by J. Adams
“Good,” he breathes. “And my wife?”
She finishes her examination. “Her body is beginning to fight off the poison. She will regenerate slowly. She will be sick and weak for a few days and drained of strength, but she will recover.”
Sebastian heaves of deep sigh of relief and silently thanks The One for the gift of Celine's life. There would be no way he could survive without her. She is the very air he breathes, the life force that sustains him, the very marrow of his bones.
“During pregnancy is when our women are the most vulnerable. Not that we are weaker, but we have more than ourselves to be concerned about.” She pauses, studying Celine a moment. “Stay by her side. If by some chance her condition should worsen, send for me at once.”
He nods and takes the woman's hand, squeezing it firmly. “I will. And thank you.”
* * *
Downstairs, before leaving, the healer gives Devon, President Simon, and his counselors the details of Celine's condition. After sharing their feeling of relief, warriors are summoned to the Giovanni's home and posted all around the house. They are instructed to admit no one in the house except Sebastian's parents, nor should gifts of any kind be accepted. There will be an investigation. Celine and her unborn child are officially in danger now and every precaution possible will now be taken to insure their safety. * * *
Once everyone has gone, Sebastian quietly undresses and gently slips between the sheets. He gathers his sleeping wife in his arms and holds her close. He desperately needs to feels the warmth of her body against him, feel her deep breaths fanning him, and the beat of her heart next to his. The combination of those things gives him great comfort.
He will attend no more meetings, nor will he conduct anymore training sessions. Until the birth of their son, he will never leaver her side. He'd desired to spend more time with her and now he will have that time, he only wishes it were under better circumstances. The thought of her being in danger causes him intense pain. And the last thing he ever expected was to have a traitor living in Challis. This is his home, a place that has existed in peace for thousands of years. A place where all who dwell here are safe. How can they have an enemy living among them and not notice? Whoever it is blends in pretty well and will be hard to find, but Sebastian is determined that the traitor will be found and made to pay for his crime.
He closes his eyes, tightens his embrace, and silently prays that Celine will soon awaken. He can do nothing else.
Eighteen
I awaken to darkness, and the warmth of Sebastian's body is wrapped around me like a cocoon of safety. I am no longer in pain, but I am so weak, I can't even lift my head off the pillow.
What happened to me? The last thing I remember is feeling the awful pain explode in my head and stomach. I have never in my life experienced such pain. Fearing for our child, my hand immediately moves to my stomach.
“He is well, beloved,” Sebastian softly assures me. “He is strong, and so are you.”
“What happened to me?” I ask him in a hoarse voice.
He waves the lamp on and adjust himself to look into my eyes, though he doesn't release me, for which I am grateful. I need his closeness more now than ever. “You were poisoned, caro.”
I swallow hard. “Poisoned? But how?”
He gently cups my face and I clearly see the pain in his eyes. I hear it in his voice, though it is also laced with anger. “The fruit. It was injected with poison.” I now hear tears in his voice. “Someone tried to kill you and our child.”
I am shocked beyond words. Someone tried to kill me! Tried to kill our son, the golden child! How could this happen in Challis? There is no evil here, only love, or at least there wasn't until now. And how could the poison affect me?
“It was a strong poison created on the surface. Strong enough to make you very sick, but your body was able to fight it off. You will be weak for a short time, but you will heal completely.” He pauses and I lift a hand to his face, his warm tears wetting my fingertips. “I was so afraid I would lose you, Celine. I've never been so afraid in my life.”
I pull his head down and press my face to his as his tears mingle with my own. “You will never lose me, Sebastian. There is something inside me that will never let me be separated from you.”
He covers my mouth with his and my insides explode with heat. I'm amazed that even in sickness, his kiss can have this effect on me.
I love you, he sends tearfully. I love you so much. And I'm so sorry I wasn't here to keep you safe.
You couldn't have known. I love you, too.
He releases my lips and buries his face in my hair, pulling me further into himself and lulling me to sleep with the sound of his voice in my mind, whispering the same endearing phrase over and over.
I love you, my angel. I love you . . .
* * *
I wake up the next morning to find Sebastian's side of the bed empty. He enters the room a minute later with a pastry and a glass of juice, which I consume quickly, anxious to get on with the day. I can't do much, but I don't want to stay in bed all day, either.
After helping me bathe, dress, and tame my hair, Sebastian carries me down to the garden room, where, to my surprise, my in-laws are waiting to see me. He places me on the sofa and sits next to me, placing my legs over his lap.
“Oh, my dear,” Sarah says, drying her eyes and kneeling to embrace me, “I'm so glad you are all right and the baby is well.”
“Thank you. I'm so glad you came to see me.”
“A pack of wild mammoths couldn't keep us away,” Devon says, kneeling and pulling me into his fatherly embrace. He draws back and grins and I can't help laughing, which is what he'd hoped for.
“Any news?” Sebastian asks his father as he and Sarah pull the two ottomans close and settle themselves for our visit.
