“Not now Lisil, try to keep up with the conversation.” Valav snapped at him.
Maliuth had been alternating between rubbing her fingers and squeezing her hand. She felt that it was a sign of support since he hadn’t broken into her argument with The Elder or the council members. She knew he would fight his way out of the room with her if it came to that. She absently rubbed her thumb against his fingers in affection.
“Describe exactly how a healer is classified.” Alea wanted to know. She didn’t care if The Elder answered or the council or Maliuth.
It was The Elder who spoke since the council members just sat quietly watching the two of them, “It is simple. A healer is able to restore health to an unbalanced, diseased or damaged organism.” He smiled at her mockingly, “A healer is best trained in the Oracle Temple to better utilize her abilities to heal those of Abondiel in need of her services.”
Alea felt her chest tighten and squeezed Maliuth’s hand. She had The Elder with that definition. She smiled widely and everyone on the council table was looking at her as if she was out of her mind. “Well then, we are done here.” She hugged Maliuth and went to turn away.
“What do you mean? We are not done here.” The Elder huffed indignantly. “You are a healer. I saw it with my own eyes and experienced it as well. Do you deny that you healed the damage to the Oracles in the temple? That you healed me?” He was almost yelling in his agitation.
“No. I don’t deny that I healed those wounds.” Alea was still smiling. Hugging Maliuth around the waist, she said, “But I am no healer.”
“That makes no sense.” The Elder’s hands were flying around in anger. His robes flapping around like angry birds. “You just admitted to healing our wounds, that makes you a healer. She…”
The Elder was stammering when Maliuth spoke firmly...“Is more than that.”
Chapter Eleven
All of the council members sat straight at hearing Maliuth declare that she was more than a healer.
“Explain.” Lairial requested.
“She is more than a healer. What The Elder is not telling you is that Alea caused the wounds she was requested to heal.”
Instead of looking relieved, they all looked at her horrified. “You caused the damage?” Lairial asked her. “We thought that the injuries had occurred during the fight between Maliuth and Drace.”
“Not all of it.” She admitted. “When threatened with separation from Maliuth by the Oracles, I accidentally burned one of them, and set another on fire.”
“Burned—?”
She broke in to add, “Oh…and in the interest of full disclosure, I think the Oracle named Jerr was the first one I burned. That was an accident too. He tried to apply perfume…” her voice trailed off in embarrassment. The council members were looking at her like she had grown a forked tail and was jabbing at them with a pitchfork.
“Alea is more than a healer.” Maliuth spoke firmly, “Her abilities go beyond what the Oracle or The Elder can help her with. Since she would be constantly threatened by them, being contained in the Oracle Temple might get it burned down.” His voice ended on a note of amusement.
“Does her power come from this kissing thing she does?” Lisil asked.
Alea was beginning to wonder if he didn’t have this planets version of dementia. All eyes turned to him.
“What are you talking about?” Valav finally broke down and addressed him.
“At the beginning of our meeting, when you were accusing Maliuth of going through with the mating ceremony against The Elder’s wishes…Alea said she instigated the whole thing when she kissed him. Those are her words. When I inquired what kissing was, she said she put her mouth on his.” With a satisfied grunt at the look of interest on the other council member’s faces he finished, “I want to know exactly what ‘kissing’ is and if her powers stem from this act.”
Alea felt her face flame with embarrassment that he thought kissing was some supernatural act. “Kissing isn’t something that gives me special powers! Before I was Reborn, the planet I was on people kissed as a way to show affection.” She looked at Maliuth and noticed his mouth was twitching.
Clearing his throat he said, “Kissing can also cause intense desire if the person who puts their mouth on you happens to be your mate.” He gave her a warm look and she melted further into his side.
“Show me this kissing.” Lisil said impatiently, “I want to see for myself that there isn’t anything more to it than you are saying.”
Maliuth sighed and turned to pull her into his arms. “I’m not sure that kissing is supposed to happen in public, but if it will put you at ease, we will comply.”
