“A foot race!” Gorm interrupted, laughing. “There must be fighting. How are elves going to die in a foot race?”
“Your Majesty,” said Ali, cold as ice, “please allow me to finish.”
Gorm nodded, fuming.
“We’ll have a foot race. It will start on Bunker Hill and end in front of the Old State House. Elves may bring any weapons they like, as long as they do not shoot projectiles. Same rules as the melee.” For the first time since we entered the barge, Ali’s eyes met mine. “And this time, no magic. None whatsoever.”
Chapter 18
Ali
Gorm’s eyes narrowed with rage as I finished describing the rules of the foot race, and his impotent anger gave me a bit of satisfaction.
“Of course the Night Elves want to run.” His voice cracked with anger. “That’s what you do, right? Run and hide. You need to come up with a proper contest, not some nimby-pimby street scuttle.”
I shrugged. “We’re in charge of this contest, so you’re just going to have to trust me when I say that plenty of elves are going to die. Believe me when I say you’re not going to want to be in last place, although, given your age and physical condition, that is entirely possible.”
Gorm’s face turned nearly crimson. “Do not speak to a king with such insolence.”
“Sir, let me remind you that earlier tonight you called a Shadow Lord a hag and a bitch. I will describe you however I damn well please.”
Perhaps it was my imagination, but I thought I saw a flicker of a smile ghost across Galin’s lips.
“Gods dammit!” shouted Gorm, throwing his mug across the interior of the barge. It shattered above a velvet sofa, splattering the gold cushions with hot chocolate. After a moment of tense silence, he stalked over to the bar.
Next to me, Thyra whispered, “Nice work.”
“Will two days be enough time to prepare?” I whispered back.
“Definitely.”
I turned, looking out the windows and marveling at the view. Whorls of snow flittered through the air outside. Far below us, I could just barely see the lights of Boston. A quiet movement caught my eye, and I looked up just in time to see Galin slip out the door to the balcony.
He would be alone out there. This was a chance I had to take.
Quietly, I rose and slipped outside.
Galin was standing by himself at the far end of the balcony. He leaned against the gilded railing looking into the darkness.
Should I push him, then claim it was an accident? He was their greatest weapon. I’d seen it for myself, the godlike damage he could wreak on his enemies. He was like an angel of death.
Undoubtedly, it would be the best thing for my people if he were dead. Taking the High Elves’ best fighter out would give us an enormous advantage in the Winnowing. Considering he’d gotten me thrown in prison, I owed him nothing.
But when he whirled to look at me, his golden eyes burning, I felt it again. That feeling of glass shattering in my heart. “Hello, Ali. Have you come to try to kill me again?”
“I’ve considered it.”
“You won’t be able to.” His deep voice slid around me like a warm caress, and I breathed in the scent of wood smoke and sage.
“It would be best for the Night Elves if you were dead,” I whispered.
Galin gave me a slow, seductive smile. The next thing I knew, he was standing before me, hands on either side of me, gripping the railing. He was boxing me in, giving me a look that was sensual, carnal. It was a gaze that slid into my soul, as though he could see every inch of my secret desire for him. In the freezing air, heat rippled off his body.
“The gods are dead,” he said, “and nothing means anything, except this: we are bound to one another. I don’t know why. Only the Norns truly know the ways of Wyrd. The link between our souls commands them to be together. If you try to sever the link, Wyrd fights back. You are mine and I am yours.” His low voice heated my blood.
I clenched my jaw, trying to block out the intensity of his stare. This situation was all wrong, and I felt like my legs were about to give way. “Am I actually your mate?”
His eyes gleamed. “Can’t you feel it?”
A vernal scent curled around us, and my body was growing warmer. I could feel it—like our souls were twined together. I