He looked uncomfortable all of a sudden. “We could not wake you,” he shuddered and told me, “We could not sense you... it was as if your mind had fled, leaving just your body behind. There was concern that something not you might attempt to occupy your body. Your Mother consulted a Sorceress, who seemed quite adamant that you be warded.”
“Who?”
Amras brushed my arm again and seemed to tense beneath me. “You met her in the hall last week, Lady Laure Telrun,” he told me, and my mouth dropped open in shock.
“Arrrughh!” I growled and Amras stared down at me in confusion. “I’ll kill her!” My anger flared up and nearly choked me with the force of it, and the room was suddenly filled with my men, all rushing the door as if I were under attack.
“What is it, My Lady?” Cursed demanded, his black eyes searching the room looking for whomever I thought to kill.
“That black haired bitch trapped my consciousness in the Everlasting and nearly killed me!” I snarled and pushed off Amras’ lap as I turned to them. “Do you want to see what she did?” I demanded, suddenly knowing exactly who the ‘Black’ of Mi’s prediction was. Gareth’s eyes widened but he nodded and I turned to the others, watching as each gave his nod. Lira and Roral stood at the door and my eyes skimmed over them. “Then see,” I cried, and rose to stand in the middle of the tub, opening my mind to them. I started with the conversation I’d had and the odd way Tdem had turned to me his eyes filled with… something not natural, his actions… forced. I showed them how I’d run from the beast with red eyes in terror, felt it overcome and perhaps even kill me. Then I shifted to the gray cell and my lack of knowledge of self. I showed them Morai, the Keeper of Elfin Souls. How I had dreamed Jace tumbled to the rocks below me while Gareth had barely reached me upon the mountain before collapsing. And after I had woken screaming Gareth’s name, how I had attacked both Talon and Roa’ and won my freedom, only to discover that the cell was where I needed to be. For it was there that Talon and Roa’ helped me make the link back to this room. A connection which allowed me to return before my body died without me.
They looked shocked, yet I couldn’t help noticing that several of them held a glimpse of pride in their eyes. Perhaps it was because I had defeated Roa’ and Talon. For in spite of everything, I had managed to keep them from harming my person. Kit in particular seemed torn between pride and angry disbelief. Cursed just looked angry. Owen’s eyes seemed to glow with a smoldering anger like I’d never seen in him. Jace looked stunned, perhaps because he’d seen his own death upon the rocks and did not know how to feel about that. While Gareth just stared at me, his dark blue eyes whirling with pain and… rage.
“I think, it is only fair that we show her the same… level of accommodation,” I told them and turned to Kit. “I think the Lady would look good in gray, don’t you?” I growled, and his red eyes narrowed and he smiled viciously.
“Oh yes, Mistress, I think she’d be stunning,” and he snapped his fingers. “At least that’s what her cell mates will think,” he added and I couldn’t help feeling the sense of pleasure that crept over me. I turned to Roral and Lira and considered them for a moment. “I believe this should remain our secret. The problem has been dealt with and there is no need to involve others. Do you agree?” I asked as they both stared back at me in surprise, and then dropped to a knee.
“Your Majesty, it is as if it never occurred. Upon my honor.” Roral informed me succinctly.
Lira glanced at me from his knee and his two tone eyes seemed to glow with suppressed anger. “I would have done the deed myself,” he informed me tightly. “Upon my honor, it will not be spoken of.” I nodded once and motioned for them to rise.
I sighed and realized two things; one, I was exhausted again, and two, I was cold. Gareth grabbed a towel, wrapped it about me and lifted me from the tub while Jace helped to wrap another about my hair. “Can I have more water?” I asked as my head lolled against Gareth’s shoulder and Owen handed me a bottle, which he kindly opened first. I swallowed down half of it and handed it back to him. He carried it with him as we left the room.
