Chapter 57 The Bonding Of Another Life And This One
Maeve was not really aware of the world around her again.
In her defence, she felt like the universe was poking fun at her and she was a woman being forced into an arranged marriage in a Zee world commercial and would be bullied by an aunty or two— which is not funny but she was trying to stay positive!
But it was hard when she looked around.
Especially at Amir.
The orcs had been the one carrying the palanquin— and though their women were fewer in number than that of the elves, the male orcs were still fun and respectful to the female elves.
It was like seeing a society of dumb jocks who only cared about gaining muscles with the popular kids who enjoyed how the jocks made them laugh.
Match made in heaven.
But her brain was working again. And she was hungry so it really wasn’t helping.
Eldoria E Esperanza did not seem like the type to fall in love. But let’s say she did, because this is a romance novel and things happened, yes? With Lir. But she was not allowed to be with him because she refused to learn their traditions (sounds like her), had a baby for nine months and killed him before they left.
That… did not sound like something she could do.
Yes, the Queen was more or less like the Evil Queen and she was Snow White… give or take, but she was smart, smarter than Maeve would give her credit for.
As much as she wished to rest permanently and do nothing, Eldoria seemed like someone who didn’t have any desire to rest. She wanted constant movements, events happening. Killing Lir would end a whole pathway of events for her.
Because if she was analysing correctly… the war happened before Cassian’s birth… so she was already Queen. She had everything she wanted.
Why would someone as smart as her wish to do something as stupid as this?
Which brought her back to the same thought she had ever since Amir told her about the life bond…
Eldoria must have had some sort of plan— just the same way Maeve did.
Her eyes moved to Amir who was seated on another table, his friends surrounding him. There were women around her as well— the familiar faces, of course. Galinda, Nysarra and Caelith, giggling as they promised her that the event would go well…
And for a second… for a split second, Maeve wanted… Adrian.
She knew it was… absurd. The thought of it. That man detested her guts, hated her somehow for being completely different from the woman he loved… but he would have noticed something was wrong… and made her cough it up.
She wondered what he was doing. If he was eating or sleeping well.
Her thoughts went back to Eldoria.
She must have wanted something from them too. From the Elves. Perhaps Lir told her about it and she wanted to figure out how she could control the life bond? But killing Lir put a stop to it…
And there was Cassian.
He was literally the only clue to this puzzle left.
What was so special about him being half elf and half human? Maeve could swear there was a point leading to that.
“Sister,” Nysarra said in elvish, her elbow nudging into Maeve’s side, “You should watch,”
Not right now, I’m trying to use 80% of my brain, and I cannot be distracted.
But Maeve let herself be distracted… and what a sight it was.
They were in the middle of a clearing, the only good moon shining down on them so brightly that it felt like a spotlight… which it practically turned into when Lir walked into the middle of the place between the two tables and began dancing.
It was a slow dance, and a soft one. Like he was floating once again.
He looked like a… leaf, drifting. Caught in a moment only he could feel.
Maeve genuinely felt like a female bird being courted as Amir moved.
His hair did most of the work, twirling and floating so softly she felt like she was staring at a high class model for free and she didn’t deserve to.
Then very carefully, without missing a step, he reached his hand out for her as he stared. Amir didn’t seem breathless, but there was worry in his eyes. Like he expected her not to take his hand.
But she did.
Mostly because she knew how much it sucked if one was ignored like that in public— and because she knew the women would never let her hear the end of it.
Amir led her gently away from the table, pulling her softly into his body. She realized she loved how he smelled… and how his smile was making her laugh. “I can't get over how happy you look,”
His eyes looked like he was glowing. “Is it really showing that badly?”
Maeve nodded. “I am still not certain why. You’re always so straightlaced. And you also know I can’t exactly dance. You were there that night with—”
“You do not have to say his name. I remember,” For some reason, Maeve wasn’t stepping on his feet, or being clumsy as she thought she would. Instead, it felt as if her body was completely following his lead, letting him guide her as he twirled her around then made her face him. “I feel relieved,”
“Relieved?”
He was behind her now, his hand holding her arm to the side as he placed his lips upwards to her shoulder softly, and turned her around to face him again, “I have spent almost my entire life trying to… fix something. I believed it was my people for many years,”
Something in Maeve thrummed. She had almost forgotten that she had a working… heart. And hearing this… “What was it then?”