Alea was not a big fan of public displays of affection. To get over her nerves she kept her eyes locked on Maliuth. When he leaned toward her, she went on tiptoe to meet him. Her hands went to his shoulders to steady herself. His lips brushed against hers in the softest touch. With the second pass, he pressed his lips more firmly against hers. On a sigh, she gave him the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His tongue swept along the seam of her lips. Their heads angled to the right, their mouths meshed more firmly, and their tongues played along lips and teeth.
“I think we get the idea.” Lairial broke in, “That will be enough.”
Maliuth groaned quietly against her lips and she noticed her hands were no longer on his shoulders but tangled in the hair at his neck. He was holding her against him and judging by the hard bulge pressed into her stomach she knew why he didn’t move to face the council. Laughing softly she leaned back just a bit to look into his eyes.
“At lease I didn’t play with your ears.” She teased, “Then we might have really given the council a show.”
“You have no idea.” His voice was husky, “We can continue this when we get home.”
“There is something I want to try.” She hinted and he trembled against her.
“I do not think I can take anything else and at the same time I cannot wait.” His voice had gotten deeper if that was possible.
“Oh, you can take it.” Alea’s voice dipped lower.
“If we can get back to the meeting.” The Elder was obviously unhappy with the way the discussion was going.
“I think we need a display of her abilities.” Lisil interrupted The Elder. “I want to see that she can control her actions. I do not want to worry that she will burn down the whole forest in a fit of pique at Maliuth.”
“There is no way for her to prove that.” Maliuth began.
“If she is afraid for you, would she be able to control her ability?” Valav was looking at The Elder with triumph and Alea felt her heart sink. They thought that they could prove she was dangerous. Which she very well might be.
Before she could muster any logical argument, Valav snapped his fingers and pointed at Maliuth. There was a whistling sound and she turned to her mate. He was falling where he stood, an arrow protruding from his chest. She gaped in horror as the blood poured down his body. She hurried to push him backward to make sure he didn’t land on his front.
“Maliuth.” She whispered horrified. “No.” With her hands on his face she was about to heal him when she was wrenched away.
“You did not think it would be that easy did you?” The Elder held her tightly against him. Her agonized gaze went to Maliuth bleeding on the ground to The Elder holding her.
“Let me go!” She struggled in vain and could feel her anger building.
“Your mate is dying on the ground. What are you going to do?” The Elder was laughing at her struggles. “Are you going to burn me?” The fire was building in her blood. If she got angry and used fire to get out of his hold they would think she couldn’t control herself. If she didn’t do anything Maliuth would bleed to death. Before she lost control, it came to her. Some good old fashioned Earth self-defense.
Swinging her arms down and back, she surprised The Elder enough to break free. “I don’t need fire to defend myself against you.” Spinning to face him, she took her fist and hit his solar plexu
s knocking the wind out of him. “That is for threatening me.” Raising her foot, she stomped down on his instep, which bent him over further. “That is for making me come to this meeting.” Using her fist, she punched him as hard as she could in the nose, then swung her other arm and hit him in the groin. “That is for ruining my day.” For good measure while he was bent over she cupped her hands and slapped him against both ears. Over his agonized groan she yelled, “That is for shooting my mate. If I can’t save him, I’ll be back to use fire on you.”
Hurrying over to Maliuth, she shakily pulled the arrow from his chest. She would need it gone to heal him anyway. “Maliuth…you better not leave me on this planet alone.” Tears were coursing down her face. “I came through the shadow for you…stay with me.” Putting her hands on his face, she poured all of her ability into healing the man she loved.
Chapter Twelve
As soon as she touched him, she was in the void. Maliuth was there waiting patiently.
“Hello my love. It took you long enough.” He smiled and held out his arms.
Running to him, she trailed one hand over his handsome face, “It took me…” she was stunned silent.
