by Mara Kelly
"We need to get moving soon," she said, straightening up. "Here's another gapata leaf, if you want to bathe." She tossed him the last uncrushed leaf, and he caught it, still watching her with an unreadable expression. "I'll…look for something to eat," she said, turning toward the patch of woods behind them.
When she returned with a large leaf full of berries, Nicabar was pulling on his boots. His hair was dripping onto his shoulders, and Kaya felt an urge to reach out and brush aside the stray lock on his forehead. Instead, she sat down a few feet away from him and laid the leaf on the ground between them.
"Thanks," he said, reaching for the berries. Kaya waited for him to take some, and then helped herself to a handful. She looked out across the lake, to where an enormous evergreen drooped toward the water.
"You really know these woods, don't you?" Nicabar asked, breaking the silence.
"I've lived here all my life," replied Kaya stiffly.
"That's a long time, I guess," said Nicabar. Kaya shifted. "Lucky you know so much about plants. Like those leaves yesterday—I never would have known that—"
"We should get started," said Kaya quickly, getting to her feet. "Do you want the last few berries?"
"Kaya—"
"We should get started," she repeated, not looking at him.
Nicabar didn't say anything, but slowly stood up. He didn't take the remaining berries, so Kaya ate them, the sweet taste now making her feel slightly sick.
"This way," she said. "Follow me." She turned and began walking, not trusting herself to look back long enough to see if he was following her.
A few moments later, she heard his footsteps behind her. She plunged ahead, determined to maintain her focus and let nothing distract her.
They went on in silence for some time, pushing their way through the brush and trees. It was just as the second sun was rising into the sky that they passed through a small clearing, and Nicabar took advantage of the open space to move to her side. He reached out and squeezed her hand. Kaya stopped, unable to look at him, but squeezed back.
"Kaya, what's wrong?"
"You mean other than being separated from the others, and not knowing why they left us behind?" Kaya returned, looking straight ahead at the trees, but very aware of his warm hand wrapped around her own.
"Yes, other than that. You know what I mean."
Kaya turned slightly toward him, but still didn't look at him fully. She paused for a moment, then said, "That was a really stupid thing to do."
Nicabar didn't answer. Kaya finally looked at his face, but couldn't read his expression. "Wh—what?" he finally said.
Kaya looked down at their joined hands. "Falling asleep there. Anything could have happened. It wasn't a safe place. We could both have been killed!"
Nicabar paused again. "So the falling asleep was stupid…not what came before it?"
Kaya still didn't look up. "It wasn't a safe location. You don't know what kind of creatures—"
"True," said Nicabar. He didn't seem to want to argue the point. He was looking down at her with a soft, almost timid expression. There was a brief pause, and Kaya suddenly became aware of how close he was standing. He dropped his shield and pack and brought one hand up to touch her cheek. When he spoke, his voice was as soft as his eyes. "Kaya, do you regret what happened last night?"
Kaya closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation of his hand caressing her cheek. It took her mind back to the evening before, even as she enjoyed the immediacy of his touch. Did she regret it, after all? So what if she had given in to her emotions for once in her life—no one had been hurt. "No," she finally said, opening her eyes. "Do you?"
Nicabar grinned happily. "Are you kidding?"
Kaya smiled back at him, her stomach giving a flutter. Nicabar wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed her forehead. Her arms went around his waist, seemingly of their own accord. Nicabar bent to kiss her mouth, but before he could get there, Kaya spoke.
"It can't be like this when we are back with the others, you know."
Nicabar froze. "What?"
"We won't be able to be like this once we get back. Not like...this."
He regarded her seriously for a moment, and then grinned again. "So I suppose we'll have to take advantage of our time out here then."
Kaya nodded solemnly. "I suppose so."
Nicabar smothered her grin with a kiss before it could fully form, and Kaya kissed him back, not caring if it was right or proper or prudent. She pulled him backward into the clearing as his mouth found her neck, and she closed her eyes and gave herself up to his hands and his mouth and his hot breath.
