Secret Worlds (304 page)

Their swords clanked together and locked at the hilt. Marren broke free first and said, “Who’s hungry?”

I shook my head, at a loss of words and followed them across the corridor to the dining hall.

When dinner was done, Enid excused himself to go run around the property lines to look for any signs of our pending company and any more attempts by the Cyrs. After witnessing the perfection of Marren sparring with Enid, it brought a whole new weight to the air and being alone with him, making me seem feeble and unnecessarily fragile.

“Come on,” he said, holding his hand out to me. I took it and stood with him. “We still have training to do before the night is out.”

“You want to kill me,” I muttered.

“I would never do anything like that.”

“Sure you wouldn’t,” I retorted, trying to ignore the purr of his words.

He stopped, turning to stand in front of me. He slid his hand down the side of my face. His breath poured over me, sending warmth rippling through my body.

“
Uwoduhi nigohilv gvgeyu
.” He pressed his lips to mine, making my knees go weak. I wrapped my arms around him to prevent my legs from giving out on me. He picked me up, pulling my legs around his waist, and carried me to the ballroom. I groaned my displeasure with his lips being pulled from mine. He let out a chuckle. “We have work to do. Can’t be all play.”

“How do you know fighting isn’t play for me?”

He raised his eyebrow at me with the look that held both intrigue and surprise. He cleared his throat. “Uh, I guess we’ll deal with that as time allows.”

Pulling his sword out from its sheath, he held a stance toward me. I sighed and did the same. “Remember—”

“Anticipate and respond accordingly, I understand.”

He smiled with a show of pride then took his attack. I jumped back, sucking in a breath and letting it out through my pursed lips, relieved I missed that one.

“Good. Now keep it up.”

“Be gentle,” I teased.

“I didn’t realize such a word existed in your vocabulary,” he said, teasing me while making another attack that I blocked.

He attacked again, and I deflected, only for him to attack me over and over again. I struggled to block each and every one while remembering to breathe. He backed up and held his sword in front of himself, taking defensive steps to the left. I followed his movements, keeping the short space between us, waiting for him to attack. When he didn’t, I took my chance and lunged.

He twisted out of my way. I almost lost my footing and found myself wrapped in his arms with the side of his blade to my throat and his breath in my ear. I closed my eyes, pushing the intensity of my body’s reaction to the back of my mind.

“You didn’t respond accordingly.” He panted his words.

I peeked at him from the corner of my eyes. “Nor were you anticipating.”

I nodded my head toward my weapon. He gulped, realizing it was a stagnant match. I experienced his surprise and giggled triumphant as he released me.

I heard him swing his sword with my back turned. I swerved out of the way, twisting to counter his blow coming immediately after. His swings came harder, forcing me back a little more each time until my back pressed against the wall. He disarmed me with the flick of his wrist, then tossed his sword to the floor then pushed me, holding my arms to the side. He kissed me hard then said, “I’m not the only one that didn’t anticipate.”

Before I could say anything, he pulled away and walked to his sword. He slid the toe of his boot under the blade right after the hilt and ejected it into the air. I ran to mine, sliding to the floor on the side of my leg and gripped the sword as I passed. I twisted myself up and braced for his attack. I struggled to deter his attacks without getting in any of my own.

Our swords became locked at the hilts. His gaze reached through to my very soul. He blew a kiss between the crossed blades. I smiled, then kicked him in his gut, breaking free of his block. He fell backward to the floor not expecting my reaction. I climbed on top of him, pinning his wrists to the floor with the rest of my waning strength.

I leaned to his ear and whispered, “How’s that for anticipation and response?”

He released his sword. I smiled in my victory, dropping my sword as well, and released his hands. I leaned up from him to judge his reaction, only to get caught by the way his gaze had softened. The world had slowed around us again as he slid his hand to the back of my neck and pulled me down to him. He stopped before our noses touched.

“I must warn you,” he paused, “I’m faster than you think, and I only play at being submissive.”

He put me on my back faster than I could blink. I waited for the room to stop spinning and the rush to subside.

