Page 119 of A Brat's Tale
“Corrik.”
“Fine. What about subbing for my brother now and then? I would not bring it up again, but I sense the energy between you two has grown and not that you have to appease his jealousy, but he is jealous.”
“Reward his nasty behavior? Forget it. I am open to it if you are, but he can treat me kindly.”
He smiles against my neck. “You were worried about your dragon blood leaving you. It has not, and it’s fiercer than ever.”
I laugh, but then I get serious. “Are you worried he won’t cancel the engagement, Cor?”
“A bit. And I don’t mean to imply you should sell your body for it, I only bring up you subbing for him at all because I think it would be good for you with the side benefit of ensuring he will call the engagement off. No, you’re notslave, but you arebratand an intense session with Alrik would be beneficial for you now and then.”
“You couldn’t do it?”
“I could, but it’s not my preference. I realized when your father came how strict he was with you. You may not have liked it all the time growing up because you need some room to roam free you weren’t likely to get from him, but when I saw how his care of you calmed you instantly, I knew you contained that faucet.” I can’t deny how much my father’s way helped, and I know the truth of what he’s saying. “I have it in me to give you what you need, and if it’s a no for you with Alrik, I will do that for you, but if you’ve got the energy with Alrik, and you’re amenable, why not? I know how electric it can be with the right energetic pairing.”
“What about Strobavik? He specializes in slaves.” I have not forgotten that Alrik still has my cuff. I remain optimistic I’ll get it back.
“He could too but it still wouldn’t be the same. It’s—Tristan? He can’t help it, you know. He’s bonded to you. He didn’t ask for it to happen, sometimes it is the wish of the Gods and so it is. He’s struggling.”
As a human, none of that would have made sense. Those are not things that can be comprehended cerebrally. It’s an Elf thing. Now that I’m Elf, I already feel the truth of what he’s saying. I feel the pull to him greater than I did before.
Doesn’t mean I like it.
“I will think about it. But he’s such a dick.”
“Tristan,” he scolds. “You can’t say that about him … even if it’s true sometimes.”
We laugh together and then turn to other things. I tell him all about my underwater journey and the water dragon I met. I’ll have to tell him about Bayaden, but I’d rather do so without Alrik watching over us.
Alrik doesn’t know how deep my relations with the Aldrien Warlord run, beyond that I served him for over a year, and it may be best to keep it that way.
Chapter 23
We make the long journey home without anymore trouble. Everyone has the same level of shock at seeing my transformation, they’re all impressed. Alrik won’t talk to me, won’t even look at me. I let him sulk for a bit. If there’s anything I know about Cyredanthem men, it’s that they need time to cool off and process.
This leaves time for Corrik and me as we prepare for our upcoming re-nuptials. I’m excited and it feels good to want to marry him this time with no apprehension. I am Elf now, I have already said goodbye to my old life, I’m ready to move forward into the new.
I continue to converse with my family via the set of books, like Corrik and I did. I tell Papa everything. He wishes he could be here for our second wedding, but they’d never make it in time. I consider asking Corrik to wait but don’t. I’m just as anxious as Corrik is to be married as soon as possible. If I’ve learned anything over this past year, it’s not to take the present moment for granted.
“You’ve been quiet, Tristan,” Corrik says coming behind up me, nibbling my neck as he does.
I’m at the large table in our quarters reading a book on Elvish laws. I’m able to savor learning about the aspects of Elven culture I wouldlike to, now that I’ve been given some free time. “I don’t like this war, Corrik. I’m trying to find something here to convince both my father and yours it can be called off.” After that, I’ll have Bayaden’s father to worry about, but two problems at a time.
He sighs and shuts my book. “You need to get out of here. You’re free you know, or have you forgotten?”
I sizzle at him, for shutting my book. “I am free, which means I can do what I like and what I would like to do is study every law I can find to outwit our parents.”
He spins my chair around, staring at me, drinking me in. “Okay fine, but what about the other thing on your mind, uh?”
I look at my hands, glance at the door to make sure there are no other ears to listen and then face my first husband, who will soon become my second husband. “Bayaden found me. We schemed to bring our respective parties home. As it turned out, Alrik had already made that decision, but had he not, I would have done what was necessary.”
“And? Why do you look like you want to throw yourself off a bridge for that?” He moves the hair out of my eyes and tucks it behind one of my new, large, Elven ears—his new favorite thing to do. I wiggle it for him to show affection the way Elves do. I do try to be an Elf sometimes.
“I keep betraying you.”
“Perhaps by your standards, yes. But you haven’t, you’re just being yourself. My Tristan, he’s filled with a deep-rooted sense of justice. You think it’s wrong and you can’t help standing up against it.”
I nod. “We kissed, Corrik. Had there been time, I would have let him do more. I would do it again.”
