Arranged (27 page)

Alison continued. "I don't have much experience with men, but…he's infuriating! He always does opposite of what I want him to do then he explains my frustration away logically. He treats me as if I'm a delicate flower, but expects me not to have feelings. I do not know whether to thank him or shake him."

Adalia's laughter bubbled forth again as she flopped herself on Alison's bed. She was enjoying herself, which in turn made Alison relax more. "Oh yes, he is the same with me."

Alison shook her head. "How can you live with someone like that?"

"I have lived with him since we were brought into this world. I have grown accustomed to it. Besides, I can control him sometimes," Adalia said, secrecy lacing her voice.

"Control him?"

"Remember at the lake when we spoke of powers. Well Ahanu gave me the power to control the atmosphere. I can help change the mood anytime I want."

Alison's eyebrows rose. "How?"

"I simply have to want it and it happens. I did it all the time when we were children to get my way," she chuckled. "He's gotten smarter about recognizing when I use it."

"That's amazing. Have you ever used it on me?"

Adalia nodded. "To help you relax. Do not be angry with me. I only use my power to help those around me."

Alison was astonished. She hadn't felt any power being used on herself. "What other powers do you have?"

Adalia smiled, "Not many. I can speak to the trees, though sometimes they are stubborn and do not speak back. I can also help plants grow, I especially love flowers, they are easy to tend."

She didn't know what to say, Alison had never even dreamt about any of these things. She had never read of them in books. It sounded like an outrageous fairytale. Then she reminded herself where she was at this very moment and began to accept Adalia's words. "Can you show me?"

Without pausing, Adalia pulled a flower from her braids and held it in her hands. She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. After a moment, Alison could see a soft blue glow coming from Adalia's hands and surrounding the flower, consuming it. In another moment, the flower began to bloom larger and grow leaves. By the time she was done, a vine had wrapped its way half way up her arm and there were two smaller buds growing.

Alison couldn't believe her eyes. "That was amazing!" She gasped as Adalia opened her eyes and studied her handiwork.

"For you," she said, gently unwrapping the vine and tying it to the bedpost. When she sat back down, Alison was still flabbergasted. Adalia giggled slightly. "It is easy for me."

"Can you heal?" she asked hopefully.

"Sadly, no. Ahanu blessed my brother with that power."

"Ahanu?"

"The Earth. She is the mother to all. We have a special bond to her that allows magic to run in our blood. All the way back to the first Vidarian, born from her very hand and given all her powers, to be her equal."

"What happened to that person?"

"Ahanu loved him very much, but he wanted to explore the world she created. She let him go, though he was never alone. She was in the trees, in the dirt, in the sky. Even when he fell in love with another of Ahanu's creations, she still loved him. As she loves us all."

Alison was not a great knower of religion, but she decided that their story was a sad one. "Ahanu gave you your powers?"

Adalia nodded. "As she gives all her children, in return, she asks that we take care of her Earth. The humans are wasteful, taking so much that they do not need. On the surface, we were her protectors. Now, we may only protect in the dark, when no one can see us."

Suddenly there was a slight knock, the door opened, and Qwinn froze mid-step. "Hello," he said to both women, obviously surprised to find Adalia there.

She stood, smoothing her dress in a cool fashion, her body language as if she hadn't just been caught. "Hello," she said, turning back to Alison. "I had better go see to a few things." Then she turned to Qwinn and spoke to him in Vidarian in a soft but quick manner.

He didn't respond, he only allowed his eyes to follow her as she left. As soon as the door was closed, he turned his black eyes to Alison, who was trying to remain composed, despite the fact that her leg was exposed all the way to the thigh.

He cleared his throat, "How are you feeling?"

Alison could retort with many comments that carried a sting, she however needed to keep her cool and gain Qwinn's trust enough for him to heal her. "Tired of being in bed," she finally answered.

He nodded, studying the bedpost for a moment and spotting the flowers. "I see that Adalia has been showing off."

"I enjoyed speaking with her today."

Qwinn met her eyes again. "Forgive me for not attending to you; I had…many things that needed to be done."

Alison frowned slightly. "I'm not a child, though I guess compared to how long you've lived, I am, but on the surface I am a woman. I do not need attending to," she said, her temper beginning to flare as she desperately tried to grasp for control.

Qwinn worked his jaw slightly, "I realize this."

