Enchanted

by Enchanted [eXtasy] (lit)

  “This is a common skill among your people?” It looked as if she was seeing her first exhibit of genuine magic. Even the Alliance didn’t really believe that magic was anything else other than the extrapolation of psychic talents.

  “It is a combination of our people’s bloodlines and the peculiar energy of this planet. It is also why we restrict technology. It does not react well with the ambient energies of our people or our planet.” He muttered a few words and a portal opened in front of him. He reached in a hand and removed what Myka would describe as a pack lunch. Then another.

  “Here. The food changes from day to day and they request that we not use them for all meals, but having access to food when trapped by weather or urgency is a handy skill.” He smiled, showing those white sharp teeth.

  In front of a conjured fire, she opened the food packs and spread out the tablecloth that came with it. Dang, she needed to wash her hands. Sneaking a look at D’hai under her lashes, she concentrated on bringing the fire to her hands. It took a few tries, but eventually a memory of the evening before caused her skin to blaze to life.

  “Can you cleanse my hands as well?”

  He was suddenly next to her and she carefully reached out to touch him, the scent of his skin spurring her hormones into a stampede once again. The blue flame ran from her skin to his, caressing, stroking and burning off all minute traces of contaminants. She was hypnotized by the flicker until her lack of concentration allowed the flame to die out.

  “You are gaining control. What was your first time with the fire?”

  He helped unpack the other food and soon, they were eating while she struggled with the urge to climb on him and ask him for more Hospitality.

  “Um. During Berengit’s delivery. The babe came so fast, I didn’t have time to wait for the servants to stop running around. That was when Berengit told me that I should ask you for Hospitality. Well, that and that we vibrate at the same frequency or something.”

  Breakfast consisted of tiny buns, each containing a different sweet or savoury filling. Myka was halfway through the pack she had been given when she noticed that D’hai was not eating.

  He was staring at her with eyes that showed his surprise. “Berengit said that? That we were vibrating at the same frequency?’

  “Yes.” Myka flushed bright pink. “It was also when she mentioned the topic that came up earlier, yesterday.”

  He shook his head and one of the bands on his hair pinged off. D’hai picked it up and looked at it, a thought dawning in his head as he stared. The dragon on his chest writhed and then stilled.

  Uncomfortable with his silence, Myka looked around. “I found your other hair thingy. It’s over by the pond.”

  She rose and walked to the edge of the water, when she touched the gold band, it snapped shut so that it was a circle once again. The funny thing was, as she walked back to the fire, she couldn’t see any joints in the metal. It was completely seamless.

  “Elite D’hai. Here is the hair clip you are missing. It must have come loose last night.” She brought it to him and bowed as he took it from her. He was staring at her as if she had grown another head.

  “Is something wrong?” She reclaimed her position across from him and re-flamed her hands. She began to work on finishing her meal, not quite sure what he was thinking.

  “I will need to consult with the High Prefect on something while you are seeing your patients in Daru. This is most unusual.” He shook his head and ate his meal quickly and with dexterity that she could only envy.

  “That’s fine. I think I can keep from mortally offending anyone while examining those who seek my consultation.” She was back to being stiff and formal. His eyes were no longer warm, but shuttered by a barrier of serious contemplation.

  “Good. Then we had better get riding. We will be there in three hours or less.” A wave of his hand collected the remains of their meal into a ball. A few more mutters and he dropped the baskets and draperies through the portal.

  Disappointed, Myka walked over to her horse and followed D’hai’s lead while saddling it. He kitted up his beast and then came over to help with hers. He tightened the buckles a few notches, but otherwise nodded his satisfaction at the arrangement.

  She worked her way onto the horse with only mild cursing under her breath. She settled uncomfortably and shifted her weight so that her legs were bearing it. Following his nod, they urged their mounts into a run.

  * * * *

  How in the moons’ names is this possible? If his hair was being unbound by his ideal magical match, it should be a woman of his own race, not a stranger from a world millions of miles away. That was how it should be, but he knew that it was no longer his case. He had always seen his woman in the stars, but just didn’t know it was literal. He liked Myka—more than liked her if he was honest with himself. He was drawn to her in a way that he had never been drawn to anyone before. She was a woman of an alien world, but she showed signs of bearing a strong magic, a magic that was rapidly coming under her control. He was her escort, but he wanted to be more, a lover, husband, instructor, companion. She was a woman who had seen things he would never see.

  The magic offered by the planet would not extend to travel off world. A woman of his people would never want to leave the world she was born in, never mind pining for a lost home in the stars. Myka was a traveller. She would expect to leave in a matter of minutes after she completed her assignment. It would be improper for him to try to convince her to stay, but perhaps she could be persuaded.

  He was good at persuasion. He had time to work on her and the moons just might help him do that.

  * * * *

  Myka thought she felt a flicker of thought. It made her look up to check the alignment of the moons visible in the daylight. They were drawing closer and closer together.

