Mystic Flame (Beyond Ontariese 4) (15 page)

“Ms. Nex is here at my request.” Tal moved
forward, returning to Mistress Alexia’s side. “I felt it imperative
that members of the tribunal hear her testimony live.”

“Such testimony is supposed to be done via
videocom,” Malos objected.

“It isn’t possible to scan someone’s
emotions via videocom,” Mistress Alexia countered. “Both Ms. Nex
and Master Evan have agreed to being scanned while they give their
testimonies.”

“This is intolerable.” Malos raised his
bound hands and jerked on one of the cords attached to his collar.
“I demand that you release me.”

“The restraints remain until the inquiry has
concluded. Drop your shields and allow yourself to be scanned and
this procedure will end much sooner.”

“I was passing by Vee’s quarters when I
noticed a handheld light moving about inside the office.” Malos
formed each word with obvious care, yet his lips twitched and his
nostrils flared. “I investigated and found Evan attempting to steal
Vee’s journal. We struggled and then he teleported out with the
journal.
Evan
is the thief, so why am I in restraints?”

Mistress Alexia moved closer to Malos,
impatience sharpening her features. “We placed someone near Vee’s
work station with a handheld light. The beam is not visible from
the corridor. Your account is inaccurate.”

“He must have propped open the connecting
door or something. All I know is what I saw.”

“You reported that Evan made threats against
Head Master Tal during the ensuing struggle. What exactly did Evan
say?”

Malos tensed then fixed his gaze on some
point beyond Mistress Alexia. “He told me Tal wasn’t fit to lead
and he was going to prove it with the journal. I attempted to wrest
the journal from his hands, but he opened a vortex before I
succeeded.” His tone was expressionless now, almost monotone.

Unable to resist the temptation, Evan
increased the sensitivity of his empathic receptors and allowed
Malos’ emotions to flow through him. Burning anger, frustration and
fear were all seething beneath his calm surface. Despite his
outward serenity, Malos knew his treachery was about to be
exposed.

“Lower your shields. I wish to test the
truthfulness of your claim.” Mistress Alexia stood directly in
front of Malos, her hand slightly raised. She obviously expected
Malos to comply.

Evan held his breath, waiting for Malos to
respond to her challenge.

“I have done nothing wrong. I refuse to be
treated like a criminal.”

Mistress Alexia lowered her arm. “The others
have agreed to be scanned. If you have nothing to hide, you have
nothing to fear.”

“I’m being framed!” He beseeched the outer
ring of Mystics, his expression pitiful. “Head Master Tal has
orchestrated this entire fiasco to discredit a rival. He knows he
is losing the confidence of the other Mystics so he—”

“If you speak the truth, show us.” Mistress
Alexia had clearly lost interest in Malos’ drama. “If you continue
with these rash accusations without lowering your shields, I will
have no alternative but to sanction an interrogator.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” His voice was low and
throaty, and hatred gleamed from his eyes.

“Lower your shields. I will not ask again.”
They glared at each other for a long, strained moment then she
shook her head. “Foolish choice.” She motioned toward one of the
outer ring Mystics. “Take him to the detention center and summon
Master Hesuto.”

“Yes, Mistress.” The man she’d motioned
toward took the lead as Malos was dragged from the training
hall.

Malos’ emotions spiked and slashed through
Evan, so he quickly shielded his empathic receptors. Malos had
brought this on himself. He was unworthy of pity.

Mistress Alexia turned toward them once
Malos was out of sight. “If you each record a detailed report
before you leave today, it will be unnecessary for you to attend
the actual tribunal.”

“What will happen to him if he’s found
guilty?” Dro Tar asked Mistress Alexia.

“It will depend on what Hesuto is able to
strip from his mind. Attempted murder and inciting rebellion
against the head master are both serious charges, but neither
requires the surrender of his life force.”

“If Hesuto can prove Malos is a Rodyte spy,
his life is forfeit,” Tal added with characteristic directness.

“You will let us know what Hesuto
learns?”

“Of course.” Tal started to leave, but Dro
Tar stopped him.

