In romping in the water, Khan lost some of the hidden worries he’d been harboring about his relationship with Daria—whether there’d even be a relationship. Surely, somehow…. And then that thought seeped away into the healing waters.
After a few minutes spent discharging their pent-up energy, Khan stood, holding out his hand to Daria.
She placed her hand in his, rising gracefully to her feet, the water streaming from her body and plastering the shirt to her breasts.
He caught his breath at her beauty, then resolutely released her hand, turning to check on Windchaser, who, after drinking, had placidly watched the humans cavort in the pool.
The horse puffed warm air in Khan’s face, and rubbed the side of his head against Khan’s shoulder and arm.
He was caressing the animal when, behind her veil, the statue changed her expression, became serious. She waved to the corridor through which they’d entered. The area began to mist over, and Khan’s stomach clenched in response.
What would the Goddess show them this time?
~ ~ ~
Daria watched as one delicate, marble hand of the statue moved. Where the Goddess indicated, the walls disappeared and a cloud-like surface rolled across the gap. Pictures appeared in the fog. Greenstone walls and towers rose above an emerald ocean. Seagem. Daria gasped and straightened.
For a moment, she wanted to run to her home. All the longing for her family that she’d been suppressing for the last months engulfed her, spilling over into misty tears. She stretched out a trembling hand toward the vision, only to curl her fingers back into a ball, dropping her arm. No father and brothers awaited her in that shell of a city. She was alone.
Tears ran down her cheeks. From deep inside, the sobs she’d been suppressing for so many months burst forth in a pain so sharp she thought her heart would shatter.
Shir chattered and clung to Shad.
Strong arms clasped Daria into a protective embrace.
Khan. With her othersense, she could feel his love and concern. Like before, in his arms she could allow herself to break down. Daria laid her head on his shoulder and wept shuddering sobs that ripped through her.
He held her tightly, his cheek against her hair, his othersense supporting her emotions and his arms supporting her body. Just like their dream….
Hours seemed to pass before she cried out the agony of her loss, anguish she’d shoved all the way to her toes. Finally, empty and limp, she sighed in a final painful shudder. “It was all my fault,” she murmured into Khan’s wet shirt. “If only I’d accepted Thaddis’s marriage proposal, Seagem would still be there, my family still alive….”
“No.” Khan eased her a few inches away, so he could gaze down at her, his dark eyes intense. “Everything still would have happened. Thaddis wasn’t going to satisfy his ambitions with just you. It might have taken a little longer, but eventually, he’d have had both you and Seagem.”
Dazed, Daria could barely allow the words to penetrate the burden of guilt she’d worn for so long. But sluggishly their meaning seeped through. “I think you’re right,” she said the words slowly, still pondering their significance. “He probably would have chosen an equally treacherous way to attack, like a feast day when he’d been invited to visit my family.” She looked over at the statue.
The Goddess nodded her confirmation.
The weight dropped from her shoulders, leaving her soul lighter. The loss remained. But that was right. She wouldn’t want the grief for her family laid aside so easily. Some healing would come with time, but some pain would always be there. Such was death’s legacy. And she’d live with it.
Daria stooped and cupped her hands, splashing her face with water, feeling the liquid soothe her puffy nose and red eyes. Standing, Daria saw the horses together at the far side of the sanctuary, the monkey-bats grooming one another, and took heart from the picture of animal companionship.
Daria smiled at Khan. Reaching up, she stroked his cheek, sending a silent thank you along her othersense to his.
He leaned forward and kissed her.
The Goddess sent them a nudge to get their attention, then waved toward the foggy screen. She wasn’t finished with Daria yet.
The picture of Seagem changed, focused on the palace. Dressed in robes of royal green, Daria stepped out onto the balcony, a crown on her head. A question formed in her mind.
Do you want this? The choice is yours.
For a brief moment, longing pulled at her. If only she could return to the way everything was—have her family back. But not now. She shook her head.
