by Jane Godman
When she reached his mouth, she paused to kiss him again. Ged seized the chance to twist his head and ease his lips over one hardened nipple. Lidi whimpered, her whole body starting to shake as she almost forgot her resolve to take this slowly. His hands moved down to her waist and he locked her in place as he licked, sucked and nipped. Pulling away, she shook her head, laughing as he muttered a curse.
Gliding the whole length of her body against his, she moved all the way back down.
“I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to kill me.” Although she couldn’t see him, she could tell Ged’s teeth were tightly clenched.
Laughing softly, she pushed his legs apart so she could kneel between them. Caressing his right leg, she licked and lightly nibbled her way up his left leg until she reached his groin. Moving along his hip bones with long, rough swipes of her tongue, she finally reached the area that was straining for her attention.
Leaning in, she ran her tongue in one long, slow motion up his erection and ended by swirling lightly around the rim. Although this was outside her experience, from the way Ged gasped and arched his back, she guessed he was enjoying it. She decided to go with her instincts.
I’m enjoying it. Her whole body was on fire at the taste and feel of him. Her only goal had been to give him pleasure. How had she not anticipated that pleasing him would inflame her own desires to the point of torment?
Opening her lips, she slid her mouth over him, covering his head and sucking gently. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Ged’s hand scrabbling to grip the sheets, and his breath came out in one long, slow hiss. Pushing down further, she used her tongue to trace a pattern on the sensitive underside of his cock, sliding up and down and applying more suction. Ged lifted his hips in time with her movements.
“Oh, Lidi. Don’t want...not yet...”
As his body started tensing and trembling, Ged’s hands gripped her shoulders, hauling her up to face him. He was breathing hard as he plunged a hand into her hair, kissing her like his life depended on it.
Rising up onto her knees, Lidi straddled his hips once more. Taking hold of his rock-hard length, she lined him up with her entrance and slowly lowered herself down until he was buried all the way inside her. Gripping her lower lip with her teeth, she remained still, adjusting to the incredible feeling of him filling and stretching her. Then, leaning forward, curtaining them with her hair, she began to move.
Ged gripped her ass, holding her cheeks wide apart, opening her fully against him as the feelings intensified. Heat consumed them both, searing them. Lidi’s soft moans mingled with his deep groans.
With tantalizing slowness, she lifted up until he was almost all the way out, then slammed down. Ged’s pelvis jerked upward at the same time, grinding into her. Gripping her hips, he flipped her over and onto her back.
“No more going slow.”
He lifted her legs over his arms and thrust into her with hard fast strokes. Passion and pleasure mounted, and a light sheen of sweat slicked their skin. Lidi gasped and her head fell back. Ged drove into her one last time, and the world flew apart. She cried out as everything faded except his body inside hers and the slick sounds and musky scents.
Ged dug his fingers hard into her hips, holding on to her as she shuddered. She was dimly aware of him stiffening and jerking through his own orgasm. Then he relaxed, dropping his head onto her shoulder. She could feel his heart pounding as he nuzzled his face into her neck.
They lay wrapped in each other’s arms for a long time. Just resting. Maybe dozing. When Lidi hitched in a breath, Ged tilted her face up to his.
“Are you crying?” His face was concerned as he raised himself on one elbow.
She sniffed. “I don’t cry.”
“Right. I almost forgot about you being a tough, no-nonsense warrior.” He smiled into her eyes as he tracked a finger down her cheek. When he held it up, it was wet with her tears. “Do you want to talk about this?”
Did she? It would be so easy to give in to her feelings. To let it all pour out. But where would that leave them? They would be setting out on the last, and most dangerous, stage of their journey under an embarrassing cloud.
They had both known the rules when they entered into this. Keep it light. It was simple enough. It wasn’t Ged’s fault she had stepped outside those boundaries. Maybe they both had. But they had enough to deal with. She wasn’t going to add emotion into the mix.
Plus, she genuinely didn’t know why she was crying. She meant it when she said she didn’t do tears. There was just something so wonderful about being in his arms. Aware that Ged was still waiting for answer, she squirmed slightly.
“I’m tired. And being home again is all a bit overwhelming.”
His gaze probed her face. “Care to tell me the real reason?”
Her lips parted. For a moment, her response hung in the balance. Then a muffled volley of barks reached them from the adjoining room.
“Good timing that the dog wants to be let out?” Ged asked as Lidi wrapped the sheet around herself again. “Or bad?”
She paused with her hand on the door handle. “I suppose that depends on whose perspective you’re in.”
* * *
Ged had spent some time pondering the difficulties of persuading Bogdan to send a message to Eduard Tavisha at the secret headquarters of the resistance. He discussed the matter with Lidi, Andrei and Sasha when they met in his room before they went downstairs for the evening meal.
“The only way to get Bogdan on our side will be to tell him who I am,” he said. “If I don’t, we can’t expect him to follow my orders, or believe me when I tell him I know where my uncle is.”
“Bogdan can be trusted,” Lidi assured him. “I am sure of it.”
“Then that’s decided.”
