“Thank you,” she choked. She dropped their hands and the Song of the Exotiques faded, but still lilted in her ears and mind and heart. With a brief hug for each of them, and Nuare, she hurried home.
Sevair carried Bri all the way down the stairs to the spring in the bottom of the tower and proudly showed her the last carving on the fancy keystones. The place was no longer dank and gray. The air vents from the top of the tower funneled a sweet-scented breeze into the room. The barrel vaults had been scoured to a soft golden, the cheerful stone figures and faces restored by the man who dropped her into the pool and laughed, then followed her in.
They made love there, and then he carried her back up to the bed and they made love again.
“Tomorrow,” he said as he pressed his body against hers. “The ritual is tomorrow.”
Her insides jolted, then she listened to his heady Song and her own, winding around his, melding together, as their bodies moved together.
Sevair’s side of the bed was cold when the pounding on the door woke Bri. The minute she opened her eyes she remembered everything. The ambush by the Exotiques, Sevair and the lovely bath. Lovemaking.
Bloodbonding ritual today. She wanted to crawl back under the covers.
She would not.
No doubt Raine was here to take her to the ceremony. Bri grabbed a robe, pulling it on as she ran downstairs. Raine was playing with the doorharp, sending her thumbnail up and down and up and down…
Bri flung open the door. “Hang on a minute.” She spotted Nuare sitting in the middle of the cul de sac, ready to swoop down on her and take her to the ritual. Elizabeth’s—Raine’s volaran was there, too, ignoring the big bird.
“I’ll be right down.” Bri started up the stairs.
“I’m eager to see the house,” Raine said.
Bri threw her a sour look. “I know you’ve come to take me to the coeur de chain bloodbonding ritual. I’m ready.” Despite what felt like a flock of rocs flying around in her nervous stomach. Just as well they wouldn’t have breakfast.
Raine smiled and looked beautiful. “Good. Everyone’s looking forward to the wedding.”
Hesitating, Bri said, “You, too? Feeling better?”
“Ayes.”
“You’re not alone,” Bri said, reminding herself, too. She was not alone in this; Sevair would be with her. All her new friends would celebrate with her.
She concentrated on keeping her ears and mind open, listening to Songs. Sevair’s was strong, steady, solid. As usual. Not even one tiny nervous note. Completely unflappable.
As soon as Bri and Nuare, Raine and Blossom, landed in Temple Ward of the Castle, Bri was whisked away for a quick bath infused with “special herbs.” Herbs that contained Power. Herbs that were good for preventing infection as well as the circulation of blood, Bri saw, though no one mentioned that.
The Exotiques surrounded her and kept her spirits up and her nerves only slightly jittery as they helped her dress in a wonderful shimmering sleeveless gown of pale gray shot with silver. Sevair’s colors. Bri wondered if he would be wearing medica red.
Then they were walking from the Castle keep to the temple and Bri was squeezing the juice out of the stems of the bouquet she carried. She was on her way to her wedding—more than wedding, because when she died, he did. Or vice versa. Pairbonding. Whatever. Her family wasn’t here. No parents to give her away, Dad to walk down the aisle, twin as maid of honor. How had she thought she didn’t want that? Too bad.
She listened to the whys she was here—Sevair’s Song, those of everyone around her, all wishing her well.
Hearing them, and her heart thump, she understood something more about herself. In her heart of hearts she’d believed partnership wasn’t achievable. That the man she married would try to force her into the mold of his own expectations of what she should be. Just like everyone else.
Though her parents had a loving relationship, she’d always thought her parents were the rare, lucky ones. Her own relationships, and Elizabeth’s, had never been so loving. She yearned for commitment and permanence.
Sevair could give her that, would give her that. As she would give it to him.
The minute Bri walked into the great Temple, her anxiety was soothed by the saturation of Power. She saw the knives and they gleamed wickedly but no panic grabbed her by the throat. She let her inner child out, gave the simple creature full rein, felt delight and wonder. The little one liked the sensation of magic infusing her, enjoyed the colors of the stained-glass windows patterned on the gray stone floor.
All her friends spread around her, ready to celebrate with her. Be assimilated? Bri snorted to herself, looking at the colorful semicircle of Exotiques. The others weren’t assimilated.
While she stared at them, flashes came. Marian had her camera. A mirror was propped on the long altar table.
Sevair stood in front of it. Sevair.
Sevair.
Her heart took a shock. Yes. Ayes. She wanted him. The inner child shrieked with glee. Someone of her own. Someone who’d put her first. Oh, yeah.
Then as she walked forward, almost seemed to glide, there was no inner child and Bri. There was just Bri. She wondered if she’d finally grown up.
More than magic suffused her. Love from her friends and Sevair. She scanned them. More than the Exotiques and their men were there, too. People from Castleton, even a Citymaster or two from the other places she’d visited, beamed at her. More photos.
