Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Draikis read quite a few of his favorite passages to Ella as the duo casually lounged in the shade, nibbling the delightful sampling of delicacies he had brought for the outing and sipping on what proved to be a particularly delicious bottle of wine.
It was a bit tighter on the palate than Ella normally preferred, but then the wine blossomed on her tongue, opening itself to her tastebuds and revealing fruity, floral notes that were sweet and warm on the back end.
It was an unusual wine to say the least, and quite good once she adjusted to the unexpected flavor profile.
“Drink slow,” Draikis gently warned her. “It is stronger than it seems at first impression.”
Ella hadn’t felt it at first, but his words shifted her focus slightly, the delightful sensation of a happy buzz settling over her after only the first glass.
“What’s the alcohol percentage?” she asked.
“Percentage? I have never considered such a thing. It is wine. Is that not enough?”
“It’s just, back on Earth they always label it with the percentage.”
“Why?”
“So you know how strong it is.”
“I understand. But why?”
“Why?”
“Yes. Why? It seems extraneous.”
“It’s to keep people from overdoing it, I suppose. Back home there are a lot of rules about that sort of thing.”
“Which seems unnecessarily restrictive. We all know what wine is. The effects it has. Is it not the same on your world?”
“It is. But some people can’t control themselves. It can be a problem.”
Draikis’s expression shifted, his confusion softening. “Ah, I see. Addiction.”
“Yeah.”
“Interesting that is still a concern among your kind. Most worlds within the Dotharian Conglomerate have embraced the Vallin extract treatment. That sort of addiction is readily negated, at least among most races.”
“Vallin? I haven’t heard of that,” Ella said, immediately remembering herself and the compounding lies she’d been layering during her convalescence to keep her true nature, as well as that of her homeworld, a secret.
“Uh, but us Earth people, we’re really new to the conglomerate,” she quickly added.
Rather than pry, the gorgeous alien priest simply smiled at her with such warmth in his eyes that she felt herself grow wet from nothing more than his entrancing gaze, his bright eyes making her body react in a way she’d never experienced before.
The sensation was novel. Alien, even. The pigment living in her skin tingled, her Infala heating on her chest, sending waves of almost magnetic energy low in her belly, the powerful rune pulling her toward this incredibly sexy man in a way she could hardly control.
There was a spark in his eyes in response, a smoldering look that contained multitudes. Affection and care, yes, but also so much more. Something had been kindled, and for a moment it seemed possible even his blocking runes and sacred vows might not be enough to hold it back.
A look of confused realization flashed across his face. Draikis shook it off with a shudder, turning his attention back to the book in his hands.
“Another?” he asked, his voice catching in his throat.
“I’d be delighted.”
“Wonderful. Now, where were we?”
He read her several more poems before putting the text aside in favor of less one-sided conversation.
As the afternoon rolled by and the sun followed its lazy arc across the sky, he told her all about his childhood, his relatively uneventful upbringing, and even some of the horrible details of his event that led to him becoming the priest that he was today.
“I may have said too much. I hope that wasn’t off-putting,” he said.
“It wasn’t. Don’t worry.”
“It can be a bit much, is all. I’m sorry if I gave you more detail than you wanted to hear. It is just so easy to share with you.”
Ella rested her hand on his arm, his skin warm to the touch. “It’s what makes you who you are, and I want to know all of it. Good and bad.”
“But there was some serious bad.”
“Yeah, I won’t sugar coat it. There was. But that was pivotal in making you who you are today. And it wasn’t all your fault. I hope you can see that. Do you think you can forgive yourself?”
He lay his hand on top of hers, sizing her up with a long stare before nodding his affirmation. “I can, and I have. And it means a lot to me that you feel that way.”
“It’s only natural.”
“For you, perhaps. Not all would be so understanding.” He glanced up at the sky through the tree’s canopy. “It is much later than I realized.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun.”
“It does at that. And I did not finish reading the poems to you.”
“That’s okay. I’m glad I got to hear your stories. But I did enjoy the poetry. You said there’s another volume?”
“There is. I think you’ll enjoy it even more.”
“Lend me the book?”
“I will. But it will be dark soon. We should head back,” he said, quickly packing up their supplies and slipping the bag onto his back.
Ella stretched, letting out an exaggerated sigh. “Well, if you insist.”
