A Nymph Without Mercy
XXV

Mairi did not knowwhat to feel.

It still seemed so strangeand unnatural to take the life of another, yet as Garrick held her in his armsand she felt the emptiness echo through their bond there was no possibilitythat she would push him away.

Not when she neededthe contact just as desperately.

He made her feelsafe, far removed from the king’s moist breath and caging presence, and she hadnever been so grateful for her bond-mate. When they had first met he hadthought that she would be happy with any that had claimed her—that the natureof her people’s sealings dictated that she would be helpless but to accept anythat touched her.

But that was not thecase.

Not now that she knewthe ill-intentions of some of his kind.

Her sweet Garrick waskind and gentle, no matter how he had tried to convince her otherwise.

Simply the memory ofanother sent a shudder through her, and was grateful for his firm grip abouther.

“Do you wish to speakof it, little nymph? No matter what he threatened, he shall be in no conditionto see you harmed.”

She nibbled her lipand closed her eyes, trying to decide if speaking the words would only make herrelive the experience or if it would be a purging of her soul—a burden to beshared with the one far more apt to carry them than she.

“Why has no onestopped him before?”

Garrick sighed andbegan stroking her hair with his fingertips, and she could not help but humlightly in contentment, relishing the feel of his gentle attentions.

“Some believe thatmen are born to rule. To usurp a king is a dangerous undertaking, and itgenerally means death should you fail. The incentive must be great indeed toeven attempt it.”

She stilled, notknowing the ramifications would be so very dire. “And you have such anincentive?”

He nuzzled his faceagainst the curve of her neck and this time when she felt lips caressing theshell of her ear they felt right and good. But to her horror tears still pooledeven as she tried to stop them. This was her Garrick, her bond-mate, herhusband, and she would not allow one occurrence to taint anything between them.

“Do you even need toask?”

She did not, nottruly. But her words had sent a ripple of love and affection through their bondand chased away the hollowness that had threatened to overwhelm them both.

But a new worry hadentered her mind, one that she could not in good conscience ignore.

“Bonnie said that youthreatened to hurt her if anything happened to me in your absence. Will youactually do it?”

Garrick sighed andhis arms fell away, but before she could protest—rescind her question andassure him that she would keep silent on the matter if only he would holdher—he coaxed her to turn so that she could look at him.

“The maid is safe, Mairi.Do you think me so very wretched? That because I would poison a man I wouldalso punish an innocent for the failings of her husband?”

She played with aloosened tie of his tunic. “No, but I also know that you value your word. Shewas very frightened.”

Garrick huffed androlled his eyes dismissively. “Then she should have emphasised the importanceto Cyrus that you remain protected.”

Mairi shook her head.“He said that it was safer in public; that if I did not come to the banquet theking had said he would come to our room as he knew you had departed.” Sheglanced up at him worriedly. “Was I wrong to go with him? Would you havepreferred I stayed here?”

He sighed and brushedher cheek and she closed her eyes at the contact. “You have done nothing wrong,my wife. It is only becoming clearer to me that while being a solitary creaturein the past ensured my protection, that is not necessarily the most effectivemeasure for you.”

She cocked her headto the side slightly, intent on understanding him. “You wish for... friends?Sisterlings and guards who help keep those you love safe?”

He smiled at herfondly and brushed his lips against her temple. “I suppose I do, at times likethese. I would even take that Raghnall of yours to guard you as I know he atleast values your wellbeing.”

She watched his lipcurl slightly and knew that it pained him greatly to even consider allowing herold friend near her. But Raghnall was a good dryon and would never think ofintruding on a bond, no matter how much his heart might wish it.

Not that she wouldhave ever allowed or encouraged him to do so. Not when she had her sweet Garrick.

Mairi hoped he founda dryad that cared for him. She did so want for him to be happy.

That ache reappearedwhen he mentioned her home and it did not go unnoticed by her bond-mate. “Youare unhappy.”