“You will be sore tomorrow. You may want a hot bath to help soothe your muscles.” He brushed my hair from my face.

“How did you do it?” I panted.

He smiled. “Do what?”

“How did you manage to make me fall in love with you so quickly? I don’t understand. It’s like I’ve been put under your spell and held under your power.”

“I don’t hold any more power over you than you do over me. I’m your equal.”

“Then how? I’ve built a tower of stone around my heart, and within days, you’ve knocked it down.”

“Years, actually, and persistence is the key.”

He stood then led me to the bathing room. He left me to attend to whatever he needed to do. The sconces were lit, filling the room with the light absent from the sky above. The bath was already full of steaming water with the bottles of soap on the edge. Fluffy white clouds of suds floated on the water’s surface. A set of clothes waited for me on the bench along the far wall. I couldn’t place the lingering mood in the air, like a weight that covered everything in a warm blanket. It was faint and loomed out of reach until it dissolved beyond my senses.

I undressed and climbed in, already experiencing the pain of overusing my muscles. My legs protested when I lifted them into the bath. I slipped to the center and sunk down to let the hot water relax them. The bubbles fizzed and popped around me, releasing the scent of dried rose petals into the air.

I dipped the back of my head into the water and then stood straight. The steam lifted off my body in billowing clouds until they cooled and disappeared into the air. Something sharp sliced through my torso. I curled over, wrapping my arm around myself and trying to keep my head above water. Smooth skin and small raised bumps where the scars were returned my touch. Nothing that would shed reason for the pain.

I stood straight as the pain subsided, gasping for air. I pulled my gaze to the night sky. The stars shone against the black of night, like tiny bursts of flame. A light shone toward the rim of the glass. The moon was rising. The pain had to be another sign of the change. I walked to the edge of the tub and draped my arms over it, resting my head against the cool stone. I focused on breathing and relaxing my muscles.

The water shifted. I knew who it was before I turned to face him. His bronze skin reflected tiny beads of light, and his hair was pulled back and tied with a leather lace that had bright colored beads at the tips and dangled over his shoulder. He focused on me, taking me in. His lips parted when I stood and stepped in front of him.

“You decided to join me?” I asked as his lips curved. His hands glided along my skin from my sides to my back, firing off bolts of lightning.

“How can I resist,
waya uwoduhi
?”

The buzz of his enchanting words filled my head. “You’ve mesmerized me.”

“You’ve had me under your spell since the first time I saw you.”

“Tell me about that time. I want to know what you thought and felt.”

“It’s of a night you would much rather forget than to be reminded of.”

“Five years ago?”

“Yes.”

I wrapped my arms around his thick, hard body. The sensations within me conflicted in a struggling war of which one would be the strongest and win out. “That’s amazing and horrible at the same time.”

“There were moments when I was weak, needing to see you and assure myself you were okay, like that day in Hafton. I think the wait was worth it.”

I touched the beads on the lace. “What are these for?”

“Just a decoration for those who are coming. It is a symbol of who and what I am.” He escorted me to the underwater seat then proceeded to bathe me.

“What is this company? I see you tense each time you mention them, and it seems you become more lost in thought the closer the time comes.”

“They are the Ancients. The leaders of the immortal realm who enforce the laws to be obeyed for those of us who crossover.”

“And they think you’ve done something to break those laws? How could they possibly even know?”

“Because someone in my house told them.” The level of bitterness was thick in his words. “And yes, they think I have, at least that was what was stated in the letter. I’m not allowed to change anyone without the consent of the Ancients, unless they are my heart song. Which you clearly are.”

“How did you know? I mean, what told you I was?”

“When I saw you that night, I experienced your pain, your heart breaking. That’s how I found you; devastated. I was going to intercede and save you, but Danst came along. I made the decision to bide my time and wait until you were older. But you had grown so overprotective of yourself and embittered toward anyone that showed you an interest.”

“There’s something more about this company. Something you aren’t telling me, but I can sense it’s threatening you. Why?”

He gathered me in his arms and rested his chin on my shoulder. “You asked how old I was.”

I nodded, and his body tensed.

