When she reached down and began to unbuckle his belt, he gently took her hands in his and looked into her eyes, “I’m not going to make you pay for not punishing you.”
Emily pulled her hands out of his grip and once again pushed his hands against the bed as she frowned at him.
“This would be much easier if you’d just talk,” he whispered, and then sighed when she unbuckled his belt again.
When he tried to take her hands again, Emily gently pushed him onto the bed and straddled his thighs as she held his hands against the bed and looked deep into his eyes.
“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered, allowing her to hold him down.
She slowly reached down and began to run her lips lightly over the contours of his chest.
***
Chevalier watched the moon pass across their window as he held Emily against his chest while she slept. He wasn’t sure if he should have allowed what had just happened, but got the strong feeling she wasn’t doing it out of fear or for repayment.
He smiled when she sighed softly in her sleep and tightened her grip on his forearm. Chevalier lightly kissed the top of her head, and then began to think over how to re-bond them without fear of her panicking.
Emily didn’t start to wake up until well after the sun had risen. She jerked slightly and Chevalier moved his arm as she sat up and looked around the room.
“Good morning,” he said softly, not sure how she was going to react.
She looked over at him and then curled up against his chest. He smiled and shut his eyes to revel in the feel of her against his skin. It wasn’t long before he realized she was watching him, and he looked down at her.
“Need something?” he asked as he brushed the hair away from her neck.
She shook her head and then smiled.
“What?” he asked, and couldn’t help but grin.
Emily shrugged slightly and then sat up again and pulled the sheet up against her chest.
“I was thinking about how to make bonding easier for you,” Chevalier told her. She looked over at him, “I wondered if Alexis and Garrett bonded first in the ceremonial room, if that’d help.”
He saw the indecision in her eyes and continued, “It’s not normal for a non-Elder to be bonded there, but I don’t think there are any rules against it.”
She sighed and very faintly shook her head.
“Why not?”
When she didn’t answer, he sighed, “Talk to me, please.”
He watched as she decided what to do, and was about to talk again when she whispered softly, “No.”
“Tell me why not.”
She swallowed hard and her hands tightened on the sheet.
“Which part is a no? Is it Alexis bonding or you in the ceremonial room?”
“I can’t go in,” she said, softly enough he had to strain to hear.
“Why not?”
Chevalier reached out to touch her shoulder and she jumped and pulled away from him, “Tell me why.”
Emily suddenly got out of bed, taking the sheets with her, and disappeared into the bathroom. Chevalier stood beside the door and called in to her, “I know you have never liked the ceremonial room. But I don’t see how to get around this.”
She came out a few minutes later in her usual camouflage pants and plain black t-shirt.
“Are you going to tell me why?” he asked, watching her.
Emily moved to the door, reached out, and pulled Kralen inside, and then shut the door before the others could enter.
“Elder,” Kralen said, bowing slightly.
“Why is he in here?” Chevalier asked her. The heku watched as she got on her hands and knees inside one of the large walk-in closets.
She came out a few minutes later with something tucked into her hand.
“Did you need something?” Kralen asked her. She took his hand and led him to stand beside Chevalier.
Emily reached into her pocket and then handed her essence ring and a thin black ribbon over to Kralen. She paused, and then stood by Chevalier and watched him.
Kralen looked up at Chevalier, “Umm… am I bonding you?”
“No, you aren’t,” Chevalier said, and then turned to Emily. “I told you it has to be more official now.”
She held her wrist out to Kralen.
He thought for a moment before speaking, “I’m more than happy to bond you, but it will have to be official.”
Emily frowned and tore the ribbon and ring out of his hand.
“I’m sorry, Em.”
She ignored him and crawled back into the closet. After a few minutes, she came out and then sat in the bay window. She didn’t notice that Kralen was now gone and she was alone in the room with Chevalier.
He sat down beside her, “There’s no way around this. It’s important to me that we re-bond.”
Chevalier watched as she sat in silence and fought the tears that threatened to pour down her cheeks.
He sighed, “Let’s watch Alexis bond in the ceremonial room. You’ll see that nothing will happen.”
Emily shook her head slightly.
“Why not?”
When she didn’t answer, he stood up, “Their bonding is tomorrow in the ceremonial room of the palace. Either you attend or don’t, it’s your call.”
She glared at him as he walked out and shut the door behind him.
***
Alexis sighed, “Dad, I don’t like this.”
“She can’t be afraid of this room,” Chevalier said as he looked around at those gathered.
“But I want Mom here.”
“She’s standing outside the door, I bet she comes in.”
Alexis looked at him, “She’s too stubborn to come in here.”
Dain chuckled, “I agree with Alex. She’s not going to come in here unless we carry her.”
Garrett took Alexis’ hand, “It’s an honor to be bonded here, but Alex wants her Mom to attend.”
Kyle came in and shook his head, “She whispered no to me. She’s not coming in here.”
Chevalier sighed and looked at the door, deep in thought.
“Maybe Mark and Kralen can talk some sense into her,” Allen said. “I haven’t been able to change her mind.”
