The Lobos' Heartsong

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “But…,”

  Faron silenced her with a gentle finger against her trembling lips. “You, and no other, will ever do for us. You must accept that, as it is the truth.”

  Saige did not know what to do, or what to say to that.

  “Amada, in keeping with your honesty to us last night, we wish you to know that the things you have said you feel about us, we also feel about you. We know what kind of a woman you are, and we sense you, as you sense us. Also, the feelings of arousal you feel, we also feel for you. We ask that you allow us to make love to you.”

  Saige’s breath caught in her throat. This was an important moment, she realized, and the next move was hers to make, or not

  For the first time in her life she felt true physical desire, and the objects of her desire felt the same way about her. Less than a full day earlier she had awakened to find herself bound and gagged in a small box, helpless and afraid, her future unknown. Just that fast, her life had been threatened, her future nearly taken from her. More than ever, she knew how important it was for her to grab hold of what she wanted and experience it while it was offered, because tomorrow everything could change. And, while she did not know these men in the usual sense of the word, on some level she knew exactly what kind of men they were, and it was all good. She had some sort of strange connection to them that she didn’t understand, but something inside of her urged her to trust it.

  “Well, if I knew what to do next, I would do it,” she said, making her decision.

  Faron frowned, not understanding her. She swallowed and clenched her fists in her lap. She briefly considered saying nothing, letting the moment pass, knowing that the Lobos would never push her into anything. But she wanted this, wanted them. She had never wanted like this in her life. She was not going to let this pass her by.

  “I just mean that I have no experience in this...uh...area,” she said, knowing she was hedging just a bit, hoping they would understand her. If they didn’t, she would just come right and say it.

  “Do you mean to say you have no sexual experience?” Faron asked, his voice so hot and deep she again seemed to feel it brushing against her skin.

  Saige opened her mouth to answer him, found that she could not speak, and nodded instead. Suddenly the room was filled with the sound of soft, rumbling growls. In that brief moment before Faron reached for her, Saige thought she should be frightened by the growls. But she wasn’t. On the contrary, her arousal intensified at the sound of them, as though some part of her understood what they meant.

  Almost before she knew it, she was in Faron’s arms, his mouth on hers, his hot tongue tracing her lips, seeking entrance. She raised her hands to his shoulders and opened her mouth for him. She felt his chest vibrate against her as his growls deepened even as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, caressing her tongue lightly. She returned the caress hesitantly, uncertainly. His soft moan increased her confidence and she did it again, a light, licking rub against his tongue. His arms tightened around her as he deepened the kiss. Saige’s eyes closed as she let herself get lost in her first real kiss, her arms curling up around Faron’s neck of their own volition, not even noticing her own soft moans.

  Saige felt Dav and Ban on either side of them, their eyes all but glowing with heat as they watched her. Faron stood up, urging her to her feet as well. She heard the sound of her chair sliding across the floor just before she felt Dav behind her, kissing and licking the back of her neck. She lowered her mouth to the side of Faron’s neck and ran her tongue up the tight ridge of muscle she found there. The taste of him filled her senses, stoking the fire inside of her until she was nearly panting. Her skin pebbled as Dav gently nipped the back of her neck before licking the tiny hurt, his hands slipping beneath the edges of her shirt to stroke lightly against her bare skin.

  Saige lifted her head and looked into Faron’s eyes searchingly. She feared for one moment that she would see something crude in his eyes, as though he thought less of her for what she was doing. What she saw instead took her breath away. He was gazing at her as though she was the most important thing in his world, and that was something she had never thought to see for herself, ever. She felt tears sting the back of her eyes and quickly raised her mouth to his for another deep kiss.

  When Faron raised his mouth from hers so that they could both breathe, she saw Ban standing close beside them, gazing at her the same way Faron had; as though she was not merely pretty, but beautiful and special beyond all sense or reason. She smiled and leaned toward him, pleased when Faron eased his arms around her to make it easier for her to lean towards Ban, yet still supporting her.

  Ban met her half way, his big, warm hands gently framing her face as he lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss as deep and hot as Faron’s had been, but at the same time, distinctly Ban. Dav’s hands slid upward toward her breasts and stroked them lightly before cupping them in his hands and squeezing gently.

  Saige screamed into Ban’s mouth before she had a chance to stop herself. Ban lifted his head and all three men froze, the tension in the room building so quickly that Saige thought her hair would crackle from the energy.

  Saige panted for a moment, her eyes avoiding Faron's as she struggled against the deep pain radiating out from her breasts into her shoulders. From the way it felt, she knew the bruises must have worsened dramatically since her shower after breakfast. They had been bad then, but not so painful.

  When the deep pain at last faded, all three men were watching her with guarded expressions. After a few moments Faron gently eased Saige back into his arms as Dav carefully slid his hands away from her, both of them moving very slowly for fear of causing her pain.

  “How much of your body is covered in bruises now?” Faron asked.

  Saige looked at him in surprise. How had he figured that out?

  “Jackson told me you had been assaulted while unconscious,” Faron explained, understanding her look of surprise. “The worsening of the bruising on your face indicates to me that the bruises on other areas of your body would also worsen. Am I correct?”

