When Sparks Fly (First-Responders Book 1) (15 page)

Edana

What have I done? How did I let myself get caught up in this situation?

“When two elves mate for the first time, they are Joined and bound for life. I didn’t think it would, or even COULD happen with another race. The Uj…err, um, humans are looked upon as savages; inferior people by Elven standards.” I drop my eyes and flush with the last of my comment. “Obviously, this is not true as a whole.”

“So what did you mean when you said you might not be able to return? That they may turn you away at the gate?” He smirks.

“Yes. Exactly.”

His expression goes flat, ‘Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“You had no idea.”

We’ve walked back underneath the overhang of the waterfall and are sitting against the dark, sheer rock-face. He has redressed in his trousers and gave me his sturdy, leather tunic to cover up with. I’m thankful for Faudron’s height difference, as his tunic falls clear to my knees, providing me with ample concealment.

“I don’t want you to think that I’m sorry for what happened. Not in the least. It was an amazing experience that I’m grateful for. I’m just confused and unsure right now. Nothing like this has ever happened before; at least not that has been recorded in the two-thousand years’ worth of Accords.”

My eyes are starting to tear up and a chill washes over my body, causing me to shake. Faudron pulls me into his embrace, and I lay my head on his chest; a curious sensation to say the least. Elves have no body hair. This human has a thick covering of rich, brown hair across his chest and down his very firm abs. I nuzzle my face up and down, breathing in his scent and enjoying the sound of his steady breath.

“The sun is nearly down,” he begins, “so we should probably be returning to the protection of the cave. Kindling is low, so we will need to procure more on the walk back.”

He rises and then offers me his hand.

Beginning our trek back, there are several downed trees from which we are able to acquire small limbs for me to carry, and larger logs for Faudron to haul.

“This should be sufficient to see us through the night and the early morning tomorrow. Let’s make haste to cover now. The wind is picking up, so a storm is likely blowing in.” Faudron takes the lead.

Our pace picks up and sure enough, as we round the edge of the mountain where it has split, there is a loud clap of thunder, and the skies open up. I rush ahead with my bundle of sticks into the safety of the cavern. Faudron is mere steps behind me and is laughing as he steps in and drops his collection of timber.

“What could possibly be funny about this?”

“’Wet’ seems to be the theme of the day.”

I blush knowing full well what he’s implying and stooping, I grab a rock and heave it at him. “Not funny.”

He dodges and it pops harmlessly against the wall of our dwelling.

“Good aim, Edana, but I’m much too quick for you.” He winks playfully at me. “I don’t know about you, but I’m famished.”

He fishes more bread and dried meat out of his satchel, and a small, beaten metal bowl falls out as well. I pick it up, “Do you mind if I use this?”

“Not at all. What did you have in mind for it?”

Gracefully, I stand and walk to the entrance of the cave, holding the bowl out into the rainy night. Once I have filled it about half full, I return to the fire and using a sturdy branch that has not been applied, pull a small amount of burning ember out and set the bowl on it.

Faudron is chewing on a mouthful of bread as he watches me stretch upwards on my tip-toes to reach moss that is clinging to the ceiling near the back of the cave.

“Mm, that certainly is a beautiful sight.”

With my hand full, I snatch it away and come back to a flat-footed stance. Turning, I cut my eyes at him, “Thanks for the help
hero
.”

“You seemed to be doing fine on your own, my lady. I didn’t want to impede on your self-sufficiency.” His grin is smart and obnoxious.

Walking back, I pass behind him and pop him in the back of his head, “Oh, sorry sir.” I smirk and take a seat at my bowl of boiling water. “There is cave moss like this where I come from, and it has both healing and sedative properties.” I crumble the greens and apply them to the bowl, stirring it while it steeps. “I plan on being back to full capacity tomorrow morning.”

“Excellent. I have actually been thinking a bit about tomorrow. Would you consider staying with me and starting out on a new adventure. I don’t have any plans on doing the whole ‘settle down and a raise a family’ thing, but if you’re interested in exploring new places, well...” Faudron rubs his head and waits anxiously for my response.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure that a runaway princess…” I slap my hand over my mouth.
Oh, no!

His drooping eyes spring open fully and his mouth parts widely. “A princess? Whoa.”

Pulling the metal bowl from the heat, I add a small amount of the dried meat and continue stirring. I don’t immediately respond and keep my head angled down, attempting to not make eye contact. Several moments of silence pass and I hope that he’s going to let it go… for now.

“Ahem!” He clears his throat, not at all inconspicuously, and startles me.

“Okay,
yes
I’m a princess, but it’s not a big deal.”

“No
big deal.
Are you kidding me? It’s a huge deal. Surely they will have noticed that you have gone missing by now.”

I hadn’t even thought about it. “How many days has it been now?”

“Tomorrow morning will be day three since I brought you to the cave.”

“So that will be the fourth day since I left the kingdom. If I don’t return by tomorrow evening, they most likely will be out looking for me.”

I honestly have no interest in returning home. That witch of a stepmother that my father re-Joined with and their brat-spawn of a half-sister I now have, have given me no ‘longing for home’ desires.
Maybe I SHOULD just run with Faudron. What reason DO I have to go back? The throne? I have no interest in one day becoming Queen just so some power hungry man can sit on our family’s throne.

“I don’t know that I can go with you. We have some amazing trackers, and they wouldn’t give up easily. That is, assuming you still
want
me to go with you now that you know the truth about me.”

“Of course, I still want you. More than anything I have ever desired.”

I take a long sip of the brew I have made and then offer it to Faudron.

“Sedative, huh?”

“Not overly powerful, but
yes,
it will help you sleep soundly.”

He takes a mouthful and swallows it, scowling as he does. “It tastes awful.”

