17
For the next three days, Grayson is true to his word: I stay in the room with him. He doesn’t leave me alone except when I go to the bathroom. Instead, others come to us. Elves in the minor House of Verity serve the House of Glory and bring us food five times each day. Seamstresses arrive on the first morning to take my measurements. The furthest Grayson moves away is to stand in the doorway, which isn’t far enough for me to see what’s outside this room. When I push back the curtains at one point, I discover that they’re false: there is nothing but a solid wall behind them.
Over the course of the three days, each member of the Elven Command comes to see Grayson. Pedr Bounty and Osian Valor are as frosty toward me as they always were. But the new Commander from the House of Splendor—the one who replaced Teilo—is a surprise.
The servant at the door announces, “Lord Grayson, Elven Commander Priscilla Splendor is here to see you.”
There’s never been a female in the Elven Command before. Let alone one as young as me. She glides into the room, tall and lithe, her neck like a swan’s and long legs to match Elyria’s. She takes one look at me and plots a path straight for Grayson, asking him outright, “Are you cloaked?”
He puts away the map he was studying and rises from his seat. “For you, always.”
She plants both hands possessively on his chest, lifts up on her toes, and kisses him in a way that makes her message very clear: he belongs to her.
I smother a sigh. Does she really think it will bother me?
Still… it’s a pity her eyes are closed and she doesn’t see his face. For him, kissing while cloaked would be like kissing a plank of timber. He wouldn’t have known any difference before, but unfortunately for me, now he knows what connecting with someone’s skin really feels like. She definitely tries her best though and after a beat where he glances across the room at me, he commits to her gesture, kissing her back.
I rise from my chair and head for the bedroom to give them space. Then I wonder if that’s a bad idea because they could be headed there themselves. Then I second-guess myself because Grayson doesn’t go near the bed so maybe it’s the best escape after all. I stop and start again, but I don’t make it two steps before his power tugs me to a halt.
“Stay where you are, Marbella.”
I remain facing away from him. If he’s broken their kiss to deal with me then Priscilla will be fuming right about now. “Thank you, but no,” I say without turning back. “I’d rather leave you to your business.”
My Prime power flares, allowing me to take another two steps before his presence behind me is like a burning wall of flame. I sense him close the gap between us, and then he grabs my arm and spins me around. “You will stay where I can see you.”
I whisper in response, “You can’t see much with your eyes closed, Grayson.”
His glare would make anyone cower, but I really don’t need to watch his girlfriend play tongues with him. So I stand my ground. His fiery scowl suddenly breaks. He actually laughs.
I suddenly realize that despite all the emotions he fakes or masks, his laughter is always real.
“You’re right,” he says, grinning at me. “I guess I’d better start kissing with my eyes open.”
Ugh. Not the outcome I wanted. And definitely not what she wants either. She’s murdering me with a glare right now. She adjusts her body language before he turns back to her, giving him a sickly sweet smile as if anything he wants is fine with her.
Before she can speak, a loud knock sounds at the door and a voice calls. “A message from the gargoyles, Lord Grayson.”
My skin is suddenly cold. I have no idea how my people will respond to Grayson’s threats.
Grayson stalks to the door and takes the scroll while the messenger bows and waits for his response. Grayson frowns as he reads. He brings the message to me. “It seems you were right about your people’s courage. They’ve responded with a counteroffer. They will meet the elven army in battle in a month’s time, but they won’t promise not to attack sooner… unless Baelen Rath is allowed to speak with you within the next week.”
My heart leaps. The thought of seeing Baelen gives me hope.
Grayson paces the floor, the scroll held loosely in his fist as he considers his decision. Priscilla reaches for the parchment and he hands it over.
“Let him see her,” she says, placing the message firmly on the table. She presses up against him, rubbing his arms in a soothing gesture. “You need to know how to break Baelen Rath in battle but you won’t figure it out unless you meet him and test him.” She looks pointedly at me. It’s clear they both believe that I will be Baelen’s tipping point.
“All right. We will allow Baelen Rath to see Marbella.” His lips curve into a slow smile. “But not alone. We will host a celebration in the arena in the heart of Erawind in five days. Marbella will be there. He may bring one gargoyle with him. If he wants to see her, those are the terms.”
The arena is where the Heartstone Ceremony was held. It was also where the Elven Command tried to kill Baelen.
I ask, “What exactly are we celebrating?”
He replies, “Your capture.”
Priscilla smirks. She kisses Grayson again before exiting the room. “Time for me to get a new dress.”
* * *
