Betrothed (34 page)

‘It is unsafe not to.’ She didn’t elaborate and was already backing out the door, so I let it go, but the whole thing gave me the creeps.

Feeling worried and weary, I changed into a nightgown. After finding nothing in the ensuite that resembled either toothbrush or paste, I cleaned my teeth with a washer and climbed into bed, rolling onto my side. What I saw on the bedside stand beside the bowl full of flowers relieved my anxiety instantly. It was my jewellery box, together with a photo of my family. I blew them a kiss, then closed my eyes and slept.

I woke early the next morning to unfamiliar birdsong—strange bell-like sounds and long sweeping whips. Sunlight poured through the window, falling on the bed. I kicked the covers off and basked in it. The rays kissed my skin through the gauzy fabric of my nightdress and filled my body with power. After spending a few minutes watching the wispy clouds drift across the sky, I got up and went to open the window to look at my first Faeran morning.

I looked across the lake to the shadowy forest beyond, recalling the multitude of sunlamps that shone like stars in its canopy the night before. Looking at it now, it was difficult to envision the extent of Faeran life that flourished there, so hard to imagine that a place so tranquil could harbour so much life—a sprawling city full of people nestled within the mystery of the forest. I inhaled deeply. The clean air nurtured my lungs and caressed my skin. Never had my body felt this wonderful before. Even the rashes that lived permanently between my fingers and toes and in the crevices of my elbows and knees had almost vanished for the first time ever. It was a miracle.

I yawned and stretched and padded down the hall to Leif’s room. He was sleeping still, stretched out on the enormous bed. I crawled in beside him, nudged his arm out of the way and, snuggling up against his body, draped my arm across his chest and went back to sleep.

I don’t think too much time had passed when an alarm clock of kisses woke me again. I was enfolded in Leif’s arms but before I had time to enjoy it, he was getting out of bed.

‘Hey,’ I protested. ‘Come back.’ I held my arms out to him.

He smiled and came back into my embrace.

‘You didn’t even say good morning,’ I murmured against his hair.

‘Good morning,’ he whispered. But before I could get too comfortable he was climbing out of bed again, this time bringing me with him.

‘Is there a fire or something?’ I complained as he set me on my feet.

‘There will be if we stay in bed.’ He laughed. ‘And then I will be late.’

‘Late for what?’

‘I have commitments with my father today.’ He ran his hands through his tousled hair.

‘Your father? How can you even speak to your father after what he did to you?’

‘Look at me. I’m fine.’ He held his arms out and turned a full circle to demonstrate. He sure was fine, every centimetre of him. And not a blemish remained on his toned and powerful body. ‘It’s not for my father’s benefit anyway,’ he continued, as he headed for the bathroom.

‘Who’s then?’ I asked, following him.

‘The Fae of Telophy,’ he answered, as he turned the water on and stepped into the shower.

I pulled my nightdress over my head, threw it out the bathroom door and followed him into the shower.

‘Marla,’ he groaned, but gathered me close against him and began covering my face and neck with succulent kisses. ‘We really shouldn’t—’

‘Oh hush,’ I murmured, eyes closed, head tipped back to receive his kisses as I savoured the sensation of his big, powerful body pressed to mine. ‘We’re practically married.’

But it was the wrong thing to say, because he released me instantly, reminding me we weren’t yet married. Then keeping his eyes averted from me, he began to wash himself—quickly—describing the contents of the bottles and jars as he used them before handing them to me to do likewise. This was a shampoo made from cotabean and eldenflower and water from the river Gosi. One of the maids had created it especially for him. That was a scrub made from the juice of the oleara fruit mixed with mud rich in minerals from the salt lakes in Aren. He’d got it from a market when last he was there. He told me every detail of that day while I massaged it into my skin—such a luxury to be free to use such things. And this was a soap made from the oil of the . . . I stopped him right there with my laughter and was surprised—when he finally allowed himself to look at me—to see a pained expression on his face. ‘I told you this was difficult for me, Marla,’ he said quietly. Then he picked up a small jar of jade-coloured paste and after taking a scoop on his finger passed the jar to me. Then using the finger dabbed with paste he proceeded to clean his teeth. The mystery from the night before was solved. Leif finished off without another word, then left me alone, snagging a towel from the shelf as he bolted out the door.

‘So what are we doing today?’ I asked as I came out the bathroom a short while later, wrapped in a fluffy white towel. Leif was already dried and dressed.

‘I have to accompany my father on a visit throughout the regions of Telophy.’

‘Am I coming with you?’

‘Not this time. I’m going to take you to Asher this morning. You will spend the day with your family.’

‘I’d rather go with you.’

‘It’s not possible.’

‘But—’

‘The decision is not mine,’ Leif interrupted, before I could argue. ‘If it were, then of course I would take you with me. Now quickly, get dressed so we can be on our way.’

I did as I was told, going to my room and choosing a floaty thigh-length dress in lime green before following him downstairs.

‘Where are we going?’ I asked as he passed the main rooms and carried on down the stairs.

‘I thought we would eat breakfast in the kitchen today.’

‘Is that usual?’

‘It is for me.’

Leif was adored. There really was no other way to explain the attention that was showered on him. Little stabs of that increasingly familiar and unpleasant emotion carved my insides up as a kitchen full of beauties greeted him with wide smiles and sweet curtsies before they began fussing over him. There was a stray hair to pat into place here, a speck to be dusted from his bare shoulder there, a napkin to be placed on his lap after he was seated—all with darting, touching hands. And I’d been worried about Janet—this was the markets all over again and worse!

