Page 64 of Enchanted
“Possibilities. There are always choices. We each made ours, and have more to make yet. You know something of your heritage and of mine, but not all. In my country, in my family, there is a tradition. It’s simplest, I suppose, to compare it to rank, though it’s not precisely that. But one takes a place as head of the family. To guide, and counsel. To help in settling disputes should they arise.”
Once again he picked up the silver amulet, once again he set it down.
“Your father wears one of those in gold.”
“Aye, he does.”
“Because he’s head of the family?”
She was quick, Liam thought. Foolish of him to have forgotten that. “He is, until he chooses to pass on the duty.”
“To you.”
“It’s traditional for the amulet to be passed down to the oldest child. But there are choices, on both sides, and there are … stipulations. To inherit, one must be worthy of it.”
“Of course you are.”
“One must want it.”
Her smile faded into a look of puzzlement. “Don’t you?”
“I haven’t decided.” He slipped his hands into his pockets before he could pick up the amulet again. “I came here to take time, to think and consider. It must be my choice. I won’t be bullied by fate.”
The regal tone of his voice made her smile again. “No, you wouldn’t be. That’s another reason you’d be good at it.” She started to go to him, but he held up a hand.
“There are other requirements. If there is marriage, it must be to a mate with elfin blood, and the marriage must be for love, not for duty. Both must enter into it freely.”
“That seems only right,” she began, then stopped. As Liam had said, she was quick. “I have elfin blood, and I’ve just told you I’m in love with you.”
“And if I take you, my choices diminish.”
This time it took her a moment. It had been said so coolly it was like an iced sword to the heart. “Your choices. I see.” She nodded slowly while inside she fought to save the scattered pieces of her heart, the pitiful tatters of her pride. “And your choices include accepting this aspect of your heritage or abjuring it. You’d take that very, very seriously, wouldn’t you, Liam?”
“How could I not?”
“And I’m more or less like a weight for the scale. You just have to decide which bowl to set me in. How … awkward for you.”
“It’s not as simple as that,” he shot back, knocked off balance by her sudden sharp tones. “It’s my life.”
“And mine,” she added. “You said you knew I was coming here, but I didn’t know about you. So I had no choice there. I fell in love with you the minute I saw you, but you were prepared and you had your own agenda. YouknewI would love you.”
It was hurled at him, a bitter accusation that had him staring at her. “You’re mistaken.”
“Oh, really? How many times did you slip into my mind to see? Or come into my house as a wolf and listen to me babble? Without giving me the choice you’re so damn fond of. You knew I met the requirements, so you studied and measured and considered.”
“I didn’t know!” He shouted it at her, furious to have his actions tilted toward deceit. “I didn’t know until you told me about your great-grandmother.”
“I see. So up to that point you were either playing with me or deciding if you could use me as your outshould you decide to refuse your position.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Then suddenly you’ve got a witch on your hands. You wanted her—I don’t doubt you wanted me, and I was pathetically easy. I took whatever you chose to give me, and was grateful.”
It humiliated her to think of it now, to remember how she had rushed into his arms, trusting her heart. Trusting him.
“I cared for you, Rowan. I care for you.”
Her cheeks were ghost pale in the flickering light, her eyes dark and deep. “Do you know how insulting that is? Do you know how humiliating it is to understand that you knew I was in love with you while you figured the angles and made your choices? What choice did I have? What choice did you give me?”
