Earth Borne (28 page)

Melita squeezed back. “Thank you.” She studied the women scurrying about.

Eione scoffed. “I do wish someone had mentioned about the bonding not being complete until after marriage. Mayhap I’ll follow in your footsteps soon.” She sent Melita a small smile. “I wish you true happiness. When Agrius told me your identity, I was shocked. Horrified. You have every bit as much royal blood in you as Kalliste and Philaeus. You should have been a Princess.” Her smile turned mischievous. “I should have guessed, since I’d met them both before and you are naught like them.”

“Do you recall ever meeting me? Once, in an attempt to please Kalliste, our father invited a dozen or so girls to play with her.”

“Oh yes, she was horrible.” Eione wrinkled her nose.

Melita hummed. “As I recall, she went beet red with jealousy about a doll you brought, so she tore off its head.”

Eione laughed ruefully. “That was my favorite doll. My mama had given it to me before she died.”

Melita nodded. “And then…”

“A sweet servant girl gathered the broken pieces and mended the doll.” Eione’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, that was you. You’ve no idea how much that meant to me.” She embraced Melita firmly, squeezing out her breath.

Her shoulders sagged at being able to share her past with her friend.

“When I believed you to be her, I put that incident behind me. We were children, after all. Though I’ve never forgotten I was not invited to the palace again.” She released Melita and regarded her at arm’s length. “You are so sweet, Melita. However did you live with Kalliste, let alone live
as
her? It must have been so awful, everyone having such bad opinions of you. Especially Thereus,” she added in a whisper.

“Kalliste might have had her faults, Eione, but kindness existed in her as well. She saved me. By insisting I accompany her to Thessaly, she saved my life.” She hugged her arms across her middle. “I owe her so much. Even Lucian. He means everything to me.”

Eione inclined her head, though by the slight furrowing of her brow, Melita judged her friend didn’t fully comprehend.

“Well, I for one am glad you’re Melita, my nymph friend. And that Thereus has bonded with you. You deserve every ounce of happiness.” Eione smiled at her before lowering her voice. “I was right, was I not? About bonded males? They truly are the most delicious lovers.”

Melita clapped a hand over her mouth to hide her laughter. Delia cast them a stern frown from across the room. Like a couple of schoolgirls, Eione and Melita broke into an even deeper fit of laughter. Despite the impropriety, none save Delia regarded them with disapproval.

“I never envisioned being with any male would be as wondrous as it is with Thereus.” She stopped laughing. “I simply love him. I cannot imagine living without him.”

Eione clasped her hand. “I feel the same for Agrius. We’re so happy for you both. After everything you’ve been through, you’ve earned this happiness in your lives.”

Melita smiled, but a cloud formed over her happiness. “What about this war? Thereus is torn. I’ll never understand his feral nature. He was born fighting. But I’m a nymph. I can’t bear the idea of bloodshed, of hurting another. Even Philaeus. When he was about to execute me, I almost killed him. Sometimes I wish I had, or that I had allowed Thereus. But then, where would we be? I would never recover from such violence.” She shuddered, visions of Philaeus’s crimson blood staining her hands flying through her mind. “Thereus believes so strongly in his friends, in Hades and Persephone’s War. What am I to do?”

“Well, I’m afraid that’s part of the sacrifice.” Eione puffed. “When you love someone, you must love all of them. Even if you don’t fathom every component. To ask him to renounce his nature is impossible. It would be like asking him never to take centaur form again. They’re creatures of passion, violence and tenderness alike. You must take comfort in King Cheiron’s decisions. He’d never agree to war without cause.”

“Where will this leave us? How will I live when he’s gone for months, training his recruits?” Melita’s chest grew heavy, her smile grim at the prospect.

“I don’t know, dearest.” She squeezed Melita’s hand. “Love can overcome anything. I’ve abandoned everything to be with Agrius. My homeland, my family, my people. I don’t regret it for a second because without him, I’d be nothing but an empty mess.”

