“I am not too tired. I want you too. It has been a magical night and I do not wish for it to end,” Ki told him and wrapped her arms around him, one hand burrowing into his dark hair. “Please, love me, my Lord.”
Drace continued to tease her neck with his mouth, working up to her ear and taking her earlobe gently in his teeth. Ki gave a deep sigh of pleasure as sparks seemed to shoot through her at the sharp caress.
“Turn around,” he commanded gently.
She turned and Drace began to undo the laces down the back. When he had the dress undone he turned her back to face him. He gave it a little tug and the dress pooled at her feet. Ki stood in nothing but a pair of lacy ivory panties, her stockings and shoes, and made a reflexive movement as if to cover herself.
Drace stopped her. “No, baby. Let me see you.”
Ki let her arms relax at her sides. Drace lightly touched her cheek with the back of one hand. He moved away then to sit and struggled to remove his boots.
Ki went to him, bending over and pulling his tall boot until it finally gave up and slid off. After divesting him of the other one, she looked up.
“Oh my,” she whispered at the look on his face and the heat in his eyes.
“I’m only human, Ki.” he said, giving her a pointed look at her half naked state. “You put those right here, I lose my mind,” he told her, reaching out and taking her breasts into his hands.
He stood and picked her up again, laying her on the huge bed, then removed the rest of her clothes, with his following soon after. Working by feel, he removed the pins that held her hair, letting the heavy mass fall around her. He buried his hands in it and kissed her until she sighed and pressed against him, her need matching his.
“Please,” Ki begged in a whisper, moving her hips against him.
When she moved against him again, he sheathed himself in her, bringing a groan of pleasure from them both. Her nails dug into his buttocks as she silently urged him.
Drace felt her tightening around him and he tensed to hold himself back.
“No,” Ki whispered in his ear. “Come with me. Burn with me.”
“Oh God, Ki,” he answered, his voice choked with desire and emotion. “Hold on to me,” he said hoarsely as he moved in her, hard and strong.
Ki’s head went back as the waves took her over, Drace burying his face in the curve of her neck as he followed.
“Christ,” he sobbed for breath. “Oh Christ, what you do to me, Ki.” He raised his head from her neck, gazing into her drowsy tawny eyes. He smoothed a curl from her face as she smiled up at him.
“Tonight has been full of magic,” she whispered. “I will hold it in my heart always.”
“So will I,” Drace promised. He rolled over onto his back and pulled her against his side. “Forever.”
He touched Ki’s face in a loving stroke and realized she was already asleep. He pushed back the thoughts that ran through his mind and willed himself to sleep as well.
Chapter Thirty-Four
THE WHITE DRAGON soared over Ki’s head, his enormous wings spread as he glided, sunlight throwing iridescence off his hide. “It is time,” his thought entered her mind.
“Not yet,” she cried out. “Please, let me have more time.”
The dragon landed in front of her, his wings spread open. “I cannot give you that.”
Ki dropped to her knees at the dragon’s clawed feet. “Lord Nimbus, please. I beg of you.”
“There is no magic that can change what makes you what you are. That would go against the very god that made you.” Nimbus said firmly, his wings flapping to lift off.
Fury surged through her and she jumped to her feet and screamed defiance at him. The dragon roared back at her and she fell from the force of it.
Ki could no longer see or breathe and she whimpered in fear. Nimbus’ anger was smothering her and he must have struck her. She felt pain in her scalp as she heard the roar again. The dragon was bellowing her name.
“Ki!” he screamed and now it was Drace’s voice. “Ki! Oh Jesus.”
Ki was confused for a moment, unsure whose voice to follow. She tried to draw in a deep breath to call out and choked as water filled her mouth.
She heard a voice that sounded like it was chanting and the pain in her scalp intensified and something grabbed her arm.
Drace drug Ki from the large tub, one hand buried in her hair and the other struggling to hold on to her wet arm.
“Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!” he whispered over and over. He rolled Ki over onto her stomach and lifted the arm he held over her head. He gave her a gentle whack on the back and when nothing happened he hit her hard between the shoulder blades.
“Ki, come back to me!” he yelled, moving to pull her on her back to start CPR when she coughed then vomited. Water ran from her nose.
Drace pulled her up into a sitting position as she retched again. Finally she was able to draw a decent breath and leaned her head back against Drace’s chest.
“What happened?” she asked him weakly, her voice phlegmy. She cleared her throat.
Drace fought back the tears that threatened to overwhelm him and held her closer. When Ki started shaking, from cold and shock, he reached for a large towel by the edge of the tub. One handed, he flipped it open and covered her as best he could.
“I was going to ask you the same question,” he said shakily. “If I hadn’t come in just now, you would have drown.”
“Drown?” Still confused, Ki clumsily pushed at hair that fell over her face. She still felt sick.
“Yeah, drown. In a fucking bathtub,” Drace told her, sounding both scared and angry.
“I was dreaming, I think, of Nimbus.” She related the details to him as best she could remember.
“Ki, as much as I hate it, I think he’s right. You could have died a minute ago. You’re falling asleep anytime you’re still. It’s like you’ve run out of energy. That’s not like you.”
Drace rubbed his hands over her arms, in an attempt to warm her, but both continued to shake.
The fear of facing a Zakara warrior was nothing compared to what he’d felt when he walked in and saw Ki under the water, eyes staring blankly, face gray. Drace moved away from Ki, got to his feet, and then scooped her up into his arms.
“Let’s get you into bed and warmed up,” he said. As he carried her into the bedroom, he hoped his knees wouldn’t fail him. He tucked her into bed and closed the drapes on the large windows, shutting out the view and the sun.
“Drace?”
He turned toward her. “Yeah, babe?”
“Let us go home now.”
Tears burned his throat again at the weakness in her voice. He turned away so she wouldn’t see. He had been blind to the signs of her growing weaker. He cursed to himself. She should have already gone back.
“We will. Let me clean up and get our stuff together. We’ll leave in a few minutes, okay?”
“Yes, love,” Ki whispered, her head relaxed into the pillows. She felt more tired than anytime in her life.
Drace went into the bathroom, pulled his cell phone from his jeans’ pocket, and tried to make a call. He misdialed the first time, cursed, but the second try was successful.
“Cerise?” he said, his voice unsteady, “where are you?”
“Drace, what’s wrong? You sound strange.”
“Ki almost drown. Can you come to the hotel and help me get her back to the apartment?”
“I’m still at the hotel, D. Just hang on. I’ll be right there.”
Drace cleaned up the floor and started packing. He kept concerned eyes on Ki as she slept. Finally, Cerise tapped on the door. Drace let her in and she followed him to the bedroom. Cerise checked on Ki as Drace finished putting Ki’s dresses into a garment bag.
“Did you call 911?” she asked.
“No. I got to her in time, I think. The hospital would want to keep her at least overnight. I don’t think she has that much time. She’s got to go back tonight.” He ran a hand o
ver his face then looked at Cerise. “Damn, C. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were busy.”
“What?” she asked, startled at his sudden shift.
Drace took in the obvious beard burn on her neck and her kiss-swollen lips. “You were with John, weren’t you?”
“Don’t be sorry, hon. I told him something came up and I’d see him later.”
“You didn’t tell him what it was, did you?”
“Of course not!” she snapped. “I know what’s at stake as much as you do. Let’s get the bags into your truck. Then we’ll get Ki. Do you think you can get her dressed?”
“Yeah,” Drace answered. “C?” He stood looking at her with his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans.
“What, hon?”
Drace gave her a very subdued smile. “Thanks.”
“You bet.” She went into the next room to call for a bellboy.
Drace managed to wake Ki and help her get dressed. “Come on, babe. Almost ready.”
