Born of Stone (11 page)

Albain turned his attention to the Master and his smile seemed to dim. “Ah, Wynnston. Good to see you about.” He glanced at Astrid again before turning his back to her as if she no longer existed. “And where is Orestes now?”

Wynn frowned and ran his gaze over Astrid quickly. Heat rushed back into her cheeks and she hoped she passed inspection. And where had her duster gone?

“Orestes is traveling to Angor in search of Nel. Have you been told of the attack?” Wynn asked.

Albain nodded gravely. “Yes. The King has been apprised also. He has fifteen of the Twenty searching the realm for other signs of infiltration. How many of your brothers are out there?”

“Ten. Only Petros and myself have stayed behind.”

“To guard the castle?”

“As is our way. You know why we never leave it completely unmanned.”

Albain bowed his head in acknowledgement and turned back to face Astrid. His eyes widened slightly as if he had forgotten her presence. She somehow doubted that was the case.

“And what sweet treats you have to guard at this time,” Albain said.

He stepped closer to her and Wynn was suddenly behind her, grasping her arm and pulling her back. Albain stopped and one brow shot up.

“As I said, Orestes would have my head if anything happened to this one,” Wynn said.

The threat in his voice was clear and shocked her. Would the wizard allow Wynn to speak to him so? Albain simply shrugged and gave Wynn a lopsided grin.

“As you say. I’m surprised to find a human woman has garnered his interest. That isn’t usually his way.”

“It is now,” Wynn said.

His grip on her arm tightened the slightest bit but he wasn’t hurting her. He seemed to be angry and she wondered about it, but she knew when to hold her tongue.

“Pity, that,” Albain said. He waved his hand in the air as if to physically brush away the conversation. “Well, I only stopped by to see how things fared here and know if there was word of Nel. As there isn’t, I shall return to the King. Good day.”

He strode out of the library before either Wynn or Astrid could reply.

Wynn shook his head and looked over Astrid again more thoroughly. Of all the Twenty, he trusted Albain the least. He was the youngest of the wizards and cocky. He had also been the loudest voice in setting restrictions on the Masters from day one. Luckily, the King had overruled all of his suggestions.

“Are you all right? Wynn asked. Astrid nodded but he noticed the color still hadn’t returned to her cheeks. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, sir. I was just startled when he came in. I’ve never met a wizard before.”

He nodded and looked around until he spotted her duster lying beneath a nearby table. He picked it up and took it to her.

“They are an odd lot, and him most of all. It would probably be best if you didn’t socialize with him much. I know this was beyond your control. But in the future, if you find yourself alone with him try to leave the room…politely.”

She immediately nodded her agreement. “Yes, sir. I will.”

“What were you two discussing before I came in?”

“Not much, sir. He asked about me and I said I worked here. He seemed surprised…probably because of my dress.”

He looked her over again and one brow went up. “Indeed. That may be good. I can never tell what that one is thinking or what motivates him. I just pray he hasn’t set his sights on you. Orestes would be most displeased.”

That made her smile though she turned away quickly in an attempt to hide it.

“Are you happy in here, Astrid?”

She moved to the rolling ladder and stopped with one small foot on the bottom rung. “Oh yes, sir. Very much so. I’ve always liked the look of books.”

He chuckled. “Liked the look, eh? I thought Orestes said you can read them also.”

“Oh, well…yes. A little. I’m really not very good at it.”

He walked to the far wall and looked over the titles for a moment until finding the one he wanted. She climbed halfway up the ladder and began dusting the top books. He noticed her arm trembling when she reached out to accomplish the task. He immediately put the book down on a table and closed the distance to grasp her hips and steady her.

“Oh!”

“Never fear. I’ve got you.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

She finished dusting and he simply lifted her from the ladder once she was ready. He placed her on the floor and picked up the book he had chosen.

“This is a children’s book given to us by one of the wizards. When they created us, they implanted much knowledge, including the ability to read in the language of the realm. However, they didn’t know at first how well we could do anything. So, one of them started us off with this book.”

She set her duster aside and took the book gingerly, showing such reverent care he immediately liked her more for it. She opened the book and the wonder on her face was priceless. He had forgotten about the colorful illustrations.

“Oh, Master Wynn, this is so amazing. Surely I can’t handle such a treasure.”

She started to give it back but he held his hands out and shook his head. “Nonsense. I trust you with it completely. And I know it will be a good one to start with. If it is too simple for you, there are many others.”

Her eyes suddenly shimmered with moisture and his heart nearly stopped. Surely she wasn’t going to cry. Orestes would pummel him. Just as he was trying to decide on what to do, she smiled.

“Thank you, sir. I truly don’t know what to say.”

His pulse settled and he returned her smile gratefully. “You’re very welcome. And no thanks are necessary.” He looked around at the shelves and saw she had accomplished much in the few hours she’d been alone. “The books look well dusted for now. Why don’t you sit and look over that book for a bit until dinner? You have some time yet. I’ll make sure someone lets you know when it’s time to eat.”

She beamed at him and he considered how damn lucky his brother was to have found such a beautiful human. He had bedded a few in his time but none lately. Maybe it was time to find a likely bed partner in the nearby village. But not tonight. For now, his duty was in the castle alongside Petros. They had a very important duty here in their home that could not go unguarded for even a day.

It irked him that the Twenty knew the source of the gargoyles’ power, but the wizards were the reason for it. They had created the Masters from stone by using the most powerful stone in the land. Now that stone resided beneath his feet in the dungeon with strong wards and protections. If anything happened to it, he and his brothers would be powerless.

