A Trace of Moonlight by Allison Pang Page B

true problems at hand, you settle for a petty game of thrones borne of jealousy.” He thrust his hand through his hair. “To keep her here after she has died for our cause is beyond cruelty.”
    “So says the one who only yesterday conspired with his sister to take my throne from me,” the Queen sneered, straightening in her chair. Her hands folded primly in her lap as she regarded me like something she’d found under a microscope. “Abby is no longer your concern.”
    His mouth pursed. “Fair enough. Then I’ll make her mine.” He pushed past me, and I noted he was dressed for traveling beneath his cloak, a thick leather vest overlaying his tunic suggesting an extended journey might be in order. I couldn’t help the small smile from reaching my lips as he looked at me.
    “And what do you intend to do? Kidnap her? Spirit her away from the palace? She cannot leave.” The Queen let out an angry laugh. “I’ll have you hunted down for treason, son or not.”
    He paused, as though weighing his options for a moment. “Witness,” he said suddenly.
    She stiffened, nostrils flaring. “You can’t be serious,” she said, her gaze darting to me. “I’ll leave.”
    “Witness,” he barked. He held out his hand to mine. “Take it,” he said softly.
    “What are you doing?” I was all for finding a way of escape, but not under any false pretense. Something in my face must have shown this because his mouth gentled.
    “Handfasting. Become my wife, Abby.”
    “I will not allow this farce to continue!” The Queen rose to her feet. Snapping her fingers, she called for the guard, her face pinched. I hesitated.
    “We have no time,” Talivar hissed beneath his breath, catching my cheek to turn me toward him. “Please.”
    Dimly, I heard the clatter and shouts of elves fromthe hall. I had no real idea what the repercussions of this act were going to be, but given the choice of staying here trapped with an insane Queen as a possible daemon sacrifice versus a marriage of convenience to a man I cared pretty deeply about seemed like a no-brainer to me.
    At least in the heat of the moment.
    “This is not how I would have planned it,” he told me, echoing my own thoughts as I thrust out my arm. “But I’m not sorry it’s happening.” Before I could say anything, he pulled a silver blade from his hip belt. “Just a nick.” Swiftly, he sliced each of our palms, his fingers entwining with mine as he pressed them together.
    A shudder ran through my arm, a ripple of power sluicing over my flesh.
     . . . memories of sunlight and the sweet scents of the forest, the twang of a bow at my ear, the rush of blood from the silver doe as I offered her heart to the old gods . . .
     . . . I was ensconced in silks and velvets, the ladies of the court twirling about me like a bouquet of living flowers, and I their eager honeybee . . .
     . . . Ropes bit into my wrists, an iron-tipped quirt rending the flesh from my back. I rolled upon the road, her lifeless face staring as my knee was crushed, the bones twisted. And then the poker was thrust into my eye and I knew only the need for vengeance . . .
     . . . I was completely and utterly alone, limping through the empty hallways of the palace, my crippled footsteps echoing with all the hollowness of my heart . . .
    Ion’s bells chimed plaintively even as the TouchStone bond snapped into place, my bones nearly vibrating at the strength of it. “I’d forgotten about that,” I said hoarsely, Talivar’s gaze showing his own surprisewhen it found mine. TouchStones were usually bound via written Contract—but I was a KeyStone, which meant I could create a bond via touch, an ability he had chosen not to utilize in the past. I smirked. “People are going to talk, you know.”
    A smile kicked up at the corners of his mouth. “Sod what anyone else thinks.”
    “Aren’t there supposed to be ribbons or something to bind us together?” I frowned at the crimson trickle