  “Yes,” Saige replied in a whisper.

  “We need to see, Saige,” he said softly.

  Saige hesitated, but he was right. If they were as bad as they felt, then perhaps she needed to seek some treatment. This had never happened to her before and it was worrisome.

  “Okay,” she agreed. Faron lifted her carefully into his arms and carried her out of the dining room, through the living room, and into the cool, dim bedroom. He set her on her feet and reached for the buttons on the front of the oversized shirt she had borrowed from Lariah. She waited nervously until he had the shirt opened and slid it down her arms. She heard a harsh intake of breath, then another, then a third.

  Saige looked down and felt the blood drain from her face at the sight of her chest above the edge of the fresh camisole she had put on after her shower. She was now black and blue up to her shoulders and down both of her arms.

  Dav knelt down on her right, Ban on her left, and they began removing her shoes, socks and slacks, handling her as though she were made of glass. When they were finished, Faron slipped the camisole up over her head, breaking the thin straps so that she would not have to lift her arms.

  Saige was frightened by the massive bruising covering her body. From Faron’s, Dav’s and Ban’s expressions, they were as well, though none of them said anything. Dav went into the bathroom and returned with a gigantic blue bathrobe. Saige held out her arms and he slipped it onto her, tying the belt loosely around her waist. She knew from the scent that it was Dav's bathrobe, and she smiled at the knowledge.

  Faron guided her out to the living room and urged her to sit on the sofa.

  “Saige, we have some small skill in healing magic,” he said. “Not enough to heal your bruises, but enough to determine how dangerous they are to you at this time. Will you allow us to use our ability on you in this manner?”

  “Of course,” Saige replied. “I would very much appreciate it. I have
never had bruising like this before, and it worries me.”

  “Just relax for a moment,” Faron said, unwilling to admit to her that the bruising did more than worry him. It frightened him. “You should not feel anything.”

  Saige took a deep breath and leaned back, trying to relax as Faron, Dav and Ban all crowded close to her, each of them placing a gentle hand on her body. They closed their eyes for several moments, but, as Faron had said, she felt nothing. When Faron opened his eyes, she could see the worry in them.

  “The bruising is very extensive internally, as well as externally,” Faron said. “I am going to call Prince Garen and, if I must, beg for Riata to come and heal you,” he said. “If she is unable, then we will call in some favors and get an air transport here to fly us to the next nearest healer.”

  Saige felt as though she should argue against bothering Riata, but she didn't. The bruising frightened her as much as it frightened them. She nodded in agreement. Faron leaned forward and kissed her gently, then moved away, taking the vox that Dav was holding out for him.

  Dav bent to kiss her as Faron had. “We will take care of you Saige,” he promised. “Never doubt that.”

  When Dav moved away, Ban took his place. “Even with those horrible bruises, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he said earnestly. “Thank you for allowing us to take care of you.” He then kissed her as well.

  Saige licked her lips and tasted all of them together on her tongue, a taste that sent flames shooting through her body, and at the same time, made her heart ache with unfamiliar emotion. She realized suddenly that if she did not already love these men, she was well on her way to it, and the fact that she had known them for only a day didn’t matter a bit.

  Chapter 19

  Faron tapped the vox in his ear as he stepped out of the house and onto the deck overlooking the river.

  “What?” Garen answered, as he always did.

  “Highness, I must ask a favor,” Faron said. “A lifetime wish if necessary.”

  “Explain, please,” Garen said.

  “Saige is in need of healing. The bruises have spread so that they cover about 80 percent of her body. I sense that they pose a danger to her circulatory system. If they are allowed to continue to worsen, I fear they will take her life.”

  “I will bring Riata at once. Give us one minute.”

  “I give you thanks, my Prince,” Faron said with relief.

  “No need, my friend.” A click told Faron that Garen had disconnected. He turned and went back into the house, returning the vox to Dav as he stopped in front of Saige.

  “The Healer will be here in a moment,” he said to all of them as he gave silent thanks for the Dracons’ increased magic and ability to speed-travel. There was an immediate lessening of the tension in the room.

  Less than a minute later Faron heard footsteps on the deck before the door opened and Riata stepped into the house, Garen right behind her. She paused just inside the door and bowed politely, as was her way.

  “Welcome to our home Riata,” Faron said formally as he returned her bow. “Please enter and be received as our guest.”

  “I thank you for your kind welcome,” Riata replied with equal formality. “I come, not as a guest, but as a Healer. I am told one is in need of my assistance?”

  “Yes, if you would be so kind,” Faron replied, following the time-honored formula that he knew Riata was most comfortable with in new surroundings or with new people. He stepped aside and swept his arm towards Saige.

  Riata hurried to her, stopping just in front of her for a long moment. “May I?” she asked softly, gesturing towards the sofa beside Saige with one hand.

  “Of course,” Saige replied.

  Riata sat beside Saige, careful not to jostle her patient. She reached down and lifted one of the wide sleeves of the robe Saige wore, pulling it back just enough so that she could see the bruises on her wrists. She then held one hand, palm down, flat over Saige's wrist for a long moment before releasing the robe.