“Don’t be a baby. It’s not that bad.” I laugh as he crinkles his nose, the taste obviously still lingering on his tongue.

Rising, he gathers the largest logs and applies them to the fire, stoking it so they will catch. “Guess we should rest then and see what the new day brings us.”

He lies down on the ground-covering, the light of the flames dancing off his skin and casting shadows in the dips of his muscles, amplifying their intensity. It isn’t two minutes before his breathing levels out, and I can hear the slight rumblings or snoring.
Apparently, humans have less of a tolerance for Lumbule.
I smirk.

I take one more sip and then toss the rest toward the back of the cave. Walking again to the entrance, I rinse the bowl in the rain that is letting up, and then return it to his bag. Faudron is on his back, right arm across his chest and the other splayed out across the cover.

I lie down on my side beside him and place my head on his strong arm. Even completely asleep, It’s almost as if there is some great force of attraction at work as he rolls and conforms his body to mine, his right arm possessing me and keeping me from harm. The feeling of security is like no other; I. Am. Safe.

*****

“Mother, what have I done? How have I let this situation take over so powerfully? How can I go on?”

“There, there ‘little fire,’ be calm. Your life is merely taking a new direction. Your
sir-kuile
may not be taking you in the direction you envisaged, but it’s never wrong. Everything happens for a reason, even if we are unsure what that reason may be.”

“But Mother, he’s not an elf.”

“The Great Elder wouldn’t have sent you down this path without a purpose. See it through, Edana.”

“What does that mean Mother...? Mother?”

I startle awake; Faudron’s arm still cast over me protectively. The light of day has still not broken through the shadows of the night, so I close my eyes once again and rest, peacefully.

BUY LINK:
https://goo.gl/vFXhNN

Being the bride-to-be of the leader of Robor definitely has its perks. I’ve never had a handmaiden of my own; always been one, instead. Now I know why Edana was always so relaxed when I was around.

“Thank you Kalea. I don’t think my hair has ever felt this wonderful.”

“You’re very welcome.”

She holds a towel open for me as I step out of the bath. Wrapping myself up tightly, I take a seat in front of the full-length mirror. It was Taranis’ grandmother’s and is beautiful. The wooden frame has silver filigree inlaid throughout in delicate leaf patterns.

Kalea begins brushing my hair out and I can barely contain my excitement.

“So, are you going to spill the beans?”

“What are you talking about? There’s nothing to tell.” I look down at my fidgeting hands rather than at her face, glaring at me in the mirror.

“Oh, you’re such a terrible liar.” She pulls slightly on my hair.

“Hey! Not nice.” I whimper. Kalea has one eyebrow raised, smirking at me in the reflection of the mirror. “Alright, alright.”

I turn to face her and show her my finger which I’ve been careful to keep out of sight until now.

“Oh. My. Goodness! He finally asked you?”

All I can do is nod my head like a damn fool. She takes my hand in hers and looks over the dainty ring.

“It’s beautiful. It’s not like any design I’ve ever seen.”

“Taranis acquired it from a human craftsman while he was away. I can’t imagine anything more perfect to usher in this new time.” I clasp my hand over my mouth, knowing I have spoken out of turn.

“What is it?” Kalea asks.

“Well, it hasn’t been announced yet, and I’m not supposed to say anything until the announcement, but Princess Edana is not returning to rule over Robor.”

“So does that mean…?”

“Yes. Taranis will be leading, but not as King.” Her brow furrows in confusion. “From what I understand, he is being appointed as what is called a Governor, and will preside over Robor with a council. Decisions will be made by a group, rather than a single individual.”

Kalea just sits there, taking it all in.

“He and the council were formalizing everything today, and they will make the announcement tomorrow.”

“Okay, so enough about all of that. You and I have a wedding to plan. At least, I
hope
I’m going to be involved.” Kalea cuts her eyes back and forth.

“Hmm, I don’t know.” She chucks a pillow at me, missing wide. “Well, I hope your planning skills are better than your throwing.” We both giggle like school girls.

My mood quickly goes south though when I think about the one person that I really need here, and won’t be… Edana.

“What is it,
Governess?
” She winks at me.

I try for a smile and fail miserably. “It just hit me that the one person I really need here, won’t be here.”

“Edana?”

I nod my head. She puts her arms around me and gives me a much-needed hug. Wiping the tears away that are threatening to start pouring, I straighten myself and rise from my seat in front of the mirror. “Well, first things first, this
Governess
needs a court and a new room. There’s no way we are going to pull off a massive wedding by ourselves, and Taranis’ room is just too small for the three of us.”
Shit!
My hand flies to my mouth again.

Pointing to my belly, Kalea repeats me. “Three?”

“Yep!” I’m beaming.

“Remind me to never entrust any of my secrets with you, Breacca.”

We both double over in fits of laughter.

*****

“Where would you like this ma’am?” One of the guys Kalea got to help move my stuff into Taranis’ and my new room asks as he brings our bed in on one shoulder.

“Mm, how about over there.” I point to the wall with the window looking north out to the royal forest.

“Scar’lyn sure is something else, isn’t he?” Kalea whispers to me as she nudges my arm with her elbow and winks as I turn to look at her.

“I guess.” I try to play it off, but she’s right. He’s absolutely gorgeous. His light blue hair is pulled back tightly and falls just past his shoulders. The tight muscles of his torso ripple under his golden skin as he moves across my vision and places the large, carved wooden headboard and footboard on the wall. Scar’lyn puts the cross beams and support beams together and then piles all of the cushioning and bedding on. Sweat is covering his skin, and as he places his hands on his hips and leans backward to crack his back, his pants shift downward and that sexy as sin Adonis ‘V’ shows prominently.