Sundered by Bethany Adams

Author:Bethany Adams [Adams, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AW Books

Her mouth fell open, and the color drained from her face. “You can’t…you can’t just dismiss this.”

“I didn’t intend to.” Lyr’s smile never wavered, though the fear in her eyes bit at him. “You expect me to judge you by the standards of another world. We are not so inflexible here, nor so foolish. Everyone has value. You have value.”

Meli stepped back, breaking his light hold. “Not in Alfheim.” She bit her bottom lip, and a hint of her pain drifted over him, settling in his heart. “This might be a different world, but to ally with me would make negotiations with Alfheim impossible. Even if I never return there.”

His eyes narrowed. “Why would you consider going back? Why do you care?”

“My family. They’ve shown me nothing but love, and I’ll not leave them to the poison,” Meli answered softly. “My people haven’t always been so afraid, you know. We even reached some accord with the humans. But Alfheim is maintained by magic. It’s life. When that started to fade among some, the Ljósálfar pulled away. Tried to regroup.”

“They disavowed us long before that day,” Lyr said.

“You moved away from the nine known worlds,” she answered, shrugging. “At least that’s my guess. Tradition is almost as sacred as magic. That’s why I can’t consider a bond with you if I hope to save Alfheim. Accepting my status would forever lessen you in their eyes.”

Anger surged, and Lyr clenched his fists in a vain attempt to repress it. “They came to me.” Meli’s eyes widened, and he sucked in a deep breath, searching for calm. “If they wish my aid, then they will meet my terms. I will work with none but you.”

“You can’t do that,” Meli said, eyes going wide.

“Oh, I can.” Satisfaction flashed through him, and he lifted a brow. “I am eighteenth in line to the throne of Moranaia and cousin to the king himself. It is my duty to deal with all of our kindred from Earth, though we left long before the Sidhe were defeated by the humans. Your family can come here if the situation becomes dire. The rest will negotiate on my terms or fend for themselves.”

Her hand flew to her throat. “You’d leave Alfheim to its doom?”

“No,” Lyr answered, taking a step closer. “Your king would. If he’s unwilling to make amends for the discord Lady Teronver has caused, then he is responsible. I’ll not take the blame for his blind inflexibility.”

“But he follows the Ancient One.” Meli’s forehead furrowed. “She advised him in this.”

A smooth, amused voice cut through the sudden silence. “My sister’s words have no doubt changed.”

Lyr stiffened, and his hand fell to the knife at his belt as he spun. Pol leaned against a tree, a smirk on his face and his legs and arms loosely crossed as though he’d been enjoying a play. Lyr’s eyes narrowed. “Your sister?”

Pol shrugged. “When she claims me.”

“Who are you?” Meli whispered from behind Lyr, her robes rustling as she stepped close to his side.

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