When they descended the grand staircase, there was a flurry of excitement as Lidi was recognized by several servants who had known her all her life. There were hugs and exclamations, although these were subdued by the presence of Bruno. The curious glances cast in the direction of her companions made Ged glad he had donned his disguise.
“Is there any news of your father, my lady?” It was the question on everyone’s lips.
“I hope to hear something of him very soon.”
The exchange told Ged a lot about both Lidi and her father. The servants loved the Count of Aras and his daughter. It was obvious in the way they spoke about their master and the delight they displayed on seeing Lidi again. And the trouble Lidi took to talk to them and reassure them confirmed everything he already knew about her. These people were paid to serve her. Yet the relationship she had with them was one of mutual love and trust. Even now, when she was desperately worried about her father and preparing for the fight of her life, she was putting the needs of others first.
His heart clenched with love. He allowed himself to recognize and accept the emotion. To welcome it. He had once believed this would never happen to him. Now, he was bowled over by its force. Just a few more steps...
“Usually, we would eat in the great hall,” Lidi explained. “But I think the fewer people who see you, the better. I have asked for dinner to be served in a smaller dining room. It will just be the four of us and Bogdan. That way, we can talk without fear of being overheard.”
The room they entered was opulent but comfortable, with dark paneling on the walls and crimson drapes shutting out the darkness. A roaring log fire crackled in a huge fireplace, and, after regarding it with suspicion, Bruno curled up in front of it.
When Bogdan entered the room just after them, he paused on the threshold, regarding Ged in surprise. Remembering that he hadn’t been wearing his dark wig, beard and mustache when they first met, Ged tried to come up with a suitable excuse.
Bogdan closed the door behind him before coming into the room. “The disguise is probably a good idea, Your Majesty.”
&nb
sp; Lidi gave an exclamation of surprise and Ged shook his head. “You knew?”
Bogdan went down on one knee, placing his hand on his heart. “It is impossible to mistake a Tavisha. You are very like your father.” He raised his head and looked at Andrei. “As are you, Prince Andrei.”
Ged placed a hand on his shoulder. “Rise, Bogdan. You are the first person to have sworn allegiance to me.”
“I’ll not be the last, sire.”
Ged felt his heart swell with pride. “So I’ve no need of the arguments I’d prepared to persuade you to send for my uncle?”
“I have a party of men ready to leave,” Bogdan said. “They await my orders. Just tell me where to find your uncle and I will send them on their way.”
They took their seats at the table. “My uncle is staying with the Earl of Vitchenko,” Ged said.
Bogdan sat up straighter in his chair. “But Vitchenko is a friend of Vasily the Usurper.”
Ged smiled. “That is what Vasily believes.”
Bogdan pursed his lips. “This changes everything. With a man as powerful as Vitchenko on our side, we can’t lose. We could march against Vasily tonight.”
“Not so fast.” Ged paused as a group of servants entered. They staggered under the weight of platters laden with slabs of raw meat and freshly caught fish. One of them carried a small bowl of salad. That was another advantage of being home. Everyone knew exactly what he wanted to eat. When the door closed behind them, Ged continued. “We need to know our strength and also what we’re up against. My uncle will able to tell us the true size of the resistance forces, but the only way to assess Vasily’s power will be to get inside the royal palace.”
Bogdan shook his head. “He is a coward. Ever since he stole the throne, he has feared an assassination attempt. We’ll never get anyone close enough.”
“I’m going to do it,” Lidi said. Briefly, she outlined the plan to trick Vasily into believing she would accept his offer of marriage.
Bogdan had been about to take a slug of wine, but he slammed down his goblet and half rose from his seat. “No, my lady. I cannot—”
Bruno, who had given all the appearance of being in a deep slumber, jumped up. With his hackles rising, he ran to Lidi’s side, baring his teeth at Bogdan. She patted his head reassuringly. “It’s okay, he’s on our side.” The dog sat down, but continued to glare at Bogdan as though warning him not to try anything.
“I will be with her,” Ged explained. “Hence the disguise.” He smiled. “And I have a few unexpected Christmas presents for Vasily.”
He could see Bogdan was torn between his dislike of the idea and his obedience to his king. They ate in silence for a few minutes before the older man raised another concern. “What of Prince Andrei and Miss Sasha? Vasily will never admit them into the palace, as well.”
It was a valid point. Ged regarded Andrei across the table. “Could you stand to wait here until we send for you? There will be a very important mission attached to your stay here at Aras House.”
Since their arrival in Callistoya, Andrei, who had coped well with the journey, had been looking tired. Now he looked up from his plate with an inquiring expression. “What would it be?”
“We can’t take Bruno with us. Someone has to remain here and keep him out of trouble.”
Andrei laughed. “My God. So we get the hardest job of all?” He turned to Sasha. “What do you say?”
She took his hand. “This is a beautiful place where you can convalesce, and we can catch our breath while we adjust to our new lives.” She smiled at Lidi. “And I’m getting used to the dog. We’ll look after him and join you when the time is right. We don’t want to miss all the fun.”
As she finished speaking, Bruno placed his paws on her knee and, eying her plate, gave the plaintive whine of a dog who has not been fed for weeks. Sasha patted his head and gave him a large piece of meat, which he took back to the fireside.
