Magical Lover (36 page)

Thoren ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Keara, who lay with a peaceful look on her face. Was his sense of right and wrong worth her life?

“Deal. You have my word I will not mention your...indiscretion if you do not mention Keara’s ability.”

“I’m glad you see things my way. Now go and report. Return by morning and Keara will be as you left her.”

Thoren clapped a hand against Enar’s back and transported them to the Council’s Chamber. Instead of sitting in their chairs, the thirteen males clustered around the seeing ball.

“How is my granddaughter? I cannot see her in the ball,” Alviss shoved his way out of the pack of males and shuffled toward Thoren.

“How...” oh that’s right. The seeing ball. “Aryana performed a spell to replenish her energy. So you saw everything?”

“Not everything. Enough to know what Keara can do. Enough to see my best reconnaissance specialists get their arses kicked into the grave. We’ve been discussing Keara since then and missed the rest. Where’s the rogue?”

“He got away.” Enar glared at the males.

“You lost him. No whelp of mine—” Viktor snarled, his face red.

Alviss pointed his cane at Viktor. “Quiet! I’m tired of your squabbles.” He turned back to Enar as Viktor continued to snarl. “How did the Draconi escape?”

Enar shrugged. “He ran, I chased. He disappeared. I looked around and nothing. Keara was injured so I returned. The titanium sword is hidden for your retrieval.”

“And do you know who the Draconi is?”

“No sir.”

“He apparently knew Aryana. Said I was the ‘bitch’s nephew’ and to give my aunt his regards,” Thoren said. “May I go now? I need to see Keara.”

His palms itched to leave as his heart thudded hard enough to move his tunic.

Balthor’s face wrinkled into a smile.
It’s about time you admitted Keara is your mate, son.

Before he made a sarcastic comment to his father, Alviss’s next words cranked his fists into tight knots.

“We’ll bring Aryana to us. You will stay to hear this.”

Removing the snarl from his lip took some effort. His mate needed him.

Two blinks and a popping noise later and Aryana stood beside him. Her face pale, her eyes snapped wide, she stared at Alviss. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled through her nose.

“Alviss. How nice of you to bring me here without warning.”

“Aryana. Thoren tells me the rogue Draconi who attacked him seemed to know you. Do you know who he is?”

Aryana cut a quick glance to Thoren before returning her glare to Alviss. “My nephew did not describe the male, only that he wore a hood. Not even I can definitely determine who someone is without a description.”

“Give us your best guess.”

“I have banished a couple of Draconi during my service to the Goddess. The most recent banishment occurred four months ago. My guess would be Fasolt.”

Alviss’s eyes narrowed. “You banished someone without my knowledge?”

“It is not required for me to inform you of those who are banished. In case you forgot, I am the High Priestess. Part of the duties involves banishing those that need it. And Fasolt needed it.” She snarled.

“Why did you banish him?”

Aryana’s fists clenched. “He assaulted one of my priestesses, claiming it was her fault he did not see the Goddess during his session with her. She almost died. His face was...damaged in the struggle to subdue him. He swore revenge upon me. It sounds like him, but again, I was not there to see.”

“Did either of you know Fasolt?” Alviss turned to Thoren and Enar.

As one, the two shook their heads.

“No, sir,” Thoren answered for the two of them.

“This presents further issues for us to discuss. You can go now,” Alviss waved his hand and Aryana disappeared. “You may go too, Thoren. No, Enar, you stay. We need to know how to recover that titanium sword.”

Enar nodded at Thoren. Thoren slapped a hand on Enar’s arm.

I’m sorry for overreacting.

It’s all right. Get back to your female. Wish I could see my woman now.

You will soon.

Yes, but not soon enough.

Picturing the healing room, Thoren transported to Keara’s side. The blue haze still covered her, cloaking her in light. His mate. His love. His life.

He pulled the chair next to the bed and sat. When she woke, he wanted to be the first thing she saw.

Chapter 19

Warmth insulated her, cocooning her like a blanket on a cold day. A heavy warmth. Very heavy. Almost suffocating. Keara pushed at the heaviness, trying to find the corner on the blanket to yank it off her body. Maybe if her eyes would open she could see what to do. But her lids felt heavy, almost as heavy as the weight covering her, and the effort to get them open spent energy she didn’t have. Better to try to remove the blanket sightless.

She shifted, but the heaviness remained. Blue light snuck under the seals of her lids, bathing her in its glow. It wanted inside her, to grow, to live. Instead of running from it, she embraced it, a trace of a thought telling her the blue light was there to help.

The light shot through her, filling her with its energy, its power. She felt bits of strength from many sources within the light, all working together to empower her. Nothing to lose by accepting the gift. Opening herself to the power, she let it course through her veins, through her heart.