When she returned her gaze to Sevair he was smiling at her, with that special look in his eyes, the one only for her.
All the residual tension of doubt drained from her.
This was what she wanted. A love. A home. Friends. Respect.
For an instant she thought of Zeres and missed his craggy face. She bit her lip.
She glanced at the mirror and her family waved. Elizabeth and her mom were crying. Her dad blew her a kiss, then clasped his hands and waved them in a gesture of triumph.
The knives came out and she only felt calm, kept her gaze locked with Sevair’s as they said vows, slowly steadily, strongly.
Then they were joined and blood and magic and more cycled between them. Not only did she see and hear Sevair’s love for her, but felt it, real and true.
She sent the same back to him.
It was a full three days before Bri showed Raine the medica’s house in Castleton.
Bri kept a wary eye on her. Raine’s melody was full of sweeping highs and lows. Her aura pulsed erratically.
“What a pretty house,” Raine said, turning around and looking at the gleaming furnishings, the delicate murals, running her hand down the banister. Every detail spoke of the Lladranans, respect for their Exotiques. Respect that hadn’t been given to Raine. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.
“A wonderful house,” Raine whispered.
“It’s yours,” Bri said. “I have the tower. This place is yours for as long as you want—or until the Snap.”
Raine’s Song went ragged. She opened her mouth, but said nothing. Her eyes filled with tears. A couple of harsh sounds emerged from her. She gathered herself, then said. “How can you stand it? Stuck here, knowing your real life is going on back home, knowing people who love you miss you, every day. How can you stand it!” Raine crumpled.
Bri caught her, did the air glide thing to the sitting room and a fat, welcoming chair big enough for both of them. She cradled Raine and let her cry, stroked her hair. “You’re all right now. You’re here where people will cherish you. You’re all right,” she soothed. She kept it up until Raine’s shoulders stopped heaving and her sobs became whimpers. Bri fished in her pocket and came out with a couple of hankies and gave them to Raine, who’d curled in on herself.
“You’ve had it so hard. Such a horrible time. I’m sorry for that.” Bri kept patting Raine, cleared her own throat. “But Lladrana is my real life, my real home. I made that decision.”
“That cruddy tower—shit, sorry.”
But Bri only
chuckled. “It needs a little more work to be a showplace. Like Lladrana needs work.”
Raine’s face set. “Guess I won’t be going home until the last fight.”
Bri didn’t want her to go home at all. Wanted her to stay and find a place here in Lladrana. The depth of that feeling surprised her. Perhaps it was because she’d found Raine so quickly after losing Elizabeth.
“Let me show you rest of the house,” Bri said, standing.
Raine blew her nose, smiled and rose with a grace Bri admired. She was the most graceful of them all. “I’ve heard the stories about you and Elizabeth, and have read the Lorebooks—”
“Our cue, ladies,” Marian said from the doorway. Calli stood with her.
“Where’s Alexa?” asked Bri.
“Getting chocolate from Elizabeth’s alternate stash in the kitchen.”
Bri looked around the formal sitting room. “The most comfortable place is the bedroom.” She smiled at Raine. “Huge feather bed. Big enough to hold a girl confab.”
“Confab?” Raine asked.
“It’s a word my Mom uses. Confabulation. Twin and I use it.”
“Confab.” Alexa joined them repeating it. “It’s a good Exotique word.” She nodded. “I like it.” Looking at Calli, she said, “You got the hats?”
Calli swept out the hand she’d been holding behind her back, with two white cowboy hats stacked. She separated them. One had a wide red band with medica symbols. The other had a deep blue band with stylized waves.
Alexa and Marian took hats that Bri hadn’t noticed from the settle bench. Alexa’s band was jade green with little flaming batons, Marian’s purple-black with jagged lightning.
Bri took the medica hat, placed it on her head and wasn’t surprised when it fit perfectly. Alexa took Bri’s left wrist and turned it over. Marching up Bri’s arm after the bonding symbol of Sevair’s stone hammer were the symbols of the other Exotiques. “Still there.”
“If they don’t show up before, the planet Amee graces us with these after the Snap.” Marian showed her own arm with even more tatts than Bri’s.
Raine stared at her bare arm, let out a relieved sigh, lifted her chin. “I know Lladrana has troubles, and I know that you all barely escaped with your lives, so you’ve been hurt here, too. But—”
“But me no buts. We’ve all heard it before. You’ll stay or you’ll go. Your choice.” Alexa shrugged. “The hat is yours regardless.” She put it on Raine’s head.
Raine adjusted it, then smiled and became beautiful. “I always wanted a cowboy hat.”
“Connecticut.” Alexa shook her head.