  Something resonated in her mind. The High Prefect had mentioned the moons. She wondered what it referred to. Perhaps dangerous animals would run amok in the countryside. The tone that he had used seemed to foretell some kind of disaster, but Myka did not know what that would entail. If magic is real, what else could possibly occur on this world?

  Chapter Seven

  The people of Daru were much friendlier than her first memories of Berengit’s village. She didn’t even know its name.

  A large gazebo in the main square had been prepared for her. The open sides were covered with layers of silk, making it a free flowing tent. There was one path in and one path out, meeting at the centre where her office section had been created. Servants would arrive before each new patient and tidy up as well as freshen up the tea. Chairs were arranged around a table, for the ease of the pregnant women. A comfortable examination table had also been arranged. It was a lovely space and very soothing for Myka as she waited for patient after patient to be led in by their spouses. This village had a population of three hundred—nine women were expecting children in the next few months. She only had to use her talent once on a woman who had a higher-than-usual propensity for miscarriage. Her child was not securely fastened to her uterus, but a slight cellular stimulus did the job.

  “Asla, I need you to rest for a few days and take the rest of your pregnancy easy. No heavy lifting and limit walking as much as you can. If you have spotting or bleeding contact your Healer and if I am nearby, contact me. Get into bed and stay there until someone comes to help you with the baby.”

  Tears welled in the woman’s eyes. “This is my third pregnancy. Your arrival was my last hope.”

  K’rel took his wife’s hand and stroked her forehead. “Each time the child did not make it to term, part of Asla died. I don’t know what we will do if this child is not healthy.” His eyes were a fiery red with purple slashes. His devotion to his wife shone in every muscle of his body.

  “Is there a way to call me the instant she goes into labour? I don’t know if you have a way to contact Elite D’hai, but that may be the fastest way to get me back here.”

  “Of course. He can bring you
in a portal.” K’rel seemed surprised that she didn’t know that.

  “I have been here less than a week. I am learning more and more about your ways each day. If I can have someone bring me to you, I will be here as soon as I can.”

  “Then I will speak with Master Elite D’hai.” He bowed to her formally and scooped his wife up to carry her from the Healer’s office. “Thank you, Healer.”

  She folded her hands and bowed as they left her.

  Myka had three more patients after Asla, but she couldn’t get the woman out of her mind. She was frail, her body was giving its all to the child and she was preparing to die. Asla knew that if her child died, she would follow it and that very thought was what held Myka’s attention. Motherhood was serious business—if it was disrupted in progress, the woman could have any number of reactions. Despondency was one of them. Hormones and extra blood flow were part of pregnancy. They wreaked havoc on the body’s delicate balance. Anything that interrupted that cycle could be fatal.

  These women were healthy on the surface, but their systems were degrading. Since Myka had not seen any women of the previous generation for comparison, she could not say it was genetic. Environmental did not seem likely, the food was wholesome and the men were not showing any signs of a decrease in fertility. The women could get pregnant—they just bled to death during delivery. Not a normal state of affairs at all.

  Myka would kill for a data pad to enter her findings as to the physiology of her patients. She was going to have to start keeping some kind of record. She would ask Elite D’hai the next time she saw him. For now, she would have to depend on her memory.

  Myka shook her head and wandered out of the silken maze constructed for privacy. No other patients were waiting, but Elite D’hai was on hand to help her down the steps.

  “How was your day?”

  The polite question made her heart ache. It was the phrase that a husband would ask a wife and vice versa. His deep voice seemed sincere and so she answered him.

  “I have noticed a few things to be concerned about and am a bit surprised that none of the other Healers noted them.”

  They walked quietly to the well-marked hotel and through the lobby. A servant scuttled up to them, bowed and gestured for them to follow her to the dining room.

  “I came here earlier to use their communications unit. They were to have dinner ready for you when you finished with your last patient.” He murmured in her ear as they walked through the main room. He was still holding her hand in a courtly manner. It was drawing a few stares from the locals who were sitting in the common dining area.

  She whispered back to him, “Elite D’hai, you can release my hand now.”

  He didn’t bother whispering. “I don’t want to. I like you touching me and if a hand is all that is manageable in public, it is a hand I will hold.” His thumb rubbed gently on the inside of her palm.

  That tiny touch sent shockwaves of enjoyment through her body. Moving forward became an arduous task as her knees weakened at the small caress.

  The servant opened the door to the private dining room, D’hai seating her before himself. The servant’s eyes widened and Myka sighed. It was going to be all over the village in a matter of minutes. Nothing was faster than the speed of gossip.

  “Why did you do that?” Myka washed her hands in the bowl set on her side of the table. He mimicked her on the other.

  “Do what?”

  “Seat me before you were seated? It isn’t protocol.”

  “I wanted to show you honour as a Healer to my people.” That wasn’t all. He was hiding something.

  “What is it?’

  He raised his brows in query.

  “You are not telling me something. Did you get some bad news today?” The first course arrived and she picked up the eating sticks, delicately picking up the noodles and putting them in her mouth.

