Aeromancist (SECOND EDITION): Art of Air (7 Forbidden Arts Book 3)

by Charmaine Pauls

“I was shocked. I knew the consequences, and I didn’t want it to be true. Besides, I was supposed to be infertile, dammit.”

  She wanted to believe him, but she didn’t trust him enough.

  “Come with me,” he said.

  He pulled her to her feet, across the floor, and down the hallway.

  She tugged on his hand. “Where are we going?”

  “I’m going to prove to you that I love you once and for all.”

  “Lann, how—”

  “Quiet.” He led her upstairs. “You’re testing my patience, and I have precious little these days.”

  He pushed her inside their bedroom and shut the door.

  “Stay there,” he said, leaving her in the middle of the floor.

  Going to the desk, he took something from the drawer and carried it back to her. She looked at the velvet box on the palm of his hand. His mother’s bracelet. When he’d offered it to her in Santiago, she’d declined. She couldn’t take something so precious from him.

  “Take it,” he ordered.

  “I don’t want it.”

  “Take it,” he repeated, thrusting the box at her.

  When she shook her head, he sighed. He removed the lid and dumped it on the table. Carefully, he folded back the silk and lifted the beautiful platinum rose with the diamond dewdrops from its protective cushion.

  “Here.” He offered it to her.

  “Lann, I don’t—”

  “Read the inscription.”

  “Inscription?” It never had one.

  He took her hand, forced her fingers open, and placed the bracelet on her palm. She caught a glimpse of cursive letters on the inside. She had to lift it to read the engraving properly. There was one word, a symbol, and a date. Love. The infinity symbol. Twenty-three February.

  “When you gave it back to me, I had it engraved. Love, forever. With those words, I wanted to make it yours, and only yours. Before, it belonged to my mother. It’s all I have of her. It seemed right to me that you have it because it’s the most precious thing I own. That date proves to you that I loved you even as I left you. That’s also why I came back to Santiago. To leave you this. I couldn’t claim you. That would’ve been selfish. But I wanted you to know that I loved you, and always will.”

  “Lann…” She swallowed back the tears. “I don’t know what to say.”

  He took the bracelet from her and pushed it over her wrist. “I don’t expect you to say you love me. Just say you’ll marry me.”

  “Would you have asked me if I wasn’t pregnant?”

  He looked at her for a long moment. “Probably not,” he said softly, “but I already explained to you why—only because you deserve better.”

  Cupping her nape, he pulled her close and gripped her chin in his free hand. He kept his eyes open as he kissed her gently. When she didn’t resist, he parted her lips, claiming her mouth with a groan. Then he let go to remove his glasses. Lann removing his glasses always led to one thing.

  She pulled away. “You taste like coffee.”

  “I had a cup with Eve.”

  Suddenly, she wanted to cry. She wanted to cry because he’d said he loved her, and because it had never been his plan to stay with her, and because he’d just asked her to marry him, and because she couldn’t drink coffee. It was crazy. Damn pregnancy hormones.

  She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hands. “I can’t do it.”

  “Can’t kiss me?” he asked, looking confused.

  “Can’t marry you.”

  “Why?”

  How could she marry him and then die? It would make everything worse. She’d sign any legal papers that claimed him as the father of her child to make the adoption process go smoothly, but she wasn’t going to cause him more suffering. She wasn’t going to make Lann a widower when he never wanted to be a husband.

  “God, I love coffee,” she said with longing, but her mind wasn’t on the coffee at all. She tried to diffuse the seriousness of the situation with humor. “If you love me like you say, you wouldn’t stand there and tempt me.”

  His voice was tinged with disbelief. “You don’t believe I love you because I had coffee?” Then his eyes softened. “I’m sorry.” He put his arms around her. “I’ve been a selfish bastard. I’ll give it up. I promise I won’t have coffee again.”

  She stepped away to escape his touch. “It doesn’t change anything.” An unwelcome sob escaped her throat. “You giving it up isn’t going to change one damn thing in my life. I still won’t be allowed to have it.”

