“You knew I wouldn’t be able to leave, didn’t you?”
He stared at me with questioning clear in his eyes. “I didn’t, though Danst told me. He realized you wanted to leave and tried to tell you what I couldn’t.”
“Why? Because you were being watched?”
He nodded.
“And now?”
“Now they understand you can’t leave. You won’t allow yourself to. This realm won’t let you leave because it realizes the power that binds us together is greater than any magic or enchantment in this world or the next. We are made for each other, Relena. Nothing and no one can change that…no matter how much you fight it. Or question it.” His eyes grew darker, and I could tell he remembered.
“I’m sorry, Marren. I had no idea it was the test. I thought it would be something more ceremonial like the last time. I didn’t know and I made it harder on you.”
“Gvgeyu, waya uwoduhi. Always and forever, I’m yours.”
“No matter what.” It was a statement more than a question, but it seemed Marren wanted to answer anyway.
“No matter what.”
Marren took me to the inner halls of the mountain. The dwarves didn’t leave any part of the floors or pillars unpolished. Small rooms filled the inner halls with families, healers, and tradesmen that made swords, craft armor, and even a chef that cooked meats and made jerky with a baker whose baking had filled the hall with the tasty aroma.
He took me to a room and sat me down at a large stone table with wooden stools. They were plainly carved but still held the beauty of pure craftsmanship. Marren set a small metal plate on the table with a chunk of meat, some roasted carrots and a piece of bread. It was too much for me to eat, but I could tell by the expectant gaze in his eyes, he thought I should try.
“So what now?” I asked, peering up from the plate to wait for an answer.
“Well, tonight, I get to officially present you to my people. There was a celebration planned, but I had to call it off for reasons already explained.”
I nodded. “Then what?”
“Then the planning for the ceremony begins if you want. We don’t need to rush, but my people don’t like children born outside of the ritual of binding.”
“Wow. That sounds like a death sentence.” I chuckled on the last word. But the glare in Marren’s eyes said it wasn’t funny. “I’m sorry.”
“Do you still want to marry me?”
“What?” I hardly swallowed the piece of meat with the way he said the words. It wasn’t like he was anxious and wanted to understand more so than reassuring himself that I wanted to be with him and not because of the heart song.
“Do you still want to marry me?” he repeated.
“I heard you. What I don’t understand is why you are asking me this? Didn’t we already go through this conversation?”
“We’ve been over this, yes, but I may have manipulated you into agreeing, and I want to be sure you truly want this as much as I do.”
I twisted to face Marren straight on and grabbed his hands. I focused on the contrast that was still amazing to me. His deep bronze color compared to my fairer tone. I almost appeared too pale sitting next to him. “Marren, whatever makes you happy and keeps you by my side, I will do. I don’t want to forsake any of your rituals or customs because they are unfamiliar to me. Though I may not understand them all or the reasons behind them, I do understand that I love you beyond reason. I can’t live my life without you, so if that is what it takes to make it happen and keep the peace among your people, then so be it.”
I stared into his eyes, slanted under partially sealed lids. His lips were together but relaxed. I couldn’t tell if that was what he wanted to hear. I turned my gaze away and asked, “Do—do you still want to marry me?”
I found his eyes again and tried to find any emotion in them. I tried to find the warmth, the love, the passion, but it remained hidden behind the wall he had up. Something wasn’t right about this. Something seemed…off. I couldn’t place it, but this didn’t feel like Marren. I said, “I don’t feel well. I need to go lay down.”
I stood up and turned my back toward him. I had taken no more than the first step when my wrist was caught in a tight hold. I glanced over my shoulder and then down to my wrist and back up to Marren’s face. “So, how long did you think you were going to trick me into believing you were Marren?”
Not a glint of surprise filled his eyes like I had hoped to find. I tried again.
“Well, Jiren, is it? Where is Marren?”
His face broke into a smile, and it was just as bright and just as beautiful as the real Marren’s, but had something threatening in it. He looked hungry for blood.
His eyes changed to an iridescent green, cold and just as hard as the first time I’d seen him.