Seduced (Thrice Blessed Book 3)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Jarrett tore his eyes away from Marina to look straight through Charles. “I’m the only son of an ancient noble family. My father has died, but my land—my birthright—now belongs to another.”

  Marina put her hand on Jarrett’s arm. “Forgive him for bringing up such a painful subject. Charles is not known for being well-spoken.”

  Charles looked down at his food, more annoyed than he cared to admit. He said nothing more, eating until he was finished without watching Marina cozying up to the man beside her.

  He lingered after his meal, hoping to have a moment to talk to her. He had to let her know she was making a terrible mistake.

  Thankfully, Jarrett bowed low over her hand, kissing it, a short while later. “I hope to see you very soon, milady.”

  Marina smiled sweetly up at him, a look that had once been reserved for Charles. “I would love it if you’d join us for the evening meal again tomorrow.”

  Jarrett nodded, smiling at her. “I would be honored to do so.” He left the hall then, heading outside to where he slept in tents with the other soldiers. Only Roland and his two trusted men slept within the manor.

  Charles stood. “I’d like a word with you, Marina.”

  Marina frowned at Charles. She had nothing to say to the man. “I’m extremely tired, Charles. I’m off to bed.” She headed toward the stairs, ignoring the eyes she felt following her. At the top of the stairs, she felt a hand on her arm. She spun around to see Charles. “What is it? I said I’m tired.”

  “I don’t trust Jarrett.”

  Marina laughed. “You, the man I once believed myself in love with, don’t trust the man who is interested in courting me? How shocking!”

  Charles frowned at her sarcasm. “I’m worried for your safety. We don’t know if he speaks the truth with what he says.”

  She shrugged. “Christiana can tell when someone is evil, and she has no feelings about him one way or the other. That means he’s not been sent by the master. I’ll be fine.” She spun away from him, disappearing into her room and closing the door behind her. She’d had enough of Charles for the night. When he’d touched her—Why did he cause such stirrings inside her?

  The door flew open and banged against the wall, and she spun around, glaring. “How dare you enter my chamber? What if I’d been changing?”

  “Then I guess I’d have seen a little of what you’ve been offering to me since I arrived here, wouldn’t I?” He stepped closer to her, catching her waist in his hands and pulling her closer. “You’re worth a thousand of that man. Why are you even contemplating allowing him to court you?”

  Marina closed her eyes, all the feelings rushing back through her. Why did she never feel this way when anyone else touched her? It was always Charles. “Go away.”

  Charles leaned down, his lips touching hers. “Dream of me, sweets.”

  She kept her eyes closed until she heard the door shut, and then she sagged onto the bed. No matter how many times she told herself she wouldn’t succumb to the feelings she had for him, she couldn’t seem to help herself. Charles made her body sing.

  Marina shook her head, forcing him from her mind. No, Jarrett was the man she would share her life with. There was no chance that she could have a future with Charles, and she would forget him. No matter what kind of effort it took!

  Marina was more careful with her appearance the following day, wearing a wimple that matched her eyes perfectly, her hair intricately braided underneath. She pinched her cheeks for color before stepping out onto the parapet to watch the men train. She hoped that Jarrett would see her there, and it would make him think of her.

  Eva stepped out beside her. “Do you want me to create an illusion for you, sister?”

  Marina smiled. “That could be fun. What sort of illusion are you thinking of?” They hadn’t played much with Eva’s powers since they’d grown so much. There didn’t seem to be a point.

  “Do you remember what I did to Hugh when he spurned me? Mayhap I could do something similar for Charles.”

  Marina thought hard. “Not a dragon this time. No, let’s make it a bear. A bear with a sword is trying to best him, and he could let out a roar. Mighty enough to frighten Charles.”

  Eva laughed, nodding. “I would love to do that for you.”

  Christiana stepped out behind them. “What mischief are the two of you getting up to?”

  Marina looked at her sister, laughter in her eyes. “An illusion.”

