The Eternal Rose

by Gail Dayton

  "No-oooo!” Her scream became a wail as they carried her to the bed, tossed her down, holding her there. “Please don't do this to me. Please. Torchay, please."

  He lifted his head without loosening his grip a fraction and looked her, his eyes soft with pity, his face hard with determination. “Will you do it yourself then?"

  "I can't.” She wept, ignoring the tears. “Don't, please don't make me."

  "Goddess, Kallista.” He looked away, across the room. His throat moved as he swallowed something down. When he looked back, she could see no softness at all, only grim determination. “I have to."

  "We have to.” Obed's voice called Kallista's attention past Torchay to his dark, sorrowful face. “You have to. There is no other choice."

  "We always have choices."

  "And you made yours seven years ago, on that broken wall in Ukiny,” Torchay said.

  "I can't.” She knew she was whining, but she couldn't help it. It hurt too much.

  "Stop this." Keldrey crawled up her body, grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “You're the Reinine, for the One's sake! Before that you were the Godstruck, and before that a soldier, a naitan in Adara's army. You're the only one who can destroy this demon. The. Only. One.” He punctuated each word with a little shake. “Without you, we all die. All our kids will be slaves, just like Sky. Is that what you want?"

  "No!” How dare he suggest that she did?

  "Unless you have all your magic, that's what's going to happen. So just stop this stupid messin’ about and do it.” Keldrey flung her down and rolled off the bed.

  In the gap between Torchay and Obed, Kallista could see Padrey. The women had stripped him down, with Joh's help for the heavy lifting. Now, Joh held Padrey up at the edge of the bed, the dazed look in the young man's eyes fading as he focused on her. He was lean, but not as thin as she'd thought, his shoulders broad, arms and chest well muscled. Her magic stirred, scenting him on the air. It liked the way he looked. No, she liked the way he looked, especially as the flush of arousal crept over him.

  She turned her head, hating herself for betraying Stone this way. “I can't,” she whispered.

  "It's not betrayal.” Viyelle knelt at the side of the bed, murmuring in Kallista's ear. Had she read her mind? “Do you truly think Stone would begrudge you any pleasure? Would he want to see you like this, or would he be teasing you out of it?"

  "Stone was a Warrior,” Fox said. “He knew that when one warrior falls, another must take his place."

  Kallista squeezed her eyes shut. They were confusing her. The magic churned, making her dizzy, even lying down. The emotions seeping through the links confused things more, filled with worry and determination and—and love. So much love.

  She felt for the empty place, the stump where Stone's link was severed and found more love. Faint and sweet, with a hint of distant laughter and a taste of “what are you waiting for?"

  Your approval, she thought.

  Silly woman. You know I always approve of sex. Even if I don't get to play.

  Her choked laugh ended in a sob as she felt that last, faint touch of Stone leave her. She couldn't go back, couldn't have things like they were. Not ever again. Moving on wasn't a betrayal of what had been. No one could ever take Stone's place, but—the One had marked this new man. The One's judgment had never failed yet. Perhaps they could make a new place for him.

  Kallista sighed and opened her eyes. “Touching his hand would have worked just fine. Don't you think all this is a bit overkill?” She gestured at her own nudity and Padrey's.

  "I figured the more skin exposed, the more likely it would actually happen.” Torchay searched her face. “You'll do it?"

  "Padrey.” Kallista tried to sit up, and warily, they let her. She reached out to the naked ex-thief. “Padrey, come here."

  He blinked, shook his head. Not in a “no", but to clear it. “My Reinine?” His eyes went wide as he seemed suddenly to realize his state of undress and hers. “Oh shite. Saints and all the holy sinners, I—"

  With a laugh, Joh caught him round the middle and tossed him onto the bed as Obed scrambled out of the way. Padrey bounced, giving Obed time to prevent his attempted escape.

  "I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't—I can't—Oh Goddess. Oh Ulili and Khralsh and—” Padrey babbled, calling on all the names of the One as he tried to scoot away.

  "Shh.” Kallista eased down into the bed again.

  "We should leave,” Leyja said. “Shouldn't we?"