Nicabar's lips roamed over her neck, and Kaya threw back her head to allow him greater access. His hand raked through her hair, sweeping it up out of his way as he nibbled the delicate skin of her earlobe. Without meaning to, Kaya let out a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a groan, and Nicabar gripped her waist sharply, pulling her closer to him.
Kaya opened her eyes and tipped her head toward him, finding his lips with her own. He met her readily, kissing her with such intensity that she was only partially aware of his hands coming up and pushing her hair off her shoulders. She moved her hands to his waist, tugging the fabric of his tunic up. For some reason, the thought of starting out this way, fully clothed, excited her far more than standing naked in the lake had.
Nicabar allowed her to pull the tunic over his head, then took a half step backward and gave Kaya a long look.
"What is it?" asked Kaya breathlessly. "Is something wrong?"
Nicabar shook his head, then smiled and tangled his fingers into her hair, pulling her mouth to his. Kaya fell into his kiss. Her hands roamed across his back, and she was shocked at the warmth emanating from his skin. Nicabar's hands were moving up under her dress now, imitating the movements of her own hands across his back. She tilted her face to kiss him more deeply, and he pulled up her dress, forcing her to break the kiss while he pulled it over her head.
Kaya moved to return to where she had been, but Nicabar knelt quickly and slipped off her bark sandals, stroking her ankles and the tops of her feet as he did so. Kaya thought she would lose her balance from the sensation, but, miraculously, she remained upright.
Nicabar raised his head and met her gaze, and Kaya inhaled sharply at the fire she saw in his eyes. She reached out a hand and brushed aside the lock of hair over his forehead, as she had wanted to earlier. Nicabar took her hand and kissed her fingers, causing her eyes to drop shut in pleasure. She had never imagined that her hands could be so sensitive.
"Kaya," he murmured, and she could feel the vibrations of his voice like shockwaves all the way up her arm. She opened her eyes again and looked down at him. He looked up at her, a question in his eyes, and Kaya nodded breathlessly, unable to believe that there would even be any question, at this point.
Letting go of her hand, Nicabar reached up and stroked the naked skin of her stomach, causing her to shudder. Kaya moved toward him to unfasten his breeches, but he sidestepped her and swept her up, one arm hooked under her knees, the other under her shoulder blades.
Kaya let out an involuntary squeak, but Nicabar muffled it quickly by covering her mouth with his. She could feel the rough fabric of his breeches against her thigh, and the warm skin of his stomach against her side. She twined her fingers into his hair, marveling that he could do this while carrying another person, when she'd had enough trouble just standing up straight.
Finally, their lips broke apart, and Kaya felt his chest heaving with his quickened breath. "Nicabar," she began, feeling guilty, but he interrupted her.
"Shhh," he said quietly. "Let me."
Kaya looked at him quizzically, but he just shook his head again. Bending, he deposited her carefully on the grass, then knelt beside her. Kaya leaned in to kiss him, and fell backward onto the grass, his warm, still half-clothed weight on top of her.
Nicabar's lips moved down over her neck once more, and Kaya's hands moved to his waistband. B
ut he slid further down her body, his hot breath now moving along her left arm. He reached her fingertips and then transferred his attention to the soft skin of her stomach, moving slowly up toward her breasts. Kaya's fingers clutched his hair as she emitted a soft sigh. Then his mouth was on her breast, his tongue teasing at her nipple. Kaya tipped her head back, unable to hold any coherent thought.
This was nothing like the evening before. That had been hot and cold and tingly and wet and skin. This was nothing but heat—the heat of his skin everywhere it contacted her own, the heat of twin suns above shining down in her face, the moist heat of the ground beneath her. The trees themselves seemed to be giving off heat, and she could feel their energy moving inside her. Nicabar's hand strayed to her thigh, and Kaya gasped at the fire it seemed to contain. Involuntarily, she arched her back as his fingers brushed her softness. A powerful ache was building in her, and all she knew was that she had to ease it. Imprudence or concerns for safety or silly oaths against the goddesses didn't matter—only this mattered, at this moment. She was lying in the open, in broad daylight, and she was completely at Nicabar's mercy. But she couldn't have moved if she tried. It was somehow exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
"Nicabar," she breathed, her hands kneading into his shoulders. He raised his head and nodded, then rolled off of her and removed the rest of his own clothes. Kaya felt bereft at the loss of his warmth, but he was back almost before she could process the feeling. He knelt beside her once more, and his gaze swept appreciatively over her body. Kaya felt a strange thrill as she saw the hungry look in his eyes, and she reached out and took his hand.
