Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn

by Jolynn Raymond

  “I have something for you, love.” Before she could question him, Mikhal reached down into the folds of his cape where it lay on the bench and removed a ring. He held it before her, the tiny diamonds and large emerald sparkling in the moonlight, rivaling the stars above them.

  “I always knew you found the ring Marishka picked out for you to be vulgar, Alliana. I wish for this to be your true wedding ring. It is not a symbol my people recognize, that you wear upon your neck, but I know that to your kind the wedding band holds much importance.”

  Alliana stared at the ring he held between his fingers. True it was beautiful, and at first it had taken her breath away, but the sight of it and his words brought back the horrid memories of her wedding day. All of the goodness she had been feeling suddenly disappeared in a flash as she looked up at him, eyes once more full of hate.

  He felt her hurt, sensed her sudden fear, and then her hate, and it filled him with confusion. What had just happened? A moment ago they had been enjoying each other’s company, now she was a spitting wild cat once again. How could a simple ring bring about such feelings?

  “And what poor soul lost his life in order for me to own this ring?”

  “Alliana, no, twas not that at all. No blood was spilled. This was created for you. I had the innkeeper summon the goldsmith one morning and told him what I wanted, what I thought you would wish for. Natalya was there; she will vouch for me on this. It was made ready for me while we slept. No harm befell him. He was paid handsomely.”

  Instead of being pacified, he felt her anger flare even stronger then felt a jolt of jealousy too, and knew it had been a mistake to mention Natalya and the inn in the same breath. Alliana was his mate and like it or not, she would hold jealousy in her heart. It was something she couldn’t truly control.

  Mikhal was right in his assumption of her jealousy. Again it filled her and again Alliana despised herself for it, but the thought of her husband and her best friend sharing a sleeping chamber made her see red. Had they shared a bed as well or had he been a gentleman and slept on the floor? Somehow she couldn’t see the noble Mikhal the Merciless lying on a pallet. Suddenly the memories and fears that thoughts of her wedding brought were gone. They had been replaced by a darker emotion, one she simply wouldn’t acknowledge.

  Mikhal felt her fear reside but it came at the price of her increased anger. He struggled between the need to calm Alliana and his wish to keep his empathic abilities a secret. He had no desire for her to be upset with Natalya, but, if she knew he read her feelings so easily, she would be furious with him as well. She would be in a rage over him knowing her inner emotions and suspect that the feelings he now held for her were purely as a result of the spell, and that wasn’t true, it simply wasn’t true at all. The spell had woken up Mikhal the man, but it hadn’t forced him to feel what came from his own heart.

  “Alliana, our stays at the inn were out of need and purely innocent.”

  “I don’t know what you mean. My only concern is that you never harmed her, and it is clear that you did not.”

  “I only thought perhaps...”

  “I won’t speak of this.”

  “Give me your hand. This was meant to be something special, wife, and I will not allow it to ruin the night.” He took her cold fingers in his and removed the gaudy heavy thing Marishka had chosen in her spite, and slipped the ring he’d had designed on her hand instead. Holding her fingers up in the moonlight, he admired the way the small stones glistened, enhancing the beauty of her tiny hand, not overwhelming it.

  Alliana couldn’t help but admit to herself that his choice of rings was a vast improvement. It was simply beautiful and thoughtful as well. The fact that he had acquired it while they were far apart from each other told her she had been in his thoughts even though he had been with her friend. Still, she wasn’t going to let her anger go altogether. She had allowed herself to be lulled by his charm and it could have cost her, and that was a very dangerous thing.

  “Thank you. May we go in now? I wish to retire.”

  He rose, and then helped her do so as well, leaving his cape on the stone bench. “There is something else I wanted to show you, sweet, but if you are too weary, perhaps I should take you back at once. I do think you would find it intriguing though.”