  Aisse shrugged. “We will be part of it, I think, whether here or elsewhere."

  "I'll just go. I should go. Really.” Padrey crawled toward the foot of the bed. Fox blocked that escape.

  "Padrey Emtal.” Kallista used her Reinine's voice, which was nothing more than her major's voice, six years older.

  He went still, peeked at her over his shoulder. “My Reinine?"

  "Did you, or did you not pledge yourself to my service?"

  He swallowed hard. “I did. My Reinine."

  She offered him a smile, fleeting because she feared he would try escaping again if she softened too much. “And did you offer yourself to the One, for whatever use you might be?"

  "Not in those exact words. It was more like—"

  "Did you?" she interrupted, insistent.

  "Well ... yeah. I guess I did. More or less."

  "And the One accepted the offer and marked you, correct?"

  He shrugged, looking around at the other godmarked. “That's what they said. But I don't—"

  Kallista held up a silencing finger. “Who is the Reinine here?"

  Padrey subsided, flushing red. “You are."

  She had to use his awe of her position while she could. If he had anything at all in common with Stone, it wouldn't last long. “Then come here."

  "Where?” He gave her a wary look. Nope, not long at all.

  "Here.” She patted the space beside her. “Now, Padrey."

  Eying the men and women ranged around the room, Padrey scooted slowly up the bed until he occupied the farthest bit of the place she had patted, his legs drawn up to hide the fact that he was still aroused.

  "Should we leave?” Torchay murmured from his place at her back.

  Kallista shrugged. “Suit yourselves."

  This moment had been different with each of her previous eight marked mates. Some of them had been bound in almost seamlessly, at the moment of their marking. For others of them, the binding had been a bit more ... spectacular. The greater the length of time between the marking and the binding, the more spectacular the binding seemed to be. Padrey had only been marked yesterday. Surely the magic wouldn't go so terribly wild. Still, better not to take chances.

  "Whether you stay or go,” she said. “It might be a good idea to sit down. We haven't done this in a while."

  "Done what?” Padrey seemed caught between worry and suspicion.

  "This."

  Kallista planted her hand in the middle of Padrey's chest. She had time to push him flat on his back and slide over him, breasts to chest, before the magic woke. It lifted its shaggy great head and shook it, shuddering Kallista. Then it seemed to realize more magic lay just beyond her skin, and roared with delight as it burst from her to snatch up Padrey's magic.

  There was a moment's pause, a wrenching pain that had both Kallista and Padrey crying out, clawing at the bedcover as the magic he carried was twisted to fit with the rest. Then the magic leaped up in a whirling, joyous dance, thrumming through Kallista and Padrey in perfect step.

  The magic loved the full-body touch between them, spinning back and forth, sensitizing their skin to the faintest whisper of pleasure and then screaming along it. Kallista moaned, Padrey shouted, grinding himself into her.

  "Take him,” Obed said. “Take him inside you."

  "If you want.” Torchay touched her at the same time Obed did, at the instant the magic reached for them.

  It tumbled them both into the pleasure and joy, their intent lost. Kallista caught them, bo
und them into their places in the web of magic with the efficiency of years of practice. Padrey pushed up against her again and she shifted, sliding forward, up and then down, sheathing him inside her.

  Her eyes rolled back in her head at the feel of him filling her, as if he poured magic directly into her with this more intimate touch. She tucked him close, both physically and magically, next to her heart, so she wouldn't lose him as the magic reached out again. It spilled in rapid order into Fox, Aisse, Joh, Viyelle and Leyja, and as it brought them into the dance, Kallista bound them swiftly into place, letting the magic send its joy between, around, through them.

  The magic had a different flavor. This was a quieter joy, one that sprang from a darker place and flowed all the brighter because of it. Stone's joy was a fountain, spraying high into the air, splashing everyone who came near. This bubbled up like a mountain spring, forcing its way free of all the weight that tried to hold it prisoner. Kallista reached out, her godmarked reaching with her in a faint echo of hands, and pulled away the heaviest stones so that the spring could run free, clear, cold.

