frustration evident.
“Whose laws?” Vaeril retorts with a frown. “The queen’s?”
My breath catches in my throat as he speaks. I still don’t know how Vaeril feels about my affection towards Eldrin, since he’s kept it very close to his chest, his end of the bond carefully blank.
Naril spins on his friend, those golden eyes flashing, the atmosphere in the carriage toxic. “So you’re fine with your mate fucking other males?”
Rage fuels my actions, and before I know it, I’m on the other side of the small space, my hand cracking across Naril’s face as I slap him. He recoils from the force of the blow, his hand coming up to his reddening cheek as he looks up at me in shock and anger, but he doesn’t dare retaliate as I glare down at him.
“How dare you?” My words are low with my fury, my breath heaving as I cradle my stinging hand against my chest. That he could even think I would behave like that disgusts me, and the thought of betraying my mates in that way makes me feel physically sick. How he could think what I have with Eldrin is just fucking, that he believes I’m just giving into my carnal needs when the two of us have barely even kissed, is beyond me. We hadn’t wanted to take things any further until we spoke to Vaeril and the others to avoid anything like this.
Vaeril stands and takes my stinging hand, gently examining it, his face blank. “No,” he begins, raising my hand to his face and pressing a gentle kiss on my palm, his eyes meeting mine. “But I know Clarissa wouldn’t fuck other males.” He helps me back to my seat, and as I sit, he turns to Naril. I can feel his anger simmering through the bond, but he seems to have control over it. “Eldrin is not just another male. He is obviously her mate. Can you not see it? All the signs are there.”
My heart speeds up as hope blooms, and I look over at Eldrin, only to find his eyes locked on me once again. He’s stayed pretty quiet, which is usual for him, a male of few words, even for an elf.
“They are not goddess blessed,” Naril argues, his voice exasperated like he can’t believe he’s having to explain this. “They can’t be mates.”
Vaeril sits down, frowning at his friend, and I sense his confusion. He doesn’t understand why Naril is so against his brother being in love with me. “There is still a connection nonetheless,” he points out. “Love is one of the strongest powers of all, is it not?”
Naril opens his mouth to say something, his face twisted, and I realise that no matter what we say, he’s still going to protest.
“Why are you so against this?” I try to keep the hurt from my voice, but I know I’m not successful from the way my mates automatically lean towards me, our bonds humming as they offer comfort. “Why are you against him finding happiness?” There’s a challenge in my tone now as my anger surfaces. This isn’t about me anymore, this is about his brother and why he’s trying to hold him back.
“You’re going to leave him,” Naril retorts immediately, and I lean back at the ferocity in his voice. Once again, hurt fills me that he believes I would do such a thing, and I go to reply, but he’s already speaking. “Once all this is over, you’ll get tired of him and move off with your mates, and Eldrin will be left behind.” The accusations keep coming, and he shifts forward as if to follow me, but Vaeril puts a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from getting any closer. “He doesn’t have a goddess bond tying you to him, and he’ll get hurt. It will kill him, and I can’t see him go through that again.” His voice breaks, his eyes shining with tears he refuses to let fall, and I finally realise what’s going on.
“Naril, I am not the queen.” Now that I know he’s trying to protect his brother, all of my anger leaves my body. I’m still frustrated he felt he couldn’t trust me, but I understand now. Taking a deep breath, I search for the words and look over at Eldrin. “I don’t know if there is something pulling Eldrin and I together, but what I do know is that I love him.” As soon as I say the words, something seems