Amir’s hands glided carefully on the sides of her body. Softly. Gently. “Me,”
Without wasting a second, he lifted her in the air with an ease that made the thrumming in her chest worse. Maeve realized she did not like it. She didn’t like the feeling streaming through her veins… it was familiar. Too familiar.
No. Maeve. Stop. This is a book. His feelings… whatever they are, does not matter. They are not real. They are just a story that you must cross over. A stepping stone to your vacation.
When he placed her down, Maeve stared at him, watching as he reached out for her cheek. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, wincing… but all he did was brush away the tears that had fallen gently. “I am fully aware that this is a job for you so I will not express my emotions. You do not have to let guilt eat at you for whatever happens. I am eternally grateful for what I have now,”
Maeve stared at him.
She noticed that he was very beautiful. Just like the first day they had met. His facial proportions were so immaculate, and his eyes… out of every one she had met, Amir… held the utmost respect for her. Even now. Even when he knew she felt nothing for him.
He… was letting her do whatever she wanted without making her feel terrible for it.
Maeve tried to think of a time when someone had let her willingly choose like that in her peace life. Without making her sound selfish or manipulative or greedy. And she couldn’t remember.
Aegon was right in front of them, speaking something in elvish. Maeve could not understand it, but she knew she didn’t need to. Not with the way Amir’s eyes had not left her once.
At a point, there was silence, and then ever so softly, Amir pulled away the large veil over her.
His hand reached out for hers, a gesture he had already shown her before, but this time, the lines on his palm twisted and with a burst of light, gold vines burst out of it.
It grew, forming swirls as it lit up the whole place in light. The Orcs oohed and ahhed, and Maeve? She stared at it as it formed a tree, each branch connecting to each Elf over them.
His other hand stayed, waiting for her hand.
Maeve looked around… staring at the elves… and the dark thing that clung onto them. She wondered what would have happened if she told them. If she let them know what was happening before she did what she did.
Then Maeve stopped wondering.
She placed the back of her hand on his palm, watching as the same golden vines he had created from before spread from her palm.
Maeve stared on as it wriggled lazily in the air… before it turned and faced the one coming from his hand.
Maeve looked up at Amir, unsure of what to do, and just as if he had gained access to her thoughts, he guided her hand to his, and ever so carefully, placed it over the bond.
Instantly, a rush of emotions flashed through her body.
It felt like electricity streaming through her veins, rewiring every nerve. It burned. And hurt. It hurt so much Maeve heard herself let out a piercing scream.
“Amir… Amir, what is happening?”
She was not the one asking that question, because Maeve, at that moment, could not speak.
She was now using every bit of energy she had in her body to stay upright, her vision clearing only for a second so she could see that the vine was no longer good… but black… a smoky strange looking black.
Maeve’s head forced itself straight so she could look at Amir… who was still holding her hand even though any other person with a working brain would have let her go… while the tiny cut she had made on purpose bled profusely now, mixing with the Life Bond.
Everyone else seemed to be panicking, but Amir… His eyes never left hers. He watched as blood came out of her eyes, and her mouth… felt every tremor she took. He wanted to hold her to him, hug her and whisper sweet things to her.
But he could not move.
Because the smell of her blood… was overriding his senses.
It was so strong. And poignant that he could feel his fangs forcing itself to come out. He didn’t like it. He didn’t understand what was happening and he didn’t like it either.
And Maeve…
The pain hit her again, like something was slamming hard into her ribs. She felt herself gasp— and then she flew into nothingness, another scream ripping out of her mouth as overwhelming pain tore through her again, her vision burning white and a siren piercing through her ears.
Her body jolted violently, the impact knocking what little air remained from her lungs. She lay there, gasping, trembling, every nerve screaming as the white finally gave way.
The world was no longer too bright or too loud anymore.
Instead, Maeve stared at the sky, realized she was still at Satyr due to the northern lights in the sky but now, the moons… they both looked normal.
She could hear birds whistling, wind blowing through her hair and skin. Felt… life streaming through her veins as she felt the grass underneath her hands.
This was Satyr… but at the same time, it wasn’t.
And then when she looked in front of her, Maeve realized why.
Because right there, was a younger looking Eldoria standing behind a table with the man from the painting laying on top of it.
And… Eldoria… had her knife deep in his chest.