Althalos had put his betrothed in their bed then smoothed the hair back from her forehead. He thought to press his lips to hers before he left, but he feared it would wake her. The normal walk to the barracks was frustrating as he should be assigning new rotations today, but his mind wasn't on that. As much as Rileus would talk in front of Esme about issues surrounding them, he was as female-insular as most their elders. There would be things left unsaid around his betrothed, and that's what he was going in to face, first.

Firstborn looked up at Fourthborn, when he walked in. "I have two questions for you."

Althalos sat in his normal chair and nodded.

"Did you bind her to your land because of your bond or because you love her?"

"Neither."

"Don't lie to me, All."

"I'm not." It was harder to remain silent on Rileus than it was on Esme-the man knew him too well, and he would soon start glaring if Althalos took too long to explain. "If I love the woman, it's through a means I don't know or understand. And I did this the day she was attacked, when I realized I needed to be able to get to her quicker than running half across the city to find her. I almost missed being there in time-especially if I was going to give her that freedom that you demanded of me."

"You know that means you will be able to follow her back to the hive." For all of his cousin's intensity, Rileus still took his time, on occasion. "And I don't think you're going to leave her alone if she chooses to go."

"And break law like that? I'm not suicidal, never have been." Althalos rarely did anything with his long hair but at this moment, just having strands of it fall in his eyes was stressful-he ran his hand through it to move some out of his face. "It would be far more peaceful if she stays."

"Why do you want her to stay so bad?"

"I don't think all of it has a reason, but I knew when I touched her hand that I wasn't going to come out of this a single man. As much as this woman has been a strain, the biggest thing I've felt this whole time has been relief about not having to go through life alone. I will keep her if she stays. If she does not, I'm going to send a proposition to various kings-save Heinlen's father. It also won't be an Aelif woman, that's for damn certain."

"Care to tell me the reasoning?"

"Not really."

"Then I guess I need to ask the other question-are you certain you don't love Heinlen? We can postpone going after him until she leaves, as unorthodox as this is."

The look Althalos gave his cousin would cower a lesser man. And he remained silent for quite a long time before he gave in. "I still have nightmares. It's usually the first attack, where her mother saved me. Sometimes the man has Heinlen's face. I was a little one back then. I've never preferred anything close to equal in size to me. Any other Bondmaid would likely add to the nightmare, but she's so tiny I'm still afraid I'm going to crush her until she proves to be wilder than I would expect out of an innocent. I've had fewer nightmares when she's asleep at my side-often because I mess with her, but still. In spite of everything, I've not rested this well since I gave up on drinking."

"Less nightmares but still have them?"

"She doesn't always choose to sleep with me. Most the time we wind up in the same bed, but the woman is damned private at times."

That got a chuckle out of Rileus-having the look of a man who wouldn't tolerate much of what Althalos did. "So, you'll take any short woman over being alone."

"No, but I'm not going to be so picky that I suffer for it either."

"Then why her?"

The braw Aelif shrugged. "Because I know it works with her. Because she knows me. She's already carrying my firstborn. I don't know, but I'm as entangled with her as I was to start with-even having been released. I don't want her to go, and don't dare tell her to stay."

"Why not?"

"That's breaking the heart of the law. We mate with them to make more bondmaids, not to raise a family. You know this."

"But is she worth breaking laws for?" Who knew Rileus had such a concept in him? The man was law incarnate.

Althalos didn't want to answer, but he knew too much hung on his response to remain silent. He bowed his head formally to his better. "Yes."

"Then Treubell will leave this afternoon with our grandfather's demands, as well as all the letters." Rileus stood and leaned over to touch his cousin's shoulder. "This will hopefully be over within the week, one way or another."

Althalos visibly paled for a moment. "It may be over now. Something has happened."

The man staggered to his feet, not even waiting for his newest tie to the woman to settle. Seconds later, the Frostways were opened at both ends as he sprinted through just in time for his betrothed to back into his feet. He pulled her to him and backwards, allowing Rileus to pass through behind his half-turned back.

As soon as the Princess regained her balance, she began struggling against her assumed captor. "Damn it, let me go!"

"It's me, Esme." Althalos' voice enveloped her, much like his arms.

The former thief should have known it was him-that she could kick herself for, but she was more relieved than anything. She relaxed against him, waiting for him to release her, but he stayed there with his arms as tight as ever. "I don't mind your touch, All, but it would be nice if you didn't smother me."

That caused him to move. "I'm sorry. I'm trying to stay calm and not start a fight. You had me terrified."

She looked at him skeptically, frost etching her derisive snort. "Were you spying on me? How did you know to be here so quickly?"

"I'm not having you followed, if that is what you are asking."

"You know I'm not."

The briefest pause. It couldn't wait in this dead space. "You remember the Gazeebo?"

"Althalos, I dragged you back there myself. I've not forgotten."

"Well, there are more ties other than the bond. After the first attack, I feared it would happen again, and so I made sure I would know when you are in danger, like back there. I thought I could handle your life being risked if I was there to defend it...but I can't do this again. Not while you carry my child."

She stiffened in outrage-not hard to see her thoughts when she became mad. "So, you're taking away my freedom, now? How long?"

"Rileus promises a week." Althalos frowned at that-she had offered to give it up for this selfsame concern, not long ago. "I couldn't demand more of you without good reason. As soon as things are settled with Heinlen, you can walk the city to your heart's content. I will just have to be there for any further altercations. Now, come."

The rest of the trip back through the Frostways was quick, though cold due to the space between them. Back inside the office, he pulled out a chair at the long table for his betrothed before seating himself. He didn't speak, at first, but chose to wait on her.

"What exactly did you do?"

"Aelifine magic. You know exactly what I did even if you didn't understand it."

She rolled her eyes. "I want to understand it."

He grimaced, "I shouldn't have done it, but none of this has been comfortable. You're not wholly safe."

"You're stalling, and I'm betting you have told me worse than this."

"It depends on what you mean by that. The bond ties you to two fates-one with your people, the other with mine. What I did was reinforce my claim." The Prince paused, hoping for an interruption his woman was unwilling to give him. "When Aelifs are born, their sons are bonded to a chosen piece of land-not very large, a node connected to the Frostways. That gazeebo was built on mine. It's honestly more a part of me than you are. We bond our wives and tether our daughters to it. This will make it all the harder when..."

She placed her hand over her face and rubbed her forehead for a moment, closing her eyes against the light of the room. Wishing for tranquil thoughts doesn't usually change anything, though. "I know, I know, when I leave you. Damn it, why does everything have to revolve around this one point?"

"It hasn't left my mind this whole time. I'm sure you don't think about it every waking moment, but I'm not free of it."

"Do you even want me here?"

He remained silent, long enough for her to doubt whatever he chose to say. "I am certain that I will miss you when you go, and I've ensured that you will always be on my mind."

Shevjerked back as if she had been struck. "What kind of answer is that?"

"It's the only one I'm willing to give after having overstepped my bounds."

She stood up to stalk out the door but marred the grand exit by turning back to him. "Get my knife out the woman's leg. It means a lot to me."

But still, she left him alone to his thoughts.