15. Chapter Fifteen Baer
Chapter Fifteen: Baer
I played with Rhowyn's hair, completely mesmerized by the green strands, the light shining from behind her until she had an almost ethereal glow to her. She was so beautiful. So funny, honorable, and strong. She was everything to me in a way that I never could have imagined.
This feeling went so far beyond any bonding ceremony. That had simply connected us together, but it couldn't create these emotions. It couldn't make me love her. And I did. I was completely head over heels for this woman and absolutely terrified of losing her to the trials or the Queen. I swore to myself then and there that I would do everything in my power to ensure that didn't happen.
Leaning in, I kissed her gently, her eyes closed but not yet asleep. “Mmm...” she hummed, not stirring from her position.
She was now lying on her stomach, her face turned toward me as we basked in the afterglow. It gave me the chance to study her, memorizing all the lines of her face. Her dark lashes, which contrasted the creamy olive skin, the way her nose tipped up slightly at the end, her strong cheekbones that sloped to her supple lips.
I couldn't get over the fact that she was mine. This perfect woman was somehow gifted to me by fate.
“Do you plan to stare at me all day?” she asked, peeking out at me with one eye, still not moving.
“Only if you'll let me,” I teased, smiling now.
She laughed. “As tempting as that sounds, I have a feeling that there's somewhere we need to be.” Her eyes were soft as she gazed at me, a sweet smile on her lips.
I had done that. I’d given that peace to her. I only wished I could keep her here like this forever, but she was right. I sighed. “You would be correct.”
I ran my hands through her hair, hoping to prolong this moment. “I wasn't supposed to ravish you, only rest in here until you woke. At which point, I was instructed to get the others. We've much to discuss.”
She laughed again. “I quite enjoyed the ravishing. It was my favorite part.” Her hand found my cheek, running her thumb across it with affection. My heart swelled at the gesture, knowing this wasn't a side she showed many people. The one without all the walls, where she was free to just be herself.
“It was mine, too,” I told her on a whisper, stealing another kiss. She smiled into my lips as I teased her mouth with mine in a promise that we were nowhere near to being done.
I pulled away with a groan, flopping onto my back. It was taking all of my self-control to end this moment, but I knew that we didn't have much time. She needed to be updated on what she'd done to me before we prepared for the ball where she would receive the Queen's reward.
“As difficult as this is and as much as I don't want to, we need to get ourselves presentable. Arryn would have my hide if we put this off any longer,” I told her, my arm across my eyes, not daring to look at her. If I saw her sexy body bared before me, I wouldn't be able to resist it. When it came to her, I was shameless, willing to do whatever she asked of me.
She giggled at my antics, and I felt her weight shift before leaving the bed. “Fine. If you insist,” she called from somewhere in the room. I didn't dare look to find out.
“I don't insist. That's all Arryn. Blame him,” I called out to her, the rustling of clothes indicating she was in the closet.
“I'll tell him you said that,” she teased, her voice sounding closer. Her lips brushed mine firmly, her tongue parting my lips to tangle with mine.
I groaned. “What are you doing to me, woman?” I questioned when she pulled away, my arm still over my eyes. My dick was hard and ready for her again. Apparently, my refractory period was shorter than normal with her, too. Fuck my life.
She giggled again, tugging on my arm. I resisted her pull. “If you do that, woman, we'll be stuck here for a lot longer, and I won't be responsible for what Arryn does to us,” I warned her.
Laughing softly, she kept a grip on my arm. “I'm decent. I promise.” I wasn't sure I could trust her, but I had to get up at some point.
I lifted my arm, peering at her from under it to find her standing there, her luscious hair pulled back and away from her face. A tank top and shorts in place, but I couldn't tell if she was wearing a bra or not. This woman would be the death of me.
I sat up, satisfied that I had some sense of control back, despite the fact that my dick was still standing at full attention. I stood, letting the covers fall away from my naked body, enjoying how her eyes heated at the sight of me in all my glory.