"Qwinn, why don't you heal my leg?" she asked, testing Adalia's theory. It was as if whenever Qwinn came around, all of her plans went out the window and she couldn't stop things from flying out her mouth. He brought out the worst in her. A part of her watched the happenings, yelling at her to stop. Why was she questioning him about this when she already knew the answer? What if he did like her? What if he didn't? How would she react to either? She had never been in a situation quite like this.

"So that you do not run again," he answered.

"Why don't you want me to run?" she asked.
STOP!
Her mind screamed. What if he didn't care for her? Her heart began to hammer as doubts floated into her head.

He frowned slightly, as if trying to read what she was getting at. "So you will not tell the other humans about us."

"Why not just kill me?" she dared.

"We have already been through this−"

"Please, just answer."

He balled his fists slightly as his eyes narrowed into a glare. "Because I want to give you a chance to live. You should not be questioning my motives and just accept my mercy."

"I am trying to understand−"

"Are you not grateful of the things I have done for you?" he nearly growled.

"I want to know the real reason why you won't do the
only
thing I ask for."

"I have already told you," he snarled.

She pushed herself up from the pillows and glared right back at him. Perhaps Adalia was wrong. "And what if I don't believe your reasoning?"

Her mind was done trying to tell her to keep her mouth shut and instead was standing back in shocked horror at her actions. She had been raised to respect people and here she was, yelling back, at the King!

Qwinn took a threatening step forward. "Listen to me and believe me when I say I cannot afford to lose you."

Alison's heated blood came to a screeching halt. Her arms grew goose bumps. "Can't afford?"

Qwinn blinked a few times, as if just realizing what he had said. "For…the safety of my people," he quickly countered.

"But that's not what you meant," she said quietly. She wasn't sure what had come over her, but she knew she had to get the real answer out of him. It was no longer a curiosity; it was a necessity. "What is it that you want from me Qwinn?" she asked, finally bypassing all the runaround.

He swallowed hard; she could practically see him fumbling for the answer.

HOW COULD HE TELL HER that she was to marry him? She was running from one arranged marriage into another. As he grasped for an answer to give her, his eyes fell to her leg and the mud that was on it. "What is that?"

Alison was thrown off by the question, buying him time to think. "It's nothing. Answer my question."

Instead of answer her, he stepped forward and dipped his finger into the drying mud, bringing it to his nose. "Paalnus flower," he said. He should have known that his sister would intervene eventually.

Suddenly Alison growled at him. "Stop avoiding my question. If you don't want to answer me, then just leave! I don't need you to care for me! Send me back to the dungeon and do away with me," she dared him.

Qwinn grit his teeth. He had to take a few deep breaths through his nose to get his temper under control. How could she be so ungrateful that she would want to return to the dungeon? "You had better watch what you ask for," he said in a low and dangerous voice, bringing his face closer to her. "Or you just might get it."

In an instant, his anger lessened as he noticed tears glistening in her eyes. She quickly turned away from him, trying to regain her composure. "Leave Qwinn."

He remained where he was. He wanted to yell at her for ordering him around, and at the same time wanting to scoop her up into his arms and apologize. Something was on her mind, more than just her leg. He took a deep breath and tried again. "Alison…"

"Leave!" She suddenly yelled, her slight shoulders quivering.

Immediately, his understanding was swept away in a wave of anger. "As you wish," he said darkly. He turned to leave and looked back over his shoulder, once. "Do not expect anyone to help you now. I will not waste my generosity on someone who is ungrateful and spoiled."

With that, he slammed her door. He marched down the hall, his hands in fists so tight that his nails began to dig into his skin. He couldn't believe her. She was so selfish, all he had done was try to help her and she'd thrown it all back in his face. He would teach her a lesson. Wedding or no wedding, she needed to be corrected.

Adalia opened her door as he drew near, as if she'd been listening behind it. Her smile disappeared as soon as she saw his face and sensed his mood. "What happened?"

"You are to stay away from her until I say otherwise."

"Qwinn−"

"Do you understand me?" he yelled.

Adalia stepped back in surprise. "Tell me what happened."

"That is not your concern. I mean it Adalia, stay away from her!"

Without another word, he stormed off down the hallway, grabbing a beautifully designed vase and throwing it into the wall. He barely noticed the explosion of porcelain. Anger seethed through him as he came upon his doorway. He threw open the door, almost ripping it from its hinges and seethed.

He paced his room, running his hands through his dreads, trying to get a grip on himself.

