Gavin tensed at where my thoughts were headed.
“You know why I haven’t been having nightmares, don’t you?”
He exhaled slowly. “Rune has been protecting your dreams.”
“What?”
“Every night he comes to our suite and plays his flute. I asked him to play.”
My thoughts heated. “So, you’ve been manipulating the future by not allowing me to dream?” I’d always thought Rune was lonely at night, and being here helped him. It hadn’t occurred to me that Gavin ordered him to stay.
“It was never my intent to manipulate. It is my instinct to protect you, and when you are asleep, you are the most vulnerable thing I’ve ever seen.” His eyes warmed as he kissed my forehead. “When we were on Earth it used to terrify me to no end. My mind is always in control ... to lose yourself, to let go. Even though I experience that through you, I cannot imagine what it must feel like to actually dream.” He leaned in, his forehead resting against mine. “After we married, I was secretly pleased you kept your ability to lose consciousness. I love the way you reach for me in the night, how your feet are restless until they find their place between mine. And your hands,” he kissed the tips of my fingers, “your hands constantly caress me, resting where they please. I love watching you smile and seeing the dream that accompanies it. I love how your hair tickles your nose, and you rub it on my chest until I finally sweep it off your face.” I blushed as his voice became like velvet. “I did not ask Rune to play solely to protect you. I know it’s selfish, but I can’t help it. The days bring struggle, responsibility ... change. I need the nights.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You’re already dealing with enough. I’ll not add to that.”
I didn’t exactly agree with his last statement, but my thoughts became distracted as Gavin’s tongue traced the lines of my palm.
“Tonight, before we left the cavern, did Malachi ask you to strengthen your mate?”
I felt Gavin’s lips thin to a smile. “Malachi’s counsel is always welcome, but yes. He feared the journey to the heart of the mountain weakened you, and he wished for you to find respite in love.”
He released my hand, his fingertips running up my arm and across my collarbone. They rested on the hollow at the base of my neck feeling the speeding tattoo of my pulse. His touch, always gentle, always protective, deftly released my shirt buttons from their holes. His hands dipped beneath the material, pushing the soft silk off my shoulders. Familiar protection enveloped me in a loving embrace. Energy poured on top of energy, and I held my breath as I watched his eyes rake over my form.
“You are incredibly beautiful, in every way.” His voice, husky and sincere, caused a shiver to run down my spine.
He shucked off his shirt, tossing it over the edge of the chair. He pulled me close, his hands resting on the small of my back. The revelations of the past few hours manifested into raw need. I let the energy run freely. Passion built until my heartbeat drummed in my ears. I reached around his neck and pulled his lips to mine, demanding a response.
I could feel him pulling away, trying to cage his passion, to keep control. His muscles tensed under my touch. He was always gentle when it came to possessing my body; his self-control always aware of restraint. But I now knew how to harness his energy. I knew what to do with his warrior, and I had grown stronger. It was time. I wanted all he had to offer, not just what he thought I could handle.
Light from within warmed my eyes. “You can’t protect me from everything, and I’ve never wanted to be protected from this.” I placed my hand over his heart and stood on my toes. “Let go, my love ...” I whispered. The need to experience all of him ran through me like a knife.
Gavin’s restraint spun out of control. He picked me up and tossed me on the bed. He lifted my hips, pulling the rest of my clothes off and throwing them on the floor. His touch demanded a response, finding places he knew would drive me wild. Sweat poured off my body as his hands slid up my back. Heat centered in the pit of my stomach, gathering strength. He rolled on top of me, his eyes held a look I’d not seen before like he was completely lost in sensation. Our physical expression of love became aggressive, hungry ... intense. The webs could no longer contain the energy, and power ran freely around us. We were suspended in white light. Passion crashed through me in waves, and all six streams jumbled together. I cried out as the power that had been building exploded. The energy stung, shooting through every extremity. Warmth quickly smothered the pain, centering once again in my lower abdomen. Gavin stilled, pulling himself up on strong arms, his hands cradled my face, his eyes seemed to see into my soul, and I watched his brilliant emeralds meld into liquid pools of wonder. His warm lips touched mine in the softest of caresses. He wiped the sweat-matted hair from my forehead.