Rule an empty city? Her people were gone. It would have been different if her duty to them had remained. No, Daria silently sent to the Goddess. No. I’ll not return.
Daria sagged back against Khan, leaning her head on his shoulder. His arms and othersense wrapped around her in a physical and emotional connection. Safety, warmth, and love flourished within the place in her soul so recently barren, anchoring her to this man, this place… She glanced at the stature…this Goddess.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Khan savored the feeling of Daria in his arms, thinking about what he’d seen in the misty screen. “Princess Daria?”
“I supposed if I lived there—” she nodded in the direction of the vision “—I would be Queen Daria.”
Queen Daria. Khan’s heart dropped into his wet boots. Even if he hadn’t promised himself to the Goddess, Daria wouldn’t want to marry a farmer, scratching out a living in the wasteland. He knew he had to let her go. But if he held her a few seconds longer, he wouldn’t have the resolution. His whole body aching from the effort, he stepped back, letting his arms fall to his sides. “Your Royal Highness. Are you ready to leave and reclaim your kingdom?”
“No. I’m not going back. I’m staying here.”
“Not going back?” He looked up at the statue, raising one eyebrow in inquiry. How will I be able to live with her and not touch her…not make her mine?
Daria turned, following his gaze.
The statue seemed to smile under her veil. Could stone eyes twinkle?
The answer came to Khan. “She was testing me. My love for you. My dedication to Her.” He made a face at the statue.
“How was being Her Tanmargis a test of your love for me?”
“She wanted to know if I would sacrifice my freedom to save you.”
Daria’s face softened with love. She reached up and touched his cheek. At the same time, her othersense fanned across his heart. “You did that for me?”
His chest swelled with tenderness. “Yes, my love. For you.”
The Goddess made a suggestion of movement with Her hand, and they reluctantly turned their attention toward Her. The pictures in the fog changed to the desolate desert outside. But in the heart of the city, greenery grew.
Daria leaned forward, studying the scene. “That’s your land, isn’t it?”
“My farm.” He was torn between pride in his labors and the knowledge he had so little to offer a queen.
“It must be lonely. Doing all that work by yourself.”
You don’t know how much. But he remembered her empty city. Maybe she did know. “Not at first. I had too much to do. But now….” He turned Daria to him, cupping her face with one hand and brushing his thumb across her cheek, rubbing away the faint trace of tears. “It would be my deepest wish to have you stay here with me. But I have promised the Goddess…and test or no test….” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Across the enclosure, one of the horses moved, the hooves ticking hollowly on the marble.
The sound prompted Khan to action. Taking a deep breath, he pulled away, turning to face the statue.
Approval beamed from the Goddess’s eyes. She fanned out Her fingers, rotating Her wrist.
In the foggy screen, Khan saw himself as he had been several hours ago—perched on the balustrade above their trap, the weapon sphere balanced in his hand. This time, though, he tossed the explosive, unleashing the horror of the
fireball upon the city. As Khan and Daria galloped away to safety, the statue turned Her back on them.
Khan looked over to Daria and saw the same startled awareness in her eyes. Her hand slid into his. “If you had thrown that bomb like I wanted—”
“The Goddess would have repudiated us.” How close he’d come to making the wrong choice. Relief shook him down to his toes.
Through his othersense, Khan could feel the remorse building in Daria. “No. Don’t even think about it.” He squeezed her hand. “You didn’t fully understand the power of the bomb. And you had good reasons for your feelings at the time.” He reached over and tucked a wayward tendril of hair behind her ear, caressed the healed skin on her neck, a spot he’d come to adore. “Obviously, the Goddess has forgiven you.”
Daria released a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders. “You’re right.” She bit her lip, thinking. “We’ve always called her the Goddess. Why don’t you know Her name?
“I don’t know, She’s never gifted me with it.”
“Did you ever ask?”
“No.”
She shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Such a man.”
“What?” he protested. “If She wanted me to know, She would have told me.”
