“I… I do,” she whispered. A tear slid from her eye and she realized she was nodding, over and over. “I do, of course I do.”
“In that case, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Marian didn’t know what expression was on Herne’s face now, what level his rage had attained. Her entire world was consumed by Robin’s face, that handsome, pale face that she’d never thought to see again. His eyes glittered as he leaned down, and she let hers drift closed as his lips touched hers.
It wasn’t their first kiss, but it was the first they’d shared as husband and wife, the first since he’d found out her secret, knew what she was. Part of her expected him to hold back, even though she knew him far too well to think him so shallow.
He didn’t.
He kissed her like he needed her air to breathe. His lips slid over hers, teased her, leaned closer, then back, making her chase him. She grabbed his shirt, hauled him closer, anchored him to her. She kissed him with an abandon she’d never allowed herself, holding nothing back. When it ended, both were breathing heavily, and Marian’s head spun with a delirious rush of hope. Robin gathered her into his arms and she tucked her face against his chest, breathed in the scent of him.
“Does this mean I can leave with you?” she whispered.
His arms tightened. A cold wash of fear poured over her, his body language telling her what the answer was before a single sound passed his lips.
“No.”
That one word was pained, but that was little comfort. “What?” She pulled back, looked at Robin’s face, saw it twisted with frustration. She turned, stared at Dubheasa. “You mean… I still have to stay here?”
The Unseelie Queen’s face was serious, but there was a twinkle in her eye. “If that is Herne’s will, then yes.” She smiled. “But if he does insist you stay here, he will have to acknowledge Robin’s right to stay here with you.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Stay here with me? But…”
Marian trailed off as Dubheasa turned her head to face Herne. She followed the queen’s stare and took a stumbling step back.
Herne’s face was twisted in pure, unmitigated fury. His tan skin was three shades darker, blood filling his face, giving it a red tint that made his eyes blacker somehow. He looked from Marian to Robin and back. Then his gaze landed on Dubheasa. “You…you…”
Dubheasa beamed at him, twirling her spear like a parasol. “I am something, aren’t I? You can thank me later. I’m sure you’ll have all manner of fun with my foster son. Of course, I’ll be visiting more too, you know we’re very close. You’ll have to join us for tea.”
The creatures in the room were still silent, but the weight of their attention pressed against Marian like a physical weight. She blinked, realizing that at some point she’d started holding her breath. She was watching Herne, watching the vein in his temple bulge, his jaw so tight she was certain she’d hear his teeth shatter at any moment. She took a step, angling her and Robin’s bodies so that she was between him and the Master of the Hunt.
The gesture wasn’t lost on Herne. That furious black-eyed gaze landed on her, stole her breath for one agonizing second. Then he glowered at Robin. “Think hard on this, boy. If you end this marriage for any reason, if you dishonor this marriage in any way, she will be mine again.” He smiled, but unlike Dubheasa’s grin, this expression held no humor. “Forever is a long time, sidhe. I will be waiting.”
“You will wait a long time then,” Robin said easily, his grip on Marian’s hips tightening. “You will die waiting.”
Herne slid his attention to Marian. The anger faded then, leaving his face haggard and…sad. “And you, my child. You’ve only just tasted the life you would have here in my court. I know the loneliness you’ve felt, the restlessness. You felt that way because you had no pack, because you were alone. You would have been happy here if you’d only given it a chance.” He took a step forward, but there was no threat this time. “You are always welcome here. Remember that when you find yourself circling, spiraling, searching for your pack.”
Now it was Robin’s turn to put himself between Marian and Herne. He looked down into her eyes and she looked away from the grand hunter to face the man she’d taken as her husband.
“We will be your pack, Marian.” He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, caressed her jaw. “If you let us in, we will be there for you. And I will never try to make your choices for you again.”