Return to Caer Lon

by Claude Dancourt

  Finally, Sebastian abandoned his inspection.

  “It’s a fine piece of work. But how did you escape?”

  Derek sheathed Excalibur.

  “I guess it was more Elwyn's and Sacha’s doing.”

  Elwyn beamed.

  “I did magic I never dreamed about before!”

  Sacha broke from her reserve to scowl.

  “I am not sure it’s a good thing Elwyn.”

  “But Sacha-'”

  “She’s right.”

  Derek’s intervention turned three pair of eyes to him, all of them amazed by his statement, though for different reasons. Sebastian cocked an brow. Elwyn wondered when Derek had started to take her side in an argument. Sacha suspected she would regret his change of attitude as soon as he explained himself.

  “If Caer Lon increased your powers, what do you think it did to Wolfryth’s?”

  oOo

  She returned to her room with a disagreeable throb in the back of her mind. Derek’s question had hung above their heads for the rest of their tea, despite Sebastian and Elwyn’s obvious intents to deflect the conversation on lighter topics.

  After hours of trying to figure out what it was they were not telling, she was tired and edgy. She wanted nothing more than to relax in a bath and crawl in her bed after a light supper. Unfortunately, when Agnes finally showed up, her maid announced her father requested her presence in the courtroom.

  The usual cheer escorting the invitation was absent from the servant’s voice. Generally Agnes loved pampering her beautiful mistress, probably more than Sacha herself. Her lack of enthusiasm was definitely a surprise. But not as much as seeing the maid at all. Sacha didn’t doubt for an instant she had had to answer about her disappearance, and she was even more amazed she had not been given her notice. The girl looked at her feet more than her lady’s hair while arranging the long curls in a braid.

  “Which dress will you wear, my lady?”

  Sacha tore her thoughts off the penitence her father would unmistakeably announce either tonight or tomorrow morning for her elopement. Though Elwyn’s return was a blessing, she was certainly to be punished. As for Derek…

  “The velvet one, thank you.”

  It was a deep purple velvet dress with front laces and golden band on the sleeves and the bodice. The neckline was low for a simple, familial dinner, but the fabric was soft and warm, and exactly what she needed to comfort her.

  The light knock on her door arrived just when she was putting her evening cloak on her shoulders.

  “Come in.”

  She had not expected to see the person who stepped the threshold.

  “Good evening, Sacha.”

  “Sonia.”

  The two women detailed each other, the elaborate embroideries on the countess’s dress eclipsing the simpler adornments of Sacha’s. The raven-hair beauty regretted her choice of attire. She blushed, more in annoyance than in embarrassment. The mixture of emotions was a familiar bother in front of her rival. Sonia’s dark eyes sparkled in mischief.

  “Your father was kind enough to invite me to dinner. Shall we go together?”

  Sacha tried not to choke in surprise. Sonia and she were hardly friends. They grated on each other nerves like metal on stone, to say the least. Why on earth did the countess show up at her door to escort her to dinner? And why her father had invited her? She pushed away the idea Sonia’s presence at dinner had anything to do with the boys’ silent messages of the afternoon. Derek had been definitely ill-at-ease. What if…

  “Sacha?”

  Sonia’s light reminder forced her to bow her head in agreement.

  They walked down the corridor in silence for a few minutes. All the while Sacha tried to figure out what to say, if anything.

  As if she could read her thoughts, Sonia paused at the doors of the courtroom.

  “Thank you for saving him.”

  The last pronoun achieved to awaken every jealous fiber in the enchantress’s heart.

  Chapter 34

  The last minute announcement had sent the castle into a chaos of harried servants and nervous nobles. The former ran for food, water and fresh flowers, while the latter wondered if they would put on the same clothes they wore for the Yule ball or pressure their seamstresses for that new garment they had requested for May Day. The result bloomed in a rainbow of strange looking plates and garments either too hot or too thin for the weather.

