A Nymph Without Mercy
XI

Mairi looked up at him in surprise. “I have no such power to offer you.I am sorry if that is a disappointment.”

Garrick chuckled lowly, not the least amount of humour in the sound.“Pity. That could have made this entire interlude worth it if only...”

He turned from her and removed his helm, and she watched the back of hishead as he smoothed a mask over his features before facing her.

“Why do you wear that?”

He stiffened, and there was no mistaking the resentment that kindled ather enquiry. She returned her gaze to the forest floor, ashamed at herinability to communicate with him properly. Must she anger him at every turn?

“What do you remember of me? Of my face?”

Mairi shuddered, not liking to think back on the pain, the horrible painthat had left her breathless and so terribly afraid. But she tried to push awaythose thoughts and focus on her first glimpse of her mate. “You... I did notreplace you very fair.”

Garrick snorted, a curious sound. “Nay, I do not suppose you would.” Hemoved closer. “I wear the mask to stem the stares, to quiet the tongues, andkeep the mother’s from clutching their children to their breasts.” He creptcloser still, and she could feel that rippling of fear once more in her bellyand she had to purposefully keep from moving away from him. He leaned forward,his voice nothing more than a menacing hiss of air as it met her ear. “For doyou not realise, your mate is nothingmore than a demon?”

She recoiled.

Her throat tightened as all the memories of her adar telling her of demons and devils, vicious, unseen creaturesthat lived only to cause harm and unrest to the natural world threatened tobreak through the haze that seemed to cloud so much of her past.

She stared at him. His eyes were narrowed, and he almost appeared to be waiting for something.

Waiting for her.

Waiting for her to flee, to run, to curse him as she suddenly realisedso many must have done to him.

He was not comely, there was no denying it. From what little sheremembered of his visage, that much was still certain. But he was her mate, andshe felt it deep within her very soul that he was simply a man.

A man who had known far too much pain and despair.

A lump formed in her throat as she recognised the same sorrow in herheart upon losing her kin.

“You should not say such things. I may not know much of your world, butI do know of the work of demons. You should not say such things aboutyourself.”

His lips pursed into a thin line and he drew back to his full height.“You saw me murder a man this day, and yet you suggest that our work is notsimilar. Is that truly the mate you desired?”

She wanted to cry. She wanted to yell at him that of course he was not what she always dreamed of when she picturedthe handsome dryon that would someday lay claim to her.

But instead she looked up at him with all the strength she could muster—forshe could not help but notice that she alone was supporting their tenuous bond,and it was exhausting to the extreme. “You are the only one I have and I mustaccept you as you are.”

Garrick blinked and stepped back, and she could not decide if she wasrelieved or despondent that he was no longer so near.

He walked away from her and leaned his head against the trunk of a tree,his shoulders hunched and appearing heavy burdened. She fought down the desireto go to him—to offer what little comfort she could—knowing that she must givehim time to collect his thoughts.

“Imagine...” He stopped with a sigh.

“Yes?”

She took a step forward, the better to see what little she could of hisface. His eyes were tightly shut and for a moment she thought he vaguelyresembled one of the children she had admired in the forest, playing seeker inthe woods, squeezing his eyes closed until such time when he could replacewherever nook his sister had hidden away within.

“Imagine you were a burden—that you were ugly and repulsive and hadnothing to offer your mate except misery and death. That upon your meeting hehad been hurt terribly and was now forbidden from ever seeing his family again.Would you not wish to free him if you could?”

She could not help but blink back tears, for even as he spoke the wordsshe knew that he believed them.

And it broke her heart.

“You truly feel this way? That I see you as a burden?” She could barelyform the words, and if possible his shoulders hunched further.

“Yes.”

Mairi staggered backward, her hands clutched to her breast as she triedto stem the pain. She had been wrong, so dreadfully wrong. The throbbing,shooting hurt of the arrow as it separated muscle and sinew was nothing incomparison to this desperate knowledge that she had failed, so utterly andcompletely, to be what her mate needed.

