Enthroned by Amethysts (A Dance with Destiny Book 3) (34 page)

Chapter 47

Jezreel

(zhez-REEL)

“Who are you, really? And don’t try to bear false tongue with me—I will know. Who are you? Where did you come from? And more importantly, what do you want?”

“I am Kias… really.”

Jezreel sat down at the table and accepted the fresh tea she hadn’t even noticed he’d prepared.

“Milady,” he said, as he sat the cup in front of her.

She finally looked at him then, really looked at him for the first time. There was no real way she could possibly guess his age. He looked as young as a boy and as old as an ancient. His skin was fair and flawless. His long hair was glistening white but looked as soft as a babe’s. Yet, it was his eyes that threw her the most. They were clear and vibrant, wise and deep. They were terrifying and beautiful, dangerous and kind, loving and cold.

How can one man’s eyes speak with so many different voices?

Her continued silence caused him to look up from his tea. Here, out of the daylight, now that the sun had set and the moon had risen, those eyes were beyond haunting. She had seen their terrifying beauty while they sparred on the lawn. Now, they were just terrifying. Never had she seen eyes such as these—absent color, no whites, black as a starless night, and utterly unnerving. Only when he blinked did she notice the faint flash of gray. He
did
have pupils. His solid black eyes held a soft gray circle at their very center. She squirmed in her seat but dared not break their gaze.

Kias had lowered his guard, dropped his guise. Or perhaps he didn’t even realize what it was he now allowed her to glimpse. Jezreel was intrigued, more so than she should have been. She was enamored, mayhap. Kias was, for lack of a better word,
curious
. Ah, curiosity, her one true weakness.

“And?” she prodded.

“I hail from this layer, Sharna.”

“Oh, so you know about
layers
, do you?”

His porcelain cheeks flushed at being caught so easily off guard. The rosy glow made him look ever younger, softening her unease.

“I do,” he confessed.

“And of Guardians? Do you know about the Guardians?”

“Yes. I know of Guardians and Angels and demons and four-legged creatures who can speak as we do.”

“I see. And why have you come here? You’re not using an illusion, not donning a mask.” She couldn’t imagine anyone choosing
this
form as a disguise. “You care not if you blend in or look as we do. Kias, what do you want? Know you not I am broken? Have you come to strike the final blow upon my soul? Just tell me. What is it you wish from me? Why do you insist on torturing me with your very presence?”

“Is my appearance torturous to you? Apologies, Jezreel.”

She couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the candlelight, or if it was tears that caused the wavering glint in his black eyes. A painful lump formed in her throat. Suddenly, her sharp words left her feeling miserable.

I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings
, she thought.
Wait… Why would my opinion of his appearance hurt his feelings?

Kias softly cleared his throat. “I would rather die than add to your pain. I wish only to sing to you… if you will allow it. That’s why I’m here, in hopes that you would.”

Jezreel didn’t respond. She just stared at him. He matched her gaze and held it. Finally, she stood, making her way to the readied cauldron. As she passed by him, she gently used one finger, casually brushing his long hair back, tucking it behind his
pointed
ear.

He stiffened. His breath hitched.

Her nose barely touched the exposed tip when she whispered there, “Your appearance is anything
but
torturous, Kias. Now, tell me. Just why would an Elf wish to sing to
me
?”

A delicious tingle ran through him. He shuddered. His knuckles grew ever whiter with his tightening grasp on the table’s edge.

“Perhaps you wished only to gawk at the scarred, beaten victim of demon rape. I hope I didn’t disappoint you,
kind Elf
. Tell me. Am I all you expected? Does my feeble heart live up to your noble expectations? Go. Run back to Mangladune. Tell the
blessed ones
of all you beheld here. Have a good laugh on me, Elf.” Her warm breath tickled his ear as she turned from him and began adding the necessary ingredients to the boiling water.

Satisfied he would leave since she’d discovered his secret so easily, Jezreel lulled her mind back to a peaceful place. The scent of steeping rose petals whisked her back to a fairer time, a time where she could still hear Jenevier’s giddy laughter and Marlise’s tender voice. A smile, a
real
smile, crossed her lips for the first time in ages. She closed her eyes and swayed as her gentle hums warmed the lonely, quiet house.

She felt his light touch upon the top of her head an instant before his melodic voice wove through her essence, tingling across her skin. Jezreel felt the ancient spell enveloping her every cell. She welcomed it greedily, nursed its comfort.

“Ahh, it feels like being kissed by thousands of butterflies.” Tiny, happy tears slipped from the corners of her closed eyelids, a childlike gasp escaping her lips.

Kias touched her shoulder and the incredible sensation washed over her anew. Never did his song falter. It was constant and beautiful and blessedly healing. He gently pulled her back against him. Everywhere her body touched his, magic pulsed between them. Her breath caught in her throat, yet his song did not change.

Jezreel relaxed, let the magic and the melody course through her unabated. She melted into him like a favorite cuddly blanket. She had never known such peace, even as a child. She had never experienced such enticing passions, even as a young woman. And never had she known utter happiness until this very moment in time.

She let herself go. For probably the first time in her life, Jezreel relinquished all control. So enraptured was she in this feeling she didn’t realize his song had stopped… until she felt his warm lips brush her ear as he whispered to her.

“I wish to sing to you every day, mi Sharna. Will you allow me this honor?”

“Yes.” Her voice cracked from her labored breathing. “That felt incredible, Kias. Your lullaby touched every part of me. Especially when I leaned upon you, I could scarce hold myself there. The feeling was so intense.”