  “But I’ll suffer with you.”

  “Like hell you will. You don’t even like coffee. You like tea.”

  He caught her, embracing her again. “Fine. I’ll give up tea too.”

  She wiggled in his arms. “Let me go.”

  “No. I know you’re angry, and I know why. It’s not the coffee, or the tea, or that I love you.” When she started crying, he kissed the top of her head. “It’s all right, krasavitsa, I’m not going to let go.”

  All she wanted was to be alone, to have a good cry, and then she’d be fine, but Lann held her tenderly, tightly, and it didn’t help to regain her composure. The gentler he was, the more she came undone.

  “I love you, Katherine,” he said. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”

  He stroked her back and her arms, holding her to him, letting her cry. He whispered sweet Russian words she didn’t understand, words that were meant to soothe, until the worst of her tears abated. He allowed the storm to play itself out, and when she felt weak in its aftermath, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

  He undressed himself first before peeling her clothes off, item by item, and stretched out over her. His hair fell over her face when he kissed her. He took her hands, intertwining their fingers, and placed them at the side of her face. His tongue dipped into her mouth, soft and warm, undemanding. His lovemaking was like his kissing. This time, he gave without taking. She begged him for more, but he kept his control and shattered hers as he loved her gently.

  For a long time afterward, they stayed under the warmth of the covers. When he finally pulled away, it was with reluctance.

  “I don’t want to leave you,” he said, “but I have to work.”

  She had a suspicion. “On what?” He opened his mouth, but she added before he could speak, “Please, don’t lie to me anymore, Lann. I’m trying hard to trust you.”

  “All right,” he said with a somber expression. “I’m trying to track David.”

  “I won’t let you endanger your life.”

  His features contorted with rage. “Not finding him and that bastard Godfrey is endangering yours.”

  “You said we’re safe here.”

  He got to his feet, naked, and already aroused again. “And I’m working at keeping you safe.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered with a sudden attack of guilt. “I don’t want to be responsible for you risking your life.”

  He picked up his pants and pulled them over his hips. “It’s all my own doing. The blame is all mine, sweetheart.”

  Sitting up, she clutched the sheet to her breasts. “Can we stop talking about blame, please?”

  “What do you want to talk about?” He grabbed his shirt from the chair and yanked it over his head. “Your refusal to marry me?”

  “You’re upset. We’ll talk about that when you’re calm.”

  “Upset is a light way of putting it.” He sat down on the chair to pull on his socks and shoes. “It doesn’t come close to describing how I feel knowing my woman and unborn child’s lives are in danger.”

  “David said he didn’t want to harm the baby.”

  “Only you?” Lann asked, his eyes turning a pale shade of gold. “And if our child ever landed in any gift collector’s claws, death would seem like a merciful fate.”

  Her heart contracted. Her breath caught. If anything happened to her baby…

  Cursing under his breath, he moved to her side and cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry, Kath
erine. I didn’t mean to upset you, but I promised to keep you and our baby safe, and I’ll give my life to do it.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t,” she whispered. “One of us has to take care of him.”

  He dropped his hand and curled his fingers into fist. “Please stop reminding me of the fact that you’re going to die.”

  It wasn’t her intention. She only needed his promise that he’d keep himself safe. She needed to know their baby would be cared for.

  “Lann, I—”

  She was going to explain, but he turned so abruptly, she swallowed her words.

  “My lust is the reason you’re going to die,” he said with his back to her. “It’s the reason I can’t live with myself.”

  With that, he walked from the room, slamming the door so hard it shook in the frame.

  If it hadn’t been for the circumstances, dinner would almost have been a party. Everyone residing in the castle was present, and their guest of honor was Erwan. Kat took an immediate liking to the Breton fisherman. He reminded her of her grandfather.

  Dinner was served in the big dining room, and afterward the men cleared the table while Kat and Eve loaded the dishwasher. Clelia saw to the animals, and Cain prepared espresso.