She shook her headslowly, trying to determine what precisely she felt. “I am not unhappy. I could never be so when I haveyou. But...I cannot help but miss certain things. Like my adar and company, and knowing that everyone in the wood only wishedfor one another’s shelter and contentment.”

Mairi brushed herfinger against the sliver of exposed flesh where his tunic began to open. “Itis so lonely when you are gone...”

They were both quietfor a long moment. For a while she thought that she had offended him, that hewould think she found him lacking as a mate. But he seemed more pensive thanangry so she allowed him time to collect his thoughts even as she wondered whatshe truly wished for.

“I have offeredbefore, Mairi, and I shall again. Do you wish to return to the wood and lookfor your people? At the very least perhaps you would be allowed to say a propergoodbye, not rely on dreams and visions to provide you a glimpse at theirwelfare.”

Is that what shewanted?

Hers were not aviolent people but even she could not guarantee their safety. There was no history of this kind of bond,not precedence to give her comfort that the elders would be reasonable. Andthat had not changed simply because she had been given time alone to truly missthem.

“What is it you want,little nymph? Say the words and I will do my upmost to see it done.”

She shifted so shewas lying over him and she cupped his face in her hands, coaxing and soothingthe lines that had formed at his earnestness.

“Give me a home, I carenot where. Take me from this place and let us be free—free to replace kind peopleto form bonds with, if only very small ones. And I know you worry that we shallnot have seedlings of our own, but give us the chance to try. But not here. I do not want our nymphling or dryling to knowanything of this place.”

In a move so quick itmade her gasp in surprise, Garrick had flipped them so that she now was pressedagainst the featherbed, his body long and strong and wrapping her in adelicious covering of protection and love.

“You have my word, Mairi.I have a place in mind where we might have all that you ask, but first I mustpetition the new king for the rights to this property. It had forests for youto hide and play, and a lake for you to explore. We could be free there, youand I. Of that I am certain.”

Her brow furrowed.“Why have you not spoken of it before?”

His eyes darkened butnot in anger, in shadows of memory that still clung to his mind that even shehad not yet been able to quiet. “It is my ancestral home. I forsook it long agobut now...” He took a deep breath and when their eyes met once more there was adetermination there that she had not seen before. “Now that you are with me Ithink we could make it the home it was intended to be. Too long it has beenmismanaged and a prison for misery and pain, and I would have us cleanse it.”

Garrick leaned downto press an all too brief kiss upon her lips, and then he added quietly, “Justas you have cleansed me.”

She could not bearfor him to think her more powerful than she truly was. “I did not do so verymuch. Please, you know I possess no great magic.”

Garrick scoffed andpressed gentle kisses on the tear stains that had only just begun to fade.“Preposterous. You have managed to possess me, both body and soul in so short atime. You have taken away the scars of my mother’s hatred, and with it began toheal what remnants also contaminated my very essence.” He kissed her lips,slowly and thoroughly, “What greater magic is there?”

How could she hope toform an adequate response?

So instead sheallowed her fingers to move through his own dark hair, revelling as he shiveredin that delightful way and nearly feeling the same tingles that erupted in herown body when he performed the same action. And with another careful tug sheclaimed his lips, pouring out her acceptance and resolve, and most importantly,her love.

He had thoughthimself a monster, yet he was one of the bravest men she knew. He would stop adastardly king from performing the most heinous of crimes when lesser men wouldfear for their lives and remain silent. He would face the horrors of his pastand hope to conquer them, simply to provide her with a proper home.

Her brave knight.

She felt his fingersunder her, plucking at the laces of her gown and she shifted slightly to aidhis purposeful intentions. His clothing was easier to manoeuvre, although shehated their momentary separation when she insisted his tunic be removed andtugged it up and over his head.

He always seemed soshy when his breeches were removed. It took a good bit of coaxing and skilfullyplaced hands to ease his bashful countenance, and she wondered if she should bemore concerned at his reticence. But perhaps that was the way of men and they worriedand fretted that they were unpleasing to look upon, even when his masculineform was most certainly comely and desirous.

