by Autumn Dawn
He raised a brow, mildly surprised when she closed the door without slamming it, and that she only frowned a little at Terza, who padded after her.
Sitting back in his padded desk chair, Keilor contemplated the door. His brief absence while he mastered his temper seemed to have chastened his recalcitrant wife more than he would have expected. For all that he knew, she might even mean her words of repentance.
Unfortunately, he doubted it. Whatever the reasons for her carelessness, he'd had enough nerve wracking experiences lately that he was taking no more chances. Hence, Terza. Not only would no one dare to cross a volti in her prime, but a volti was one creature that he never had to worry about Jasmine charming into complacency.
He had another reason for accepting her offer of assistance, however. Yesande was on the move, and had even dared to brush the borders of volti patrolled forest, tempting death with reckless presumption. Raziel and Isfael were needed elsewhere, and since he couldn't be at Jasmine's side constantly, Terza was the next best thing.
Of course, the best thing would be for Jasmine to exercise some caution and common sense, but since that was unlikely to happen....
He was a little encouraged by her visit to see her maid's grand-baby. Raziel had said she'd looked shaken, so perhaps she was finally beginning to realize the seriousness of her responsibilities. Or not.
With an oath, he grabbed another paper and got back to work. Time would tell him soon enough whether or not she'd really changed.
"What the heck is that?"
Jasmine glanced sourly at her silent shadow, who'd followed her into the gardens where Rihlia had been taken to get some air. Hellish eyes full of golden fire stared back at her from the shade of a tall hedge. “My newest nanny, Terza the Terrible. Why, don't you like her?"
A low, rumbling growl came from the beast, and Rihlia's eyes widened. “I don't think you ought to bait her, Jas."
She sniffed. “Keilor should have thought of that before he sicced her on me. After all, he's the one so concerned about me taking risks. It would serve him right if he found her snacking on me.” Remorse stabbed her the moment she'd said it, and her friend's horrified expression didn't help. “I didn't mean that,” she sighed. “Just ignore me. You know how I get when I'm mad about something, and this infernal bitchiness I've felt ever since I got pregnant—no offense,” she said, widening her eyes with arch disrespect at the volti, “is driving me crazy. And now that Keilor's all but said that he doesn't trust me to be careful of the baby...."
"Can you blame him?” Rihlia broke in. “I'd have killed you if I'd been him."
Jasmine winced. Close friendships had their drawbacks.
"You don't take those kind of risks with a baby, Jas, ever."
"I wasn't thinking of it like that, not then. It was only yesterday that I finally realized that I wasn't just pregnant, I was carrying a baby."
Rihlia stared at her. “I just know I'm going to be fascinated by this explanation."
Jasmine leaned forward. “The day before last I had a condition. Yesterday it finally dawned on me that my condition was a baby."
Rihlia blinked. “Sometimes I try to figure out how your mind works, Jas. Other times I'm a little smarter and decide to give it up.” She shook her head as if ridding it of a bad dream. “Have you explained any of this to your poor husband?"
Plucking a leaf from the hedge, Jasmine started to shred it. “I don't think it would matter right now. He's pretty well convinced that I'm a reckless fool up to no good. I think the hang glider stunt really shook him up."
A snort of amusement escaped Rihlia, but she didn't take the bait. “Have faith. Even reckless fools can change. Heck, before you came here you thought that shaking hands during flu season was taking an awful risk. I have faith that you'll revert back to normal in no time."
"A phase, huh?” Jasmine asked doubtfully. She shrugged. “Well, that's as good of an explanation as any. I promise you though, I'm through taking risks, and this time I mean it. From now on, it's the straight and narrow path for me, all the way."
Chapter 17
Virtue was very boring.
Jasmine caught her attention wandering again and yanked it back to Sousa, her domestic instructor, who was teaching her how to make an almond cream sauce from the seafood they'd just laboriously cooked and shelled. It was fascinating, really. It was just that her difficult husband had just entered his glassed in office with Raziel and Jackson, and she really couldn't pay attention to something as mundane as cooking when something so interesting was going on across the room.