  Lann politely refused an espresso. When the others went to the lounge with their coffee, Lann excused himself. Kat followed his example. She went back to the room to check her emails on the laptop Lann had given her. Up to now, she’d avoided the task that awaited because she didn’t know how to explain where she was, or why, but after speaking to her mom, she had a clearer idea of what to say.

  Kat sent an email to Diana, telling her that she was going home to see her parents for Easter to break the news of her pregnancy to them. She again asked Diana not to say anything until she’d had a chance to tell them in person.

  For a while, she contemplated what to tell Charles. She couldn’t break the news of dropping out without alarming her parents. The only solution that came to mind was to stall until she’d dealt with her parents. Her mind made up, she sent an email to Charles, telling him that she’d been unwell and was about two weeks behind schedule. She told him she’d catch up, but didn’t say anything about not being in Santiago any longer.

  Then she ordered a few pregnancy books online and downloaded them to her laptop. She was three pages into the first book when she fell asleep.

  When Lann entered the room, Kat was propped up on the pillows, her eyes closed and her breathing even. The air moved gently around her, and, for a while, he stood quietly to enjoy the tingle of the molecules on his skin. He smiled as he studied her. She was tired. More tired than usual. It would get better in a couple of weeks. He picked up the laptop and pushed the refresh button to see what she was working on. He looked at the text, describing the growth phases of their unborn baby, week by week. Right now, his son was the size of a kidney bean, with fingers and toes. He’d almost given up that son, and now that his child was safe, the price he had to pay was the life of the woman he loved. There was no one to see him, so he let the stoic mask drop. When morning came, he’d be strong again.

  The following day, Joss fetched Maya from the airport. He introduced Kat briefly before disappearing with Maya and the others into the study. She bet they were talking about tracking David. Cain desperately wanted information on Godfrey.

  When the small group exited the study more than an hour later, Clelia announced that the men were responsible for fixing their own lunch. The girls were going shopping. Eve declined, seeing that she was working against a deadline. Joss didn’t seem happy about letting them go, and Lann grudgingly agreed, but only because Joss told Maya to go with them.

  Walking down a street with baby boutiques in Vannes, Maya said, “I can’t believe I’m fucking shopping.” She rolled her eyes. “Baby shopping.”

  She shook her head, making her beaded dreadlocks rattle. She wore tight, black pants and a low-cut top. Her jacket was loose, concealing her weapons, but it didn’t hide her generous cleavage. Men’s heads turned after her swaying hips.

  Clelia laughed. “You’ve got more clothes than any woman I’ve met. Don’t tell me you hate shopping.”

  “Hey.” Maya stopped and cocked a hip. “For your information, I shop online.” Her green eyes shone with a lust for life, and her flawless, cappuccino skin seem to glow with health.

  They entered another store, and walked out several minutes later with four big parcels.

  Clelia checked her watch. She looked cute in velvet shorts, tights, and ankle boots. “We better go home before Joss and Lann come looking for us.”

  Maya snorted. “I’m not sure I can handle two possessive males. Joss on his own is bad enough.”

  “Wait until you find your match,” Clelia teased.

  “No, thanks.” Maya’s smile was smug. “I don’t want a ball and chain.”

  They headed down the road toward the parking lot where they’d left the SUV.

  “Clelia,” Kat said, but then hesitated.

  “What is it?” Clelia asked.

  “I want to talk to you about something while I have the opportunity.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “If Lann doesn’t want our baby, my parents will take him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Clelia exclaimed. “Of course Lann wants his son.”

  “You don’t understand. Lann’s father blamed him for his mother’s death. He never forgave him. Lann is having a hard time dealing with what’s happening. I don’t want history to repeat itself.”

  “He’ll work through it.” Clelia squeezed her hand. “You’ll see.”

  “If Lann adopts, where will he take our baby to live?”

  Clelia stopped. “You mustn’t worry so much.”