I slept a lot over the next day and a half as my body repaired itself. Each time I woke, or was awakened, I found myself sheltered in the arms or cupped next to the body of one of my men. During one of my awake sessions, I was informed I became restless if left alone and that the only time I slept peacefully was when my skin was touching someone else’s. I wasn’t certain if just any one would do. It seemed they had not allowed anyone but the six of them near enough to me to find out. I suspected it was more that my unconscious self felt protected in their arms and it allowed me a healing sleep. The periods I was awake typically lasted only long enough to eat everything in sight, down at least a full bottle of water, then use the restroom before crawling back into bed and passing out again.
Sometime early the second day I woke to find myself pressed up against Dane’s body. My leg was over his and my breasts were tight against his chest. I tilted back my head and looked into his black eyes, blinking slowly. “There ye are,” he whispered and I smiled. His hand spread out on my back and I rubbed myself against him enjoying the feel of my skin moving upon his.
“Hello,” I replied and ran my fingers down his chest. “You smell good.”
“Ahhaa,” he replied with a knowing smile. “I’ve just been holding ye an’ feeling yer skin flesh out beneath me palms.” He told me, and I knew if I looked at myself in the mirror, the starving wraith would be gone completely. Even the skin on my hands seemed to glow with good health. It seemed along with my weight, my other appetites had also returned. “Tis lucky, I am,” he rumbled softly.
“And why is that?” I asked in a silky voice.
“Because Lassie… ye want me and I am here, I am,” he informed me and rolled me onto my back. “But nae nearly as powerful fierce as I want ye.” And he pressed the length of himself against me while I smiled and lifted my hips to him. He made a triumphant noise as he pierced my body and I arched beneath him, wrapping my legs about the back of his thighs. His fingers brushed the hair back from my face and traced the shape of my jaw while he held himself still within me. “I’m thinking tis been much too long,” he whispered and a shadow slipped across his face and his voice turned scolding. “Tis nae easy to sit idle while ye wasted away before me eyes, ye ken?”
“Are you chastising me?” I demanded in a teasing voice, and then brushed at his cheek before my hand slipped into the back of his hair.
“Nae,” he sighed and nuzzled my neck so that goose bumps spread across my chest and I sucked air in through my teeth. “Tis just that I would have liked the pleasure of feeling me own hands strangling the life from the black haired witch. Tis powerful mean of ye ta deny me, it were.”
“The difference between us is that it’s enough for me to know she’s there… while I am here,” I told him and rolled my hips beneath him.
He pulled back from my neck and flashed a grin at me. “Here seems a fine place for ye,” he agreed and he slowly lowered his lips to mine. My eyes closed at the first touch and I held him tightly while his body made sweet tender love to mine.
“Where is everyone?” I asked much later while I lay sated in his arms. My breathing was just returning to normal and my cheek was pressed against his heart.
He sighed and reached for a pillow, propping it behind his head. “Yer Da has the Drakes ye brought back with ye. It seems he’s taken them under his wing, I’m thinking. The others should return soon as they went ta work out their frustrations by whacking upon each other with their wee little sticks an’ pointy things,” he told me. “Tis surprised I am they nae returned yet.”
“You sound amused.”
“Hmmm,” he replied. “Only in that ye were making so very much noise, ye ken.” And he chuckled and gave me a squeeze while I felt my cheeks flush.
“Well it has been more than a week!” I told him wryly and felt him tense beneath my cheek. I raised my head slowly and glanced at him, notic
ing that the humor seemed to have fled and his face had slipped to neutral.
He mumbled something under his breath and reached up to rub a hand over his face. “Tis a fool I am,” he growled softly, and I stared at him curiously while his eyes looked pained. “Damn their black souls. Tis clear they went an’ will be leaving me to tell ye then. An’ me the idiot thinking me luck had changed.”
“Ah… Dane? What is it you don’t want to tell me?” I asked and propped my chin upon my hands on his chest.
“Tis nae pleasant,” he warned, his black eyes holding mine then dropping. “An’ I were nae pleased but it had ta be done.”
“Hmmm… no one is dead. Unless you had sex with someone else while I was gone….?” and my eyes narrowed while he gave me an appalled look.
