Warrior Lover (Draconia Tales) (26 page)

Or not.

Thoren slugged him on the shoulder and walked to the bed. Enar swallowed. His friend would get over his anger. With Thoren, anger was like a spark from a fire-starter, hot and bright and if you did nothing to stoke it, it faded into ash.

Aryana rested her hand against Keara’s brow, eyes closed, her face relaxed.

When she spoke, her gaze fixed on Thoren. “She is drained of energy. Annaliese told me what Keara did. I’m sorry, but it will have to be reported to Alviss.”

“I know. I just don’t want everyone knowing. Can you heal her?”

“I can try. No guarantees.”

Annaliese placed both hands over Keara’s heart and Aryana placed hers on top of Annaliese’s. Chills broke out over Enar’s skin as Aryana chanted in a language he’d never heard. The sing-song words rose and fell, filling the room with a spell as old as the Draconi race, a spell of powerful magic. Aryana’s hands started to glow, the light spilling into Annaliese’s.

A current shot through the room, ricocheting off the stone walls, bathing them in a blue glow. Enar felt the magic push against his skin, wanting his power, his strength.

Unlike his conscious, the small drop of magic he’d inherited from his mother knew what spell Ari cast and shrank in fear. He needed to hide that part, hide the magic festering inside, the magic Aryana’s spell sought. No one, with the possible exception of his parents, knew what resided inside him. His inner magic that he swore caused Viktor to hate him, to degrade him. He refused for anyone else to know his inner secret.

What would Thoren think? What if his best friend saw his magic and rejected him?

Instead of being all up inside his mind, he needed to focus on the problem at hand and set up barriers to ensure Ari’s spell didn’t touch him.

Who was he fooling? He was dealing with a Draconi spell. Resistance was futile.

Whatever spell Ari weaved resonated deep within, drawing forth his magic, pulling it out to help Keara.

Just because it went to a good cause didn’t mean he had to like it.

Enar fought against the spell, unwilling for anyone, not even his best friend, to know he possessed a bit of magic. But the current in the room pounded against his skin, crashing through the meager barriers he tried to erect, seeking his magic. He let loose with a yell as the blue current blasted into him, sucking on his energy, drawing out a small portion of it to hover over the priestess’s joined hands.

Great jumping dragons, what was in that spell? He felt as if pieces of his innards had been yanked out through his nose. Pain he could live with. It was Thoren’s reaction he worried about.

Clearly for no reason. Thoren only had eyes for Keara. He didn’t notice what happened to Enar.

Praise the Goddess.

More energy filled the room, blue light pouring through the windows, the cracks in the door, the walls. Small magical portions from who-knew-how-many formed a ball of blue energy that hovered above Aryana’s hands, growing larger with each stream of light that entered it. The priestesses exchanged a look, a silent communication, and removed their hands from Keara’s chest. The ball slammed into Keara, bowing her off the bed as it covered her with its glow. Keara gasped in air, her body slamming into the mattress as the blue glow intensified.

“What did you do?” Thoren rushed to Keara’s side, one hand hovering as if to touch her.

“Don’t touch her! The spell might target you instead.” Annaliese grabbed Thoren’s arm.

“I gave her more energy,” Aryana said. “She’d drained hers raising both of you. Do I even want to know how the finest reconnaissance specialists ever managed to get themselves killed?”

“They had a titanium sword,” Enar said. Good for him. He could still speak after the blast of blue light.

“Titanium?” Annaliese gasped.

“How did they discover the effect titanium has on a Draconi?” Aryana’s eyes popped wide.

Good question. Thoren shrugged. “I don’t know, but the Draconi—”

“A Draconi?”

“He was working with one of the lords from Keara’s town. He said he wanted revenge. He seemed to recognize me, though, because he referred to me as the ‘bitch’s nephew’ and told me to give my aunt his regards. I’m assuming he meant you.”

Aryana stopped breathing as she exchanged a look with Annaliese. “What did he look like?” Her voice shook and despite their past history, Enar felt an urge to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

“I don’t know. He wore a cloak that concealed his face.”

“He ran fast,” Enar added. “I lost him and I don’t normally lose my prey.”

“Maybe that had something to do with you gasping like an old dragon.”

“You try running after being killed with an energy ball and then rising from the dead. See how fast you go.”

“Enough!” Aryana sliced a hand through the air. “You need to report these findings to the Council.”