“None,” Devon answers. “Peace keepers were immediately sent to the produce merchant to question the owner. There was never an order placed, and he'd had so many customers throughout the day, he couldn't possibly tell them who bought the fruit. However, he did say the pears were not from his stand. Evidently they were from a private orchard.”
Sebastian's thoughts are painfully open to me. His hand forms a fist, and when I cover it with mine, it loosens slightly.
“We will not stop searching,” Devon continues. “All our warriors are home now, except for the few living above, keeping watch around the north and south openings to warn us of possible intruders. Sadly, none of our mortal helpers from the surface will be admitted into Challis. This had once been a possibility should their lives be in danger, but not anymore. We have been in contact with them and they all understand why we are taking this precaution.” He puts his arm around Sarah as she tearfully squeezes my free hand. “No matter what, we will keep you safe. No more attempts will be made on your life because we will not give the traitor another chance.”
Nineteen
Devon and Sarah soon kiss me goodbye and Sebastian walks them to the door. Relaxing against the pillow, I stare out the window and listen to their soft voices echoing back to me from down the hall. Devon is again assuring Sebastian that they will not stop until the attempted murderer is found, and admonishing him to take good care of me, the latter statement completely unnecessary, of course.
The window is open and I hear birds chirping in the trees just beyond the courtyard. A hummingbird flutters near and lands on the feeder hanging just outside the window. I watch it as it drinks the sweet nectar and I suddenly long to run out into the countryside again, but even if my life were not in danger, I wouldn't have strength enough to even walk half of a mile. For a moment, a small vein of frustration seeps into me. I had thought when I came to live in Challis, my days of running and needing protection were over. Now it seems that once again my life is no longer in my control. The frustration quickly turns to sadness. It hurts to think of someone hating me enough to want me dead. But then again I guess it is really our child they wish to destroy.
I
absently press a hand over my stomach, feeling his gentle nudging in response to my touch. I love this child more than words can express, more than my own life, and if I have to sacrifice my life in some way to bring him safely into a world that desperately needs him, then so be it. I know Sebastian could not survive without me and his life would be forfeit as well, but I have no doubt that we are of one mind when it comes to the safety and protection of the golden child. His life and well being mean more than either of us. I close my eyes against the tears threatening to come through and force them back. I will not cry now. I can't because if I start, I am not sure I will be able to stop. Against my will I feel them beginning to seep through. Just as I feel the first warm tears trailing down my cheeks, Sebastian returns. He sits down and immediately scoops me into his arms, holding me on his lap. The restraint I've manged to hold onto slips away and deep sobs escape me. I cling to him, soaking the front of his shirt, and I find comfort in his tightened embrace and soft words.
* * *
I am here, beloved, he croons. I am here.
Sebastian had felt her pain as soon as it came and had
had to cut his goodbye with his parents short because of his mate's emotional need for him. He holds her as deep sobs wrack her body and he feels each one intimately. This is not the life he'd planned for her, yet this is what they have. What will come next, only The One knows. Still, deep inside him he knows all will be well in the end. These are the feelings he sends to her now, to calm and comfort her.
The One is with us, beloved. He knows what we are going through, and we will not be left alone. There is a purpose to all life, my angel. The purpose of our life has been fixed since the beginning, and you and I are gifted to know exactly what our purpose is: to fulfill the prophecy. And it will be fulfilled. I promise you, caro, it will be fulfilled.
Twenty
A week has passed and my health is completely restored. I feel well–so well in fact, I invite Sarah and Rachael over for tea and cakes and we have a wonderful visit. I decide that these two could take the saddest, most down person in the world and within a minute or two have them smiling and forgetting about their troubles.
Rachael even created for me what she calls her “cheer up” dress. It is is made of the softest yellow crushed velvet with a scooped neck and long bell sleeves. The material is stretchy and hugs my curves, accentuating my growing abdomen. From the waist, the slim fit flares out and hangs to the top of my feet. The neck, sleeves, and bottom are trimmed with small crystal beads. It is absolutely beautiful, and as soon as she presented it to me I put it on, leaving my feet bare. I feel more beautiful just wearing it, and definitely more cheered up. I thank her again for her thoughtfulness.
“Oh, you're very welcome,” she says in her cheery, high-pitched voice. “It was no trouble at all and the color looks splendid on you, as I knew it would.”
“I agree,” Sarah chimes in. “I think if I wore a color like that it would make me look washed out.”
“Oh, nonsense,” Rachael cried. “With your gorgeous blond hair and beautiful skin, you would make any color shine, whereas look at these confounded freckles!” she says, pointing to her own face. “There is nothing to be done about them.”
“What do you mean? I love your freckles and gorgeous red hair. When you wear green you put the beauty of the fairest Irish maiden to shame.”
“Ye thin' so, do ye?” she demurred, in a spot-on Irish accent.
“Definitely. No one can pull off wearing green tones as well as you.”
“Well, I'll have to admit you're right about that.”
When the two women flutter their eyelashes at one another and clink their tea cups, an unlady-like snort escapes me and the three of us are quickly shaking with laughter.
“I don't know what I would do without you two,” I say, wiping eyes.
“You will never have to find out,” Sarah says, squeezing my hand.
