Magical Lover

by Karilyn Bentley

  “Does she know?”

  What was Alviss talking about now? “Does she know what?”

  “Don’t play dumb, son.” Balthor jumped in.

  “What should I know?” Keara asked, looking between the three males.

  Thoren realized where this conversation headed and was in no hurry for it to arrive. “What did you find when you touched her mark?” A change of direction was a good thing, right?

  Alviss drummed gnarled fingers against the chair arm. Balthor skipped the nervous twitch and used the you’re-going-to-get-a-whipping-when-I-lay-hands-on-you face that had sent Thoren running for cover as a child. He felt a tingle of fear and quickly smashed it out. He was grown. Was his father really going to do anything about Thoren not mentioning Keara was his mate?

  “Surely you’re not as clueless as you appear?”

  Thanks, Alviss. “No sir, I’m not. But I would like to know her linage.”

  “Ah. That’s good. You had me and everyone else here worried for a minute. Her linage. Keara, did you know a Draconi can touch your mark and learn your family?”

  Of course she didn’t. Thoren hadn’t known until recently and he’d grown up in Draconia. Naturally, Keara shook her head, her eyes aglow like she’d received a stack of presents on her birthing day.

  “Child. Speak up, old ears have problems hearing. Did you wish to know your family?”

  “Please sir. If it would not offend.”

  “Your father has been dead to us many years past. He left and never returned. Your aunt belongs in service to the Goddess. You’ve already met her. Your grandmother is dead, many years past, before your father. Your grandfather is very old. Do you wish to meet this old male? Is he worth your time?”

  Thoren hissed in a breath as he looked between Keara and Alviss. He had a sneaking suspicion he knew who her grandfather was and it shook him to the core.

  “He is. I would very much like to know any relative. Which priestess is my aunt?” Thoren could tell by her face she hadn’t caught on.

  “This is quite the shock for your grandfather. He did not think he had a grandchild. You might think him grumpy.”

  Grumpy wouldn’t be the word Thoren would use. More like downright dangerous with a large amount of power.

  “I don’t care. I would still like to meet him. Who is my aunt?”

  “Annaliese is your aunt and I am your grandfather.”

  Just as Thoren thought. Unbelievable. He’d tried to kill Keara’s grandfather. Alviss was going to love it when Thoren announced Keara was his mate. Welcome to the family.

  Chapter 17

  Keara stared at the oldest person she ever saw. Her grandfather. Thick white locks hung over his shoulders, falling in streaks across his sunken chest. Wrinkles collapsed on wrinkles, framing thin red lips. But his eyes sparkled emerald fire, while his aura glowed strong, and Keara knew that despite his withered appearance he held powerful magic.

  Magic he’d already demonstrated when he touched her arm and she almost fainted. How embarrassing.

  Thank the Goddess Thoren had caught her so she didn’t look as bad of a fool. Not that she had time to worry about feeling foolish. She’d been too busy trying to overcome the pain coursing through her veins.

  And then Thoren had acted like he needed to avenge her death. Yes, the pain was bad, but it wasn’t the kind to kill her. His protectiveness chased away the hurt, leaving a warm center in the middle of her chest. No one ever stood up for her like that. No one.

  And it meant so much.

  Just when she’d thought things couldn’t get any better, Alviss announced Annaliese was her aunt and he was her grandfather. That explained the bond she felt with the healer, but did nothing to explain Annaliese’s age. She didn’t look much older than Keara.

  Yet another thing she needed to ask about.

  After she talked to her...grandfather. Oh Goddess, what if he didn’t like her? What if he thought her an aberration like her grandmother had?

  Keara tensed her calf muscles, trying to make her legs stop shaking.

  “Well, child, speak up.”

  “I am shocked, sir.”

  “Stop sirring me. You may call me Gramps. I like the sound of that. What about you?”

  The Council gave Alviss looks as if they thought his mind had taken an extended vacation and left an incapable substitute in its place.

  Alviss beamed at her. What’s not to like about a cute, wrinkled old male?

