The Soothing Scent Of Earth (Elemental Awakening, Book 2)

by Claire, Nicola

  "Theo!" I exclaimed, as Aktor said, "Isadora has never been able to get over that snub."

  "It wasn't a snub," Theo defended, while I said, "You just used your Stoicheio on me!"

  "You went straight from her arms to another's," Aktor replied. "She may have behaved as though it didn't matter, but she is no different from any other woman scorned."

  "You needed help opening up," Theo said, I think to me, but it was getting hard to tell who was talking to whom, right now. "I just helped you relax."

  "Well don't do it!" I said, in a huff.

  "Casey," he chastised gently. "Whatever it takes, I will do. Get that through your beautiful head."

  "That makes no sense at all," I snapped back.

  "Did she tell you about Melita?" Aktor interrupted, obviously directing that to me, and ending all further words I'd had planned in my mind. Also halting Theo in his tracks. I think that was the old man's plan.

  "Yes," I whispered. Theo closed his eyes and sank back on the couch. Not a good sign at all.

  Silence. Just the crackle of the flames and my too rapid breaths.

  "Theodoros," Aktor called, finally breaking the stand-off.

  "Give us a moment, Aktor. I'll call you back," Theo replied, eyes still closed.

  "Very well," the butler replied, not sounding happy about the dismissal. The Fire changed pitch and then it was just us. Theo and me.

  Both unhappy.

  I stared blindly into the flames wishing I was anywhere but here.

  "I loved her," he said in a soft voice, barely audible above the wood burning. I tightened my hold on my body and refused to look at him. "I thought she was something she was not," he added. "She hurt me greatly, and in my... weakened frame of heart and mind, I did a stupid thing."

  I turned my head slowly, unable to not look at him when the pain of his words felt real. He was leaning forward, elbows to spread knees, hands hanging limply, staring at the fire. He looked haunted.

  "I accepted Isadora's offer of comfort when I should not have," he said in a rush, as though the quicker he said it, the less it would hurt. Like a band-aid removal. "Aktor is right, and he did try to warn me at the time. But Isadora insisted she held no grudge, that she was a carefree spirit. I told her I had no heart left to give, but she still wanted me. And I... needed that."

  My hand found its way to his upper leg and I gently rested my palm on his thigh. He moved his hand to cover mine immediately.

  "It was a long time ago, Casey. I have well and truly gotten over it. But I guess Isadora has not."

  Did I say it? Was it really important? Melita was a lost love, someone who had hurt him. How could he still love her, regardless of whether she was his Thisavros or not. Did it matter?

  I still knew so little about this world. Hell, I didn't really know what being a Thisavros meant. Theo was teaching me day by day. But what I did know was me. I'm a don't-rock-the-boat kind of person. But this would eat at me, make the boat take on water through little niggling holes of worry and angst. No matter what I did to keep it afloat.

  I had to say it, and fortify myself for the answer.

  "Theo," I started, sucking in a deep breath of air. He turned fully to face me, concern evident on his face, in his eyes.

  "You can ask me anything, Casey," he said, softly stroking his thumb over the back of my hand.

  OK. I could do this.

  Right.

  "WasMelitayourThisavrostoo?" And that sounded about as garbled as an 8-track tape played backwards.

  "Hold on," Theo said, lifting a palm up between us to stop me from talking. As if I could make a sound now. "I got Melita and Thisavros, but nothing else." A pause. Followed by his creased brow lifted to become raised eyebrows. "Was she my Thisavros?"

  His eyes searched my face, strangely a small smattering of gold flecked the hazel. I couldn't begin to work out why it would be there.

  "Oraia?" he asked, reaching up and cupping my face. "Is that what Isadora told you?"

  I nodded, eyes wide to stave off tears, my inner cheek getting a workout.

  He held up a finger and said, "First thing. To be a Thisavros both parties must agree. The bite?" he reminded me. "If you had not enjoyed my bite, you would not have been my Thisavros. Understand?"

  My head bobbed up and down twice. But my eyes had narrowed.