“Nae! We did nae,” he told me quickly. “Just ye,” he added and grimaced.
“Me?” I asked and frowned when he nodded. My stomached turned slightly and I stared up at him in dawning horror. “You had sex with me while I was in a coma?” I whispered; I couldn’t force myself to say it any louder.
“We did nae want ta, ta be sure!” he told me abruptly, then paled when I looked at him. “I mean of course we wanted ta but nae like that!” He seemed flustered and very upset and I took pity on him and took a deep breath.
“Did I convulse?” I asked and he nodded.
“At first it was whenever one of us wasn’t… in ye. Then ye seemed to slow down around the fifth day an’ we, damn me eyes, it was nearly as distressing when ye weren’t as it were when ye did, ye ken?” he told me harshly. “I have nae seen anything like it,” he told me and swallowed heavily. “Tis terrifying ye are for such a wee little thing. And ye nearly wore us all to naught but nubs!” he muttered. “All the while with ye just lying there nae moving.” Then he swallowed again and shuddered.
I sighed and closed my eyes. I couldn’t even imagine how horrible that must have been for them. No wonder the rest of them had fled. I took a deep breath and shook myself. “I suppose that might explain my mood swings while I was in the cell. I’m not usually that blood thirsty,” I told him and grimaced myself. “Well, maybe I am. But I’m sure the problems back here didn’t help any. I should probably apologize to Talon for backhanding him or for dragging him across the floor by his hair,” I muttered and he hesitated as if unsure how to respond.
“I believe it was more the comment ye made that upset him so, ye ken?” he told me as he took deep breaths to calm himself.
“What comment?” I asked, lifting my head and glancing up to see that the distress was slowly leaving his face.
“When ye thought at him that the Silver was more attractive. Tis his pride ye wounded. The rest was…” and he waived his hand in a dismissive gesture.
“How do you know that?” I asked, my mind drawing a blank on when I would have told him that. “Talon and Roa’ weren’t here that night were they?” I asked, referring to two nights ago when I’d fed the rest of them the events from the middle of the bathtub.
“Nae, yer Da’ found other accommodations for them, he did,” he replied and frowned down at me.
“I can’t believe he would have admitted that to you,” I said and he shook his head. “Was it the look on his face?” and again he shook his head.
“Ye told us,” he replied.
“I did… when?” I demanded, trying to remember having done so.
Dane shook his head and stared back at me in confusion. “When ye shared yer story, Lassie.”
I pushed myself up into a seated position and stared down at him in shock. “You… felt his emotions when I showed you what had happened to me while I was gone?” I asked him softly, and my mind nearly stuttered when he frowned.
“Tis more than that. Like seeing it through yer eyes, but his and the other’s too. Like ye were reading a book where all characters were speaking in the first person. Tis a bit confusing.”
I bit my lip and stared down at the bed. Well this was certainly new, I thought with a grimace. Apparently I’d given my story in stereo. How odd was that?
“Nae not odd… enlightening,” he informed me with a small smile.
“Hmmm, how so?”
“Nae Lassie… I’ll nae be saying more. Tis time for ye ta be eating,” and he pushed himself up from the bed and hopped to the floor. I watched him walk over to Roral and Lira who were both in the room. Hmmm, I thought, and frowned while they flicked their eyes at me then back at Dane. Roral nodded and left. I assumed to find more food for me.
“Lira?” I called, and he turned to look at me after Dane disappeared into the restroom, probably to get the water started.
“Your Majesty?” he asked, his eyes moving over me slowly. “How may I service you?” he asked and I had to force myself not to react.
“Is this room still warded?”
He glanced around and tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. “Yes,” he finally replied.
“Can you remove it?” I asked and pressed my lips together when his eyes widened slightly.
“I can.”
“Would you?” I asked, then breathed a sigh when he nodded. There was just something about knowing it was still there that bothered me. It was irrational, but the thought of being separated from my body again would likely give me nightmares for some time to come. “Thank you,” I told him and he flashed a smile.
“It will take but a moment once Roral returns. I would prefer not to be distracted until he is present.”
