Chapter 13
If Evangeline was prone to swooning, she would have. She couldn’t believe Lachlan had just claimed her to be his betrothed. From the look upon his face, neither could he. Shaking off the light-headedness his remark had engendered, she barely managed to contain her frustrated shriek. Uscias’s release had all but been secured. If Evangeline hadn’t taken matters into her own hands and proclaimed Lachlan’s willingness to wed Magnus’s sister, she knew, given time, he would have. He’d obviously been as enamored with the young girl’s beauty as Broderick and Gabriel.
If she was honest, she’d admit his reaction to Jorunn had so infuriated her, she’d answered for him so as not to hear him agree to the betrothal. So as not to hear him say he wanted another woman in that deep seductive brogue of his. Which was absolutely ridiculous and only served to prove how severely her lack of powers had befuddled her brain, and was obviously the explanation for the almost palpable sense of excitement rising inside her at his declaration.
No, it would not do. For the greater good, she must accept Magnus’s proposal to ensure Uscias’s release. No matter that the thought of doing so filled her with dread.
Magnus turned to her. “Is this true?”
Across the table she met Lachlan’s gaze. The denial she meant to utter stuck in her throat at the heated intensity in his amber eyes. Her traitorous mind and body filled with the memories of the desire he’d ignited in her, of the warmth and tenderness she’d experienced in his embrace, and she found herself reconsidering her response.
The childlike Jorunn, no matter her beauty, would not be the true partner Lachlan required. He needed someone like ... her. Who else but Evangeline could keep him from taking foolish risks that endangered the Fae? No one’s magick was as powerful as hers, well, once it had returned. And Evangeline had no intention of allowing Lachlan to take it from her again.
After careful consideration, she came to the conclusion it was indeed the perfect solution. What better way to fulfill her vow to protect the Fae of the Enchanted Isles than to marry their king? She just had to figure out another way to secure Uscias’s release. Considering Magnus wished to strengthen his ties with the Isle Fae, the solution was simpler than she’d imagined. Either Gabriel or Broderick would serve as a suitable replacement for Lachlan.
“Evangeline,” Lachlan grated out.
“What?” She jerked her gaze to his.
“Ye have yet to answer Magnus.” Lachlan appeared ready to throttle her.
“Yes, it is true. I am betrothed to King Lachlan.” She narrowed her gaze on her supposed betrothed when he muttered a curse. Amid their guffaws, Broderick and Gabriel offered their condolences. No, her head still spinning with thoughts of being wed to Lachlan, she must have misunderstood them.
Fallyn and Shayla stared at her openmouthed while Uscias stroked his silver beard, an amused smile playing on his lips. At least until Lachlan slanted a highly annoyed look in his direction. Whatever was the matter with Lachlan? He had been the one to blurt out the untruth. But the more Evangeline thought about it, the more she warmed to the idea. Her mind already buzzed with plans for the added security she would put in place, the ...
“Then we are back where we started.” Magnus startled her from her strategizing with his testy remark.
“No, no we are not. I have the perfect solution.”
Magnus looked from Evangeline to Lachlan, who slumped in his chair. “It seems your betrothed thinks as your soon-to-be-queen she’s entitled to make decisions that by rights should be made by
you
. Perhaps I should thank you for circumventing my plans to wed her.”
Lachlan snorted rudely. “Aye, ye should.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he said, “Let’s hear this brilliant plan of yers.”
She refused to let him bait her. She was much too pleased with how everything had worked out to let his sulky mood deter her. “It’s simple. King Magnus wishes a marriage to ensure his ties to the Isle Fae and our Hallows. Both King Broderick and King Gabriel are unwed. One of them shall marry Jorunn.” She lifted a questioning brow in Magnus’s direction.
He shrugged. “She’s right. Either will do.”
Fallyn shot her a murderous glare from across the table.
Evangeline frowned. “I don’t see what the problem is, Fallyn. You don’t want him.”
“Evangeline,” Shayla muttered, giving her the evil eye as she patted her sister’s arm.