He watched Astrid for a moment while she settled on a small settee near the windows. Once he was satisfied she would be okay for a few minutes, he went in search of Petros. There was something odd about Albain showing up in the castle alone and without announcing himself. He meant to find out why and be certain the bastard was gone.

Albain waited in the shadows as Master Wynn left the library. For the briefest moment, he considered going back in for a second look at the human gem inside. Orestes thought to keep her, eh? He’d see about that. She was beautiful, with innocence shining from her eyes like the headiest beacon. She would be good to bed and even better as a sacrifice to his magic. But not yet.

First he had plans to finalize and plots to secure. Once he knew for certain Orestes and the others were too far away to heed a battle cry, he would strike. And it would be a sweet victory indeed.

Chapter Eight

For two days, Nel bided his time, slowly pulling on his restraints to the pleasing sounds of the old wood giving up its anchor. Whenever Iva or Kalypso appeared, he would have to stop and pretend to be properly weakened by their efforts. It was amazing how easily he’d been able to ignore their attempts on him so far. His body never betrayed him. Despite their beauty and considerable oral skills, his cock remained at most half-hard and equally frustrating to them both. In fact, the only time it responded was when the pretty one appeared with his bread and water rations.

Phaidra. Even thinking her name earned a response between his thighs. He watched her move about the room silently while she dusted the corners and surfaces. She had already given him the meager sustenance he was allowed for the afternoon. However, it was a bit more than yesterday. She had fed him from her tray, then after a peek over her shoulder, pulled more bread from a pocket hidden in the folds of her plain dress. Surprise speared through him but he’d said nothing. She had seemed so nervous already he hadn’t wanted to give her cause to drop the precious bread.

Now he watched her hips sway ever so slightly as she moved and he wondered what it would be like to have a handful of her enticing bottom. As if she could feel his stare, she spun around and faced him from across the room.

“Why do you do that?” she asked.

He lifted a brow in mock innocence. “What, my dear?”

Blood filled her cheeks. “Watch me. I can sense your gaze on my every step.”

“Do you? Find a way to free me and it will be more than my gaze you feel, pretty one.”

She twisted her dusting rag in her hands and he was sure she’d run away. But then she stepped toward him instead. He fought for calm while his pulse raced. Why was she closing the distance? He didn’t know why the others had been trying to harden him, but this one managed it without a thought. What if it was a trick? Perhaps Iva had somehow noticed his reaction to Phaidra and was even now waiting for her to do her magic. And what did it matter if they hardened him and made him come? He’d been putting the others off merely to anger them. Now he wondered if it was also to his benefit.

Phaidra stepped up to his side, but not close enough to touch. She glanced over her shoulder to the doorway before looking at him again. True fear shone in her eyes and he frowned at the image.

“What is it, Phaidra? What frightens you so?”

She swallowed hard and started dusting the bedframe at his side. “I spoke to another yesterday…a Third,” she whispered. “I told her about you.”

He knew the Kevan was a hierarchal society with very strict class rules. From what he could tell, Phaidra appeared to be near the bottom of the seven-tiered system. Iva was obviously a rare and revered First but he had no clue about Kalypso.

“And what did she say?” he asked, being sure to speak in the same lowered tone.

She glanced at the door again and moved slowly toward his feet. “She was horrified. Said The Council of Firsts would never abide a Master being held captive within our city barriers.”

Finally, the first good news he’d had in days. “So? Will you alert them?”

She chewed on her bottom lip a moment before raising watery eyes his way. “I’m so very frightened. I belong to Iva and she would dole out my punishment even while being punished herself.”

He frowned and shook his head in exasperation. Though he’d been in Keva many times and knew their laws and how they applied to him and his brothers, he’d never understood all of them. The system was designed so the higher ups ruled the lower classes with a very strict code of rules. Phaidra was obviously a part of Iva’s household and therefore her property until Phaidra worked her way up and out of the house. Then she would be expected to make a house of her own with her own servants. He couldn’t fathom the sweet and innocent looking Phaidra as a house First or even Second. She was too quiet and demure…too sensitive. He hadn’t learned much from her lips the past couple of days but just watching her had told him plenty.

He considered her words. “What if I could talk to them and ask for clemency? As I’ve said, this goes against our treaties. Surely you would be looked upon well for preventing a war with my brothers?”

She seemed to think it over while she continued her play at cleaning and stole glances at the doorway. So far they had never been interrupted while she fed him. But today she was lingering. He began to worry for her immediate safety.

“If nothing else, Phaidra, I’ll take you with me when I leave.”

Her head shot up and her beautiful eyes rounded. “What?”

“I’ll take you with me to my home in Halstrid. We have plenty of room.”

She immediately shook her head and took a step away. “I could never leave Keva. It’s my home.”

He tried to soften his frown though he was frustrated as ever. “I know, pretty one, but I would never leave you to face punishment…not for helping free me.”

She shook her head again but slowly this time, thinking over his words. “I can’t stand seeing you chained like an animal. But I don’t know how much more I can do.”

The sincerity in her eyes caused an ache in his chest that was so foreign, for a moment he thought he might be dying. Moisture pooled in her beautiful eyes and he wanted nothing more than to wipe it away. But he couldn’t reach her.

“Phaidra, come closer. Please.”

She hesitated but a moment. However, the desire on her face spoke volumes. As soon as she was at his side again, he leaned forward slowly, as far as his bonds allowed. His lips were a breath away from hers.

“I’m going to kiss you because I’ve been thinking about your mouth since I first saw it. And I want you to know it’s also my promise that I will do everything in my power to keep you from harm.”