  “It is very good that you called for me,” Riata said to Faron. “I sense many blood clots beginning to form, and the walls of her capillaries are starting to break down. Miss Taylor must be attended to without further delay. Is there a place where she can lie down?”

  “Yes of course,” Faron replied.

  Moments later Riata shooed Faron, Dav and Ban out of the bedroom and closed the door. They had been reluctant to leave Saige's side, but they also wanted her healed. They would do anything, give anything the Healer required for that to happen.

  “Miss Taylor, I must ask that you open your robe,” Riata asked.

  “Please, call me Saige,” Saige said as she loosened the sash on the oversized bathrobe and laid down on the bed.

  “Thank you,” Riata said. “As we have not been introduced, may I be so bold as to ask that you call me Riata?”

  Saige laughed softly. She had a feeling she was going to like this woman.

  Saige tried to relax as Riata bent over her to examine her bruises more closely. “I am familiar with the disease you have,” Riata said as she continued to inspect Saige's bruises from her ankles to her wrists. “I have not seen this presentation of bruises however. Has this happened to you before?”

  “No. I tend to bruise easily, and they do tend to grow worse afterwards, but never anything like this. I was unable to take my meds for a few days. Perhaps that has something to do with it.”

  “Perhaps,” Riata replied. “Saige, I must ask if you are aware of the damage the disease has done to your body.”

  Saige glanced up at Riata, then away.

  “I would also inform you that, as you are my patient, your secrets are my secrets,” Riata added delicately.

  Saige smiled. Yes, already she liked this woman very much. “I am aware of the damage done to my reproductive organs, as well as the brain damage caused by the seizures,” she said. “And I've already told the Lobos as well, so secret keeping isn't really necessary.”

  Riata looked at Saige for a long moment as though about to say something, then shook her head slightly as though changing her mind.

  “I wish I could tell you otherwise, but I am unable to reverse the existing damage because it is all scar tissue,” she said instead. “I can, however, destroy the disease organism itself.”

  “Really?” Saige gasped in surprise. “I did not think that was possible.”

  Riata smiled at her. “It is possible and I have done it twice before. Regrettably, I cannot do it at this time. I have depleted myself too much in recent hours, and to destroy all traces of the virus within you will require a great deal of energy.

  “For now, it is most urgent that I heal your bruising, and I do have quite enough energy to accomplish that task. Later, in one day, perhaps two, I will be happy to heal your disease.”

  “That would be wonderful Riata,” Saige said, hardly able to believe that the disease she had thought to live with for the remainder of her life would be gone forever. After a moment though, a thought occurred to her.

  “Riata, Lariah is going to give birth soon, as you know,” she said. “Perhaps it would be best to save your energy until after that event. I would never forgive myself should you not be able to aid her because you healed me instead.”

  Riata patted her very lightly on the hand. “Do not worry about Lariah. She is Dracon, and will have no trouble delivering her babes.”

  Saige didn't really understand what that meant, but as Riata took a long deep breath and closed her eyes to concentrate, she held her tongue. After a moment Riata placed her hands over Saige's body, palms down, about an inch above her.

  Saige felt a gentle warmth emanating from the Healer's hands as she began at her feet and slowly worked her way up Saige's body. Saige felt her body and mind relax and closed her eyes. She didn’t know how much time had passed when Riata placed a hand on her shoulder and asked her to open her eyes.

  “Are the bruises gone?” she asked hopefully.

&nbs
p; “Completely,” Riata assured her. “Both those inside, and out.”

  Saige sat up and looked down at herself, relieved that her skin was back to its normal color with no hint of purple bruising anywhere. She jumped up off the bed, tied the sash of her robe and hurried to the mirror over the dresser. She grinned to see that the bruises on her face were gone as well. She turned around and hugged Riata.

  “I do not know how to thank you Riata,” she said, emotion making her voice tight. She released Riata and stepped back. “I apologize if that was wrong to do.”

  “It was not wrong and there is no need for apology,” Riata replied with a gentle smile. “I am happy to be of help. It is mine to heal.”

  “Well, if there is ever anything at all that I can do for you, you just let me know,” Saige offered.

  Riata bowed low. “I thank you for such a generous offer, Saige Taylor.”

  It suddenly occurred to Saige that, in this world, the casual Earth idiom she had just spoken was a formal obligation. But she didn’t mind. She meant what she had said, and would be happy to help Riata in any way she could.

  Saige opened the door and hurried into the living room, nearly tripping over the hem of the robe in her haste. Strong arms caught her as she stumbled and lifted her up, cradling her. She smiled up at Ban, and he grinned back.

  “You are even more stunning without the bruises,” he said, winking at her. She laughed. She couldn't help it. She felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from her.

  Faron was so relieved to see that the bruises were gone from Saige's face that his knees felt weak. He turned to his Prince and bowed deeply. He then turned to Riata and repeated the gesture.

  “I thank you both for the healing of our Arima,” he said. “If either of you ever have need, know that we will be at your service.”

  “There is no need for that,” Garen objected. “At least, not for myself.”

  “Nor for me,” Riata added. “I had already planned to come up and heal Saige this evening. I am pleased to be able to aid you and your Arima.”