The taciturn Welsh king grinned, leaning into his ex-betrothed, who sat beside him. “And I thought you didn’t care,” he purred.
“I don’t. Go ahead and marry the
child
,” Fallyn said through clenched teeth.
Broderick brought his palm to her cheek, forcing her gaze to his. “Yes, you do. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
Evangeline hazarded a glance at Lachlan, anxious to see what he thought of her plan. For the first time that day, he grinned at her. Pleasure blossomed in her chest and she smiled at him. At least someone appreciated the rightness of her solution. But when he waggled those golden brows of his at Broderick and his grin widened, Evangeline realized she had provided the perfect opportunity for the Welsh king to gauge Fallyn’s feelings for him, and to push his suit. The means for Lachlan to be rid of the woman warrior and her sisters. Deflated, she returned her attention to Broderick and Fallyn.
“I’m not stubborn. I—”
Broderick smothered Fallyn’s protest with a kiss before pulling back to say, “You are, and it’s one of the reasons I love you.”
Fallyn blinked. “You love me?”
Broderick’s brow furrowed. “I’ve always loved you. You know that.”
Fallyn’s lips pressed in an uncompromising line. “No, Broderick, I don’t. And perhaps the fact you were kissing another woman on the eve of our marriage has something to do with it.”
The Welsh king waved his hand as though his indiscretion was of no consequence. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Fallyn shoved her chair from the table. “Settle this amongst yourselves. I don’t care what you do,” she said before she stormed from the hall.
With one last damning look in Evangeline’s direction, Shayla hurried after her sister.
Evangeline sighed, certain the two women would soon realize her solution was a sound one. Realizing the object of their discussion remained frozen behind her brother, Evangeline slanted a look at Jorunn. Because of Lachlan’s obvious interest in the girl earlier, she hadn’t been kindly disposed to Magnus’s sister. In fact, she didn’t think she’d ever despised anyone more. Given the current situation, she felt somewhat more magnanimous and offered the younger woman a comforting smile.
Jorunn leveled her with a malicious glare, a glare she quickly turned into a look of misty-eyed innocence when she garnered her brother’s attention. Magnus gave his sister’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Well, which one of you is it going to be?” he asked, returning his attention to the men.
Lachlan and Broderick turned to Gabriel, who sat stiffly between them. Gabriel scowled at the two men. He appeared poised to give them a piece of his mind until Jorunn’s choked sob reached his ears. He sighed, his gaze softening at the sight of her tears. Evangeline didn’t blame him—even though she felt certain the tears were an act, the girl cried very prettily indeed.
Coming smoothly to his feet, Gabriel said, “I’d be honored to take Jorunn as my wife.”
Magnus’s sister rewarded Gabriel with a smile so dazzling it appeared to render the three kings speechless. Evangeline rolled her eyes, thinking the young woman adept at manipulation. Evangeline didn’t worry about Gabriel, though. He was an intelligent man, and for all his chivalrous ways, she knew the king of England’s Fae could be firm-minded when warranted.
Evangeline turned to Magnus. “Is this agreeable to you?”
“Yes, most agreeable. Although I must admit despite your somewhat overbearing manner, I am disappointed I cannot make you my wife. Your beauty alone makes up for the fault, and your magick from what I’ve been told, is impressive. Are you certain you don’t wish to reconsider?”
He stroked her arm and her skin crawled. Arwan’s touch had elicited a similar response. She took a deep breath in an effort to calm the nervous churning in her belly. Perhaps because she’d witnessed Magnus’s brutal attack on Syrena, he reminded Evangeline of Arwan. The reason Magnus’s hands upon her, like Arwan’s, made her feel as though she’d be ill. She couldn’t help but wonder why Lachlan, the image of his father, had never made her feel that way.
“Nay, she won’t. And before I take offense to both yer suggestion and yer pawing my betrothed, I’d advise ye to release both Uscias and Evangeline and we’ll take our leave.”
Evangeline blinked. Lachlan’s earlier good humor had disappeared, leaving in its place a hardened warrior who expected his commands to be obeyed.