“These men do turn us into nothingness without them, don’t they?” Melita laughed. “You’re right, of course. I rather do appreciate that Thereus can defend Lucian and me with his entire body.”

“Everything will be as the Fates intend. Trust in that.”

Melita smiled at her friend, and past her, at the preparations for her wedding. True, the Fates never made sense in the beginning, but the ending was worth the struggle. Even in losing her daughter, she had gained a son. Through the dark cloud of tragedy, Thereus’s heart shone bright as her reward.

***

“A toast to the bridegroom.” Hector saluted Thereus with his glass.

“Aye.” Agrius raised his cup as well.

Thereus lifted his glass to his brothers as they reclined in his study. He downed his drink in one gulp and eased back with a huff. Though Alkippe hadn’t allowed him to see Melita today, in this moment, he was impossibly content. Having his brothers with him added to his bliss. Oh, and the knowledge that by this time tomorrow, he’d be contentedly thrusting between Melita’s sweet thighs. He fully intended on escaping the wedding feast to dine on his bride instead.

Such would be his revenge on Alkippe for keeping Melita from him. He’d considered several places, one hidden cave in particular that he’d explored as a child, where they’d never be found.

Alkippe, the witch, had informed him he wasn’t to view his bride until the ceremony. No matter what threats or power he commanded, she hadn’t budged.

The centauress embraced her role of traditional wedding planner. “A night apart,” she had explained, “will fortify your bond.” When she’d presented him with a lock of Melita’s hair and explained his mate wished to follow custom, he’d acquiesced. Hence the imbibing with his brothers. Anything to distract him.

He was damned curious to test the completed bonding. Was it even possible to crave her more?

As though following his thoughts, Agrius grumbled, “It would have been bloody nice if one of you had pointed out that you need to be wed to finish the bonding.” He rose and refilled their cups, before slumping into his armchair.

“Don’t look at me.” Hector raised his hands. “I was already married when I bonded to Delia.” He paused, rubbing his jaw. “’Twas the same for Oreius.”

Thereus swirled the liquid in his glass. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing his mate, yet Hector’s indifference toward his was as unthinkable. A marriage of convenience was one thing, but a
bonding
of the same? He shuddered.

“I’ll have to convince Eione to speed things up.” Agrius puffed. “I don’t like the idea of her aging even a day differently from me.”

“’Tis a wonder Father never bothers to mention these things,” Thereus noted drily.

Hector snorted. “Our sire has his reasons. The longer you’ve been alive, the easier it will become to fathom them.”

Thereus tossed back his second swig. “Like how he hid Melita’s identity from me?”

“Aye.” Hector tilted his head. “Had you returned to Westgard knowing who she was, you very well might have thrown her in the dungeon.”

Thereus scoffed at first, but the words twisted in his mind. As the eldest, and with six centuries, Hector’s wisdom deserved serious consideration. What would he have done? He wouldn’t have executed a female, but he might have punished her. At least, before he learned the whole truth. Would he have been too hot-blooded to bother asking? The idea gutted him.

He might not have fallen in love with Melita. Or bonded with her. The notion struck him hard, and he rubbed his arm. “What think you Father makes of this situation?”

“He’s been aware of her true identity for years, brother.” Hector scratched his jaw. “King Pirithous has been ill for nigh as long. Father didn’t trust Prince Philaeus’s reaction to the news of the death of his sister. While Pirithous understands the fragile peace between our races, Philaeus doesn’t. I’m not certain if Father ever intended to tell them.”

“Aye. Peace requires sacrifices.” Agrius nodded. “We must trust in Father’s judgment.”

Thereus burned with shame. Hector and Agrius had discovered Melita’s identity on their own. His father had been aware of the dual Lapith sisters since their arrival.

Yet he’d been prancing about, playing the part of the fool these past few weeks, while others had put their reason to better use than he. No longer. The time had arrived for him to fill the role his sire had groomed him for. Abruptly, he rose. “I’m not going to lead the centaurs to war.”

