Allegiance (26 page)

‘I know what you’re feeling,’ Leif said after a moment. He stroked my hair, my arms. ‘If you need me to listen, I’m here.’

I let out a long breath. Leif had no idea what I was feeling and I didn’t even know how to begin explaining it to him. ‘I’ll be all right, Leif—go back to sleep.’ He couldn’t have had more than two or three hours. I closed my eyes and nuzzled my nose into the warm nook of his side, trying to soothe myself with his scent. But I was too tense. I soon decided what I most needed was a big self-pity session. I kissed him then sat up. ‘I can’t stay in bed. I’m going to take a shower.’ I could have a good cry in there and he wouldn’t even know.

He caught my arm before I could get up, propped himself on an elbow and watched me. ‘I’m not tired anymore,’ he said after a moment. He released me and climbed out of bed, then he chose a pair of pants from his wardrobe and pulled them on before leaving the room. He returned a few seconds later with clothes for me. ‘Get dressed, Marla,’ he said, all business as he opened the window. When I was ready, he took me into his arms and flew into the morning light.

‘Where are we going?’ I asked as we flew over the forest. Jack was down there somewhere. I wondered where and wished I had the ability to see beneath the dense canopy of green.

‘Somewhere I like to go when I need to think.’

Soon he was flying over the plains, the vegetation below us thinning, the trees becoming sparse, the earth rocky. Streams flowed like silk through the gorges, slowing into bodies of water before narrowing into streams again and then joining larger rivers once more. I wondered where it all ended. And then the scenery began to change again. It was rocky still and dotted with narrow-leaved trees, but many of the rocks shone like they were lit from within.

‘Are they sunstones?’ I asked, surprised. I’d never seen them in nature. And these were much larger than any I’d seen before—some were great boulders the size of a small cottage.

Leif nodded.

We came to an area where there was an abundance of sunstones mingled with other rocks and sparse plant life. Leif descended, landing at the edge of a pool into which a low waterfall tumbled. A single tree leaned over the waterhole, stretching its craggy branches to create dancing shadows on the surface. The colour of the water was unusual. Deep aqua, it had a strange fluorescent tint that made it look as though fog was trapped inside.

‘Is this hot water?’ I asked. There was steam coming from the surface furthest from the waterfall.

‘Dip your toes in, Marla, see for yourself.’

I did and it was hot!

‘As there are so many sunstones clustered together, many of the pools here are heated—some to the point of boiling. But the constant flow of the waterfall into this one cools it. It’s just a matter of finding the spot with the perfect temperature for you—I’ve always preferred the middle.’

I knew people put sunstones together to create heat, but I never imagined something like this.

‘It’s beautiful, Leif, but what makes the water look like that?’

‘Other rocks, like the blue one over there,’ he said pointing, ‘leach minerals into the water. That one’s called cara—it has a calming effect.’ He smiled. ‘Most homes have at least one to help soothe a sore temper.’

I watched him as he took his clothes off and waded into the pool. He sat down on a rocky ledge, the water climbing to his chest.

‘Will you keep me waiting all day?’ he asked with a grin.

I shook my head and smiled back, then left my clothes on the bank and swam out to join him. The water was silky and warm and had a lovely clean salty scent. When I reached him he took me into his arms.

‘Now tell me—what’s worrying you most of all?’

‘Everything, Leif, everything’s worrying me.’

‘Tell me, my love, one worry at a time. Keep nothing from me.’

I drew my fingers slowly through the water, watching the ripples they created as I gathered my courage. ‘Well, Jack…’

‘Jack is strong and clever. He can take care of himself. But it’s more than that, is it not?’ He sure was perceptive, but here’s where it got tricky.

‘I’m used to having him around, Leif.’ I looked into his eyes and I could feel mine begging for his understanding even though I hardly understood myself. How could I be sitting here with the most beautiful man, the most perfect man, and still have room in my heart for anyone else?

‘He means a lot to you. I can live with that. Now what else?’

‘Well, Lysander. I feel terrible I haven’t told my grandparents about him. I know it would put their minds at ease to know he’s alive.’

‘Until we find a way to bring him to Faera, it is safer for them not to know.’