“I’m one of the oldest of my kind, also an Ancient. I didn’t think you would be as accepting of me if you were aware my role in the immortal realm. That’s why I was so hesitant on telling you.”

I twisted to face him. “I suppose I understand that. How did you become one?”

“I was one of the first of my kind to live here. I’m also the most powerful and the leader of all therianthropes. So, I was born into it.”

“You’re like, their king?”

“More like their God, and there aren’t any kingdoms. We live together in tribes, so to speak, scattered across the realm. The lands are equally divided amongst the races to help promote peace and keep the balance.”

“How is it that this world has remained hidden for all these years?”

“Magic protects the portal. It won’t allow humans to pass through.”

I bowled over, the slice of another cramp tore into my torso, like fire in open wounds. Marren’s hands rubbed my back as my body seemed to turn inside out when the pain started to subside. It trickled away bit by tiny bit. I started shaking, and my frantic heartbeats drummed harder. My mouth swelled with a sour taste from nausea that clung to me. Taking deep breaths helped, but not completely. The pain wouldn’t fade all the way. As soon as the sensation passed, I sat up and opened my eyes. Light from the moon filled the room. I shifted my gaze toward its light…it was nearly full.

“Are you okay?” Marren asked.

I nodded. “I think I want to lie down now.”

By the time I had slipped into long black tights, a black blouse, and a red velvet bodice, I had improved. Marren insisted on carrying me to bed, in case I was forced to surrender to another bout of cramps. I clung to him, breathing in the remaining scent of dried rose petals from the bath, and kept ahold of him when he laid me on the bed, not willing to let him go just yet.

“When are the Ancients going to be here?” I asked just before I fell asleep, curled up next to him. The drapes danced in the warm breeze blowing in from the balcony. The moon’s light shone on the stone, causing a pale blue aura.

“Several days from now, at least that is what their letter entailed.”

“Do you think I’ll be changed by then?”

“I am not sure.”

An eerie call cut through the air, a howl that was both beautiful and terrifying. I sucked in a breath and clung to Marren tighter. A chill crawled up my spine and raise the tiny hairs on the back of my neck.

“Enid is telling me everything is clear. You are safe tonight.”

“Why are you worried about my safety? I can defend myself just fine. You even saw to that.”

“Yes, but some things are beyond your level of skill.” He added almost as an afterthought, “It’s my job to protect you.”

I pulled myself up to his face, rubbing my lips gently along his cheek to his own lips, and then laid my head back on his chest, listening to the thumping beneath his shirt.

Just before I fell asleep, I heard him whisper, “Marry me?”

“I already have,” I whispered back and let unconsciousness sweep me away.

When I awoke, it was warm, but there wasn’t fire. The heat was different, like it came from within me. A burning flame pulsating beneath my skin. It reminded me of when I drank too much ale, or maybe I swallowed a tiny sun.

I stretched out my body, reaching for Marren but cold sheets returned my touch instead. I opened my eyes and found him on the balcony, shirtless. The beads in his hair lace danced in the wind blowing warm gushes of air into the room. I licked my lips and crawled to the other side of the bed, slipping off to sneak up behind him. I slid my hands in between his arms and wove my fingers together locking him in my embrace. He took in a deep breath then let it out slowly. His hand covered mine.

“Good morning,” I whispered.

He twisted to face me, kissed my forehead then whispered, “Good morning,
uwoduhi
.”

“I love it when you say such beautiful things.” I smiled into his chest, leaving a kiss where my lips touched.

“That’s exactly what it means.”

“Beautiful things?”

“Beautiful,” he said.

I remembered talking about it once but never got far. Nestled into his chest, I breathed in his skin. The faint aroma of dried rose petals lingered still. It brought the memory of the bath to mind, which in turn led to the reason for the bath and the way fighting him makes my body react. His arms tightened around me, lifting my feet off the floor and carrying me back into the room. He sat me gently on the bed and started to unlace my bodice while his lips parted and massaged mine. Mid-kiss, he paused, sucked in a breath, and stiffened. A quiet tapping at the door filled the silence.