Draeis gazed down at her. She knew what he was feeling at that moment. It was then—when she felt their essences merge into one—that she released her aura to surround them. Draeis gasped out loud as they came together. Faeswyn held on to him, feeling that tightening deep inside of her body, and her aura drench them in pleasure.
They lay still, trying to catch their breaths. She knew he was unable to move, and like Naihr had in the barn, would be unable to for a few more moments. She gently moved from under his weight, sitting on the floor near him, stroking the hair from his face.
He was smiling at her. “Is it possible to love someone so much? How is this possible?”
She smiled back at him. “Because it’s meant to be, baby.”
He nodded limply as she leaned close, kissing him passionately before standing up to put her dress and panties back on. She pulled the blanket over him. And walked into the small bathroom in the back.
She began to close the door, when Glywyn suddenly peeked around it. “Is it all right to come out now?”
Faeswyn smiled and nodded. “Sorry. Were we too loud?”
“No. Theoch and Draedon are still sleeping. But I kind of knew what those soft little moans were. So don’t be sorry. You’re glowing.”
Faeswyn leaned against the sink. “Back at the house, after me and Naihr, I tried to look to see if my mark was still there.”
“Was it?” Glywyn walked into the bathroom completely and closed the door behind her.
“From what I could see it was there, but it was very faint. It was kind of faded. I’m kind of afraid to look again. I’m in love with them, Glywyn. What if what I feel isn’t supposed to be?”
“You trust in the ancients, don’t you?” Glywyn asked as Faeswyn nodded. “Okay. Where is it?”
Faeswyn lifted the back of her hair off of her neck, holding it up high. “It’s in my hairline. I had to use a hand mirror the last time when I stood in front of the full mirror. It looks like a small flower. Do you see it?”
Glywyn took a few seconds, looking at several places in her hair and along her hairline. She finally put the mirror down and took hold of Faeswyn’s hands as she turned to face her. “Faeswyn, your mark is gone. It was only faded with Naihr because you and Draeis hadn’t yet merged your essence.”
“It’s real. It’s real,” Faeswyn said, smiling broadly.
“Of course, it’s real. So I’m just going to let you pee,” she said, giggling. “Then you can go back to Draeis. But just for my curiosity, it works well?”
“Oh, yes. It works very well,” Faeswyn said before Glywyn left the bathroom. Faeswyn turned to face the mirror. “It works very, very well.”
A minute later, she walked back into the room and crawled into bed with Draeis. He wrapped her in his arms, snuggling her close to his body. “So it works very, very well, huh?”
Her body shook as she laughed. “You heard all of that?”
“It’s a small place, babe. Yes. And I’m also happy that it works. I was so afraid that I wasn’t going to be the man I was.”
Faeswyn turned to face him. “I love you, Draeis.”
He smiled, kissing her tenderly. “And I love you.”
“I also love Naihr.” She stared into his eyes in the dim light of the room. “Does that bother you? The fact that I’m in love with both of you?”
He was silent for a few seconds, but then shook his head. “I thought it would. I thought when you kissed him at the house, I would feel jealousy. That’s not what I felt then. I was happy for Naihr, but I also wanted to feel what he was feeling. I wanted to have what he has with you. I didn’t think I would ever have it. Until now.”
“But no jealousy?”
“No. I want nothing more in this world than to make you happy. I want to see pleasure in your eyes. I want to give that to you, but if Naihr can do the same… Two men that love you. I see what Theoch, Draedon, and Glywyn have. How much in love they are with her, and she with them. So no. No jealousy. Naihr is the closest thing I have to having a brother. I want you to be happy, Faeswyn.”
“Having you in my life makes me happy,” she said, laying her head on his chest. “But just so you know, even if your penis hadn’t worked as well as it did, I would still love you. I would still want you in my life. Not being able to have sex with you…? Well, a man still has his hands, his lips, and his tongue, right?”
His hand slapped her playfully on her ass. “Yes, I do. And I hope to show you very soon just how skilled I am with my hands, my lips, and my…tongue.” They both laughed together, and then drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter Nine
Early that next morning, Draeis woke with a smile. She was still lying in his arms. Her body was warm and pressed tightly against his. He gazed down at her still snoring softly. This was it, he thought. This was what was missing in his life. Love.