And as fast as it came, it left.

What in the name of the gods was that? She felt energized, powerful, a mountain among hills. Until she opened her eyes and saw a mural of dragons flying over clouds. She lay flat on her back in a healing room.

Again.

She tried to push the covers off, only to be stopped by a warm hand. Turning her head, her gaze ran up Thoren’s arm, meeting his eyes. She smiled.

Before she could take a breath, strong arms yanked her against a muscular chest. She breathed in Thoren’s scent and her body lit up like a fire on a cold day. He lived. She lived. Relief flooded her. What had she been so mad at him about?

Thank the Goddess you’re alive. You had me worried. Don’t ever do that again.

Back at you.

“You’re holding my granddaughter too tight.”

Thoren’s grip relaxed, but he didn’t let her go.

She twisted in his arms until she saw Alviss sitting on the opposite side of the bed.

“Hey, Gramps.”

“Hey, yourself. How do you feel?”

“I feel...weird. As if pieces of others live in me. Odd, eh?”

“Not really.” Annaliese stepped into view, her hands folded in the sleeves of her gown. “We used a spell that took a little energy from each Draconi in the Temple to replenish what was missing in you. That feeling will wear off over the next several days as their energies disperse.”

Thoren reluctantly released her and Keara scooted back against the headboard. She wanted to be alone with Thoren, but as no one made a move to leave, she knew it was a pointless wish.

Alviss patted her hand. “Do you feel like telling us about the rogue Draconi?”

Keara shrugged. “He and Lord Simon captured me in River’s Run. He said he needed me to get revenge on his enemies. I’m not sure why. That’s about it. I didn’t see him in the woods when I found Thoren. I...passed out,” she was not going to mention why, “and here I am. What happened?”

Eyes widening, she listened as Thoren recanted what happened after she lost consciousness. So the rogue Draconi had a possible name, a possible motive and was on the loose. While important, more pressing matters worried her.

Did Thoren know she raised him and Enar from the dead? What would happen to her when he realized her secret ability? Would he still consider her his mate, or would it be too much for him to handle?

“Now about you.” Another pat from Alviss followed by a serious expression.

Uh-oh. This didn’t look good.

“How long have you known you could raise the dead?”

Keara’s breath caught. Froze right up, leaving her wide-eyed and sweaty palmed. Alviss knew. They all knew. By the Goddess, what would they do to her? It didn’t take a genius to realize that while the Draconi might be a race seeped in magic, even they didn’t have raisers of the dead. Fear wrapped its tendrils about her heart.

What kind of an aberration was she?

More hand patting, Thoren joining in. She grasped his palm and he squeezed back, that one small motion freeing the locked air, allowing her lungs to move.

“I did it once before, but no one knew the girl had died. They just thought I healed her, which was strange enough, but they would have killed me if they’d known what I was capable of.”

“Your gift is rare—”

Thoren snorted at Alviss’s words. “That’s the understatement of the month.”

Alviss gave Thoren a glare that made Keara happy she wasn’t on its receiving end. And to think, Gramps seemed like such a nice old male. “As I was saying. Your gift is extremely rare and as such, we need you to keep silent about it.”

“Huh?” Of all the things she expected him to say, this one never crossed her mind. Silent? What did he expect? Her to stand on the Temple roof and shout that she could raise the dead? What kind of an idiot did he think she was?

Where was the censor? The fright? “You’re not scared of me?”

“Scared of you?”

“Why would we be scared of you?” Thoren squeezed her hand.

“Because I’m different. No one has the ability to raise the dead.”

“I suspect Mother did and just didn’t tell anyone.”

All eyes turned to Annaliese, who blushed. So she wasn’t the only one with odd abilities. She took after her grandmother.

“I also suspected. But if your mate doesn’t want to tell you something, you shouldn’t force it.” Alviss narrowed his gaze on Thoren. “Keep that in mind, hatchling, and things will go well for you.”

“You really don’t mind?” She’d been so worried about their reaction, afraid they’d disown her, return her to River’s Run. For them to not mind was...shocking. And yet, gratifying.

“Mind?” Alviss waved a hand. “No. But I caution you in this gift. Do not promote it. I’d prefer you not even use it except in an emergency. And even then be careful with it.”

Not a problem. Raising the dead left her with a foot in the grave and that she didn’t care to experience again. “Agreed. Unless my mate is injured.”

Thoren squeezed her hand.
Mate? So you will join with me?

Of course. I love you, even when you thoroughly aggravate me.

Me? Aggravate you?

“Ah. So you accept him as your mate?” Alviss let loose with a wrinkled grin.