Jory Strong - Elven Surrender

Silver tugged on her leather pants and shirt, not bothering with undergarments. Wraith and Tynan pulled on their trousers as she laced her boots. When they remained barefooted she said, “You’re staying here?”

Tynan knelt. His warm hands cupped her face. “You’ll return?”

All it took was a touch, a look, and longing filled her, need. The thought of leaving them at all, even for just a few minutes was unbearable. The thought of leaving them for good—

“Yes.” She forced herself to make light of the ache filling her, to see only the immediate future. “Wraith promised the two of you would fuck me at the same time. I’m going to hold him to his word.”

Tynan leaned in and kissed her, a slow thorough twining of tongues. “It would be best if we weren’t seen,” he said when his mouth left hers. “No human is supposed to leave our lands unpunished if they’re caught.”

Silver laughed and glanced up at Wraith. “I can see your point,” she teased. “Your woods would be full of trespassers if each of them had to pay the same penalty I’ve had to pay.”

Wraith pulled her to her feet and gave her a punishing kiss. Every possessive cell in his body argued against letting her go alone, but Tynan was right. It would be better if she soothed her cousin’s fears then quickly sent her on her way. The magic in Silver was almost at its peak, almost ready to be called by the spell that would change her.

Worry and fear squeezed his heart until it raced. He realized in that instant that he wanted to give Silver a choice about the future. Yet there was none. She was destined to be his wife and Tynan’s, to aid them in returning harmony and prosperity to the southern borderlands.

“Go,” he said, stepping away from her.

Reluctantly Silver left the bedroom. Thoughts of her cousin made her want to hurry but the desire to remain with Tynan and Wraith slowed her. She felt caught in quicksand, as though the magic she’d possessed before The Mark was trapped inside her rather than gone, entwined with Tynan and Wraith’s and desperately struggling to keep her with them.

The sensation was so real that her heart worked hard in her chest and her lungs labored for air. She stopped halfway into the living room, paused to catch her breath and fight the nameless panic filling her.

Silver tried to use the beauty surrounding her to regain control of her frantically racing heart. The carved chess sets soothed her, as did the image of Wraith hunched over, patiently carving the intricate pieces. But when she saw the partially finished statue on a table, her calm was shattered by its likeness to her.

“I’ve dreamed of you,”Tynan said, kissing the side of her neck. “Wraith found you another way. Come back and we’ll show you a different path than the one you’ve always thought to walk.”

Tears flooded her eyes. Both men groaned and crowded in, kissing the moisture away, holding her until the riot of her emotions settled. She wanted to stay, to give in to the hope blossoming in her chest but concern for Joelle forced her out of their arms.

“I’ll just go to the clearing, then come right back to you.”

The door opened at Wraith’s command. Beyond it, the wall of trees and brush parted to reveal a path. Silver kissed both men before hurrying away while she had the will to do it.

“I don’t like this,”Tynan said as the path closed behind her.

“Neither do I.”

They remained where they were standing, struggling against the urge to follow her. Finally Wraith turned. He motioned to an elegantly crafted mirror mounted on the wall. “We can watch her from here.”

“Thank the Goddess,”Joelle cried as soon as Silver stepped into the tiny clearing. “Oh, thank the Goddess.”

Silver staggered backward when her cousin launched herself. She wrapped her arms around Joelle, returning the unexpected hug with an equally fierce one.

She was reeling with emotion, her mind spinning from what she’d read into Tynan’s confession and Wraith’s carving.

Did it mean what she thought it did? Could they possibly have a future together?

Only the wetness of Joelle’s tears had the power to draw Silver’s mind away from thoughts of Wraith and Tynan. “I’m okay,” she said, giving her cousin another hug before disengaging.

“You have The Mark?”Joelle asked, her features drawn, her hands clenched at her sides in tight fists.

“Yes.” Silver turned her hand over to expose the circular pattern.

Joelle sobbed. “Oh Goddess, forgive me,” she said, grabbing Silver’s hand and holding a medallion between their palms.

Horror stopped Silver’s heart for a beat. It froze her lungs for an instant as a scream of denial rose up but couldn’t escape. Though she couldn’t feel the sorcerer’s magic, she knew a spell had been woven into the coin.

The sense of betrayal deepened when she realized why Joelle had insisted they go to the club last night. Somehow she’d known what was going to happen.

Agony ripped through Silver. The Mark made her null—helpless against the sorcerer’s spell that rendered her unable to fight, unable even to shout for help. Tears of rage and confusion and pain fell in a steady stream, a perfect outward reflection of the tears Joelle was crying.

Joelle sobbed again before turning away, her expression revealing her shame. “I prayed the dreams weren’t a true prophecy, Silver. I prayed they were just nightmares because the thought of being sent away, of marrying in haste so I wouldn’t be alone in some desolate village was terrifying. All I’ve ever wanted was to stay in New Holyoak. But then I heard Mother talking with some of the elders. They had the same the dream.

“They all agreed. The Mark would appear on your palm the night before the Rite of New Beginnings and if you came to the Turning Ceremony, then you’d stay in New Holyoak. I’d be given another territory and over time you’d become the most powerful witch in the coven.”

Joelle began walking, her hand gripping Silver’s tightly, ensuring that the medallion remained pressed between their palms. Inside Silver screamed, pleaded with her cousin to allow her to speak so she could tell her she had no intention of taking her place in the coven tonight. But the magic making her walk peacefully away from Wraith and Tynan kept her mute.

Tears gathered and fell more rapidly. Her heart grew heavier with each step. If they were watching her they could easily think that seeing her cousin had made her change her mind about returning to them.

“Oh, Goddess forgive me, but this is the only way,”Joelle said as soon as they got to a wider path.

A knot formed in Silver’s stomach. She recognized where they were and how quickly they’d be off elven lands.

Last night she’d entered the woods from a different location. She’d run blindly, worried about getting away from the sorcerers chasing her—only she hadn’t truly escaped them.

She knew what was coming even before Joelle said, “Etienne’s not as handsome or as powerful as some of the magi, but he’s less arrogant. If I were a null, I’d be happy with him as a husband. He’ll make sure you’re happy—with a spell at first—but it won’t be terrible. He promised the spell would work both ways. By the time it fades the two of you will be in love. And if the prophecy comes true, you’ll grow very powerful. You’ll find a place for yourself as a sorceress.”

Joelle picked up the pace. “Etienne, hurry! Hurry! If you want a wife you need to come here. Now!”

Silver willed herself to fight the panic and horror. Etienne Durand was a decent man and less arrogant than most magi, but she wouldn’t be bound to him without a fight. She wouldn’t accept this as her fate.