He also thought about what she’d said about being in love with Naihr. And the fact was, it made him happy. He wanted her to be happy. Naihr was his family, and he wanted him to be happy also. So he smiled because he knew it was all meant to be. She’d told him that she believed in what the ancients said. That book that many believed foretold events that were to happen. In the past, he’d only listened to what his mother would say to him about the ancients, nodding to her in a placating way. He believed in his essence and the essence of others. It was how he was brought up. He’d never gone to a clearing. He’d only taken the word of the ancients in passing. Never seriously. But he believed now. There were just too many things that were happening now that couldn’t be explained away.
From the moment he’d been convicted and sentence to a life in the tombs, his life and Naihr’s had been on this path that led to Faeswyn. He felt it.
She stirred next to him, and slowly opened her eyes. “Morning,” she said softly.
He smiled down at her, kissing her tenderly on the lips. “Good morning. I think we should get up. I think Theoch, Draedon, and Glywyn are trying to stay in the room to give us time.”
“You guys can come on in,” Faeswyn yelled out. “We aren’t doing anything but trying to wake up.”
The bedroom door opened and Glywyn hurriedly waddled out. “Good, cuz I have to pee.” She glanced at them before quickly heading into the bathroom.
Faeswyn sat up, allowing Draeis to finally sit up, too. He picked his shirt up from the floor and pulled it over his head. Theoch and Draedon were staring at him knowingly. “Yes,” he said to them. “I’m in love with Faeswyn. Naihr is also in love with her. Kind of familiar, isn’t it?”
Draedon laughed as Theoch joined him. “Brother, it’s love. It feels amazing, doesn’t it?”
Draeis looked over to Faeswyn. She stood, stretching her full body next to him. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his face into her belly, and gazing up at her. “Yes, it does.”
“Knock, knock!” Eielawyn’s voice could be heard down below.
Eielawyn came up the stairs holding a box. “I hope everyone is up. I know it’s early, but the bridge gate opens in an hour. I brought some cofae tea and cream bread for everyone. Hungry?”
“Yes,” Draeis said. He and Faeswyn walked over to the box. It felt as though it had been years since he’d had anything to eat. The cofae tea infused his body like liquid adrenalin. “Thank you, Eielawyn,” he said around a mouthful of cream bread.
“People are lining up at the gate already,” said Eielawyn. “You all need to eat fast and head out before more guards go on duty. There’s only two on the gate right now, but there will be four in about an hour. I can only suggest on three at a time.”
“I was thinking that we should contact Naihr and let him know what’s going on. He’s probably going nuts wondering why we aren’t back yet,” Draeis said.
“I wouldn’t use your TCDs here in Yaesdrah,” said Eielawyn. “They don’t work well because of the sea air, and even if you are lucky enough to gain a wave to contact Naihr, Teveoch is monitoring Yaesdrah’s communica
tions. Not too safe, is all I’m saying.”
“You’re right. So have we discussed what we do as a backup plan?” Draeis asked.
“A backup plan?” Faeswyn said, looking at him. “Why would we need a backup plan?”
“If more than three guards are on the gate right now,” Draeis said, looking at them all. “Or if for some reason the documents don’t work. Just another plan in the off chance that we need it.”
Eielawyn stared at Draeis for a few seconds. “He’s right. We’re just assuming this will happen without any problems, but the royal guards are in force here for a reason. Why? It can’t all be because they want to prevent the Drisians from entering Yaeltaran. I know they also want to find Draedon and Theoch, but why do they want to find you so badly?”
Draedon and Theoch shared a look. Draeis saw it. There was something they weren’t saying. “You know something,” he said. “What is it?”
Faeswyn turned her gaze from Draeis and looked at the rest of them in the room. “Tell them,” she said to Draedon. “They’re doing all of this to help. Tell them the truth.”