Keilor looked up, saw her, saw that she wasn't paying attention to Sousa, and gestured to Raziel. The shades came down, blocking Raziel's amused face and leaving her nothing to stare at.
"I raise my bet two more prismatic silver.” Raziel said, turning from the closed blinds. “She'll never last the week."
Keilor snorted, drawing another folded map forward and opening it. “Two weeks. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt."
"I have doubts that my sister will last as long. Already I've caught her twice sneaking off towards the rooftops with her symbiont, seeking to go scouting for Yesande,” Jackson muttered. “Regardless, tomorrow is the day that she purges the pheromone from her system, and we can't stay much longer. I do not like the reports from home.” He did not share what might be in those reports, and no one asked.
"You will not need to,” Keilor assured him, spinning the map so that he could see. “We have found her camp, and it is not farther than a day's ride from here. We would have taken it already, except that she is not in it."
"A decoy."
"Yes.” Keilor pointed to the map, drawing his finger across two routes. “The only roads past the volti are on this river here, and over these mountains here. The mountains are treacherous, especially with the storm season coming, but if Yesande could master them and get out with her prize, no one could come after her until after the storms. Should she dare the river, she'll have to contend with the water beasts, as well as row upstream."
Jackson shook his head. “Unlikely, even with a symbiont boat. You're focusing on the mountains?"
"We are. Isfael and Mathin are out there right now. I only wish Fallon hadn't gone off on business again. We could use him right now."
Raziel snorted. “What business is it that takes him away for weeks at a time, just when he could be of the most use?"
"Family business,” Keilor said, staring his friend down. He was well aware of Raziel's opinion of Fallon as useless for anything other than entertaining women, but Raziel was ignorant of several important facts. He couldn't share those facts, even with one of his best friends, but he wasn't about to let his cousin be slandered.
Raziel broke eye contact first, mostly out of politeness. “You would know. About those mountains, though. We estimate that Yesande has twenty men with her, give or take one or two. Whatever she plans, you can depend upon it, she already has help lined up inside this citadel. How are we going to combat that?"
Before Keilor could answer, there came a knock on the door. “Come."
Jasmine opened the door, balancing a tray bearing tiny cookies with one hand. “Thought you might be getting hungry,” she said with an innocent smile.
"How thoughtful. Thank you.” Keilor came around the desk, a suspicion of humor twitching at his lips, took the tray, and then remained blocking the doorway. “Dinner smells delicious, too. I'm looking forward to it."
When he refused to budge, her eyes narrowed. “You're welcome,” she said, and then very, very carefully shut the door with a soft click.
Raziel took a cookie and popped it into his mouth with a grin. “One week, ha! I'll have my money tomorrow, my friend, and you'll be that much the poorer."
Keilor only smiled.
Later that evening, as he watched his virtuous wife nearly bite her tongue off during dinner to prevent herself from asking about his meeting, he had to admit that he was enjoying this little contest of wills. Wil
d curiosity was such a part of her nature, and suppressing it was clearly killing her. Just for the thrill of it, he'd been prolonging her suspense, but now he took pity on her. “Yesande is near. We were making plans to ensure her capture and the safety of yourself and Leo."
Her head snapped up. “Yeah?” Her eyes sparkled with questions, and he could see her holding her breath.
Laughing, he tossed down his napkin and moved to her side, taking her hand and pulling her up and into his arms. “You're trying too hard.” Offended, she scowled and tried to pull away, but he had a secure hold on her. “Not that I haven't been impressed, mind you, but I don't like to see you suppressing yourself like this.” When she stared at him, unsure, he smiled and stroked the hair at her temples. “I want you to be yourself, Dragonfly. Do the things you love to do, just do them safely for our baby's sake. Do you see? Can you do what I am asking?"
Wounded, she answered, “I said I would, didn't I?"
"Yes.” He kissed her lightly. He lingered, teasing at her lips. “You did,” he murmured, distracted.