  Two fingers held up now. "Second. And this is the most important. You cannot have two Thisavros at the same time. Don't ask me how that works, but something Aetheros created in us makes it impossible to have a ménage, if you will. While you are mine and I am yours, no one else can become either of our Thisavros."

  That was good to know, because Theo was definitely mine and I was definitely his, if the way his bite made me feel. But it didn't answer the all important question, did it? And by the look on his face - satisfied, complete, final - Theo thought he'd explained all my worries away.

  "Now," he said, wrapping an arm about my shoulders and pulling me tight against his side. A move that should have elated me, but just didn't seem to elicit the usual response. "We should really get Aktor back and discuss our plans from here."

  I felt his Pyrkagia swell as he reached out to the flames and for the tiniest of moments I urged mine to stop him. It was surprisingly easy to do. It whipped out at the single thought, wrapped itself around his, in some metaphysical and magical way that I could still manage to perceive, and then sprang back like a coil stretched too far.

  "Everything settled?" Aktor's voice said out of the Fire, as Theo twisted in his seat to face me, brow furrowed.

  "Casey?" he asked.

  I was too tired for this and maybe I was thinking about it too much. Because he was my Thisavros and he'd just said no one else could be his. So right now, right here, he was mine and I was his. I was getting worked up over nothing. It didn't affect what we had. It was irrelevant and in the past. I needed to move on, we had more pressing matters of concern.

  I knew this. It was logical. So, why did it still weigh so heavily on my heart?

  I shook my head and said the only thing I could say, "Fine. Everything's fine."

  Theo frowned at me some more, but Aktor was all business.

  "I've done some investigating while you were occupied," the old man announced. "Isadora is on a flight back to Auckland."

  "That is a relief," Theo said, although he didn't sound his normally enthused-for-Dora attitude.

  "Theodoros," Aktor said evenly. "She was summoned."

  I flicked a glance at Theo to see him scowl. No longer a frown, but a full out perturbed glower.

  "Do they know she was with me?" he asked, his arm snaking tighter around my frame at his side. Almost a subconscious movement to soothe his nerves.

  "Possibly," Aktor replied. "Nico is looking into it discretely," he added, making me smile that at least Nico was back in the good books with Aktor. The scowl on Theo's face deepened enough to let me know his cousin hadn't made amends with him yet though.

  "Well, I guess it's irrelevant now," Theo said, and achingly there was a note of defeat in his tone.

  "How so?" I asked, softly, offering what support I could by snuggling in closer. He wrapped both arms about my body and buried his face into the crook of my neck, delivering a tender kiss.

  Against my skin he said, "I am exiled. I cannot return. So the Council's or my father's reaction can no longer reach me." He pulled back. "What concerns me, though, is the harm they could cause Isadora." That was said to the flames.

  "Believe me, Theodoros," Aktor said dryly, "Isadora is more than capable of getting herself out of any hot water her trip may create. I'd be more anxious about your property and interests here. They are likely to confiscate them all."

  "Start to liquidate what you can of our assets and get yourself out of there," Theo replied, immediately.

  "I'll take care of myself and what I can here, don't worry. I've already packed up the essentials and will leave the house once we're through." Thankfully Aktor did have a safe home to
go to until he could join us. One which I had to hope had been repaired since Nico demolished part of it. I also presumed Theo would want the old butler with us. But where would we be?

  "Where are we going to go?" I asked, the flames and Theo both.

  "Good question," Theo replied, not helping to settle my worries right then. "Aktor?"

  "Yes, yes," the butler said dismissively. "I've been working on that too. The references we have regarding Aether are not useful, I'm afraid."

  "You told him?" I whispered out of the corner of my mouth, not upset, but surprised he'd found time.

  "You were out for over an hour after we arrived here. Aktor and I had a good long chat."

  Oh.

  "I could make an impromptu visit to the Pyrgos' library. There may be something helpful there," Aktor offered.

  "We can't risk you anywhere near Pyrgos and the Council right now," Theo remarked. "Consider all Pyrkagia hostile ground," he added on a wounded sigh.

  Aktor let out a similar sound that was audible above the crackle of the flames.

  "Well, then," the butler said. "You have only one choice if you wish to find out more about what Cassandra is."

