by Mari LaRoche
“Both DayKing and NightQueen are angry at me. I’m banned from creating passages.”
Viv blinked. “Those are really powerful enemies.”
“Indeed. Since they can’t pursue me outside this realm, you’ll understand if I hope to keep our stay here brief.”
Good!
“Why did I have to come here?”
“You were leaking too much power. Too much for humanity’s dominion. Once you’re in equilibrium again, we’ll be able to return. I think you’ll learn to balance it quickly. You did well creating the gate.”
You’re welcome.
“When we get home, I need to see the mage.”
He spread his hand in a gesture she’d realized meant ‘Perhaps.’ “He trusts me to keep his secret; I told you more than I would many others.”
Viv sighed. They climbed, and she kept pace with him. It surprised her, but the place fed her energy through her feet. It was exhilarating.
“Here we are.” The trail widened in front of a cave blocked by stone.
“Does no one make buildings here?” Viv peered into the darkness.
“No, because the few who come don’t want to be noticed while they’re present.” Amir placed his hand on the stone, which brightened and shivered under his touch, shedding dirt and clumps of vegetation as it slid inward.
Within, light brightened.
“Get in. I need to shut the door. This is conspicuous if anyone is in the air.”
Viv took a quick step forward, and Amir pushed the stone back in place. The glow brightened further, mellow like sunlight.
The gleam of light on a colored stone mural gripped her. Lovely pictures, beautiful stones…she coveted the art and the materials. She reached out, brushing her fingers against the smooth rounded stones. “This is beautiful.”
“Yes.” Amir’s breath ruffled the few hairs on top of her head not cemented in place by salt or other substances. “This way to the bath.”
“That’s a hole in the floor, Amir.”
His fiery wings spread wide as he dropped the human illusion, and Viv stared at him. He was as beautiful as the mural. Every nerve sang, wanting to touch him. She rubbed her hands together to keep them occupied.
“Yes. Because the people who visit here can fly.” He stretched out his arms. “Hug me. We can’t do this from the back for obvious reasons.”
She hesitated as nervousness made her heart beat hard and fast, and then she stepped forward. So many new feelings. They made it hard to think.
I think Fate might have put all your sex drive in with me, and now it’s leaking out. Which is good; especially since you like him so much.
“Hang on. I’m going to glide, and you need to have a firm hold; I don’t want to scrape you off the floor the next level down.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, clasping her wrists together. “You’re an ass.”
Muscles flexed under her arms as a chuckle echoed in her ears. He stepped forward, and weightlessness enveloped her.
She tightened her grip, burying her face in his shoulder as his hands clamped around her waist. Clenching her teeth to keep them from chattering with fear, she tightened her grip even more as they descended in a long spiral. Not that she could see it, but her body could feel the tilt and objected to the unnatural movement.
Exhilaration followed the fear. While terrifying, the sensation of flight was glorious.
They landed, and she pressed against him for a moment. His hands remained on her waist, no longer embracing her.
She licked her lips, remembering his kiss. Her nerves, her skin, her hands, the air, all screamed at her to do something, but she couldn’t figure out how to do it.
Amir took a step back. “The baths are over here.”
16
Clear water circulated in long pools made of smooth white stone, possibly marble, complete with benches in the water. Green and yellow crystals decorated the edge of the pools at regular intervals. The room was cut from rough stone, lined with wooden shelves, and Viv saw a partially ajar door across the room. Amir laid both hands on one of the yellow crystals decorating the end of a smaller pool, and it flared with light. Steam rose from the water within.
“Can I do that?”
“Probably not.” Amir pulled wooden boxes and clay pots from one of the nearby shelves. “Pick the scents you want. You’ll bathe first; I’ll help with your hair.”
“How bad is it?”
“Be happy the water circulates.” His dry tone made her wince.
She opened the one box and noted that it held sea sponges. The other two contained dried, crumpled leaves, mint and lemon balm by scent. She sniffed them and then scooped a handful of the lemon balm and dropped the herbs into the water. “Are there towels? Clothes?”
“Yes, and yes. Both are old fashioned. I’ll fetch them while you get into the water.”
He headed for the door. When he had passed through, she stripped and lowered herself into the water. The jars contained a white, soft soap that smelled like jasmine. The pool water moved enough to blur her nakedness.
It was not so much she was ashamed of her body, but nakedness had taken on new shades of meaning.
Her hands and arms lost the scales, smoothing back to normal skin, as the salt rinsed off in the fresh water. Whatever coated her back half was thick and sticky, requiring scrubbing to clean it off, even using the sponge. Her hair was a mess as well; she ducked under the water and scrubbed to get as much of it out as she could.
Amir returned. He’d changed, now bare-chested and wearing loose-fitting grey board shorts. He carried folded sheets and clothing as well as a small jug and packet of what looked like crackers. Viv’s stomach rumbled.
Vivian moved near the packet when he set it down. Even though they were only dry crackers, her mouth watered. It had been too long since her last meal. She picked one up and sniffed. Crumbly and sweet-smelling, more like a cookie.
“Go ahead and drink from the jug.” Amir set the bundle of clothing down further away from the pool. “You can work on your control as you eat.”
