Highest Bidder

Bond

Melbourne rose from his chair, made his way to her side, and held out his hand to assist her to her feet. When they stood nearly toe to toe, he realized she was only a couple of inches shorter than him. He suspected that her height disconcerted most men who were not of her species.

“Alyssa Faeryn, may I have your hand in marriage?” he asked, going down on one knee.

He held open a velvet box containing an intricately wrought elven bracelet of promise and not a human ring, as was werewolf custom.

The Faeryn had dark hair and intense blue-gray eyes, unlike most southern elves, who were blond and blue- or brown-eyed, but they had the same fair skin. She was not hard to look at; then again, most elves were not.

Further to the north, he knew the dark-skinned elves lived. They had shocking white hair and a variety of eye colors. To the east, there were yellow-skinned elves with dark hair and slanted, almost black eyes. Far to the west, red-headed elves with milky white skin and emerald or blue eyes lived near the mountains.

Melbourne had traded with most of them over the years, and their temperaments varied widely from kingdom to kingdom.

But even her exceptional beauty and the way her hair was almost the same shade of chocolate brown as his own did not make up for having to marry an elf.

Although he always found elven women fascinating, and even this reserved princess was incredibly sensuous, marrying one was not a choice he would make. Not of his own free will. But he agreed with his father on the benefits of this marriage. There was no denying that.

She is not happy either.

Her shock warned him that she had not been consulted in this process and had no time to prepare for her fate.

Although he almost pitied her, her intelligent gaze betrayed understanding and acceptance of the inevitable.

She will honor her father’s wishes—no matter her own opinion.

He doubted whether she envisioned a future with a man outside her species or ever believed her father would suggest such a thing. None of the others did, and their outraged shock was almost comical.

“I accept your proposal, Melbourne Carthagan.” Her gracious answer and her brave smile melted some of the anger in his heart.

We are both victims of birth and circumstance, and blaming her for the unfolding of events is as unfair to her as the way her parents sprung this marriage upon her.

They may have feared her reaction, but they had underestimated their daughter. Under different circumstances, he would love the smooth quality of her voice that lacked the melodiousness of most elves.

He rose to his feet and slipped the platinum cuff on her right arm. It surprised him when it heated under his touch and adjusted itself around her arm.

I have heard about this, but did not think it possible between an elf and a werewolf. Only the man who places this bracelet of promise on her arm can take it off again, and if I die, it will loosen of its own accord.

Her skin was cooler than his, almost human.

Someone offered her a smaller velvet case. She opened it, revealing a beautiful platinum seal ring with his personal emblem set in sapphire shards. The elven people forged exquisite jewelry and weapons, and although he was not one for jewelry, the ring was not a choice.

“Would you accept my hand in marriage, Melbourne Carthagan, as I accepted yours?” she asked with the slightest tremble to her voice, and removed the ring from its seat.

“I accept your hand as you accepted mine, Alyssa Faeryn,” he said the words expected of him.

As she slipped the ring onto his finger, it settled there in the same way her bracelet had settled on her.

He suddenly understood the look in her eyes; these simple pieces of jewelry might as well be manacles.

Elves live for a thousand years, and few werewolves reach their four-hundredth birthday. If neither of us does anything unwise, we will be bonded to each other for what might as well be an eternity. It did not sit right with him that she would outlive him, either. She could have another life someday, and I will not get the same opportunity.

Alyssa watched Melbourne’s stormy gray eyes become calm. His tanned skin looked dark against her hand as she slipped the ring into place. Her skin never darkened with the sun, and not even when the southern winters forced him inside for those two months of deep cold would his ever be as pale as hers.

It seemed a symbol of the differences between them.

The differences between us lie in so much more than just my alabaster skin tone and pointed ears. This man is a werewolf. He shifts into a dangerous creature, and what I know of their kind originated from books.

She suspected that he had dealt more intimately with elves over the years.

Werewolves had a fondness for elves, but their interest was carnal. Most elves would not foul themselves with another species, but some enjoyed a brief dalliance.

He took her hand and turned them toward the gathered guests.