  "I told you that wasn't an option," Theo curtly replied.

  "I can do what I can to arrange safe passage," Aktor continued.

  "No," Theo cut him off. "Out of the question."

  "Then what?" Aktor barked, a tone I had never heard him use before. Not on anyone, least of all his master.

  "I don't know," Theo ground out. "I'll think of something."

  "Will you, Theodoros? You're away from your home and contacts. You have no allies you can trust."

  "So your idea about visiting another Ekmetalleftis branch is better than going it alone?" Theo asked incredulously.

  "Wait," I said, interrupting them both. "What do you mean going to another branch?"

  Aktor started talking, as Theo said, "Don't!" in his loudest voice. Covering Aktor's words completely.

  I reached up and slapped a hand over his mouth and got bitten for my efforts, so with a small pull on my Pyrkagia side, laced with a bit of Gi through the sweet smell of the orchids in the room, I swamped his senses. None too delicately.

  He groaned, rolled over towards me, wrapping a hand around my throat possessively, while his thigh pinned me to the couch. Well, I was still learning and mistakes would happen. But I wanted to hear what Aktor had said.

  "Hush," I commanded Theo, as he started murmuring about all the things he was going to do to me in my ear. For a second he had me, because some of the things he detailed I hadn't even known could exist. But I wouldn't have minded finding out, that was for sure.

  But first, Aktor.

  I pushed against Theo's chest and received a hot handed full breast cup and knead, then a rock of his hips against my thigh. Biting back an almost hysterical laugh, I said, "Aktor, what branch of Ekmetalleftis?"

  "The Aeras," he answered. "In Peru."

  Air Elementals. "Why?"

  "They have a shaman who preaches the word of Aetheros," Aktor added, as Theo started removing my top. I struggled with his attempts, but kept my mind on the Fire, which of course didn't help to pull any of my Pyrkagia influence back from Theo. "He is considered the foremost knowledge on our god. If anyone knows the true meaning of being an Aether it would be him."

  "Thank you!" I almost cried out, as Theo pushed me down on the settee, and covered my body with his bigger, much harder one. "I gotta go!" I added.

  "You might consider releasing your hold on Gi," the butler said mildly. "It amplifies your Pyrkagia making it impossible for Theodoros to fight back."

  I yelped. "Really?"

  "Yes, Miss Eden. Give the man a fighting chance." The last was said on a chuckle. "And I'll start organising safe passage to Urubamba in Peru."

  "Uru-what?" I asked, stifling a squeal when Theo's hand found its way under my yoga pants.

  "Machu Picchu, Miss Eden. The Aeras reside there."

  Holy freaking hell. The Machu Picchu.

  "Release your Gi, Cassandra," Aktor reminded me, then said, "And good luck." The crackle of the flames changed pitch letting me know he had gone.

  Leaving me alone with a very turned on, very determined, very experienced Pyrkagia Prince.

  Chapter 17

  Would It Consume Me?

  For an incredibly brief and self indulgent moment I considered not releasing my hold on Gi. The orchids in the room smelled sweet, offering a perfumed accompaniment to the sensations Theo was creating with his touch, his lips, his fingers and teeth. It was beautiful. It was breathtaking.

  It was so wrong.

  I sighed, which Theo matched with a moan, fortifying my resolve, and let the Earth flow through me one last time and then bleed free into the air around us. Theo's Pyrkagia rushed to replace my Gi; burning, heating, blistering away any possible hold I had over him. Filling me, commanding me, ruling my every move and thought and feeling.

  I moaned, which Theo matched with a moan of his own.

  Hold on. He was supposed to pull back and berate me, not increase his efforts to get into my pants.

  "Um, Theo?" I said, my voice way too low and husky to mean anything good right then.

  "Mmm?" he mumbled in reply, his lips too busy wrapping around a naked nipple.

  "You're not stopping."

  "No," he somehow managed to articulate, but still not let my breast go.

  "You're supposed to be righteously angry at my influence," I pointed out and he chuckled, a rumble sending vibrations right through to my bones.