“How do I do that?” The cracker tasted wonderful, of honey and berries and soft grain. She devoured it.
“You saw the energies coursing from you when you made the gate, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You need to contain them. You’ll have to experiment; I can tell you whether you’re still emitting energy though.”
Crumbs fell into the water, floating away as Viv drank from the jug. She relaxed her shoulders, focusing until the sight of the power came back to her.
The jagged energy pouring out of her skin continued as she watched, but the process had changed; she was drawing power in here as well. She had only emitted it under the sea. She tried to stem either tide, with no success.
You’re pulling in more than you’re letting out. Try to balance the two, that’s safest.
With effort, she pinched the energy flowing into her down until it matched what came out. The bubbly feeling faded but didn’t dissipate. She still felt young and light and…interested.
I’ll forbear showing you Amir naked until you manage to get him in that state yourself.
When did you see him like that? The sting of jealousy was new and strange.
Swimming, bathing, other things. We were friends and there weren’t the same nudity taboos you’ve absorbed.
Once she was satisfied the flow out was stable, Viv blinked her way out of the concentration. Amir had stacked more food on top of a folded cloth. She reached for it, and the movement reminded her that her hair needed more cleaning. “How long was I trying? Can you help me finish my hair?”
“About an hour. Of course. Come to the bench and I’ll help you get it clean.” Sitting at the edge of the pool, his lower legs in the water, Amir began lathering her hair again. Even though he was cautious with the process, she winced and jumped as he tugged and worked the soap in. Then, he pulled more as he began forcing a comb through.
“That hurts.”
“I could cut it.”
She couldn’t turn her head to glare. “No, I don’t think so.”
He laughed. “I can tell a story to distract you while I work?”
“A new one? Now? I don’t have a way to record it.” She stared down at the water. “How much of your stories really happened?”
“Some. Mostly, they’re stories, ways to teach or entertain. Just listen. I can retell it to you someday if you still want to publish that paper.”
Vivian eased back, leaning on his leg. His body temperature was higher than human, making it a heated touch.
“Attend, beloved,” He always began the stories like that. He told Viv once it was how he’d learned to tell them. “When the world was new, serpents were wonderful creatures, winged and covered in jewels rather than scales. The ancient enmity with birds was still new since only one kind of creature could rule the sky. Serpents devoured bird’s nests, and hawks and eagles drove them from the sky and ate them.
“One day, the fairest of all the winged serpents lay at her ease in a tree.”
“So, quetzal really exist?” Vivian asked. The winged serpents of Mexican folklore fascinated her.
“They do. Don’t interrupt, please.” Strong fingers massaged her scalp.
Viv relaxed into the pleasant sensation.
“A hawk landed in the same tree and decided to wait until she took flight to break her neck. Even as an enemy, she was a glorious sight; and she called up to him, ‘Sing! I love birdsong.’
“The hawk screamed back at her, and she laughed. ’Fierce! Let me tell you about the firebird.’ Her voice was like the music of the stars and held the hawk spellbound as she slithered closer until they shared a branch. She finished the story and said, ‘Your turn.’
“The hawk examined the huge bulk of her, gleaming in the sun, full of fangs and wings and mirth. He spoke then of the creatures of the sounding deeps, of his brothers stooping and dragging monsters up into the sky.
“They exchanged stories for a day and a night and, when they were done, agreed to meet by the shore in a year. Birds and serpents both hated their friendship, but they didn’t care; she because she was a creature of sky and sea, her home in neither; he because his heart was fierce as the wind and knew no restraint.
“Peacocks being vain birds, one of their number determined that he too would become the serpent’s friend, for there was nothing a hawk could do that a peacock could not best. He was right; peacock and serpent found pleasure in each other’s company, and the hawk grew angry.
“The serpent invited the hawk to stay and frolic with them, but he took to the sky, refusing her offer. So, they frolicked alone.
“In those days, a wicked mighty spirit led the peacocks, who wished to rule all creation. It heard that the serpent and the peacock were foolish in their play and came upon them and killed and ate the serpent, hanging her jeweled skin on its shoulder, swallowing all the memory and power of the serpent to make it better able to rule. And so, peacocks are the loveliest of birds, hung with stolen jewels in their tail, but the grief of the peacock’s friend has made their voices harsh.”
A long pause. Her scalp hurt, but Amir combed his finger through her hair, showing it was ready to rinse. It was no longer a matted mess.
“What happened to the hawk?”
“He died of grief since pride is no substitute for friends.”
The flat velvet voice made sadness pool in her gut. Her heart ached.
She mulled it over; the symbolism was obvious. Ušum was the serpent and Amir the hawk, Morgan the peacock spirit, but the details had to be blurred since Amir still lived.
The peacock was Donal. Amir has always made it clear he would not share the woman he takes as his mate, and I was clear that I would not be restricted to one man. I’m surprised they’re as friendly as they are.
Viv ducked quickly under the water to rinse her hair. Amir moved to sit on the bench as well. She leaned back, keeping the water shoulder height. “If your people all have fire wings, why does this place have baths?”