  “I spoke to the High Prefect.” The only time she had heard him refer to him as father was when Nilong had been present.

  “What did he say? Or what did you say?”

  “I requested that he get in touch with Berengit. She is one of our most talented matchmakers and she will be an asset in finding the right woman for me.”

  That squished her quite nicely. She hadn’t really thought of a long-term relationship with him, but a short one had been a possibility. Suddenly, she wasn’t hungry anymore. She placed her sticks down across her plate.

  “Ah.” She chose to change the subject. “What is the significance of the lunar alignment?”

  “You remember that?”

  “I have a fairly good memory.”

  “It is a time of great celebration for us, the magic flows strongly and those who have yet to come into their power bloom at this time.”

  “Bloom?”

  “Yes, the talents come to life, no matter what they are.” He laughed wryly, startling the servant who came in to remove the first course. His teeth flashed in the light of the dining room, startling her a little. The Dremarai rarely opened their mouths wide enough to see the sharpness of their teeth. It was considered a threat display.

  The servant with the second course came in behind the first and was just as alarmed by the laughter, but she put the plate of dumplings down and left with dignity and decorum.

  Myka sighed and waited until D’hai tried to glare her into eating.

  “Why are you not eating—are you feeling alright?”

  “I think I have lost my appetite. May I be excused, Elite D’hai?”

  She didn’t wait for an answer, but asked the nearest servant for direction to her room. The startled woman checked with the front desk and then scurried along in front of her, leading her to a bedchamber with her saddle bags piled in a corner.

  Myka didn’t believe that she had gotten away with insulting D’hai, but all was quiet. She stripped off her clothing and crawled between the sheets. A good night’s sleep would set her right.

  * * * *

  D’hai couldn’t believe that she left in the middle of the meal. She had seemed upset by something and he couldn’t figure out what it was. Scowling, he waved off the servants and when they left him alone, he generated an image of Myka’s face as they had spoken. Word by word he watched her react to his speech and then he found the moment that despair flashed in her eyes. The instant that he mentioned finding a wife.

  Damn.

  She obviously thought that he was looking within the myriad of well-born ladies who frequented the court of the High Prefect. He was not. He was looking to the stars.

  If she managed to free his hair completely in the next few days, his father would have no choice but to ratify the match. The loss of two bands out of five was an excellent sign. At this point in his life, he could wed a cactus if a matchmaker would bless the union. His father just wanted him wed and producing little Elites.

  Myka’s curiosity about the alignment was interesting. He hoped that they were alone on that night. Freeing the magic within her would take some doing, but he knew he was up to the task.

  He finished eating, had some tea and then straightened his robe. He was going to insist on performing his duties regarding Hospitality this evening and it would not do to be unkempt.

  * * * *

  Myka roused from sleep, thought she heard something. When two warm arms drew her back against a solid body, she knew what had slithered into her room. His scent was unmistakable and there was something very serpent-like nudging her thighs apart.

  “Elite D’hai, I believe that you adequately filled the bounds of Hospitality yesterday. I do not want to impose.” The last word was said on a groan as he slid two fingers between her thighs and into her wet channel.

  “The bounds of Hospitality now hold you and I together until you leave. I would not want to be thought an inattentive host.” His chuckle preceded his licking at her neck and nibbling at her shoulder. His fingers thrust into her several times before they left to allow his cock passage into her body.

  The first
thrust into her stole her breath. D’hai gripped her upper leg just below the knee and folded her limb against her chest to give him full access. His second thrust made her moan and then she reached out to the edge of the bed to brace herself as he rocked in and out of her in a pattern that left her mindless.

  Her skin was alight with every sensation that her body was feeling. Internal and external blazed into one as he rubbed her clit with one finger until she shoved a handful of bedding into her mouth to stifle her scream. Her body gripped his cock tightly, milking him with surprising strength. He held still, not moving an inch as she whimpered and twisted on his impaling member.

  When her orgasm had run its course, he held her tightly and rolled to his back. She was now facing his feet and he was still hard inside her. She fought for balance and ended up with her hands firmly on his thighs. Myka lifted her hips, loving the feel of the delicious slide inside her. Slowly, she rode him. The drag of the head of his cock was wonderful and she rose until he was almost out of her and then sank all the way back down.

  He put up with it for a solid five minutes and then snarled at her. “Faster, Myka.”

  “No.”

  Apparently that was the wrong thing to say because before she could ask what he was going to do, she floated off his cock and hung in midair, a band of magic holding her firmly in place.

  He did not waste time and thrust back into her while he worked one finger into her ass.

  She squeaked in surprise and then groaned as the rosebud of her back entrance welcomed his invasion.

  He held her hips tightly with his magic and pounded into her, bottoming out within her and drawing back. His finger echoed his cock and she was shivering on the edge of ecstasy once again. He groaned, slamming his hips into her hard and she felt the jet of his semen in her. He finger fucked her ass and she came, stifling her screams by biting her hand.