  Padrey gasped. Kallista laughed and gave the magic a nudge to spin it faster as she began to ride him. All the strength developed by moving the magic without a ninth almost sent it out of her control now their new ninth was bound in, but she didn't try to slow it. She grabbed hold and rode the magic as she did Padrey, making sure everyone was tucked in safe before she lost herself to the sensations sweeping through in wild waves.

  Rough, helpless noises came from Padrey's throat, echoing those in Kallista's mind, in her own throat. He bucked beneath her, beginning to lose the rhythm. Aisse cried out, or maybe it was Viyelle, but Kallista wasn't ready to let go. She wanted to push it farther, see how far, how high she could take this.

  With a violent lunge of his body, Padrey rolled, somehow staying inside her as he took her with him, until he rose above her onto his knees. He lifted her hips, her legs over his arms as he used them to haul her closer, higher. Bracing one hand on the bed for leverage, he adjusted his position and thrust. The new angle touched that perfect place deep within.

  Kallista screamed as the wave of magic crashed over her. Padrey managed another thrust before his climax brought her again. One after another, the others cried out, as if the magic wanted to give each of them his or her own distinct, separate climax, with all of them sharing in each moment.

  If there were only nine moments. Kallista didn't count. There might have been more. Afterward, she only knew they had seemed to go on forever.

  She stroked her hand over Padrey's fine, silky hair, and heard Torchay huff a breath of laughter through his nose.

  "Aye then, it's right and done.” Torchay touched Kallista's cheek with a long forefinger. “You're petting him, like you always do the new ones."

  "Do I?” Kallista felt limp and achy but ... right. Whole.

  She smiled, content under Padrey's comforting weight. Her eyes drifted shut and she peeked inside herself at the echo of the web she'd built. She built it new each time she called the whole magic, but each of them always fit into the same place. When she'd woven this one, it had not seemed the same framework she'd used before. She wanted to look at it again, to be sure.

  Padrey hadn't been simply plugged into Stone's old spot. He wouldn't have fit. Not because he was larger or smaller. He simply wasn't Stone.

  He wasn't the same ... shape. She'd made a new place for him, tucked between Torchay and Viyelle, next to herself. Stone had always fit in next to Fox, somewhat above Obed. His place was still there, beginning to smooth over with new threads of magic and of love. Stone would always have a place, even if his magic could no longer fill it.

  The bed jostled and Kallista realized the rest of the ilian had decided to join the four of them already on it. She opened one eye. “Is this the smartest thing for us to do?"

  "Why wouldn't it be?” Aisse asked from her comfortable-looking spot cradled against Keldrey.

  Kallista stroked her hand across Padrey's broad shoulder. He was the leanest of their men, but she thought it was his natural build rather than any lack of food. He hadn't put on any weight since living in the embassy. “For one thing, we don't want to terrify Padrey."

  "Too late.” He tucked his face deeper into the hollow of her neck, as if hoping that since he couldn't see anyone, no one could see him.

  Kallista chuckled. “It's all right, Padrey. No need for terror."

  All right? No need? Padrey squeezed his eyes tighter shut. Maybe he could put off the moment of reckoning. Goddess, how had he come to be here? Here, in the Reinine's bed, in her body?

  He remembered—oh, he remembered being inside her with her dark-haired, warrior-queen beauty rising above him, driving down onto him, and him caught in the grip of the wildest, fiercest pleasure he'd ever known. And that had been only the beginning. He didn't have words for the rest of it.

  A hand, rough-textured and slender, settled on his back and he startled, relaxing as it stroked down his spine. Wait. The Reinine's hands—one was in his hair and the other on his shoulder. That was an extra hand. Someone else's hand. Whose? He wanted to know, and he didn't.

  A masculine chuckle made Padrey flinch. “You canno’ hide forever, lad.” And that raspy tenor voice belonged to the Tayo, Torchay Reinas.

  Padrey groaned. The Tayo was here? So why was Padrey still lying naked on top of the Reinine, slipping slowly out of her? Why wasn't he skewered through and hung out on the banner pole?

  Another hand, a larger one, popped him on his bare backside. “Time for lazing's past. Up with you now."