  Christiana grinned, leaning against the wall of the parapet. “We’ve needed a fun illusion for a while.” She stared down at the courtyard, waiting for the illusion to appear.

  When the bear appeared, Marina put her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling. It was a large brown bear with huge teeth. She was impressed that Eva had been able to resist making the creature purple or rainbow-colored as she usually did. Eva’s illusions were rarely based on reality.

  Charles let out a shout when he saw the bear, immediately crossing swords with it. He’d seen the illusions Eva could project before, but never had one looked so real. And never had one been able to strike back. He wanted to look up at the parapet, knowing the three sisters would be watching him, but he didn’t dare take his eyes off his opponent for fear he’d be struck down.

  Marina giggled behind her hand as she saw the fear cross Charles’s face. He seemed to come to grips—slowly—with the fact he was sword fighting with a bear, but when the bear turned a deep shade of purple, and then a rainbow-hue, he shook his head.

  “Roland!” Charles shouted, drawing attention to himself and his opponent. “Tell the ladies to stop interfering with our training!”

  Roland turned to see his brother fighting with a rainbow bear, before he bit his lip to hide his amusement, his eyes immediately going to the three sisters on the parapet. He shook his head sharply.

  Christiana made a face. “Roland says we have to stop torturing poor Charles. He said seeing Marina with another man last night was torture enough for a week.”

  Her sister’s words put a smile on Marina’s lips. “Good. I hope it hurt him as much as his continued rejections have hurt me.”

  Eva closed her eyes, breaking the illusion. “That was fun! Now that I can make sounds with my illusions, they’re more exciting than ever. Oh, we should host a ball tonight! I can conjure up a live orchestra!”

  Marina clapped her hands gleefully. “I would love the chance to dance with Ch—Jarrett. It’s a lovely way to get to know a man.”

  Christiana and Eva exchanged a look, but Marina pretended not to notice. “Do you think Father and Roland would mind?”

  Christiana shrugged. “I’ll ask them. I think we’ve all had so much on our minds lately that we’ve forgotten about frivolity entirely. I need something frivolous in my life for a change!”

  “I do too!” Eva said, excited at the idea.

  When they got into the bedchamber, Christiana sat on the bed and closed her eyes, which let her sisters know she was conversing with her husband using her powers. Finally, she opened her eyes. “Roland says that we can have a ball tonight if Eva feels up to providing the orchestra after the healings we have this afternoon. The peasants are about to be escorted up.” She looked at Marina. “Are you ready?”

  Marina nodded. “Ten healings with no help.”

  “If they’re not serious…” Christiana eyed her sister, obviously worried she was pushing herself too hard too fast. They all knew her powers were needed if they—and the rest of the world—were to survive.

  The peasants were led into the room, Hugh stepping in with them to stand guard. He didn’t trust anyone near his wife. Marina dealt with the first nine alone, but the tenth was more than she could handle. A small baby—not more than three weeks old—was pale and ashen-faced.

  “What is wrong with him?” Marina asked softly as her hand went out to heal him.

  “No idea, milady. He stopped eating yesterday. He’s had a high fever since yestereve. I don’t know what to do for him.” The
peasant woman Marina assumed was the boy’s mother had tears running down her face. “I want him better, though I don’t want him to be cursed for being treated by a witch.”

  Marina frowned, pulling the cross from beneath the bodice of her dress. It was something she did every time she was accused of being a witch. She held it in the palm of her hand squeezing it, and then she opened her hand for the woman to see, showing that holding the holy object against her bare skin did not harm her. “I am not a witch. God gives me my powers.”

  The serf eyed her hand skeptically, but finally nodded. “Cursed or not, he’ll be alive.” She handed the baby off to Marina. “Please save him.”

  Marina took the baby in her arms, seating herself on the bed. She’d healed a few babies, but she’d never really had the opportunity to hold one. She liked how he felt in her arms. She took a deep breath, before holding her hand over him, trying to ascertain the extent of his illness. Tears were in her eyes as she looked at his mother. “Something is wrong with his heart. I shall try to heal it, with your permission.”