  “Wouldn’t you?”

  Clelia regarded her. After a while, she said, “Yes, I would.” Her face filled with compassion. “You can count on me to take care of your baby, to help until…”

  “Until Lann gets over his grief,” Maya finished the sentence for her.

  “Maya,” Clelia said with reprimand. “Don’t be so cold-hearted.”

  “It’s all right,” Kat said. “I just wanted to know if we could prepare a room in the castle until Lann decides what he’s going to do.”

  “Shouldn’t you and Lann decide this, like pretty fast?” Maya asked.

  “Lann can’t talk about it yet,” Clelia said. “It’s hard on him.”

  Maya snorted again. “It should be.”

  “Maya,” Clelia exclaimed.

  “What?” Maya shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

  “If Lann doesn’t cope, will you make sure my parents take him?” Kat asked. “I don’t want Cain to claim my son for his own, selfish interests.”

  “Cain isn’t cruel,” Clelia said, “but yes, you have my word.” She hugged Kat. “Now stop worrying. It’s freezing. Let’s go home and have something warm to drink, and then we can pick out a room for Baby and you can decide how to decorate it.”

  Kat smiled with appreciation. She was going to miss out on a lot. She didn’t want to miss out on preparing a baby room.

  “Have you chosen a name yet?” Clelia asked.

  Kat shook her head. “I don’t want to do it on my own.”

  Clelia smiled. “Then I’ll call him Baby until you do.”

  Maya deactivated the car alarm and opened the door. “Don’t think you can drag me into painting and decorating. I don’t want to ruin my nails.” She flashed Kat a kind smile.

  At the castle, Clelia showed Kat the room next to one she and Lann occupied. It was spacious and had a view over the lake.

  “This is perfect,” Kat said.

  “The stone walls are so cold and gray though,” Clelia said. “We’ll have it plastered and then you’ll have to think of a color for the walls.”

  “Nothing somber or pale. How about happy blues and greens with jungle animals?” Blue was Lann’s favorite color.

  “That sounds wonderful,” Clelia said,
“and I know just the person to help.”

  “You do?”

  “Joss introduced me to a lady who runs a house management company. Iza will know where to get everything you need.”

  Kat hugged her. “You’re so kind. Thank you, Clelia.”

  “It’s the least I can do.”

  A tinge of sadness crept into Clelia’s eyes. The preparation had to be hard on Clelia who badly wanted a baby. Maybe this was all meant to be. Maybe Kat had landed here for a reason, with a woman who wanted a child and couldn’t have one.

  Kat cleared her throat. “I know this is hard for you—”

  “Nonsense.” Clelia waved a hand. “I’m happy for you, and glad to help. I’ll call Iza first thing in the morning.”

  “You’re a good person.” If time had been on her side, they would’ve become great friends. “I’ll start dinner,” she offered.

  “Oh no.” Clelia waved her finger at her. “You’re going to rest. We’ve walked far too much this afternoon.”

  “I’m fine, really.”

  “Save your strength. I’ll bring you something warm to drink.”

  By now, Kat had learned it was useless arguing with Clelia once the firestarter’s mind had been made up.

  Back in their room, Kat unpacked the tiny sets of clothes in hues of blue, yellow, and cream. She spread them out on the bed, rubbing the soft cotton and delicate wool between her fingers. There were lavender sachets in the drawers of the armoire. She’d pack the clothes away there, until she had furniture in the baby room.

  She was folding a knitted jacket when the door opened. She looked up and smiled. Lann stood in the frame, wearing a pair of faded jeans and a linen shirt, the cuffs unbuttoned to expose his strong forearms.

  His gaze shifted from her to the bed, and when it fell back on her face, his eyes had adopted a pale shade of yellow. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m packing away our baby’s clothes.”

  His steps were soundless as he made his way to her on the cushioned carpet. He quietly scanned the clothing scattered over the bed. “You don’t need to do this.”

  Kat frowned. “Do what?”