Cerise came back into the room. Caught unaware and still slightly confused, Ki bared her teeth with a hiss, and then made a growling noise deep in her throat.
At Cerise’s gasp, Ki’s focus changed. “My apologies, Cerise. I am not myself.”
“It’s okay, hon. Drace, the bellhop’s on the way.”
Cerise got the bags taken care of while Drace made one more check of the room. His sword in its bag he would take himself.
When Cerise came back from Drace’s truck, Ki was on her feet, still pale but not as shaky. They left the room, Drace with one arm around Ki’s waist in a seemingly affectionate way, but he was ready to hold her if she needed it. Cerise flanked her other side. Together, they made it to the truck.
Cerise had a large rolling suitcase and she got all of Ki’s clothes, both old and new in it along with her shoes and handbag. The rest of her things went into the bag Ki had brought with her from Oralia. Drace included in that bag the toiletries Ki liked. The most important thing he carefully packed was a photo album with all the photos they had accumulated. He figured if she lost the other suitcase, at least she’d have the bag of personal things.
After a shower, supervised by Drace, Ki sat at the kitchen table. Drace quietly brushed out her hair for her.
“What will you tell the people I have met when I am gone?” Ki asked Drace.
“I was just thinking on that.” He ran the brush through her hair for a moment then continued. “We could say that the neighboring country was threatening Kismera’s border and you had to return home to help your country deal with the crisis. Vacation over so to speak.”
“It wouldn’t be far off the mark, actually,” Cerise added.
Ki lowered her eyes to stare at the table. “So be it,” she said, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Tonight, I will go back.”
Drace lay the hairbrush down on the table with a sharp thump. He put his hands on Ki’s shoulders and gave a gently squeeze
Cerise stood abruptly and went to the counter to get her purse. “I’m going back to the hotel and get my things. On the way back, I’ll pick up something for dinner. I’ll be gone for a couple of hours at least,” she hinted.
Drace pulled his keys from his jeans pocket and tossed them to Cerise. “Thanks, drive safe.”
“Always,” Cerise said and headed out the door.
Ki put a hand over one of Drace’s. He squeezed her shoulder in return. “Now I have some idea how you felt when you sent me back,” he commented.
“As if a part of your being is ripped from your very heart,” Ki said as the tears began to fall.
Drace pulled her to her feet and turned her into his arms. “Yeah, that’s about right.”
She sighed into his chest. “I think I should have realized it would hurt that badly again. I was foolish. I should have stayed and not put us through this again.”
Drace tightened his hold on her. “Don’t say that, hon. Now I know you’re alright. You know I survived the trip back after the battle and the dragon. It will be hard. God, it’s going to be hard. But we’ll survive this like we did before and our memories will be special.” He tried sounding positive and supportive, but he felt like screaming in agony.
“It is easy to say, but will not be as easy to do,” Ki cried against his shirt.
“I know, hon. God, I wish I didn’t.” Drace stroked her back in a soothing manner.
Ki took a shaky breath. “Come. We have time for a few more memories,” she said and led him into their bedroom.
Drace, Ki, and Cerise stood in the center of the arena. It was almost one a.m. Cerise stood holding Pride by a lead rope. Drace had told the night watchman that he and Cerise were back from taking Ki to the airport. He thought Pride could use some free time in the arena. The guard had agreed and said to let him know when they left.
When the guard had gone back into his office, Cerise and Drace snuck Ki into the arena with her bags.
Now they stood, waiting. Ki turned to Cerise first. “It has been wonderful knowing you. You are like a sister and have been a true friend. I will think of you often and fondly.”
Cerise handed Pride’s lead to Drace as she gave a choked cry. The two women embraced in a tearful hug. Cerise wiped her face with the back of her hand and took Pride’s lead back.
Ki stopped and placed her arms around the black stallion’s neck, burying her face in his mane. Pride nuzzled her in return as if sensing her pain.