“Insist? Never. But strongly suggest, perhaps?” he replied with a chuckle.
“If you put it that way, let’s go, big fella,” she said, glancing at the darkening sky. “You’re right, time kind of slipped by, and we’ve got a bit of a walk ahead of us.”
“That we do. I fear we may get back after dinner service.”
“That’s okay. We had a delightful picnic.”
“We did. But we also want to make sure your body has ample nutrition to fully mend. Come, let us see if we can make it back in time.”
He took her hand, helping her to her feet. Notably, he did not let go.
“Shall we?” he asked.
A flare of heat erupted in her belly, spreading through her entire body. “We shall.”
They walked hand-in-hand, moving slowly, savoring their time away from prying eyes.
Time where a little physical contact would not raise concerns or elicit a rebuke from the elders.
They made the most of it, enjoying the effortless comfort of proximity, Ella even tucking her hand into the crook of his arm, leaning into him as naturally as if they’d always been so intimate.
It was a delightful moment of grace, walking like that with him, but as they rounded the final hill blocking them from sight of the massive compound Draikis tensed, a jolt of harsh, cold energy dousing her comfort as his attentions shifted, and with them a growing concern.
“We are nearly there,” he said, gently but firmly placing distance between them.
“It is too late for dinner in the hall, but if you are amenable, I will gather for us what I can.”
“But you just said it’s too late.”
“To eat in the dining hall, yes. But I have other options you might enjoy.”
“Oh?”
A lone brow cocked slightly upward. “Trust me.”
“Implicitly.”
“Then follow me.”
He led her into the compound, winding through the building at the far end of the internal courtyard, guiding her through corridors until they reached a dead-end with a round glowing area on the floor in front of them.
“What’s that?”
“Step on.”
“On?” she asked, doing as he said.
“Yes, there you go. Good. Now relax.”
“Why would I need to re—” the glowing floor abruptly lifted upward, taking them with it but minus the feeling of G-forces.
Nevertheless, the rapid shift in perspective and sight of the walls zipping by as they ascended was enough to make Ella’s head swim a little even if there was no noticeable change in gravity.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, grabbing the solid curve of his forearm to steady herself. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“I surmised as much. You do not use lift discs on your world?” he asked as the ceiling opened, the disc smoothly exiting into the fresh air, depositing them high atop the building.
“We have our own version, but it’s nowhere near as advanced as yours.”
“I see. Your world sounds fascinating.”
“If by fascinating you mean primitive by your standards.”
“Nothing of the sort. In fact, I would quite enjoy seeing your world one day.”
“Really? It’s nothing compared to yours.”
“It shaped who you are. And the way you talk about it, it sounds like a beautiful place. Come.”
Ella followed his lead, stepping off the disc and walking across the flat rooftop deck. Small tables and a few comfortable benches and chairs dotted the area.
“The view is incredible,” she marveled, taking in the three-sixty panorama of stars and darkened hills surrounding them.
“It is,” he replied. “One of my favorite places in the grounds. Wait for me here. I will procure us a light dinner and return straight away.”
“What if someone comes? I’m not exactly everyone’s favorite around here. It’s kind of uncomfortable, truth be told.”
He rested his meaty hand gently on her shoulder, the heat of him radiating through the fabric of her top. “You are my favorite, Ella. And you will be perfectly safe up here. The others never come up at night.”
“Why not? It’s so romantic.”
“While I love all of my brothers, they do have their faults. Remember, this is still a sect of only men. Priests, no less. And they are not exactly known for their appreciation of romance.”
“Point taken. But why, then, are you so different?”
Draikis shifted uneasily from foot to foot, his fingers absent-mindedly tracing the Infala churning beneath his tunic. “I’m wondering that myself.” He shook off the thought with a shudder. “Anyway, you must be famished. Please, make yourself comfortable. I will be back shortly.”
He hopped up on the lift disc and descended in a flash, leaving Ella to her own devices. She sat, looking up at the dark sky and the glistening pinpoints above. “One of those might be home,” she mused. “I wonder which one.”
Only a few minutes passed before Draikis returned, true to his word with an armload of sealed containers.
“There was a lot to choose from, so I brought you an assortment,” he said, placing them on the table in front of her. “Also, I thought you would like these.”