  She smiled back at him. “Gramps, it is.”

  Using his cane to push himself to his feet, Alviss turned to the male Draconi sitting next to him. “Continue the questioning. I find I wish to talk to my granddaughter. That has a nice ring to it, does it not? Granddaughter.”

  The male nodded at Alviss, clearly dumbfounded. Maybe her newly found grandfather was not as nice as he seemed? She glanced at Thoren and got no help. His face hung pale and limp as he gaped at Alviss.

  Or maybe that was a clue. Obviously Alviss’s attitude toward her was completely out of character. Not that she cared. She’d take dear old Gramps anyway she could get him.

  Provided he didn’t mind her. What if he thought her strange? Or evil? Thoren’s presence in her life made old thoughts of evil vanish. But what if Alviss didn’t like Halflings?

  As he thump-shuffled over to her, planting his cane and shuffling his feet, she realized the thought for what it was—insecurity. Get it together, Keara. He either likes you, or he doesn’t, and that’s that.

  She watched Alviss grow closer, and taller, much taller than he looked hunched over in his chair. Even leaning on his cane he topped her, his bushy white eyebrows covering sharp green eyes.

  “Well, child, are you ready for a talk?” He held out an arm.

  Keara grasped it, planning on helping him to the door. “That would be nice.”

  “Hang on.”

  Her body shattered into a million pieces and swirled through space, rejoining some distance away. Her head spun, her limbs shaking as they took shape next to a bench under a shade tree. Transporting was such a rush. And to think, if Thoren hadn’t rescued her she would never have learned the ability.

  “Sit, sit,” Alviss pointed to the bench, shuffling over. “Old bones can’t hold themselves up for long.”

  Keara held his arm until he flopped into a seat, watching as he planted his cane between his stretched out legs. She sat next to him.

  “What’s that building?” The circular structure squatted on the edge of the horizon, its stone walls surrounded by a copse of trees.

  “Ah. That’s where we were. This is much more conducive for talking, don’t you think?”

  “It is prettier.”

  “Yes, yes.” He patted her hand, his bent fingers warm. “Now, tell me about yourself. Let an old grandfather know what excitement he missed in your life.”

  How long did it take to talk about what a pariah she had been? Too long. She ended the brief and boring rendition of her life with the best thing that happened to her.

  “And then Thoren found me and brought me back with him.”

  “Thoren mentioned you arrived here several days ago. You met my daughter, Annaliese?”

  “She said I could help her at the Temple and learn healing.”

  “What does Thoren think of that?”

  Keara looked at her hand resting in Alviss’s. “Why should he care?”

  “Oh-ho. He hasn’t told you?”

  “Told me what?”

  “We had a Seer at the Temple for many years who used to predict whether or not a Draconi had a mate. The females who had no mate became priestesses, which is why Annaliese serves the Goddess in the infirmary.”

  What did this have to do with Thoren? More specifically, what was Thoren supposed to tell her? Politeness kept the smile frozen on her face.

  “Anyway, before she died, the Seer predicted Thoren’s mate would be special and would perform great magic.”

  A streak of jealousy slammed into her, bringing a
n insane urge to commit murder. Smile, do not snarl.

  “You are who the Seer predicted.”

  Blink. Breathe. “What?”

  “You are mates.”

  “Nonsense. He married me according to my town’s laws, but claimed that wasn’t what he meant to do. So I guess that means we’re divorced. Besides, Aryana said—”

  “Don’t pay her any attention.”

  The tone of his voice didn’t waver, but the anger roiling off him slammed into her like a gust of wind. How could he not like Aryana? What was the story behind the anger?

  “What’s wrong with Aryana?”

  “Let’s choose another subject. You said you did not know what happened to my son, your father. Is that correct?”

  “I never knew who he was. Neither did my grandmother. What I really want to know—”

  Alviss rolled over her words like she hadn’t spoken. “So you don’t know what happened to him?”

  Didn’t she just say that? “No, sir.”