“Tease,” she sighed, licking her lips. Fuck me. I needed to get out of here.
“Go wake the others, and I'll be out there shortly,” I told her, rushing to the bathroom, needing a cold shower to calm down before facing reality again. I heard her door open and shut as I turned on the water in her bathroom, stepping into the cold water with a gasp. Shit, that was cold , but it did the trick. That and my thoughts were starting to race again. A part of me wondered if I should have told her about what she'd done to me, even if we weren't entirely sure what had happened.
As if she needed any more trouble on her plate. I'd make sure we made the best out of this situation, no matter what. It was the least I could do after all she had given to me.
Before she had come along, I hadn't truly had a purpose, no connections other than my parents. But since she’d dragged me into her life and back here with her, she'd become everything and more to me. She'd given me that purpose and honor, hope that we could change things for the better for Avalon.
I turned off the water and stepped out, ready to face whatever Arryn had found out, if anything. I dried off and dressed quickly in some comfortable clothes, ready to lounge around until it was time to prepare for the ball this evening. Stepping out, I found Arryn and Lennox sitting at the table with Rhowyn, eating some breakfast, even though it was already past noon. Rhowyn drank coffee, her eyes still heavy with fatigue. She'd have fallen back asleep if I had let her.
Maybe I should have let her sleep. Surely, she needed as much as she could get to recover from using so much magic so soon. Sensing me enter the room, she turned to face me. She smiled seductively behind her coffee mug at the sight of me.
I grinned widely, knowing I looked like a sap and not caring. I sat down next to her and started filling my plate, suddenly starving. Apparently, I had worked up quite the appetite.
“Hungry?” Rhowyn asked with the raise of an eyebrow, her innuendo clear.
“Always,” I said cheekily, shoving a bite of food into my mouth .
She stuck her tongue out at me. I had to admit, I loved this playful side of her. She was so relaxed, and I knew Arryn was about to ruin it all when he revealed what happened after the first trial.
Catching our cheesy glances, Lennox asked, “Have fun, you two?”
Instead of getting embarrassed like I thought she might, Rhowyn turned to him seductively. “Of course. It was an absolute blast. I plan to go on that ride again soon.”
She winked at him, and his gaze heated with desire for her. Arryn shifted in his seat, obviously affected as well, though doing a better job at hiding it. “Are we waiting on Callum?” I asked, needing to change the subject before we overwhelmed Rhowyn with all three of us rushing her.
Relieved at the change in subject, Arryn answered, “Yes. He should be back in just a moment.”
“Where'd he go?” Rhowyn asked, sipping on her coffee again.
“He was looking into some things for me. I'll fill you in once he gets back,” Arryn said cryptically.
“Oookay,” Rhowyn replied, having no idea that her world was about to change again. For just this moment, I was glad that he was stalling, waiting to drop the weight of the world down on her shoulders again. She deserved to have a moment of respite.
“How are you feeling?” Arryn asked her, concern on his face.
“Honestly? I feel great. I'm a little sore...” Lennox snickered at that statement, and she cut her eyes at him before continuing, hiding her amusement at his childishness. “...but nowhere near like I thought I would be.”
“And your magic?” Arryn questioned her further.
She closed her eyes and sought it out, getting faster at being able to call it to her. “It feels good. I'm not drained like I was yesterday. I almost feel full to the brim.”
“Anything different about it? ”
“What do you mean? Is there something I should know? Did something happen?” She bombarded him with questions, her suspicion growing. The peace I had given her was now ruined as she sat up, alert and analyzing. Her eyes darted between us all when no one said anything. “What's going on, guys?”
Just then, Callum walked through the door, and I slumped in my chair in relief at the reprieve. He marched into the room, Arryn rising to meet him halfway. Callum handed him some papers and whispered to him, so low that I couldn't hear a thing.
“You're sure?” Arryn's voice was harsh, causing Rhowyn to furrow her brow in concern.
