Duality (32 page)

“Stay with me,” he heard himself saying.

A flash of Light, and the Lady stood afore him.
“She cannot be thy wife, not until this war be over.”
Her voice echoed in his mind.

“But she
is
my wife
,” he dared to argue.
“You made her so.”

“She hath a threefold purpose in this coming conflict—dragon, fire mage—and maiden. Thou art My champion. Heed Me.”
Her face softened.
“Wait. Thy time hast not yet come.”
She disappeared, leaving Loren staring at Dara.

Dara stared back at him, uncertainty of his intent in her eyes. “I’ll be right next door—”

He trailed the back of his hand down her cheek. “I would not take advantage, but neither of us wants to be alone tonight. That is all I offer.”
For now
, but someday soon he
would
tell her all. He owed them both the opportunity to make their choices with their eyes wide open.

“Trust me.”

Surprisingly, she blushed. “I do. Always.”

Truth.

More surprising how right the world became from three simple words.

Chapter Thirteen

Loren fumbled to open the door and eased her inside. He saw Dara swallow hard and flinch a bit as the door clicked shut. Not with fear, but with nervous…anticipation. His body tightened, and he cursed silently. Lord and Lady, this was going to be a long night, but he would keep his vow. The Lady did not make such stipulations just to torment Her followers.

The firelight glinted off the rich copper of Dara’s hair. All the gold in the world, in one sensual body. Gold skin, gold eyes. He could stare at her all night, get drunk on her scent…

“Are you gonna stare at me all night?” Her husky voice sent a shiver of need down his spine.

He grinned. “Where have I heard that afore?”

“Well, if you’d quit doing it I wouldn’t have to keep saying it.” Her tone was severe, but the corner of her mouth twitched, and her eyes sparkled.

“Ask the sun not to rise, or something equally impossible, while you are asking.”

She came over to wrap her arms around him. “How am I supposed to resist you when you say things like that?”

Resist.
His mind latched onto that one word, even as a drowning man latched onto driftwood. Resist the softness of the lush curves pressed against him. Resist the full lips parted in open invitation, the scent of her growing need for him.
A dragon’s allure
, his granther had called it. He did not know the half of it.

But it was more than that. The Goddess-Bond of life-mates was soul-binding, hearts and minds as well as bodies. If he took her now, they would be inseparable…literally. And he would not do that to her while there was still so much unsettled.

“Loren?” Dara’s voice called him back. Her expression was worried. “Where did you go?”

“Nowhere you want to follow,” he stated.

“You were right—you shouldn’t be alone tonight.” She turned to the table, to pour them each a glass of wine. “Talk to me. About anything.” She handed him a cup. “Just don’t shut me out again.”

He took a sip of wine. “Did Rufus and Fanny know about your mother?”

“You want to talk about
me
?” Dara looked astonished.

“I for certain do not wish to speak about anything that has happened the last few days to
me
,” he retorted. “You have lost so much—not the least of which is a considerable amount of control—most of which is my fault.”

“I don’t blame you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He waved it off, impatient. “The time for blame is long past. What is, is.”

She glared. “If you start blathering on about that Destiny Hand too, I swear I’ll scream. The guards would come running, and we’d both be embarrassed. I make my own choices. I could have left you, refused to come with you. Short of gagging me and tying me to your horse, you couldn’t have stopped me if I’d truly wanted to leave. I’ve never fought against you, not in earnest. Trust me—I’d win, especially now.” She fingered the torque around her neck.

No, she would not. She did not hurt those she cared for. He knew that with every fiber of his being. “Which brings me back to my question. Women are forbidden combat training in Arcadia; even in Riverhead wearing men’s clothing is frowned upon. I would bet if someone asked why you carried a knife, you would have responded ‘To cut—’”

“—bandages,’” she finished. “You’re right. Fanny and Rufus never said anything to me, but I started wrestling and knife training when I was barely big enough to carry pails of water from the creek. I think Mother knew she…” Pain cut her voice, and she paused to regain control. “…was not going to be with us much longer, and wanted to make sure I would not be defenseless if I was left alone, I would have skills and not be helpless and without choices.”