“Yes,” Rachael agrees. “Until you can wander freely once more, just consider us your cheer-up squad. Call anytime you need us and we will be here.”
“Thank you. That means more to me than you could ever know.” I look at them both. “I have been without a mother for years and I've never really had a best friend. Now I have both.” When the women become teary, my own eyes begin to well up. “Oh, now look what I've done.” I smile and we all reach for a tissue. “Sebastian is going to come down and wonder what's wrong with us.”
“And we will just tell him it is a woman's prerogative to be emotional,” Sarah says. “Tell him it's in the handbook. He can borrow his father's copy.”
“And if Devon can't find his, he can borrow my brother's copy. His wife even added notes in the margins.”
At that, another fit of giggles takes over.
“And speaking of my brother Jude, I had best be on my way. I promised him I would teach his wife how to cook my specialty, plum pudding.”
“Sounds yummy,” I tell her.
“Oh, it is,” Sarah assures me. “It was a blue ribbon winner at last year's annual Folk Festival.”
“How about I bring a dish of it for our next visit?”
“That sounds great.” I stand to walk her to the door.
“I'll talk to you later, Rachael,” Sarah calls.
“You betcha!” she calls back.
“Thank you so much for coming, and for the beautiful dress. Did I tell you how much I love it?”
Rachael chuckles merrily. “You did indeed, my dear, and you are very welcome.”
I open the door and hug her.
“You take care,” she calls, waving on the way to her car. I smile and wave back.
“She is a firecracker,” I say, joining Sarah again at the table.
“Rachael is an amazing woman, and one of the best people I have ever known.”
Thinking about Rachael's sacrifice–the loss of her mate on my behalf, I am again filled with gratitude and grateful to call her friend.
“How has she been able to survive so long without her mate? I thought one mate could not survive without the other.”
“Well, normally that is true, and other than the loss of one's mate, nothing but a mortally fatal wound can kill us. However, she is still here because of two reasons. First, though James was her true mate, he was killed before they could complete their bonding through ceremony. Though they were in love before he left for the surface, neither of their Ki Talimai appeared until he had gone, and while many couples who are already in love are true-mated, most do not fall in love until their marks appear and draw them to one another. They were fortunate that way. However, even though the bond wasn't sealed, Rachael will forever think of James as her husband and true mate. And because the bond wasn't completed–well, because of that and sheer will, Rachael has been able to go on.”
“Wow,” I whisper, in part awe and part guilt. Awe because she is so strong and guilt because I am the reason she will probably always be alone. “So there is no chance of her ever falling in love and marrying?”
“She could still fall in love, but fear stands in her way. Say she does marry, and the man she marries is one day led to his true mate through his Ki Talimai. Though he would belong to Rachael legally, his heart would never be hers and their lives would be miserable.” Sarah pauses, becoming thoughtful for a moment. “Personally I think that if she would allow her heart to open again, The One would make a way for her to be happy. You see, since we are immortal, when we die, we rest for a time with The One until the appointed day of our return. We don't know when that day will be, nevertheless we know it will happen. Instead of marrying another, Rachael chooses to guard her heart and wait for her mate's return. If she would only leave herself open, since the bonding ceremony never took place, The One could erase her mark and remake it for another. Then when James does return, the same can be done for him.”
I silently digest what she has told me, feeling sorrow for Rachael's aloneness, yet grateful that the chance for happiness with someone really is hers f
or the taking.
“And don't worry,” Sarah added. “Rachael is not completely alone. She has her brother and his family, as well as her parents now. She spends so much time with them and stays so busy with her shop, she has no time to be down.”
“I'm glad.” I feel a little better. Not much, but some. * * *
Before getting out of the car to go into her brother's house, Rachael quickly dries her tears. She really hates these times of weakness. For the most part, she does very well at smiling and exuding happiness and cheer when around others, and most of the time the emotions are genuine, but there are still times when the loneliness and pain touch her all over again.
She especially loathes having these moments around her brother, Jude, because it saddens him, sometimes even angers him. They've had many arguments about James and what could have been. Jude does a good amount of placing blame, and though Rachael tries to get him to understand that her mate felt he had no choice, her words do nothing to change his thinking, so she stops talking about it all together and changes the subject.
Truthfully, she has moments of anger herself. She wishes James had never gone to the surface, that he had stayed with her. But being a guardian was his calling and he would never have turned his back on his duty. He couldn't.
She closes her eyes and hugs herself, longing for comfort, but the comfort she longs for is unobtainable for now and she again reminds herself that their separation is not permanent.
Come on, get a grip and get over this, she chastises herself. This has to stop.
But it is easier said than done.
Twenty-one
I am opening the door to see Sarah out when one of the guards turns and hands me a small white envelope.
“This was delivered a few minutes ago. I opened it to make sure it was safe, my lady,” he tells me. “But I did not read it.”
“Thank you.” I wave to Sarah as she reaches her car and smile at the guard before going back in.
“Did you have a good visit?” Sebastian asks, popping one of the small cakes into his mouth and taking a sip of tea from one of the china cups. I watch him and smile.
