"I think Ben is Dahlabar."
Peter reached out and touched her cheek. “My heart pounds when you are near. I ache to hold you in my arms and kiss you until neither of us can breathe. Thea, Mina, Regan, I have loved you in so many lifetimes."
"I believe in reincarnation. I've always halfway believed the dreams I've had my whole life were true, so why didn't I know you until I was told by the unicorn?” Regan hesitated, then reached up and traced his upper lip with her fingertips. “I've done this a hundred times before.” She closed her eyes. “I can't believe I'm finally touching you in the flesh.” Her eyes opened and she searched his face. “Kiss me, Peter. I want to know how it feels while awake."
She heard his swift intake of breath, then he reached out and pulled her against the length of his body.
His mouth slid teasingly across hers, soft as a butterfly's touch. She locked her hands behind his neck. The soft press of his lips changed to a hungry demand. His tongue entered her parted lips and fought a heated duel with hers. She moaned, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her body closer to his. He shuddered. His mouth left hers and trailed along her neck. She leaned back in his arms as his mouth traveled downward, then gasped as they moved hotly across the upper curves of her breasts.
"I want you.” Peter whispered against her flesh.
"Someone comes,” Da'kar sent.
"Peter, someone is coming,” she said, twining her fingers in his hair and gently forcing his head up.
Peter looked up. “But how...?"
"The unicorn."
He buried his face between her breasts once more, then straightened and pulled her close against him. “I will release you, but only for now. This time we will not be parted. I promise you."
"I'll hold you to that, my love, but now I must face the music."
Peter's forehead wrinkled. “Music?"
"Queen Tessa."
"What you receive from Tessa will not be musical, but I will be right beside you."
"Regan? Peter?” Kelsey called.
"Over here,” Peter answered. He dropped a quick kiss on Regan's lips, then turned and walked toward the queen's solar. Settling her gown across her shoulders, Regan followed.
* * * *
Regan stood in front of the fireplace in Queen Tessa's solar and examined, yet again, the tapestry that hung above. It depicted a rearing unicorn. A gold crown rested between his ears. Could you be Da'kar's sire? I've no idea what the life span of a unicorn is. She darted a glance at the closed door. What is taking her so long? They must be really raking her over the coals for my stupidity.
She felt a hand touch her arm and turned to face Kelsey. “Tessa can handle them."
Regan looked at the door again. “I'm sorry, I should have listened to you."
The door opened and Tessa entered. Her face was drawn and colorless. In silence, she walked to a small round table and poured herself a crystal goblet of red wine. She turned and, staring at a spot above Regan's head, took a sip from the glass. “You should have told me."
Regan flinched. “I know."
"Why didn't you? I would have handled it."
"I thought ... I ... could do it."
Tessa's face flooded with color and she lowered her gaze to Regan's. “This isn't the time for testing your weaknesses. My people and I are fighting for our existence..."
"Tessa...” Peter interrupted.
The queen whipped around to face him. “Your queen is speaking."
Peter's body went rigid. “Yes, your Majesty."
Tessa frowned and turned back to Regan. “I must know if there is a problem. I can't have it dropped in my lap with no planned solution. I am Daradawn's queen. Before my subjects I can show no imperfection, no weakness.” She paused and took a deep breath. Her eyes searched Regan's face. “I still believe that you will be Dirkk's downfall, but please, no more surprises. If there is something you can't do, then tell me. Together we will find a way. Do you understand?"
Regan mutely nodded.
"Good. Now I must send a page for Angus. I will return within the hour, then our plans will be made.” Queen Tessa Angelique Raya De'Amberville turned and swept from the room.
As the door closed, Regan heard Kelsey chuckle. She faced her sister.
"Well, that went better than I'd hoped,” Kelsey said.
Regan stared at her sister in disbelief. “That was better than you hoped?"
Kelsey grinned. “She let you off easy. You should see her when she's really angry."
Regan walked on shaky legs to a chair and plopped into it. “No, thank you."