“Hey, it begins with a c, like Colorado,” Bri said. “That counts for something. For a lot.” She linked arms with Raine. “Note the fancy carving on the side of the stairwell.” Everyone oohed and aahed, though they’d seen it before. As they toured the house, each of the women pointed out items they’d proposed. Affection tugged at her heart. From the corner of her eye, she saw the same emotion curve Raine’s lips.
“The best part is the private tub downstairs,” Marian said.
“We all had a part in that,” Calli said, touching Raine’s hand.
A few minutes later they’d settled on the bed with two pieces of chocolate each. They’d made a circle on the bed and Calli was on Bri’s left, then Marian, then Alexa and Raine on Bri’s right.
“This place is yours,” Bri repeated.
“Thank you,” Rain said softly. “I accept.” Her chest flattened with a big sigh.
“Ah, you are all still here,” Sevair said. He walked in, wearing a stupid-looking hat with a wide brim and carrying a book under his arm. He took in the women, visibly braced himself, and continued. “I found this book on the marble-topped cabinet under the magic mirror in our tower.”
Bri stilled and at her sudden quiet the others fell silent, looked at Sevair.
He held out the volume, large and bound in red leather tooled in gilt that looked brand new. “I can’t read it,” he said.
Bri hopped from the bed, took it, and brushed a kiss on his lips. When he turned to go, she said, “Stay.”
Reluctantly he dragged up a chair to the bed as she plopped back down with the other women. She put the book in the middle of their circle and all gazes fixed on the title. The Lorebook of Exotique Medica Elizabeth Brigid Drystan.
Bri sniffed. She’d been able to hold it together when Raine had broken down, but this was a whole ’nother matter. She wiped her arm across her eyes, saw the white square Sevair offered, and took it, dabbed at her face, knew she’d need it again before she was done. Meeting his kind and steady eyes, she told him the title.
Then she drew in a deep breath and opened the book. A title page, with a caduceus at the bottom.
Marian reached over and fingered a corner of the page. “Acid-free paper.” Her eyes narrowed and she touched the fancy lettering. “Bridgenorth font. I’d say Elizabeth typed this herself and had it bound.”
“Eight-and-a-half-by-eleven paper,” Alexa said.
“Yes.” Bri cleared her throat. “Yes.” She opened the book and there was a photo of her and Elizabeth in the Castle. “Oh, man, I’m gonna lose it.”
Calli patted her shoulder as Bri wiped her eyes again. She scooted in and leafed through the book. There were photos, and drawings where Elizabeth spoke of something that they hadn’t taken a picture of—like a dreeth. Pages of three-dimensional drawings from all angles.
“Cassidy did these drawings,” Bri said, swallowing hard. “He’s a good artist.” She glanced at Sevair.
“I don’t mind hearing about him—my woman stayed.” His tone was so complacent, she frowned, then he picked up her hand and kissed her fingers and she melted a little inside, as always. Elizabeth’s place was in Denver. She knew that in her head and her heart, but it would take a while to accept the loss and stop hurting. Same as her family at home.
Exclamations came as Calli continued to turn the pages. Sevair scooted closer, snorting at a picture of Zeres drunk—another grief that would eventually heal—then made a disgusted noise in his throat at the picture of the Lladranan men. “I’m much more attractive than Faucon or Bastien.”
“Of course you are,” all the women chorused.
He made the noise again.
Finally Calli turned to the last pages and Bri gasped. Cassidy and her father and her mother had handwritten letters to her. Her eyes blurred and when Calli withdrew her hand, Bri turned the pages. She didn’t want to read the letters now, so she went to the last page, all cursive.
We know that you will fight the Dark and win.
I love you, Bri, Elizabeth.
You will win. I love you, Bri, Cassidy.
You will win. I love you, Bri, Dad.
You will win. I love you, Bri, Mom.
Tears rolled down Bri’s face.
Three hawk feycoocus flew through the window, lit on the bed within the circle of women. Three magical mind-voices chirped, We will win.
Calli grabbed her left hand, stared into her eyes. “We will win.” Hands clasped together around the circle. Raine hesitated, then completed the circle between Bri and Alexa. Bri’s voice rose with the other women’s along with a surge of incredible Power. “We will win.”
Sevair sat on the bed, lifted her onto his lap, met her eyes and again she was connected with others so that they all spoke together.
“We will win.”
Bri hoped so, but still saw the window darken as the sun went behind clouds, felt the chill of an early autumn. She leaned back to look into Sevair’s eyes. “Win or lose, I’m here forever.”
KEEPERS OF THE FLAME
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1085-5
Copyright © 2008 by Robin D. Owens
First printing: January 2008
Author Photo by: Rose Beetem
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or h
ereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Worldwide Library, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Books S.A., used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
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Keepers of the Flame Page 44