‘I think your father’s more likely to ask
me
about him than them.’

‘You’re probably right.’

‘And if he did, I’d have to answer truthfully.’

Leif was quiet for a moment. ‘There
are
ways around it,’ he said finally.

‘Such as?’

‘I could confuse you.’

‘But then I wouldn’t remember Lysander either! Isn’t there another way?’

‘None that are worth the risk. But I wouldn’t worry, my father has a lot on his mind these days, I doubt it would even occur to him to mention your brother.’

‘He avoids me like the plague anyway.’ I sighed. ‘Something he has in common with my brother.’

‘I’ll take you to Lysander today. I will
make
him see you.’

I shivered—a combination of his warm breath against my ear and the authority in his voice. ‘I
love
being betrothed to such a powerful man.’

‘Mmm, you’ve barely seen a fraction of my power, Marla.’

‘Really?’ I asked with a smile and a flutter of my eyelashes.

‘Really,’ he whispered.

‘Careful, Leif, you’re turning me on.’

He didn’t seem to mind, because he turned me in his arms, bringing my legs around his hips. The silky water swirled around us, caressing.

He touched his lips to my eyes, my temples, my ears. I dropped my head back to catch his kisses as they moved to my neck. In a few seconds I would be on fire. I wanted to pull away from him now to save myself the disappointment later, but I just couldn’t. And then it was too late, I was at that point again.

Leif, you torture me. Don’t play with me—just have me and be done with it
.

‘I torture myself,’ he whispered, moving me away from him.

‘What else, Marla?’ he asked after we’d locked the need back into its cage.

‘Hmm?’

‘Anything else bothering you? I brought you here so you could get it all out of your system.’

I watched the steam mist the air above the hot end of the pool. ‘Well, this whole allegiance thing bothers me. I mean, geez… he’s your father!’

‘But he is also your king. Tell me your feelings—it might be a relief to talk about them.’

I doubted it but decided to come clean anyway. ‘I want to
please
him, Leif. Even worse, I want to make him aware of it. And after everything he’s done, it’s so… degrading.’

He was silent for a moment. ‘Is it really so intense?’

I nodded slowly.

‘Well… I suppose it’s natural,’ he said, not looking convinced. ‘Imagine if a king’s subjects didn’t feel this way. Who would follow him? It would be chaos. I only thought after what you’d been through; the tie that binds you to him might not be so… potent.’

‘I wish it wasn’t. Deep in my soul I know I hate him for the things he’s said and done, but it’s like this allegiance bond is blocking it.’

‘You know you can confide the threats he made to you, Marla. I promise I can take it.’

But I couldn’t tell him. It would only cause problems between Leif and his father. Besides, it felt like a betrayal to my king to tell my betrothed what had passed. Even as I had the thought I hated myself for it. ‘I can’t tell you Leif.’

‘You need to trust me.’

‘I do and if you had asked me yesterday before this stupid allegiance thing I
might
have told you.’

‘Ah, you’re protecting my father.’

‘I’m protecting you both.’

We spoke about Hilary and my human family after that, how I missed them, how I worried about the changes in my sister. By the time I’d finished, my problems seemed manageable again. ‘It’s this place, Marla, it’s magic,’ Leif said when I told him I felt better.

‘It’s you, Leif,
you’re
magic.’

He smiled and kissed me again, tender and passionate. We enjoyed being alone a while longer. But too soon it had to end. The king was expecting his son to take Ameyah to Earth today and Leif needed to fill him in on where she was.

I heard King Telophy’s roar from where I waited down the hall from his chambers. Memories rushed to the surface of my mind—Leif, beaten and bleeding. I took a deep breath and hurried to the receiving room. After getting the okay from the guard, I lifted my hand to knock. The door flew open before I was able to. King Telophy towered over me and immediately I began to tremble like a wet puppy. He glared at me for a moment before shifting his dark and rage-filled eyes to Leif. ‘What is this?’

‘Can’t you see? You have made her afraid for me,’ Leif said, his face softening as he turned to catch my eyes. ‘But go, Marla—I assure you I am well.’

Much as I wanted to run, I shook my head.
He’ll kill you, Leif.

