In Rapture (Destined)

by Daye, Elissa

  “As well he should.” Lysandra smirked in annoyance.

  “He thought he was doing what was best for his child while he tried to avenge her mother.” Malinda knew that Lysandra spoke as a mother who would do anything for her children, but Malinda was familiar with the grief that Grant carried with him for his mistakes. He was doing all that he could to make up for it, and while she would have preferred he be there with them, she knew that the insurgence of the Lair was something that threatened their home. He would do what he could to rid their lands of this evil.

  “You really do love him, to have such faith in him. It’s as it should be, I think. We all have paths we have to travel, roads that wind in directions we never intended. It’s the goal at the end that makes our journey worthwhile. If you want him to be free, then you have to fight for him, Malinda. The battle has not been easy for you so far, but it will get better. You have to keep patient and never be afraid to share your love with him, even if he seems to reject it. He’s a hard man, my dear.”

  “You’re right. Perhaps I can send a note with you when you go? You’re headed in that direction, I believe.”

  “Of course.”

  When Malinda retired for the evening, she got out a piece of paper to write her letter to Grant. She debated her words over and over, until the mere task of a proper greeting became tedious. She put her hand to her temple and rubbed out the tension that gathered there. She swept a hand over her belly and let it rest there for a moment. She could feel movement below her hand, but had not felt the fierce kicks that Lysandra had told her about. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and knew that it was not just about her. Sophia missed him too. She put her pen to the paper and started to write.

  Dear Grant,

  Sophia misses you terribly, as do I. We all hope to see your face soon. The baby grows strong within me and I can almost feel him kick. He will be strong like his papa and smart like his big sister.

  Dearest husband, please know that the days are long and the nights are lonely without you by my side. I think of you often and pray that the gods keep you safe. Please come home to us soon.

  All my love,

  Malinda

  When she had finished penning the letter she set it aside to let the ink dry. Malinda felt it captured her thoughts and feelings well enough that she did not sound desperate for his return. She had been tempted to write that she needed him, but that seemed like something that Maria would have written. She did not want to manipulate him into returning. She needed him to want to return of his own volition.

  She walked over to the closet as she had every night since Grant’s departure, and picked up one of his shirts. An image of Grant flashed into her mind. He was sitting next to a campfire, surrounded by other men who were obviously drunk and very merry, but Grant was anything but merry tonight. His face looked somber, as if his thoughts were in a dark place. Malinda yearned to run her hand through his hair and pull him into a tight comforting embrace, but she was unable to do so. A tear fell down her face as she brought the shirt to her nose and breathed in his scent, leather and earth. After a moment she hung the shirt back up on the hook and walked back to the bed. She pushed aside the light blue curtains, pushed back the covers, and climbed into the cool sheets. She turned onto her side and fell asleep with her hand cradling her belly.

  The next morning many tears were shed as Lysandra and her children left Wickford Manor. Malinda did her best to cheer up Sophia, but she was having a difficult time dealing with the loneliness that followed in the wake of their departure. For the rest of the day Sophia stayed inside the nursery, making sketches of all her friends under Desiree’s watchful eyes. Malinda spent time in the garden, harvesting herbs to dry and pulling out any weeds that did not belong. Malinda missed Lysandra the moment she left the gates of Wickford, but knew that Lysandra was anxious to see her husband and return home to Blackwolf Keep. Malinda wished she had more people to talk to, but with the Lair on the move around them at any time, she really could not run the risk of leaving the gates of Wickford until they were brought to justice.

  Malinda knew that it would take a while for the letter to get to Grant, but the days had turned to weeks and, the more the distance grew between them, the more she questioned the love that had started to grow for him. She really did not even know if it would make him return, for his dedication to Marshal Madigan was uncanny. The mere thought of Marshal still made her blood boil. Malinda knew her mother had pushed him away, but if he had truly cared for her he would have found a way to get through to her. She could not help imagine what her life would have been like had she known her father. Perhaps it was her own fault that she did not know much about him, for once she knew who he was, she should have been more curious about the man who had sired her, the man her mother had loved so fully that life without him was not worth living.