She needed his help, that much was certain. To navigate this strange newworld was a daunting enterprise, and she felt ill equipped and lost unless hewas beside her.

But obviously, and she realised her grave error in not noticing itsooner, he required her help as well.

To soothe the hidden places of his heart where others had inflictedharm.

To show him that he was desirable as a bond-mate.

To show him that she cared for him.

For despite their wretched beginnings, there could be no denying thatshe did. She wished for his happiness, for him to laugh without scorn, to touchher gently as he held her in his arms and whispered of his love and affection.

She would be merciless.

She would heap such gentleness and fondness upon him until he could not helpbut reciprocate. For her brave knight was not so very brave in this.

But she could be.

Mairi went to him and laid her hand softly on his shoulder, a twinge ofsadness creeping through her as he stiffened at her touch. “My poor, poor, Garrick.I have failed you so.”

His eyes squeezed tighter and he turned his head away, and withtrembling fingers she followed. She did not remove his mask—would not hurt himin that way when it so clearly would cause him discomfort—but she allowed herfingers to brush through his dark hair, surprisingly silky for a man’s.

And she realised with a bemused smile that she was just as new to thisas he was. She did not know thetexture of a man’s hair as she had never felt it. Her adar’s had been soft and clean, and when she was a seedling sheremembered running her fingers through the long strands as he told her storiesof the Old Days.

Touching at all was still a novelty to her, so long forbidden except theoccasional nudge against a sisterling or the brush of fingertips between parentand child.

But this was a wholly different action, one that felt right and true—asif for the first time she was performing her duty as a bond-mate well.

Garrick shuddered from her ministrations before meeting her gaze, hisexpression more vulnerable than she had ever seen. “You mock me.”

She shook her head sadly. “Never. Not about this. I have failed socompletely in being a proper mate. I should have made you feel that we were meant to have bonded, that I encouragedour sealing, not left you wondering if I despised you for not being what I hadalways imagined.” She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his arm,suddenly hating the cool metal that kept her from connecting with him. “And forthat I am truly sorry.”

“You take too much responsibility on yourself. When I consider how Ihave treated you...” She glanced up, only to replace that he seemed to be lookingfar away, even as his eyes were settled upon her. “I am ashamed. Neither of usasked for this, yet I punished you for it. That is inexcusable.”

Mairi disagreed but said nothing.

He sighed, and she could not help but notice that his breath quivered,much as hers did when she was struggling against tears. “Perhaps... we shouldbegin anew. I will do my best to believe your experiences, as incredible as Ireplace them, and you shall... attempt to forgive me for not treating you as alady deserves. I shall do my best to rectify that in future.”

Garrick was trying, she knew. But his proposal did not seem sufficient.She would forgive him, of course she would, but there were things she felt mustbe acknowledged aloud. “A counter proposal, if you are amiable.” She waited forhis nod of approval before continuing. “You shall not dismiss my past, and youshall tell me what you desire in a mate... a wife. You shall not fight me as Itry to strengthen our bond, and you shall not...” she swallowed, urging hertears to quiet so he could not accuse her of using them to manipulate him. “Youshall no longer say that I desire another. You shall try to believe me that Iam satisfied with our sealing, and that I would have us be happy. Together.”

“Mairi...”

“No, Garrick, please do not dismiss me. I do not know of your upbringingand you will barely tolerate speak of mine, but it is foolish to ignore it if weare to ever understand one another! And I realise I may ask too much for youto... try to replace me desirable as your mate, but...oh...”

A horrible thought entered her mind. He had said that he had no other,that he was unbound at the time of their sealing, but what if... what if he didnot wish to be faithful to her? Perhaps his reticence stemmed from his desireto be with other women—females of his own kind. Too often she had assumed thattheir ways were similar. But what if in this, this fundamental and soul-sealingaspect, they were different?