“Report away. I’m needed here with Keara.” Thoren crossed his arms in an I’m-not-going-anywhere stance.

Annaliese placed a hand on Thoren’s arm, her face a mask of healer’s kindness. “Keara is going nowhere nor is she waking until the energy is released into her body. See how it’s still visible? She’ll wake when the blue disappears, which won’t be for some time. Go make your report and return.”

Thoren snarled and Enar yanked him back. “Relax, Thoren. She’s right.”

Not that he blamed Thoren. If Lily was lying in the bed instead of Keara, he would be performing the same act.

Shaking off Enar’s hand, Thoren turned to Aryana. “We need to talk.”

“No, we do not. My body is mine to give as I will and you will not report it either.”

“What’s to stop me?”

“I know something you don’t want told and you know something I’d like to keep secret. We are at an impasse, are we not?”

Well, that was one way to stop Thoren’s righteous anger. Blackmail. Enar tried to keep his lips from turning in mirth. His secret would remain a secret.

Thoren ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Keara, clearly trying to decide why he was upset. His thoughts reached Enar, thoughts of his sense of right and wrong. Once they got through this, Enar never wanted to upset Thoren like this again. He hid the affair on the advice of Ari, never realizing it would affect Thoren this way.

He should have known better.

Which did nothing for the current situation. They would get through this. He refused to lose his best friend.

“Deal.” Thoren cleared his throat. “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 them.

“Aryana performed a spell to replenish her energy.” Thoren said. “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.

As if it moved of its own volition, Enar’s lip pulled into a snarl.

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, lowering his lip. He held no quarrel with Alviss. “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.”

Alviss shook his head. “We’ll bring Aryana to us. You will stay to hear this.”

Two blinks and a popping noise later and Aryana stood beside Thoren. 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.

With a nod and a quick turn of his lips, Thoren disappeared, leaving him alone to face the Council.

Chapter 20

Several hours later, Enar trod down the hall to his room. To where Lily awaited him. He couldn’t stop the grin from turning his lips. Wait until she heard about his adventures tonight.

Who would have thought Alviss hid a wooden chest that blocked the effects of titanium on the Draconi? And that none of the Council members realized such a chest sat in a dark recess of the Council’s Chamber? A spell must have been placed on the chest to hide its location since as soon as he left the Chamber, he could no longer remember the location of the recess that housed the chest.

No matter. The important thing was the chest now contained the titanium sword, thanks to a little rescue mission by him and Balthor. What a shame Balthor couldn’t have been his father.

All in the past. Once he showed Lily to his father, things would improve. Hope reigns eternal.

He shoved the door open to his room and as he thought, Lily sprawled in their bed. Small streams of morning light filtered through the shutters over the window and he stifled a yawn. He had all day to sleep. For now, he needed the touch of his woman, the feel of her skin on his. Proof she wouldn’t loathe him when he returned her to his village.

He needed to convince her she belonged to him. That she could never leave him. That no matter what happened in his village, he cared for her.

And what about the word that crossed his mind before he died? The “L” word that slapped him like a conviction? He dropped his weapons on the floor by his side of the bed, keeping them close in case they became needed. Clothes followed, soft drops against the wooden floor. He slid between the covers, running a finger up Lily’s arm, feeling the smoothness of her skin.

Watchers were warriors who lived in the moment, who fought to their last breath. They didn’t have such trivialities as the Draconi male’s sappy emotions. His brain clearly hadn’t spit out the “L” word as a real scenario. It had been dying. As a Watcher he didn’t need that word. He only needed the woman lying beside him.

“Lily, love. I’m back.”

****

Lily woke to the feel of Enar’s fingers stroking her arm. A dream. It had to be a dream. A memory. He died. Her visions never lied. But this felt so real. Like he lay in bed with her. Her eyes fluttered open.

He was in bed with her. She closed her eyes. Had to be a dream. Opened her eyes. Enar still lay in front of her, his fingers touching her skin. He felt real. He looked real.

“Enar?”

“Who else would it be?” His lips followed the trail of his fingers over the skin of her arm. Definitely felt real.

“I thought you died.”

He froze. “Why do you say that?”

“I saw you. After you left. You died from an energy blast. My visions never lie.”

“You have visions?”

“Sometimes. I don’t like them.” She refused to mention Aryana’s offer for her to live at the Temple and become the Temple Seer. No use in mentioning things that would never occur.