I glanced at the bathroom door and back at Lira. “Lira the other night, did you also sense Talon and Roa’s thoughts or feelings or…” and I waved my arm unable to describe it accurately.
“Yes,” he replied and also glanced toward the bathroom.
“What did you see... or feel?”
He took a breath and frowned, then crossed his arms over his chest and a sly look covered his face. “I do not think it is my place to tell you,” he informed me in a stubborn voice.
“Why not?” I asked him softly, not wanting to raise my voice.
He dropped his arms and lifted an eyebrow to me but refused to say why.
“And if I commanded you?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow and lowering myself onto my side. I propped my head on my hand and stared back at him, my body facing him amidst the rumpled bedding.
His eyes narrowed and desire filled his face. “Then I will most certainly do whatever you ask of me.” Then he reached for the door handle and glanced at me. “But you will be angry with me, because you do not like it when our numbers increase,” he told me, and then pulled the door open in time for Roral to walk in carrying my tray of food.
Chapter 6
“Stop harassing the help, Lassie,” Dane chided me from the other side of the bed. I hadn’t seen him slip out of the bathroom and wondered how long he’d been standing there. Roral glanced between the two of us as he carried my tray to the bed and set it near me. My stomach made a loud noise causing Roral to look at me and grin.
“Do you require assistance, Your Majesty?” he asked in a calm even voice, which was completely at odds with the desire burning in his beautiful pale green eyes. It didn’t get by me that he was turned so neither Dane nor Lira could see the look on his face.
“Did you miss me?” I asked and he grinned and nodded. “No one to boss you around while I was… away?” And this time his smile showed his teeth.
“Your Majesty, it was… most tedious without you,” he replied in his deep voice. “You are most difficult to guard when you are neither here nor there. I much prefer you here, your charm and wit were sorely missed,” he assured me. Then he took a deep breath and added, “I wish to inform you that the Sidhe has suffered a loss.” I glanced at him sharply and raised an eyebrow while I pushed myself up so I could eat. His head did not move, but his eyes lowered and caressed my breasts, which soon tightened under his scrutiny. He shifted slightly but continued in his even voice. “It appears that the Lady Telrun has gone missing.”
“Hmmm,” I co
mmented and slipped a bite of fruit into my mouth. I chewed for a moment then swallowed. “How tragic,” I finally replied and he gave me a smile that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck and caused goose flesh to break out across my arms and legs.
“Her lover and assistant was found dead this morning… his neck severed,” he added and I stared at him in shock. It had not occurred to me that she had help in her plot against me. That could have been a critical mistake on my part.
“Thank you for… sharing the Sidhe news with me,” I replied and he lifted one corner of his mouth and dipped his head.
“It was a pleasure,” he assured me and gave me a look that caused the tips of my ears to turn pink, then went to a knee and crossed back to the door. I glanced at Lira who was caressing the hilt of his sword and smiling much as Roral had just done. His actions left me with no doubt of whom I had to thank for covering my back. You had to appreciate guards who took initiative.
Dane climbed onto the bed and moved to me, his body brushing against mine while he picked off my tray and alternated between feeding me the majority of the food and taking small bites for himself. While I ate, Lira spoke softly with Roral then removed a small leather pouch from his belt. He then went around the room to each of the corners and gathered up what looked like tied up pieces of the seafoam dress I’d been wearing when we went into the caverns. Everything he retrieved he placed into his leather pouch. When he’d been to each corner he moved to the middle of the room and emptied the contents onto the marble floor.
I watched Lira closely, as I had never seen anyone perform a spell, and noted that within the contents on the floor there were several curls of what looked like my hair. Also there were different herbs, salt or sugar, and a few other items I did not recognize. Lira’s eyes lifted to mine and there was an angry light burning in their depths. He settled himself on his knees and placed his hands palm up on his thighs, after which he took deep breaths and slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again almost immediately, they had shifted to a milky white color and I bit my lip and glanced at Roral who looked unconcerned.
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