by H. C. Brown
“I understand.” Thalia picked up her woolen cloak and sighed. “Then I will need only one bag for my clothes and another for medicines.”
He allowed the tension in his jaw to relax and smiled at her. “I will pack some food.” He glanced around at the ample provisions stacked in the small cottage. “The dried fruit and nuts will remain fresh for some weeks.”
“How will you buy clothes for me without money?” Thalia pushed a pile of neatly folded garments into a canvas bag.
He sniffed a jug of elderberry wine. “In every village there is a shrine or sacred spring where Nomags give offerings to the gods. I will take what we need.”
“Steal from the gods?” Thalia covered her mouth. “No! There must be another way. Perhaps I can sell my dresses?”
“As a Dragonfae, I am permitted to use offerings to the gods to aid me in times of need.” He carried an armful of jugs through the front door. “You did not mention you had wine. Did you make this?” He stowed the wine in the wagon.
“Aye, it is sometimes necessary to mix wine with herbs to make healing potions.”
Grinning, he walked back inside the cottage. “Ten flagons?” He filled a basket with nuts. “Do you think perhaps you could spare a little for a good friend?” He collected jars of honey from the shelf and packed them neatly in a wooden crate. “Thalia?”
“Wine does strange things to men.” Thalia shot him a look of disgust. “I think not.”
Tipping his head on one side, he studied the girl before him. The need to protect this delightful female throbbed through him. Her small hands trembled under his scrutiny. Indeed, he would have to earn her trust. He opened his arms wide. “Am I truly a man who regards you merely as female?” He picked up the box of honey. “Look at me, Thalia. Do I resemble a Nomag?”
“No, I agree you are not human. I do understand you are the Nightdragon but, to me, you are male in every way.”
“Maybe so, but my dragon will protect you, no matter how much wine I consume.” He sighed. “You have my word, little one, I will never harm you and I promise to protect you with my body and sword.” He rubbed his chin. “Well, I will, the moment I acquire one.” Hoisting the box on his shoulder, he strode out of the cottage.
Thalia stared after Lumos. The Fae moved like a cat, every muscle defined beneath his glossy, tight clothes. The small cottage had filled with the unique scent of him. The moment she had taken his hand, his heat had consumed her, wrapping around her like a warm hug. She considered her feelings. One minute the man mesmerized her, the next she wanted to run away from him. Could she trust him? Would he pounce on her the second she fell asleep? Oh goddess, he is so big, so strong.
Brew rubbed around her legs, his silky caress brushed over her bare flesh. Thalia recollected the day Nell had brought the kitten to her, a very small, black bundle. His eyes had been blue then, and the poor creature had cried all night until she had taken him into her bed. Nell’s words came back to her in a flash. “This cat will be with you always, you must trust his instincts.”
“You do seem to like Lumos”—she bent down to rub the cat’s velvet ears—“so I will trust your judgment for I have lost my way, Brew. To me, every male is a threat.”
As if to consolidate her remarks, Brew greeted Lumos with a string of chirrups. The Fae looked down at Thalia with a wide grin. She looked from one to the other in amazement.
“Brew told you, did he not? Brew, you are… Gods … I thought you were on my side!”
“It would make our journey together easier if you trusted me, little one.” Lumos pushed his hands into the back pockets of his pants. “We will eventually have to ride the horse together and when the snow comes we must sleep under the same blanket for warmth or you will surely die of cold.” He threw logs on the smoldering fire. “If I am not allowed to drink wine, perhaps you will indulge me with a cup of tea?” He opened a jar and sniffed the contents. “Ah, let me see. Do I smell rosehips, chamomile and mint?”
He had acted so nonchalant then casually inferred they would sleep together. Her stomach turned over and fear clenched her in a wave of terror. Drawing a deep breath, she spun around and glared at him. “Do you really expect me to sleep under the same blanket with you?”