  The woman nodded. “Please.”

  “What’s your name?” Marina asked, staring at the baby. She would need one of her sisters to help, because it would be a difficult heal, but she gathered her strength first, concentrating all her power into her hand.

  “It’s Mary. The boy’s name is William, after our new king.”

  Marina nodded. She looked up at her sisters. “I’ll need some help.”

  Both her sisters moved to her side quickly, each putting a hand on her shoulder. She felt their power rush through her body and center on her hand. She could only heal with her right hand, her favored hand. Her left was useless for healing, and she had never known why. She was limited with her powers—much more limited than she’d like to be.

  Putting her hand on the baby’s chest, she closed her eyes, allowing all of the power from her sisters to flow through her and into the babe. She concentrated on seeing his heart in her mind and watching a small hole mend. When she opened her eyes, the babe was crying, but his face was no longer ashen.

  Marina smiled at Mary. “He’s hungry.”

  Mary hurried to her, having stopped a few feet away, afraid to get too close to the sisters. She let out a gasp when she saw that his face was pink and rosy. “He has never looked so good, milady.”

  “I suspect he’s been sick since his birth. He’s better now. I’ve healed the small hole in his heart, and he will be able to eat again. Take good care of him.”

  “I will.” Mary took her child from Marina, and she bowed her head gratefully. “Thank you so much.”

  “Bring him back if he grows sick again.”

  After Mary had left with her son, Christiana sat beside Marina on the bed. “Can you continue? He took a great deal of power.”

  “He did. But not much of it was mine. I can see many more if the two of you aren’t too exhausted.” Marina looked at Eva. “You’re all right, sister?”

  “I’m fine.” Eva smiled. “I love that we can help so many now.”

  Marina nodded sadly. “I do too. I just wish I could receive the same extra strength you’ve both received.”

  Christiana squeezed Marina’s hand. “We had our powers years before you did. It makes sense you haven’t received your added powers yet.”

  “True.” Still, Marina wished it wasn’t so. She wanted to be strong and capable, like her sisters. She’d spent her entire life feeling as though she was lacking.

  Chapter Three

  By the time Marina and her sisters had finished healing all the peasants who were there to see them, it was time for supper in the great Hall. The three of them walked down the stairs together, and Marina eyes searched for Jarrett. Roland, Hugh, and Jarrett stood waiting together at the bottom of the stairs. Charles and her father were off talking together, seated at the table.

  When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Jarrett took Marina’s hand in his, leading her to the table. “I’ve heard there will be dancing tonight.”

  Marina nodded. “Eva can put sound with her illusions now, so she’s going to create an orchestra for us.”

  Jarrett smiled, though something behind his eyes seemed a bit off to Marina, she decided to ignore it. Not every man in the world would accept her and her sister’s powers as if they were normal. Charles had been special in that regard.

  “You look lovely this evening,” he said, quickly changing the subject.

  Marina smiled. “Thank you. I’m glad you didn’t get stabbed during your training exercise today.”

  He laughed. “Hopefully that won’t happen again soon.”

  Charles watched Marina with Jarrett, wanting to push the other man away from her, but he knew he had no right. He wouldn’t marry her, and she had every right to marry another, no matter how much he wished she’d wait for him to earn his fortune and return to her.

  Robert, the girls’ father, nudged Charles with his elbow. “With that look on your face, she’ll know you’re pining for her.”

  “And I shouldn’t let her know?”

  Robert shrugged. “That’s up to you, but it gives her power over you. I was under the impression you didn’t want her to have that.”

  Charles frowned, not taking his eyes from Marina and the man escorting her. “Why do you give me advice when I’ve hurt her?”

  “Because I want her to be happy, and I don’t believe Jarrett is the man to make her happy. Not at all.”