The two heku came in a bit later, both grinning slightly. Mark turned to Chevalier, “She’s not coming in here.”
“Did she talk to you?”
Kralen cleared his throat, “She talked to me, yes.”
Mark shrugged, “She’s not talking to me.”
“What did she say?” Chevalier asked.
Kralen looked around at those gathered and decided it was safe to say, “Salazar told her that as a mortal, she wasn’t worthy to come into a ceremonial room and the next time she did, the Equites would turn her so she was no longer merely a mortal.”
“That’s it… bonding’s off,” Alexis said angrily.
Garrett gasped, “Let’s just move it somewhere else.”
“No,” Chevalier said. “Start it.”
“Dad I want Mom in here,” Alexis begged.
“She will be,” he replied, and then walked out into the hallway.
Quinn glanced at Alexis and then tightly bound her wrist with Garrett’s. He continued as normal when Chevalier hauled Emily into the ceremonial room as she fought to get away from him.
“Stop it,” Chevalier whispered into her ear. “No one’s going to try to turn you.”
Dain shifted nervously and then looked back at Quinn as he spoke in Native.
Halfway through the ceremony, Emily finally began to calm some, but Chevalier could hear her heart racing and she’d broken out in a sweat, though she no longer fought against his arms.
Alexis smiled reassuringly at Emily before Garrett moved closer to her. As his teeth touched Alexis’ neck, he gasped and stepped back quickly, grasping the front of his shirt.
“Em, stop it,” Chevalier whispered.
Alexis turned to her Mom, “It’s ok, he’s not going to hurt me.�
�
Chevalier nodded to Garrett, “Go ahead.”
“You… you sure?” he asked, still feeling a slight burn in his chest.
“Kyle’s here, you’re fine.”
Garrett gasped and stepped back further away from Alexis.
“Dad!” Alexis yelled.
Chevalier chuckled, “I’m sorry. I think she’s ok, just try again.”
Garrett swallowed hard and then stepped toward Alexis. She smiled reassuringly at him as he glanced at Emily and then slowly sunk his teeth into Alexis’ neck.
Chevalier tightened his arms around Emily when she began to squirm, and then relaxed his grip when Garrett stood up and kissed Alexis softly.
As pre-planned, Miri then stepped forward and opened the vein in Garrett’s neck for Alexis, who immediately took Miri’s place and wrapped a soft hand behind his neck as she drank. Emily gasped and watched, too shocked to turn around.
When Alexis was done, she leaned her head against Garrett’s chest and he wrapped his arms around her. Quinn began to speak again, and Emily finally started to relax.
Once the ceremony was over, everyone moved forward to congratulate the new couple, except for Chevalier, who was still holding tightly to Emily.
“You ok, Boy?” Kralen asked with a wide grin.
Garrett nodded, “That stings pretty badly.”
“Get used to it. It’s part of being in her family.”
He just nodded and then took Alexis’ hand.
Chevalier nodded to Kyle and he turned to the others, “We also thought while we’re all in here and no one’s ash…”
Dain grinned as Alexis turned to him, “She’s going to do it?”
“We’re not sure,” Chevalier said, holding her tighter when she started to panic.
Kyle disappeared from the room and she looked around for him, but suddenly caught sight of the Council entering in ceremonial blue robes.
Chevalier spoke sternly, “Em, they aren’t here to turn you. We’re just going to re-bond.”
Zohn came in last in a ceremonial black robe with the hood pulled down. He hesitated, and then took his spot standing before them.
When Emily’s heart began to beat erratically fast, Chevalier whispered into her ear softly, “We know you can’t be turned. Why would we even try? You would instantly put this entire city to sleep, remember?”
When Zohn’s voice sounded above the rest, and Emily couldn’t understand what he was saying, she slowly began to relax. Once their wrists were bound together with the black silk ribbon, Chevalier loosened his grip, but kept a hand on her just in case.
Emily watched curiously as all eyes turned to Kyle when he entered the room carrying a glass of dark red wine. Her eyes grew wide when Chevalier bit his own wrist and allowed his blood to pour slowly into the glass. When his wrist healed, Kyle handed Emily the glass and she looked at it, but didn’t speak.
Chevalier smiled slightly, “Drink it, Em.”
She looked up at him before turning back to the wine, but never attempted to grab it.
Kyle chuckled and held it out, “It’s not that bad. You won’t even taste the blood, I swear.”
Emily wrinkled her nose and ignored the laughing from the heku gathered.
Chevalier took the glass of wine and held it to her, “For me, Em. Please?”
She hesitantly took the glass and looked up at him. He smiled as she brought it to her lips and took a quick sip.
“More, Em,” he encouraged, and tipped the glass a bit.
Emily finally relented and took a large drink from the glass. When she was done, she handed it back to Dain and then turned to Chevalier. She knew the look in his eyes and realized it was his turn to drink from her.
Panic filled her suddenly and she turned and lunged for the door, but found herself in Kyle’s grasp.
Kyle restrained her arms and turned her around.
“Calm down,” Chevalier said to her as he moved closer.
