Page 87 of Werewolves Don't Howl
I groaned and went to the bathroom. She would have to wait, or better yet, have her business with Cross finished by the time I was presentable. Bathing with my injuries was slow. My hair was still damp by the time I was dressed in the unobtrusive black pants suit with a blue silk blouse, looking like I’d never been mauled by a monster. There was jewelry that matched all my favorite colors, so I had simple blue gem earrings in. I smiled at my reflection and then left the bathroom, walking carefully down the hall to the stairs, and then finally out on the porch where my mother and the Lady of Night were having a stand-off.
My mother’s smile was as sharp as a rattlesnake. “You’re here to help break the binding? How kind of you to come all this way, but I’m sure we can manage on our own.”
Lady Violet sniffed disdainfully, like they’d had this conversation several times. Gnome logic was often circular, always stubborn. “I crafted the binding. I hope my knowledge will prove useful.”
“Excuse me, you said you’re here to break the binding?” I asked, feeling like a little dull mouse compared to her gorgeousness.
She fixed me with a blinding smile. “So delicate, yet so vibrantly filled with life. It is such a pleasure to be of service to you in your wise efforts to unbind yourself from my unfortunate family.”
Cross stepped close to me and put his arm around my waist. “You didn’t need to come down. Lady Night was just explaining the basic mechanics of the binding. You’re still weak from its effects.”
“Of course she is,” Lady Night said with an elegant smile down at me. “You will be until the binding is sealed or undone. Such is the way with ancient house bindings.”
That explained why I felt so crappy and why I wasn’t healing quickly. Half-bindings were not the best. “Oh. How long does it take to break the binding?”
She tilted her head as she considered my mother, who stared back, ready to reach an impasse that she’d sooner die than back down from. “Not long at all. A few days, a few potions, a few unravelling soul ceremonies.”
“What?” Cross snapped.
She shrugged and gestured at him. “It will be child’s play for you now that you’ve unlocked your full potential. The binding must be undone quickly so that we can find a suitable match for you before you become unstable.”
My heart fell down to my toes like a rock, chipping off the edges when it hit. “What do you mean, ‘find a suitable match’ for him?”
She gave me a look with wide, innocent eyes. Lies. Those eyes were more lying than Cross’s. “It takes a great deal of scrying. I’m quite embarrassed that the binding reacted to you, someone so clearly unsuitable to bear the burden of his legacy.”
That was an elvish insult, more than insinuating that my family wasn’t good enough for her son.
My mother gave her a hard smile. “That’s right, what would a gnomish girl want with a cold-hearted elf lord, anyway?”
“Indeed,” Lady Violet Night said with a soft smile. She was going to bind Cross to someone else, no matter what he wanted or thought about it. He’d run away from that world, but she was going to bind his soul to someone else? What if Cross was bound to someone who wanted him for his title instead of for him? What if she never gave him hugs or fed him delicious unhealthy cookies? What if she didn’t fill the hollow places inside of him with warmth? Ice in your heart could do terrible things to a person.
Panic swallowed me whole and completely.
“I, Delphinia Erasmus bind Kilmaran Rosanthius Omarsus Silvaniustro to me. I swear my heart and soul to you.” The bindings flared bright in my skin before the dull throbbing entirely disappeared, along with any lingering exhaustion.
Lady Night studied me for a moment and then nodded, all hard ice. “That’s done then.” She turned to Cross. “You will study with Erasmus. Your father will check on your progress from time to time. You did well in finding such a strong wife.” She turned and walked over to her horse, waiting patiently for her, floated up onto his back and then proceeded out of the courtyard along with the rest of her retinue.
I stood there, frozen between Cross and my mother until my father slipped in behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You had no chance against Violetta,” he murmured. “She can manipulate the Emperor himself. She only had to give you a reason to take what you already wanted.”
I exhaled the breath I’d been holding and slumped against Cross. He held me against him, kissing my hair hard, like he wanted to brand his lips on my crown.
“So she wanted Delphi to accept the binding all along? Hmph. I’ll have to make some pastries to send her. She’s too thin. Come Erasmus. We need to tell everyone that Delphi’s finally married! They’ll have to send presents. Should we have a reception at home for all her friends? What theme would it be? Maybe…”
Finally, they left us alone on the broad porch where I’d come so long ago, begging him for a place to stay. He was still holding me in his arms while I stayed stiff and in shock against his side.
Slowly, I slid my arms around him and breathed in his heady, sweet scent. “Cross, I didn’t mean to do that.”
“I know. I didn’t think she’d actually come to make sure…I didn’t know her intentions. I can’t imagine her ever approving of a gnome-elf-werewolf daughter-in-law, but here we are. She approves of you, which means that I can’t completely discount her judgment. Which means I should attempt to be civil to her and my father…” He groaned and picked me up and carried me away.
“Where are we going?” I asked, held like a wrapped burrito in his strong arms.
“To bed. I’m going to hold you until the world makes sense.”
I giggled and pressed my nose into his neck, breathing him in. “Cross, you married a gnome-elf-werewolf. Sense isn’t ever going to happen after that. The most you can hope for is happiness.”
He paused and looked down at me, still holding me off the ground. “It’s hope and happiness. Faith and determination. I will love you in all the ways that make you feel safe, warm, and comfortable. I will build you a life as cozy as a gnome, as beautiful as an elf, and as fearless as the wolf. Perhaps some day you will learn to love me.”