“Long enough.” He repeated. Holding her more firmly into his embrace, he tucked her head under his chin.
“Maliuth. You were shot…with an arrow!” She was struggling to look into his face but he held her too tightly against him.
“I know.” He sighed, “I was expecting something like that.” He finally pulled back to look into her face. “Are you okay? Did you burn anything too badly?”
“I didn’t use fire at all!” She glared at him, “I used old fashioned Earth defense methods. How could you be so calm about this?” Running her hands over his chest she saw there wasn’t any wound here in the void. “You were shot!” Her hands were shaking and she kept repeating herself but she figured it was the shock.
“Yes my love. I was shot but I am not dead.” Together they started to fade.
“They are not dead.” Alea heard the voice but was too weak to move. “Did you have to have him shot in the chest?” The speaker was very angry and she struggled to regain consciousness.
“It is not like I can tell the shooter where to aim. When the directive is given to shoot, they shoot.” She recognized Valav’s voice.
“You idiot. You almost killed the First Prime of Abondiel. That would have had the whole kingdom after our heads. Not to mention the King, his son and the rest of Maliuth’s family.”
“It didn’t come to that did it?” Alea was beginning to dislike this Councilman Valav. “Now we know that the female can control herself under extreme duress—”
“Extreme duress!” This voice belonged to Lisil. “You shot her mate. If she had burned the whole council chambers down it would have been justified.”
“Well she didn’t. She used great restraint.” Valav sounded bored and Alea was beginning to wish she had used fire on someone in particular.
“Your affiliation with The Elder was almost the ruin of us today.”
“You don’t seem to mind the favors when it suits you.” Valav drawled out.
“The female will be allowed to remain in mate status with Maliuth. She can choose to train with the Oracle or not as she wishes. Not that I think she will let any of them anywhere near her, and I wouldn’t blame her. There will be no argument from you.” Lairial spoke firmly into the silence. “Someone bring the First Prime a new shirt.” He yelled and Alea was finally able to open her eyes.
She was draped over Maliuth and she saw that his shirt was a mess, but his wound was completely healed.
“Maliuth.” She whispered leaning over him. “Wake up.” She gently shook his shoulder and he groaned dramatically.
“Can a male that has just been killed not rest for a little longer?” Opening his eyes, he looked up at her. “It is not every day that you are saved from the void by a sexy black-haired nymph!” His eyes were twinkling merrily at her.
“Maliuth…” she leaned closer.
“Yes?” he waited breathlessly.
“You can get off the floor now.” They were interrupted by the councilmen, “We have a new shirt for you Maliuth.”
“We need to get off the floor.” She teased and giving him a quick kiss, pushed up off the floor and held out her hand. Not that she would be much help with his larger size. A couple of the council members went behind him once he was on his knees and helped him to his feet.
“I hope you know that we did not authorize for you to be shot in the chest.” Lairial hurried to assure Maliuth.
“We only agreed to test your mate in her healing ability. It was our mistake not to specify to Valav where to have you shot.” Lisil agreed.
Maliuth ignored them and held his hand out for the extra shirt they had offered. Taking his old one off and throwing it away, it didn’t take long to get the new one buttoned. Eyeing The Elder still moaning and rolling around on the ground he burst out laughing. “We are done here.”
Taking her hand, he hurried toward the doors. Lairial called out after them, “We can fill you in on the details of our decision at the next consortium. Alea will be allowed to stay as your mate…”
Maliuth just waved over his head at the group and kept walking. Once outside he kept moving, past his parents and friends. Alea heard the startled exclamation from his mother, ‘Is that blood on your dress?”
Then they were out the doors and onto the nearest platform. Alea didn’t understand his silence and worried as they walked that she had made him angry somehow. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to talk at all during the meeting and had gotten him shot for nothing. Yeah, that might make someone angry. Getting shot in the chest with an arrow.
“Maliuth…” Alea turned and saw that they had a group following them. “Is that blood on your mate’s dress?” His father asked, slightly out of breath in his attempts to keep up.