“Aye, we should sleep together for warmth. The rest of the time, I will sleep under the stars and you may have the wagon. If this arrangement causes you to fear me, then I will not ask you again.” Lumos filled the kettle from a barrel of water and placed it on the fire. “You should know Fae males hold all females in high regard. They are very precious to us and if any Fae willingly causes harm to befall an innocent female, the elders banish them from the magyck worlds. To be cast out into Nomag realms means we are no longer able to sustain our lives and we eventually die.”
She snorted in disagreement, took down two mugs, and spooned dried herbs into a large teapot. “We all die, Lumos.”
“No … we do not.” Lumos touched her arm. “Fae do not die. Beheading kills us but our life force comes from our world and if we are unable to return, we grow old and die like a Nomag.”
Heart thundering, she spun around to face him. Immortal? No one said anything about being immortal. She considered Lumos’s attractive features, his high cheekbones, and slanted eyes. Her focus went to his mouth. His lips were soft and damp. So much male beauty and it would live forever. One question burned in her mind. “How old are you?”
“In actual summers, or how old am I in comparison to the lifespan of a Nomag?” Lumos picked up a potholder and moved forward to lift the kettle from the fire. He filled the teapot. “They are quite different.”
“I think both would be nice to know.”
“I am about twenty to twenty-five summers in Nomag maturity.” Lumos cleared his throat. “In actual time, I am two hundred and fifty summers.” He gave Thalia a sideways glance. “Dragonfae are very slow to mature.”
Gods! With a gasp, she sat down on a nearby chair. Her pulse pounded in her ears. The room swayed and rolled. Cold water splashed her face and she fought against the gushing torrent to breathe. Goddess, Lumos had thrown water over her. His large, hot hands patted her cheeks and she opened her eyes to meet his troubled expression
“By Cymbeline, do not ever do that to me again! I thought you had suffered an apoplexy.” He pushed the wet hair from her face with gentle care.
“It is not every day a person hears such a revelation.” Her face grew hot. Gods, her nipples were visible through the wet cloth. Hugging her chest and avoiding his gaze, she indicated to a large white sheet hanging over the back of a chair. “Would you hand me that strip of linen.”
“Yes … yes, of course.” He grabbed the sheet and wrapped her tightly. “There, is that better? Are you okay now?”
With her arms bound tightly across her chest, she bit her bottom lip and giggled. “Not unless you plan to mummify me.”
He turned a bright shade of pink and swiftly unwrapped her. With muscles bulging, he dragged her chair toward the fire. She rested her hand on his strong arm and caressed the hairless golden skin. This side of Lumos she needed to see—the flustered, caring side. “I am well. Thank you for your consideration.”
His lips tilted up on one side in a crooked smile.
“You look as if I tried to drown you.” He turned and walked toward the front door. “I will wait outside while you change into something dry. I do believe I will teach you the fresh and clean spell first.” He threw her a smile and closed the door behind him.
* * * *
Before dawn the following morning, Thalia had baked a good quantity of bread. While she prepared breakfast, she sang a song about the coming of spring. She had enjoyed the meal with Lumos last evening. They had retired at dusk, planning to leave at daybreak. The early morning chill spilled through the door to cool the hot kitchen and through the opening, she watched the sun sending ribbons of light into the morning sky to bathe the awakening forest in a lemon glow. She moved to the cottage door and gazed into the empty wagon.
The canvas on the wagon gaped open. Where is he? She went to the wagon and peered inside. The blankets sat neatly folded and Lumos had secured a large barrel of water to one side. Hearing a rustling in the undergrowth, she turned and caught sight of him strolling toward her through the swirl of early morning mist.
The Fae, magnificently bare to the waist, wrung the water from his raven hair. Muted sunlight glistened on the water droplets cascading down his golden skin. Her stomach gave that strange little twist and her heart quickened at the sight of him. The urge to run to him surged through her. How wonderful life would be to allow herself the comfort of those strong arms. To be sure, she craved the heat of his hard body, the scent of him. How would he taste?
Ashamed by her wanton desires, she turned back into the cottage, and cut bread for breakfast. Why am I feeling this way? Did Erik curse me to want what I can never have? Lumos, so noble, had come to her not knowing her situation. He had offered friendship, nothing more. How could he? Who would want her now? How could any male care for a female used in such a way? What would Lumos think if he knew the truth?
