“It was not your fault that your mate didn’t come through the shadow. I don’t care what the Oracles say. It is a very frightening experience and is no reflection on you.” Drace didn’t look convinced so Alea got to the crust of her problem, “The Elder thinks I am a healer.” Alea blurted out her dilemma, “If you don’t come back they will think I am not…which is probably a good thing but I will have to live with your death on my hands.” She bit her lip, “If you do come back, then they will know I am a healer. Which is the worse of those two things?”
Drace looked at her, “If they think you are a healer they will isolate you in the Oracle Temple. Maliuth will be denied mate status with you and you will be separated. That would be the worst thing for both of you.” He looked beyond her as if he had heard something, “I think it best that I move on.” He returned his gaze to her. “My death is not at your hands, or Maliuth’s. I chose to take this path.” Again, he looked beyond her and then smiled so happily it hurt her to see it, “I am bound for a place where I can be with my mate. She is there waiting for me. It seems I am to go through the shadows for her. Thank you for trying Alea. Know that I am at peace. I have no family but tell my friends that I am content.”
Alea watched as Drace moved into the mist and disappeared before her eyes. With a racking breath, she returned to her body to find herself draped over his body. He was gone. Tears filled her eyes and she hurried to clear them. He was happy to be moving on and she was going to force herself to be happy for him.
“He has passed.” Ori murmured from beside her. When she looked at Ori, he gave her a sad look.
“That is a disappointment.” The Elder moved to leave the room, and then turned to Ori. “Assign her quarters here in the temple. She can be tested again.”
“No! I won’t go with you.” Alea jumped up and tried to run toward Maliuth who had taken up his dagger again at The Elder’s words. It seems that his friend and family members came armed. Every one of them had a wicked blade…or two in their hands, including Sartya. What she hadn’t noticed was the swarm of Oracles that The Elder had brought with him. They had taken up positions around the room, and they were armed as well.
“Alea!” Maliuth’s anguished voice called out at the same time she was surrounded by Oracles.
She threw herself against them, trying to break the blockade they made. They were small, but strong for their size. She couldn’t make them move. When she felt a hand on her arm, against her will, her blood began to boil. How dare they try to keep her from Maliuth? She had survived the shadows to be with him. Not locked in some temple, the weird pet of The Elder.
With a scream, the Oracle who had grabbed her jumped back. Alea turned to see that it looked like he had been burned. The skin on his hand was blistering.
“My hand…” He looked at her like she had grown horns.
“Stay away from me!” Alea whispered in shock and backed into another Oracle. Reaching to steady herself, she grabbed his robes, and they started to smoke, and then flame. With a scream from him and those around him, he started slapping at his robes.
“That won’t put it out.” Alea was chasing him trying to get the robes off. Everyone else had stilled and was watching the events unfolding. “Stop…drop…and roll!” Alea yelled at the top of her lungs. Finally able to catch up to the frantic Oracle she tackled him and they rolled around on the ground. For some reason she couldn’t understand, the whole thing was entirely funny to her. She started laughing. She could imagine the picture she made running after the flaming robed Oracle. When she looked at the male lying under her, she couldn’t help laughing some more. He was so petrified he looked to be made of stone.
“I am not going to hurt you.” Alea sighed when she could control her laughter. “Please don’t be afraid. I didn’t mean for you to come to harm. I just want to help.” Taking her hands, she placed them on his shoulders to push herself upright. The male gave a strange shudder and the burns on his body began healing. The blisters faded, the old skin flaked away and fresh pink skin remained. His amazed look went from her to his formerly burned skin then back to her face.
“Thank you—”
“Please don’t thank me. It was my fault you were hurt.” Before she could move to stand up, she felt hands under her armpits. She was about to panic thinking it was The Elder or another Oracle when her “Maliuth” alarm went off. He turned and lifted her at the same time so that she was held against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tucked her face in and squeezed. She wasn’t going to let go, no matter what The Elder had to say about it.