But when he joinedwith her there was no room for thought or doubt. There was only love andacceptance, and a blessed reassurance that they were together and once moretruly one. And the intensity of that feeling made her tears fall freely.

“Mairi? Are youwell?”

He lay beside her,still quivering from his own pleasure as he drew her into his arms and wipedaway her tears. His brow was furrowed with concern, and her emotions were tooraw and open to contain. “You are so perfect. My very soul aches when we areapart and then when we are once more together...”

He held her morefirmly against him as his breathing quieted. “I know, dear-heart. I feel thesame. It is so wrong to be parted from you even for the smallest while.” Shepressed a kiss above his heart, grateful for his understanding even when wordsfailed her. “Does this fade with time? These feelings?”

She glanced at him andwith a finger she softly smoothed away the line that formed between his brows.The idea of their cooling want for one another evidently bothered him as muchas it did her. “Our bond shall only grow, sweet Garrick. There is no fadingbetween mates, simply maturation.”

He tugged playfullyat a lock of her hair. “Why little nymph, are you suggesting we shall becomeold-growths together? And here I believed your people immortal.”

She smiled up at himsoftly. “No one is immortal, Garrick. Not even us. Our time might be longerthan yours, but it too comes to an end.”

He shook his head.“Let us not speak of endings. Only beginnings. What shall you do first in ournew home?”

Mairi took a momentto wipe away the remnants of her tears, perfectly willing to participate in hisimaginings of their many tomorrows yet to come. “You promised me a forest toplay in.” The more she thought of the woods the more she longed for herfamiliar surroundings and the companionship to be found within—and not onlythose of her kin.

“Are your trees verywise? You shall have to tell me their words for I should like to introducemyself properly and know that they accept my presence. They may not have knowna nymph before and they could be quite shy. If they are, it would be terriblyrude to impose upon them.”

She peered at him,trying to assess if he thought her very foolish. She spoke truthfully as treeswere indeed very dignified creatures and she would not wish to inflict herpresence upon them if they disliked her.

But he only smiled ather in that sweet way of his; pure indulgence and gratefulness that she waswilling to share what to him must have seemed so eccentric.

“I shall be yourinterpreter for as long as you have need of my services. But perhaps yourability has returned now that our... bond has established itself more firmly.”

She sat up sharply. “Doyou think it possible?”

Her heart swelledeven at the thought of it.

Garrick’s expressiongrew wary, and she could readily see that he was uneasy at her reaction. “Anythingis possible, Mairi, I have learned that from you. But I would not wish for youto grow expectant.” He brushed her cheek softly with his thumb. “Yourdisappointment is also mine.”

She nodded firmly,holding his wrist so she could place a kiss upon his palm, smiling at howcomfortable a simple action could be. “No expectations; merely hope. I do notthink that is asking too much.”

With his free arm hedrew her back upon his chest and she offered no resistance, for in truth, therewas no place she would rather be. “So you would have us traipse through thewoods. That is hardly different from what we have been doing since our bond wasfirst forged.”

Mairi entwined herfingers with the hand she still held prisoner. “I disagree. For that wood wouldbe ours. We would not be travellerswho borrow it for a time, but instead we could become friends with it. I shouldthink that very different.”

Garrick did notappear wholly convinced, but did not press the matter. “I will defer to yourjudgement. You know the ways of trees much better than I.”

She could not helpbut smile at that. “That is a curious thought. There is so little that I ammore experienced in than you.”

“I am not so certain. You know the ways of loving a person as you haveexperienced it before. I do not know that I would have had the courage to tryif not for your example.”

Mairi pressed a kiss to his exposed throat, savouring his trust in herto be so vulnerable in her presence. “It is in your nature, Garrick, just as itis in mine. I like to think we bring out the best in one another—like aproperly mated pair.”

His smile was so soft and gentle and she had never felt so loved.Despite what he said there was no doubt that he was very good at showing his devotion.

“What will you wish to do first in our new home?”

