Enchanter (14 page)

“Guy already said that, and I’ll take every precaution.”

Guy nabbed the packed duffel from Faith and slung it over his shoulder. “I should not be agreeing to this. I don’t wish to live with my mate and allow our relationship to deepen.”

“C’mon, cousie.” I playfully nudged him in the arm. “It’s all good.” Or as good as it could be now I was on enemy soil.

Faith pulled me into a tight hug. “I wish you could stay here with me, but Donaldo would become suspicious. The staff talk.”

“Don’t worry about it. Guy won’t let any harm come to me.”

“That’s damn right.” He grasped my hand, his gaze on Faith. “We’d better leave while the going’s good. I’ll see you later.”

“Look after her.”

“Will do.” He flashed us away and into his room in a blink.

The warriors’ barracks. The one place I’d never expected to visit. His room. Two single wooden-slatted beds covered with thin mattresses took up most of the space. So barren. Even the walls, painted a dull gray, remained unadorned. “Nice digs you’ve got.”

“There’s a bathroom to the side, but this is just a place where I rest my head.” He propped the duffel on top of a tall chest crammed into the corner. He unpacked the contents into the top drawer then folded the canvas bag and slid it under the gap between the floorboards and the base. “Are you hungry? I can grab something from the dining room. There’s food out most of the time.”

“No, I don’t feel like eating.” Faith hadn’t been kidding when she’d said I’d been out of it for ages. Through the window the night sky was dark, although glimmering with thousands of stars. I eased onto one of the single beds and kicked off my shoes.

“I should say welcome to my home, except I wish you weren’t here.” He lifted my legs and tipped me back. He sat, propped my feet in his lap and massaged them.

“Why, thanks for having me over, cousie.” I stretched and tucked his lumpy pillow under my head.

“You’ve been trouble since the moment I met you.” He crawled in beside me, almost rolling me off the bed.

“Hey, this bed was made for one.”

“We need to discuss our relationship.”

“You can do that from the other bed.”

“Inside this room, you’re my mate.” He rubbed his cheek against mine. “Just so we’re clear.”

“And just so you’re clear.” My bottom hung off the side as I rolled and faced him. “You’re a bed-hog is what you—”

He kissed me, long and with wicked skill. My head spun under the onslaught. Oh my, my mate surely knew how to kiss. When he let me come up for air, I grabbed in a lungful before his mouth once again claimed mine.

“Trouble,” I mumbled against his lips as I pushed my hands deep into his glorious hair. It was beautiful, silky and the darkest shade I was coming to adore.

Slowly, he pulled back. “I’m lucky to have met you.”

“Hey, luck had nothing to do with it.” I tapped his lower lip. “It’s all Faith’s fault. She’s the reason I ended up in the outback, and she’s the reason I’m now hanging out here with you.”

“She has a lot to answer for.” He stroked the back of my head, his eyes ablaze with the enchanter’s silver. “Although, I can’t imagine having never met you, or missing this chance to forge some lasting memories. I’m glad for that, if nothing else.”

I tucked my cheek against his chest and snuggled. “I’m kinda glad too.”

“We’ll fix this problem.” His chest rose on a deep inhalation.

“You bet we will.” I yawned and closed my eyes. “Tomorrow.”

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. “To sticking together.”

I drifted, all cozy and content. This felt so right, in his arms.

* * * *

“Silvie, wake up.”

I stretched and rubbed my bare feet against his warm socked ones. Underneath me, the bed shifted. No. Not the bed. Guy wriggled, and hell, I was lying on top of him.

Pushing to my elbows, I found myself eye to eye with the most bewitching sight. Oh my goodness. He looked rumpled and eat ’em up delicious with stubble shadowing his jaw.

“I’m awake.” I leaned in and kissed him, unable to help myself.

“So am I, and we’d better move or else dangerous things will happen.” He rolled us out of the bed in one swift move.

I tip-toed my fingers down his chest. “Oooh, Dralion. Do you feel the danger?”

“Most definitely.” He trapped my hand under his. “Let’s plan. First, you keep the name Silvie, but take my last name of Moyer. The adopted side goes by it.”

“Okay, so I’m like Silvie, um, Moyer?” That was a little weird.

“Yes.” He smiled then abruptly straightened his mouth. “Grab some of Faith’s clothes. The bathroom’s that way.” He turned me by the shoulders and gave me a nudge toward the dresser.

I opened the drawers and pulled out what I needed, a pair a black leather pants and a black shirt. Holding them to my chest, I turned and, wow. Out the window was nothing but one massive ocean. It was as if we sat right on the precipice of a cliff, with only the air we breathed between us and doom.

I stumbled to the window and grasped the sill. Below, the sheer edge of a black granite cliff-face plummeted two-hundred feet. At the base, waves crashed hard and sprayed high. No wonder only stars had been viewable last night.

Guy hemmed me in, his hands planted on either side of the sill. “It’s The Great Orbiting Ocean. Dralion’s palace is located right on the cliffs that run unbroken for ninety miles in each direction. The energy field extends over us and the ocean.”

“The granite is solid, right?”

“Yes, and this palace has stood for hundreds of centuries. I can guarantee the cliffs won’t fail us now.”

I flattened my back against him. “Well, I guess you’ve got a nice unobstructed view.”

“You’re safe.” His breath tickled my cheek and fluttered my hair across my face.

“I’d never question that with you.” I looked over my shoulder at him then popped a kiss on his cheek.

He drew in a haggard breath then lifted one arm. “Scoot.”