“Alea…are you okay?” his voice was gruff with worry. “Did you suffer any damage?” She felt his hands running over her body, checking for injury. When she just shook her head against his neck, he adjusted his hold so that one arm was under her bottom, the other across her back. “Your dress is damaged, and I want to check you for burns.”
She realized she could feel cool air on skin that should be covered, but she just shook her head more adamantly against his neck. “I am not letting go.” She mumbled her lips brushing against his skin. He must have felt the words as much as heard them because a tremor went through the arms holding her. “I am fine.” She assured him, her body was having its usual reaction to his nearness and she was close to not caring that they had an audience. When she felt a sticky substance on her hands, she gasped and pulled back.
“Your injuries are still bleeding.” Her voice echoed around the still silent room. Everyone was like statues frozen in time. Where they had been standing when the Oracle’s robes had started flaming is where they were still standing. There seemed to be a theme in the look of shock on every face. She didn’t care. Maliuth was hurt and that wouldn’t do at all. Squirming in his hold to see the extent of his injuries, she tried to get him to put her down.
“I am not letting go either.” His voice had gone from worried to sexy smooth. She had no doubt that he meant what he said. The determination in his voice sent a thrill down her spine.
“Well then, I shall have to do my best without seeing where you are damaged.” Taking his face in her hands, she pulled him to within a breath of her lips. “I hope you kiss on this world.” Then she brushed her mouth across his and willed that any wounds he had would heal. His eyes widened in surprise and Alea used her teeth to nip along his full lower lip. When his eyes widened even more, she gave a soft laugh. From his look of shock, she guessed they didn’t kiss. Did Maliuth like it?
“You close your eyes.” Moving her hands to rest against his temples, she used her thumbs to lightly brush his eyelids closed. “It is supposed to heighten the sensation.” She whispered against his ear and then moved back to his lips. Alea had always believed that kissing with your eyes closed was better, but seeing Maliuth up close when kissing was wickedly sexy too. Keeping her hands framed near his jaw she curled her fingers to tangle in the hair at the back of his neck. She knew that her ears were very sensitive and she didn’t want to play with his until they were more private. She had a feeling when sexually aroused that the ears played a different role than any she had known before. Therefore, she poured the passion she was feeling into kissing Maliuth but avoided touching his ears.
“This is not for us to witness.” Alea vaguely heard Sartya say then the sound of footsteps and doors closing reached her ears. She wanted to look to see who had stayed, but she couldn’t’ seem to draw away from Maliuth. Which was a good thing because it seemed he had gotten the hang of their mouths being pressed together. To ramp up the kiss she playfully flicked out her tongue to tease him. His arms spasmed and pulled her tightly against him. Her breasts were heavy and aching from being rubbed against his bare skin. Her nipples were hard buds and she wanted nothing more than to get this dress off and be alone with Maliuth. Trying to hold her up he had moved both hands to her bottom. He was kneading and rubbing against her and his mouth became feverish against hers. She felt the familiar sting on her collarbone just like before.
“I a
m not sure what you are doing with your mouth…” The Elder’s voice was a splash of cold water on her building desire for Maliuth. “but you must stop that this instant. Orihin do something. Do not just stand there!” He yelled frantically.
Alea heard Ori ask calmly, “What would you have us do?” Then she blocked out all the bickering Oracles because she wasn’t about to stop. Instead, she took the kiss to the next level. All playfulness was thrown aside. Her mouth opened on Maliuth’s and he followed suit. Their tongues moved out to spar and retreat, and then did the maneuver again. He was growling low in his throat, and the sound sent pinpoints of thrills all over her body. Her heart was racing in her chest and she thought it might burst. The pain in her collarbone had moved to include her shoulder. Something told her not to break the kiss, so she strained closer. Knowing she was as close as she could get while clothed, she still tried to meld her body to his.