Nicabar's gaze returned to her face, and he ran his free hand along the inside of her right leg, causing her to tip her head back breathlessly once more. She felt suddenly dizzy, as though she might fall over even though she was already lying down.
Nicabar reached across her and took her other hand in his, then swung one leg over her and lowered himself to kiss her. Kaya welcomed his mouth on hers, and she tried to disentangle her hands from his so that she could embrace him, but he held onto them, effectively pinning her to the damp ground. A shudder of excitement passed through Kaya, and she arched against him, murmuring his name against his lips.
Nicabar let go of her left hand long enough to guide himself into her, then he clutched it once more. Her fingernails dug into his hand as his hips rolled against hers, strengthening the ache at her core. She arched into the rhythm of his movements, feeling a burst of triumph as a groan of pleasure escaped his lips. His thrusts became more urgent, and Kaya wrapped her legs around his waist, wanting to pull him deeper inside her, to envelop him completely. His lips skittered across her neck, and she could hear his breath in her ears. She could feel his heartbeat in every inch of her body, and her skin sang to the rhythm of the trees and the suns and his skin.
Nicabar raised his head and met her eyes just as the spasms overtook her. She clenched his hands convulsively and gave in to the sensation. A moment later, Nicabar stiffened above her and let out a low moan. Kaya pulled her hands out of his and wrapped them in the soft hairs at the base of his neck, pulling him to her for a languid kiss.
Nicabar slid off of her carefully and propped himself up on his elbow beside her. Brushing her hair off of her forehead, he looked into her face with a serious expression. "Are you all right?"
Kaya smiled. "Yes," she said softly, reaching up to stroke his hair. He was so very young, so human and fragile. She thought her heart might burst.
A light breeze stirred his hair, and Kaya heard the echo of Nori's laughter once more. She closed her eyes, fighting back tears.
"Kaya?" said Nicabar softly.
"We can't stay here," said Kaya, fighting to control her shaking voice. "We really should get moving. We've already lost a lot of time—"
"Don't," said Nicabar sharply, surprising her into looking at him. "Don't do that."
"Do what?" said Kaya irritably.
Nicabar's eyes had hardened, and his mouth was set in a determined line. "That thing you do whenever you feel uncomfortable—push me away."
"You don't understand," said Kaya angrily. "You're far too young to know what..." She sat up quickly, pushing his arms off of her, but Nicabar sat up too, and laid a hand on her back.
"I know we're different," he said softly. "I know I'm just a child to you. But I'm here, now, and I...I've never met anyone like you before. I've never felt this way before." He met her eyes and lifted a tentative hand to stroke her cheek. "Don't do this, Kaya. Don't push me away."
Kaya looked into his face, and felt herself relenting, giving in to the soft touch. "We really can't stay here though." She sighed, leaning against him. "The others will be worried."
His arms went around her and he kissed her temple. "They can wait for a little while longer."
Kaya hung on the point of decision for a long moment, knowing that, if she didn't push him away now, she never would find the strength to do so later. Knowing that loving a human man would only bring her pain.
She sighed and melted into his arms, ignoring Nori's laughter that still echoed in her ears. It wasn't a choice, she realized as Nicabar's lips claimed hers once more. She could no more stop this than she could stop the leaves falling from the trees each autumn.
She'd found her way at last, but she had lost her heart.
The Prince's Bride
"Lucienna!" Annice pounded hopelessly on the ornate wooden door; her cousin had disappeared through it only a few moments before with the Lord of Onkton's son. "Lucienna! Open the door."
Annice went quiet and nodded as two women in boldly colored bird masks passed along the corridor. She lifted her own grey mask to her face and tried to smile, as though nothing unusual was happening at all. She saw the eyes of the taller woman as she passed, and recognized Lady Tira. She wasn't surprised when the two women broke into whispers and barely suppressed laughter before they were even out of earshot.