“Women like to be asked, Khan.”
“I’ll remember that,” he muttered.
She laughed.
Khan joined in, enjoying the banter after months of emptiness, and the last few days of pure terror. But more than that, a special chemistry bubbled between them. He smoothed a damp strand of hair from her brow. “I’ll never be able to offer you a crown.” The words slipped out before he could stop them.
A playful smile teased about her mouth, and her eyes lit with mischief. “You’re forgetting something.”
He hadn’t forgotten. It was just that her answer meant so much. He had a yearning to fill this empty land with love and laughter—with this woman beside him. “Would you stay with me…marry me…if the Goddess gave us permission?” he whispered.
Her green eyes glistened with obvious happiness. “Yes.”
Khan leaned forward, brushing her lips with his. His heart beat a happy dance; every nerve tingled with anticipation. He yearned to prolong their embrace, but something needed to be done first. He held out his hand to Daria. “Stand next to me.”
They faced the statue.
“My Lady. I have given You my promise. I have vowed to heal Your land.” He swallowed. “With Daria at my side, I could do so much more. There could even be children….” He pictured in his mind for the Goddess the vision the lady had shown him six months earlier—children laughing and playing in the streets of Her golden city.
Daria slipped her hand into his. “Lots of children.”
“I wish to know if we have Your blessing.”
Take out your shells.
Daria pulled the necklace with the Lovestar out from under her shirt, holding the chain so it dangled in front of her.
Khan reached in his pocket for his half.
Join them.
They placed the edges of the shell together. Orange energy balled around their hands; they could feel the halves knit together.
They relaxed their fingers, and the Lovestar dropped to hang between Daria’s breasts.
Two have become one.
“That was an easy way to get married. We saved ourselves months of planning and lots of money.” Khan slanted a laughing look at Daria, then turned back to the statue. “But there’s one more thing. If it’s not too presumptuous, we’d like to know Your name.”
“So we may serve You properly,” Daria added.
The figure waved Her hand in benediction. “Withea,” a voice whispered in their minds.
“Withea,” they echoed.
“Withea,” Khan repeated. “We will walk in Your Way.”
The Goddess raised both arms. Withea. Her name, uttered after having been stilled for generations, crackled with power, echoing around the room.
The scene in the fog changed. The ruins tumbled down, grinding to granules of sand. In turn, the color of the dirt changed to a rich dark loam. Seeds flew through the air, scattering across the land.
In seconds they rooted, sprouted, grew. Native flowers and those from Earth burst out colorful blossoms. Trees thrust branches into the lavender sky. A breeze brushed across the grass. Hay and wheat patches grew next to unfamiliar grain stalks. Fountains foamed, rippling sparkling water into rivers that poured into lakes.
Even inside the shrine, Khan smelled the sweet scent of growing things. His fingers curled, as if wanting to plunge into the soil, planting and nurturing.
Withea’s voice reverberated in their minds. You have proven worthy to be guardians of My land. Henceforth, you shall walk as one.
~ ~ ~
A frisson ran down Daria’s spine and exaltation filled her. She knew the Goddess hadn’t banished all her grief and pain. The loss of her family and her home would be with her forever. But Withea gave her hope, love, and a new life—healed from bitterness. She squeezed Khan’s hand. “My lord husband?”
He turned to face her. “My lady wife.”
“I believe we’ve been given a command to populate our land.”
At the far side of the pool, the horses raised their heads and whinnied.
The monkey-bats squeezed their skinny arms around each other in a hug.
Khan picked her up, twirling her around until her wet hair spun out. He gently lowered her to her feet and cupped her face in his hands. “Then I think we’d best begin.” He tenderly kissed her. “Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The fullness of the double moons cast milky light through the round window of the upstairs room. Hand in hand, Khan and Daria drifted closer to stare outside, seeing the night beauty of Withea’s garden illuminated by the glow.
