Bound by the Mist (Mists of Eria) by Lisa Kumar Read Free Book Online

would solve nothing. She didn’t have any control of the situation where it concerned the elf. A spark of anger ignited in her gut. Hadn’t he ruined her life enough already?
    Her flare of ire died away. Something beyond both their powers and her understanding was bringing them together. Cal collapsed in a chair and pulled out a book. She was free until one in the afternoon and wanted to appear busy when Maggie showed up so they could eat lunch. Fanciful though real events had no place in her time-consumed thoughts. College was something uniquely hers, something normal. He couldn’t take that away, though a sourness in the pit of her stomach warned that his strange world would soon again collide with hers.
    ***
    The plaster walls of Relian’s study closed in around him, as did his dilemma. He was in a quandary, a state he found he didn’t like in the least. Desiring escape, he found none. At least, not from his mind. Ignoring the work set out before him on the desk, he leaned back in his chair.
    He’d nearly kissed his human, as he now thought of her, and had desired nothing more. His composure disappeared when the situation dealt with her, and worse, he wasn’t sure if he wanted it back. Relian always thought humans to be bold and crass, often to their own detriment. So far, she appeared to have neither quality in an overabundance. She aroused no repulsion in him, though her humanity was still hard to stomach.
    Relian growled. His body certainly found favor with her. She aroused him like no other, left him in need every night. Should he slake this need somewhere? He discarded that idea, nothing in him responding to the idea of soft arms and thighs, unless they were hers.
    This all, though, paled to what encircled his wrist. No normal means could remove the binding. Knife and scissors wouldn’t work against it. He’d know—he’d tried both of these methods in desperation. The bracelet couldn’t be removed unless mutually agreed upon. But that option might not be open to them. The very appearance of the unasked-for binding overrode any notion of freewill. Now the binding only waited for the last step to make it permanent, just as legend and tradition dictated.
    Could he conceal the binding? A part of him didn’t want to hide it away at all. Another side of him railed against the injustice of a forced binding. A bitter laugh escaped him. When used together in conjunction, ‘forced’ and ‘binding’ should’ve been an impossible endeavor to bring about.
    How would he explain to his people the existence of a human woman, one he met through dreams and mist? He’d sound demented. But to deny Cal seemed wrong. Cal. The whisper of her name felt strange on his lips, but she had felt so right in his arms, almost like a part of himself.
    If he didn’t hide it, how would he explain? Everyone would know he was betrothed and would soon notice no corresponding binding sported around by a female of his race. Every couple’s binding, every thread and weave, was unique from all others that had come before and would come after.
    The parchment underneath his fingers crumpled. After gently smoothing out the abused paper, he straightened in his chair. He’d spent enough time vacillating and would soon be expected elsewhere. Until he could come up with a well-thought-out plan, he would have to hide the binding under long sleeves. A wry smile lifted his lips. That was not hard, given he often had to wear formal robes.
    Later, tonight even, he would have a chance to reason through the unexpected turn his life was taking. While he expected their fates to join, at least for a time, he hadn’t foreseen anything of this magnitude. Its far-reaching consequences were almost inconceivable, for once a couple completely bonded, the tie was irrevocable. Throwing down the quill onto the parchment that hadn’t even seen his perusal, he stood up and walked from his study.
    Silence echoed in the halls of the family wing. As though to escape