“It’s been five days.” Evelayn stared at the plate of scones and her cold peppermint tea despondently. “If he truly wanted peace, he would have made the oath and gone to reclaim his power by now.”
“I can’t pretend to understand what he’s trying to accomplish, but he hasn’t rejected your offer yet, either,” Tanvir pointed out.
They sat at a small table in the gardens, having tea. Well, he was having tea. Evelayn couldn’t eat. She was too worried to do much more than take a sip or two before abandoning her cup entirely, and she didn’t even attempt to eat the scones.
The full heat of summer was upon them; her people were enjoying the height of their power and the first peace in a decade … but Evelayn couldn’t relax. Not yet. Not until balance had been restored, and the problem of King Lorcan and his all too intelligent quicksilver eyes was solved.
“He is a proud Draíolon,” Tanvir continued musingly, “raised by one even more proud and domineering than we can imagine. You hold all the power right now—he can’t do anything unless you let him. Perhaps he fears looking weak if he agrees to your offer too quickly.”
“Or maybe he’s as sadistic as his father and doesn’t want peace. Maybe he’s just trying to make me sweat.”
Tanvir reached out and gently covered her hand with his own, stopping her from picking the tablecloth apart entirely. “Unluckily for him, you are just as attractive when you’re sweaty as you are when you’re as dry as this scone.”
Despite herself Evelayn laughed softly. “Were they that bad?”
“Let’s say I will be quite glad when your regular cook comes back from visiting family next week.”
Evelayn smiled with a shake of her head, but quickly sobered. “He doesn’t care how attractive I am. He wants his power back. And his people need it.” She glanced across the grounds at the forest to the north of the castle, where far away the border was no longer guarded by her priestesses, and Light and Dark Draíolon were once again able to travel freely and without fear. “But I can’t let him do that unless I can be sure he will maintain this peace.”
Tanvir’s fingers curled around her hand, and he squeezed it reassuringly. “He’ll answer. And he’ll accept your offer. Lorcan is smart. He knows the only way to get his power back is to make the vow and keep the peace.”
Evelayn looked back at Tanvir. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Haven’t you learned that yet?”
She pursed her lips at his teasing but couldn’t keep from smiling.
“And speaking of being right, I’m looking forward to tonight. It will be just the distraction you need from all of this. I promise.” Tanvir lifted her hand to press a kiss to her knuckles.
“And you are always right,” she said with a smile.
“Yes, I am.”
THEY’D BEEN WALKING FOR QUITE SOME TIME WHEN Tanvir stopped Evelayn. She recognized the scent of the lake even though she couldn’t see it—he’d blindfolded her while they were still inside the castle, and then begun leading her to his “surprise.”
“Wait right here.”
Evelayn nodded, straining to hear anything that would give her a hint of what he had planned. Besides the lake she could also smell flowers—an inordinate amount for where she knew she stood. After only a few moments, he spoke again.
“All right. You can look now.”
Evelayn reached up and took off the blindfold and then gasped.
Tanvir stood next to a table, where two chairs were set up across from each other, with yellow ribbons tied around the backs. The white tablecloth was strewn with flower petals as was the entire shore of the lake where the table stood. He was dressed in his formalwear, his brown hair pulled back and a nervous smile on his face. The sun hadn’t set yet, but it was dipping below the treetops, painting the entire scene golden with its waning light.
“May I get your chair, my lady?” He pulled one out and Evelayn sat down, still speechless with awe.
After he sat down as well, servants materialized from the forest as if he’d summoned them by magic. Within moments a candelabra was lit in the center of the table, crystal goblets were filled with fresh-squeezed guava juice, and a beautiful dinner of warm bread and butter, honey-drizzled melons, sliced pears, crisp vegetables sautéed with herbs, an aromatic vegetable soup, and roasted pheasant were set in front of them.
Evelayn surveyed the table and then looked up at Tanvir, his golden eyes glowing in the candlelight. “This … this is unbelievable.”
“I wanted to do something special for you. I hope I succeeded.”
Evelayn nodded, unable to speak again. “You did,” she finally managed.
He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth, gently kissing each one of her fingers, sending thrills up her arm and straight to her belly. “I’m so glad.” He smiled and let go of her hand to pick up his fork. “Now let’s eat.”
Evelayn was surprised to realize she was actually hungry for the first time in … a while. But she couldn’t resist teasing him back—at least a little. “Do I dare? I know you weren’t impressed with the scones earlier …”
“I might have convinced your cook to return a day or two early, for the special occasion.” Tanvir winked at her.
“You didn’t!”
He grinned.
“And what special occasion did you convince her was so important that she had to cut short her first vacation in three years?” Evelayn asked before taking a bite of the sweet bread. It melted in her mouth, delicious and warm and perfect. She nearly groaned in pleasure.
“Why the night I asked you to be Bound to me, of course.”
The fork clanged against Evelayn’s plate when she dropped it and stared at Tanvir with her jaw half-open. He was still grinning at her … Was it another joke? Was he still teasing? But then his jaunty smile slid away until he was staring back at her, completely serious.
“I was going to wait until after we finished eating—but I can’t wait one moment longer. I know it’s fast. I know we’re young. I know I don’t deserve you for so many reasons. But I also know that I love you as I’ve never loved anyone, and I can’t imagine my mornings without waking up at dawn to chase you through the forest. I can’t imagine my dinners without your smile to brighten even the worst of days. In short, I can’t imagine my life without you beside me now—and forever.” Tanvir stood and came over to where she sat. He took both of her hands in his and gently pulled her to stand up in front of him. “I don’t want you because you’re the queen, or because you’ve been pressured to provide an heir, or for any other reason except that you love me as I love you. Do you, Evelayn? Do you love me enough to Bind yourself to me?”