Raife: An Aquadomina Novel (13 page)

“I must apologize for shooting you.” The male named Gerr’ar hurried to
say as soon as she entered the meeting room of the Castrum. “Even if you had
been going for a weapon, my actions were unconscionable.”

Sophie held up her hands for quiet. Ramsey, Garritt, Willem and Connor
had all taken to making various threats upon hearing that one of the Deviants
had shot her. When she hurried to sit in a chair, Raife followed and stood
behind her. She was happy to see that Stefan and Thomas were also at the
meeting. Her elusive night guard were making an appearance.

“Hello.” She smiled examining both men closely and heaved a sigh of
relief when her inner voice didn’t yell out a warning. Giving them both a huge
smile and a shrug of her shoulder she continued, “I am so sorry I didn’t get a
chance to talk with you very much before we just never seemed to cross paths.”
At her words, the guards looked abashed and she knew they had avoided her on
purpose. It didn’t hurt her feelings. She understood why they were trying to
stay neutral.

Before either man could offer a protest, she turned to the male that had
to be Raife’s brother. “We haven’t been introduced yet. I am Sophie…” rolling
her eyes at the roar of male voices contradicting her she waved her hands
irritably, “Yes. Okay.
The Chosen.”
 

The male returned her smile seeming to relax in his chair, “My name is
Rand. These fellows with me are Gerr’ar and Yor’en.”

“Gentlemen.” She inclined her head to the Deviant males and clapped her
hands together, “To business then. If you don’t mind my asking. How did you get
out of The Hold? From all I’ve heard it is impenetrable and provisions have to
be brought to you.”

Rand answered her, “It is that. We were given the vessels outside and
access codes to both The Hold’s shielding and this vehicle.”

“By whom?” Sophie asked, she had assumed it was Raife that had given them
the code to the Aquavi. He had stated that he hadn’t betrayed her. She wouldn’t
blame him for making decisions about a Chosen that he hadn’t even met yet. He had
been the epitome of vigilant. Now she understood why. He knew of threats that
she hadn’t even comprehended.

“Ri’Carn.” Rand stated emphatically. “I met with him myself.” He looked
at her imploringly, “I want you to know that I am innocent of the assault that
I was charged with. The protectorate of our district targeted me because my
parents are one of the largest growers in Norhurst. I think she was working
with Ri’Carn hoping to use my conviction to their benefit. Please believe me
that it was never my intention for you to be injured.”

“I believe you.” Sophie assured him. She had already seen that they were
not truly dangerous. Angry? Definitely. Dangerous, not as much.

Rand looked around stoically, “Ri’Carn is promising pardons and riches to
anyone who can break into your inner circle. He doesn’t know about your growing
ability to “see” people or he would stop trying and just kidnap you outright.”

“You can do that?” Willem…or was it Connor…gasped.

“Yes.” Sophie was suddenly shy at all the gaping looks she was getting.

“She will be able to see right through anyone in Ri’Carn’s camp.” Raife
smiled protectively, “It is his other means of getting to her that must be
stopped at all cost. He will never be her Chosen Consort. I will kill him if he
touches a single hair on her head.”

Sophie blushed hotly at the possessive tone of Raife’s statement. His
brother and the other Deviants on the Aquavi knew what she and Raife had been
doing. The men in her guard had only now figured it out. In order to change the
topic she blurted.

“I know this will be hard to hear.” Sophie turned her attention to Rand.
“I need the Deviant population to stay out of the way for a few days. Bring
those vehicles back to The Hold and wait for what comes next.” Before they
could protest she hurried to continue, “I fear you may have fallen into
Ri’Carn’s trap. If you bring me to him, he could just have you all killed and
say I was a victim of the Deviants. Then what outcry would there be against
you?”

Everyone looked around the room and she saw the Deviants shudder. “There
would be a call to destroy all of us.” Yor’en grimaced. “Nothing would be able
to stop the wrath of the Kingdoms coming down on us then.”

 
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that
was his plan all along.” Sophie was suddenly tired from all the intrigue of the
day. “All the power he can scrounge and as many people he can hurt along the
way seems to be his playbook.” Standing up she felt Raife behind her and was
happy for his warmth as she got a sudden chill down her spine. What Ri’Carn was
plotting might be beyond her ability to stop, but she was going to give it her
best try. “I am tired and would retire for the night unless there is anything
else?”

“There is one other thing.” Raife held up his hand, “I cannot be The
Chosen’s Commander. Another in this room will have to take my place.”