Ged smiled at Lidi. “That’s the pet sitting taken care of. When my uncle arrives, we’ll draw up a battle plan.”
Chapter 18
As Lidi crossed the central courtyard with Bruno, the contrasting receptions they received amused her. While she was greeted with cries of delight, the dog’s presence provoked universal horror. Although she explained that the creature at her side—who was prancing delightedly while chewing on his leash at the prospect of a walk—was harmless, it was clear no one believed her.
When she reached a quieter area of the castle grounds, she paused, pushing back the hood of her cloak and breathing in the pure, clean air. Ged was expecting his uncle to arrive within the hour. As soon as they had consulted with Eduard Tavisha, she and Ged would travel south to the royal palace. The last stage of the journey to freedom would begin.
What comes after freedom? After my father is released from his cell and I no longer have this threat hanging over me...what then?
She looked back at the castle that was her home. Then...this. A return to her old life. The life she loved. Would that be such a hardship? Tears blurred her vision briefly. Yes. Because her life would no longer contain Ged. And he was her whole world.
Just as the thoughts threatened to overwhelm her, a woman approached. Lidi averted her face, wanting to escape recognition. She didn’t want another conversation, not now, when her mood was so low, but Bruno’s soft growl drew her attention.
She looked back in time to see the woman as she drew level. Although the hood of her cloak was pulled up, strands of her hair were clearly visible. They were silver blond.
“Allie?”
The other woman turned, pressing a finger to her lips. Beckoning with her other hand, she led Lidi in the direction of the ornate rose garden. Set right against the farthest of the castle walls, this was one of the quietest areas of the grounds.
Allie pushed back the hood of her cloak and Lidi noticed she wore the same beautiful, expensive scarf that had been wound around her neck in Cannes. As Allie took a seat on a stone bench, Lidi didn’t know whether to be angry or scared. She went for a combination of both. “What the hell is going on? Why have you been following me?” And, more important than anything else: “Who are you?”
That question became doubly important because now she was close to Allie once more, she was reminded of what she’d told Ged when he’d asked her if Allie was shifter or human. Last time she’d met this woman, Lidi had been on a single-minded mission to find Ged. The minute he’d come into the scope of her consciousness, nothing else had mattered. That was why she had paid very little attention to Allie, only noticing her as a means of gleaning information about Beast.
Although Callistoya was an insular nation, enchanted beings sometimes passed through its borders, and during her life, Lidi had encountered several different species of shifter as well as the occasional sorcerer, dragon and nymph. But her finely tuned senses weren’t working around Allie. The other woman was a complete blank, giving off no clues to her persona.
“Look inside your own heart. It will give the answers you seek.” They were the unspoken words Lidi had heard the night Pauwau had performed her healing ceremony. Hearing them again, this time from Allie’s lips, sent an icy chill down Lidi’s spine. At her feet, Bruno gave an answering shiver and slunk into the folds of her long skirt.
Look inside your heart. What was it telling her? Taking a steadying breath, she stated the unthinkable. “My heart tells me you are Alyona Ivanov.”
To her amazement, slow tears rolled down the other woman’s face. “Thank you. You have no idea how sweet it is to hear my name spoken out loud after all this time.”
Lidi tried to shake off the feeling that she had stepped into someone else’s dream. Or possibly her own nightmare. “I don’t understand. How did you survive on the night of the massacre? Your body was identified by Eduard Tavisha himself.”
Slowly, Alyona removed her scarf. “I did
n’t survive.”
Lidi raised a shaking hand to her lips as she gazed at Alyona. A deep crimson mark ran all the way around the other woman’s neck. Above and below it, the skin was red and swollen in angry contrast to the whiteness of her surrounding flesh. Where the bodice of her dress revealed her collarbone and chest, Lidi could see a deep, gaping stab wound, bloodless now after thirteen long years.
“You’re a...” Lidi shook her head, still struggling to take in what she was seeing.
Alyona’s smile was the saddest thing she’d ever seen. “I think the word you’re looking for is ghost.”
“That’s why I don’t feel anything from you. When Ged asked me if you were shifter or human, I didn’t know what you were.”
Tears spilled down Alyona’s cheeks again. “How is Gerald? Truly?”
Lidi took a few seconds to weigh the situation. Was she really doing this? Having a conversation with the ghost of Ged’s murdered fiancée? Deciding that if she was going to do it, she may as well do it properly, she took a seat next to Alyona on the bench.
“How does this work? Don’t you know how he is?”
Alyona shook her head. “Although Gerald is the reason I am here, you are the only person I can interact with.”
There was a world of information in that sentence, but Lidi decided to unpack it slowly. “Ged is—” Where to begin? “I think conflicted is the best word, but it’s only the start. For many years, it was like he died in the massacre along with the rest of you. A part of him did. He hates himself because he wasn’t able to stop the killings.” She turned her head to look at Alyona. “And he blames himself for not being there to protect you.”
“I will always love him, but not in the way you do,” Alyona said. “Gerald was my best friend, my confidant, the person who made me laugh and lifted me up when I was down. But he was never my lover. He is your mate. And that is why I am here.”