“Could you check with your brother and make
sure Gine is safe?”

Tal glanced into the distance and then
reported, “The boy is with Saebin and the hunter shadowing him is
dead. The team attempted to apprehend him, but he refused to
surrender. Apparently, Gine has an aunt whom he frequently visits.
Saebin is making arrangements for the aunt to take possession of
the boy.”

“Custody, not possession.” Dro Tar smiled.
“Children are not owned.”

“As you say.” Tal glided off across the
room.

“I better check on our prisoner. Make sure
he made it to the detention center.” Mistress Alexia bowed her head
toward Evan and then Dro Tar. “Thank you for your cooperation. This
would not have been possible without your help.”

They acknowledged the praise with similar
bows and Mistress Alexia left.

“So where shall we go once our testimonies
are recorded?” They hadn’t had time to talk about tomorrow much
less make long-term plans.

“I can’t stay here with you.” Dro Tar looked
away from him, her expression carefully guarded.

“But I can go home with you.”

Her expressive gaze snapped back to his and
hope shimmered in her eyes. “Is that what you want?”

“It’s what I’ve always wanted,” he
whispered.

She started to speak then shook her head and
sadness crept back into her eyes. “Let’s get our testimony
recorded. The rest of this can wait.”

Disappointed by her emotional retreat, he
knew this was neither the time nor the place to confront her.
Instead, he held out his hand and smiled. “Follow me.”

Dread rolled over Dro Tar as she scanned
open the door to her flat. Her home was compact and unassuming,
located on the sixty-ninth floor of one of Frontine’s many
high-rise apartment buildings. No one would consider it luxurious,
but she’d worked hard to make it uniquely hers. She pushed the door
inward then held it open as Evan entered behind her. “Be it ever so
humble…”

He clasped his hands in front of him, the
pose surprisingly dramatic now that his body was again shrouded in
a Mystic’s robes. He looked pious and unapproachable, though still
ridiculously handsome. She liked him much better in jeans and a
T-shirt.

The living room was separated from the
kitchen by a half bank of cupboards, the extended countertop also
serving as the main eating area. A changeable holoprojection along
the far wall created various landscapes or city scenes, according
to her mood. She’d recently replaced her inflatable furniture for a
matching loveseat and chair after having the couch go flat on her
one too many times.

“It’s…charming.”

Sure it was. She wasn’t blind. It felt tiny
and cluttered after the sweeping elegance of the Conservatory.

Rather than reveal her insecurity, she
asked, “Want something to drink?” Tal had ordered a sumptuous meal
and insisted she and Evan enjoy it before they left the
Conservatory. The entire experience had shone a glaring light on
how different their lives had become.

“Whatever you’re having is fine.”

“This is the third apartment you’ve
inhabited that was on the sixty-ninth floor. Is that coincidence or
is there some significance to the number?”

The question brought her up short halfway to
the kitchen. Seriously? He didn’t know the significance of
sixty-nine? She glanced over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t
mocking her. He wasn’t even looking at her and as usual, his
expression was unreadable.

“Just a personal preference.”

He strolled about the living room gazing at
her movie posters. “Are these considered art on Earth?”

She laughed and resumed her trek into the
kitchen. “I don’t think too many would consider them art. They’re
advertisements for entertainment vids.”

“I don’t understand.”

She filled two glasses with blish and
returned to the living room. The bright, spicy-sweet beverage was
one of her favorites. It helped her relax without going too quickly
to her head. “You weren’t born a Mystic, Master Evan. Didn’t you
ever indulge in an entertainment simulation?”

“Of course.” He accepted one of the glasses
and took a sip.

“Well a movie is similar to a simulation,
except movies aren’t interactive. People simply watch the story
unfold.”

“And humans find this entertaining?” He
sounded skeptical. “I’ve watched entertainment vids before and
found them frivolous.”