All eyes swung to Sophie and she blushed again. Turning to Raife she
requested, “I would like a chance to talk with Stefan and Thomas first before
you vote on the next Commander.” She looked around the room. “Also, until after
the Welcome Celebration in Terragale I would like it to seem as if nothing is
amiss. Raife will need to appear to be my Commander still, even if another has
taken his place.” She was ticking off thoughts on her fingers, “Additionally,
there are some changes I am going to make regarding the status of marrying and
children in my guard.” Laughing as she walked to the door, “Good night
gentlemen.” She turned to nod to the men in the room. “I can always make the
Castrum four levels or even five. There could be quarters for couples and a
children’s play level. Or maybe do private living quarters on the grounds. Yes.
Patell won’t mind if we enlarge…” She was muttering to herself all the way out
the door. The possibilities were endless. She hadn’t even noticed the stunned
audience she had left behind.

“She has no idea the true extent of her power or the danger she is in.”
Rand muttered watching The Chosen walk away.

“She seems to not care for power, and as for the danger. She will never
face it.” Raife swore fervently. “We will see to that.”

All of the males in the room nodded.

The Castrum had docked to much pomp and circumstance in the city of
Terragale the day before. The crowds had cheered and banners were flying. Tonight
was her Welcome Celebration and she knew that Ri’Carn and The Three would be
attending. She had met briefly with the man the night before and apologized
profusely for her “female” issues that had kept her away from visiting with
him. She knew on Earth any mention of the female time was enough to get most
men running. She had laughed as an old joke came to mind and Ri’Carn had
solicitously asked her what was so funny.

“Where I came from there was a joke about women on their female time.”
She had looked at him then beyond him to Raife towering behind Ri’Carn on guard
duty. “The joke goes that if a female is on that time of the month a male needs
to get her three things. Number one is Chocolate. That is a sweet candy that
makes females feel better.” She was ticking off on her fingers. “Number two is
a movie in the romantic comedy genre. Movies were visual scenes played out by
actors to entertain.” She held up another finger. “Number three was a puppy.”
At the confused looks on the man’s face, she laughed again, “A puppy is a soft
and furry companion animal that most people loved and are hard to be mad at.”

“What is so funny about any of that?” Ri’Carn had asked clearly trying to
hide his annoyance. She had been talking nonsense for most of his visit, so Sophie
couldn’t really blame him.

“Well after you supply her those three things, then the male should then
run and hide. Far, far away and hope she can’t find him until her female time
was over. Then it would be safe to come back.” Sophie finished then coughed
loudly in her hand to try to cover her laughter at him. He was so pompous and
arrogant that he reeked of it. It was almost enough to make her sick and her
head was starting to ache. She played as stupid, helpless and naïve as she
could get away with. She had Ri’Carn eating it up. He promised to help her make
“good” decisions for the best of Aquadomina.

After her meeting with Ri’Carn, just as he was leaving he had asked her
to save him a dance. “It can be our first dance as officially The Chosen and
her Consort.” He had oozed good will, but Sophie wasn’t fooled.

“Of course.” She had insisted, “Now I must return to my quarters. I have
much to prepare for.” When she had tried to turn away, he had pulled her into
him for a kiss. Just as Sophie’s hand came up to Ri’Carn’s chest, he was pushed
a few feet away.

“Commander Raife.” Ri’Carn recovered from his stumble, “You go to far.”

“I don’t think I go far enough.” Raife snapped back.

“Gentlemen. Please.” Sophie waved away Garritt, Ramsey, Willem and Connor
who had all been at stations around the room. Walking to Ri’Carn, she showed
him to the door, “Commander Raife is just very protective of my body.” She
turned to look over her shoulder at Raife, her eyes burning with emotion. “You
can be assured he will be justly punished.” Just as the doors closed, she
turned back, her eyes on Raife. “A thorough spanking perhaps?”

“A spanking?” Raife had made to pursue her and with a shriek, she ran for
her quarters with Raife right on her heels. Laughing uproariously, she made it
to her bedroom before he caught her in a flurry of material. Her skirts were
flying around them and when he picked her up over his shoulder, they landed
across his face.

“You are going to get us killed.” She was laughing so hard her side hurt.
“Put me down before you trip.” She had protested too late, he stumbled into the
bed and she went flying off his shoulder to bounce on the mattress. Her
laughter was echoing around the room. Sliding to stand by the bed, she begged
softly, “Get me out of this dress my Consort.” Raife hurried to untie her
corset and the dress was ripped over her head. Slipping from his grasp, she
hurried into the bath, shimmying out of her underwear as she went.

“PAC, turn on the bathwater, slow stream.” She stood on the spongy material
waiting for the warm water to fill the tub. When she felt a hand on her arm,
she knew from the feeling of love and happiness it gave her that Raife had
joined her. Turning into his chest, she held on tight.

“I could just kill him.” Raife bit out.