  Malinda had spent a lifetime blaming the man, assuming that her mother had just been some pawn in a lover’s game that had gone awry, that her mother giving up on life was a character flaw. Perhaps that was the piece of the puzzle that her grandparents never understood. Andraya had not sacrificed her life for naught; she had chosen to let her love continue to live the life she thought he was destined to live. While her mind had been absent much of her pregnancy Andraya had been able to hold on until her child was born. Sadness ran through Malinda as she thought about how important everyone else was to Andraya, so important that they out shone her own self-worth. Malinda would do anything for her husband or children, but what good was this sacrifice if she was not around for them? She would fight until the last breath left her body to protect her own, this was true, but she would not go into a fray without good cause.

  Malinda decided it was time to visit Lena, for anytime that her spirits were low, traveling to Lena seemed to be the perfect cure. She did her best to fill her days with things that helped to keep her positive and happy, for she knew how tiring and emotional pregnancy could be. Lysandra had warned her of this and told her that keeping calm and peaceful was the best thing she could do when she was with child. So when Malinda was not spending time with Sophia she spent her time in the gardens, in the orchards, anywhere that the Earth’s energy beckoned her.

  Malinda let her spirit soar up into the heavens, keeping her spirit tethered to her physical body while it journeyed across time and space. When she opened her eyes she was sitting on the sweet grass and flower covered fields of Lena. The sun was shining down on her face and lights of energy danced around her. She saw the castle and the rainbows that painted the hillside behind it and smiled. She was surprised to see for the first time she was not alone, as a voice interrupted the stillness.

  “Malinda!”

  Malinda turned her head and looked to the trees behind her. There stood three women, one of which Malinda knew well. “Lysandra!”

  “We wondered if you would be joining us today. This is Brenda and April.” A gentle smile lit up her face. Brenda was a petite redhead with bright blue eyes. April was a tall blonde with brown eyes who looked as if they had seen more in one lifetime than most people.

  “It’s so nice to finally meet you.” Malinda rose and walked over to the women standing in the trees.

  “You, as well. We are so thankful that you have shown us back to Lena.” April smiled softly at Malinda. “Your pregnancy seems to be going well.”

  “As well as can be expected, I suppose. I’ve been following Lysandra’s advice. I think he will be a strong one.” Malinda put her hand on the small bump beneath her dress.

  “Aye, he will.” A merry twinkle sparkled in April’s eyes.

  “Lysandra tells me you’ve been having issues with a spirit?” Brenda stepped closer to Malinda.

  “Yes, that I am. I’ve spent many a day researching my problem in the Library of Ages. Have you been to the library yet?” All eyes turned to her with blank stares. Malinda smiled as she realized that this might be their first visit to Lena. She would have to give them a better tour of Lena,
so that they could make the most of their visits in the future.

  “Come with me. I’ll show you around.” Malinda showed them the Crystal Palisade, the castle that comforted her in her darkest hours. Then she led them to the Library of Ages with the endless wall of books that catalogued the mysteries of the world. She brought them to the Gilded Gardens that grew a massive variety of plants surrounded with golden statues of animals that could be found all over the universe. When she brought them to the Great Hall the Seven Sisters welcomed them into their arms, bright smiles of joy on their faces. As always, Malinda felt humbled by their presence and she sensed the gratitude they sent to her for bringing these women of Lena home. All in all, it was a wonderful day, filled with friendships old and new, that made Malinda feel less alone in the world. While she may not have been able to leave Wickford to make friends at least she could meet them here in Lena, without ever leaving the walls of Wickford.

