Chapter 14
Mystique opened her eyes to the overcast light of late day and released a tiny groan.
She wanted to move, but her body rebelled.
Every muscle ached, and she was decidedly sore in very personal places.
She’d been counting on her naturopathic abilities to preempt this sort of misery, but she supposed that she ought to have given a little more commitment to sleep in order for her body to find time to heal itself.
As it was, she’d spent the entirety of the snowstorm in bed with Reule. Two days and three nights.
She glanced at the window and squinted against the glare of light, attempting to judge the weather.
She didn’t see the blinding swirl of snow today, so she took that as a good sign.
Or a disappointment. She groaned at herself.
She was becoming a slave to her sexual appetites.
To Reule’s sexual appetites. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her, and she couldn’t seem to get enough of being wanted in such insatiable ways.
But she wouldn’t mind a tiny little break, she thought.
She reached up and pushed back her hair, slowly turning her head to look at Reule.
He was sound asleep on his back, an arm thrown over his eyes, his naked body sprawled in display along his side of the bed, only a sheet draped over his thigh for a cover.
That and the length of her body were the only things keeping him warm in a terribly chilled room.
The cold compelled her to move, reaching for the warm blankets that covered her and transferring them onto him.
He didn’t even twitch in response and she stifled a giggle.
He was more exhausted than she was. She’d apparently healed herself more than she’d realized.
She slid out of the enormous platform bed, shivering wildly as she reached for Reule’s robe and wrapped herself in the fluffy warmth of the knitted fabric.
She’d fallen in love with the robe and had declared her intention of stealing it.
So she made good on her promise and, after a quick peek out of his bedroom into the hall, she escaped across the hall into her own room.
She closed the door firmly, leaning back against it with a sigh, as though she’d just escaped from prison. She giggled at the notion. If that were prison, she’d dedicate herself to a life of crime.
“That good, hmm?”
Mystique gasped, her hand flying to her throat. She laid eyes on the grinning blonde and exhaled a relieved sigh. “Lia! You scared me!”
“I felt you wake at last, read your intention to escape your jailor, and thought I’d meet you here,” she explained, gesturing to the seat she’d taken in the small sitting room.
“You know, I think Amando is the only one who could appreciate the type of mourning you and Reule are engaging in,” she noted with a chuckle.
“Although it is traditional to wait until after the wedding before indulging in … um …” She snickered.
“Well, I’m a virgin, so I wouldn’t have a clue what you’re indulging in.
I do in theory, but there has to be a difference between theory and practical application, because frankly, I can’t imagine locking myself away for nearly three days doing what was described to me. ”
“You could always read a couple ’pathically while they’re making love,” Mystique suggested with a grin.
“Now that would be rude and … kinky.” She chuckled. “Why, are you volunteering?”
“You may be a powerful telepath, but not powerful enough. Reule would catch you at it and he’d likely have a stroke.”
“Stroke. Thrust. Wiggle. I’m not picky.”
“Liandra!” Mystique gasped with laughter. “You’re incorrigible!”
“No. I’m bored. Please, please tear yourself away from your carnal obsessions and spend time with me before I go stark raving mad.”
“And where is Justas?”
“Justas! Doing manly things, I’m certain.
He idolizes Reule’s Pack. Every time we’re invited here, he throws himself in with whatever they’re doing.
” She lowered her voice. “Darcio and Chayne are just down the hall playing Iron Rubicon to championship levels. Poor fellows. They’re so bored, yet required to remain nearby.
They were having physical contests. I so enjoyed the wrestling and endurance displays.
” Liandra sighed, an avaricious look entering her eyes.
“They strip down to their breeches and challenge one another until they’re both gleaming with sweat.
But Chayne’s recent illness limited them, so they switched to challenges of the mind.
” Lia exhaled noisily with disappointment.
“And you’re allowed to sit and watch this? I thought a lady was to be chaperoned around men.”
“I’m not allowed to be alone with a single man.
Multiples are acceptable.” She twitched a smile.
“The idea being that the honor of two men is stronger than that of one. Anyway, Justas is younger than I am, and I’m head of the household now.
