Fires of Ruin (War and Deceit #3) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,73
it as a joke, but it falls flat. His happy expression changes as he hears the note of truth in my voice. But something else is bugging me, and before he can change the subject, I arch an eyebrow. “Why do you keep calling me Liv?”
He lets go of my waist at the question, and I almost regret asking, but the sudden change in his actions just proves that it was the right thing to ask. “Ah, slip of the tongue.” He smiles, shrugging it off as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Yes, the queen keeps finding important things that I must do.” He rolls his eyes, which makes me smile. “She doesn’t technically know that I’m here, so it might be best to keep this between the two of us.”
“Of course,” I agree with a slight nod. I assumed the queen didn’t known about this little meeting based on how early it is. “And not that I don’t want to see you, but why are you here?”
“To see you.” He rolls his eyes again like the answer is obvious. “You know I came here for you. Being an ambassador isn’t really my idea of a good time, Clarissa, and this is the only way I get to see you.” He steps forward now, closing the distance between us, his hand reaching up to gently brush against my cheek. “Besides, I heard you’re leaving to go to the wood elves, and I wanted to see you before you went.”
“Wait, that was supposed to be a secret. How did you know?”
Tor smiles at my surprised outrage. “Ah, the queen trusts me, she told me you were going,” he explains, but something still feels off, and his expression turns serious. “I have something I have to tell you first.”
“What is it?” I inquire cautiously, suddenly anxious at his sudden change of demeanour. The only time I’ve ever seen him like this was when he caused a distraction at the castle to help me escape, when he asked me to go with him.
“You are so much more important than you think,” he says softly, almost reverently, as he looks down at my confused face. “I know you have feelings for the elf, I know about your bond with him.”
Thoughts spinning, I suddenly feel sick. What does he mean?
“The bond with the elf formed in Arhaven, but you didn’t have feelings for him then. Something has changed, and I can see those feelings developing.” He already knows about my connections with Vaeril and Grayson, but my first reaction is to deny or justify it, but Tor holds up his hand to stop me. “It’s okay, because I know you have a connection with me too.” His statement floors me, and I just stare dumbly at him with no idea how to reply. He says it so confidently, and I know he fully believes in it.
“How—what…” I trail off as my words all mash together while I gape at him.
“In my culture, in rare situations, the gods bless two people who are going to do great things for their tribe. Those people are linked together, as they will be critical in helping the other complete the destiny planned for them by the gods,” he explains, watching my face carefully for my reaction. “The connection doesn’t snap into place until you’re eighteen, and it lies dormant until you see your destined partner.”
Another fated connection. How is this possible? Why did their gods see fit to bind us together when I’m not even from the tribes?
“But, how…?” I shake my head, as if the movement could rearrange my thoughts into something that makes sense. A little part of me whispers that it must be okay for me to have feelings for the two of them because of the bonds. I can’t be a slut if the gods have willed it that way. Pushing those thoughts deep down and refusing to think about them right now, I take a deep breath as I try to focus.
I feel like he’s kicked me in the stomach. Do I have feelings for Vaeril? Sure, we’re friends, and we’ve got an attraction. Images flash through my mind of when we first arrived here and we almost had sex, my cheeks flushing red. There’s no denying that there’s a physical chemistry between us, but love? Could I ever love an elf? You’re part elf now, you can’t think that way, my thoughts chide, and I realise I’m right. Race aside, can