  When Malinda came back to her body the late afternoon sun shone down on her. Time seemed to slow whenever she visited Lena and, while she had been there for what had seemed to be the better part of a day, she could not have been gone longer than an hour. The magic of Lena worked in mysterious ways. She put a hand on her belly as a kick jolted her from her reverie. Up until this point she had only felt a swimming sensation, as the child moved comfortably inside her. This was the first time he had kicked her fiercely through her skin. It felt like a tiny drum beat, as he continued to pummel her belly and moved in so many different places that she had trouble keeping up. She could not stop the laugh that left her. Perhaps the child had known that Malinda needed a distraction. She decided an afternoon nap might be just the thing to raise her spirits. She went up to her room, climbed on her bed, and fell into a restful sleep.

  Chapter 33

  Malinda decided it was time to teach Sophia how to swim at the small lake behind the last stretch of trees of the orchard. The lake was half the distance that it took to travel to where the people of Wickford resided, so Malinda felt safe within the distance. Any of the Lair would have to be out of their minds to attack them this far onto Wickford lands and it had been almost two months since the last attack. So here they sat on the muddy banks of the tiny lake, Malinda, Desiree, and Sophia, surrounded by the bright sunlight, a warm early summer breeze, and the sounds of a large dog nipping at the butterflies that flitted through the air. Malinda had made sure that each of them had a drying cloth and an extra shift to change into when they had finished their swim.

  Malinda peeled off her dress to the shift that lay underneath, dangled her toes in the cool water and started to descend into its depths. She waited for the other two to join her. The first lesson for Sophia was to be able to stand in the water, keeping her balance while the waves rolled in around her. Once Sophia had mastered that Malinda and Desiree helped her onto her stomach and showed her how to kick her feet in the water. Sophia’s giggles erupted around them and it brought joy to Malinda’s heart to hear the child’s merriment. After a while Malinda taught her how to hold her breath to dunk her head below the water and how to blow bubbles of air on the surface of the lake. Malinda fondly remembered her grandfather teaching her these very things when Malinda had been about the same age as Sophia.

  When Mule stopped chasing the butterflies, turned to the trees, and barked into the orchard Malinda’s hair rose on her neck. The sticks and old brush that lined the floor of the orchard crunched under footsteps. Surely, if they were going to be ambushed their attacker would be more careful with their movements. When a blond head came forward from the line of trees Malinda’s heart was in her throat. She did not trust her voice to greet him, for her emotions suddenly overtook her. She stood in the water, and the world seemed to turn in slow motion as Grant walked closer to the edge of the lake.

  “Desiree, please take Sophia back to the house.”

  Desiree’s face contained a knowing smile as she turned to retrieve Sophia from Malinda’s arms. “Come on, Sophia. Let’s get you back to the house. It’s time for your nap.” She helped Sophia dry off before helping her change into the dry shift and her dress. Mule loped after them, his tail wagging in the air.

  Grant’s eyes never left Malinda’s face as she stood in the water before him. He acknowledged their departure with a nod and walked closer to the edge of the lake. His faced turned colder as he looked her over. “What are you doing out here?”

  “We were swimming.” Malinda’s heart sank in her chest. It was not like she expected any kind of admission of love from him, but the way he looked at her right now shattered any confidence.

  “The Lair has been spotted close to Wickford, Malinda. You could have put Sophia in danger.”

  Tears threatened to drown her eyes. “Is that what you think of me after all this time, Grant? That I would put Sophia in danger? And how in the world were any of us supposed to know that the Lair was close? You’ve not sent any notice at all since you’ve been away!” She stood up and started to emerge from the water. She made it to the bank next to him and reached for the drying cloth she had brought with her. She started to wrap the large cloth around her, but it was yanked out of her hands.

  “I’m sorry, Malinda. I did not mean to imply that.”

  “But you did, Grant. But that is not the worst thing you’ve ever done. You could have been dead, for all I knew.” She grabbed for the cloth, but he would not let go of it. She wanted to cover every last inch of her from his probing eyes, and while she was still covered in her shift she might as well have been naked before him with the way the fabric molded against her flesh.

  “I know, Malinda. I’m sorry. I missed you too.” He held her to him, her wet shift making a dark wet spot on his brown tunic. Neither one of them seemed to notice as he brought his mouth down to hers. His hands roamed down her face, with a touch so tender that it almost made Malinda swoon on the spot. His kiss was tentative at first, but as the seconds became minutes, the heat that had once flowed so easily between them had ignited like second nature.