“Are you all right?” His hushed voice brushed against my face.
“More than all right.” I sighed with a smile. “That was incredible.”
He kissed me with a touch that was almost reverent and rolled to the side, pulling me with him. “You never cease to amaze me.” He slid the tip of his nose down mine before his lips caught mine in a chaste caress. “Rest, my Light.”
The webbing in the room started filtering the power, leaving a hazy fog. I put the rest in the amulet, noting I could no longer see the rim of green. Nuzzling my face against his chest, I placed my palm on his heart, marveling at how heavy my limbs felt. Smiling, I drifted off to sleep.
Light filtered through the crack in the curtains like broken shards of long glass.
“Good morning.” Gavin brought my left hand up to his lips, kissing the flesh beneath his amulet. I pointed my toes, stretching like a cat.
“You slept very deeply, Princess.”
“I haven’t felt this way since our first time together.”
“It does feel that way.” Gavin’s voice rumbled in his chest.
“What time is it?” I sat up, my stomach growled.
“It’s almost noon.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I startled, jumping out of bed. Masculine surprise ripped through me, and I turned back.
“What?”
He stared at me. “The color of your health has changed.”
“Come again?”
“It is no longer bright, but has deepened in hue ... it’s darker... I guess you’d call it fuchsia.”
“I must be growing stronger.”
“After last night, I’d say you definitely are.” He chuckled watching a rush of color warm my cheeks.
WE ENTERED MALACHI’S chamber, and I felt a little guilty.
“Sorry we’re late,” I mumbled. From the looks of it, the others must have been sitting here for a while. The Queen’s chair stood empty, and Rune had obviously eaten and then left again.
“Have Micah and the guard returned yet?” I asked.
Elias’ brassy voice became somber. “Yes, but they need to recover. The trip was difficult.”
Alarmed, I searched the mood in the room. “Did we lose someone?
Gavin shook his head. “No, but Wyn was gravely injured.”
My heart sank. “What happened?” I swallowed past the lump in my throat wondering how Siana had taken the news.
Gavin’s gaze stayed fixed on the table. “Wyn’s recovering, and that’s all that matters. The Queen went to visit with her this morning.”
“Is Lera still there? Ask her if she thinks I should go and keep Siana company.”
My request hung in the air. Alarm burned through the room. Gavin’s eyes blanked darting from person to person in a hurried conversation. One second melted into the next, the tension so thick I was afraid to break the silence with my voice.
Gavin, what’s going on?
He shook his head, his worry increasing with every heartbeat.
“What was the Queen thinking?” Elias thundered, causing me to jump. He turned to Gavin. “I know what happened.” He stood, motioning us to the door. “She went to Wyn’s but did not
come back to the castle. Instead, she ordered her guard to escort her out to the practice fields.” He hurried down the hall; I had to run to keep up. “Concerned, Jacob followed the guard. When he confronted the Queen, she informed him Ester had contacted her and needed to speak with her alone. When he suggested they call Weylin for extra security, Lera ordered that he tell no one, and said her guard would suffice.”
The walls blazed white as we ran past the formal dining area, making our way to the front foyer. “With any luck, they are still there.”
Warriors poured out of every corridor, running to the front of the castle. The courtyard had not been cleared, and hundreds of kinsmen panicked as soon as we made our way past the mountain’s protection. Gavin grabbed hold of my hand, picking up the pace. Warriors surrounded us as we ran through the statues, beyond the gates turning toward the north tower. We stopped at the top of the tallest hillock. My stomach plummeted.
The rustling leaves mourned as clouds rolled in. Seven warriors lay in the center of the field. Their limbs sprawled at odd angles as if they had been broken by force, the grass around them darkened and smeared with blood.
“Stay with the Princess,” Gavin ordered Rena, but I gripped his hand refusing to let go
“I’m not leaving your side.”
