Claimed by the Elven Brothers: Decision (An Elven King Novella Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

and the fact of you two being royals
came up. Who is this royal wife?”
    “It’s the title given to the bride of the elven king should she be
human. Her name is Emily.”
    “I take it she’s not considered the queen?” I said dryly. Seren
suddenly looked uncomfortable, and I hastily added, “I don’t mean anything by
that, really. It’s just that I’m not surprised a human wouldn’t be allowed to
be the queen of the elves.”
    He sighed. “In this case, the issue is much more complicated than her
humanity.”
    “Oh!” I exclaimed in sudden comprehension. “She’s not his only wife, is
she?”
    “No, she was not. For centuries, our queen has always been of the House
of Vanvir, and this time was no exception. She—” He stopped and shook his head.
“I think it is probably best that I leave that tale for a better time. It’s not
something that I can easily explain without you having a better understanding
of the Sidhe as a people, as well as knowledge of at least some of our
history. For now, it is enough to say that we no longer have a queen.”
    “But you will tell me all about it someday, right?” I persisted.
“I don’t know if I ever told you this, but I hate being left hanging
like that. It keeps me up at night, literally, and I don’t appreciate it one
bit.”
    “Well, I suppose the answer to that is left in your hands, is it not?”
he replied with a mischievous grin.
    I gave him a dirty look. “You elves don’t fight fair at all,” I
complained.
    He shrugged, looking unrepentant. “All Locien and I can do is plead our
case. The one who will decide if our fates will continue to intertwine is
ultimately you.”
    “That’s not entirely true,” I protested, crossing my arms against my
chest. He raised a skeptical eyebrow, and I elaborated, “ If I decide to
become your mistress…” I paused and made a face. I really, really, really hated that word. “…didn’t you say that none of us would have a say in
the outcome, that I wouldn’t be able to choose which one of you I would end up
marrying? Whoever knocks me up first, remember? Sounds to me that Fate is
holding all the cards on that one.”
    Seren laughed. “I stand corrected. In that case, I promise I shall tell
you more about what befell our queen whether you decide to accept our proposal
or not. It’s the least I can do.”
    “It doesn’t bother you at all, does it?” I asked. “The fact that your
potential wife will be sleeping with another man, I mean?”
    His smile instantly disappeared, and he regarded me for a long moment
with a more sober expression. “You must not think that this is a decision that
we both made lightly. It is hardly an ideal position to find ourselves in, but
short of either one of us giving up the right to continue our family line, this
was the only acceptable course for us. Had I been expected to share my
potential bride with anyone other than my brother, then I would never have
agreed to the terms. Locien has said much the same.”
    “That brings up the other elephant in the room,” I said uncomfortably.
“What does Locien’s wife have to say about this? I’d sooner claw another
woman’s eyes out than let her sleep with my husband. Just the thought of it is
infuriating. Hell, I could be that other woman if it turns out that
Locien wins the pregnancy lotto, and that just doesn’t sit right with me. Even
if I end up with you, I’ll still have been living in your household, sleeping
with another woman’s husband.”
    “If Hilde had not made complete peace with the thought of him taking a
secondary wife, then none of us would be meeting here today. She wants a child just
as much as Locien and is willing to accept not only you, should you join their
family, but a secondary role in the lives of any children you may have.” I felt
a knot rise in my throat at the deep sadness that suddenly flooded his eyes.
“These plagues of infertility that have befallen my people over the long millennia
are