“We can suppress them. You saw water doesn’t put them out. But it heats up the water faster than you’d be comfortable with.”
“Memories.” She drew her hand through the water—now clear again. “I have some, I think, or something more like reactions. I remember pain; the name Morgan bothers me, things like that. But I don’t have anything like that for you. Or Donal. But you remember her and know me. Which of us is the person you want to be with?”
“I cared for her deeply. After her mother told me that her essence had not gone to Death, the watching and waiting started to honor her memory and spite the sadist who murdered her. The power you carry was hers, and I…had access to means of finding it if it returned to the dominions. You were born.” Amir smiled at Viv with a mix of acceptance and sadness. “I decided to get to know you so I could help you when the hunt started. I found a new friend.”
“Really?” Her tone tried for cynical and ended up sounding tired.
A handful of water caught her in the face. Dripping, she gaped at him.
“You.” His eyes met hers, red and gold, the colors moving in them like fire.
“Not both of us?” she snapped, wiping moisture from her face.
You’re a bit dim in emotional matters, aren’t you? A good match for him.
He folded his arms. “I care for you, Vivian Rivera. That seer is part of you, but not the whole. Even if you’re an oblivious intellectual who couldn’t navigate her way through an emotional landscape to save her life. One who is selectively blind to the obvious.”
“Smartass.”
He reached out and touched her cheek, the caress almost burning hot. Viv stood, put her hands on his shoulders, and pressed her lips to his. His lips parted, and his arms encircled her waist.
Touch and taste sent shivers down her spine; unlike anything she’d experienced. His skin verged on painfully hot, making her even more aware of where she touched him and he, her. Tingling warmth swept through her, and she drew back, gasping.
He nuzzled her ear. "You should make sure you want to know the answers to questions you ask, Viv."
She tilted her head as he worked his way down her neck. “It’s all… I don’t want to stop.”
“As long as you understand I don’t share.” He nipped her.
“Because I’ve chased so many men.”
I’ll just move to the background, though it would be fun to make a running commentary on his technique.
Thank you. The words were heartfelt; Viv didn’t want the distraction from the delicious sensations moving through her body.
He laughed, and one hand moved to her breast, stroking. His fingers brushed against her hardened nipple, sending a ripple of pleasure through her as she arched into the touch. "Yes. The lack gives me hope."
She squirmed as he turned his attention to her other breast. His mouth claimed hers in a fiery kiss. Her heart was thumping, and she gave herself up to the moment, her hands sliding down his back. It felt good to touch him too, all warmth and smooth muscle.
She put her hand on his bare chest. Still hot to the touch. "Is there a reason we shouldn't do this?"
He stroked her cheek. "None, if you’re sure it’s what you want."
She paused for a moment. It was hard to argue with the steady ache within her when what she wanted was in her hands.
"Do you want to do this?" She held her breath, waiting for his answer. Despite everything, she felt self-conscious about the effects age had on her body when he appeared frozen the moment where youth bled into mature strength.
"Yes." His eyes met hers. “And it will be the sweeter for waiting.”
Viv’s cheeks warmed and she raised her hands to hide it. She glanced down, then hastily looked up at his face again. The heat in his eyes scalded her.
He caught one of her hands and kissed it and then did the same to her palm. Pleasure zinged through her even from the simple touch, and s
he shivered. “You look so young…”
His appearance shifted to the Amir she knew. “Is this more comfortable appearance for you?”
“Yes. Yes, to everything.”
He smiled. “Then let’s get out of the water and move somewhere comfortable, shall we?”
She shivered, leaving the water, and Amir scooped up a square of linen. He used it to dry her, interspersing caresses until her knees weakened. It gave her the opportunity to touch him as well, exploring his body as he moved, drying her carefully.
At last kneeling at her feet, he caught her eye, hands moving to widen her stance before leaning forward. She opened her mouth to tell him that she’d not enjoyed oral sex when she’d tried it years ago, when the sensations from the stroke of his tongue drove words far away. She gasped and rocked. He steadied her, continuing, and she grasped his shoulders.
Sensation built, and she moaned and wobbled.
Shivers ran down her spine as tension gathered in her groin. “Knees not working…” she gasped.
He pulled back. “Move to somewhere comfortable?”
She dropped to her knees as well. “Tile is just fine!”
His mouth covered hers as he rolled her to her back. She assisted, parting her legs, and finding him to help guide.
It was like being ridden by fire; the warmth and steady movement brought the tension to a snapping point. She dug her nails in his back and he buried his face between her neck and shoulder.
The orgasm hit her and she bit her lip to muffle her cry, shuddering with the force of it. His thrusts quickened, and she ran her hands along his back, urging him. He stiffened and shivered, before shifting to the side so that she didn’t bear his weight.
They kissed again, emotions rolling in her. Lust, liking… She shied away from love, but wondered if this was what it felt like. Amir continued to stroke her, hands tender, and she snuggled into his warmth, ignoring the chill of the tile under her. Sleep beckoned, languorous and heavy.
Her eyes snapped open as an energy flux outside the door jarred her senses. She sat up.
Amir jumped to his feet. “That’s a gate forming. We need to be ready for whoever’s arriving.”
