by L. R. W. Lee
“Yes, they do.”
Call it adrenaline, but the chilly air didn’t bother me as I looked about. My gaze hadn’t gone far before Kovis grimaced. I looked down to see blood gushing from his right leg. The creature had ripped it open with its canines. “You’re bleeding.”
“Yes.” He shifted again, and his face contorted. My stomach clenched. It had to be deep. And we were in the middle of nowhere.
“Come, we need to stop the bleeding and clean it out before it gets infected.” I couldn’t keep the tremor from lacing my words.
I helped Kovis over to a log near the fire and had him lay on the ground, propping his leg on the stump to slow the flow. I shuddered to think what diseases that beast had carried. If we didn’t get the wound thoroughly cleaned out… I didn’t want to think about what would happen. My body shook, but I forced myself to hold it together. If only I possessed the Wood and Terra affinities that healers did, but I didn’t. My Simulus affinity might be powerful, but it required that I leverage the powers of others. It would keep me humble, that was for sure.
Kovis lay with his hands locked beneath his head. While he tried to force a smile, I knew he knew how serious this was. My eyes swept his naked form. Blood colored his hair, face, and arms and covered his tattooed chest. I chanced a glance lower.
“Like it better this way?”
He was trying to lighten the mood. I could play along. Perhaps it would help both of us, so I replied, “You seem to have shrunk in fear.”
Kovis feigned insult, dropping his mouth open. “That’s the chill, Ali dearest, not fear. I’m sure if you gave it a little care and nurturing, it would respond to your ministrations.”
I snorted and shook my head.
The wound was too deep for bandages, and I had nothing to stitch it shut with. He would keep losing blood unless I could find something to clot it with. I scanned the clearing. Red coated every surface, thick close to us, misted further away. Alshain and Fiona had calmed and gone back to foraging on low-hanging tree leaves, still tethered. But their coats had taken on reddish casts. What could I use to staunch the bleeding? Nature had to give me something. I looked further into the woods and sighed with relief when I spotted several pine trees. “We’re in luck.”
Kovis furrowed his brow.
“Pine sap will make it clot, and it’s a disinfectant that will keep it clean.”
“You’re sure?”
“I learned it from Master Lorica. But first we need to clean your wound out. Can you flush it thoroughly with your Water magic?”
Kovis looked into my eyes then nodded. He grimaced as he lowered his leg and sat up. The blood flow had lessened with it elevated, but it resumed to nearly its earlier pace. I positioned his leg so he could get to the whole wound.
“Do you want something to bite on while you do it?”
“No.”
“Use some force so it gets as much of the bacteria out as possible.”
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, then held up his hand. I adjusted it so his magic would strike the laceration. He bellowed as a stream of water blasted it. My stomach clenched, but there was no other way—how true of so many things in life.
“Just a little more.” I gritted my teeth then repositioned his hand to get what he’d missed.
His face writhed in anguish.
“Okay, stop! Stop.”
His shoulders slumped back onto the ground, and he exhaled loudly, then threw an arm over his eyes.
I didn’t allow myself to relax. I moved his leg back onto the stump then examined the bite, moving it this way and that to get a good look, but never touching it so as not to contaminate it again. A trickle of blood quickly reappeared, and I leapt up. I needed sap.
“Wait right there,” I told him, pausing to remove my ring and set it by his head to keep it from getting sappy. “Don’t lose it. It’s very important to me.”
A corner of his mouth edged up. “Glad to hear it, and I wouldn’t dream of it. I’ll fight off all the rogue animals who come to claim it for themselves.”
I sprinted for the pine trees I’d spotted and picked one. It wasn’t as large as some, but it would do. I found lumps resembling acne on its trunk and popped one. It was like draining a boil. The sap ran out like honey, and I caught it in my hand. I did the same to several more lumps, stopping only when the sticky stuff overran my cupped palm.
“My healer returns!” Kovis joked, waving a hand.