  He left the sentence floating in the air, baiting her, because he didn’t believe for one minute that their little outing had made her fatigued. Her heartbeat was not rapid, her breath not labored, and she had certainly shown no signs of being exhausted when she was filled with fire and fury a moment ago. Besides, they had just spent the last half hour sitting on a bench under the stars. What was more restful than that? No, he didn’t believe the little minx for one second.

  He looked down at her, his eyes merry, questioning. She hadn’t spoken since his proclamation, but her eyes were huge and full of questions of her own. He grinned at her, raising an eyebrow, loving that she was once more filled with indecision.

  “What of it, wife? Do we return to your quarters or go and see what I had planned to show you?”

  “Oh you are impossible.” Alliana glared at him in exasperation but took his arm nonetheless. “Lead the way. You know I can’t resist something when you dangle it in front of my nose like that. You are a tease and a beast!”

  She’d said the word a hundred times, called him a beast with venom in her voice, but this time there was a difference in her tone, one Mikhal picked up on immediately. This time she was scolding him as any woman would scold a man, not calling him the thing they both knew lurked within the very heart of him.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Mikhal led her back inside, grinning the whole way as she peppered him with questions he refused to answer. She was fairly bouncing beside him, full of anticipation, and it thrilled him to see her like this. Yes, the flush of rose upon her cheeks was mostly in part from the chill of the air, but the sparkle in her eyes was purely because of him.

  “Just tell me where we are going!”

  “I will not. It is a surprise, wife. One that I refuse to reveal until we arrive.”

  “You are impossible.”

  “And you are beautiful, but you are also impatient. Come now and cease your tirade. You have nothing to gain by berating me. In fact, I might just change my mind and take you back to your rooms.”

  “You wouldn’t.” She had stopped and pulled her arm from where it had held his, stomping her foot and pouting in the most adorable of ways. Her little girl antics were quite unlike Marishka’s so they didn’t bother him in the least. Alliana wasn’t doing it in an effort to beguile him and get her way, she was doing it as an innocent gesture that showed how very much of the spirited girl she had been when he’d first abducted her, remained inside.

  “Be careful, love. That pout is quite kissable.” That said, he took her hand before she could comment, smiling at the way her eyebrows had shot up in shock at his words, and tugged her along at a brisk pace until they arrived at a tall staircase. He looked from it, with its steep steps, to her with her large belly, and back again, mulling over his next action, the swiftly scooped her up in his arms.

  Alliana shrieked in feigned outrage. “Mikhal put me down at once.”

  “If you want to see your surprise then you will have to remain where you are. I shall not risk you and our babe. Those stairs are steep. Besides, you did say you were tired, didn’t you, sweet?”

  “You are impossible.” Her expression did hold a bit of distress at his nearness and he could hear her heart pounding beneath her breast, but he held firm in his resolve. If she were to ascend the stairs, it would only be in his arms. They were far too steep and strenuous for her to climb safely.

  “I promise I shall release you as soon as we reach the top, Alliana. You have nothing to fear from me.”

  Her eyes searched his face and mistrust flowed from every ounce of her soul, as she stared at him, looking for the truth, wanting to believe but not able to let go of past hurts.

  “I promise
; just until we reach the landing and you are both safe. You are my life now. I cannot take a chance. Please understand. This isn’t a ploy to be near you.”

  She looked away, not able to stand the intensity of his gaze, his eyes were too blue, too full of honesty, too full of love of her and their child. What he was feeling was clear to see but still her stubborn heart refused. She reached inside to the place made of cold hard stone and hid behind it, sheltering her soul from the heat of his love, denying herself, denying him, not ready to simply believe.

  “Alliana, please.” For the longest time she didn’t respond, just lay there stiff in his arms, but finally she nodded her consent and his heart filled with joy. She would see, he would show her he could be trusted. He would carry her safely up the stairs and place her on her feet at once, never taking advantage of their close proximity though he was being driven mad by the longing to crush her against him and kiss her breathless.

