“This! You!” answered Veria. “I have never been allowed to do or have what I want in my whole life and now I want this—this thing that I am not supposed to want! And I have no idea what to do, because I have never wanted anything like...”
She trailed off as the words seem to become caught in her throat again.
“Now I am afraid you have lost me,” he whispered, with a small laugh.
“I want you,” Veria stated, and flames spread through her chest and she felt his grip tighten around her waist as she made her confession.
He dropped his face into the crook of her neck and sighed, half-laughing and shaking his head.
“You laugh at me, again,” Veria said, and took a step back from him, feeling sick at the thought that he might not feel the same way, that she had angered him too many times in the course of their acquaintance. Or maybe she had been too forward.
“I cannot pretend that it does not make me perfectly giddy that we are on the same page for once,” he said as he closed the gap between them and matched her gaze. “But we should not do this.”
“I am tired of doing what I should do,” Veria said. “Do you not feel the same way?” she asked, and she took another small step back, as if preparing for his answer. She felt the rough bark of a tree lightly scratch her back.
“That is not it, Veria,” Andon argued adamantly. He stepped in closer to her, again, and replaced his hands on her waist. “It is my father—”
“I do not care about your father!” Veria interrupted. “Or my mother, or anyone else!”
“Veria, listen—”
“I am done listening,” she said in his ear. He groaned in frustration and his head dropped, hitting her shoulder. “I want this,” she said.
“I know,” he muttered, burying his head against her once more, and shaking his head as if it helped him resist.
“You want this, too,” she said.
“Oh, Veria...” he sighed.
“Andon, please,” she whispered.
And he broke. He could no longer contain himself, and began planting fervent kisses all along her neck, and up to her jawline. She let herself fall back against the tree, and he let himself fall with her, until he was pressing against her, but not uncomfortably. He grabbed her face and they joined lips with an importance and meaning that Veria had never felt, and waves of emotion rippled from deep inside her. She knew in that second that she loved him, in some way.
Pulling his lips away from hers, he said, “This is not right. Not here,” with short, ragged breath.
“Take me,” she said, with no trepidation. “Here.”
He shook his head in protest, but moved his hands down to her thighs and maneuvered her dress under his fingers.
“Andon, please,” she repeated.
“Veria, you know not what you do to me,” he mumbled through a sigh of desire and frustration. “This is not how we do things where I am from,” he explained.
“We are not where you are from,” Veria replied, and she placed her arms around his neck and pulled him back into her. Andon wasted no time from there, lifting the skirt of her dress, pulling her legs up around his body and propping her against the tree trunk in one fluid movement.
Feeling as if her whole body were aflame, Veria let herself completely enjoy the experience, allowing every noise of pleasure and every utterance of passion escape her. And every time she did, Andon became more fervent, more pressing, and determined. And so it built and built, each fueling the other's intensity until they were desperately grasping one another and nearing the brink of release. Veria knew that no one could have been anywhere near them, and she arched her entire spine and screamed as the pleasure and pain of satisfaction washed over her entire body, a feeling she was quite unaccustomed to, even in her previous encounter with Andon. Andon pressed his face into her shoulder and roared as he buried himself completely inside her for his finish.
They both stood mostly still, except for the natural movement of their labored breathing. Andon finally looked up at Veria, his face filled with affection, and gratitude. He held her face in his hands and let his forehead rest against hers, shaking his head again, but she knew not why.
Gently, he placed her back on her feet, and enveloped her in an affectionate kiss. As they separated, Veria faltered with the dizziness that had struck her during her daydream. Andon clutched her to keep her steady.
“What is wrong?” he asked with concern.
“I am not sure,” Veria answered. The discomfort fluttered inside her again, and again she felt as though she might be sick. She maneuvered her face away from him as a precaution.
“I have to get you home. Now,” he muttered.
“Are you angry with me?” Veria asked, her face pursing in confusion and hurt.
“I am angry with myself,” he answered, leading her to the horse, and lifting her up to the saddle. “We should not have stayed out here—I should not have even let you come out here alone in the first place!”
With seemingly no effort, he pulled himself up into the saddle in front of her, and she wrapped her arms around his chest. “I am sure it is just a sour stomach. I have been eating too many new foods,” she tried to comfort him. His tense face and serious tone unsettled her, as she only wanted him to be happy, and at peace.
Without looking back at her, he said, softly yet severely, “If anything ever happened to you, I would never forgive myself.”
They began back through the woods toward the path, and Veria realized that Andon's compulsion to take care of her was so similar to her new-found desire to bring him joy. She suddenly knew what love felt like, and squeezed him tightly in her arms while wondering how long it would be before they could vocalize their feelings.
-IX-
There was barely enough time to change and force down the repulsive tree bark and Bearded-clove tea that Andon insisted she drink before Master Villicrey had arrived for early dinner. Tanisca made quite a big to-do about having such an esteemed member of the Regalship to visit after such a long time. Which, Veria could tell from his face, neither flattered nor impressed Willis Villicrey. In fact, he looked quite offended, and Veria thought he might have taken it that Tanisca implied he had not been paying the proper amount of visits since Lord Gordon's death. Which, if Veria had an opinion on the matter, he had not been, but she could not particularly blame him for the lapse.