Peter moved to where Regan sat and placed his hand on her shoulder. “She was unreasonable,” he snapped.
Kelsey's eyebrows rose in surprise. “What are you saying? Tessa is right. Daradawn must come first."
"Daradawn is not Regan's problem, nor is it yours any longer."
Kelsey froze. “Not my problem?” she said, her voice rising. “How can you say that to me? I've dedicated the past seven years of my life to destroying Dirkk and the death grip he has on Daradawn, and you stand there and tell me it's not my problem."
Regan saw Peter wince, but he refused to look away from Kelsey's blazing eyes.
"Enough,” Regan said, reaching up to cover Peter's hand with her own. “The queen and Kelsey are right and you know it. What happens in Daradawn matters very much to me. What I did was wrong, but now we must get beyond it.” Peter entwined his fingers with hers. Regan glanced up and saw Kelsey staring at their clasped hands.
"So that's it.” She turned her back on them and walked to the fireplace. Staring into the flames she spoke. “I wish I could say it makes me happy ... but I can't. Not if it turns the High Mage into a mewling, lovesick jackass."
Regan's hand clenched Peters. “That's not fair, Kelsey."
Kelsey turned and stared at the two of them. “Perhaps not, but he certainly isn't thinking with the head above his waist."
Regan pulled her hand from Peter's. “Who in the hell do you think you are?"
"I am the commander of Daradawn's forces,” Kelsey said, “and we are at war."
"So you've told me before,” Regan said.
Kelsey's face paled. “Obviously you were not listening. Where Daradawn's welfare is concerned..."
"Rourk, it seems we've stumbled into a nursery of squabbling brats."
Regan whipped around and saw Angus framed in the doorway with Rourk just behind him. She cringed at the scorn she saw in the dwarf's eyes.
"Yes,” Rourk said, picking at a thread on his shirtsleeve. “It seems they need a nap."
Peter grimaced. “Well said and deserved, old friends.” He looked at Kelsey. “You do not understand, but this is not the time."
Kelsey nodded stiffly.
"Angus, where's Maggie?” Regan said, turning her back on her sister.
"She's out on the commons playing tag with a group of children."
Regan smiled. “Well, good for her. Queen Tessa was looking for you. Did she find you?"
"Yes, she waits in the war room."
Regan pushed by Kelsey and walked to the door. “Then why are we standing here?"
"Why indeed?” Angus echoed, stepping aside to let her pass.
Regan hesitated in the wide hall. “Uh, just where is the war room?"
Rourk grinned at her, then placed an arm around her shoulders. “I will show you, little one."
Without looking back she walked down the hall at his side.
* * * *
Rourk stopped outside a polished wood door and rapped on it with his knuckles.
"Come in."
He waved Regan forward.
The room was lit mid-day bright with at least twenty mage globes. Square tables, surrounded by green-cushioned, high-backed chairs, filled the room. At a table in the center of the room the queen stood looking down at a large map, a frown creasing her forehead.
Regan stopped beside her. Circles, triangles, and long wavering lines covered its surface. As sh
e watched, the queen smiled tightly and moved a circle to the base of what Regan guessed to be a mountain.
"He won't be expecting such a ploy,” Tessa said with a satisfied nod, then looked up at Regan. “Where are the rest?"
"They were right behind me.” Regan glanced over the queen's head to a dented suit of armor that stood in the far left corner of the room. Hanging beside it from silver hooks were an assortment of what she guessed to be weapons. She recognized a mace and a lance, but the rest were foreign to her.
Tessa saw where Regan looked and said. “They are very old. I collect them."
"Oh. I collect magnets myself."
"What are magnets?"
"They stick to metal things. They're souvenirs of places someone's been."
"Souvenirs?” Tessa looked perplexed.
"You know—something you bring home from a trip."
"Oh. Spoils of war."
"Spoils of war? I guess they could be, depending on where you take your vacation."
Their eyes met and the two women laughed.
"What's so funny?” Kelsey asked as she entered the room with Peter and Angus.
