Bound (A Faery Story 1)

Beck’s eyes were dark in the firelight. There was an unmistakable

air of confusion in them. “What is divorce?”

It was Meg’s turn to be shocked. She studied him for a moment to

see if he was pulling her leg. “You really don’t know?”

74

Sophie Oak

He shook his head. “I don’t understand your story, love. Your

parents did not die? They left each other and formed bonds with other

people? They had children with people who were not their spouse?”

“Well, they were at the time,” Meg tried to explain. “You don’t

have a way to dissolve a marriage?”

“No. Why would we have that?” Beck asked, his face showing no

signs of teasing. “Marriage is sacred.”

“Okay, how about if the husband abuses the wife? Is she supposed

to stay in the marriage?” Again, he looked blankly at her. “What if her

husband smacks her around? What if he cheats on her with the local

floozy? What if he calls her names and is generally unpleasant to be

around?”

Beck nodded, finally getting her point. “If this happened in a Fae

marriage, then the female would beat the male into submission. If she

is too small to beat him properly, one of the larger women of her

family would perform the task for her.”

“And the man just stands there for the beating?” Meg asked

incredulously.

“If he has any honor at all,” Beck replied with a frown. “If his

abuse of the wife continues, the males of her family would take care

of him. As I said before, the only way out of a Fae marriage is death,

but that can be arranged.”

Meg couldn’t help but smile. “I kind of wish those rules had been

in play when I got married.”