“Then he wouldn’t face justice for the abuses of power he is guilty of.”
She sighed. Her head was starting to feel better and there was something else
he could attend to. “We have other things to keep us busy besides Ri’Carn.”
Sophie stepped out of Raife’s arms to grab some soap from the chest and then
returned to the tub. She gasped in surprise and dropped the soap when he
suddenly pulled her against him. One arm going across her chest, the fingers of
one hand plumping and teasing her nipple. The other hand went lower across her
stomach. Those fingers diving between her legs to torment her. Sophie spread
her legs wider to give him free access to do what he wanted. She was happy when
he cupped her mound in his palm and let his fingers drive into her welcome warmth.

“Do you like this sweetheart?” Raife rasped in her ear. His fingers
plunging and drawing along her slick folds.

“You know I do.” She writhed against his fingers.

He pulled his fingers against the nerves and laughed against her ear, “I
think you prefer it soft and gentle.” His breath sent shivers down her spine,
and she shuddered against his fingers. “No?” He pulled her back roughly, “How
about nice and hard?”

Sophie was in an agony of desire. “Yes.” She pressed back, her fingers
raking his thighs. “Hard.”

Raife pushed her forward until her knees hit the spongy material of the
seat. “Brace your hands.” He warned just as one of her hands slipped on the
soap she had dropped and she ended up on her elbows. She groaned when she felt
Raife between her legs, shifting her thighs apart. Then she felt the familiar
probe of his erection and the swelling, filling sensation that followed. The
water was flowing around her knees and Raife was pounding into her from behind.
The slapping of his legs against hers was echoing around the bathroom, along
with their heavy breathing and gasps of pleasure.

When he knew she was close, he stopped thrusting. Holding her prisoner
against him with one arm around her stomach, he ground his hips hard. The other
hand reached between her legs to play with the exposed nerves. With a
half-muffled groan, Sophie flew apart in her release, her muscles spasming
against him. Raife’s arm tightened as he pushed so hard he almost pulled her
off her knees, and then he found release too. She could feel his arousal
absorbing her essence as he shuddered against her.

They both collapsed into the warm water of the tub. “Now that is what I
call a bath.” She laughed softly.

*~*~*~*

Shaking herself out of the memory Sophie smiled at Allie and the job she
had done on her hair. It was, for lack of better words, an incredible work of
art. There was no description Sophie could think for the gentle curls, swaying
chunks, intricate beads, pearls and diamond pins. It was just fantastical. The
Chosen had some jewelry it seemed because she was wearing earrings and rings
that had all belonged to the estate at some point. She knew that the dress she
was to wear tonight, an ivory underdress with pearl and diamond-encrusted
corset would look amazing with this hair.

Turning to go into her bedroom, Allie followed. “Is it true that Debb is
gone for good?”

Sophie stopped to smile at Allie, “I haven’t had a chance to talk with
you since yesterday have I…” She patted the girls arm, “Yes. I sent Debb to
Norhurst “to better plan our visit there”, but she won’t be returning to my
service. I have other plans for Debb.”

Allie sighed, “That’s good.’ Realizing how that must sound she blushed,
“I mean—”

“It’s okay Allie.” She reassured her, “I know what you mean. Being an
assistant wasn’t Debb’s strong suit.” Turning to hold out her arms she said,
“Let’s get this night over with shall we?”

Allie helped her into some fine thigh high stockings, the dress and
corset. It was a good thing the dress could be stepped into or she would have
destroyed the hair Allie had created trying to get it on. Once she was tied,
laced and corseted up it was time for the shoes she was to wear. A more formal
type of pump was required instead of the sandals she was accustomed to. Then
she was ready to go to the ball.

“Thank you Allie.” Sophie hugged her stylist. “I will see you later at
the celebration.”

Walking with Allie into the sitting room, she smiled looking for Raife
and then she stopped dead. He was wearing some type of military dress uniform
and there was an impressive amount of ribbons and medals.

At her astonished look he smiled, “I had to accomplish some things to be
a worthy Commander in The Chosen’s guard.” Pulling her close he whispered, “You
have stolen my breath.” Then he kissed her and she forgot that they were going
to the Welcome Celebration. She forgot that their plans against Ri’Carn would
come to fruition tonight. She forgot everything but how happy she was to be in
Raife’s arms.

“Hmm.”

“Hmm.” With some coughing for good measure, the other guard were trying
to get their attention. Reluctantly she let Raife go, and then turned to Allie.
“Do I need to fix anything?”

Allie rushed forward and dabbed at her lipstick, and then handed Raife a
napkin.

“Thank you again Allie.” She turned to leave the sitting room. “Well
let’s do this.”