The men and women around the table politely clapped hands, but the emotions behind their eyes were all but joyous. Most of them had been champing at the bit for years to get their teeth into El Faeryn, and Alois, her father, had thwarted them all.

She would be proud of him if she were not the sacrificial lamb.

“Now, to inspect the goods,” Eagene suggested, approaching them with her hand outstretched.

It took Alyssa only a moment to catch on, and the queasiness in her stomach intensified as she took the werewolf female's hand.

Brother and sister definitely did not share a mother. The girl’s mocha skin was several shades darker than her brother’s. Her sensual beauty attracted the men and sparked jealousy in the women. The siblings’ eyes were the same shade of gray.

The color of Malachai’s eyes and the contrast with Eagene’s skin were striking.

A maid accompanied them to Alyssa’s dressing room, and if elves could blush, her face would be scarlet.

The maid helped Alyssa out of her dress, but as she reached for the petticoats, Eagene stopped her.

“You may leave,” the werewolf suggested, and the servant hurried away.

“If this were up to me, I would leave it be, but my father is a very thorough man. If you are not as promised, your family stands to lose a lot, and I would rather not displease him any further. There is no need for the maid to watch me inspect you like a horse. You might hide a sixth toe in those fancy shoes or maybe an unexpected appendage,” Eagene teased.

It took a moment for Alyssa to catch on, and her expression made the other woman chuckle.

“Not so innocent after all,” Eagene drawled, helping her undress.

Having been dressed and undressed by maids all of her life, Alyssa never felt so naked in another woman’s presence.

“You shall not be inspecting me like a horse because you won’t stick your fingers up a horse’s private parts to determine if it is a solid investment,” she said darkly.

Eagene sputtered, respect entering her eyes.

“A little spunk, I like that, and so will Melbourne. Since we are being honest, I am not exactly an impartial judge. Since we will share a house, my father having exiled me to Melbourne’s lands for my indiscreet behavior, I will warn you that I am bisexual. This way, you will be more uncomfortable with me than you already are, but you will feel less violated when you find out in a month or two. Yes, I find you incredibly sexy. You are a lot curvier than most elves, but you belong to my brother now. You must also understand that I am protective of him. You mess around with him, and I will slit your throat.” The fierce glint in Eagene’s eyes nearly made Alyssa take a step back.

Anger replaced Alyssa’s discomfort instantly, only showing in the gleam of her eyes, which she saw in the mirror.

“My parents did not forewarn me of this marriage, Eagene Carthagan, but I am a woman of my word. I know neither you nor your brother. He may even be a brute, but to honor my father’s word, safeguard my people against attack, and allow them their dignity back, I will do as is required of me.” Her measured tone made Eagene frown as their gazes sparred.

“My brother is no brute; you may rest assured that he is a man of honor. He played the field as a bachelor, but he would remain faithful to this marriage and the promises of his father. Now, allow me to finish my inspection before your father sends someone to check on us. He may believe I have assassinated you or something less pleasant,” Eagene suggested.

Alyssa nodded her consent, and Eagene barely finished when Elliandre entered the room.

The werewolf washed her hands as Alyssa dressed.

“She is whole of body and mind, as promised," Eagene said. "And her honor is intact. I congratulate you, Queen Elliandre, on your beautiful daughter. We shall treat her well. She will want for nothing, and I shall escort her to visit you twice a year."

She turned to assist Alyssa back into her gown.

“I will help my daughter dress, thank you," Elliandre said, guilt shadowing her eyes as she took in Alyssa's calm gaze. "Feel free to return to the ball."

“Unfortunately, I will decline your offer, Queen Elliandre," Eagene insisted. "My future sister-in-law is safe in my hands. Return to your guests. I do not wish for someone to think something amiss. I also believe Alyssa is not yet ready to discuss the events of the evening."

Elliandre opened her mouth to contradict her guest, but then her eyes met Alyssa's. She saw how her mother realized Eagene was right.

They should not have kept this from me. Father still sees me as a girl who does not yet understand what is good for her, but I am not a girl; I have a perfect grasp of the situation.