“Thenstrongly encourageher as you always have. The girl lives to please you.”
I was going to murder a king. “You underestimate her.”
Gerard scoffed derisively and removed a long scroll. He pointed to intricate designs along the edges. “I suppose we’ll leave her no choice and wait for you to destroy the alliance. Do you know how to read ancient elvish, Prince Jonas?”
The tips of my fingers went numb.
Gerard chuckled. “Our old language is clever and keeps the elven clans mysterious. Likely the reason most fae never knew of us. KingEldirard knew the condition of the princess changing her desires within the first turn was a common clause and a possibility. He also knew of the savagery of fae. Naturally, he saw to it there were protections in this alliance, but written in elder elvish, words that can only be summoned by a king’s touch.”
The more Gerard held to the contract, the more filigreed words took shape along the edges.
Shit. The entire alliance had terms and conditions my mother had not read. Good hells, she didn’t even know they were bleeding words.
Written plainly were causes for dissolution of the vows if any terms were disobeyed in the first turn of the union: no elven—Ljosalfar or Dokkalfar—could be harmed by our hand. If Skadi chose to leave to re-enter her original betrothal with Arion; her desire would take precedence. If she left, the Dokkalfar would still claim a portion of the alver kingdom. Doubtless a way for Eldirard to get his damn legacy of united elven clans and fae connections.
Unwittingly, I’d signed away portions of our lands in blood and gave way for the Ljosalfar to continue manipulating Skadi without repercussions.
“You said nothing of this when I signed,” I snapped at Eldirard.
“I was required to give any opportunity toseethe terms. As I recall, your father refused my offer to read, to even touch the scroll, after your mother.”
Skadi would need to forgive me, I was going to kill the man who raised her. “Tell me, King Eldirard, did you have these additional conditions written in elvish because you heard things about my father? There is no possibility this is only a coincidence.”
The Dokkalfar king shrugged. “I did not wish to cause any alarm or misgivings. A clause of land transfer is common, Prince Jonas. But we did not yet know each other to gauge reactions, and I did not want it to seem like this was underhanded. Perhaps a few whispers from the sea fae palace—I believe your house is close with the Ever Queen—gave me the idea when it was suggested the alver king could not read.”
“He can read, you bastard.” I’d always been viciously defensive of my father’s struggle with the written word.
“It does not matter.” Gerard’s mouth curled into a cruel sneer. “The opportunity was given. Had a king held the contract and read it long enough, the words would have been summoned. Perhaps, you should’ve thought to insist the alliance be written completely in common tongue.”
I shot to my feet. “She is my wife and she always will be.”
Gerard’s cold eyes flashed. “It might not be your decision. Skadinia was once fond of my son, and I believe he is making amends as we speak. Odds are they will soon be paired, so it would make for simpler transitions if she did not hold any frivolous resentments.”
Dammit.
I reeled on Eldirard. “Arion is here? After everything he did, what sort of man are you?”
“A king,Prince.” Eldirard frowned. “A king who has been securing his peoples’ futures since a girl with a strange and powerful affinity was discovered.”
I was done listening to these bastards. In three strides, I was at the door.
One hand on the latch, the door half opened, and Eldirard stopped me. “Prince Jonas, this was not meant to be malicious, but I fear you have misread it all.”
“I have misread nothing. Your selfishness reigns beautifully over your care for your granddaughter.”
“I want Skadinia to have a choice should she no longer find solace in your lands, that is all.” The king hesitated. “Still, if you see this as a betrayal, I ought to let you know, you may wish to send word to your people, perhaps to the savage sea folk, but you cannot. There are wards around the isle for the week you are here. Then you may scream and hate all you desire, but it will not change what you signed with your blood.”
I looked over my shoulder, jaw tight enough I was convinced my teeth would shatter.
Eldirard softened his features. “Do not fret, young prince. If she reconnects with Arion, you will still have an alliance with elven clans. Her affinity would still not harm your people.”
I’d walked the lot of us into a wretched lie. “I’ll never give her a reason to desire that light elven bastard. One turn, then your hooks have no power over us. One turn and you will come to regret allowing them back into her presence.”
Eldirard stood. “Whatever you think of me, I do want what is best for Skadinia.”
“You want what is best for you.” Throat tight, I spoke through the grit. “You’ve always seen her as a woman to strengthen your power, haven’t you? If you had taken even a moment to see who she is inside, to see her eyes light up when she reads folktales, or when she laughs, then you would know you were in the presence of the most beautiful heart.”
For a moment his stony exterior cracked, there was almost a glimmer of remorse, there and gone. “If you will not see reason, then remember yourself here. Harm an elven—especially a prince—and Skadinia does not leave here with you.”