  "I never waste an excellent opportunity when presented with one," he replied, lifting his head and offering me his signature toothy grin. "I have no intention of stopping what you inadvertently, but deliciously, have started."

  "Oh," I said.

  "Oh, indeed," he murmured, returning his attention to my nipple.

  It didn't take more than a minute for him to get me wholeheartedly on board with his plans. Hot hands palmed my breasts, wicked fingers pinched my nipples, as a wet, sinful tongue licked its way over my upper torso. I squirmed, which soon became a writhe and was accompanied by a loud and embarrassingly revealing moan.

  By the time I'd started begging, Theo was blazing gold from his eyes and Fire coursed unrestrained through my body. I was aching, desperate for him to fill me up, to make me complete. His Stoicheio only managing to make me crave more and more.

  Theo pulled back, his eyes surveying the effect he'd had over me. I was naked beneath him on the couch, the heat of the fire in the hearth a pale imitation of the Fire he'd stoked and nurtured inside of me right then. Lust filled eyes finally lifted to mine and he smugly smirked.

  "Lesson number three, Oraia" he husked, his fingers slowly trailing a delicate swirl over my right hip. "When compromised, use your opponent's Pyrkagia against them."

  "You could tell I was using my Stoicheio on you?" I asked, finally able to catch my breath. "But you chose not to fight it," I surmised.

  "Exactly," he murmured, focusing closely on the goosebumps he had created all over my right thigh and up my right side. He chased them with a fingertip, the smirk becoming an amused smile.

  "I've got a lot to learn," I admitted, trailing my own finger down his beautifully defined upper arm.

  "And I intend to teach you everything, sweet little Gi." He leaned closer and blew hot breath across my nipple, then flicked his tongue out to lick across the hardened tip. I arched my back, presenting more of an easier target, shamelessly offering myself up to this man. "But first, I'd like to see how well you respond to this."

  What?

  His hand skated down over my stomach, paused above my thatch of blonde curls as his eyes lifted to watch my face. Then with deliberate slowness he stroked a solitary finger through my folds, bypassing my little nub, and coating himself in my abundant wetness. He teased, there was no other word for it. The more he touched me there, the more I wanted. His soft, slow strokes became tortuous, no longer subli
me, but causing a fierce ache to take up between my thighs. A longing he created with his touch, an emptiness that only existed because he was so close, but denying me what I wanted.

  He watched my every reaction with an attentiveness that seemed to consume him. His eyes flickered differing shades of yellow-gold, orange-gold, even red-gold. My chest rose and fell faster and faster, the more he drew this out. But there'd been a challenge to his words. An elicit temptation to hold out, to not beg, to not let him see how much I desired his touch to be deeper.

  But the longer he took teasing, his own breaths even and his stance relaxed, I realised he could go on for hours like this. Touching me, discovering me, enjoying me. And it wasn't as though I wanted his touch to stop. It was just not enough. I wanted more.

  Still, I fought the urge to plead. I did moan, I did writhe, that was impossible to deny. But I would not say the words he obviously knew I was thinking. Instead, I decided to set a trap. To lure him with my Pyrkagia. If he wanted me to learn from his lessons, then I would. But not the way he had probably intended.

  I reached out as delicately as I could and brushed my Fire over his skin, causing little beads of sweat to erupt all over his deliciously naked body. He shuddered, a brief full body shake, but I don't know whether he realised I'd created the heat that caused the movement, as his teasing touch never faltered.

  I decided to test my abilities further. Besides, it was giving me something else to concentrate on other than the fervent need to have him slip those questing fingers inside, to pump them with conviction, to give me what I desperately desired. I licked my lips, aware gold was probably glowing from my eyes now too, but hoping Theo would put that down to the Fire he was building inside, and not blame it on mine.

  This time my Pyrkagia stroked lower, over his rigid abdomen, across those beautiful oblique muscles I adored, and down, down, down. Oh good Lord, I could feel where my Fire touched. I could sense every dip and curve, every swell and hollow. It was like an extension of my own hand, my fingers curled into my palms and I rocked my hips up off the couch before I realised what I was doing.

  Freaking hell. This was probably having more of an effect on me than him.