“Was she a seer?”

Dara shook her head. “Just good at reading the lay of the land, as it were. The once ways are fading, and Hengist and Moira are becoming the exception rather than the rule.”

“The daughter of queens hiding as a common peasant healer.”

“Not queens in the sense you’re thinking. We don’t rule over others. That takes diplomacy skills. If we have a thorn in our paw, we remove it.” She eyed him over her glass. “When I told you if Alani made you uncomfortable, just break it off and toss her out, I meant it. I did not consider the ramifications of the friendship of your fathers, or her family’s position in the kingdom. For that I apologize. That is the kind of thing that will make you a great king, and what makes me such a liability.”

“Anika called you the wind of change,” Loren stated. “We must change—bend or break.”

She snorted. “I don’t think your people are ready for that much change.”

“You truly think I will make a good king?” Loren hated voicing the question aloud. It sounded weak.

“You will be an amazing king,” she assured him. “You are decisive, a man of action and a man of vision. You do not suffer from tunnel vision. The kingdom will be in good hands.”

There was a ring of finality in her voice he liked not at all. “And what of you?” he asked. “What shall you do when all this is over and Riverhead is free once again?”

“I don’t know.” A shadow crossed her face. Sorrow. Doubt. “I don’t want to talk anymore. Can you just hold me for a bit?” She set her glass down and turned her back to him. “Would you mind? I can’t reach the laces. Stupid gowns.”

His mouth went dry as he reached to undo the laces and watched her shimmy out of the layers of silk until she stood clad in the thinnest layer of gauzy linen he could imagine. She reached up to loosen her hair. He would take the vision of her standing afore the fire, the silhouette of her body and the blazing glory of her hair, with him to his grave.

“There. Now I can sleep in comfort without pins stabbing me in the head all night,” she muttered. She glided over to him, and undid his belt. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you sleep in,” she confessed.

One moment brazen, one moment shy. It would take a lifetime to learn her moods, her secrets. He wanted that lifetime. But did she? Enough to defy a kingdom? “I think it best to keep my breeches on.” He kicked off his boots and yanked off his tunic, then climbed onto the bed. “Come here.”

She eyed him warily. “Maybe if you looked less like a hungry fox in a henhouse.”

She had no idea. “A dragon afraid of a mere fox? Now
that
would ruin your reputation,” he teased. “You wished to be held, remember? The bed is much more comfortable than the floor.” He sobered. “For tonight, no crowns, no kingdoms, no demons. Let us just be together.”

Dara crawled up aside him and snuggled into the crook of his arm. “No more talking.”

“Not another word. My word of honor.” Loren took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her. She tucked her head under his chin and went boneless by slow degrees. The sweet scent of her hair, the silken slide of her skin against his was an exquisitely agonizing torture. But would he have forgone it by not touching her?

Not in this lifetime. He knotted a hand in her hair, stroked the other hand down her back. She sighed and nuzzled closer, turning into him and sliding one leg over his. Her small hand glided across his chest, her fingers caressing his skin, the muscles beneath. She drifted, her consciousness a hazy cloud. Warmth. Comfort. Not alone in the dark. It was enough.

***

Loren opened his eyes. Dara draped across him like a blanket, her deep, even breathing indicating the depth of her slumber. Would the past week been but a nightmare. Again, he had been unable to stay the Destiny Hand. His brother was dead. Another brother, and yet again he was responsible. The ministry would not hold silent on
that
fact. The rift betwixt Deane and himself was permanent, now forever unmended. And
he
was now heir; the wrong son of Cedric, future high king of the eastdawn elves.