Realizing that Emily wasn’t going to stop fighting, Kyle let one of her arms go and held her tightly. She used that hand to push against Chevalier, but he gently took her forearm in his hands and exposed the tender side of her wrist.
Every heku in the room felt the flash of burn in their chests, but only Dain reacted with a violent roar. Allen and Kralen grabbed him just as he dove for Emily, growling angrily.
“Em, stop it,” Chevalier said again. “This won’t hurt.”
Before she could even scream, he tenderly bit her wrist and then shut his eyes as the sweet flavor filled his mouth and wet the back of his throat. Emily tried to fight, but the euphoric relaxation took over and she became limp in Kyle’s arms.
“Elder, enough,” Mark whispered as he touched Chevalier’s shoulder.
Chevalier finally let go of her wrist and stood up straight as her taste lingered on his tongue. Kyle chuckled softly and pulled Emily into a tender cradle, then turned back to Zohn when he spoke.
By the time the ceremony was finished, and each member of the Council accepted the bond, Emily was fast asleep in Kyle’s arms. Chevalier took her before leaving, and the rest headed to a reception to honor the bond between Alexis and Garrett.
He laid her down in bed and then curled up next to her, disappointed that he wasn’t catching any of her emotions or any feelings from her dream. He shut his eyes and concentrated, finally giving up when dawn broke.
Emily sat up slowly in bed and looked around the room. The fires were roaring and there was a plate of steaming French toast sitting out on the table.
“Good morning,” Chevalier said as he brushed the hair off of her shoulder.
She looked down at the ring on her finger and tugged on it lightly, but it was sealed.
“I’m proud of you for doing that. I know it was hard.”
Emily ran her thumb lightly over the puncture wounds on her wrist, and noticed that they weren’t even tender.
Chevalier smiled, “First time I’ve had your wrist.”
She reached over and took his hand, then laced her fingers through his.
“Why the silent treatment?”
Emily shrugged.
“Are you mad?”
She shook her head.
“I still can’t read you… but that took a while before I did that the first time, and it came on slowly.”
Emily nodded and watched his hand.
“Talk to me.”
She looked up and whispered, “About what?”
“About the bonding, how we sort of forced you into it.”
“I drank it.”
“Yes, true… but you obviously didn’t want to be in the ceremonial room.”
She shrugged slightly.
“Course, I realize you’ve never really liked it.”
“Is Alex leaving?” Emily barely spoke above a whisper.
“No, she and Garrett are going to live in the City. The Council has already assigned them a home.”
When Emily sniffed, Chevalier realized she was starting to cry, “What’s wrong?”
“The… ceremonial room…”
“What about it?”
She turned pained eyes to him, “I shouldn’t have gone in there.”
“You didn’t have a choice.”
“He…”
Chevalier watched her and the indecision crept past her eyes.
“Should… punish for that.”
He sighed, “No you shouldn’t be punished for that. You have to stop believing what Salazar told you.”
“The trees,” she whispered.
“I know he said there were heku in the trees and it turned out there were, but he said Valle and those weren’t Valle.”
Emily let go of his hand and stood up slowly. She went to the table and sat down to eat.
“I’ll be back, ok?” Chevalier asked.
She looked up at him and frowned.
“It’s ok… Kralen and Mark are outside of your door.”
She finally nodded and then turned back to breakfast.
Chevalier walked down to the council chambers and around back to his seat. He was just sitting down when the current decision by the Council was announced. It wasn’t until the heku in the trial area left that the Council turned to him.
“Did it work?” Zohn asked.
Chevalier shook his head, “Not yet.”
“At least she didn’t turn us to ash.”
Chapter 35 - The Promise
“Can you at least come check them?” Mark asked Emily. “It takes us twice as long to make sure they fit in their saddles, and then sometimes we get it wrong.”
She watched him carefully from the bay window seat.
Silas smiled and tried a new tactic, “We miss you, Em. We want you to be part of this new group of Cavalry.”
Emily frowned slightly and gently touched her recently healed ribs.
Mark nodded, “Yeah, that too. We need the Cavalry to get to know you.”
“We can get you a uniform if that’d help,” Silas added. “You’re still technically a Commander.”
She just stared at him.
Silas chuckled, “Don’t give me that. You can’t quit the Cavalry, we told you that already.”
They spun suddenly when the bedroom door slammed open and Chevalier came in, obviously ready for a fight. Silas crouched instinctively, but Mark put a hand on his shoulder.
“Is there a problem, Elder?” Mark asked.
Chevalier stood slowly, “Nothing’s wrong?”
“No, Sir.”
“Em?”
She looked over at him, but didn’t speak.
“What happened?”
Mark shook his head, “Nothing’s happened.”
Chevalier turned, frowning, and left the room. He walked down to the council chambers and sat down, still confused.
“Is there a problem?” Zohn asked, rifling through some papers.
Chevalier smiled slightly, “I don’t know, actually.”
“Em ok?” Kyle asked.
“I don’t know about that either. Suddenly, I just got this intense feeling of fear. It had to be from her.”
Eternity of Vengeance (Extended Edition) : Book 7 of the Heku Series Page 85