The idea of a chaperone doesn’t even occur to him, so I find myself with a new sort of independence. I can see why you like it.”
“Believe me, with Para around, I’m not that independent.”
“Yes, but you’ll notice Para no longer squeaks at you about propriety. Instead, she’s floating around the keep looking like a proud mama cat whose daughter has licked up all the best cream.”
“Lia!” Mystique broke into giggles as she headed into her wardrobe, Lia at her heels.
Mystique opened the closet and found that the wardrobe was packed with new clothes.
She had no idea how Para managed it. Even Lia exclaimed with delight at the vast array of colors and fabrics.
Since it was winter, everything was made of heavy materials like velvet, wool, cashmere, and furs.
Liandra lifted out an overdress made of a pale gray animal fur.
It was light and warm and just about the softest thing she’d ever felt.
“Oh my,” Lia breathed. “Para didn’t make this. Only a master furrier could create something so perfectly wrought. You can’t even feel the seams! Mystique, Reule must have ordered this days ago. It is extraordinary.”
“Surely not Reule himself.” She dismissed the idea, reaching to join her friend in stroking the fur’s softness.
“Reule himself,” Lia insisted. “No attendant could demand the time and effort required to complete a gown so quickly, exactly to your specifications. Only the direct order of the Prime himself could have brought this about.”
“Oh.” Mystique turned away abruptly, hiding her face as a tide of confusing emotion rode over her, causing her heart to race wildly.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Lia asked with concern, draping the dress over a nearby chair. She reached out a comforting hand. “Did I say something to upset you?”
“No.”
“Now, yes, I did, or you wouldn’t be upset. Please tell me,” Lia insisted softly, ducking around Mystique so their gazes met.
“I … I don’t know. I’m just suddenly so afraid.
I keep getting these rushes of fear over the stupidest little things.
Remarks or dresses …” She glanced at the offending garment before resting a hand nervously against her throat.
“And Rye. Rye’s behavior drives ice into my soul.
Yet I feel driven to understand it. I have to figure it out.
Figure how to cure it. It is life and death to Rye that I do, because Reule won’t tolerate a traitor, no matter how long they’ve been friends.
But more importantly, it feels like it is life and death to me. ”
“Of course you do! Rye threatened your life, Mystique.”
“No! No, it’s not that! It’s s-something else. Damn me and my cursed memory!” she spat suddenly. “I know this is my history rearing up and I wish it would just show itself already!”
“Hush now,” Lia soothed, hugging her tightly. “Be careful what you wish for. It sounds as though this history of yours was no healthy place to be. I’d rather you never found it if that’s the case.”
“You sound like Reule,” she said softly.
“I’ll take it as a compliment that you compare me to my Prime.” Lia stepped back and straightened her posture into a no-nonsense bearing. “Now, let’s get you to a bath. You reek of lust and Lady knows what else.”
“Lia!”
“Reule.”
Reule jerked awake sharply, sitting up and catching the hand on his shoulder by the wrist. There was a moment of disorientation and then he realized the owner of the wrist he was twisting was Darcio.
He released him instantly and rubbed at his bleary eyes.
“What are you doing here, Shadow?” he asked grumpily.
Then he jerked his attention to the bed beside him.
Empty.
“She left hours ago,” Darcio informed him dryly. “I wouldn’t invade your privacy or sleep unless it were urgent, you know that.”
That got Reule’s full attention. “What’s wrong?”
“A patrol has returned with news of an outlander caravan headed toward the city.”
“A caravan?” Reule threw his legs over the side of the bed, drawing an agitated hand through his hair. “Darcio, there’s almost three feet of snow on the ground. Who in hell would travel now?”
“That’s part of the issue. Saber’s men report they’ve never seen the like of them before.
The caravan is on runners, with horses to pull.
A lot of furs for warmth. Outriders. But no goods that can be seen.
Saber doesn’t think they’re out looking for trade.
There’s more of a military look to them.
But it’s not an army,” Darcio assured quickly at Reule’s sharp look.
“Just a contingent of men. It’s damn strange. Like a hunting party.”