‘No wonder you like having your breakfast down here,’ I said when we were both seated at the table.

‘What do you mean?’ Leif asked, his gorgeous face innocent.

I raised my eyebrows and looked pointedly at the other occupants of the room.

‘Marla, many of the females here helped raise me.’

‘So?
Look
at them.’

‘I would rather look at you.’ He smiled the kind of smile that made you glad you were sitting down. But I wasn’t comforted and stared at the empty plate that had been set in front of me.

I could feel Leif’s eyes eating me up.

‘What worries you?’ he demanded.

I watched my fingers as they flicked the edge of the plate before me. ‘What do you think? You’ve got gorgeous women lusting after you everywhere we go. How am I supposed to feel about that?’

‘I am prince, my love, it cannot be helped.’

I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I heard a trace of impatience in his voice.

I looked up. ‘Just get over it, is that what you’re saying?’

‘Don’t the ordinary people of Earth crave contact with the royal family?’ he asked.

I thought of images I’d seen on television and in magazines, crowds of people—mostly women—waiting for hours just to touch the hand of some prince or other. I sighed. ‘I suppose so. It’s just . . . ’

‘What, Marla?’

‘I’m not really that confident. I never have been. I mean . . . why would
you
want
me
?’

He watched me for a moment, and when he spoke his tone was gentle but firm. ‘I wore myself out searching for you, Marla. I travelled to another world to be with you. Naturally I am able to recognise a beautiful female, but you are my betrothed—how could I want anyone more than you?’

I pulled my eyes from his and lowered them to the table again. ‘I’m sorry. I know I’m a pain.’

He reached across the table and lifted my chin. ‘Don’t apologise, my love, please, just be assured. You know the feelings you have for me—those powerful, all-consuming feelings?’ He
didn’t wait for me to answer. ‘I have them for you too.’ He pressed his thumb to my mouth, parting my lips a little. ‘Now, let’s have breakfast. My father is speaking to me right now and telling me to make haste.’

One of the maids arrived with breakfast.

‘Pancakes,’ I cried, forgetting all else as she set the dish in the middle of the table.

‘You said you wanted to try them,’ Leif smiled.

‘I love you,’ I whispered.

‘I know, now eat.’

I filled my plate and polished off three, dripping with syrup.

‘Yum,’ I said when I’d finished off the last one. ‘I’m going to get fat.’

‘And I will love you just as well,’ my prince promised with a laugh.

My grandparents’ home wasn’t hard to find. When we arrived at the river Asher had directed us to, Leif asked one of a group of women picking stones from the riverbed if she knew which house belonged to Asher and Faun. The woman stopped what she was doing, thrilled to have the honour of assisting Prince Leif. I refused to feel anything other than gratitude when she came out of the river, shook the water from her body and curtsied to my prince, before flipping out her twinkling apricot-coloured wings and leading the way to my grandparents’ house.

Asher and Faun lived inside the riverbank. Their home was carved into the pale yellow stone in much the same way as the castle was carved into the mountain. As we landed on the pier leading from the front door, crystal chimes dangling in the windows sent tinkling music to greet us. After thanking the
woman for helping us, Leif rang the bell that hung from the doorknob.

‘Marla, you have come,’ Asher cried when he answered the door, and for a change Leif might not have existed. My grandfather reached for me and kissed each of my cheeks, before ushering us inside.

‘Faun, our granddaughter has come! Marla is here!’ he called. I glanced around the room. Everything in it was small—the woven loveseat, the table and chairs tucked into a corner, the little kitchen nook to the left.

My grandmother appeared from a doorway to the right. She was shorter than me and had long wavy brown hair, a sweet round face and a lush figure. Tears sprang to her soft brown eyes as she looked at me. ‘Oh, my darling,’ she cried and embraced me. This was the first female who hadn’t practically fallen at Leif’s feet. I loved her instantly. She kissed my cheeks, then, holding me away from her, she looked me over. ‘You are beautiful, Granddaughter.’ She ran a fingertip beneath her eye to wipe a tear away, before turning to Leif. ‘Thank you for finding her, my prince.’

‘You are most welcome.’

‘Forgive me, I have been remiss,’ Asher said, coming forward. ‘Highness, this is my wife, Faun.’

‘It is a pleasure, Faun. Now, I do not wish to appear impolite, but my father calls and I must return to him.’ He turned to me. ‘I will be back for you before darkness comes, Marla.’

‘Oh, but will you eat with us upon your return?’ Faun asked.

‘Thank you, yes,’ Leif replied. He kissed me quickly and turned to go. I followed him out the door—my eyes glued to him as he released his magnificent wings and flew away. I watched the empty sky for a while.

‘Come, Marla,’ Faun said. She took my hand and led me back inside. ‘Would you like to see some pictures of your father?’

My mood lifted immediately.

My grandmother disappeared into the doorway she’d appeared from and returned a moment later clutching a small wooden box. She sat on the loveseat and bade me sit with her. Asher sat cross-legged on a plump cushion on the floor. The box held two dozen or so images of a fair-haired boy, sometimes alone, often with others. Some were paintings, others photos—in both black and white and colour, just like those in mum and dad’s albums back home. When I commented on this, Asher told me that cameras were one of the few human technologies permitted in Telophy. In each image the boy was a little older, most often smiling, but like Asher, serious somehow. Faun couldn’t stop her tears as she and Asher told stories of their son growing up.