Allegiance (18 page)

I
would have
, but I’d never seen a person look less like they wanted a hug.

Go on, he’ll allow it,
Leif encouraged.

Because you’ll make him?

I won’t need to.

I put my arms around my brother’s reed-like body but it was too soon because he was already pulling away.

‘I don’t get why I feel so attached to him,’ I said, after we’d arrived back at the hotel. I hadn’t been able to shut up about my brother and the fact he didn’t want to know me all the way back.

‘He’s your family—naturally you care for him.’

‘But I don’t even know him.’

‘Families are soul-tied, Marla—relationships that are meant to be. The bond is even more powerful between twins. None of this changes just because you’ve been kept apart.’

‘Faery magic?’

Leif smiled. ‘You could call it that.’

‘Well,
he
doesn’t seem to feel it.’

‘He’s in shock. You’ve known of his existence for months, he only discovered yours today. And only think of all he has to absorb—you became aware of your truth gently. Your brother was bombarded.’

‘I guess.’

‘It is so, and my love, I hate to put further strain on you, but I don’t think you should mention him to your grandparents.’

‘Why not? You sent them to search for him yourself.’

‘With the instruction they report their findings to me—in which case I would have spent the energy to make them forget him.’

‘You think your father would hurt him?’

‘No, but he
would
interfere with any plan I make to bring him to Faera… Better there is no chance he finds out.’

I sat on the bed for a while taking in his words, wondering where everything would go from here. After a while Leif said, ‘Did you know this honeymoon suite has an enormous bath? It’s more a lake really.’

I felt the beginnings of a smile on my lips. ‘I saw that before.’

‘I believe it has bubbles too…’

‘I suppose a bath
might
take my mind off things.’

‘But you will have to share, I was about to make use of it myself.’

Smiling, I looked up into my betrothed’s warm dark eyes. ‘I’ll go run it.’

I swirled my hand in the water as I sat on the edge and filled the enormous tub, closing my eyes as I recalled the last bath I’d taken with Leif. It seemed so long ago now, so much had happened since, but the memories were vivid. I opened my eyes to the sound of the bathroom door. Leif stood before me, gleaming in the candlelit room. I drew a rapid breath, my eyes going wide. Then I stood and moved into his arms.

‘I feel much better now,’ I whispered.

‘That was the idea, my love.’ He reached for the hem of my dress and I raised my arms as he lifted it over my head. Then he took a tiny ceramic jar from where it sat on the vanity and poured the contents into the water. A delicious fragrance filled the room, subtle, like vanilla bean mixed with coconut and just a hint of lime.

‘Oh, that smells gorgeous, but I’ll be allergic. I’ll end up covered in rashes if I get in now.’ I waited for the first sneeze.

‘I brought it from home,’ he told me, smiling.

‘You came prepared!’

‘Of course.’

I watched him step into the bath—the size and power of him! Oh, he was magnificent! Something hot and pressing stirred inside of me. He lay against the side of the bath, his eyes on me as he waited for me to join him. I smiled at him and took my time removing the rest of my clothing.

‘Little seductress,’ he whispered as I finally met him in the water.

The bath was huge, big enough for four. I sat opposite my prince and entwined my legs with his. It was so nice to be with him like this—like a dream. He looked so luscious with his big arms draped around the edge of the bath, and
way
too relaxed. I lifted my leg and poked him in the belly with my big toe.

He grinned and caught my foot, then brought my toe to his mouth and bit gently.

I laughed as he kissed my captured foot and returned it to the water. I poked him again, harder. He chuckled and poked me back just beneath my belly button. I made a grab for him but he was too fast. The foot was already out of the water and his toes wriggling against my rib cage making me giggle and squirm. I fought back, but it was hopeless. He was relentless, tickling me with this foot and then that till I was thrashing like a seal pup, crying out for mercy and splashing great waves onto the floor.

‘Stop, Leif!’ I shrieked and then giggled again as he found another ticklish spot with his big toe.

‘Stop, Leif, what?’ he grinned.

‘Stop, Leif,
please
,’ I begged in between wrenching giggles as I tried in vain to catch his foot.

‘Please, Leif
who
?’ he said, laughing at the spectacle I was making of myself as I dove for his foot and chased it through the water. But it had disappeared and the other one had taken its place in my armpit.

‘My prince! Please, Leif, my prince,’ I cried.

He became still, moving his arms back around the edge of the tub. ‘I suppose since you asked me so reverently.’

I flopped back, exhausted. ‘That was mean.’

‘Ah, but you started it, Princess. And you
know
how big and strong I am.’

‘Big and strong! Huh! Outrageous is what you are! And vain, and sexist.’

He grinned. ‘Sexy you say? Come here,’ he chuckled.

‘You’ve worn me out—you’ll have to come get me.’

He reached across and pulled me into his arms, then sat back against the tub with me tucked into his lap. I sighed with contentment.

‘I’m sorry I tired you,’ he murmured as he dropped kisses on my neck. I tilted my head to the side to catch them.

I told him I was just fine and wound my limbs around him. We kissed for a little while, then he pushed me away from him with a long groan. ‘You’re killing me, Marla,’ he said, his voice strangled.

I laughed and splashed him in the face, starting another tussle. After we’d composed ourselves again, I said, ‘I know you’re being all honourable and everything, Leif, but what does it matter really? I trust you completely.’

‘And how would I deserve that trust if I do not do what is right?’

‘How can it not be right when we love each other?’

‘I won’t risk losing your respect, Marla.’

‘That’ll never happen.’

A cloud seemed to pass over Leif’s face, like a light being turned to dim. He lowered his eyes.