Draedon nodded and took a deep breath. “It’s because I know who Gaeldos truly is. His name is Goag. I believe he is a commoner from either someplace in Valwithia or Jroan. Balaedras knows. When I was in the cells beneath the palace, they’d planned on killing me. Balaedras sent a woman named Falindamaer to do so with thrihn cat toxin. She told me everything, thinking that I would be dead soon after. Gaeldos used intimidation and death to keep those that knew about his lies under his control. I have a feeling that the kingdoms of Jroan, Ja’Kahl, and Tulor know about his lies, and were promised something out of the deal. But if I can reveal what I know to King Lavaerion in Yaeltaran, it could open the eyes of the other kingdoms, and perhaps…maybe Gaeldos’ reign will finally end.”
“And the rightful queen will then reign over Ai,” Draeis said smiling at Glywyn.
“My baby isn’t even born yet,” she said to him.
“Not yet,” Draeis said. “But until she is of age, the three of you can rule Teveoch in her stead. As her regents, you can bring an end to the wars. The death.”
Theoch was nodding to Glywyn and Draedon. “We know. It’s not a responsibility we wanted, but one that must be taken for the sake of the true queen. But now you understand why Gaeldos wants us dead.”
Draeis understood, but he also understood something else. “You know what this means, don’t you?” he said to them. “It means that you must protect Glywyn at all costs. The baby at all costs, because Gaeldos will stop at nothing to remain on the throne. He’s power hungry. We all know he wants nothing more than to gain more territory. He wants to control all of Ai, and perhaps after that, Jahlmerikahl. So this is plan B.” Draeis took a deep breath, making Faeswyn stare worriedly at him. “If for some reason Eielawyn can’t hold her suggestion on the guards at the gate, or more come, fuck it all and run to the other side. I’ll draw their attention away.”
“How are you going to do that?” Faeswyn asked warily.
Draeis took hold of her hands in his. “You’re going to release your glamour on me. Reveal who I am. They’ll turn their attention on the escaped prisoner.”
“No! They’ll shoot you on sight. No!” Faeswyn said, glancing around at the rest of them.
Draeis smiled sweetly at her. “I admit, I don’t want that to happen, but as I said”—he looked at Glywyn—“the baby must be protected at all costs.”
Faeswyn grabbed hold of him, pressing her face into his chest. “That’s only plan B. We won’t need plan B because plan A is going to fucking work.”
Draeis ran his hand over her soft curls and kissed the top of her head. “But if it doesn’t, know that I love you, Faeswyn.” Faeswyn turned her face up to gaze at him. “My life began when I met you. You are to go back to Naihr and live in love. Maybe”—he laughed softly—“name your firstborn after me.”
Faeswyn only nodded as tears fell down her face. “Don’t you dare die on me just when I found you,” she said to him softly.
“All right,” Eielawyn said. “So now we know why the guards are out in force in Yaesdrah. We still need to get you past the gate, and hopefully without Draeis having to get shot in the process. It’s seven thirty right now. The gate opens at eight. If we’re going to do this, we have to move now.”
Faeswyn ran over to Glywyn, pulling her into an intense hug. “I love you. You hear me? I love you. You’re my sister.” Tears began to fall down her cheeks again. “We’ll see each other again.”
Glywyn was holding on to Faeswyn tightly, nodding in agreement as she sobbed. They seemed to reluctantly separate, wiping at their tears. Theoch and Draedon walked over to stand in front of Draeis. Draedon gripped Draeis’ forearm. Draeis returned a grip to Draedon’s as they bent their foreheads to touch.
“Brother,” said Draeis.
“Always,” Draedon said. Theoch did the same as Draeis repeated the words he’d said to Draedon.
“Guys,” Eielawyn said. “It’s now or never.”
Draeis nodded. “Let’s do this.”
* * * *
Naihr looked out onto the empty fields beyond the front of the house. Nothing. He had to hope that they were safe. That she was safe. It had only been a day, not even a full day. He told himself that if they weren’t back by that evening he would take the old car in the back of the house and go look for them. His tracer was fully charged for that reason.