I am less than a prostitute. I sold myself to save my life. I welcomed Erik into my body, in exchange for food and a place to sleep.
“Thalia, you are troubled.” Lumos touched her elbow. “Are you having second thoughts about traveling with me?”
She sighed and heaped fresh berries on a plate beside the wedge of bread. She pushed the plate, and a flagon of wine toward him. “No, but perhaps you may not want to have me along after all.”
“Wine? Is this a peace offering, little butterfly?” He smiled and poured wine into a cup. “I had not realized we were at war.” He sat in the chair beside the fireplace and frowned. “What is it that troubles you so?”
“Please, listen to me. I have not been honest with you. I know Brew told you about Erik and the treatment I received on the way here, but the cat does not know the truth of my story.” She wrung her hands. “Before we continue, I must tell you the facts of what happened. You should be aware of my true character before we begin our journey together.” She sat down in a chair opposite him. She could not meet his eyes and hung her head in shame.
Forcing the words between her teeth, she recounted the bargain with Erik. She told Lumos every detail of her days of terror. “I had not realized it would be so terrible. I have heard scullery maids whisper how much they enjoyed being with a man and thought it would be easy to endure Erik’s advances. I could not walk another step without food or water and I needed to survive in order to prove my innocence.” She drew a deep breath to steady her nerves. “It was not what I expected. He would come at night or stop during the day… He was so strong, Lumos. If I screamed, he hit me. If I begged, he laughed.” She lifted her head slowly, afraid to see the expression on his face. The man had masked his emotions. I have lost your friendship, and I do not blame you. She shuddered “I am not worthy of your pity, your revenge or your friendship. I am… I am…” She buried her face in her hands. “I am a whore.”
Let it all out, sweet butterfly. Placing his plate on the floor, Lumos kneeled in front of her. He bit back a curse, fighting the grief threatening to explode his heart. He drew her against him, resting his chin on her head.
“You offered your greatest gift and Erik abused the trust you put in him. He could have taken you gently as a lover.” He rubbed her trembling back—her sobs radiated through him like daggers. “Only an evil man would abuse such an innocent.” Rage welled inside him and his dragon bellowed so loud his ears rang. Be still, dragon, your anger will frighten Thalia. In time, the Nightdragon would rise up and seek vengeance for his sweet butterfly but not now. Thalia needed his strength, his love. If only she would take what he offered, his love would heal her. “The blame is not yours. The gods tell us life is precious and you made a sacrifice to protect your life. I see your goodness, little one. You are still so innocent. What happened to you can never be disregarded but, if you will allow me, I will show you that true love is beautiful, my sweet Thalia.” Tears burned the backs of his eyes. “I beg you not to allow these memories to destroy you. Trust in me and I will guide you out of the darkness.”
He held her close, glad she would allow him to comfort her. How he wished he had his glamour to help her through this time of adjustment, but he had nothing other than his love to give. Thalia buried her tear-stained face into his neck and he hummed to her as if she were an injured animal. Gods, he desired so much to caress her and show her the gentle, glorious side of love. Her body racked with sobs and her pain percolated through him, tearing at his heart. He must be patient and earn her trust. One day, she would turn to him with love in her eyes. He could wait. After all, he had forever.
* * * *
As the wagon left the perimeter of the Singing Forest, it disturbed the early morning mist hanging across the rutted track sending it into dancing swirls. They bumped along the narrow road, heading north and came upon a signpost pointing to a village called Knowing Way twenty miles ahead. Thalia glanced furtively at Lumos. The memory of his warm body and gentle words filled her with hope. She wrapped her cloak tightly around her against the cold wind and glanced in trepidation at the dark clouds overhead. They moved along a tree-lined road until Albert gave a snort and slowed to a halt. A red fox scurried across the path, stopped, and wrinkled its nose before disappearing into the undergrowth. Beside her, Brew growled a warning and she moved closer to Lumos, the heat from his body flowing over her. He glanced down at her and smiled warmly before turning his attention back to the road.