I knelt and began filling the wound. “Glad you missed me.”
“And how.” He sucked air between his teeth as the sap hit raw flesh.
“That’s its antiseptic properties killing any bacteria you missed. It’ll also reduce the swelling with its anti-inflammatory properties and pull the wound closed as it dries. Almost done.”
He fisted his hand at his side, clenched his jaw, and gritted out, “Me thinks the cure may be worse than the problem.”
I sat back on my heels and gave him my best frown. “There, all done, but don’t move until the sap sets.”
“Far be it from me to disobey my healer.”
With the crisis averted, I looked down at myself. My blood-splattered nipples had hardened in the cold and stood tall. Kovis grinned, clearly appreciating the view. My hand was so sticky I had trouble opening it. Dried blood caked the rest of my naked body as well. I was a mess, but I’d wait to clean up until Kovis was able to as well.
I shuddered as a chill slithered up my back. No doubt the adrenaline would soon wear off, and not only would I be exhausted, but my nemesis, the cold, would assert itself again.
I ran my sticky hand across the ground, trying to remove some of the sap or at least coat it so it was less tacky. I’d be wearing it for a long while, especially since it was waterproof, but I didn’t regret it. I’d do the same thing again in a heartbeat.
Kovis returned my ring to my nonsticky hand and sealed it with a kiss. “Since it seems we’ll be here for a bit, I think its time you practiced accessing my mind through our bond.”
I met his eyes as my heart rate increased.
He held a hand up. “I know it scared you ending up in my head, not knowing how to get free again. I’m not making light of that. But I really do think we need to understand more what our bond enables us to do.”
I knew I’d been silly about refusing to try to access his mind again. We’d chatted countless times, mind to mind through our bond, and he’d ventured into my head more than a few times without any complications, but still….
Kovis continued, “You asked me to open my thinking about the source of your affinities, and I did. I see this as the same thing.”
I inhaled. He’d used the one argument he knew I couldn’t refuse. At length, I nodded. “You’re right. I need to do this.”
“Ali, I don’t want you to do this because you feel obligated. I want you to want to join my mind”—he looked away—“because it’s mine. It’s me.”
In the blink of an eye, the situation shown in a whole new light. “Oh, Kovis, I’m so sorry. I never….”
I’d been looking at this as a practical matter that had scared me to death to repeat. I hadn’t understood he’d wanted to share himself with me in this way. There couldn’t be any deeper way of knowing each other. He was opening more of himself up to me, and I’d declined him. Again and again.
His eyes were full of understanding. “I know. You had access to my mind as my sand maiden, but not since coming here. It’s what allowed you to know me so thoroughly. I want to share that connection… that intimacy… with you again.”
My heart brimmed with love for this man. “I had no idea that’s how you saw this. I don’t know what to say. I’m honored you want this.” I swallowed hard. “There’s nothing I’d like more, my Dreambeam. Thank you for putting up with me and helping me see things from your perspective.” I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips.
“Too bad I have to keep my leg elevated.” An amused expression erupted across his furry face
.
“You’re insatiable.” I grinned.
“For you, Ali. Always. But seeing as I have no ability to make good on my desires for the time being, let’s have you try accessing my mind again.”
My stomach quivered, but I tamped it down.
“I’m still discovering new things about our bond,” he said. “But I’ve frequented your mind enough that I feel confident guiding you through this. Hopefully, once you know how to do it yourself, you’ll feel better about it. Much of it involves… desire.” The last word came out as a purr.
I felt my cheeks warm, as he’d intended. I bit my lip then nodded.
“I’ll speak sweet nothings when you reach me.”
I snickered. He was doing a good job of loosening me up. You need to tell me “dirty somethings.”
Kovis chortled, obviously listening in. “So be it, if that’s what the maiden wishes.”
I fanned myself.
“Okay then, you need to desperately want to join my mind.” He winked.