"Nothing,” Tessa said. “It just felt good to laugh.” Kelsey stared at her queen in perplexed silence. The queen motioned with her hand. “Would you close the door?” Rourk did so, and the three of them walked to the table.
"I think I have devised a plan,” Tessa said. “Here,” she pointed to the circle she had placed at the base of the mountain, “is where I think would be the best place to meet Dirkk."
Angus frowned. “But that's Mount Crag."
"I know. There's no way he would expect us to bring the battle to his front door."
Kelsey shook her head. “It won't work. My guess is that he isn't even there. If the last message was correct, he's massing his troops right here.” She pointed to a spot just beyond the two peaks.
"All the better,” Tessa said, her voice tinged with annoyance. “We can take his castle and keep him from shaping any more Ru'taha."
"And while we're taking his castle, he may well be taking yours, and a whole new supply of bodies to deform into those monsters,” Kelsey said, placing palms flat against the table and leaning toward Tessa.
"And if he only took the valley and not Raya, he could still starve us out,” Peter added. “No, my queen, the most defensible area we have is the gateway to Fertile Isle Valley."
"Yes,” Angus said, bringing his fist down hard on the table. “If need be we can hold them off until their bodies pile to the top of the peaks."
Queen Tessa frowned. “While within his castle he can still continue to shape. For every Ru'taha or Black Viper we kill, he sends two.” She stopped and stared over the tops of their heads. “Every time a Ru'taha is killed, a sliver of my heart dies with it."
Kelsey's lips thinned, but she said nothing.
"There has to be away to stop their mindless advance,” Tessa continued. “When one of their own falls, they just walk over it."
"They have no will of their own, only Dirkk's,” Peter said.
"I think I know a way,” Regan said.
Tessa faced Regan. “What?"
"I may be able to control them."
Kelsey looked at her sister in surprise. “What do you mean, control them?"
Regan turned to Peter. “Do you think Dirkk mind-speaks them?"
"It would seem so."
"Then it's possible they would obey any who mind-spoke them?"
Peter nodded his head. “I see what you mean. Can you do it?"
"Do what?” Kelsey asked.
"Regan mind-speaks all animals, mortal and magic,” Peter said.
Tessa frowned. “The Ru'taha are not animals,” she snapped.
Peter touched her arm. “Dirkk's magic has made them so."
Angus looked from Peter to Regan. “You told him."
Peter frowned at him. “I saw her mind-speak Da'kar."
"Who have you mind-spoken?” Tessa asked.
"Maggie, all the horses, Zara and Da'kar,” Regan said.
Tessa frowned. “But no Ru'taha and Black Vipers?"
"No."
The queen looked from Peter to Angus. “Can it be done?"
"There are stories. My people...” Angus said.
"Stories.” Tessa interrupted. “How can I trust stories?"
"And there was Thea..."
"Again, a story,” Tessa said. “And even so, Dirkk's pets did not exist when Thea lived. If she ever did."
Regan and Peter exchanged a quick look. “I think I can do it."
Tessa gave her a penetrating stare. “You thought you could talk to the merchants too."
Regan's lips tightened and she looked away from Tessa.
"We can test her first,” Peter suggested, “on just a small party of them."
"The outer sentries could find us a small group of Ru'taha or vipers,” Kelsey said. “Then we would know for sure."
"Tessa, if it works, we can turn them against each other. They would fight our battle for us,” Peter said. “Thanks to Thomas, Dirkk thinks Regan has no power."
Regan stood silent.
The queen sighed. “Very well, we will test her. If she can control them, we will talk again.” She turned to Kelsey. “See to it. Now leave me. I wish to think."
Dismissed, they left the small woman who was again bent over the map.
Outside the closed door, Rourk sniffed appreciatively. “Do you smell that? It's fresh-baked bread, and I am starving. Anyone care to join me on a raid of the kitchen?"
"I will,” Kelsey said. “If Bess is there you will need someone to guard your back."
"It's to the stables to check on Zax for me,” Angus said.
"Would you check on Maggie, too?” Regan said.