“All is well, it is only a fox.”
The small gesture filled her with confidence and blew away the doubts she had for leaving the safety of the Singing Forest. The sun had risen high in the sky by the time Lumos, muscles bulging, drew the wagon to a halt beside a babbling brook.
“This is a shrine.” Lumos grinned at her and jumped from the seat. “See, farther down, the water deepens to a pool? I will see what Coventina has to offer.” He pulled off his boots. “Wait here, I will not be long.”
She allowed Albert to wander to the edge of the brook then climbed down to find a spot to empty her bladder. How did she tell a man she needed to relieve herself? Deciding to stretch her legs, she walked toward a group of weeping willows, their graceful green limbs brushing the fast-flowing water. A yellow-billed duck caught her attention, bobbing countless times for fish and in the distance the buzz of dragonflies hovered over the water. Leaning against the rough bark of a willow, she watched Lumos break the surface and throw objects onto the bank, then dive again. The Fae dived many times, and finally, after throwing a rusty sword onto the bank, swam for shore.
With a surge of water, his tanned body emerged from the pool. She held her breath. Goddess, she had never seen a naked man before. Unable to look away, she took in the width of his shoulders, and the delicious way the rippling muscles of his back narrowed to a slim waist. She marveled at the roundness of his buttocks, the defined muscles in his strong thighs.
As if Lumos felt her hot glare on him, he turned around slowly, looked her straight in the eye, and raised one perfect, black eyebrow. Her face grew hot, but she could not drag her eyes off the perfectly formed man. He stood tall and proud like a bronzed warrior. His long, wet hair fell over one shoulder and stuck to his massive chest. She took in all of him, lingering far too long on his remarkable sex. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her parched mouth and she dragged the tip over dry lips. He had skin like a peach and she could see every generous part of him.
Lumos turned his impressive back on her, shook the water from his hair like a dog, and strode from the pool. Face burning, she ran back to the wagon and sought comfort in the memory of his words. “It is not a sin to look at another’s body.”
She reached for the water bottle, and, lifted it to her lips, and sipped slowly. The memory of his golden skin made that strange sensation coil in her belly again. She clenched her thighs together. Her breasts ached. Dampness slicked her folds. Why
did he do this to her?
“I have found many things of use.” Lumos pushed his way through the willow branches and grinned at Thalia. “Look.” He dropped a sword from under one arm and spilled the contents bundled in his shirt onto the grass.
Legs weak, she climbed down from the wagon. Thank the gods he has put his pants back on. She noticed the sudden flare of Lumos’s nostrils, the setting of his jaw. Had he noticed her reaction to him? She sank to her knees to view the mound of treasure. “This is wonderful … but that sword is useless.”
“I can sharpen it with a whetstone and the river sand will remove the rust. I will work on removing the corrosion a little each night. It is a fine sword, well balanced.” Lumos sorted through the coins and jewels. “There is enough here to buy clothes and perhaps another horse. We will reach the foot of the mountains soon. The way will soon be too steep for Albert to pull the wagon.”
She ran her fingers over a gold, jewel-encrusted dagger untouched by the water. “I cannot ride Albert. I do not know how to ride a horse. I am sorry.”
“Then we will buy a donkey to carry our supplies and you will ride with me on Albert.” Lumos lifted her chin. “I will buy a scabbard for that dagger. Keep it with you always.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “Why do you refuse to look me in the eye? Do not be ashamed. I like it when you look at me, little one, but it was not because of this I removed my garments.” He sighed. “I am not permitted to enter sacred water wearing clothes as it is an insult to the gods. I hope I did not frighten you with my nakedness.”
Swallowing hard, she touched his thumb with her tongue. The taste of him thrilled her. Shivery sensations racked her folds in delicious waves. She observed the instant change in his eyes. His pupils had dilated and their green rims flared with intensity. She cleared her throat, unable to break his gaze. “No, you did not frighten me, but the sight of you—oh, never mind, it is foolish.”