I’d told him that’s how I’d ended up there the first time, and he’d never let me forget. Arrogant royal.
“Focus.”
I closed my eyes and let my thoughts about him roam. It wasn’t hard. Kovis was such an amazing man, so loving, so understanding, so caring… and physically, mmmm… I wanted to be one with him, to—
In a heartbeat, my view to the world shifted and I looked up to see a blood-covered, naked female kneeling beside me. Wait. I quickly looked down at my breasts then yipped. How was I in two bodies, seeing as both him and myself at the same time? To say this was an out-of-body experience was putting it mildly. This was downright mind bending.
Welcome to my head and well done, Ali dearest. It’ll take a bit to get used to it. Being in two places at once is…
Crazy. Disorientating. My heart beat faster. I’d done it, but would I be stuck here?
Ali, calm yourself. You won’t be stuck here. I promise.
I took deep breaths, nearly choking on the stench of dead mares, and willed my heart to slow. I was okay.
That’s right, my love, you’re okay. Try to acclimate.
I, rather Kovis, looked up at the treetops. The gentle breeze made the branches sway back and forth.
I, in my own body, tried to relax too. I decided I’d be better off lying down. He turned his head, and through his eyes, I watched myself lie down beside him and draw an arm to cradle my head. I closed my sappy hand in a fist to try and protect my hair. At the same time, as myself, I watched Kovis lying there, watching me. I could move, and I had awareness in two places at the same time. It was the strangest thing I’d ever experienced. Every once in a while, I’d wished I could be in two places at once—well, I was getting my wish, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.
From beside Kovis, I moved my free hand over, found his red-splattered nose, and pushed it. I watched me through both of our eyes and chuckled at how odd it all was. I love your nose. It’s very cute.
Is it now? You’ve never told me that before.
It is. I ran my hand over his red-tinged, scruffy chin. Would he let me do whatever I wanted to him? It seemed so since he hadn’t moved to stop me. Such liberties you’re allowing.
I promised you dirty somethings. I’d love you to take these kinds of liberties with me all the time.
My eyes as Ali grew large, while my eyes as Kovis narrowed, and we grinned.
Is that so? Well then… I watched my hand as I eased it down his hairy chin, then down his neck, beyond where his facial hair ended, stopping at his collarbone. No matter that the blood of our enemies covered him, he was still the sexiest man I’d ever seen—not that I’d seen any other naked men. I chuckled to myself. Mmm, where should my hand explore next?
He swallowed hard, and I saw the bump in his neck rise and lower quickly. Anywhere you choose. He’d turned his head, and we’d locked eyes, but despite not looking down, I had no doubt certain parts of him were nowhere near this picture of calm.
I think I’ll… My finger wandered downward, making him tense. He was ticklish where I was heading.
Play nice.
I am, but you’ve given me free reign.
We grinned again.
My fingertip meandered across his blood-splattered chest, across his tattoo that I couldn’t tell the color of under the gore, brushed his nearly nonexistent chest hair, approaching my intended destination. I made sweeping circles about his breast, much as he did to me as often as he could. The shoe was on the other foot. I giggled.
You’re having way too much fun.
Amazing how attuned he was when my body wasn’t distracting him.
He sucked in air as my finger continued teasing, moving closer, circling in ever smaller rings, ever closer, over the little bumps surrounding his nipple. He held his breath. A heartbeat later, he closed his eyes, and with it, his view to the world, but I didn’t stop. When my finger reached its destination, I stroked it and found his nipple had hardened.
A groan escaped him. I can’t keep my leg elevated with you doing this to me.
I stroked the bump once more before replying, Fair enough.
I pulled my hand away. He exhaled loudly, and his whole body went slack again. He opened his eyes. Ready to return?
I’d gotten caught up in the fun, no doubt as he’d planned—anything to help me forget my fear. I smiled. Yes.
As I said before, it’s a matter of desire. It again came out as a purr. Long to return to your own body, your own mind. Will it to be so.