She had witnessed assignations in the forest before. In truth, many ofthe animal species did not mate for life. But they were most certainly not animals, and the idea of him wishingto be with others, perhaps dozens whileshe would pine and feel his pleasure through their bond...

It was too much to bear.

Garrick looked nearly panicked as she stumbled away, shaking her headfuriously as she did so.

“What is it? What is wrong?”

“Tell me true, Garrick. Is the reason you do not wish to be my mate thatyou lust for others? That you fear if you are with me that you cannot be withwomen ever again should you desire them?”

He blinked, reaching for her even as she huddled away from him.

“How can... how can you ask that of me? Did you not hear what I justsaid?”

He came forward and she felt the sturdy trunk of a tree behind her backas she stepped backward yet again. “No, no!In this, in this you shall understand!” He was upon her, his hands grippingat her wrists and his eyes forceful. But while she expected him to be harsh,his eyes blazing with anger even as his fingers dug into her wrists, she foundthat it was not so. His touch was gentle as he allowed his bare fingers to skimthe slivers of flesh her sleeves revealed, and she shuddered at the intensityof the sensation, echoed heartily through their bond. And his eyes, oh hiseyes! They were bright and nearly desperate as he sought hers. “You think I donot desire you? That I would spurn you and dishonour you should I ever begraced with you as a wife? No man would ever dream of turning from you if heshould be fortunate enough to secure your love.”

He leaned forward, his breath warm upon her ear. “But I do not have your love, nor do I deserve it.” Garrickallowed his lips to glide over the pale skin beneath her ear, and she shudderedat the strange feel of his flesh mixed with the texture of his mask. “And thatis what keeps me from surrendering to you completely.”

He pulled away, and instantly she missed the feel of him. Perhaps sheshould have been nervous with him looming above her, pressing against her, butinstead she felt safe. No one couldtouch her, no one would harm her—not when she was in the cocoon made of herbond-mate’s imposing figure.

She felt a blush rising in her cheeks at her thoughts, and she divertedher mind to think of his reassurances. He wanted no other, and her heart leaptfor joy.

“I... I do not ask for your surrender. I ask for your willingness to try.”

He scoffed. “I see little difference. Caring for you would be no greatdifficulty, but I refuse to be a love-sick fool who craves your companionshipwhile you...” he waved vaguely over her person.

She was mildly affronted. “I what? Mock you for your affections? Desertyou at my whim?” Mairi took a steadying breath, knowing her anger wouldcontribute nothing but raised voices and hurtful words. “Garrick, you aremaking this far more difficult than it need be. I am not like those you havepreviously met, I am sure you have realised. I will not be as cruel as they—notwhen I only wish for your happiness.”

He shook his head, his arms crossed over his broad chest as he stareddown at her. “None have ever wished for such a thing before, so forgive me forbeing wary.” But his tone was incredulous and she had to control the urge tostamp her foot in frustration.

She wanted to go back to comforting him, to soothing as best she couldand in turn, soothing the part of her soul that was bound to his.

She was tired of quibbling. Perhaps when their roots were more establishedthese small arguments could fade with remembrances of sweeter moments, but Mairiwas all too aware that their discord far outnumbered the few happenings oftenderness.

Mairi sank to the forest floor, leaning her head back against the firmand stable tree trunk. “What would you have me do, Garrick? You know of mywillingness to be whatever you need of me, but first you must cease comparingme to those you have known before. I certainly do not compare you to Raghnall!”

She knew it was the wrong thing to say as his eyes darkened and hisexpression hardened. And she could not help the tears that threatened to burstforth at the knowledge that no matter how she tried, they never seemed to communicate properly.

Garrick opened his mouth. Then he closed it again with a firm snap and strode toward Callum. For abrief instant she was certain he was leaving her and she had neither the energynor the will to call him back to her. But instead he rifled through his bag,grumbling all the while.

