way to the dining hall. Not only did she have the audacity to kiss him then try to kill him, but she scolded him like a child, scowling at him with those crushing blue eyes. Ruining her striking face with such hatred.
Maker above, how was he supposed to change her mind about him? He had to make her see he wasn’t the horrible monster. He didn’t understand why she couldn’t feel their connection the way he did. Instead, she loathed him enough to try to murder him. He heard her come into the room and waited to see what she would do. It wasn’t a complete surprise she wanted him dead after the lies she was told about him, but she was actually going to do it. He saw the fear and determination in her eyes.
Before he came into the pub that night, he guessed she’d have some hesitation at first, given what his father did to her parents, but nothing like this.
“Morning, sire,” Fennan hollered.
Thane looked up. He’d been staring at the stones on the floor hardly even aware of where he was going. “Hello, Fen.”
“Have you seen Layala since she went to her room last night?” he asked.
Their steps tapped quietly as they made their way to the dining hall. He almost snorted with a laugh. “I’ve more than seen her.”
Fennan lifted an eyebrow, growing a huge smile. “I didn’t expect it would happen so quickly, you sly dog. I mean the wedding hasn’t even happened yet and I was under the impression she didn’t like you but—”
“Doesn’t like is an understatement.” Thane shook his head. “She tried to murder me while I slept. Held a damn knife to my throat.”
Fennan’s eyes widened. “Truly?” He chuckled. “She’s got bigger balls than I would have guessed.”
Thane shot him a glare. “You find it funny?” Of course he did.
“Oh, I do. I do.” They both nodded to a pair of passing guards. “What happened after that?”
“I told her if she could break our bond then we could go our separate ways. She has eight weeks.”
Fennan pulled the heavy ashen oak door to the dining hall open. “That’s cutting it uncomfortably close, but so was waiting so long to find her. Do you want the bond broken? She is a mage. She might actually do it.”
Thane didn’t know what he wanted. He hadn’t entertained the idea of not being connected to her in several years. “Mage Vesstan said it couldn’t be done. But I need to buy some time. All she knows is the garbage the humans tell. My reputation isn’t serving me well in this case.” He once naively thought she might care for him because of their connection.
They sat at the long rectangular table, large enough to seat twenty. Silver candlesticks lined the middle over the crisp white tablecloth. Sprigs and flowers of white and blue sat as the centerpiece. The room’s decor had been chosen by his mother, which she changed on occasion. The current fashion was navy blue tapestries hung from the walls, and paintings of abstract art he didn’t see the appeal of, although one did resemble an ocean if he looked hard enough with swirls of blue, green and white.
The plants brought life to the space. Some had magical properties, others didn’t. Mother placed a Pernus plant with its deep green and crimson red tropical frond leaves in every gathering room. It energized and uplifted the mood. It was the aroma they gave off, akin to lemon but sweeter.
One of the maids came through the doors leading up from the kitchen and dipped into a bow. “Good morning, sire. Are you ready for breakfast or shall we wait for your mother and sister to join?”
“Start by bringing us some fruit but hold off on the main course until they arrive. I’ll also be having another guest with us this morning.”
“Of course, sire.” She hurried through the exit.
Fennan leaned into the high-backed chair. “Your mother will be joining us?” He didn’t sound enthused with the idea, and Thane wasn’t, either.
“She’ll be upset if she doesn’t join us to meet Layala. I’m certain the maids have already spread the news.”
Fennan scrunched his nose. “We certainly don’t want to upset her.”
“That we do not or Layala might not be the only one trying to cut my throat.”
“The last time I made Orlandia angry, she snatched me by the ear to scold me, and that was only six months ago.”
Thane laughed, remembering. “I forgot what you did.”
“I said your sister was a nosey little worm and she overheard.”
“My sister is a nosey little worm.”
“Well, don’t tell your mother that.”
The double entrance doors burst open and in strolled the pair dressed in gowns fit for a ball. Hair styled in fancy updos, lips painted red for emphasis. They must have assumed Layala would be joining and wanted to make a show of their first impression. Strikingly beautiful were the both of them, but behind those eyes malice and cunning lurked.
“Morning, brother, Fennan,” his sister Talon said, taking a seat beside Fennan.
“I hear we have a special guest this morning. Where is she?” Mother took the seat to his right, where he expected Layala to sit as his betrothed. A purposeful move, no doubt. A sort of letting Layala know who the female of this castle was.
“She’ll be down soon.”
“It does seem rather interesting you were able to find her so shortly after your father passed when he looked for such a long time. And had you told me, I could have already started the wedding planning.”
Thane lifted a shoulder, unwilling to give away any truths in the matter. She was more loyal to Tenebris even in death than a dog who loved his master. “One of the spies happened to pass through the town where she lived and spotted the mate rune. Luck. I wish Father could have been here, too.” The lie rolled off his tongue easily.
“And where was she hiding?”
“In Svenarum.”
“So she was with the humans all this time. Her manners must be atrocious.” She tapped a knife gently against the glass in front of her making a pinging sound. “Where are the servants? We should have a full spread by now. You know I don’t like to wait.”
Fennan and Thane tried not to smile at each other. “They’re bringing up fruit until everyone arrives, Mother.”
“Must we wait on her more than we already have?”
“It’s rude to start eating without everyone seated,” Thane said. “You taught me that.”
Her lips formed a hard line. “It’s rude to make the High King and his family wait. Not a good impression.”
“I don’t expect she cares to make a good impression,” Fennan said, smiling.
“And why not?” Talon asked, pinching her face in outrage. “She should. We are royalty.”
“She wasn’t exactly pleased to come with us.” Fennan shrugged.
Mother scoffed, setting down the knife. “Why I’ve never heard such a thing. Being stolen away as an infant and raised with the humans, you’d think she’d be glad you saved her from such a wretched life.”
“That’s just it, Mother,” Thane said. “She was raised by them, raised to hate us.”
“You better work that charm of yours, Son and get things set right. We need her. I won’t have my son turned into a monster because of the way she was raised to think of us. And how could we use her to restore the balance of our lands if she refuses to help?”
“Perhaps we don’t use her.”
His mother gave him a scowl to rival Layala’s. “If your father were here…” She slowly shook her head. “She could be the key to restoring the magic to our family, to the elves.” She gripped the butter knife in her hand with an incredible amount of viciousness and pointed the tip of it at her son. “We will not give up now. You win her over. Do whatever it takes.”
Thane forced a smile, thinking of the knife pressed against his throat. He could almost feel the ghost of the pressure now, the sharp edge biting into his flesh. He severely underestimated her absolute detest for him. “I’ll do my best.”
After the fruit had been eaten and menial talk went on for far too long, Thane sighed, tapping his fingers on the tabletop. “Fennan, go get her. She will be joining us whether she likes it or not.”