  Up he went, quickly, but oh so carefully, and set her on her feet in one swift motion before she could have the chance to push away. Mikhal then tucked her arm into his once more and led her down a long hall. “Come, it’s this way.”

  Before long they came to a huge set of double doors framed by carved wooden moldings. The carvings were whimsical, happy faces, animals, moons, stars, and suns, all things meant to make a person smile. Alliana reached up and ran her fingers over the figures, enchanted.

  “Lovely aren’t they. Father’s father commissioned an artist to create it especially for him when he was born. There’s more.” Mikhal swung the doors open and Alliana gasped at the sight that her eyes beheld, and then looked at him in awe, hardly believing what she was seeing.

  The room had to encompass one entire wing of the castle. It was massive and filled with toys of every kind. A sleek wooden rocking horse, carved and intricately painted soldiers, doll furniture and handmade dolls that were still as lovely as the day they were made lay in grand cradles. A stone pond graced one corner, a place to sail the boats that lay on one shelf she supposed. It was surrounded by hand painted tiles showing scenes of the countryside, ships upon the ocean, and children at play. Two massive hearths, both blazing to warm the room graced the walls and had beautiful marble mantles. Everywhere she looked was toys and beautiful furniture.

  “It’s magical.”

  “I had the servants come here and clean today then light all the chandeliers so you could see it in all its beauty. This was our nursery. Marishka and I spent many happy days playing under these eaves. All of these things now belong to our son. Do you think he will like it? Is it grand enough?”

  Mikhal couldn’t help but place a hand on her stomach, hoping for some small sign that his child was as pleased with the surprise as Alliana seemed to be. When his caress brought him no kick of response, on impulse, he dropped to his knees and began talking in a soft voice to the child he could hear but not see.

  “What do you think, little one? Do you like the surprise? Do you think you’ll be happy playing here where your father and grandfather played? I think you will, my little man. In fact, I shall be certain of it. Anything you wish shall be yours.”

  Mikhal’s hands held her belly tightly then rubbed the sides, feeling the gentle curve, pressing his lips against her stomach over and over. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to make you and your mother happy, Mikhalen. I promise.”

  “Mikhalen?” Alliana looked down at him, so enchanted by his child. He probably wasn’t truly aware that he had called the baby by name.

  Mikhal looked up at her, stared for a moment, mulling over his own words, and then nodded emphatically. “Yes, his name shall be Mikhalen like my father and his father before him.” He bowed his head once more, speaking to his newly named son. “What say you of the decision, my boy?” In answer to his question, Mikhal received a sharp kick to his mouth which he had once more place against Alliana stomach as he whispered sweet words. Mikhal backed up in surprise, and then looked up at Alliana, and they both began to laugh.

  “Tell me sweet, does that mean he approves or disapproves?” Again the child kicked out at his father as if responding to the words being spoken, and then moved within Alliana, making her clutch her stomach, not in pain but in surprise at the strength of the child within her.

  “I do not know, Mikhal, but perhaps you should cease your questions before he bruises me from the inside out.”

  “Are you all right?” His face immediately filled with concern at the mere suggestion that she had experienced pain. He rose, wanting to take Alliana into his arms, but stopped, feeling her apprehension.

  “Yes, I’m fine. He... he is just so very active at times. He catches me off guard.”

  “Have you asked Enid about it? About how rapidly he has grown?”

  “Do not speak to me of Enid!” The fury that filled her eyes and the expression of pure hatred on her face made Mikhal curse the old hag under his breath.

  “Alliana, I am not speaking to you of Enid. I am simply asking about our son, but perhaps it is best if we wait. I don’t wish to see you upset. I was concerned for your welfare that is all.”

  “I... “ Alliana faltered on her words. Part of her was still riled up over just the mention of the midwife, and part of her felt guilty for snapping at Mikhal when all he was doing was being a caring husband and father. She wanted to apologize to him for being so harsh but the words stuck in her throat. Any mention of Enid filled her with so much hate and disgust that it overrode all else, and her husband was the one who has forced her to endure the presence of the witch.