  Alviss sighed. “He left one day as he often did. Said he’d be back and that he had a surprise. I can only assume the surprise was you, but he never returned. A Draconi does not willingly leave the fold for long.

  “We waited,” his voice broke, “but he never returned. We sent our spies, but without knowing where he went...they didn’t find a trace. After the required time he was declared dead. Draconi don’t have many children and for me to be blessed with two...But I lost one. And then you came today.” A long pause. “The pain of my lost son is still inside me, but you have helped ease the hurt.”

  Keara patted his hand with her free one and blinked rapidly. Draconia tended to bring on tears no matter where she went.

  “I’m glad to meet you too.”

  Alviss stared at the horizon, face turned from her, obviously not wanting her to see his weakness. Not that she found grief a weakness, but men—and she assumed Draconi males fell into this category too—considered a show of grief to be a show of weakness. And Goddess forbid they appear weak.

  “Do you know the symbolism of your mark?” Alviss turned toward Keara, one finger pressing on her mark. Did he have a kaleidoscope of thoughts running through his mind? Because he sure had a hard time staying on topic. Discussion of Draconi marks had been the last thing on her mind.

  “It means I’m a Draconi.”

  “Yes, yes. But in the hands of a powerful sorcerer, that would be yours truly, it can be used for other things. For instance, seeing into your magic, discovering whose family you belong to, controlling the person whose mark you touch. Not that I’d condone that, but you should know about the ability.”

  Ah. She’d thought Thoren had used some sort of a spell to control her when he’d married—oops, rescued her. Nice to know she’d been right.

  Alviss’s finger rubbed across her skin, his magic probing hers. She bit her lip to hold back the scream as fire poured from his fingertip into her veins, streaming through every part of her body. And just as quickly as it came, the pain disappeared.

  Keara jerked her arm out of his grasp. “You really need to stop probing me like that. In case you don’t realize it, it hurts.”

  Alviss’s eyes twinkled. “Now, now, I wouldn’t hurt you on purpose. I’m just trying to find out what magic you have.”

  “You could just ask.” Keara crossed her arms.

  “Do you know all your powers?”

  Clearly, he didn’t think she knew. “I absorb illnesses.”

  “And energy too, do you not?”

  “I suppose.”

  “Of course you do. That’s how you survived Thoren’s Change, am I right?”

  “He told you that?”

  “Answer the question.”

  “Yes. That’s how I helped him through his Change. I absorbed his energy. I didn’t realize you were supposed to throw it away.”

  “It’s a rare ability, absorbing illnesses, or energy. It’s a skill my mate, your grandmother, had. She worked in the Temple as a healer, but that is how she healed. That is not how she helped me through the Change, but she could absorb a great deal of energy. You remind me of her. A little in the face.” Gnarled fingers touched her cheek, his eyes darting away.

  “Did she have...other magic?”

  “What other magic are you referring to?” His sharp gaze returned to hers.

  Keara shrugged. “Could she heal in...other ways?”

  Alviss’s eyes narrowed. “Not that I was aware of. Annaliese might know more. Why?”

  “Just curious. No reason.” He might be her Gramps, but she didn’t yet trust him enough to reveal her secret.

  “Well, it looks like our talk is over. Look who is coming to pay us, more like you, a visit.”

  Keara followed Alviss’s finger as it pointed at the Council’s Chamber. Two figures, tiny on the horizon, left the building. As she watched, the raven-haired one came their way.

  Thoren.

  After what Alviss said about Thoren being her mate, she needed to have a word with the male.

  Alviss patted her hand. “It’s time for me to go. Someone wants to speak with you. Would you be willing to meet with me again? I would like to know you better.”

  Keara smiled. “I’d love that. I’m glad you’re my grandfather.” She threw her arms around him in a hug.

  His thin arms tightened around her waist, surprising her with their strength.

  “Good-bye, granddaughter.”

  “Good-bye, Gramps.”

  Alviss smiled and disappeared out of her arms. A grandfather. She had a grandfather that seemed to like her. How wonderful was that?

