“She’s the one, I feel it.” Haaken shot an agonized look at his brother as sparks flew from his fingertips and golden light consumed his body. He shook his head. “I know not—”
Light swirled about his head and his feet left the ground as the transformation continued. As the world receded around him, he heard Ty speak.
“You’d better find out brother, you’re running out of time.”
Chapter Eight
Dani slipped from her room, hoping no one had seen her leave Haaken’s rooms earlier in the same clothes she had worn last night. She’d been disappointed to awaken alone, only the scent of him upon her skin to convince her that the events of last night had really occurred.
She couldn’t prevent a smile as she made her way down the hall. Her body ached in places she’d never dreamed even existed. Haaken was a masterful lover and she could hardly wait to see what the evening held in store for them.
The sun was high as she made her way through one of the many courtyards, a short cut to the kitchens. She’d would grab something to break her fast, then find Ren to see how her evening had gone.
The castle was curiously quiet, no doubt due to the late hours from the festivities of last evening. But she heard the clang of steel against steel of the warriors engaged in swordplay in the outer bailey.
She slipped into the cavernous kitchens, and the scent of roasting meat and freshly baked bread caused her stomach to growl. Two kitchen maids sat on low stools, sorting through a large basket of greens, and Dani gave them a shy smile as she passed. The cooks were nowhere to be seen but their morning’s work was evident. Fresh fruit and vegetables were laid across the central table awaiting preparation for the evening meal. Dani selected a small round tropiel and a few grapes.
Another table near the ovens was piled high with golden loaves of bread, crisp crackers and fruity tarts. Spying the lemon ones, Dani took one to add to her bounty.
Biting into the flaky tart, she could barely contain her groan of delight as the fresh lemon flavor swamped her senses. In the hall, she heard voices approaching the kitchens. Not wishing to see anyone, she grabbed a small square of cheese and escaped into the courtyard.
Beneath one of the kitchen windows, she spied a small private bench tucked behind a potted tree. After arranging her meal in her lap, she settled in to enjoy the air and her food.
“She’s fresh meat, that’s why he wanted her.”
Dani tensed when she recognized KayLe’s voice coming from the kitchens.
“I think you’re jealous.”
She didn’t recognize the second voice.
“Me, jealous of that skinny little traveler?” KayLe snorted. “I don’t think so. Haaken will soon lose interest in her and return to my bed where he belongs.”
“But the Tuli-tay was held last night—”
“That makes no difference. He will still return to me.” There was no mistaking the anger in her voice. “He must fulfill his obligation to his people, but he doesn’t have to remain faithful to the little creature. Wryven men have very healthy…appetites. A half-starved little scarecrow won’t be able to keep a man like Haaken satisfied very long.” Dani heard the agitated rattle of silverware. “She’s simply a new fascination and all that means is I’ll have to work doubly hard to ensure that he returns to me. The sooner the better.”
“What about her?”
“What about her? He’ll lock her up in a remote location and he and I can get back to life as usual.” KayLe gave a sultry laugh. “All will be as it should.”
A drawer slammed shut and the voices faded. Dani slumped against the wall, a bite of lemon tart wedged in her throat. Was KayLe right? Would Haaken grow tired of her and lock her away somewhere? He still believed she was a slave—his slave—and she’d made no attempt to disabuse him of the notion.
She tossed the rest of the tart at the base of the potted tree. She needed to get out of here. She tucked the fruit and cheese in her pocket and headed for the door leading to her wing. In the distance, she heard a shout, then the distant clang of a bell. Thanks to the high walls of the keep, the sounds were muffled and distorted. Then a door flew open and Ren ran into the courtyard. There was no mistaking the panic on her face.
“Oh Dani, it’s awful.” Her feet barely touched the walk. “The village is on fire.”
“On fire? Where?”
“In the poorer section where they have thatched roofs. Haaken wanted to get rid of them, said they were too hazardous—”
“How many homes?” Dani grabbed Ren to stop her flood of words. “How many homes are at stake?”
“Dozens—” Her voice broke with a sob.
Dani grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the kitchens. The maids who’d been working on the greens were up and leaning out the window, yelling at someone.
“You.” Dani grabbed a blonde-haired girl. “Round up some people to gather blankets and bed linens. We need as much as we can find. Raid the stores, do whatever you have to do, but get them.”
The girl bit her lip then nodded, scurrying off to do as she was bid.
Dani pointed to the dark-haired one. “You, get some women and find some cloth to be used for bandages. Cut them and bring them to the town, we’ll need them.”
She nodded and ran off in the wake of the other maid.
“What do you want me to do?” Ren asked.
“Find the healers, all of them, and direct them to the site. We’ll need lots of help.”
Ren nodded. “And what will you do?”
“I’m going down there to see how I can help.”
“Be careful,” Ren said.
Dani gave her a quick hug and ushered her on her way. Pausing only to grab all the available toweling from the kitchen closet, she loaded her arms and took off at a dead run. As she burst into the outer bailey, Mik approached.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“To help.”
He shook his head. “I’ve got my orders and you’re not to leave the keep.”