After idle chatter about weather and travel in the garden over coffee and wine, Lady Veria, Madam Tanisca, Master Villicrey and Andon made their way to the dining room for their meal. Veria noted that Andon looked particularly uncomfortable as he seated himself next to her at the dining table.
Was it from the presence of his father, which seemed to strain him? Was it because he felt awkward being around his father and Tanisca after the morning's events in the forest? Or maybe he felt uncomfortable dining at the table since he had become accustomed to his life as a servant, Veria wondered. She tried to squeeze his hand under the table, but he did not reciprocate, and gave a short, cautionary shake of his head.
As soon as the first course touched the table, Tanisca narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. In the politest tone she could muster, for the benefit of her guest, she looked at Veria and stated, “There is no centerpiece on this table. Were there no ireas to be found?”
“No, there were not,” Veria lied, and as soon as she did she knew she had made a terrible mistake. Andon dropped his head in defeat as both Willis and Tanisca gave them looks of shock and disapproval. Her stomach sank as she realized that they both knew everything about her relationship with Andon. “Oh, sakes—he can do it, too?”
“Yes,” Andon said, not able to look up from his lap. “It is similar to your mother's ability.”
Willis Villicrey stared at his son and spoke slowly. “I do not think that you two are thinking this through—”
“Respectfully, father, your opinion does not matter here,” Andon cut him off, meeting his gaze.
“If you are im
plying that he cannot contribute to the conversation because he chose position over a tawdry affair—” Tanisca started, but Andon slammed his fist in the table and shot out of his seat before she could finish.
“That is not what this is!” he yelled.
“Andon!” Willis shouted, also rising from his seat. “You will not speak to the Lady of the Estate in such a manner!”
Andon stormed out of the dining room, into the kitchen, without a word.
After several moments of silence, in which Veria had to restrain herself from immediately going after Andon, and Willis reseated himself, Veria spoke softly. “She is not the Lady of the Estate, Master Villicrey.”
Tanisca made a face that suggested offense, but did not speak.
“Excuse me, my Lady?” he asked.
“I am the Lady of Longberme Estate,” Veria stated, louder this time. “And I hope you will please excuse me, Master Villicrey, as I must check on my other guest.”
She exited the dining room, and found Andon in his quarters off the kitchen, bent over his dresser, his hands in fists.
“Just leave, please,” he begged, without looking at her.
About to protest, Veria jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned to see that it belonged to Willis. He gestured for her to follow him, and she did, back to the kitchen.
“Where is the stone?” he asked in hushed tones.
Veria cocked her head, then realized he meant the sapphire. She had switched it into the pocket of her dress when she had changed earlier, and produced it for him to examine.
He surveyed it, but would not touch the stone.
“Andon told me you had some questions about it. Magers often find that certain representations of their element find a way to them,” he explained. “And often times, that representation can offer further insight into the Mager's particular skill set.”
“Wait, are you trying to tell me I have powers?” Veria uttered in shock.
“Andon tells me you found this in a favorite spot? It is a typical story amongst young Magers. Strange things start to happen, and then a gem appears out of nowhere, or a breeze kicks up a sand eddy in a place that normally has no wind, strange colored ponds, and so on,” Willis recounted, seemingly uninterested in the explanation himself. “Sapphires typically come to Earth Magers with keen senses of being able to detect lies, and deception.” Then Willis laughed to himself with a shrug. Veria wanted to ask him what was funny, but he head spun from the onslaught of information. She had powers?
“It is almost as if you are the exact opposite of your mother,” Master Willis continued. “She is all about planting deception, and you seem to be able to be able to detect the truth.”
“She can do that, too,” Veria said.
“Ah, that is because she has used her elemental piece to increase her abilities, and trained herself over time. Some say that Fire Magers are only good at recognizing deception because they create it so often,” he explained.
“But she can uncover the truth as soon as she is lied to.”
“And you will know when someone is lying to you, but without invading their thoughts and privacy,” Willis said, with a tone of disapproval.
“You can uncover the truth, just like her,” Veria pointed out. “Do not pretend that you think it is unethical.”
“It is unethical!” Willis argued in a harsh whisper. “I trained a certain set of skills to benefit my line of work. And I will say that, yes, it has been worth it to bring meaningful arrangements and peace to our land. But I wish all the time I could turn it off, in situations like these.”
Veria felt the warm blood of embarrassment flush to her cheeks.
“You are a good person,” Willis said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I considered your father one of my greatest friends, and therefore feel a vested interest in your well-being. I know your feelings for my son are true, but—”
“But do not give up my position? This is undignified, or beneath me, or—what? You are just like her,” Veria snarled. “Because you both chose to advance yourselves instead of be happy—”
“You will break his heart,” Willis interrupted, and Veria felt her stomach lurch.
“No, I won't,” she attempted to protest.