"No problem.” Angus turned and strode down the hall.
"How about you two?” Rourk asked Regan and Peter.
"Food sounds fantastic, but I need to start working on those jingles ... er, I mean power spells,” Regan said.
"And I will be with Regan,” Peter said.
Kelsey looked from one to the other. “I'll send Mary-Anne with a tray. Where will you be?” she asked pointedly.
"My notebook is in the tower room,” Regan said.
"Then that is where we will be,” Peter said.
"I'll send Mary-Anne as soon as I find her. That could be minutes, or hours,” Kelsey said.
"Whenever,” Regan said, frowning at her sister.
Kelsey grabbed Rourk by the arm. “Come, let's go raid the kitchen."
Peter watched Kelsey and Rourk walk away. “What was that all about?"
"Kelsey doesn't like me having a man in her room,” Regan said. “God. She sounded just like our mother then."
"I see,” Peter said, then smiled in her direction. “Perhaps she does have something to fear. Maybe I will not be able to keep my hands off you once we are alone."
"Is that a promise?” Regan asked.
"I wish it could be, but..."
"I know. First we must take care of Dirkk. Come on. I'll race you to the tower.” Regan grabbed her gown and yanked it above her knees.
"What do I get if I win?” Peter said, his gaze on her bare legs.
"It makes no difference; you won't.” Regan stuck her tongue out at him, then turned and raced down the hallway.
* * * *
Regan leapt the last stair and sprinted down the hall. She knew Peter was right on her heels. Her chest heaving, she ignored the stitch in her side, and fumbled with the doorknob to the tower room.
Arms circled her waist from behind and jerked her backward against a hard body.
"No fair,” Peter said. “You cheated."
She leaned into him. “I did not."
"How do you expect me keep my mind on my feet with such a fetching sight running just ahead of me?"
She turned in his arms. “Okay, I forfeit. What would the victor like?” she asked, tilting her head back to look into his eyes.
"Jus
t this,” he said, lowering his lips to hers. His kiss was soft. Then, as her arms rose to link behind his neck, his mouth pressed harder, parting her lips.
His right hand traveled upward to caress the soft swell straining against the fabric of her gown. She moaned and pressed against his seeking hand. His thumb found her nipple and slowly circled it as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. Regan met his tongue with her own. Peter groaned and then cupped her buttocks and pulled her closer still. His lips left her mouth and trailed a line of kisses down her throat to the valley between her breasts.
With half-closed eyes, she looked over Peter's head to the dim archway of the stairs. My God, what are we doing? Anyone could stumble upon us. She curled her hands in his hair and pulled his mouth from her flesh. “No,” she murmured. “We must stop. What if someone comes?"
Peter raised his head and took a deep shuddering breath. “You are right.” He reached behind her, opened the door to Kelsey's room, and swept her up into his arms. Her heart pounding, she laced her hands behind his neck.
Smiling into her eyes, he carried her to the bed.
The two dresses still lay spread on the quilt, a silent reminder of dinner, Kelsey, and the queen. Her notebook lay on the end table next to the bed.
Regan sighed as reason replaced passion in Peter's eyes. Her smile turned wistful. “Put me down."
Emotions flickered across his face. He pulled her close against his chest, then sat her feet on the floor.
"Damn. When will it be our time?” he asked.
She looked up into his eyes, then extended her right hand and traced his lips with her fingertips. “Soon. It has to be. We've waited so long."
He opened his mouth and nipped her finger gently. She trailed her finger down his chin, over his chest and stopped where his tunic tucked into his pants. She entwined her finger in the drawstring at his waist and pulled it teasingly, her eyes looking deep into his.
His hazel eyes darkened and he reached his hand to capture hers. “I think we should do our spell writing in another room, preferably one without a bed."
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and swallowed. “Yes, I think you're right.” She stepped away from him. “Where do you think we'd be safe?"
"There is nowhere you can be totally safe from me.” Peter dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. “But for now Tessa's solar should be fine."
The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series] Page 20