Dani scowled at him. Even as young as he was, he was twice her size and she would undoubtedly lose in a physical confrontation. “And I have to help. Either help me or get out of my way.”
“You cannot leave—”
“I can and I will.” She shoved the armload of cloth at the warrior and, judging from his startled expression, it was the last thing he’d expected her to do. “People are dying down there. Either help me help them or by Ola, I’ll go through you to get there.”
She wheeled away and charged through the gates, praying no one made any attempt to stop her. The road to town lead directly to the square. At this distance, she could see the fire was to the east and it would be faster to leave the road and run through the fields to get there.
Gathering her skirts, she dashed through the thick grass, her heart pounding and her mouth dry with fear. From this distance, she could see the billowing black clouds of smoke and leaping flames as the homes were consumed.
Behind her she heard the thud of hooves and she saw Mik and another man each astride a horse. The second man’s arms were stuffed with towels. “I cannot let you go alone,” Mik said. He held out his hand and, without thinking twice, Dani grabbed it and was pulled up behind him.
“Thank you.”
He gave a curt nod and kicked the horse into a run. Within moments, they entered the melee. Dozens of farmers and their families were milling in the streets. Haaken’s warriors were trying to direct them to safety by forcing them to exit the area while other warriors and farmers had formed a bucket line and were trying to save the thatched houses still standing.
Dani slid from the horse and grabbed the arm of the nearest lieutenant. “Where are the wounded being taken?”
He gave her a startled look, then nodded at the towering church a few blocks west. “There. We’re taking them there.”
She nodded her thanks and grabbed the towels from Mik’s companion. She ran, leaving them to follow or join the bucket line.
/>
The air had a sooty, smoky flavor and she forced herself to breathe through her mouth as she approached the church. Already they were full to capacity and bodies lay outside the stone walls as well. Some moved, crying in pain, while others were ominously still.
Her heart breaking, she was glad to see Mik behind her. “I need water, as much as you can carry,” she said to him. “And any medical supplies you can find.”
The man gave her a quick nod and vanished into the milling crowd. Swallowing her fear, she waded into the mass of injured and dying. Soon she was cleaning wounds, applying bandages and holding hands as the seriously injured crossed into the netherworld of Ola, the creator.
As she worked, smoke swallowed the sun. At one point, Dani looked up to see Ren nearby as she held a dying woman’s hand. The woman’s hair had been burned away and her skin was horribly blistered.
Other women and a few men worked alongside them. There were several healers with their salves and potions, but all too soon their supplies were depleted and they were forced to use common drinking ale to bathe injuries before wrapping them in clean linen. Priests issued comfort as they moved among the injured, their heads bowed and their robes stained with blood and soot, their lips issuing prayer after prayer as they worked.
How many hours passed she didn’t know as she toiled among the sick and dying. Her body ached from constant stooping and bending, but she refused to stop. They needed her.
As darkness descended, she heard a murmur through the crowd that the flames had been conquered. Giving a quick prayer of thanks, she bent her head to hear the dying prayers of a young woman, her lifeless child still in her arms. Eyes burning, Dani smoothed the woman’s scorched hair from her forehead as her breathing grew more ragged. Finally, she drew her last breath and her body relaxed into death.
Dani sat back, her neck aching and her heart sore. So many had died here today, so many lives lost and homes destroyed. Across the churchyard, Ren stood near the church door in the arms of her lover. The massive warrior held her as she sobbed. He swung her into his arms and bore her off into the darkness.
Around her, victims lay bundled in blankets, their injuries swathed in white linen. The dead had been transported to an area outside of town where a group of warriors dug the graves.
Dani rose and motioned for the men to come and collect the woman and her child. Her heart was numb as they wrapped the tiny body in a linen shroud before wrapping the mother and child together then carrying them off into the darkness.
Down the street, she saw KayLe. The woman had arrived an hour before with a cartload of food that Dani had ordered for the men. The hungry warriors lined up and were receiving portions of roasted meat and bread with KayLe their charming hostess. Every hair in place, her skin no doubt perfumed and her clothing immaculate, the woman laughed and flirted with the exhausted, filthy men.
Dani turned away. At least KayLe was doing something useful for the first time today. She was too tired to even feel resentment toward the woman, there was too much to do.
One of the women gestured to her and Dani gathered her meager supplies. She was administering to a child with a cut on her leg when she heard a commotion near the food wagon. She looked up to see the Overseer join a group of his warriors. Her heart quickened at the sight of her lover, hearty and hale. Behind him was a large number of his personal guard. He disbursed them to give aid before scanning the crowds.
KayLe, who was in the process of handing out bread, thrust the loaf toward a small hunched farmer before flinging herself into Haaken’s arms. Even from a distance, Dani could see she was sobbing wildly. Numb, Daniturned away to tuck a blanket around the now-sleeping girl. Her face was dirty with soot and her blonde curls were dulled, but she still looked like a sleeping angel.
She rose and placed her hands at her waist to stretch her back when a wave of dizziness assailed her and she stumbled, placing her hands on the church wall to regain her balance. She was at the end of her strength and needed to rest. Maybe she could send one of the other women for something to drink. She groped for the bench she knew was nearby when her fingers encountered warm leather.