  Ylianor watched Sacha part from Sonia as soon as the two women entered the room. She wished she knew why the countess had decided to seek Sacha’s companionship for coming in. Undoubtedly, it had to do with Sonia’s personal interests, though she couldn’t fathom which one.

  “The mark is no more, Majesty. She’s free.”

  Sonia’s whisper startled Ylianor off her thoughts. By the time she turned around, the brunette had disappeared into the crowd once more. The momentary relief on her face faded when her stare seeking the elusive Faerling fell on the tall frame of her son.

  For the first time since he came of age, Derek was wearing a circle of gold in his hair, and the red cloak on his shoulders was rimmed with ermine. The symbols of royalty suited him. They claimed beforehand what he was about to announce to the whole Court.

  A small white hand came around her elbow and Ylianor quickly composed herself to face Sacha. She smiled at the young woman, while her gaze wandered toward her son again. He was talking with Elwyn and Thomas, the newly appointed second-in-command of Geraint.

  “I thought we were to have a simple family reunion.”

  The queen turned to her friend, vaguely surprised to see worry tangled with doubts in the green eyes fixed on her. If only she knew…

  “Well, I suppose your father is as glad as I am to have you back in one piece.”

  They fell silent for a while. The occasional laugh simmered, out of place, as if the party was thrown for remembrance more than joy. Sacha scanned the room in turn until her gaze stopped on the blonde head crowned with gold. Ylianor heard her gasp and braced herself for a question that never came. Sacha whispered.

  “I hate it. I can feel something’s wrong, but I don’t know what-”

  Geraint clapped his hands twice sharply and she fell silent, her fingers gripping Ylianor’s. The queen looked away when Derek marched to the center of the room. She wished she could close her heart as easily she closed her eyes.

  “My friends…”

  He sound so much like his father Ylianor couldn’t help a small smile.

  “Sir Geraint made a courageous decision, but I cannot accept it. I refuse to lead you into a war which is only mine.”

  Sacha’s death grip on her hand stopped being painful as Ylianor returned the grasp.

  “I will confront the usurper myself, as it is my right, and my duty. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  Geraint bowed.

  “The duchy of Pemfro will wait for your victorious return, Prince Derek.”

  In the silence that followed, Ylianor saw a small boy running into her embrace, showing her the new wood sword his father had offered. She dried the tears that flowed when he broke his arm falling from his horse. She chastised the young man parading with his friends after his knighting, and hugged the teenager who demonstrated his affections with small gestures, rather than speaking them aloud. Yesterday he was just a child, fisting his hands while standing proudly by her side while Geraint welcomed them in Haven, and this morning a man had knelt before her to say he could not let anyone die in his place. Her hand left Sacha’s to press on her mouth. She prayed her anguish didn’t escape. A sob trembled, though the nearly inaudible cry was not hers.

  “Ylianor-”

  “He has to…”

  The mother’s voice broke midway in her sentence. Ylianor forced her lungs to accept air before she went on.

  “Derek can’t back out from this any more than his father could. Don’t ask him to. I didn’t.”

  Ylianor slowly took her arm from Sacha’s lock and walked to her son,
her head and shoulders proudly straight. The young man welcomed her with a smile, before he continued his exchange with the knights regrouped in front of him.

  Sacha stepped away from the crowd. She had to get out, before her heart exploded or she made a fool of herself. She looked for an excuse to flee and found none. It seemed every eye went from Derek to her and back. Every sigh pitied her. Her head pounded. Her face burned. She couldn’t take it any longer. She needed…

  A cup crashed on the floor somewhere, the world shattered and she realized no one was looking. No one gossiped about her lost prince. The people around her buzzed about his desperate fight like they would have talked about the next tournament. She wanted to scream.

  Sacha gathered her skirts, readying to run out of the room. Derek caught her arm, forbidding her to leave him behind without a word. Sacha tried to free herself, but she couldn’t shake him off without making a scene. He was far too strong, his fingers circling her wrist in an iron grip. She met his stare, and stopped fighting.