He was sitting out on the back porch later that morning after feeding the animals and staring in wonder into the bolsh slug paddock. He could admit he was worried, but thoughts of being with Faeswyn again quelled that worry. But as he sat lost in his thoughts about Faeswyn, he saw a figure crossing the pasture past the barn. At first, he thought to go inside and get his tracer gun, but upon looking closer at the figure, he saw that it was a woman. As the woman came closer, he then saw that she wasn’t a woman, but a young girl. A teenage girl.
The girl stopped at the steps to the back porch, her mouth open as she stood staring at him. “Can I help you?” he asked her. He could see that she was young. She was pretty, though. In a few more years, she would be stunning. Dark, brunette hair with auburn highlights flowed wildly about her head in a mass of waves. Her skin was light bronze, making her light brown eyes stand out in contrast. She had a full mouth that seemed to be formed into a permanent smile. And even though he wasn’t looking, he could tell that when she matured into her figure, she would be curvaceous. Yes, he thought, in a few more years she would be a very beautiful woman. But for now she was a young girl.
The girl nodded, but nothing came out of her mouth for a few more seconds. “By the goddesses, you’re gorgeous. I never knew they made men like you. You’re just beautiful.” Her gaze travelled from his face and over his bare chest, down to his groin, making him feel more than a little uncomfortable.
“Um…thank you. Who are you?”
The girl smiled sweetly at him. “I’m Trikyia. Glaeonawyn’s granddaughter. And who are you?” she breathed out.
“I’m Naihr.” Trikyia licked her lips and continued to stare at him. “If you’ll excuse me for just a second.” He walked inside and pulled on the shirt he’d draped over the back of the kitchen chair earlier. He walked back to stand on the porch.
“Aw, no,” Trikyia said disappointingly. “You didn’t have to go and put your shirt on. You were perfect the way you were.”
“You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”
Trikyia seemed to remember her purpose, holding out a small dish that she held in her hand. “Oh, yeah. Nana sent me over here with this, though she didn’t say there was someone like you here. It’s her pork stew. It’s good as far as pork stews go. When Nana sent me over here, I thought I was going to see some ordinary man. You’re far from ordinary.”
Naihr walked down the steps to take the container from Trikyia. “Thank your grandmother for me.”
He walked inside the house, thinking Trikyia would leave,
but she trailed behind him. “Are you married?” she asked, leaning against the counter in the kitchen. “I’m not. Well, of course I’m not. I’m only fifteen. I’ll be sixteen in four months. One more year, and I can be considered marrying age. How old are you?”
Naihr turned to smile at her. “Too old for you, so you can stop with all of the flirting. Don’t you have to head back to Glaeonawyn’s?”
“Nope. I come to Nana’s for the summer. I would’ve been here last week if Nana hadn’t made me go to help my Aunt Vyndasila before coming here to Quith. Her house smelled like old eudis beans. I usually come over here to Faeswyn’s to practice when I’m visiting. Not that I need it.”
“Practice what?”
“Faeswyn lets me do some target shooting out in her field,” she lifted her shirt to show him her tracer gun. “My mother thought all women should learn how to shoot a gun. She used to tell me that a woman shouldn’t expect a man to protect her. That she should protect herself. But Daddy thinks tracer guns are dangerous in the best of hands. He would have a stone if he knew I could shoot. Especially, if he knew Nana was letting me shoot when I come to visit her. My mom taught me to shoot and other…stuff, when I was only eight. So how old is too old? My daddy was ten years older than my mother when they married.”
“I’m thirty. Too old, Trikyia. Besides, I’m in love with someone.” He took a mug from the cupboard and filled it with the cofae tea he’d made earlier.
“Who is she? Is she pretty? I’ve been told that I’m pretty. Unique, some would say. It’s because of my mother. I bet you think I’m Drisian, huh?”
He took his mug, and walked into the living room with Trikyia following right behind him. “I assume, since you are here in Drisa.”
“Nope. My daddy’s Thisbinian. Have you met him?” Naihr only shook his head as Trikyia took a seat on the sofa and continued talking. “My nana had five kids. My dad was the second oldest, but guess where my mom was from? Come on, guess. You’ll never guess.”
Faeswyn [The Maidens of Mocmoran 2] Page 9