She pulled away, a bit breathless, and demanded, “What about Yesande?"
"We will take care of Yesande when she comes,” he reassured her, meaning his warriors and himself, but avoiding an argument by letting her think she would be included for now. When she still looked troubled, he led her to the couch, sitting down and arranging her on his lap. “I assure you that I will not be taken unawares twice, wife of mine. You will be as safe as the Master of the Hunt and a citadel full of soldiers can make you."
Jasmine smiled. “I'm sorry, I just get worried. Every time that I think about—"
He touched her lips, silencing her. “I feel it, too, Dragonfly. But don't let the past rule you. You are safe, here and now, and I am here and whole. We will win this time, I promise you.” He kissed her hand, offering comfort and support. When she nuzzled into his touch, seeking more, he slid down on the couch, prepared to deliver.
His summons box clicked.
Sitting up, he grabbed it off of his belt and checked the code. Adrenaline poured through him as he saw that it was the one that he'd been expecting.
Jasmine's hand tightened on his hip. “What is it?"
Whirling around, he gave her a quick kiss before bounding to the closet to collect his battle gear. “Nothing to worry about, but I want you to stay here. No visitors until I get back, all right? That includes family. Rihlia won't be visiting at this time of night, and there is no one else who needs to see you. I don't even want you opening the door unless I give the all safe code, is that clear?"
She only hesitated a heartbeat. “All right. But what if—"
"Terza is here, and Isfael is just on the other side of the door, along with reinforcements. If you need to see what's going on for some reason, you may use the view screen to watch the hall.” He buckled on his weapon's belt and then took her in his arms for one last, brain-searing kiss. “Keep the bed warm for me, Dragonfly.” And then, with the click of a door, he was gone.
It was a moment before her mind cleared enough to assimilate what he'd said. Her eyes narrowed. Great. Stay home, be a good little wife, and don't worry about me maybe getting my head blown off, little lady.
Rolling her eyes, she cleared off the table and then drug a chair up to where she could watch the view screen. Then she settled down with her deck of homemade cards for a game of solitaire.
It promised to be a long night.
Keilor raced through the moonlit night, his long legs pumping with exhilarating efficiency, sending adrenaline charged blood through his pounding heart.
Battle. At last.
Taking a deep breath of the sultry night air, he checked the scents of those who ran beside him; all friends. As he neared the stable, he saw his stag among the many battle-ready mounts, his night vision equal to all but the deepest of shadows.
In her arrogance Yesande had assumed she would be safe if she clung to the mountains until the very last and then used the river to carry her nearly to the walls of the citadel near dawn, forcing the series of gates guarding the ground level seafood hatcheries that helped assure fresh meat in times of siege or storm.
She was about to discover a serious snag in her plan.
He reached the aqueduct gates just as Yesande and her men docked their boat. Their feet no sooner touched ground than the surprised group was surrounded by silent Haunt who melted from the shadows on every side. “Good evening, Yesande. Rather late in the year for boating, isn't it?” His voice lowered to a rough growl. “I'm sorry to be the one to inform you that Tor Maphin won't be joining you this evening. He's been ... delayed.” He flashed her a smile of challenge as he took on the Haunt, his sharp white teeth gleaming in the light of the triple moons.
A silent roar of rage was her only answer as she and her men dashed for the woods as one body, firing as they ran.
They were cut down like so many scurrying bugs.
Mathin personally took his sister's head.
A kink in her neck woke Jasmine. The scene on the view screen hadn't changed. Four Haunt stood in the exact same place they'd been all night. About as exciting as watching paint dry. Jasmine snorted in disgust. She stood up and stretched. If she was going to be bored to sleep then she might as well do it while lying comfortably on the bed.
She was determined not to worry about Keilor. It wouldn't help him to do whatever it was he was doing, and she'd learned enough about Haunt honor and the male mind in recent months to know he'd find her lack of faith distressing. She knew he still tormented himself over her kidnapping and that he viewed the capture of Yesande as his redemption. His unwillingness to forgive himself for that tore at her. It wasn't his fault, but he was too good a man—and too much in love—to easily believe that.