“Why the bloody hell not?” Agrius growled.

Hector shot from his chair. “Aye, what substance do your pretty arguments possess if you’ve changed your mind so easily?”

Thereus slumped into his chair and shifted to the edge of his seat. “’Twas not easy. This decision has weighed heavily on me.” He groaned and leaned back. “I can’t do it. No matter how much I’d love to fight for Hades and Persephone, I have a family. I’ve left Melita and Lucian alone for too long as it is. I owe them my time. You both know Melita, her gentle nymph nature. I can’t be the one to lead an army, not with her by my side. It would kill her.”

His brothers grumbled, but Thereus’s mind was made. He cut them off. “We will support them, of course, with men and supplies. I was thinking, Petraeus might lead them. Such responsibility would aid him to mature.”
And teach him to keep his hooves off other men’s wives
. “I’ve no doubt he’ll make a great leader, given the chance.”

Hector settled into his chair and rubbed his chin. “Aye, ’tis time for him to prove himself.”

“He’s the only one of us without attachments,” Agrius added.

“I didn’t make this decision lightly,” Thereus huffed, “but I have to do what’s best for my family.”

As his brothers grunted in agreement, another weight lifted off his shoulders. His chest expanded, a first full breath. He’d earned their approval, was finally capable of making those mature decisions. The ones earning him the respect of his elder brothers. Hector rose and poured them each another drink.

“Enough of serious matters. We’ve a man’s last night of freedom to mourn.”

Thereus chuckled as they raised their glasses in another toast.

“To Melita!”

Chapter 26

Today was her beginning. Melita stretched out lazily in the bed, caressed by the dawn’s warm rays. She soaked in the warmth like a cat bathing in sunlight. Shifting her face into the pillow, she inhaled. Evergreen and spice. Not a dream, then. A smile spread wide across her lips. Thereus had visited her last night, risking the wrath of Alkippe.

It warmed her from head to toe, how desperate Thereus was for her. Despite her reciprocation, Melita was far more used to yearning for him. The waiting would make it even more special. Besides, she wished to truly be a bride. Thereus would benefit from his forced patience. She smiled. She would ensure that.

She’d awoken to his lips nuzzling her neck. A lover’s whisper in the dark. “I’ve never been accused of being patient. Can’t start now.”

More soft kisses as he drew her against him, lying on the bed. “Just let me hold you.”

Deep in her soul, she worried Thereus craved her for many reasons, true love perhaps among them. Last night, he’d snuck into her bedchamber, not to devour her or satisfy carnal desires. He’d simply sought her scent, her touch. To embrace her and sense she was real, too.

He hadn’t come for the nymph. He’d come for
her
.

His touch, his nearness, ignited fire in her. She’d not been able to let him go without showing him how deeply she loved him as well. They’d made love, sweet and tender, full of their passionate hunger for their future together.

Her mate wasn’t a fantasy any longer. He was flesh and blood. Man. Well, centaur. Thereus possessed a collection of faults and a legion of virtues that overthrew each and every one. She loved him, but her heart declared so with absolute certainty. True love. The most powerful force on Earth. Greater even than any power of any god. Zeus’s lightning bolt could not destroy it, nor could Aphrodite’s potions create it.

True love was as mysterious as it was precious. Now it was hers.
Theirs.

No sooner had she placed a toe on the ground, Alkippe rushed into the room, a dozen servants accompanying her like ducklings. They filled the tub with hot water and an assortment of herbs and flowers ‘sure to please Lord Thereus.’

Melita held her tongue, no point in noting that were she to be covered in mud, he’d still ravish her. Moaning, she sank into the perfumed water. Let Alkippe have her day. In truth, she’d waited just as long for this. Although mud would work, Melita did wish to be as beautiful as possible for her bridegroom. Today would mark their new life together. No more secrets, no more haunting, hurtful past. From today onward, they’d live for each other, and their family. It was everything she’d dreamed of.