Page 61 of The Broken Elf King
His hands fell away from his temples and he gave me a searing look. “Don’t ever say that. They can have more children, Kailani. I can’t make more of you.”
My heart nearly stopped beating; he sounded like he cared. I was so confused about him, about us, and I hated him for it.
I never should have agreed to this stupid fake marriage in the first place!
Raife turned and peered at Cahal, who was now standing at the back door. Raising his fingers, he gestured the Bow Man over to us.
When Cahal saw me, his cheeks reddened as if he was ashamed to have been a part of hiding me away.
“Take her back to the castle and sneak her into my room. Don’t let anyone see her or talk to her. Understood?” Raife asked.
He nodded, bowing deeply. “Yes, my lord.”
His room? I opened my mouth to ask what was going on, but I couldn’t find the right way to form the question, and by the time I did Raife was halfway across the yard.
“Raife Lightstone!” I yelled after him and he froze, turning to look over his shoulder at me. “Remember what it felt like to lose your siblings before you judge that man in there. He didn’t hurt me,” I warned him, and his face fell. He looked as though I’d slapped him.
With a nod he moved, slower this time, to the back door of the home, seemingly to dole out judgment on the couple. The other four Bow Men who’d been perched on the fence fell to the ground and followed their leader inside.
Cahal reached into his bag and pulled out a traveling cloak. Handing it to me, I shook it out and pulled it down over my shoulders, and then up over my head.
“Come on, we must go before the other Bow Men notice where I’ve taken you.”
I frowned. “Doesn’t he trust his Bow Men?”
Cahal gave me a frightening look. “He trusts no one with you, my queen.”
My queen.So I still had some power, that was good to know. I wondered if I ordered him to take me to my aunt if he would have to. He was duty-bound to the Archmere crown. But I knew he’d follow Raife’s word above mine.
I frowned, allowing him to quickly lead me away from the backyard and to a waiting horse.
“He trusts you,” I told him.
Cahal laughed. “After he threatened to kill my entire family if you were mistreated or taken under my watch.”
Geez, he did that? He was so protective over me I didn’t know what to make of it. Was it because I could give him information in his fight against the queen? Or was it to protect my gift unless he needed my final breath? Or maybe it was something else entirely. I dared to hope it was that he cherished me. That somewhere deep down inside of him he had allowed himself to fall in love as I had.