I ducked under it and scurried to his bathroom.

It was tiny, and once I shut the door, one step in either direction had me against a wall. I shucked my clothes and squeezed into the shower cubicle then flicked on the brass lever. Water gushed out and smacked me in the face. Okay, good water pressure, and a nice wake-up call.

I spat out the mouthful and scrubbed myself from head to toe.

After drying, I jiggled into the leather pants and zipped them up. I tucked the loose-sleeved black shirt on over top.

I opened the door a crack and peered out. “Guy, do you have a spare toothbrush?”

He stood at the window, now wearing tight black jeans, and oh yeah, the denim rounded his butt with infinite precision. Rolling up the sleeves of his tan shirt, he crossed the room and eased past me. “There should be one in the bottom drawer.” He hunkered down in front of the slim-line vanity and foraged. When he stood up, he had a brush and a razor in hand. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” I brushed my teeth as he patted suds over his jaw. “This feels rather domesticated. Are you going to shave?”

“Sure am.” He ran the razor in a nice long stroke along his skin.

“You’re getting suds in your hair.” I lifted it free where it curled onto his nape. Our gazes clashed in the oval mirror on the wall. “I’m an incredibly helpful cousin.”

He smiled. “My mother used to hold my father’s hair when he shaved, for the exact same reason.”

“You miss them, don’t you?”

“I wish my mother had never died. I was so young, and the memories so few.” He set his razor down and patted his face dry with a towel. “My father though, I’ll see him again, as soon as I’ve freed him.”

My chest tightened, and his pain seared me as if it were my own. “I’m sorry your father is locked away. You have neither of them, and I hold the one item that belonged to your mother.” My throat clogged, but I pushed on and withdrew his mother’s ring from around my neck.

“Don’t.” He shoved up a hand.

“No, you’ve kept your word to her and given it to me, and now it’s my turn to give it back. I never knew your mother, but I’m sure she would have wanted you to have this. I can give it back. It’s mine to do with as I wish.”

A tear pooled in the corner of his eye and trickled down his cheek. “You hold the other half of my soul, and she was right when she told me to give it to you.” He took the necklace and slid it back over my head. “Thank you, but the fact you now have it, means more than if I did.”

“Are you sure? Because I’d give it back to you in a heartbeat.”

“I know you would.” He pressed me against the wall and kissed me, his mouth deliciously warm over mine. All too soon, he pulled away. “I lose track of my thoughts when I’m around you. Let’s get out of here. I’ll show you the areas where you’re permitted, although not without me.”

Striding for the door, he tugged me along. “Guy, no. We’re cousins.”

“Damn. Forgot. No hand-holding, I guess.” He let go and opened the door. “Cousins first.”

I edged into the darkened passageway. Talk about gloomy. Doorways were recessed into textured walls of near black. Wall lighting flickered eerily between every other doorway on alternate sides. “And the place just gets better.”

“Shh.” He shut the door and gripped my shoulder. “Warriors come and go. This is our domain. Always watch what you—”

Three warriors rounded the far corner and stormed toward us. The man at the front of the pack had oily black hair hanging over his shoulders, and he wore a vest of brown leather. Tattoos of fire-breathing dragons curled one over the other on his bare chest and arms, and on a leather belt hanging low on his hips, a roughened metal mallet dangled. Whoa. Daunting.

The man striding beside him was as intimidating, his brown scraggly hair covering one half of his face, and a singular spiked piercing glinted in his visible ear. His biceps bulged as he balled his fists around not one, but two swords at his sides. Okay, why did Faith not give me a sword? Even a dagger right now would be good. Well, I could just kick him with my spiky boots if the warrior made a move.

The two men stopped, eyeing me as a warrior woman walked around them and halted in front. “Who are you?” she demanded.

I cleared my throat but couldn’t find my voice. The woman looked scary. She had one half of her head shaved on either side, giving her a mohawk of bright red. A piece of coiled silver pierced one nostril, and round silver hoops looped through her eyebrows. Along with the tightest of battle leathers, she too had a sword sheathed at her side. Okay, so I had Guy. I slid against him, relishing his closeness.

“I said who are you?”

“Silvie.” I also had the fire skill, and even though I couldn’t use it, I had to toughen up.

“Xrnina, this is my cousin, Silvie Moyer. Silvie, these are three of our leading eight. Xrnina, Killian and Abelard.”

I shivered. The two men, slayers, were the ones who’d soon court Faith and Hope. Yeah, thanks, Faith. Lovely of you to dump this problem on me. “Hey.”

“
I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.
” Guy’s fingers dug into my shoulder, though his gaze remained on the others. “Silvie is a new recruit, and yet to come into her rising. She’s excited to see what we do, to decide whether being a warrior is for her.”

Killian crossed his arms and planted his feet wide. “Moyer, eh? Is there any possibility she’ll be an enchanter as you are?”

“No. If she had that skill it would already be evident in her eyes. The silver rim foretells the skill to come.”

“Of course. There is only you and your father, but I had hoped. Carry on.” Done with the conversation, the man walked off and the other two followed. They disappeared around the corner.

“How can you stand being around them?” I whispered. “They lead so many teams onto Peacian soil. They kill, and ruthlessly.”

“With the war, there is bloodshed. Both nations fight.”

“No. Peacians defend against warrior attacks. We can’t get onto your land.”

“Which is exactly why we’ll never see eye to eye. Enemies, even though soul-bound.” He marched off, and with no choice, I trekked after him.