by Glenda Diana
And she let him. His tactics didn't fool her, yet she couldn't deny her own cravings to battle wits with him. She had noticed within herself a hunger that seemed to take control over her. A hunger that Zebual fed exquisitely and satisfied, making her appetite for him increase. When she wasn't with him she felt on edge and agitated as she waited for the moments to go by until they could be together again.
Another feeling played along the edges of her being. A feeling that she could not describe or put a name to, but she knew had something to do with the dreams that haunted her. She never mentioned them to Zebual for she knew that he was engrossed with his own thoughts. It was a dark feeling--one that made her shiver in fear.
"How are you today?"
Arysa jumped slightly at the sound of Justin's voice. She sent him a scowl as she dusted off her hands. "I thought none were to be up here but me? Makes me wonder if you are braving the waters or if you are on a mission for Zebual."
Justin looked inside the nearest room and surveyed it, before meeting her gaze with a smile. "You were always good at gleaning out the obvious."
"Really? It's a shame I can't recall exactly what I was like before this."
"You will when the time is right, I'm sure," he said, looking away.
Arysa shrugged. "Now that I have your assurance I feel so much better."
"Testy today?"
"No," she sighed. "I apologize for my bad manners and sour attitude. So what is it that you have to say?"
"That Zebual will come to your room later."
"Which means that I'm to dine by myself and that you and he will be closeted inside his room until the wee hours of the morning ... again." That was another thing that had been taking place over the last few weeks. Justin and Zebual spent several nights a week closed up in Zebual's room and then early in the dark of morning Zebual would come to her ... loving her sweetly before returning to his room and locking the door behind him.
"You're being sour again."
Arysa started to turn away when she noticed the keys dangling from his pocket. One of those keys had to belong to the lock on Zebual's door. She shook the idea that began forming inside her mind away. She would not sneak into Zebual's room. If he wanted to be with her then he could do the unlocking.
"Again, I apologize," she mumbled. "You will make sure that he eats, won't you? His appetite is returning and I don't want him to neglect it. He's still much too thin and his strength, though it has improved, still needs to increase."
"I will." Justin smiled. "You have been good for him ... just like I said. You're a sun that makes him stronger."
"And you're getting poetic on me." Arysa laughed. "To be honest, I'm almost jealous of you and the time you spend with him."
Justin's eyes widened. "Jealous?"
"Let's just say that I'm selfish and leave it at that."
He was tempted to say more, but didn't. "Would you like to join me for our midday meal?"
"Why Justin, if you keep this up I'll be persuaded into thinking that you do like me." Arysa laughed at Justin's expression of surprise.
"I have never disliked you."
Arysa held up her hand in surrender. "Okay, let us go eat. You can entertain me with telling me what you know of Connor."
Justin turned away. "Your questions would be bettered answered if you asked Zebual."
"I did and I wasn't satisfied with his answers. All he would say was that Connor was mean, violent, and had the temper of the Devil. Now, tell me exactly what you think I could gather out of information like that?"
Justin laughed at her sarcasm. "And what did you say to his description?"
Arysa sighed. "That he was very much like his ancestor."
"I'm sure that Zebual appreciated your insight."
A small smile formed on her lips. "He does like to grunt."
"By the way, you have done a wonderful job keeping these rooms clean. I don't believe it has been this clean in years."
"Thank you," she replied softly. "I think I have done very well considering the mauve gown, a phantom wolf and the nights sounds I hear at odd times."
Justin lifted his brows in question. "I hope you have an explanation that goes along with that," he said with a smile. "You have me curious."
Arysa moved down the hall to stand at the doorway to Connor's room. The gown was gone. For weeks it had laid there because she had refused to take care of it. What good did it do to replace it back in the Lady's closet only to have it reappear? She turned away and headed back down the hall toward the stairs.
"Did Connor and his wife have any children?" she asked, pausing outside the nursery.