His smile turned roguish and she knew precisely where his mind hadturned. Even though they had only just finished with their previous interludeshe already felt her blood warm once more to receive such a look.

But then his gaze turned wistful and he sighed, his grip about hershoulders tightening. “I wish to purge the house of memories. I wish to takeyou to all the little nooks where I would hide as a boy, so hated and alone,and have you hold me and remind me that I never have to feel that way again.”

She burrowed her face closer to his chest so he would not see the tearsthat had begun to pool. This was not about her pain at hearing of his pastdespair, but was her turn to comfort and soothe as best she could.

Her voice was muffled as she could not yet calm herself enough to lookat him and she kept her face buried in the smooth flesh of his chest, but sheknew from the way he trembled and as his hold on her was so firm that heunderstood.

“Never again, my sweet Garrick. We shall fill it with so much laughterand affection that at times we will be forced to flee to the woods or else thedwelling will be full to bursting.”

They lay there in the quiet of their room, their breath and thecrackling of the fire as it heated their chamber the only thing to break thesilence.

She tried not to think of a man perishing within the same structure.

She tried not to think of her Garrick’s involvement.

Instead she focused on their future, as her bond-mate had suggested. Andit was so very beautiful to her and she wanted it so desperately, yet at thesame moment she felt a crippling guilt that her happiness should come at thecost of another.

She tried to keep her feelings from crossing through their bond but shemust not have been overly successful for when she peeped up at Garrick his eyeswere tightly closed. “How can I help you, Mairi? I cannot rescind it now. Yourpeople punish innocents with banishment. Is it so unheard of for them to dispensewith dangers in a more permanent manner?”

Mairi swallowed, uncomfortable with the inquiry. “Not since the OldDays. But I was not punished, Garrick. It was a natural consequence that I donot regret.”

He grimaced but did not argue about the ways of her people, to which shewas grateful. They had spoken of it before but still he did not understand thereasoning of the elders for her exile. Although it still hurt her greatly to beseparated from them, she knew of their intentions.

They had an entire people to protect—with a way of life that could notinclude her bond-mate.

And she would never ask him to submit to an existence of ostracism andsuspicion simply so she could be with them.

She was not so cruel.

He regained her attention with a gentle touch upon her cheek. “You arenot to blame for his death, little nymph. You have a right to live unmolested,just as I have a right to protect the one I love. Trust me in this, I beg ofyou. Do not resent me for what I cannot change.”

She nibbled her lip, unsure of how to fully express her thoughts. “Thatis not it, Garrick. It is... difficult for me to know right from wrong in thisworld. I understand your reasons, truly I do, but it confuses me how I shouldthen feel when it is against what I have been taught for so long.”

He looked nearly pained. “Do not base your view of morality upon me, Mairi.I fear you would replace none more ambiguous than I.”

That she could not allow.

“I most certainly can, my brave knight. And he is the very king inquestion. His only guide was what would provide him the most comfort andpleasure, with no regard for those he harmed in the process. You may have actedin such a way in the past, but I do not believe it defines your future. Notnow. Not when you are so dedicated to seeing to my happiness.”

“That is all I want,” he whispered, drawing her close so he could sealhis promise with a kiss.

They slept little that night. On occasion they exchanged hearteningtouches and quiet words of love and assurance. She would not consider the outcomeshould whatever Garrick placed in Drostan’s drink fail to bring about the deathhe appeared so confident was unavoidable. She would not think of thepossibility that Garrick would be discovered and executed in the same mannerthat was seemingly so prevalent to these people.

And when Mairi did manage to drift into an uneasy slumber she awokefrequently to Garrick’s steady presence surrounding her, holding her close asthey waited for the inevitable.

At dawn, breathless and looking as equally tired and dishevelled as bothGarrick and Mairi felt, Bonnie knocked upon the door.

And when both had donned some manner of clothing and Garrick opened thedoor, her eyes were large and harrowed as she pronounced their change infortune.

“The king is dead.”

And despite her many worries and confusion, all Mairi felt was relief.