Healing Fire (15 page)

She peered at him, her eye sharp. “Prince Jules? Of the Royal family?”

Lem stiffened.

Jules shook his head. “No. No, I’m just a peasant. The guardian’s servant.”

“You shouldn’t lie to an old woman.”

He hid deeper in his cloak, keeping his lips closed tight.

“Guardians don’t have servants. And your power is palpable, child.” She approached, staring intently.

Lem put himself between them again. “I don’t want to hurt you,” Lem said quietly.

“Please don’t hurt her. Please.” He pressed close against Lem, hiding against the broad back.

“I’m not a threat, guardian. What have the two of you seen that you’re so nervous of an old one?”

“War, Marabelle. The Graithen have tried twice to kidnap Jules and twice been foiled.”

“Kidnap?” She cackled again. “I imagine they simply wanted a turn with the soul-healer.”

She knew? Jules wasn’t even sure what he was. How could this old woman he’d never seen before have even an inkling of the wonder of the magic between him and Lem?

“And who can blame them,” she went on. “Your King has kept you hidden away and from the rumors, doing nothing, wasting your magic.”

“I knew it!” Lem wrapped him in a hug. “I knew you were special.”

“Special, yes. His mother, she was not the queen.”

“What?” Both he and Lem stared, shocked.

“She was favored of the Queen, beloved of her heart. She came to the Queen heavy with child.”

“No wonder your father wanted nothing to do with you,” Lem noted softly.

The words stung, and Jules nodded and went to stir the fire.

“Jules.” Lem came to him and touched his shoulder. “I just meant it made more sense that he would ban a child not his own than if you were his own. Kings are very narrow-minded when it comes to heirs.”

“Yes, Lem.” But Jules was no longer a prince. He no longer needed or deserved a guard. He was simply... Jules.

“Bah.” Marabelle joined them at the fire. “Your King was a fool. He had something much better than an heir, and he didn’t even know it.” She grabbed his hand, and Lem growled, moving to tower over her.

His fingers curled, hiding his palms, his shame.

“Don’t hide your magic, child. Do you even know what you can do?”

“I just... I... Lem?” He was tired and worried and scared.

Lem sat and pulled him into the ample lap, holding him against the strong chest. “He was taught he was good for nothing. I know he is more, but there haven’t been any of his kind in my lifetime.”

“That’s right. Soul healers are rare. And it has been several thousand years since the last one graced our lands.”

Jules didn’t want to grace anything. He wanted to go home and hide, but it seemed he didn’t belong in the palace.

“The Graithen are trying to liberate you,” Marabelle told him.

“Well, he’s liberated now.” Lem sounded very sure.

Liberated sounded like hunted somehow.

“You have a responsibility now that you know,” Marabelle added.

Jules left them to argue and headed back into the cave, traveling past the water, moving faster into the darkness.

He heard Lem calling after him. “Jules! Jules!”

He hid, pressing into the shadows.

He could hear Lem’s footsteps now, Lem’s voice holding a desperate note. “Jules!”

His magic began to build. He couldn’t resist the worry in Lem’s voice. As if that had called to Lem, his dragon came right for him.

“My prince! I was worried you’d get lost or hurt.”

“I...” Jules pushed into Lem’s arms, seeking comfort.

Lem held him tight against the wide chest. “I have you. You’re safe now.”

“I’m not real, Lem. I’m a lie.”

“What are you talking about? You’re magical. A soul healer.”

But he wasn’t a prince.

“Marabelle knows what you’re meant to do with your magic. She can teach us. And you’ll never have to go back to the castle again.”

But would Lem?

“Are you going to find another royal?” Jules asked quietly.

“Of course not. I was made for you.” Lem didn’t even hesitate in his answer.

“No? Because I’m not a prince, she says.”

“I wasn’t made for a prince. I was made for you. You know that. I’m yours. You said so. Many times. I’m yours.”

“Mine. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” His whole life was a lie.

“I didn’t know either, Jules. I just knew you were meant for more than being a prisoner in your rooms.”

Lem began rocking. The comfort offered was impossible to resist.

“Nothing is going to hurt you, whether you’re a prince or a soul healer or simply my Jules.”