"I couldn't say," Justin murmured.
Arysa looked over her shoulder at him. Couldn't or wouldn't, she was tempted to ask but instead she continued on down the hallway. Mystery and mystic, confusing and yet something very enlightening seemed to nag at her self-conscious.
"I hope Mrs. Reed has fixed a fine meal. I'm about starving."
The tension inside Justin eased. "I'm sure she did."
By the time they reached the dining hall Mrs. Reed had the master table set and a cart filled with several choice dishes for them to select from. Arysa picked up her plate and moved down near the end of the table as she ignored Justin's questioning look. In truth her hunger really wasn't all that great, she decided, looking at the fare.
"I don't bite," Justin said, still watching her.
A smile came to Arysa's lips. "I do," she teased and then laughed when Justin's eyes widened. "I'm jesting. You can sit here by me and be safe."
Justin took the seat next to hers and watched as she pushed her food around. "You've picked up Zebual's trait for playing with your food instead of eating it."
"I'm not as hungry as I thought." Arysa's gaze connected with the tapestry of the white winged wolf. From her seat it seemed as though the wolf were watching her.
Justin looked behind him at the tapestry and then turned back to Arysa. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
She didn't hear his question. Slowly, she came to her feet and moved toward the tapestry.
Justin caught himself as she moved past him, bumping him out of her way. He looked from her to the tapestry and then back again.
Arysa's whole focus was on the wolf. He seemed somewhat clear, the outline more bold, the shape of his eyes more noticeable ... and it was ridiculous. An aged and faded tapestry could not suddenly become more defined and new in appearance, but no matter what she might have told herself the evidence was right in front of her.
"What's wrong, Arysa?"
Reaching up she touched the center of the wolf and then pulled her hand back as if burned. But it didn't burn with heat ... it burned with a coldness. "Look at this, Justin," she whispered.
He moved to stand beside her. "What?"
"Can't you see a difference?"
Looking back up at the tapestry, he shook his head. "It looks the same as it always has."
"The two of you are supposed to be eating, not gawking at the walls." Mrs. Reed stated briskly, as she placed a pot of coffee on the table. "What's wrong?" she asked when Justin glanced at her.
"Have Hanah or Tairam done something to this tapestry?" Arysa whispered.
"No one touches the tapestry except for me. Why?"
"Arysa thinks it has a different look. Did you clean it recently?"
Casting a scowl at Justin, Arysa turned to Mrs. Reed and awaited her answer. He made it sound as if she had become an instant mental case. She looked at this tapestry everyday and today it looked vastly different.
Mrs. Reed blushed and lowered her gray eyes for a moment. "I didn't think anyone would notice. It was awful dusty and I just couldn't help myself ... it needed a good cleaning."
Arysa looked back at the tapestry and then backed away. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Justin winked at the older woman and took his seat. "Now, eat up, Arysa. Remember, you're starving."
She managed to eat a few bites and then excu
sed herself from the table. The path she was headed on was an easy one to detect ... the hallway and the gallery. She stood beneath the portrait of Connor studying it. She wondered if she was letting her imagination play tricks on her for Connor's eyes seemed clearer and more brilliant. She shook her head and turned away.
Perhaps she was losing her mind, she thought, making her way up the stairs to her room. Her dreams alone hinted at a serious case of insanity. She didn't even want to think about the mauve gown, the wolf or the sound of phantom footsteps that she heard in the night. With a heavy sigh she sat down on the edge of her bed.
Justin had followed her from the dining hall. Peeking around the open door to her room he saw her sitting dejectedly on the corner of her bed. "Am I disturbing you?" he asked from the doorway.
"No," she shook her head and sighed.
"Is there anything wrong, Arysa?"
She watched as he crossed the threshold to her room. He was a nice man and she was glad that he was there for Zebual, but at the moment it felt as though he was intruding into her own sanctuary. Pushing her thoughts away, she managed to smile. "I was contemplating my sanity," she stated with a shrug.