“Pull the rod out of your ass and have a
seat. You might actually enjoy yourself if you give this half a
chance.” She waited until he obeyed then sat next to him on couch.
They both needed to relax and decompress from the nonstop action of
the past few days. Hopefully her uptight Mystic would allow himself
to be swept away. “Activate screen.” Slim compartments in the
ceiling and floor slid open and a light gray image cascaded from
top to bottom, completely concealing the far wall. “Play
Dracula
2000
.”

Evan watched the movie with rapt interest
and Dro Tar watched him. She wasn’t about to confess that her
primary attraction to the film was Gerard Butler’s gorgeous face
and sexy persona. Evan seemed plenty entertained by the swelling
cleavage of the female vampires. And they both squirmed through the
sex-on-the-ceiling scene.

By the time the credit’s rolled Evan’s gaze
had turned dark and hungry. “That was surprisingly engrossing. I
couldn’t imagine how a completely passive experience would
entertain.” He took her empty glass from her hand and set it next
to his on the end table. “We need to talk.”

She shook her head. “We’ve done way too much
talking over the past few days. Can’t we just enjoy each
other?”

He sighed, but nodded. “If that’s what you
want.”

“It’s what I need. Let me accept that this
is real before we complicate it with anything else.”

Without a word, he stood and kicked off his
sandals. He parted the center seam of his robe and let the garment
pool around his feet. Just like that he stood before her naked,
stunning, obviously ready for action. “Real enough for you?”

She stood as well and quickly undressed. He
didn’t help her, simply watched her, his shimmering gaze telling
her all she needed to know. Despite her refusal to speak the words,
this meant more than physical pleasure to them both.

Desire and tenderness surged within her, yet
fear and years of self-preservation held her back. His hands
settled on her shoulders and he leaned down, brushing his lips
against hers.

“Kiss me.” It was a breathless command.

She parted her lips and eased her tongue
into his warm mouth. His familiar taste registered, sending ripples
of excitement deep into her body. Evan,
her
Evan. Why did
she fight against these feelings when her entire body hungered for
his touch?

He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her
firmly against his chest and the rapidly growing ridge of his
erection. His mouth became more demanding, his tongue tangling with
hers. She ran her hands up and down his back, savoring the strength
so obvious in his body’s shape.

His hands moved to frame her face and his
tongue took control of the kiss. Heat flooded her sex and made her
skin tingle. It never failed. The more aggressive he became, the
more she liked it. It shouldn’t make sense, but it felt natural,
right.

She felt a subtle presence in her mind,
easing inward, giving her plenty of time to stop the penetration.
Only once before had he formed a psychic link while they made love.
The experience had left her weak and dizzy, and utterly stunned by
the force of their shared emotions.

You are safe,
nephri
. I will never
hurt you
.

Beloved. It was bittersweet each time she
heard the word.

He shifted his head and kissed her with
renewed vigor. His desire rushed into her mind, making her moan
into his open mouth. She could feel his hunger, how desperately he
wanted to be inside her, and his determination to bring her
pleasure first. But a tantalizing image hovered at the back of his
mind. He pictured her on her knees, sweetly surrendered as he
rocked into her mouth. They might have reviewed the scene in the
stairwell, but it was with him still.

A violent shiver shook her and she eased
away, slowly sinking to her knees. She looked into his eyes as she
locked her hands behind her head. Possessive need erupted in his
expression a millisecond before it blasted into her mind. Her offer
thrilled him so deeply, he’d nearly lost control. The realization
filled her with a dizzying sense of power.

He touched the side of her face and traced
her lips with his thumb. She encouraged him with a teasing lick. He
moved closer, guiding his cock toward her waiting mouth. Her lips
parted and her tongue greeted him with a slow, wet swirl. His eyes
drifted closed for a moment then his gaze drilled into hers.

She never felt more powerful than when she
was on her knees with her love gliding in and out of her mouth. His
entire body was tense, his features locked in an expression of
bliss. And she had taken him there. She sucked harder, swiping his
tip with the flat of her tongue, eagerly spreading his taste
throughout her mouth.

He teased her nipples and stroked her
upraised arms without losing rhythm with his hips. “I don’t want to
come like this, but you feel
so
damn good.”