I focused. I want to be back in my own head.
Nothing happened. I still saw the world through both of our eyes. My heart picked up its pace.
Calm, Ali. Think back to how desperately you wanted to know how I fared when you first came.
I tamped down on my rising panic and forced myself to remember back. It wasn’t hard. I’d been desperate to know I hadn’t harmed him or his magic permanently. I tried again, with more force of will. I need to return to my own body, my own head.
My perspective shifted. Kovis lay on his back beside me, one hand beneath his head, the other by his side. I glanced lower. His manhood was anything but relaxed, standing at attention more like.
Kovis snorted. Yes, you really got me going.
I rose on an elbow and leaned over, planting a kiss on his lips. “Thank you for getting me there and back again.”
“I’ve found that it’s a matter of willing something. Our bond somehow understands our desires.”
“If they’re strong enough,” I cautioned.
“Yes, but now that you’ve done it again, I want to experiment more with our connection and see what else we can do with it.”
“Bend the weather to our will.” I laughed.
“Don’t laugh, you may not be far off. It could just be a question of our imaginations and what we need.”
“But how? This isn’t our magical affinities, is it?”
“I think we can leverage them, but no. I believe it’s far more. We have something very special. Jathan mentioned reading about couples who were paired. I never investigated all he’d learned about them though.”
“Why us?” I asked.
“Who knows. Maybe we were joined because you were my sand maiden, maybe the gods knew we’d need it to face whatever is in store, I’ve no idea. But we have it, so let’s figure out what we can do with it.”
The sun had risen more than halfway to its peak by the time I checked his sap “bandage” and pronounced it dry. I’d practiced joining and returning from Kovis’s mind several more times. It got easier, although I doubted I’d ever get over the disorientation of being in two heads at once. Thankfully the air had warmed with the sun’s climb, but a chill still beset me in the shade of the dense woods. My sappy hand was still sticky although some of that sap had hardened too. It would definitely be a while before it wore off. I rubbed it in the dirt again to coat the worst of it.
“We need to clean up,” Kovis said as I helped him up. He wobbled
as blood rushed to his head but declared himself fit. He put weight on his leg, and while tender, he took a tentative step, then another. I took his arm with my sapless hand and helped him hobble through the carnage, steadying him at points. The further we got from camp, the cleaner the air, and I breathed in deeply. I’d gotten accustomed to the stench, but fresh air cleansed my nose.
We walked a distance to a trio of hot spring pools. They ran above and below ground throughout the woods and were the sole source of water for the area. Steam rising off the surface of one beckoned to me. It didn’t have to try hard to lure me closer. I padded across the flat, wet stones, waded into the lowest pool, the largest of the three, and sat.
Kovis joined me a heartbeat later after I reassured him that the sap would not wash out of his wound.
Oh, blessed heat. A moan escaped as warmth surrounded me.
The sun illuminated the water—it turned crimson, cleansing us of the gore of battle. I sucked in a deep breath then dipped under. I’d been focused on other things and hadn’t had time to contemplate the source of the blood that covered every bit of me. But as I did, revulsion filled me, and I scrubbed harder, the task made more difficult with the use of just one hand. It took three dunks before I satisfied myself that I was clean. Well, all but my hand. Yes, it would definitely be a while.
Kovis had cleaned himself up too and again looked the part of the handsome, dashing prince. “Better?”
“Much.” I’d finally stopped shivering. My body went slack from exhaustion, along with my mind. Kovis seemed to sense my condition because he laid back in the bubbling water beside me, not saying a word.
We lounged, enjoying the quiet, and I picked at hardened sap. I let the smell of fallen leaves soothe my soul. I laid my head against the side of the pool and watched birds dart past and the occasional butterfly flutter by. A gentle breeze rustled colored leaves that still clung to their host. This was the image I’d painted of what this adventure would be like. If only.
My toes had shriveled by the time my mind recovered enough to carry on a coherent conversation.