Justin glanced at the doorway to Zebual's room and cleared his throat softly. "And why are you worried about your sanity?"
"I'm not worried about it ... I think I lost it."
"And why would you think such a thing?"
Arysa shook her head. "I was only teasing. I'm fine, truly. I believe I'll lay down for a few minutes and rest."
Justin nodded. "You try to do too much in one day."
A laugh escaped before she could stop it. "Other than cleaning the third floor I do nothing."
"That's not true. You spend most every evening, from dusk to pre-dawn with Zebual."
Arysa lowered her head hoping to hide her blush as she held her silence.
Justin realized what meaning could be derived from his words and found his own cheeks heating. "Get some rest and I'll send Hanah or Tairam up before the dinner hour."
Arysa woke in a cold sweat. Shivers made her body tremble uncontrollably as her teeth chattered together. She pulled the blanket closer, moved over to the hearth and within minutes had a fire started. Curling up in the large chair that faced the hearth, she waited for the warmth to shatter the chill that seemed to encase her whole being.
She had dreamed yet again. She searched her mind for any fragment of the dream and could find none. Even so, she knew that this dream had been vastly different from the dreams before ... this one not only frightened her, it terrified her. As with all her dreams she wondered if some small part was from the past she couldn't remember. She hoped that wasn't the case with this dream. Whatever had lurked within the realm of it was not something she wanted to be part of her future or her forgotten past.
A sudden knock on her door startled a soft scream from her.
The door opened and Tairam stuck her head inside. "Are you all right, ma'am?"
Arysa nodded and managed to get a soft, "Yes," past her lips.
"It's almost dinner time."
"Thank you, Tairam."
"You don't look as though you're feeling well. You're as white as the snow out on the ground. Do you want me to fetch Mrs. Reed for you?"
Arysa shook her head. It wasn't like she could tell her that she had a dream. She couldn't expect the young woman to understand when she herself didn't. "No, but I thank you. I caught a slight chill. A few minutes of warmth and I'll be fine."
"I could have Mrs. Reed make you up a tray and you could stay in bed?"
Arysa smiled and shook her head. "There is nothing wrong with me that I would require bed rest."
Tairam looked doubtful but gave a brisk nod of her head and excused herself, closing the door softly behind her.
Arysa pulled the thick blanket closer to her as she tried to gather her strength. If only she could remember something of the dream. Another shiver ran down her spine as if warning her that the dream was best left forgotten. Perhaps she would talk to Zebual about it. He would make her realize just how silly she was being.
With a sigh, she stood and made her way over to the wardrobe closet where she pulled out a fresh nightgown of dark silvery gray and matching robe. Before slipping the nightgown on she quickly bathed and braided her hair. The cool material felt wonderful against her skin. It also made her feel utterly wanton. She couldn't very well go downstairs for dinner like this. Her blushes would stir the curious natures of the whole household.
No sooner had she sat down when Mrs. Reed entered her room like a whorl of wind. Her gray eyes moved over Arysa as if inspecting her.
"Tairam said that you weren't feeling well, lass."
"I'm fine," Arysa said with a smile. "Just a bit under the weather is all."
"What symptoms did you have?" Mrs. Reed hurried across the room and placed a gentle hand on Arysa's brow. "There's no fever, thankfully."
Arysa hesitated for a moment. "There are no symptoms," she whispered.
"None?" the older woman asked, with a lift of her brow.
"I had a dream."
Mrs. Reed watched what little color there was leach from Arysa's face, leaving her white and drained. "What was the dream about, lass?"
Shaking her head, Arysa whispered. "I don't remember."
Mrs. Reed lowered her brows as she nervously glanced over at the door to Zebual's room.
"Zebual has enough to deal with," Arysa stated firmly. "I would appreciate some silence and some privacy on this matter."