“I said stop!” Alea felt hands on her and then another scream and the panicked voices of the Oracles washed over her. She ignored them all and kept her hold on Maliuth. The pain in her shoulder was reaching a throbbing crescendo. She would liken it to extreme physical desire and the cleft between her leg took up the same throbbing tempo.
Without warning, it all crashed around her and she swallowed Maliuth’s gasp at the same time her body started spasming. Her eyes met and held with his warm brown ones. Something passed between them like an electric arc.
“We are bonded.” Maliuth was breathing heavy. His hands were gently kneading her bottom instead of frantically. His lips were moving languorously along her neck and shoulder. When he pulled back, she saw that her right collarbone and shoulder had a shimmering, intricate tattoo that mirrored the one on his left. They lines were not faint or fading this time, but solid and forever.
“I hate to break into your moment,” Alea jumped in Maliuth’s arms at Ori’s soft words, “but may I request that you might heal Oracle Thiles…and The Elder.” He added as an afterthought, though Alea sensed Ori wouldn’t mind if she declined to help the latter.
She turned slightly to look behind her and saw that Oracle Thiles must have been the male that had originally touched her in the circle. His hands were crudely bandaged and he seemed to be in quite a bit of pain. The Elder wasn’t showing any pain because he wasn’t conscious. He lay where the Oracles had moved him after he had tried to stop her from kissing Maliuth. His arms up to the elbow were blistered and raw.
Wiggling out of Maliuth’s arms Alea moved to help Oracle Thiles first. She saw that he watched her with apprehension and she tried to reassure him, “I will help the healing. I am sorry that you were harmed. Please don’t be afraid.” Touching him lightly on the hands, she willed his skin to heal. When the redness lessened and all she saw peeking out of his bandage was pink skin, she stopped.
Walking to The Elder, she whispered, “I will heal him if I can.” She looked at Ori and saw he had a small smile on his face. She wondered what he had to be happy about. She figured he would think this day was an epic disaster. For her it had been eye opening. Maliuth was smoking hot, kissed her like no other male she had ever kissed and she now had a cool bonding tattoo. When The Elder was healed to the best of her abilities, she looked up.
“You have done all you can for the Oracles.” Maliuth was at her side gesturing for her to stand. “We need to be away before anything further can happen.” Alea noticed he was eyeing Ori, and Ori inclined his head slightly. She stood from her spot by The Elder and took Maliuth’s hand.
He hurried her out the door and they ran into his family and friend waiting right outside. His mother, Sartya rushed over and gave them both hugs.
“Maliuth I am so happy for you.” She turned to Alea next. “Welcome to the family my dear.”
“Yes.” Malendroch seemed uncomfortable. “Welcome to the family.” He grabbed her up in a bear hug and she swore she heard her ribs crack when he squeezed the breath out of her.
“I am sorry we don’t have time for introductions and ‘welcomes’. We need to get Alea home.” Maliuth looked pointedly behind him.
“I will talk with father and explain what happened. I will see if there is anything we can do. Getting a council meeting will be imperative.” He bowed low to Maliuth and taking her hand kissed her gallantly. “You are a worthy mate for my friend. I have never been to such an…entertaining Rebirth before.” With a mischievous wink, he turned to leave.
“Galan wait.” Maliuth called out and his friend stopped, “Do not do anything that will jeopardize your family…and do not let your father either.” He added with a snort of laughter.
His friend Galan just bowed again, “We will not do anything you would not.” Then he hurried away.
Chapter Seven
“What do you think of Abondiel?” Maliuth asked as he hurried her along. Alea didn’t know how to respond. When they had quickly left the temple, she was shocked to see that they had been in what appeared to be a giant tree. Which fit since she was an elf now, living on an Elven world.