“I... What does she mean about my responsibilities?”

“I don’t know. We would have to ask her.”

“Is she staying?” Was this her place?

“There’s a storm coming, Jules. I do not wish to send one as old as her into the blizzard.”

“No. No, of course not.”

“It was simpler when it was just you and I, wasn’t it?” Lem asked.

“Yes. I will stay quiet and read my book.”

 “I like it when you read to me.”

“I do as well.” Jules was going to miss going out to be a dragon.

“Shall we hear what she has to say?” Lem asked.

“Can I sit with you?”

“Where else would you sit?” Lem asked.

“I don’t know.” Maybe the rules had changed.

Lem took his hand and led him back through the maze of caves to where their fire was.

“I did not mean to frighten you, soul healer.” The ancient voice seemed tender.

“We would know what a soul healer is,” Lem said, sitting near the warmth and tugging Jules down into his lap once again. “I had heard of them, but not what their powers might be. He is a beautiful dragon.”

“Violet, yes? Bright and glowing?”

“Yes! The most beautiful dragon I have ever seen.” The pride in Lem’s voice was clear.

Jules was different, and he understood that. Knew that.

Marabelle nodded. “That is the coloring of a soul healer. It is so that they can be recognized for their gifts.”

“I like to read.” Those were gifts.

She looked at him, then smiled slowly. “That’s a gift, child. But not the one I’m talking about. You can heal the souls of men, help them find their peace and their happiness.”

“Me? That is what Lem does.” Jules was nothing special.

“No, that’s what you do,” Marabelle insisted. She took his hand and turned it palm up. “You see?”

“Don’t.” What if it hurt someone not Lem?

“You don’t understand your powers yet, but you have the ability to bring a great goodness to the world.”

“How does it work?” Lem asked, taking his hand and holding on.

A great goodness? The idea was interesting, but Jules wasn’t sure he wanted to be great. His father was a great man, and the king was unhappy. Jules wanted to be happy. He had been happy, here with Lem.

“You simply touch people, and your energy flows through them. Surely the two of you have already discovered this.”

Lem ducked his head, but turned to look at Jules, smiling for him alone.

Jules nodded, though, refusing to be ashamed. “If I am not royal, then it is not forbidden.”

“You have no rules, soul-healer. Your life is to do with what you will.”

Lem’s eyes went wide, then he beamed. “My Jules doesn’t need to go back to the castle.”

“No, he may do as he wishes. Your job, guardian, is to make sure his choices are honored.”

He didn’t have to go back? Jules shivered, the mixture of emotions inside him overwhelming.

Lem’s arm went around him. “My heart? Are you ill?”

He shook his head, swallowing hard. He wasn’t ill. He was overwhelmed.

Lem was frowning, and he could feel the concerned coming from his bodyguard.

“Enough for today,” Lem told Marabelle. “Jules needs rest.”

Jules nodded. He needed Lem. Not sex. Lem.

“I will take him to the back of the cave so that you may sit by the fire,” Lem offered.

Marabelle smiled warmly at them both. “I appreciate your hospitality. I do. It is most welcome.”

“Goodnight,” Lem told her.

Then Lem grabbed the pillows and the robe they’d been using as a blanket and guided Jules deeper into the caves. The cold back here was tolerable with the heat of the spring. Lem put down the pillows, then the robe, and drew him down, wrapping them both up. Jules cuddled in without a word, hiding from all the truths hunting him.

“I will protect you no matter what comes,” Lem promised him.

“You were supposed to live in the palace. Protect royalty.”

“No, Jules. I am meant to protect
you
.”

“I would be lying if I didn’t welcome it.”

“Good. And you don’t have to return to the castle! She said you can do anything you want.”

“That’s so scary.”

“Is it?” Len considered. “I’m not scared, but maybe that’s because nothing changes for me. I’m still your bodyguard.”

“You’re not scared because you’re a hero.”

“I’m only a bodyguard, Jules. You’re the special one,” Lem insisted.

“Can’t we neither one be special then?”

“You don’t want to be special?”

“I want to be yours.”

“You are mine!” The surety in Lem’s voice made him smile.

“Am I?”

“Yes.” Lem growled a little, puffed up his muscles.