Mrs. Reed gave a slight shrug and started to turn away. "I'll leave now. I will bring up the dinner tray for you and Zebual."
"I thought that he and Justin were having dinner together?"
"They were, but then Zebual changed his mind."
Arysa was pleased with that bit of news. She also knew she had upset the old dear, it was obvious by the stiffness in her frame. Arysa sighed. "You know that if you say something to him, he will in return have something to say to me."
"I don't tattle," Mrs. Reed huffed.
"Like hell you don't." Arysa laughed as she walked over and gave Mrs. Reed's a hug. "But I adore you anyway. I'll talk to Zebual myself about my dream."
Mrs. Reed returned the hug and nodded her head. "Thank you, lass."
Arysa waited for Zebual to say something about her dreams, but he didn't. Mrs. Reed had been true to her word, which made her finally relax and enjoy her time with Zebual.
"When do you wish to be married?"
His question caught her by surprise. She nervously wiped the palms of her hands against the satin robe she wore. "There's no need," she replied with a smile. "If I am your mate, as you say I am, then marrying you again will not be necessary.
Zebual sat down next to her on the settee and took her hands in his. "Yes, there is. You don't recall the first one."
"That doesn't matter," she whispered. "I believe you and that, my love, is all that matters."
"Every wife should have a memory of when she was a bride. Unless you are unsure."
"Every wife should be as lucky as I." Arysa leaned forwarded and placed a lingering kiss upon his lips. "I have you, Zebual and I love you ... and I'm sure when it comes to you and I."
"What makes you so sure?"
Taking his hand she placed it over her heart. "This ... I know this will sound silly and perhaps it is, but I can feel you here."
He copied her actions by placing one of her hands against his chest. "Nay, it doesn't sound silly. I feel you here also ... I have from the beginning."
Arysa jumped slightly when a loud knock interrupted them. Her eyes moved from the door to Zebual.
"'Tis Justin," Zebual sighed, before calling out for him to enter. He heard Arysa mutter something softly and he smiled. "He'll only be a moment and then we shall continue."
"Don't cast those lustful eyes on me, Sir Knight or I will not be held responsible for any rash actions I might take, if you continue to look at me in such a way."
Before Zebual could reply, Justin entered. "Good evening, Zebual, Arysa."
"Good evening, Justin," she managed to murmur without showing too much of her displeasure at his untimely intrusion.
"Justin," Zebual replied, keeping his smile hidden.
"Mrs. Reed will bring up your dinner shortly. She outdid herself this evening. I could smell the aroma clear through the manor."
"I would ask a favor of you."
Justin smiled knowingly. "Would that favor consist of me contacting Thomas?"
"Ahhh, you are a wise man, Justin."
"Wiser than you think." Justin laughed. "He will be here tomorrow."
"Excellent."
"Who is Thomas?" Arysa asked.
Zebual reached over and took her hand in his. "He is the one that will read the joining vows to us."
"Oh," she murmured with a smile, as she entwined her fingers with his. "Is he the one that read the joining vows to us the first time?"
"Yes."
Arysa brows came down and she bit her lip softly. "Will he not think it's strange to read them to us again?"
"No," Justin smiled. "He believes it is a grand idea."
"Only because he will eat us out of house and home," Zebual murmured laughingly.
Justin shook his head. "I have already warned Mrs. Reed to have plenty of food ready."
"I can only imagine what her reaction was."
"She promised to behave herself and not tease Thomas about his girth."
Zebual gave a mock sigh. "A promise she'll break the second she sets eyes on him."
Arysa was enjoying the conversation, but if Mrs. Reed didn't like the man, then perhaps it was best not to have him read the vows. "Doesn't she like this man?" she asked worriedly.
Zebual lightly squeezed her fingers. "Mrs. Reed and Thomas like to tease and annoy one another. I have thought many a times watching them that perhaps their teasing manner toward one another was a shield to protect their interest in each other."