She looked up into Haaken’s dark face as her knees wobbled. His arms slid around her waist and he pulled her into the sanctuary of his arms. Dani closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of clean man and leather. She knew she looked a sight but she couldn’t bring herself to care now that his arms were around her.
“Thank you for taking care of my people,” he said.
She nodded, too numb to respond verbally. Her hands fisted in the front of his vest.
“Come, I’ll take you back to the keep where you can rest.”
“I need to—”
“No, you’ve done enough for today. You need to rest as there’ll be a great deal to do in the morning as well.”
Exhausted beyond comprehension, Dani clung to him as Haaken steered her through the churchyard. As they reached the street, his squire appeared leading his stallion. Haaken swung onto the horse and, with the squire’s help, Dani was settled before him.
She sagged against him, her eyes drifting closed as the sounds of the village faded and darkness embraced them. She slid her fingers between the laces on his shirt, needing to feel his skin, warm and alive, beneath her fingertips. She closed her eyes and felt a fleeting caress on her hair as she welcomed the darkness, knowing for the moment that Haaken would take care of everything.
She didn’t stir when he laid her on the bed. She’d fallen asleep in his arms on the back of a horse. A testament to her exhaustion.
Haaken moved to the attached bathing chamber. All extraneous personnel had been dispatched to the village to assist the victims, leaving Dani’s care in his hands. From a spout on the wall, he set the spring-hot water to flowing into the marble tub.
Once the bath was filled, he went back into the bedchamber. Moonlight poured through the colored panes of the window, illuminating the woman who’d managed to work her way into his world and, with her selfless actions today, his heart.
Haaken stared down at her. She’d done more than he could have expected. The Wryven weren’t her people. As a traveler, they’d have shunned both her and her family, yet she’d organized the household to come to the rescue. He wouldn’t have blamed her if she hadn’t lifted a finger to help but she did, and she’d saved lives.
After removing her ruined clothing, he checked for injuries. Other than being covered in soot, she appeared to be unharmed. He scooped her into his arms, then carried her into the bathroom. She made a soft murmur and her eyelashes flickered, but she didn’t awaken as he settled her in the low seat in the tub. He shucked everything but his loincloth and climbed in with her. As he raised her leg and began soaping her skin, her eyes opened.
Her smile was slow, sensual as he ran the suds-laden cloth up her calf then down again. Her anklet sang out as he brushed the little bells with the cloth.
“My jaJin.” Her voice was slurred with exhaustion.
“That’s right.” He kissed the inside of her knee. “Now lie back and relax while I see to your every need.”
Dani settled into the tub as he picked up her other leg and she giggled as he took great care to wash between each toe. He skimmed his hands up and down her thighs, careful to not touch her soft womanly core other than several quick swipes with the cloth. She moaned in protest as he moved away and Haaken felt a quick jolt of satisfaction. Even exhausted, she was completely responsive to his touch.
He moved between her knees as he worked up her body. He soaped her arms, taking great care to massage the knots out of her shoulders placed there by her exhausting work. Then he discarded the cloth and soaped his hands before running them over her breasts, her nipples pebbling against his palms. Her hips shifted restlessly in the water.
Her eyes opened, slumberous. “I want you.”
He shook his head though his cock was telling him something else entirely. “You need to rest, Dani. For a few hours at least.”
&nb
sp; “But—”
“Shh.” He brushed his finger over her lips, stilling her words.
Haaken retrieved the cloth and rinsed it before running it over her face. Soft winged brows, dark blonde lashes that shadowed her pale cheeks, her pert little nose and her luscious mouth—
His hips lunged forward as her talented fingers found his cock through the wet loincloth. Her eyes opened and he tumbled headlong into their velvet depths.
“You want me,” she whispered.
“More than life itself,” he said.
“Then why do you hesitate?” She released him and fumbled with the sodden material of his loincloth. “I want to feel you inside me.”
Why was he hesitating? Was it because he’d seen a different side to this enchanting woman? Because she was much more than just a means to an end for him and his family?
“Dani—”
The loincloth fell away and she wrapped her hands around his cock, halting his words. Regardless of what his mind was telling him, his body needed her badly and, with her actions, there was no doubt in his mind what Dani wanted.
Allowing her to take the lead, he braced his hands on the edge of the tub on either side of her head. A hiss slipped through his teeth as she gently squeezed his cock before directing him to her womanly core. As he brushed her soft folds, he gave a strangled cry.
“Dani.” He lunged forward, burying his cock in her depths as he took her mouth with a fury he’d rarely ever displayed with a woman. Heat, lust and the desire for possession rose hot in his blood as their tongues teased and tempted.
Her hips arched, forcing him deeper. Unable to help himself, he drove into her, her wild cry muffled by his marauding mouth. Her knees tightened around his hips as he took her, deep, hard. Water sloshed over the edge of the tub as he pounded into her, each movement causing the tension to spiral higher.
His entire body burned, her every touch electrified his nerves. Vaguely he was aware of her cries as she tightened around him when a flood of sensation crested, obliterating everything else as his body gained the release he so desperately craved.
Paradox I Page 14