Excellent, Annice thought sourly, as she dropped her mask and began to pound on the door again. In twenty minutes everyone will know where Lucienna has gone.
In fact, this situation wasn't all that unusual—how often had she had to chase Lucienna down and make her behave at parties and balls? But for Lucienna to run off at a Palace ball, and into what Annice guessed was a royal sitting room on top of it—she really had gone too far this time.
She started going too far a long time ago. That's the problem. Annice sighed and slumped against the door. She was tired of this. She was nineteen years old, for goodness' sake—she ought to be married herself, not chasing her wayward cousin around like a nursemaid. But that would never happen until Lucienna found a husband; Annice's father would not hear of embarrassing his brother by marrying his own daughter off before Lucienna, heiress of Geary. Lucienna had refused more suitors than Annice could count; she'd often told Annice, conspiratorially, that she would never say yes until she had found a man who could fulfill her particular appetites. One couldn't know, she had declared, until one tested the samples.
Annice never knew how to respond. How often had Annice's parents reminded her of their debt to her uncle, who had given them a place in his estate, though he, as oldest son, owed his brother nothing? And how often had they reminded her of her sole duty—to provide guidance and companionship to her cousin?
She'd failed miserably in that tonight, she admitted. She often had. Lucienna had a wild temperament; she'd been pampered by her widower father since she'd been a small, impertinent girl, and was used to getting whatever she wanted.
Tonight she'd decided she wanted the Duke of Onkton's son. Annice couldn't even remember the young man's name. She doubted whether Lucienna could either.
It was Annice's own fault, really. The heralds had announced the royal family's entrance, and Annice had been so preoccupied with watching the queen and youngest prince enter that she hadn't watched her cousin closely enough.
The door opened behind her, and Annice caught the edge of the
doorframe to keep from falling backward. She spun around. Lucienna stood there, a pert grin on her pretty face, her blue eyes mischievous behind her jeweled white mask. She was dressed, improbably, as an angel.
"What is it, mouse?" said Lucienna calmly, referring to Annice's costume.
Annice frowned and peered behind her cousin into the room. "Come out and join the dancing, before your father sees you've gone," said Annice, hating the pleading note that crept into her voice. She sounded like her father talking to her uncle.
Lucienna flicked a glance over her shoulder and made a derisive sound. "Oh, he won't notice a thing. He'll be flirting with the Duchess of Cantor again. And I'm sure you'll think of some excuse if he does notice."
"Lucienna!" Annice hissed as a few people stumbled down the corridor, quite obviously having imbibed a great deal of wine in the ballroom. Lucienna stepped forward in the doorway, as if to signal that the sitting room was taken, and the group continued past. Annice's face grew warm. "Come along, Lucienna. Stop doing this."
Lucienna frowned. "Oh, Annice, go have fun for a change." She darted forward and kissed Annice rather indelicately on the mouth, then, before Annice recovered from her surprise, dashed into the room and closed the door.
"Lucienna!" Annice nearly screamed in frustration. She pounded futilely on the door a few more times.
Annice fixed a smile on her face and bobbed a curtsey to the elderly couple who passed her on their way from the outer balcony. She heard them whispering once they had passed, and knew that word of Lucienna's latest indiscretion would reach her uncle's ears shortly. And Annice would no doubt be blamed for it.
She sighed and lifted her skirt from the ground so that she could move quickly along the corridor. She spied another doorway on the right-hand side—surely whatever room it led into would also open onto the sitting room where Lucienna had hidden, though Lucienna would probably have locked that door too. Still, Annice had to try.
She hadn't even reached the next doorway, however, when a hand shot out from a dark alcove on her left and pulled her inside. Annice shrieked, but a warm, soft finger covered her lips, and she looked up into the laughing brown eyes of Prince Elwin, younger son of the King of Tisimal. He'd changed his costume since she had watched him enter the ballroom with his parents only a short while before—no doubt so that he could slip away from the crowds easily. Annice much preferred the simple black tunic and cat mask he wore now to the heavily jeweled peacock costume he had worn earlier.