"Human troubles?" a sultry voice came from a shadowy corner.

Qwinn stopped and faced the corner, ready to attack whoever was there. A person stepped from the shadows; a smooth, silky body. His eyes followed long legs connected to a slim waist, two arms resting casually on shapely hips and one brushing back long black hair. Finally, he reached the two piercingly green eyes. Shea.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

She smiled slightly. "I had a feeling you might need some company." She stepped forward, brushing her fingers over one of the statues in his room. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"I can't deal with you right now. Leave."

She laughed, "Deal with me." She looked at him from under her lashes. "You make me sound as if I'm a pest," she said, coming slowly closer.

Qwinn worked his jaw. He didn't want her here. "How did you get in here?"

Again, she smiled knowingly. "I told the guards that I was ordered for entertainment," she said, spreading her three arms. "I'm all yours."

He stiffened. "Leave, Shea. I'm not going to ask you again."

By now, she was only a few feet in front of him. She puffed her bottom lip out in a pout. "But you only just got here. I was hoping we could catch up. You know, like old times," she said as she closed the distance. "I missed you while I was away."

"Shea," he said warningly.

Her green eyes zeroed in on him as she frowned slightly. "Ever since that
human
arrived, you've been different. What happened to the Qwinn I used to know?" She asked softly, fingering his sash across his chest. "Remember when we used to lie in the fields, watching the stars?"

He covered her hand with his. She sucked in a slight breath at his touch; however, he merely pushed her away. "That was a long time ago Shea. I'm not the only one that has changed." He took a few steps back, just to be safe.

"What do you mean?" she asked, tilting her head to the side slightly as she watched him.

He laughed bitterly. "You know very well what I mean. Those days were before you cared what others thought. That was before you wanted to be
seen
."

Her eyes narrowed into a slight glare. "I was naïve then to what you would become."

He matched her glare. "And what is that exactly?" he dared.

"A man so full of anger, that he would prefer his people fear him rather than respect him."

He took a dangerous step closer. "Get out."

She stared back for a long moment before lifting her chin and turning to leave. Before she shut the door, she glanced back over her shoulder. "We do what we must, that doesn't mean we're all bad Qwinn."

He glared at the door long after she had gone. She was daring to come in here and throw the past in his face. She had broken his heart and now claimed he was the one responsible for his temper. There was at least one thing he could take from their relationship, she had taught him never to trust people and to protect himself at all costs.

He paced his room again; he'd have to have a talk with his guards. His mood was not improving by staying in his room. Without another thought, he headed to the training hall to work off some of his stress.

ALISON SWIPED A HAND ACROSS her cheek. Her head ached from all the crying, but she couldn't seem to stop the endless flood of tears. She was falling apart. She'd broken her leg again, lost a grip on her temper and now she knew without a shadow of a doubt that Qwinn did not feel anything for her.

True to his word, she had not seen anyone, not even Naliya, for hours now. His plan must be to let her starve to death and rot in this dark room. A fresh batch of tears spilled forth, as if she hadn't already been crying since he left. Her sobs made her cough. Her throat felt as dry and raspy as a desert after many seasons of no rain. She was going to
die
.

Again, her eyes trailed to the door, hoping and praying that somebody would come for her. Of course, she realized Qwinn was right, she was being ungrateful. Could he blame her? She wanted to go home.

Every time she heard even the smallest sound outside her door, her heart stopped and her hopes rose, only to be destroyed when no one came in.

Even now, she couldn't explain why he was so hot tempered. Whenever Qwinn came around, her well ground-in manners flew out the window. She had never acted this way, even towards her uncle. If Qwinn would simply come back, she would apologize for being so rotten. There was no way to stop the wave of self-pity from consuming her.

She numbly brushed the dirt from her leg. The salve had helped stop the swelling of her leg dramatically, but that did little to improve her mood because when she moved, her leg exploded with pain. She took one of the many pillows from her bed and carefully propped her leg up to relieve the pressure.

Her depression deepened as her mind traveled to what her life would have been like if she hadn't been kidnapped. She would have made it to the next town by now. Though she wouldn't have much money, she was sure she would have enjoyed the sights and of course, the freedom. She might have found a job cleaning or perhaps gotten in touch with her father's friends. She was sure they would understand her situation.

She closed her eyes, imagining walking through the busy streets in town. The smells, the sounds and the feeling of not being so alone anymore, all of it would have been heavenly.