Mairi tried not to pay attention, the weariness and hopelessnesssettling over her nearly as tangibly as his cloak about her.

Her eyes were closed even as she felt the wetness on her cheeks thatmade it abundantly clear that despite her efforts, she was weeping. But soonshe felt a presence above her, looming and unyielding and she was rapidlycoming to associate that feeling with that of her bond-mate.

“The sweetie you requested.” He said the name with a barely disguisedcurl of his lip, almost as if the treat offended him. His hand was extended andwrapped in a thin and slightly ragged cloth was a food item that nearlyresembled the biscuit he had offered her before, only this appeared nearly wetwith moisture—an odd thing to be sure.

“What is it?” She sniffled, trying to cease her tears. They would onlyanger him further, she knew, and she felt oddly touched that even in hisexasperation he was taking care of her instead of making her feel worse.

Perhaps there was hope for them after all.

“I believe it is a form of honey-cake. Far too sweet for my taste, butyou may enjoy it.” She stared at it a bit longer, and he sighed before kneelingbefore her. He took one of her hands in his before placing the sweetie in herpalm. She stared at him disbelievingly, not at all prepared for this act ofchivalry.

“Thank you,” she whispered, not wanting to disturb the moment with moreof her ill-conceived words.

He nodded swiftly before finally removing his hand from beneath hers androse. “I shall not be offended if you do not care for it. It was your friend Haroldafter all who suggested it, not I.”

She nibbled her lip, trying to decide if her stomach was interested inthis new and strange delicacy. It gave no answer, even when she prodded it lightlywith a fingertip.

Garrick snorted as he leaned carelessly against a tree. “Are you waitingfor your stomach to speak to you again? I can assure you, if I perform my dutyappropriately you shall not reach that level of hunger often. Simply taste it.”

She blushed, grateful for his explanation though slightly embarrassed athaving done something foolish yet again. She took a small bite and held it inher mouth, wondering at the flavour. It was sweet, to be sure, and thehoney—something she knew of!—gave it a moistness that was decidedly pleasant.

Mairi ate it with vigour.

Garrick chuckled. “I cannot say I am surprised, you seem like one thatwould have a fondness for sweet things.”

She swallowed, thinking it would most likely be impolite to speak to himwith her mouth full of honey-cake. “Is that bad? Should you have preferred amate who did not?” She touched the remainder of her treat forlornly, wonderingnow if she should pretend indifference. She did so wish to please him.

Garrick sighed and rolled his eyes. “Do not do that. If there is onething I shall not abide from this entire confusing affair is for you to denyyour preferences in order to become who you thinkI desire. So eat heartily, for I do not know when we shall pass that wayagain.”

She cocked her head, deciding to savour every bite if it could not be aregular occurrence. “Will we not be passing by the tavern again? We seem to beon the same road.”

He looked mildly surprised. “Aye, we shall. But we have a king to speakto and I had not intended for us to stay the night.”

Mairi pressed her finger to the shabby cloth, collecting whatever crumbsshe could before licking them off with her tongue.

Garrick watched her intently, and she blushed yet again, although shewas not entirely certain as to why.

“Should you... care to stay the night? I do not know what your home waslike, but I would imagine you miss a warm bed and a roof over your head to keepout the night air.”

He appeared awkward, almost as if he was unaccustomed to asking for anopinion instead of plunging ahead with whatever plan best suited him.

She smiled at him in gratitude, his obvious effort to include her doingmore to sweep her sadness than even the sweetie. “I am used to sleeping in mytree, surrounded by my people. But things are different now, and I should verymuch like to try this bed you speakof.”

Garrick brusquely nodded. “Very well then, a bed you shall have.”

And perhaps she should have insisted they stay, at least until morethings had settled. She so wished he would come to accept that she did not seehim as others did.

But with the honey-cake sweet on her lips, and his obvious care andattention even in the midst of his ire, perhaps things had been nearly settledafter all.