He rested his chin down on her shoulder and wrapped his arms about her waist. When her racing heart slowed back to normal and she regained some of her control, Jezreel placed her trembling hands over his at her stomach. There they stood, quietly, gently swaying, basking in the calming comfort of their tender embrace.

“Gratitude, Kias,” she whispered.

“The pleasure was all mine, Sharna.”

A smile spread across Jezreel’s face, she giggled. “Oh, I highly doubt that.”

He nuzzled her ear. “Did I pleasure you as well, mi Sharna?”

She blushed. “Very much so, Kias.”

“May I pleasure you again?”

“Perhaps, sometime.” She squeezed his hands. “Not this night, Kias. My heart would burst if you sang a single note more.”

“As you wish, mi Sharna.” He squeezed her tighter. “Anything you wish.”

“Why do you call me that? What does it mean?”

“Mi Sharna.” He kissed her at the tender place where her shoulder and neck meet. “Means,
my Princess
.”

A single tear ran down her cheek. Kias caught it with the tip of his tongue.

“Will you allow me to help you with the rosewater? I used to help my sister all the time. She uses rose petals as well. But her favorite is lilies.” His black eyes seemed to sparkle. “Can I show you how we glean the essence from the lily yet leave its beauty upon the stem?” He intertwined his fingers with hers as he spoke.

“I would like that very much, Kias.” She paused. “How… How do you say Prince?”

Kias stiffened with her words. His heartbeat raced and his eyelids fluttered. He pressed her ever closer. “Shafeal,” he whispered.

She tried to mimic the word to match his fluid accent. “Shah-fi-EEL.”

Kias smiled.

She turned her head slightly and looked into his black eyes. “Mi Shafeal.”

Jezreel thrilled at his sudden sharp intake of breath.

“Say it again.”

“Mi Shafeal,” she whispered.

“Once more,” he rasped.

“Mi Shafeal, your touch is pure magic. It heals my soul. Pressed against you, I almost lost my breath from the sheer pleasure of it.”

His voice was deep, heavy with want, his whispers tickling her tingling flesh. “You should feel it when skin touches skin and clothing does not hinder the melody.”

Jezreel closed her eyes, imagining that very thing. “I truly believe… I would never survive such an amazing thing, mi Shafeal.”

And there they stood, magic wrapped up with magic. They swayed in each other’s arms almost an hour before Kias next spoke.

“Shall we get started now? Or, will you gift me this night? Will you let me stay like this until the dawn—holding you in my arms, relishing the feel of your delicate body?”

Jezreel blushed. “As lovely as that sounds, I really need to get started if I wish to get any sleep at all this night.”

*****

The new friends worked well together. Kias knew as much about potions as she did, perhaps more. He was comfortable in front of a cauldron, familiar with every ingredient—by sight
and
smell, no less.

“Sharna, will you tie back my hair? I never let it hang loose, not normally.”

“You were trying to hide your ears.” She winked playfully at him.

“I was.” He blushed. “Do you mind? Tie this string around it—just between my shoulder blades.”

She did as he asked and then stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear. “I like your snowy hair almost as much as I like these.” She outlined the point of his ear with the tip of her nose.

He shuddered. She giggled. They went back to work finishing up the rosewater.

“That made sixty-two bottles, Sharna. Will it be enough, or shall we start again?”

Jezreel plopped down in a chair, releasing a long, exhausted breath.

“Now that it’s only me, this much should do me a while. Gratitude, Kias.”

“Only you?”

“Yes. Now that my friend is gone, I don’t need quite so much.” She laughed softly. “Jenevier could go through those little bottles like… like… Well, like water.”

Kias took her hands and gently helped her up. She let him.

“You should rest, Sharna.” He tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear. “Will you retire to Alastyn’s bed or will you share mine?”

She gently pushed him away and tried to rein in the anger she could feel rising up inside her.

They had spent a lovely evening laughing and talking and playing. She hadn’t enjoyed herself this much since the night she and Margy had tried to divine Jenevier’s future. The three friends and their King had finished the evening with smiles on their faces and too much wine in their bellies.

She took Kias’s hands up in hers again and smiled. “Don’t be angry, good Kias. I share my bed with no man. And I have no intention of ever doing so. Please try to understand. I sleep with my friend for comfort and protection only. I feel safe when I’m next to him. And sometimes… well, sometimes I don’t dream.”

“Milady.” Kias bowed low. “Forgive me, mi Sharna. You mistake intent. I would never lay an unwelcome hand upon you. I meant only to offer you peace, dear one. My lullaby would guarantee the banishment of
all
nightmares.” He rose and looked at her. “You had a bad day and an even worse night preceded it. I wished only to ensure sweet dreams. Nothing more.”

“You can do that?”

“I can. And if I fail you, dearest Sharna…” He smiled brightly, causing butterflies to war within her. “…you may pummel me with your hatchets.” He winked playfully.

His arms around her felt like heaven. Her eyes closed as his lullaby rocked her soul to sleep.

When dawn arrived, Jezreel walked into the kitchen, yawning and stretching her arms. “Good morrow, Brother. Something smells divine.”

Alastyn dropped the bowl he was carrying—it crashed to the floor. The suddenness of it made her heart skip a beat. She looked over to find her friend standing frozen, his mouth hanging open.

“What’s wrong, Alastyn? What happened?” Her heart was racing.

He swallowed hard. “Jezreel… you… you… look beautiful.”

Kias ran into the kitchen just as Alastyn choked out his stunned words. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized demons weren’t upon them, bursting through the back door.

“What’re you talking about, Alastyn?”

“You were always lovely. But… but… now… you are breathtaking. You seem to glow. What magic did you weave in the night?”