“”You are a brave stallion and have carried your master well. I hope you continue to do so for many more years. Your foal from Valor shall be called Honor.” Ki backed away to rub his forehead one last time.
Ki stood still for a moment, looking at Drace. With a sob she flung herself into his arms.
Pride gave a little squeal and moved restlessly, feeling the beginning of the magic. Several feet in front of them the air began to shimmer as ripples on a pond.
A voice came from the other side of the magic wall. “My Lady, it is time.”
Drace gave her a lingering kiss and then pulled her to him one last time. “I will always love you, Ki, with all my heart.”
Ki brushed away the tear that slid down his cheek. “Only you, my Lord. Only you will I love for all my life.”
“Go, Ki. Be safe. Tell my brother I’ll remember him well,” Drace said, kissed her once more, and set her away from him. He stood shaking with the force of his emotions.
Ki hung her satchel over her shoulder and grabbed the rolling case by its strap. She took a step backward toward the wall of magic. Wind picked up and lifted the loose strands of her hair.
Drace saw her through a blur; either it was tears or the magic, he couldn’t tell.
With a sob that tore at his soul, Ki took another step back. A keening moan escaped her as the wind now pulled at her. Her head went back and her hair whipped around her.
Pride neighed in fear and jerked at the lead in Cerise’s hands. When he reared she lost her hold and the stallion backed away.
Drace took one more step back from Ki and then there was nothing. He jerked to awareness when Cerise touched his arm. He still shook but felt numb at the same time. He took a deep, shuddering breath and wiped his eyes with his hand. Without a word, he went to Pride and took the dangling lead rope. He took Cerise’s hand in his other one and together they walked back to the stables.
Ki lie on her back, breathless, her head pounding, feeling a deep, dragging fatigue. She opened her eyes and gazed into the concerned silver ones of Nimbus. The leaves on the trees rustled overhead. “I made it back?” she asked him, feeling disoriented.
“Yes, my Lady. You are home and you are safe. Both of you made it back unharmed.”
Ki rolled onto her side, curling into herself, and let the tears of loss come.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“EUROPE?” DRACE LOOKED at Cerise as if she’d lost her mind then lifted the bale of hay shoulder high and shoved it into the stack. He turned, pulled off his gloves, accepted the bottle of water she
offered him, took a healthy swallow, and handed it back to her. He put his gloves back on, and reached for another bale on the back of his pickup.
Cerise huffed behind him. “Damn it Drace! Will you listen to me for a second?”
He tossed the hay into line with a small grunt then leaned into the stack. “I am listening to you,” he said, and then straightened and continued to unload the hay.
Cerise sat in a corner on an overturned bucket, fuming. “I can’t talk to you when you’re all over the place.”
“I’m not all over the place. I’m right in front of you.”
“Stop being a butt,” she grumbled.
Drace raised an eyebrow then climbed onto the back of the truck to get the last two rows. He threw the hay over his head to the top row in the barn stack. His biceps strained against the material of his long sleeve shirt. He’d rolled the cuffs back almost to his elbows and Cerise saw sweat running down his throat into the open vee of the front.
Wisps of hay stuck out of his hair, which was doubled up at his neck. Cerise fought down the urge to pick them out. His hair was black with sweat. It was close to a hundred degrees in the hay barn even with the vents wide open.
With another grunt of effort, Drace threw the last bale. He pulled off his gloves and shoved them into the back pocket of his worn Levis. He sat on the side of the truck bed and unbuttoned his shirt.
“May I talk to you now?” Cerise asked peevishly.
“Look, I had to get the rest of this damn hay out of the meadow before it rains this evening,” he snapped.
“This is why I want you to go with me to Europe,” she groused back.
“Why? Cause it’s gonna rain?” Drace quipped.
“Don’t be stupid, you ass. You’re snapping and snarling at everyone. You work yourself into exhaustion everyday so you can sleep at night. You’re not eating well…”
Dark Lord of Kismera: Knights of Kismera Page 33