He trilled happily, the sound pure dragon. Lem laughed and growled, answering him with strength and joy.

“I never have to go back and stay in the rooms?” He didn’t know how he would bear it, being locked in again after having this freedom with his Lem.

“You never have to go stay in the rooms again. You aren’t a prisoner anymore.”

“Never have to.” How interesting.

“Anything. We can do anything you want. Go anywhere.”

“I want to be here for now. In our space.” It felt important.

“Then we’ll be here.” Lem smiled. Jules could feel it against his skin. “I like it here.”

“Me, too. I like here. You. Me.”

“Our joys. You make me happy, Jules. More than I ever dreamed possible.”

“Is this real? This life?” Jules wanted it to be.

“It feels real to me. More real than all your books.”

“Even the ones about pirates?”

“Even the ones about pirates. You and I are real.”

“Yes. We’re real.” He chuffed softly, cuddling into his guardian.

“That’s all that matters.” Lem kissed the top of his head and held him.

What a fascinating life he had. And that he could think that, have that, was even more fascinating.

One snowfall followed another, sometimes with periods of sun and wind in between, sometimes not. Marabelle stayed with them for thirty or forty days before there was a thaw and she headed out. She didn’t say where she was going, but before she left, she told Jules to be ready for those who needed his help, that they would find him.

Ever since then, Lem was on high alert. More snows had come, stranding them in their cave. Lem welcomed it. Being stranded was the only time he was able to relax his guard.

Jules wandered, reading his books, bathing in the spring. Once Marabelle had gone, they made love and laughed, loved together.

Spring was coming now, Lem could feel it, the sun stronger, the snows slowly melting. He went out and found early roots for them to eat, and a small rabbit, returning triumphantly to the cave.

He found Jules outside, face to the sun, gathering wood to dry at the mouth of the cave. It made his heart beat faster to see Jules out in the open, but he reminded himself that he’d checked when he’d first come out himself and he hadn’t been gone that long or far. And he knew his Jules loved the sunshine. It had been what had first brought Jules out of his shell.

“My heart,” Lem called out.

“My Lem!” Jules smiled widely, waved.

His heart beat faster again, but this time it wasn’t about worry or fear. It was about how he felt about his lovely dragon.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” He showed Jules what he’d gathered.

“The sun feels good. I missed it. I think we will need better cloaks by next winter.”

“I agree. We have more time before the snows come again, though.”

There were a lot of things he wanted to have set up before they were snowed in again. Better clothing, bedding, some place to store food and wood. Comfortable seating. More books for Jules if he could manage to find them. They would have a busy summer, but that would be good for Jules, he thought.

“I found several plants that I think will make you a nice tea.” He sat near the mouth of the cave, enjoying the sun and the view of Jules working. Jules puttered about, whistling like a wee bird. It was a wonderful sight.

Lem had nearly dozed off in the sun when he heard something, perhaps the snap of a twig. He raised his head, immediately alert. Jules’ head tilted, forehead creasing in a frown.

“Go back into the cave, my heart.” His first priority was keeping Jules safe.

“Come with me,” Jules insisted, but Lem shook his head.

“I must discover what is coming. I will call when it’s safe.” He could hear footsteps now. Whoever it was, they were not trying to hide their approach. “Please, Jules. Now.”

Jules nodded, slipping into the cave, hiding in the shadows.

Knowing Jules was safe, Lem strode from the cave mouth, moving to meet this interloper away from their home.

He discovered a young man pulling a huge travois filled with cloths and furs. He was definitely not trying to hide his approach, and Lem could see no sign of others.

He stepped forward, letting his presence be known.

The young man’s eyes widened. “I... Bright blessings.”

Lem inclined his head in acknowledgement of the greeting. “You are far from home.”

“I hear there is a healer. I came to beg for help.”

“A healer?” Lem narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Who told you that?”

“Marabelle. She wintered at my lordship’s home.”

“What did she tell you? Why do you need a healer?” Had Marabelle betrayed them? Or did this lad honestly need help?

The man opened his cloak, exposing a babe swaddled there. “My wife passed in childbirth. I don’t know how to love this. She took my beloved’s life.”