You have to be strong for him, my mind argues. Peeking between my fingers, I see Eldrin watching me. He’s frowning, his usual mask in place, but I spot the vulnerability in his eyes.
Tor places his hand on my lower back, rubbing comforting circles as he leans closer. “Besides, the loaded looks between the two of you were pretty obvious,” he teases, making me smile as I realise that’s exactly what Eldrin and I had just been doing. Sitting back, I look at my tribesman, grin still in place, and I recognise he said it on purpose to make me smile. “There you are.” He cups my cheek, tracing his thumb over my bottom lip. “I just want you to be happy. If that means Eldrin is part of your life…” He takes a deep breath, then rolls his shoulders and nods sharply. “Then so be it.” Tor has always been the most open to sharing me, and he’s also the most laid-back of my mates. As I reach out for our bond, I can see everything he’s saying is true. He genuinely just wants me to be happy. Sure, there is some jealousy there, but it’s overshadowed by his love for me.
“You have mates,” Naril hisses, and I whip around to face him at his sudden outburst. He’s practically seething as he looks me up and down like he’s never seen me before. “You can’t be in love,” he sneers, his whole face twisting in disgust as he spits the last words. His accusation is like acid, and I flinch away from his anger. Had it been anyone else, I wouldn’t have let them see the damage their words did, but this is Naril, my friend.
Vaeril snarls in warning at his friend, and I feel Tor stiffen next to me at the insult, seeing the effect Naril’s behaviour is having on me, but in the small carriage, there is no escape.
A deep rumble comes from the far side of the carriage, and Eldrin’s control finally breaks. Grabbing his brother’s shoulder, he jerks him around, breaking his eye contact with me. “Don’t speak to her like that!” he snarls, inches away from Naril’s face, his anger making him look ferocious and bigger than ever as he faces off against his brother.
This doesn’t seem to faze Naril, though, as he narrows his eyes at him, snarling right back. “What are you thinking, Eldrin?” he shouts, gesturing towards me, but he never takes his eyes off his twin. “She is a mated female! It is against our laws!”
I watch the golden-haired brothers as they fight, my heart in my throat. This is what I feared. Naril is taking it worse than I expected, and I hate that I’m coming between them.
“I know!” Eldrin roars, throwing his hands in the air. “You think I didn’t try not to fall for her? To stay away?” he challenges, and my heart pangs, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “I am used to being unhappy, unloved, unwanted. She wants me, brother, and I have never felt like this, but I would sacrifice all of my happiness for the sake of Vaeril’s.” My heart breaks a little as he speaks, a tear slipping free and rolling down my cheek. I knew the elf queen had done a number on him, making him believe he was no longer perfect or of any value because he was scarred after his capture, but I’ve not heard him speak like this before. However, from what I know of Eldrin, it sounds exactly like something he would do for his brothers.
Eldrin pauses and takes a deep breath, glancing over at me, our eyes locking. “When I tried to stay away, it only hurt her too, and I couldn’t do that anymore.”
“We didn’t plan for this,” I whisper, my voice rough from the tears. With difficulty, I avert my gaze and meet Naril’s scathing glare. I hate that it feels like we’re having to justify ourselves, especially when I don’t have the words to describe what’s between Eldrin and me. “There is something pulling us together. I know we are not goddess blessed, but—”
“That shouldn’t stop you from being together,” Tor finishes for me. “Our bonds do not guarantee love, they only connect us as the goddess has plans for us. We develop that love,” he explains as he gestures between us, and then at Vaeril. “You and Eldrin have done that without the goddess’ intervention.”
“It is against our laws,” Naril hisses, his