Eternally BoundExcerpt © 2007- Kelli Finger writing as Eve Knight. Cannot be used without permission from the author. "My queen.” Aiden bowed before her, standing unabashed and unbothered by his nakedness. She hardly acknowledged his show toward deference, her glacial eyes only narrowing in contempt. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” Aiden asked, as he sent his golden silk tunic fluttering over him. Despite his concern for his queen’s appearance, he would not cower in her presence. “I do not think once this audience is concluded, you will find anything pleasurable in its outcome.” She lifted an elegant bejeweled hand. “Rise, Aiden!” The room vibrated with the intensity of her fury as Aiden did as he was commanded. The force of it nearly sent him to his knees, and the breath from his lungs as his garment swirled about his ankles. Aiden tried for a light tone as he asked, “What has you so disturbed, my fair, beautiful one?” With a flick of her wrist, Alania doused the flames in the hearth, knocking him to the hard floor. “Enough! You have overstepped your limits lowly fairy, and must pay for your crime against me and the one you’ve injured.” “My queen,” Aiden protested, rising and shaking out the folds of silk. “I know not what I have done to deserve your wrath. I know not of this grievance you speak of. I have hurt no one, and surely,” he entreated her with a poignant stare, “I have done all that is in my will to not to displease my queen, and find fault in her eyes.” He shrugged. “Have my rivals at court told you more lies of my character and swayed you of my complete and utter devotion to serving you? Shall I assuage you of any doubts you have of my loyalty to you?” Aiden asked, stepping closer. “do not come nearer,” she breathed, the ice in her gaze and low trembling in her voice alerted Aiden that all was truly not well with his queen, and that mayhap, this time, he ought obey. “Shall I remind you so you might recall the event I speak of?” Aiden nodded, hoping that he might quickly do away with Alania’s fury. He had on several occasions before, managed to save himself from suffering her wrath, and he hoped that this time would not be any different. “You remember the young lass, Brenna you dallied with?” “Aye, I remember her well. She was a sweet fiery minx, but not as passionate as you, my queen,” Aiden replied, knowing full well of Alania’s jealousy, and her need for reassurance. Brenna was a sweet innocent mortal lass of fair skin and eyes who held his attention for a little while as all mortal women did. Aiden tired quickly of them, hence ‘twas why she and other females never kept him ensnared in their clutches for long. “She was a sweet distraction, nothing more.” “I hear talk among the mortals that she loved you.” Aiden smirked. “’Tis love to her, but only lust to me. I do not love her. She was naught but a child.” Aiden wondered why his queen had an interest in this one particular woman. She never before had concerned herself with his affairs, always knowing that he’d return to serve and entertain her, that they were merely distractions, an amusement for him. “You hurt her deeply.” Aiden shook his head, a defensive note entering his tone. “All mortals hurt after being entranced by a fairy. They grieve their loss, but then forget, and only remember us with great fondness and joy. I gave her many dreams to fill her nights, to recount when she is old and wrinkled. Where is there harm in that. And since when, may I ask, dear queen, did you begin concerning yourself with the affairs of mere mortals?” “Since she departed from this Earth.” Alania glared. “I had to appear to her and attempt to heal her myself, but she died of a broken heart, a broken heart brought upon by you.” Her voice rose as she sent aiden struggling to hold his balance once more. “Dead? Your majesty, this can not be.” Aiden could not believe his Queen’s accusations. Surely Brenna was not dead, for he’d left her, a soft smile had curved her ruby lips, and shone in her deep blue eyes as they closed in sleep. “’Twas not how I left her – she cried aye, but I did not feel so intense an anguish in her to worry as for her life.” “Aye, she is dead. Not even our magic can restore her.” Aiden paced frantically about the small floor space. “I truly meant her no harm. You must believe that.” Alania nodded sadly. “I do believe your words, but ‘tis too late for regrets.” The strength and firmness was still present in her voice and eyes, but so too was understanding and sympathy, as she said, softly, “Aiden, you are correct in that I do not concern myself with the goings on of the mortal world. Indeed, I do dally with their men on occasion when the king and I find one another disagreeable. Every member of my court seeks out their pleasure and finds it among mortals. There are no restrictions or rules that I demand my fairies follow, all but one, and you should know which creed I speak of. You not only ignored it, but did more damage than can ever be undone.” “I do know, my queen.” Aiden bowed, feeling his heart sink. He had broken the cardinal rule that could send a fairy to their death, or worse yet, banishment to serve time as a slave to the demons of the underworld. This only for breaking the rule, Alania surely would not show him mercy for the death of a mortal. Aiden swallowed, now experiencing true fear. “You stole her heart, and did not return it. You took without giving anything of yourself in return.” She accused, dismissing Aiden’s attempts to speak with a quick, harsh slashing motion of her hand. “But worst of all, you stole her life. It does not matter how she died, it ‘twas your selfishness that sent her to it. If you would have only heeded my many warnings, and curbed your reckless conduct, she might still live.” Alania gestured for him to kneel. Aiden fell to his knees, his head bowing to graze the grime on the floor. “I have been watching you for some centuries now, and I was afraid that this would eventually happen. You failed the test I gave you. You have grown reckless and selfish while at my court. I am afraid that mayhap you take for granted your status as the favored son of my brother.” “Nay, ‘tis not so-“ ”He too agrees your carelessness must be dealt with most harshly.”
Selfish? Careless? Wasn’t he not the one who had given
pleasure, not taken it from the wench she’d been moments before? And
what test did she speak of? Her gaze hardened once more. “So, I am sentencing you to an eternity of enslavement.” Aiden bowed, once more, thankful that in this, she had shown him mercy. Or had she? “My queen, I beg you, what test do you speak of?” “The lass Brenna was mortal, but I sent my niece, your cousin to her after your departure to cheer her and raise her spirits, not destroy her. She shall be punished as well for nearly letting the lovesick wench die, but nevertheless, I have seen enough.” If she were not his queen, Aiden vowed, he’d love to leash his fury upon her. How dare she test him – and involve his entire family in the scheme to trap him. “Might I not redeem myself to you, somehow?” Aiden would rather be a slave to his queen than to those of the underworld. ”Nay, since you openly scoff at love and mock any feelings of the heart, ‘tis only you who is responsible for this. You have shackled yourself in this web of your own weaving, and only true love might free you from it. This spell I cast over you, unless broken, shall be bound to you for all eternity.” Back to the bookshelf to choose another title
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