  Charles turned to the older man, studying his expression. “Who is the man to make her happy?” He didn’t know why he asked. The older man’s opinion could not be taken into account. Only his own could.

  “You know that it’s you. You know it as well as I do.” Robert’s eyes met Charles’s and the younger man was embarrassed for a moment.

  “Do you have powers as well?” Charles finally asked.

  Robert laughed. “No, thankfully, I’m not burdened with them as my daughters are.”

  “Burdened? Wouldn’t they be a joy in their lives?”

  “Joy? To be thought witches all the time? To have people make the sign of the cross as soon as they spot them? No, they are cursed with those powers of theirs. With their power comes great responsibility, and they’ve known that since they were small children. No one wants to live with that kind of responsibility their whole lives.”

  Charles frowned. “I never really thought of it that way.” Charles looked at Marina, smiling up at Jarrett. “She’s always practicing to make her powers stronger. It’s like she thinks that she needs to be stronger than her sisters.”

  “Well, according to the prophecy, she is the one who will be tested last. She needs to be strong enough to face her test and pass it. If not, she won’t survive, and evil will control the world.” Robert said the words matter-of-factly. “I don’t think I believed the prophecy until Christiana passed her test. And then Eva passed hers. Now it’s time for Marina to take hers on. She needs to have the strength that comes with knowing she’s loved, like her sisters did. I fear without it, she will fail.”

  Charles shook his head. “Marina couldn’t fail. She’s wonderful at everything she does.”

  “Why don’t you just tell her you love her and marry her?”

  “I can’t. I have nothing to offer her.” Charles sighed. “I’m going to go join King William’s army as soon as her test is over. There’s land to be won.”

  “She doesn’t need land. She wouldn’t ever leave her sisters anyway.” Robert turned his head to smile at his youngest daughter. “I heard you saved a baby today.”

  Marina nodded. “He was so small, and his mother said he hadn’t eaten.”

  Jarrett looked at Marina with surprise. “A peasant’s child?”

  “Yes. That’s who was sick.”

  “But…why would you worry about a peasant? I was told that healing drains you. Why would you put yourself at risk?”

  “Because it’s my destiny. God gave me this power so I could use it to help others,
not so I could pick and choose who needs to be saved. What if that child would grow up to be a saint? He might be the man who someday saves the king’s life. Everyone deserves a chance at life.” Marina watched the man’s face, wondering if he’d agree with her or continue to argue. This was an important topic for her.

  “Of course you can’t choose who should be saved. I was making sure we agreed on the topic.” Jarrett’s face transformed from skeptical to a smile.

  Marina felt a shudder run through her. He was lying to her to keep her from thinking poorly of him. Quickly she sent a mental message to Christiana. “Can you get a read on Jarrett? He has a problem with me healing the serfs.”

  “I’ll see.” There was a moment of silence. “I sense nothing from him, good or bad, which is odd. Usually I can tell something.”

  “Keep trying. I’m starting to get a bad…feeling. He knows that healing drains me. How could he know that? We’ve hidden that fact from Roland’s men, haven’t we?”

  “As far as I know we have. I know Roland never wanted his men to know. Mayhap one of the servants talked out of turn, but…” Christiana’s voice trailed off in Marina’s mind.

  Marina turned to the man beside her. “What are your parents like?”

  He shook his head. “My mother died when I was a boy, and my father died in the Battle of Hastings.”

  Marina remembered him telling her about his father dying, but he hadn’t mentioned his mother. “What were they like then?”

  He shrugged. “Father was a strong, powerful man. Mother was a woman.”

  “But what kind of woman? Was she good? Did she spend time with you?” Marina’s memories of her mother would always be treasured. She’d spent much time with her daughters, teaching them all she could in the short time she had with them. She was the one who had taught them to hunt and encouraged them to practice with their powers at every opportunity.

  Jarrett frowned at her. “She spent an adequate amount of time. Why wouldn’t she?”