The dark shadows of Shad and Shir swooped through the sky as the two monkey-bats explored the fresh growth. Sweet scents of roses and jasmine mixed with the spicy fragrance from the plump white blossoms of a newly sprouted tree growing next to the window.
A gentle breeze teased at the tendrils of hair curling around Daria’s face.
Khan unfastened the tie at the end of her braid and loosened her silken tresses.
A spill of thick golden waves flowed over Daria’s shoulders and down her back to her waist. Just releasing the plait made her feel more comfortable.
Khan fingercombed the long strands. Once he’d smoothed out the lengthy fall, he began to massage her neck and shoulders.
“Umm.” Daria rolled her head, practically purring. “That feels good. My muscles have been tight for months, ever since Thaddis visited Seagem.”
“I’ll help you relax.” Khan lifted Daria’s hair and dropped a kiss on her shoulder, then nibbled on her neck.
She felt tingles racing over her skin, both ticklish and sensual. Eyes closed, Daria made a sound of pleasure and gave a happy wiggle as if shaking off the past. She stretched her arms wide, fingers spread. “I’ve been physically and mentally tense for so long, I almost can’t believe I’m allowed to just enjoy myself…to not plan, not worry about survival, about defeating Thaddis.”
“You’re safe… We’re safe…” Khan slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close, until her back was snug against his chest. “And we’re married.”
Letting out a sigh, Daria wrapped her arms over Khan’s. “Yes, we are. I almost can’t believe it.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
For a few minutes, they stared out the window, enjoying the moons’ glow over the garden and savoring their bond–the freedom to allow their connection to deepen into intimacy. Unconsciously, their breathing slowed and synchronized, until they inhaled and exhaled as one. Simultaneously, they opened their othersense, feeling their silver and blue energy sparkle in the air and cocoon them.
Daria turned in Khan’s arms to face him, running her hands over his back, feeling his hard muscles under her palms. Her breath caught in her
throat.
Khan fingered the fused Lovestar shell hanging around her neck. He lifted the chain over her head, setting it on the windowsill. Then he took Daria’s hand and led her to the bedding.
The heavy scent of the jasmine and roses he’d draped around the room to make a wedding bower seduced her senses with their fragrant perfume. His lips moved over her cheeks, soft and gentle, then to her mouth.
Piece by piece, they removed each other’s clothing, kissing and running their hands over the exposed skin, stroking and caressing.
Khan’s fingertips brushed the tips of Daria’s breasts, the exquisite sensation making her gasp.
“Habibti,” he murmured. “You’re so beautiful. I thought when I became Tanmargis, I’d never be able to touch you like this. I feared all I’d have was the memory of our dreams. But, oh, how I wanted to.”
“I wanted it, too,” she whispered. “And to do this.” She touched her lips to his, melting her body even closer, her heartbeat racing.
“My mate,” Khan said, with a catch in his voice.
“Yes,” Daria agreed, going on tiptoe to drop a playful kiss on the tip of his nose. “Come.” With her hands clasping his arms, she pulled him down.
Together they sank to their knees, facing each other.
Daria smiled into Khan’s loving eyes, unfurling the depths of her heart to him, a giving so profound, so instinctive, she couldn’t put a name to the unknown emotions. Instead, she tried to communicate by touch.
Khan murmured words of love in a language she couldn’t understand; yet she knew their meaning. He lowered her to the bedding, stroking and kissing her. The moonlight played over their bodies intertwined in their nest. The glow contrasted the darkness of Khan’s hands as they moved over Daria’s pale skin, sending shivers wherever he touched.
They reveled in each other, in the discovery of their bodies moving together, the heat and passion rising with each moment, enhanced by the silver and blue hue of their brightening othersense.
When he entered her, Daria’s othersense coiled around Khan’s, silver energy weaving with blue. With each caress, the fire of her love, banked like coals during the days they’d struggled together, flared brighter. She could feel the flames of Khan’s passion burn with hers, until they lost themselves in the giving and receiving of pleasure.
Sower of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) Page 29