Determined to show him her trust, both in him and the men he'd surrounded her with, she prepared for bed.
It was the least he deserved.
"I'm sorry to see you here, cousin."
Urseya stopped, startled by the voice in the shadows.
Jayems melted out of the darkness of an alcove in the only corridor leading to Jasmine and Keilor's suite.
The corridor that she was just turning down, with flash grenades hidden in her suddenly sweating palms. Jayems’ nostrils flared, and she knew that he'd scented them as his eyes flashed golden fire.
Evasion was useless, so she drew herself up, shifting the glass grenades carefully to her left hand and settling her weight on the balls of her feet. “You don't have to be a part of this, cousin. Your wife needs you, doesn't she? For her sake, if none other, remove yourself."
His teeth gleamed in a humorless smile. “Your fate was set the moment you came here, Urseya, but I'll make this quick, for your mother's sake.” With blinding action, his blade cleared its sheath, flaring into a blue arc even as her hand came up. There was a hiss, a shriek, and a blinding explosion of blue as his blade shattered the glass balls, negating most of their destructive energy. Urseya's thumb went flying through the air, but she barely had time to feel it before Jayems reversed the arc of his blade and severed her head.
Sounds of battle erupted just down the hall and were almost immediately extinguished. Raziel rounded the corner, retracting his blade. “Such poor sport,” he complained, glancing behind him with contempt. “All clear.” Haunt spilled out of the hallway behind him and checked, disgruntled at being left with nothing to do but clear the bodies. One of them slung Urseya's body over his shoulder and then bent to scoop up her head by the hair, carrying what was left of her off.
"Shall we see how Keilor fares?” Jayems suggested, leading the way. The sooner this night was over, the better.
Keilor entered the rooms he shared with Jasmine, careful to do so silently. If she were sleeping he did not want to wake her. She did not need to see him as he cleansed away the blood of battle. It would only upset her.
He eased the door quietly shut and then paused a moment, listening. Her respiration remained steady and deep, unmis
takably that of deep slumber. Satisfaction brought a smile to his face. It pleased him greatly that she would trust him so well.
She'd left a light on for him. It was a sweet gesture, and wholly human, for no Haunt would ever stumble in the shadows. Still, the thoughtfulness warmed him. He had a very good wife.
It was just as he was finishing his bath that Terza lifted her head and growled. Keilor froze in the water, listening. His eyes narrowed. Something was scrabbling down the chimney.
Still naked, he slipped from the bath, water dripping from his body to slick the tiles. A motion of his hand warned Terza to silence, and it only took a moment to open the outer doors and warn the Haunt. Then he strode back to the room and retrieved his blade, staring at the chimney above the still smoldering fire.
A long reptilian head emerged from the chimney, its slitted yellow eyes blinking to clear the smoke.
Keilor didn't give the poisonous lizard time to focus. One swipe of his sword and its head thumped into the fire, followed closely by its body. The coals sizzled as poisonous lizard blood dripped and flowed over them, evaporating in a cloud of noxious smoke.
He glanced at his sleeping wife, doubly glad he was here. Even Terza might not have stopped the reptile before its poison overcame her. Keilor looked at the fireplace, his thoughts grim. Even with the Haunt he'd sent swarming up to check the roofs, it was doubtful they'd catch the culprit. Yesande and Tor Maphin were dead. Who was still alive who wanted Jasmine dead?
The symbiont delegation left the next day, hurrying to get home before the storms began. They left none behind.
"Maybe you'll get to come back for a visit,” Jasmine told Leo, a little sad to see her go.
Leo glanced at Jackson, who was mounting his symbiont cycle, her expression doubtful. “Maybe."
Jasmine stopped her with a touch to her suede swathed arm as she was about to mount. “A calling card, just in case you need a friend,” she said, handing Leo a dragonfly pin made of iridescent silver. “Things sound rough back in the swamps. Let me know if I can lend you a hand, or if you need a place to hole up for a while, ok?"