They ran down steps that looked like they were carved out of the wood and covered in leaves. At the end of the steps, there was a platform with multiple bridges and they had taken the one leading to the right. Another platform, another bridge…they had gone so many different directions that she lost track of where they were. If that wasn’t fantastical enough, the darkness was broken only by some strange plant based lanterns placed every few feet along every bridge and on every platform. The earthy smell of plant life after a rain was heavy in the air, along with the perfume of flowers. None of them smelled as good to her as the unique scent that was Maliuth. With him next to her, she would get a whiff of him every so often and it was intoxicating.
“Alea?” he went to slow down, “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She hurried to answer, “I’m fine. Abondiel is very lovely. I am just feeling somewhat overwhelmed.”
“I am sorry for the rush.” Maliuth looked at her and picked up the pace again. “We are almost to my home and then I will feel better.”
After stopping for a brief discussion with his mother and father, Maliuth had continued forward until they had finally arrived on a platform with no other bridges. The tree in front of them was like all the others she had been seeing. Very large with openings that looked like doors and windows. With a flourish, Maliuth swooped her up and holding her against him with one hand managed to open the door.
“This is my…” he caught himself and looked at her heatedly, “I mean our home.” Turning with her in the entry, Alea got a chance to look around. The floors were natural wood, polished to a shine. Beyond the entry, she saw a room filled with what appeared to be chairs, couches and tables. If she didn’t know that she was standing in the middle of a tree, she would have been able to picture this in any house on Earth. The “ceiling” was about fourteen feet high, with light pouring in from somewhere above. There was a staircase on the left that disappeared on the next level.
Setting her on her feet Maliuth took her hand and pulled her into the next room. “This is the lounge room.” He waved his hands to indicate all the chairs and couches. Alea did wonder how they got all the incredibly soft looking and colorful pillows, so she asked.
“There are insects that weave the material, and then our craftsman collect it for the pillows. They use flowers to dye them the different colors.” Alea wasn’t sure what insects they had on Prion, but one of the insects that did that sort of thing on Earth had been arachnids. She hoped she didn’t run into any here since they were one of her phobias. “At the center of Abondiel is our trade and crafting community. I will take you there when things are…settled.”
Alea pulled Maliuth to sit on a chaise next to her. “Can you tell me what I can do to help?” She held his hand tightly, “I know that I am the reason for things being ‘unsettled”. I want to know what we are facing.”
“I do not want you to worry about anything—”
Alea had a feeling where this was going so she h
urried to make her wishes clear. “I will worry even if you say not to.” Moving closer she gazed into his eyes. It was a second before she could remember what she had been saying. She had lost herself in the warm depths. “I am not going to be happy if you don’t treat me as an equal. I want to feel like an equal partner. You need to be honest with me.”
He appeared to consider her words then he moved even closer so that she had to tilt her head back to keep eye contact. “I will do everything in my power to make you happy. Honesty will be easy. However, telling you everything might go against my protective nature.” He drew in a deep breath and Alea’s eyes flew to his chest, still bare, inches from her face. Her mouth watered and she had the image of her teeth sinking into his skin in a playful nip. Her tongue moving over the silky flesh to taste him. “Alea?”
“Yes.” Her eyes flew back to his. Realizing he was watching her, she tried to pull herself together. “You were saying?” She swallowed hard and fought the urge to forget this talk and climb on his lap instead.
“The reason our position as mates is unsettled is because The Elder knows you are a healer. Everyone saw your skills and the information will have spread through Abondiel by now. It is customary for healers to be unmated, reside at the temple, and follow the direction of the Oracle...or in reality, The Elder.” He flexed his fingers and brought her hand to rub against his cheek. “We can be still be separated for the good of the community. The King, who is a friend of the family and Galan’s father, will arrange for us to go before the Council of Three. The Elder will represent the Oracles. Once the council has decided, we will have no option but to follow their dictate.”
Alea sat for a moment in thought, “How long do we have before the council will meet?” She had always thought herself levelheaded, but the idea of losing Maliuth made her want to run mad in the streets. In the case here on Abondiel, run mad on the bridges.
Maliuth: The Reborn Page 4