  Her new problem was coming fast. Keara turned toward Thoren and watched as he strode across the grass, his long legs making quick work of bridging the distance between them. Her heart fluttered at the sight of his black hair shifting against shoulders that filled out his tunic. Magic wrapped around him like a blanket, coating him in its power.

  According to Alviss, Thoren was her mate.

  So why had he denied being married to her?

  “How’d it go with Alviss?”

  “Great! I can’t believe I have a grandfather.” And that he likes me.

  Thoren started to sit on the bench.

  “Wait!” He halted halfway down. “I have to return to check on Jamie.” In her excitement over meeting her grandfather, she completely forgot about her apprentice and his injuries.

  What kind of apothecary was she to forget about one of her patients? Her only excuse was the day had been filled with excitement that now started to turn into a vague sense of anger.

  Thoren offered her his arm. Keara paused before taking it.

  “What’s wrong? Did he hurt you?” He growled the last words.

  Keara darted a glance at his face and pulled back. Hard planes created shadows, giving an appearance of vengeance. Goddess, Thoren looked like he would kill Alviss if he thought the old male had hurt her. A smile started to blossom as she thought of his protectiveness toward her, but she squelched it.

  “No, no! Alviss didn’t hurt me,” she refused to mention the second magical probing, “He just mentioned something.”

  Thoren’s face returned to normal. “You look upset all of a sudden. Don’t worry about Jamie. I’m sure Annaliese or one of the acolytes took care of him.”

  “It’s not Jamie. Well, it is a bit. I got so caught up in talking to Alviss that I forgot about him. But what I’m wondering about is,” Keara took a deep breath. “Alviss mentioned we were mates.”

  Thoren stiffened, his face turning red. He knew. He knew they were mates and he refused to tell her. He knew before Aryana had even tested them for compatibility. She felt steam in the back of her throat, snaking out her ears. Keara yanked her arm out of his.

  “You knew! You told me we weren’t married. Why did you lie?”

  “I did not lie! We weren’t married. I never agreed to marry you and it’s not my problem that your town has such crazy laws that by rescuing you from that sniveling lor
d you thought I married you.”

  “Yes, yes. And Draconi have a mating ritual. That’s beside the point.”

  “That is the point. I did not marry you in your town. I did not know when I rescued you that you were my mate. I discovered that later.”

  “And kept it to yourself! I’ve been wondering how to get you to be interested in me and here you knew we were mates.”

  “I was waiting to tell you.”

  “For what? The Goddess to pop in for a visit?”

  “I needed to be sure. Once I’m mated, I can no longer be a reconnaissance specialist. I love my job. I had to be sure you were my mate before I told you how I felt.”

  Ouch. That hurt. “So your job is more important than me?”

  “I didn’t say that. I had to reconcile myself to the thought of no longer doing my job.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  “You.” Thoren ran a hand through his hair and fixed her with a penetrating stare. “You. I couldn’t stop thinking of you. And going all dragon-crazy every time you were threatened.”

  “Alviss was not a threat.”

  “I know, but I can’t help it. A male, any male, even your grandfather, acts like he is going to hurt you and I can’t help it. I want to kill him. Just thinking of you being hurt, in any way, is enough to make me kill.”

  “That’s...sweet.”

  “Sweet?”

  “I like it when you get all protective. But I don’t like it that you didn’t tell me about being your mate. What if I said no?”

  “You can’t. You can say no all you want, but the truth is there is no other male for you besides me. Only one mate for each Draconi. And you are mine.”

  “You still should have told me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  Keara looked at the walls of the Temple as they jutted above a stand of trees. Had he really thought his job more important than her? She pressed her lips together as she remembered her observations of people in River’s Run. Men there tended to think of their jobs as their life. Draconi might be part dragon, but they apparently thought the same way. No wonder Thoren felt torn if he knew that by mating he would be giving up his job.

  That didn’t excuse the fact that he forgot to tell her she belonged to him.