I pressed a finger to the corner of his mouth, where it had turned down. ‘What are you not telling me, Leif?’

He looked at me. After a moment a smile touched his lips. He stayed silent but pulled me against him. I didn’t probe; I knew there was no point.

‘Leif, I was wondering about Lysander and this girlfriend of his,’ I said after a while.

‘Mmm?’

I had only half of his attention. He was running his fingers through my hair, watching the long blonde strands as they slipped between his fingers like wet ribbons.

‘Is it possible he could be happy with her?’

‘Until he meets his betrothed he can be perfectly happy with her. The betrothal connection is not realised until the two meet—often not until she is eighteen, sometimes older still.’

‘But why would anyone wait?’

‘Often a girl’s parents won’t allow her contact with her betrothed until she becomes immortal.’

‘I suppose I can understand that,’ I said, remembering Asher’s attitude, ‘but why would anyone wait till they were older?’

‘Because sometimes the non-betrothed fall in love and have a difficult time parting.’ He lowered his eyes to the water and I was instantly suspicious.

‘Has that happened to you, Leif?’

I knew from his hesitation that it had. A horrible full feeling clawed at my throat while I waited for his answer. Is this what he’d been hiding from me? ‘There was one who gave me comfort when I could not find you,’ he admitted finally.

I thought about asking him what kind of comfort but I was too afraid of the answer. The idea of his being intimate with someone else made an awful picture in my head.

‘Did you… love each other?’

‘I suppose there was love involved.’

I felt like I’d been punched in the chest. ‘Didn’t she have her
own
betrothed?’

‘She did… does. But at that time she had not yet met him.’

I couldn’t speak for a moment and when I did it was only to torture myself further. ‘Do you still see her?’

Capturing my eyes with his, he asked, ‘Why do you wish to know this, Marla?’ He looked genuinely confused.

‘I don’t know. I think I have to.’

He shook his head but answered my question. ‘We grew up together and when you did not answer my call, she was there to help me through it.’

‘Oh, I’ll just bet she was.’

‘Marla…’

‘Does she still… want you?’

‘My love, do you like to torment yourself?’

‘Tell me,’ I insisted, nudging him with my shoulder.

‘She is with her betrothed now and that is all that matters.’

‘I’ll take that as a yes.’

He didn’t deny it.

‘And do
you
still want her, Leif?’ My questions had the same effect as poking burning sticks into my own open wounds.

‘Have I not assured you repeatedly that there is no one I will
ever
want more than you, Marla? Would you rather I had lied? Does the truth hurt you too much? I can confuse you this moment if it is so. You will forget this entire conversation and when next you ask me I will answer no.’ He was watching me, holding my eyes with his. I could feel the power coming from him like the buzz of an electric current. I had only to say the word and it would be done.

‘You would lie to me?’

‘If it means you do not suffer.’

‘I can’t
believe
you would lie to me—don’t you
ever
lie to me, Leif!’ I was quiet for a moment, loath to ask him the question
that was burning on the end of my tongue, but like the most committed masochist I was compelled to ask anyway. ‘Did you make love with her?’

There was the briefest of hesitations before he said, ‘I did not, Marla.’

I exhaled long and loud. ‘Did she want you to?’ I asked, but who was I kidding, I already knew the answer.

‘Of course,’ he said, matter of factly. ‘I am Prince.’

I was too overwhelmed with gratitude to be annoyed by his response.

And for the first time I wasn’t cranky with him for it. In fact, I resolved right then I would not deliberately entice him again—until we were married of course, and then I would take great pleasure in enticing him. I actually stuck to my resolution for a little while.

The Saturday after we’d returned from The States King Telophy summoned Leif and I to the receiving room of his private chambers. ‘Two items,’ he announced as he opened the door to us.

I followed Leif inside, surprised at the room’s simplicity—a pile of books, a bowl of nuts and a series of landscapes on the wall.

The king indicated a seat for us then sat opposite before pouring himself some water from a jug on the table between us. ‘You will be pleased to learn your betrothed’s welcoming has been arranged,’ he told Leif, as if I wasn’t there. ‘King Elrin will arrive to preside a week hence—my correspondents carry word throughout the kingdom as we speak.’

Leif lifted my hand into his. ‘I assume you will give Marla allegiance before our grandfather arrives.’

‘As previously agreed, your betrothed will receive the bond at the next ceremony along with the newly immortal.’

Not for the first time I wondered exactly what Leif had agreed to in exchange for my being allowed to make Faera home. He’d been quite cagey about the details, but I was distracted from my thoughts when Leif, scowling, said, ‘So, you are determined to make her wait.’

King Telophy’s eyes narrowed as he leaned forward and put his drink on the table. ‘Recall your place and vow, Prince.’

I felt Leif’s anger in my increased pulse and heard it in the coldness of his voice when he said, ‘The second item,
Majesty
?’

King Telophy frowned. ‘I do not care for your tone, my son.’ Leif mumbled an apology and his father carried on. ‘There were three more losses last night, two of my guard and a female—ripe with child.’

The resentment slid from Leif’s face. ‘Where from this time?’

‘The guards vanished while they were on duty in Durani and the female was taken from her home on the bank of the river Alpin in Lavenia. Her husband was too distraught to speak to the soul guide I sent to him earlier today so I would have you investigate—offer him comfort if he needs it.’

Leif inclined his head and said he would go at once, before silently asking,
Would you come with me, Marla?

I looked at my betrothed, surprised he’d asked. I decided he was feeling bad for me and didn’t want to leave me alone.
Sure.