  Saints and all the holy sinners, was the Reinine's whole ilian in here with them? Padrey slitted open one eye, saw a strand of dark hair curling beneath the Reinine's ear.

  "It's all right.” The Reinine touched her lips to his ear, making her murmur a sort of kiss. She shouldn't—but he loved it. “You don't have to move yet, if you're not ready,” she said.

  "What's going to happen when I do?” He couldn't help asking, but quietly, so only she would hear.

  "Tonight?” She paused, then took a deep breath, lifting him a little with it. “A wedding, I should think."

  "A—what?” Shock had Padrey jerking back to stare at her.

  "A wedding?” The Reinine bit her lip, suddenly looking uncertain, vulnerable. Like a woman rather than a ruler. It made Padrey want to cuddle her, tell her everything would be fine, even though he didn't know any such thing and had no business telling her anything, much less cuddling.

  She squirmed from beneath him, coming up onto her knees. The sway of her breasts distracted him. Someone brought a houserobe, helped her into it, and Padrey could hear again, could think. Someone—Goddess, Viyelle Reinas—put his arms into the sleeves of a red silk houserobe and tied it around him. He'd never felt anything so fine against his skin. Well, except for the skin of the Reinine.

  Padrey dared to glance at her. She gazed back at him as if waiting for something. Perhaps for his look, for she took both his hands in hers.

  "Padrey Emtal.” The Reinine looked deep into his eyes, her expression formal. “Will you marry us?"

  He swallowed, hard. Was this a joke? He looked from the Reinine to the Reinasti positioned around the room. Some of them smiled. Keldrey Reinas—he winked. Leyja Reinas wasn't one of the smilers but she held his eye a moment, then nodded. She meant it? Obed Reinas nodded. So did the Tayo.

  The Reinine seemed to take his confusion for reluctance, for she gripped his hands tighter, drew them closer. “We need you, Padrey. I need you. Desperately. What happened just now was the magic of your mark binding with the rest of us. You are our ninth, completing the magic."

  Padrey nodded. “Yeah, they told me that. You need my mark to fight demons. Whatever you need, my Reinine, it's yours."

  "Good. And it's Kallista, not ‘my Reinine.'” She leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth, too quick. “Vee, can you get everything organized? We have Gweric for the ceremony, I think he'd like that.”
She looked at Padrey as she slid from the bed. “You and Gweric are friends, aren't you? Is there someone you would like to invite?"

  She made a face. “I don't think we can wait till we get your sistersedil free. We need to do this now, tonight. But I'm sure we'll have to have another ceremony once we get home. Your sedil can come to that."

  The Reinine's flow of speech slowed, halted as she looked at him. Then she smiled hesitantly and held her hand out to him, palm up. “You did say yes, didn't you? You will marry us? Some of our others—Stone first, and then Joh—didn't have a choice. They were married di pentivas, by order of Serysta Reinine."

  Padrey didn't know what she meant at first, until he remembered the stories his sister-sedili had liked to read, about war prizes, men married without choice. Joh Reinas was di pentivas?

  "But I'm Reinine now, and I—” She cleared her throat. “I won't force you. I only ask. Will you?"

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Padrey stared at her, at that plea on her beautiful face, her hand stretched toward him. His heart thundered in his ears, making everything even harder to comprehend. “Why?"

  She didn't pretend to misunderstand. “We are already bound by the marks, you and I, all of us. What we just did, that made us an ilian, together. In a sense, you already are ilias. But I think the ceremony somehow ... seals the binding, perhaps by making the commitment we've already made a public one. I'm not exactly sure what it does, to be honest. But it does something."

  "So, it's important?” Padrey still didn't completely understand, but he trusted the Reinine and she did.

  "Yes, Padrey, it's important."

  He flicked his eyes to the others in the room before returning them to the Reinine. “And everybody's okay with it? With marrying me?"

  The Reinine didn't take her eyes off him. Leyja Reinas stepped forward on her own. Padrey goggled as she bowed to him.

  "Padrey Emtal, I would be pleased to have you marry us,” she said. “You were a child, trapped in a terrible place, and despite all, you have become a good and honorable man."