  “I need some air. Please…”

  With a nod, he escorted her outside, and they turned a corner to find the next corridor deserted. In the dim light of the torches, his blue eyes paralyzed her. Derek didn’t hesitate to pull her into his arms and cover her mouth with his. Breathing became a strange notion. Her knees weakened, and she had to grab him for balance when heat tensed her spine as their tongues brushed.

  When he lightened his kiss, allowing her to take in air again and one or two coherent thoughts to reach her head, Sacha noticed he had pushed her against the wall again, hiding her from the view of wandering eyes; or forbidding her to escape, as if she had wanted to go anywhere away from him… Her breath caught as he pressed tiny kisses into her neck and her eyes fluttered closed. One caress lower on her throat made her pulse jumped to even higher rates.

  “Derek… Derek not here… At least take me to your chambers…”

  He ceased his ministrations, grinning.

  “I thought you’d never ask…”

  She wanted to chastise him but he captured her lips once more, then scooped her up bridal-style to walk down to his apartment. They were only feet away from a room full of people, her father, his mother, Elwyn… She couldn’t care less.

  He managed to open and close his door without putting her down or ceasing kissing her; such a mystery she would ponder on later; much, much later. Derek eased her gently on the bed, pushing away to untie her evening cloak and remove it from her shoulders. The intimate gesture made her shivered slightly. His movements were very gentle, almost reverent when he caressed the length of her neck, his mouth following the brush of his fingertips. Sacha leaned into him when her bones melted under his kisses.

  Derek growled when her curves pressed against him, a low possessive sound. The contact of hard muscles under her hands was unusual and amazing. She felt him shake under her hands as he restrained his desire to hurry things up. Sacha tensed instinctively. She had been told it hurt the first time, and it scared her; a least a little. Rumors said Derek was… She didn’t even know how to name the attentiveness he avowedly showed his partners. She was inexperienced, while he…

  Sensing her hesitation, Derek stopped nuzzling her jaw and plunged his gorgeous blue eyes into hers. Seeing alarm there, he kissed her lips again, more gently this time, and pulled her into his arms, resisting the urge to help her down into the pillows. Sacha nestled against his chest, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder.

  “We don’t have to rush things if you are not ready.”

  He had no idea how he would keep that promise. Every part of him was ready to break with the softest sigh. Every nerve screamed for her, claimed to touch, to taste, to possess… Waiting was driving him insane, but he would die before pressuring her in any way.

  His heart bounced under her hand. Sacha murmured, “I don’t want to wait,” hoping her voice sounded steadier than she truly felt. She reached for the laces of her corsage, loosening them so the fabric pooled around her. Derek inhaled sharply. Sacha covered herself with both arms shyly, alarmed by the hunger on his face. Instead of reaching for her, he took his shirt off then offered his hand, inviting her to the security of his arms again.

  He was beautiful. Sacha wanted to look at him some more, but touching him was irresistible, so she took refuge against his bare chest, enthralled to feel his skin against hers. When his hand moved from her back to her side, brushing the soft swell of her breast, Sacha felt her blood sing in her veins. Curious, she started an exploration of her own. She ran her fingers from his shoulder to his collarbone and down his ribcage. His groan surprised and troubled her as she investigated the flat planes of his stomach, curling the short hair around her fingers.

  Derek pushed her into the pillows as his mouth found the curve of her neck. She closed her eyes to enjoy the unknown heat growing inside her, welcoming his weight on her with a sigh. His hardness pressed against her thigh, remaining barriers gone somehow. Sacha lost her breath slightly, unsettled by the urge to have him even closer.

  Her eyes opened wide when he pushed inside her and she closed them back quickly, biting back a whimper of pain, trembling in the effort not to get away from the white-hot blade tearing her apart. She hid her face on his throat for comfort, her fingers clinging into his shoulders.