“He is my son, and yes, I chose my career and my duty over having a life with my family,” he whispered harshly. “I regret that everyday. Everyday of my life, including this one. If you have done your research you know all the facets of the Earth Mager skill spectrum.”
Veria felt light-headed as she remembered that some skilled Earth Magers trained themselves see into the future.
“No,” she sighed. A sob caught in her throat, but she did not let it out, her throat burning as she tried to hold it back.
“I want you both to be happy, please understand,” Willis said, trying to console her. And Veria knew he was telling the truth.
“How?” Veria asked, looking at him with moist, pleading eyes. “How will I...” She trailed off, unable to say the words.
“I—it is hard to see exactly what, but,” Willis sighed, “you do not choose him.”
“I did!” Veria argued. “I will! I did choose him, today!”
Willis shook his head. “I feel that I have contributed to the circumstances, and you should know the whole situation.”
Andon appeared in the kitchen, as if on cue, and glared at his father.
“What are you doing?” he snapped.
“Shall we all regroup in the dining room?” Willis suggested, sounding distraught and exhausted.
Worried and nervous, Veria followed the Villicrey men and took her seat again, which Andon pulled out for her then pushed her back in.
Tanisca pretended to fiddle with a wine glass absentmindedly, until Willis spoke up. “My apologies, Madam Tanisca, for leaving you alone.”
“Oh, not to worry,” she lied, forcing a smile. The lie tingled and snapped like warm embers in Veria's ears.
Willis did not take his seat, however, but instead cleared his throat. Veria noticed Andon had not seated himself either, and stood rigid behind her chair.
“My visit is partially a formal one,” Master Villicrey announced. “I have offered my son the position of my diplomatic apprentice, and he has accepted. We thought the Longberme Estate should be the first to know.”
Numbness replaced nervousness, as Veria locked eyes with her mother, who looked overjoyed at the news. “You did this,” she accused.
“Excuse me?” Tanisca feigned obliviousness.
“You did this to me! Because you are so afraid to lose your damn position! Your ridiculous power and wealth!” Veria shrieked, rage consuming her. Willis winced and Andon tried to place a hand on her shoulder to calm her. She threw it off and stood, wheeling on him. “How can you go along with this?” she snapped.
“Veria, please—”
“This is all her plot because she knows if I am happy, I will give up on this ridiculous quest for power she has set me on,” Veria argued.
“Oh, please stop blaming me in all of your problems,” Tanisca sighed. “It is quite unbecoming.”
“Did you suggest this, mother?” Veria looked her straight in the eyes. “Tell me the truth. Because even if you don't, I will know it.”
Tanisca looked very nervous, and averted her gaze from her daughter, keeping her lips tightly sealed.
Veria's breath became sharp as she fought back tears.
“Calm down,” Andon said, trying to comfort her again.
“I cannot believe you,” she spat, and marched into the kitchen. He followed right on her heels, and grabbed her arm as soon as they were out of the dining room.
“I tried to tell you this today,” he said sternly. “I did not want to let things go as far as they did since I was just—”
“Leaving me! Since you were just going to leave me!”
“Veria—”
“You did not try very hard to tell me, now did you?” she snarled.
“What does that
mean?” Andon pulled away from her as if she had slapped him.
“It means I hope you enjoyed your morning,” Veria said, staring him down as his face visibly hardened. He snorted like an angry bull.
“You infuriate me! Do you know that?!” he shouted, throwing his hands in the air. “Did you stop to think for one second that I might have my reasons for going with my father?”
“And they are more important than us?” she rebutted.
“Not more important,” Andon said. “But obviously you think this is all about you, and feel the need to belittle my honor by suggesting I had my way with you today just to get myself off. Like I feel nothing for you, and like this is not killing me,” he growled through his teeth.
A sob broke through Veria's voice as she pleaded. “Then don't go with him, please.”
Andon pulled her in close to him, completely surrounding her in his arms, and she wept into his shirt. Veria could feel a breath catch in his chest, and without warning, he pulled away and left the kitchen in silence.
Before she could wail and cry and collapse like she wanted to, Master Willis entered through the dining room. Veria sniffled and subdued her sobs. “Did you tell him about me?” she asked quietly, without meeting his gaze. “That I would break his heart?”
“No,” Willis answered. And it was the truth.
“Well, what about mine?” she asked. “You chose his heart over mine. Now I am broken.”
“He is my son,” Willis answered plainly. “And I have not given him enough in his life.”
Veria did not respond, just pulled her sapphire out of her dress pocket and rubbed it in her palm.
“Please, you must understand this is the best for everyone. Let me give you the address of my first Elemental Master. It is the least I can do,” Willis offered, in an almost pleading tone.
“Are you trying to tell me you think aiding me in my training will replace what you are taking from me?” Veria scoffed.
“Do you not want him to be happy?” Willis asked.
And it felt like he had hit her in the chest, and stolen her breath. She remembered that feeling—that thought, that realization...that she only wanted to make him happy. Even if it hurt.
Lord and Servant: (Book I of the Elementals Series) Page 7