Gavin’s eyes became stone as he glared at me. “Fine,” he said, losing his patience. Together we ran down the hill. We had visited weekly with the guard for the past few months. I knew them all by sight. Tears blurred my vision as I knelt beside the first victim. Her face was so beaten I couldn’t recognize who she was.
“That’s Jillian.” Gavin’s voice became flat. “And here is her mate, Fagan.”
One by one we checked for signs of life. There were none.
“Over here,” Rena shouted from the edge of the trees. As we drew near, the familiar stench of rotten flesh sickened me with dread. Tark had taken the carcasses of the Dokkalfar away, but from the look of it, there had been quite a fight.
“Damien,” Gavin knelt beside him, rolling him onto his back. His face was nothing but a dark purple mass of swollen flesh, he wheezed in short gasps. I poured energy from the amulet as Gavin’s illumined palm touched his chest.
“Please, do not,” he whispered, struggling to stay Gavin’s touch. “My Queen has been taken, my source is gone. Please ...” Gavin stopped healing him and took his hand instead. “It was ... a trap ... they have ... the ... Queen.”
Gavin’s fists clenched at his side; he shook with rage.
“Forgive me, Princess.” Damien’s voice became desperate. “It is you she was trying to protect. Ester ... has ... foreseen your path ... and it is ... the same ... as hers ...” his voice trailed to nothing. His eyes rolled back in his head, and he became still.
“Gavin, you have to try and save him.” I placed my hands over the warrior’s heart, feeling its fading beat.
“It’s too late.” Gavin helped me to my feet, and grief ached through me. Hooves thundered in the distance. Despair crept in.
“There still may be time.” Malachi ran toward us. “Lera had her cloak. If they do not discover what it is, I believe it should protect her from their energy. We must hurry.” Several of the guards came from the woods, picking up the fallen and heading back to the castle.
“Once the guard returns, close the gates.” Gavin bellowed, his voice rang among the soldiers carrying the dead. My heart jolted. The gates hadn’t been closed since the Great War.
“I’ve found the shallow one.” Rune’s gravel voice called from behind. “She’s callin’ for help at the dead forest’s edge.”
“Why have we not heard?” Elias asked, looking back. We passed the great hall, making our way deeper into the mountain.
Rune’s grin held no warmth. “They’re holdin’ her, but she’s a strong ole’ bird, that one is. Course, it’s helpin’ that she’s been drinkin’ the juice from that rock. It’s kept them from breakin’ through. They’re not seein’ her thoughts. That’s what’s turned her eyes gold, it has.”
Malachi mumbled under his breath. Rune ignored him and concentrated on Elias.
“Tis good her eyes turned that ruddy color.” His voice became grim. “The Dokkalfar are thinkin’ she’s somethin’ other than an Alfar. They’d not be sure what she is, and so they’re searchin’, tryin’ to find a way round her defenses. Ester’s thinkin’ they’re blockin’ other languages, but them mongrels aren’t rememberin’ the Ancient One, so she’s callin’ out with what they’re not understandin’.” He turned to Elias, “I’m believin’ it’ll be a matter of time before they’re figurin’ out what she’s doing.”
“Try contacting the Queen,” I said.
Rune smiled. “Malachi’s right. The Dokkalfar’ll not be understandin’ the power of that cloak. They’re not getting’ to her mind neither. For now, they’ve trapped her by puttin’ her in a caged cart. Fear’s what’s keepin’ them from harmin’ her. The last one touchin’ her cloak burned where he stood. She’s safe, for now, anyways. They’re headin’ to the fissure. They’ll be tryin’ to weaken her, so we’d blasted better beat ‘em there.”
“Does Ester know of the Queen’s capture?” I asked.
“Nay, Lass. I’ll be lettin’ her know.” Rune’s eyes started to blank, but Gavin put his hand on his shoulder.
“No.” His voice was low, deadly.
Rune shook his head. “She may be needin’ this information, sire.”