  Much to her disappointment Grant released her and stepped away. He placed the large drying cloth on the ground like a blanket and then raised a hand out to welcome her. She stepped closer to him, suddenly feeling shy for the first time in months. She knew he had seen every inch of her, but it had been quite some time and her body had gone through many changes since then. As if sensing her thoughts Grant moved closer to her and started to peel her wet chemise away from her body. He stood back and took in every inch of her, his eyes boring holes into her soul.

  He held her closer to him, the top of her head coming just below his chin. He breathed in, and the scent of honeysuckle lingered in the air around him. “Beautiful.” His hands wrapped around her dark curls and used the comb he had picked up to work through the tangles that had started to form. “Sit.”

  Malinda faced away from Grant as she sat on the dry cloth, her hands clasped over her chest, her nudity making her slightly uncomfortable with so much space between them. She leaned her head back as he ran the comb through her hair between gentle fingers that massaged the tension from her scalp. When he stopped she turned her head back to look at him. She could not identify the emotion that flashed across his face, but as soon as he noticed that she was watching, it disappeared. He moved in front of her and sat down before her.

  Grant laid her back on the ground and began to trail kisses down her throat. Malinda moaned against him and felt the fluids rushing through her so quickly. It had been too long since the last time they had made love and her body was more than eager. Every touch, kiss, every aching part of him that touched her was driving her to a place she had not visited in quite some time. It was the place where ecstasy swirled around like a cyclone, where a wild storm burned with the promise of sweet, tingling rapture. She tried not to let her worries follow her there, but when his hands roamed over the small expanse of her stomach she wanted to turn away from him. Malinda felt so large and out of place already, she worried he might find her unattractive
. When his eyes met hers, she saw that his desire was no less than it had been moments before. In fact, the fire that lit his golden eyes seemed intensified.

  “Lovely.” His whisper ran across the space between them, echoing like the sands of time through the Great Divide. It sent a thrill of electricity down her spine that ran to the very tip of her toes.

  When Malinda tried to grab onto any sustainable part of him he pushed her hands aside. “We’re just getting started.”

  Grant spent an eternity stroking the flames that rose and fell so easily within her. His hands worked magic between her legs, and she trapped his fingers in place as the force of her first orgasm hit her. She wanted to let the wave of her completion wrap around her like a gentle cocoon, but Grant refused to let her have a reprieve. One of his fingers dipped inside her, finding a spot within her that made her want to scream his name over the treetops as he worked his fingers deeper inside her. He continued to move his fingers while he kept one outside of her and tweaked her erogenous zone so deliciously. Soon his hands set a rhythm that mimicked the rise and fall of their hips as they crashed into each other. Her body rode his fingers and she ached to push them deeper inside her, for while they were magical in their motion they could not match the length of his shaft when he buried it deep within her. She reached out to undo his pants, but he pushed her hands away. She bit her lip and gave into another wave of pleasure that robbed the very breath from her lungs.

  When she tried to close her legs once more, to revel in the moment, he pushed her legs open. She thought for a moment that he might find a way to put her out of her misery, but there was no relief, for he did not let himself crash into her, did not let her eyes feast upon the every inch of his beauty. Instead, he brought his face down to the swollen area between her legs and his tongue stroked her slowly, a pace so unlike the hurried one he had just set with his hands. She arched her back as the slow languid feelings she had craved moments before coursed through her like the gentle hum of a summer storm. Soon, she was convulsing against his face and his mouth drank in her body’s nectar with a low growl leaving his mouth. She felt his hot tongue slip inside her and it scorched every inch it touched. She could not believe the beauty and wonder of the moment, with an act that many would call so unnatural, yet the closeness she felt to him in that moment could not be tarnished by what others dictated. She came apart like a flower blossoming in the morning sun. Even though he had been generous and allowed her such completion she still wanted more.