Maliuth didn’t seem inclined to answer so Alea called out, “I was tested by the council to see if I could control my abilities. They shot Maliuth with an arrow and I had to defend myself against The Elder. Which I did without using fire and then healed Maliuth before it was too late.”
“That was not sanctioned for this meeting.” Galan yelled from behind Maliuth’s father. “I will let father know.”
“No.” Maliuth broke his silence, “Your father will hear of it eventually, but I do not want you to worry yourself with it.” Before his friend could argue he turned at the platform they were on. “It is not worth it Galan. The council have their results and the end conclusion is that Alea is allowed to stay my mate. That is all that matters.” Looking over his shoulder and then back, he grabbed her up into his arms. “Now if you do not mind. I have a few days off from my duties and I would rather spend them in our home...” when the others moved to follow, he emphasized, “with Alea…in private.” He practically ran across the bridge and threw the door open.
Alea heard surprised exclamations from his friends and family. “What has gotten into him?”
“What could he possibly want to do in private? I could have sworn they got that out of their system yesterday?” The door closed and whatever was being said was muffled.
Alea couldn’t hide her shocked expression as Maliuth took the stairs two at a time with her still in his arms. “Maliuth…” she had to know. “What did your father mean just now? About us getting it out of our system yesterday?”
They had entered the bedroom and Maliuth didn’t stop until he reached the bed. Taking her dress in both hands, he ripped it from hem to neckline, and then pulled it out of the way. “Couples usually only engage in lovemaking for reproduction. Once a year, for one day unit is normal.”
Alea was stunned. “Males don’t have sexual interaction with females outside of the purpose of reproduction?” She couldn’t stop her muttered exclamation. “Couples normally only have sex once a year?” He gently took the edges of the dress off her arms and then urged her hips up so he could pull it off the bed to dro
p it on the floor. Kicking it away, he drank his fill of her naked body as she sat on the bed.
“Yes. I do not know what is different with you. It might be the kissing, or your body chemistry. I cannot seem to keep my hands off of you. Does it bother you that I desire you so often?” His eyes had turned into liquid pools and his voice was dark with need. “You are officially mine Alea. I want nothing to come between us now.”
“Of course I’m happy that you desire me.” She had been about to throw a fit when he said they would only have sex once a year. Then she had almost laughed in relief when he said he desired her more often. She might settle for once a week when she was old and gray maybe, but never only once a year!
Alea moved to kneel on the bed, her hands grabbing the edges of his shirt. Giving a swift tug, she was happy when the fastenings went flying and his shirt was open to the waist. “Now there is nothing between us.” She laughed huskily and leaned forward to place feverish kisses on his bare chest. When his nipples hardened, she delighted in nipping at them with her teeth. Looking up at him she teased, “We finally made it to a bed. We really should put it to good use.”
Instead of answering Maliuth pounced on her, his hard frame pressing her into the mattress. For the next three days, they managed to put the bed to very good use.
Chapter Thirteen
“My duties will take me until this afternoon.” Maliuth was dressed in the usual white shirt, black pants and boots. Alea was surprised that he wasn’t required to wear a uniform and had asked him about it. He replied that his uniform was kept at the guardhouse. It consisted of a jacket that you wore over the white shirt, and whatever weapons you were proficient at. “When I get home I would like to take you to that merchant again.” He smiled at her and her pulse responded to the heat in his look. “We can get that fruit you enjoyed so much.” Alea knew he was talking about the one that had ran juice all down her fingers that he had taken delight in licking clean. Which had led to more than finger licking. “My mother may be by later. She will know I am returning to duty today and will think to keep you company and show you around.” He leaned over her in bed, kissing her lingeringly on the mouth. “I’m sorry they kept trying to visit, I will have a talk with my father. Only spend as much time with my mother as you want. She can be overbearing if you let her get away with it.”
Maliuth: The Reborn Page 7