“And she may be the one that led the Queen to them. Mother thought she was meeting Ester. Either the Dokkalfar have found a way to emulate Ester’s voice, or she betrayed us. Either way, she’s a risk. Tell her nothing.” He picked up the pace, leading the way. “We do not know where her loyalty lies.” His words flew over his shoulder like angry bats as he led everyone through Malachi’s chamber to the mountain beyond. The silence reverberated, but I could feel the discussion raging around me. Rena’s protection was unmistakable, but Gavin swung from warrior to despair, and I concentrated on the simple task of breathing.
“When do we leave?” I asked, knowing that Gavin would choose to discuss him leaving in the only way I couldn’t hear.
Gavin’s eyes narrowed, but he refused to speak.
Malachi stopped, slamming the tip of his walking stick on the ground. Everyone flinched and faced him. His eyes glittered with unspent anger. “I, like the Princess, grow tired of the secrecy. I command you to speak. You treat her as a child but expect her to lead.” His eyes met Elias’. “Now, I believe your fear about Nora’s inabilities to speak telepathically is valid. If she needed to call out, all would hear. Any suggestions?”
“I can channel my thoughts through Gavin,” I said as we made our way to the inner chambers.
“No,” Gavin commanded softly. Rena turned away as Gavin stared at Elias. “I will not allow it.”
“You will not channel my thoughts?” I asked, deliberately misunderstanding him.
He shook his head, still not facing me. “I will not allow you to go.”
“Then you will not go either.”
His gaze left Elias to rest on me. “She is my mother and my queen. I am needed. The Elite Guard will stay to protect the castle, and Weylin’s leading the upper guard around the mountain. But I don’t believe they’ll be able to catch her before they reach the abyss. The Dokkalfar are faster than most animals. We can make it there beforehand and trap them. Elias and I have the most experience in this area. It would be foolish for me to stay behind.”
I took a step toward him as the others turned away, trying to give us a bit of privacy.
“I’ll tell you what would be foolish,” I said through gritted teeth. “It would be foolish for the future King to go into battle without his source.”
Everyone grew uncomfortable; the cavern blazed.
“Then the rest of the keepers will go,” Elias said.
Gavin’s eyes sparked with anger. “I will not allow our clan to serve in my stead.”
I looked down trying to
contain the panic ripping through me. Malachi sighed and pinched his nose between this thumb and index finger. Struggle emanated from him.
“Then we all go.” My voice shook. “Malachi will stay here. Micah and the Elite Guard will protect the castle while we’re gone. It’s the only way.”
“What about Ester?” Rena asked, coming to stand next to me.
“Leave her to her fate,” Rune growled.
“We can’t do that. We need to try and save them both,” I said.
“Yer willin’ to risk the future of this kingdom? Don’t ya understand the value of yer own life, Lass?” Rune’s voice rose, echoing through the tunnels.
I bent down to him. “Love is the greatest power of Kailmeyra. Not just the love of a mate or a clan, but the love shared by every heart for creation itself, for every living being. If we sacrifice Ester, we weaken this bond. Don’t you see?” I straightened up looking at them all. “Our enemy is here; they have one of ours. Even if she is old, weak, and shallow, she is still an Alfar, and if I die defending her, I’ve honored all I love.”
The gray walls blazed white. Malachi’s conviction stirred, and I focused on him.
“I don’t know what you’ve seen, but if you have something to share, now would be the time.”
He studied my face; the silence stretched, his eyes became liquid, poignant. He shook his head and looked back down.
“Are there any preparations we will need then?” I asked, getting frustrated.
Malachi closed his eyes and when he opened them his diamonds swam in sorrow. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small Sfera he’d taken from the mountain. I thought he was going to hand it to me, but he tossed it to Rune.
“When all seems lost, open the stone.”
Rune’s feathers ruffled. “Be wary of uncontrolled thoughts, old one,” he growled.
Malachi half smiled; he turned and left the chamber without another word.
Chapter 21
The Mountain’s Pass
The Secret of the Keepers Page 20