He studied Dara. His life-mate. Future queen. Fear tightened in his throat at what lay ahead of her. So young in her power, going up against the demon that had scattered her people and killed her father. And if they survived, what of after? What he would not give to someday be able to wake up to her each and every morning, both of them naked and under the covers. No matter Cedric’s objections.
Someday, when all this is over. I shall not give you up
.

Unable, unwilling to stop himself, he drew her face close for a chaste kiss.

She stirred and opened her eyes, reaching out a hand to his cheek. “Are you all right?”

He shrugged. “Fair enough. Good morning,
elingrena
.”

“Good morning.” She leaned up for a long, leisurely kiss his body took entirely too easily as an invitation.

Recalling the Lady’s admonition, Loren kept a tight rein on his desire, resisting the temptation to deepen the kiss, to tease her breasts until her nipples stiffened, until her eyes blazed hot with need and she moaned…

Dara drew back and stared at him. She brushed the hair back over his shoulder, and he shuddered at the innocent caress. She blushed and bit her lip. “I should sneak back into my own bed afore Verdeen comes to wake me and finds—”

A tentative knock came on the adjoining door.

“—me not there.” Dara rolled her eyes.

“Prince Loren?” Verdeen called, her voice worried. “I apologize for disturbing you, but Lady Dara is missing.”

“Really?” Loren murmured. “Missing? Seems I have found her.” He bent closer for another slow, lingering kiss that heated his blood, then broke it off with regret. “We should get moving. Cianan and I go to address the ministry, and you have lessons with the adepts.”

“Prince Loren? Are you there?”

“Relax, Verdeen. I’m not missing. I’m right here.”

There was dead silence on the other side of the door. “T-take your time, my lady.”

Dara pictured Verdeen’s crimson face. “Lovely, now we’ve scandalized the poor child.” She clambered out of bed and gathered up her gown. “Will I see you later?”

“Absolutely.” He watched her go. As she disappeared through the adjoining door, he flung himself back into bed with a groan. Rising, he hurried through his morning routine. He eyed the heir’s crown with distaste and plunked it atop his head on his way out the door. “
I shall never get used to this thing
.”

“Start
,
”
Hani`ena ordered.
“It is your destiny.”

In the family’s private dining room, Lorelei greeted Loren from her chair at the table. “Good morning. I owe Pari a farthing. I swore I wouldst be fishing yet another crown out of the well.”

Loren grunted and poured himself a goblet of khaffa at the sideboard.

“Ministry meeting begins in two bells.” Pari strode to his wife’s side and kissed the top of her head. “Good morning, love.” He held out a hand to Lorelei, palm up. “I believe thou owes me a farthing?”

“So I do. I shalt take care of thy repayment later.”

Loren poured his granther a khaffa as well and handed it to him. “Cianan and I shall address the ministry.”

“Dost thou go to avert a war?”

“Nay.” Loren bared his teeth. “To start one.”

***

Dara yawned and stretched as she stared at the dancing flames in the fireplace of her room. She wondered how Loren’s meeting went.
Lady, please let them heed his words
. Three of the four mages she’d be studying with relaxed around the table. Only Anika was missing. As Minister of Mages, she was at the ministry meeting. Dara knew Anika would do her best to sway the other ministers in Loren’s favor. They were not alone in this fight. She must remember that.

“You’ll be more comfortable in your own chambers for this,” Pahn said. “Lorelei’s here in case it gets away from you.”

Gwendolyn nodded. “Reach out thy hand. The flames cannot harm thee.”

“You’re both mad,” she said to Pahn and Gwendolyn. “Loren was mistaken.”

“He wast not,” Lorelei answered. “Trust us.”

Dara reached out a trembling hand to the flames. Feeling the heat, she flinched, expecting further pain, seeing in her mind her skin reddening, blistering. Naught of the kind happened. The flames enfolded her like a blanket, almost tickling her skin. A pair of tiny eyes blinked at her, and a small flicker of flame settled on her hand, dancing merrily.