  “We are both fine and the rate at which he grows is nothing to worry about or so she says. I do not wish to speak of it. Please ask her yourself.”

  Mikhal was content to let the subject drop. He would do just that when he saw Enid next, and he would use his empathic talents to deduce if she were telling the truth. Nothing would be gained by upsetting Alliana.

  “Tis settled then. Come, sweet, lets looks at this old furniture. I wish to show you the cradle that was mine. Marishka used others for her dolls, my father’s, hers, but I like mine best. It’s very grand. Let’s see what you think.”

  He led her to one end of the room where Marishka’s dolls and the baby furniture of the past was kept. “This one here. It was mine.” Mikhal lovingly ran his hand over the headboard and then traced the spindles along the sides, finally giving it a small shove so it would rock upon its base. The gentle sway made the polished wood gleam in the candlelight. Alliana thought the cradle her husband had used was truly a thing of beauty.

  “It’s lovely, Mikhal. A treasure. I’m glad you still have it.”

  “The rooms connected to my chambers used to be a nursery. My mother preferred to have me near when I was first born. They were cleared out and turned into an office when she died, my father knowing he would never remarry or sire more children. We can put the cradle in my bedchamber so Mikhalen is right beside us when he is tiny, and then he can have the suite of rooms next door when he is older. This room will remain a playroom for him.”

  Alliana had once again pulled her arm from his and was backing away just a bit, her stance and the fire in her eyes telling Mikhal yet another confrontation was about to take place. He didn’t need his empathic ability with his wife he mused; all he needed to do was keep careful watch over the expression on her face. She wore her heart on her sleeve and it was clear she was very upset at that very moment.

  “NO!”

  “Alliana. What is wrong? What did I say that has upset you?” He wanted to add ‘Yet again’ but didn’t want to increase her ire.

  “I won’t let you take him from me.”

  “Alliana, what are you talking about? I have no intention of taking our son anywhere.”

  “I want him with me, in my bedchamber. A child belongs with his mother. He will need to nurse and to be comforted. He will...”

  A low growl rose in Mikhal throat at her declaration. It was clear that she thought they would never be sharing a bed,
not even after the birth of their son. His growl both frightened and subdued her. The part of her that was Mikhal’s mate responding, wanting to please, to pacify, but she wouldn’t give in, not on this. No one would take her son from her.

  “He belongs with his mother.”

  “And his mother belongs with her husband.”

  “You promised, you said you wouldn’t force me. I knew your sweet words were all lies.”

  “I intend to keep my promise Alliana, but I shall promise you this as well. You will come back into my bed and you shall do so willingly. One day soon, my sweet, you shall be right where you belong. Not by force, but by choice.”

  “Never”

  “I have grown weary of arguing with you. It twas to be a special night but your sharp tongue has ruined it at every turn. Come. I’m taking you to bed.”

  At his words she stiffened and backed even further away.

  “Your bed, Alliana. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. One day soon you shall come to know I am a man of my word. I have a heart, wife, and it cares for you. Demon or no, evil or no, my heart feels for you Alliana. You are the most important thing in my world, you and our son and one day soon you shall see I speak the truth. As long as you wish to lie alone upon your cold sheets then alone you shall be.” That said he came forward and scooped her up off her feet once more, moving swiftly to the door before she could protest, and took her down the long staircase to her chambers posthaste without another word. He set her on her feet at the side of her bed and pressed a kiss to her cheek; silently staring into her eyes, then brought up a hand and lightly touched his child before turning and walking out. It had been a night of battles, but deep inside, Mikhal felt as if he had scored a few small victories. Angry though she made him, she had at least endured his presence, and had in fact enjoyed herself a time or two. All in all, despite her sharp tongue and fits of temper, the evening had been a success.

  Chapter Five