Page 444 of Primal Bonds

“When Merry comes of age, then you’ll invite her to visit the court. I’m sure Lord Dion will agree that the choice at that point will be hers. But for now, leave her where she is. She’s safe, happy. The river fada have done a good job of protecting her, and the queen keeps an eye on her as well. Too many people are interested in her.”

A muscle in the prince’s cheek worked. His gaze slid to the nearby night fae, straining to hear the low-voiced conversation.

“Very well,” he said. “If you and Lord Dion both swear that when my granddaughter comes of age, the choice is hers.”

“No tricks or coercion,” Adric said. “She must be given a true choice.”

Dion waited for Rui to nod, and then said, “That’s acceptable to us.”

Langdon inclined his head. “You have my promise.”

“And my promise as well,” first Adric, then Dion said.

Langdon hesitated. “I would like the chance to get to know her, though. Perhaps a meeting or two a year.”

“That’s up to her father,” Dion said.

Rui crossed his arms over his broad chest. “No.”

“And that goes double for me,” said Jace from behind Adric’s shoulder. “You had your chance to get to know her when she was on the run from Tyrus. Now, she stays with us.”

The prince’s mouth tightened. “Very well. But perhaps you can ask if she wishes to meet me. I promise, I want only to become acquainted with her.”

Rui’s dark brows lowered. “We’ll see,” was all he’d say.

“Thank you.” Langdon stepped back. “Let them leave unharmed,” he told his warriors. He bowed to the queen. “Peace to you and yours, Cleia.”

“And to yours,” she returned with a gracious bow of her own.

Adric and Marjani exchanged an incredulous glance. But that was the fae. Polite even as they slipped a knife into your rib cage.

In the exodus that followed, Adric sidled up to Langdon. “Just so you know,” he murmured, “if you take Merry, I’ll know. Every earth fada in the clan is connected to my quartz.”

“I see.” Langdon’s eyes dropped to Adric’s pendant.

Adric fingered it just to make sure his point was taken. “You can hide her, but eventually, I’ll find her. And I wouldn’t advise looking for a way to break the connection. It might work—or you might kill her. We’re not the enemy,” he added. “Your own people are.”

Langdon’s gaze flicked at a priest setting the metal bowl back on its stand. Others had faded back into the shadows, so that only their faces were visible. Watching. Waiting.

“I’m aware of that,” the prince said, and striding back to his throne, settled onto it with his legs sprawled in front of him as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

Adric’s chest heaved. It was over.

He reached for Rosana, but she was already there. She took his head between her hands and gave him a smacking kiss, uncaring that her brothers, Cleia and the upper hierarchy of both their clans were watching. Or maybe, that was the point.

“You did it!”

“No, we did it,” he corrected, enfolding her in his arms. “I love you, you know that?”

“Right back at you.” She buried her face in his neck and they stood there, arms tight around each other, rocking back and forth. “I was so scared,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry, angel.”

She pulled back. “You should be,” she said with a crooked grin. “Now take me home.”

He glanced at where Marjani was crouched next to Luc, speaking in a low voice. The wolf growled and shook his head.

“You go,” he told Rosana. “I’ll be right with you.”

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