  Derek felt her wet lashes flutter against his neck and tightened his embrace, fighting his desire to move with all his will. She was incredibly sweet, and so hot he feared he could not resist. Being inside her was more delicious than he had ever imagined and he had to…

  He cupped her face to look at her, worried to read hurt on her adorable features. Her cheeks were flushed and her brows slightly frowned in concentration, as she tried to adjust to the male invasion. He stretched to caress her hair, and her eyes shot open. Her green stare, both radiant and clouded, fascinated him. Her luscious lips parted and he stole her breath in a soul-binding kiss.

  Passion engulfed him completely when her hands slid along his arms to fasten in his back. Derek arched, instinctively begging for more caresses, and the movement allowed more of him inside her. Sacha gasped and closed her eyes tightly shut again. Then he felt it, the soft pressure of her stomach against his, just a brush of tantalizing soft skin, and again. Her nails bit into his back, his name bubbling in her throat.

  Derek abandoned her face to secure his hands around her waist, careful not to crush her under him when he set a slow pace that sent waves of pleasure through every part of them. Her hips followed his moves, timidly welcoming his thrusts. Unable to wait any longer, he accelerated his moves devouring her mouth to possess her thoroughly, body and soul. Suddenly she bucked into him with a little cry of surprise. His grip matched hers in ferocity as Derek pinned her back down on the bed, muffling her name in her neck, a curse or a prayer, she couldn’t tell.

  Lightheaded, Sacha listened to his heart calm down against her breast, its strong beat bouncing against her skin. The erratic pulse seemed the only thing real around her. She itched to stretch but couldn’t find the strength to move and break from the comfortable cocoon of pleasure closed around her. She kept her arms around his chest, refusing to free him just yet.

  After a while, Derek rolled off her on his back and brought her with him. She felt sated, thrilled and embarrassed. It hurt too, but the satisfaction was greater, so the burning sensation low in her stomach was more a discomfort than a scorch. Derek pulled her up to look at her. The blue stare caressed her face silently, lovingly, before he simply kissed her forehead and allowed her to cuddle against him again.

  Now the passion was fading, tiredness dazzled her and she wanted to fall asleep in his arms, in that special nest they had created together. As if reading her mind, Derek pushed some curls from her face.

  “Will you stay?”

  The question startled her, shattering her bubble of peace to force her back into reality. Sacha straightened up slowly, using the sheet to cover herself.

  “I cannot… If someone finds me
here…”

  Derek frowned and opened his mouth to protest, but she silenced him with one finger before she stood gracefully to dress. The fire and the candles made her skin glow softly. She had never been more beautiful to him than now. Her dress flew over her, hiding her body from his sight. Derek pushed away the coverts.

  Surprised, Sacha looked back at him.

  “What are you doing?”

  He arranged his shirt and breeches, fishing for his boots from under the bed.

  “I won’t let you venture around the castle by yourself at this hour.”

  His tone was hard, almost impatient. Derek fastened his belt around his waist and sheathed his sword, then handed her cloak. Suddenly she felt helpless. The pressure in her stomach chilled her to the bone. He sounded aloof, his voice completely devoid of teasing or warmth, pushing her away. Now she had given him… She shivered and closed her cloak tighter around her. Derek held his hand:

  “It will not surprise anyone to see me walk the corridor at dawn… If you… If you allow me to your chambers.”

  By chambers, he meant bed. He wanted to spend the night with her. She could not stay with him, so he asked her permission to stay with her… Her heart skipped several beats happily. Sacha flushed and smiled, and blushed some more. She took his hand, letting their fingers entwine. Derek brushed a kiss over her knuckles, his cobalt blue eyes never wandering away from hers. His tenderness erased the growing awkwardness between them.

  They walked side by side in the dark corridors, Derek some feet away from her. The distance would protect her from gossip, in case they came across guards or, anyone who would realize they had slipped away from the banquet together. She wished he were closer. Once at her door, he took her hand again, contemplating her delicate fingers, so small in his hand. He looked enthralled by the sight and Sacha smirked.