Magnus arched a brow. “Not so fast. I will see my sister wed before she leaves my protection and,” he slanted a look at Evangeline, “as I am not an altogether trusting man, I begin to question your alleged betrothal. After all, you simply could leave here and no more would come of it, and I would have given up my chance to wed her on account of a lie. To assuage my suspicions, I shall see you wed along with Gabriel and Jorunn.”
The muscle in Lachlan’s jaw jumped. Evangeline realized then that that was precisely what he had intended. And if not for her diminished faculties, she would have recognized his deception for what it was. Now that she did, she could only imagine the weight of disappointment lying heavy in her stomach was because all her plans for the Isles were now for naught.
Lachlan frowned at the look of disappointment in Evangeline’s eyes. Was it because she only now realized Magnus had called his bluff? Surely she couldn’t have thought he’d meant to marry her? Nay, he was the last person she’d wish to wed, just as she was the last person he’d wish to wed. Although, if he allowed the images of her in his arms, of her passionate response, his heated desire for her to take hold in his mind, he might not find the idea of marriage to her so disagreeable.
And having experienced the intoxicating rush of her power, he didn’t relish the thought of losing her magick even while a part of him rebelled against the idea of taking her blood again. But he hadn’t caused her pain. From her response, she’d taken as much pleasure from the exchange as he had. The power he’d gained from her blood undermined his need to keep her at a distance. He was adept at keeping his emotions locked away. With Evangeline, he’d just have to work harder at it.
If he had to wed, and his uncle seemed determined he would, why not Evangeline? Neither of them desired a true marriage, not like Aidan and his cousin Rory. They were adults. Surely they could come to an agreeable arrangement. A grin quirked the corner of his mouth at the thought that once Evangeline was his wife, she’d have no choice but to obey him. That alone made the prospect of wedding her more palatable.
“Get on with it, then. I wish to be back in the Isles by nightfall.”
Magnus rose, putting an arm around his sister’s shoulders. “Jorunn deserves a proper wedding. Return with your people this eve and together we shall celebrate. As a show of good faith, you may take the wizard with you, but Evangeline shall remain here.”
“I would speak with my betrothed before I leave—alone.”
“Certainly.” With a flick of his wrist, both Evangeline and Uscias were released from the chains binding them to their chairs. Magnus waved off the guards who stood at attention around the perimeter of the hall.
Both his mentor and Evangeline, in their weakened state, had trouble rising. Lachlan offered her his hand while Broderick and Gabriel assisted Uscias to his feet. “Lachlan, Evangeline,” Uscias’s lips twitched beneath his mustache, “I wish you much happiness in your marriage. If you have no objections, though, I think it best I return posthaste to the Isles. I shall take Aurora with me.”
Lachlan nodded, tightening his hold on Evangeline, who to his mind seemed less than steady on her feet. Almost as debilitated as Uscias, which didn’t make sense as she’d been chained for an hour at most. He didn’t bother asking after her well-being as he knew she’d not admit to weakness of any kind.
Gabriel, about to follow Uscias and Broderick from the hall, hesitated beside them. “Evangeline, I’d ask a favor of you.” She waited expectantly and he continued, “Would you please reassure Jorunn that she is in no danger from me. I don’t expect ...” He jerked his hand through his hair. “She is little more than a child,” he said with a frustrated bark. “What the hell can Magnus be thinking?”
“Don’t worry, King Gabriel, Jorunn seemed quite happy at the prospect of marriage to you. I think perhaps she is ... stronger than she appears.”
Gabriel sighed. “We shall see. But I would still appreciate it if you offered her my reassurances.”
After Evangeline promised to do so, Gabriel took his leave. Lachlan angled his head to look at her. “And what aboot ye, Evangeline, does the prospect of marriage to me upset ye or please ye?”
She arched a brow. “Neither. It is but a means to an end. You will appease your uncle, and because of my powers, Bana and Erwn will be less likely to challenge your right to rule. At the very least, I shall be aware of it if they do so.”