“If you guys don't tell me what's going on right now...” she threatened them.
“You'll what? Spank them?” Lennox interrupted with a smirk. “I'd like to see that.” He waggled his brows at her playfully.
Rhowyn just gaped at him, torn between chastising him or the other two. I remained quiet, hoping she didn't notice me, not wanting to be the one to deliver the news. Thankfully, Arryn walked back to the table, taking his seat. Callum joined us, sitting on my other side, across from Lennox.
Rhowyn glared at Arryn, knowing that our silence was due to him. “What's going on, Arryn?”
He sighed, running a hand over his face, the pressure weighing heavily on him today. For a moment, I felt bad that he had to bear so much of that responsibility on his own, but he was the best at this stuff. I'd try to help, but I wasn't sure exactly what I could do to ease his burden.
Rhowyn placed a hand over his on the table. “You can tell me. I'll be okay,” she encouraged him.
He pulled his other hand away from his face and looked at her sadly, his grip on her hand tightening. With a sigh, he began his explanation. “After you passed out, we were still in the fully enclosed room with no escape. Or so we thought. To our surprise, there was a glamor over the room, which dropped when we all stood, Callum carrying you. Apparently, we were the first group to enter the center of the maze. We’ll receive a reward tonight at the ball that the Queen is hosting.”
“Okay. That doesn't sound so bad. I'm shocked that we were first, but that's better than not making it out. Right?” Rhowyn said, confused at why we were all so quiet.
“Yes. It's certainly better than not making it out of the maze, although, at one point, I was starting to have doubts about that. That's not the problem, though,” Arryn said.
“Then what is?”
“Do you remember anything before you passed out? When you were healing Baer?” he questioned her.
“Not really. I just know you were trying to stop me. I was pretty drained, and I kept pushing my...” She gasped, sitting back in her seat, her words trailing off.
“What is it? What did you just remember?” he pushed her, leaning forward now, his eyes scanning her for the answers.
“Like I said, I was pretty drained, but then I felt a crack in my chest, painful enough that it caused me to collapse onto Baer's back.” She looked at me sadly, remembering why she'd been so desperate. I had come way too close to losing everything.
“Then, somehow, I felt more magic flowing into me. I don't know where it came from, just that it was there. Not much, just a trickle really, but I could tell there was a lot there, waiting to get out.”
Arryn nodded at her explanation, his brow furrowed in thought. “We suspect that when you were healing Baer, you managed to tie him to you in some way. We’re not sure what it means, but we plan on asking Jude about it.”
“Is this true?” Rhowyn asked me, her eyes wide in shock.
I nodded. “Yeah.” Her mouth dropped open further. “I feel you in here now.” I rubbed at my sternum, where the fullness had yet to leave me. It wasn't painful, just different from anything I'd experienced before. “I think you found a way to connect us, deeper than the bonding ceremony did. I had to sleep next to you because being apart was so painful. That’s why I was in your bed when you woke.”
“Are you sure?” Her eyes scrunched up.
“Don't you feel it? Like you said, you 'feel full to the brim'. Mine is similar, but I can tell it's you.” I didn’t want to admit that I had gotten a sharp, almost stabbing pain in my chest when I'd tried to sleep in my own room, not wanting to scare her away. Not after we’d just gotten so close.
She nodded, her own hand going to rest over the same spot I kept rubbing, the place that ached when she wasn’t near. She closed her eyes, quickly diving into her magic, her eyes darting back and forth under her eyelids.
She gasped aloud again, her eyes snapping open to mine. “What is it?” I questioned her, my own panic starting to ratchet up at the shocked and confused expression on her face.
“My magic,” she whispered, her gaze moving to Arryn, who nodded at her to continue. “There's a crack in the cage around it. It's leaking out slowly but surely. It's just a steady drip, but it's there.”
We all sat there, absorbing that information before Arryn spoke again. “There's more.”