Leif frowned.
He won’t—now please, apologise for the interruption and go.

I stayed put and the king’s eyes narrowed and shifted between us, before settling on Leif. ‘Leave us,’ he commanded.

Leif’s frown turned into a scowl as he looked back to his father. ‘Why? What could you want with her?’

‘Leave us
now
,’ King Telophy bellowed at his son.

‘I will
not
.’ Leif spat. His father moved to stand over him. Leif straightened, lifting his chin high. It was like watching two storm fronts about to clash. I knew only too well which was the more powerful.

Please, Leif, go—he’ll only hurt you.

Leif turned to me, watched me for a few beats. Then he silently told me he’d be right outside, before walking out the door. The king closed it and turned to face me. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that seemed to reach inside my soul. Only with extreme effort did I not drop to my knees. His anger seemed to wane after a while and, when the fury had left his eyes completely, he said, ‘Now, Marla,
you
may confide what you know of the disobedient humans.’

I had no choice but to answer honestly. ‘Ameyah didn’t want to go to Earth, my king. She planned to run away so you could not make her. Jack wouldn’t let her go alone.’

‘My son told you of this plan?’

I shook my head. ‘Leif didn’t know.’

‘Who then?’

‘Jack told me, Majesty.’

His eyebrows rose. ‘The human? Why would he?’

‘Because he’s my friend.’

He looked away, releasing me from his gaze. I exhaled and slumped forward. ‘
Your
friend,’ he said finally, capturing my eyes again. ‘My son led me to believe Jack was
his
friend. Is a friend all he is to confide in you so?’

Oh God, I didn’t want to tell him. I felt panic rise up my throat right along with the words that would give my relationship with Jack away. I sealed my lips closed. The king folded his arms and waited, knowing he need do no more. When I could no longer resist, I blurted, ‘When you made me return to Earth, I became depressed, Majesty. Leif sent a letter filled with his magic. When Jack read it, my feelings transferred to him and I forgot Leif.’

The king uncrossed his arms and tapped his fingers on the edge of his desk. After a moment’s thought, he said, ‘That cannot have been easy for my son. And to bring the human here…’ He
smiled a small, lopsided smile. I had no idea what it meant. ‘I should punish you, Marla. I should call my guard and have you removed to the prison for keeping this information from me. At the very least I should deprive you of your betrothed for a period. I gave you warning enough not to defy me when I brought you here.’ He paused for several long heartbeats.

I remained silent—the word
should
giving me hope.

‘However, as this occurred before you were bonded to me, it would hardly be fair.’ Relieved, I released the breath I’d been holding. I couldn’t understand his reasoning though—he’d never been fair with me before. ‘Be assured though, Marla, if you keep such things from me again, I will not be lenient.’

Shivers slid across my skin as my brother came to mind. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it because King Telophy was holding his hand out to me. I felt my eyes grow wide, barely able to believe it.

‘Go ahead,’ he urged. ‘I know it is your desire.’ There was no gloating in him, or arrogance. He was simply offering what he knew I wanted.

I took the hand—big and strong and warm—closed my eyes and pressed my lips to him. His essence came into me—pure joy zinging through my veins, potent and delicious. I sighed and let myself go, every bit of resentment towards him lost as I flew feather light to heaven.

When I returned, I lifted my face to his and was surprised at what I saw there. His eyes were warm, his lips soft and parted. He looked almost in a trance as he stepped close—so close I could hear his heartbeat, feel the heat coming from his skin. Then, sliding his fingers into my hair, he closed his eyes and bent to kiss me.

I froze, my heart slamming against my ribs—his kiss was the last thing I’d been expecting—and as his lips touched mine, I
inhaled—a great whoosh of air rushing at my lungs. My reaction must have shocked him from wherever he’d gone to in his mind, because he stopped and pulled back abruptly, eyes snapping open and fingers trembling against my head. He watched me, his features slowly settling into something like sorrow. His voice was quiet when he released me. ‘You may go, Marla.’

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed. I wanted his kiss—more than his kiss, if it would make him happy. If I had dared I would have told him I’d do anything to see him smile. Instead, shaking, I curtsied and hurried out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me.