FORBIDDEN TALENTS (27 page)

She grinned.
“
The same. You at my mercy.
”

“
Always.
”

She played the attacking force while Ragni had command of the ivory king and his defenders. She chased him all over the board before finally capturing him.

“
They should call this game King’s Retreat, the way I play it,
”
Ragni grumbled when it was over.

Saeun laughed and stood.

“
That was well fought. Would you like another job training the Kon’s guard?
”
Ragni tried to pull her onto his lap, but Saeun stepped away.

“
No, my lord. You lost. Time to pay your forfeit.
”

Ragni chuckled.
“
Very well. I’m at your mercy.
”

“
Take off your clothes.
”

“
If I must.
”

“
You must.
”

While Ragni disrobed, she removed her own garments, then put her over-dress back on. It was split in front and closed only at the waist, leaving her breasts nearly exposed, and allowing Ragni glimpses of her sex as she moved.

When he turned and saw what she’d done, he grinned and reached for her.
“
I definitely approve of this fashion. Do you think the other women will adopt it?
”

Saeun stepped back out of his grasp and gestured at the bed.
“
Lie down,
”
she said sternly.

Ragni affected a pout but complied.

“
Now put your hands above your head.
”

She couldn’t believe she was doing this, giving orders to the son of a Kon, even in play. But from the glint in Ragni’s eyes, he liked it. And truth be told, so did she.

“
Very well, sir. Are you prepared to pay?
”

“
I am.
”

“
And will you give me your parole not to move your hands?
”

Ragni wiggled his fingers, then relaxed.
“
You have it.
”

“
And you’re not to speak unless spoken to.
”

“
Not even to tell you how beautiful you are?
”

She gave him a stern look and shook her head.
“
No.
”

He tried to look solemn and failed.
“
I hear and obey.
”

“
Excellent.
”
Saeun crawled onto the bed and knelt by Ragni’s legs. Her position spread the split front of her over-tunic, and Ragni’s eyes flickered to her revealed thighs before returning to her face. She pulled the pins securing her braids, then ran her fingers through, loosening the strands until her dark hair rippled over her shoulders. Ragni remained silent as he watched, a faint smile playing on his lips. He’d told her often how he loved her hair, and he always took his time brushing it after their love-making, so she kept her movements slow, drawing out the show. He was already hard.

She pulled her hair over one shoulder and leaned forward. The over-tunic gaped, giving Ragni a clear view of her full breasts. His fingers flexed on the pillow, but he didn’t move. Then she drew the long tail of her hair across his chest, letting it fan out over his skin.

“
Mmm,
”
Ragni purred.

She did it again. And again. Then she trailed her tresses down his thigh and up the other. Ragni’s breathing was deeper now. She hid a smile.

Slowly, so slowly, she stroked his legs with her hair, then let it spread over his jutting erection.

Ragni drew in a swift breath.

Again she drew the strands across him, as his member danced in response to her silky caress. Then she snaked her hair around his shaft, spiraling it continuously around and around and around.

“
Saeun,
”
he groaned.

She chuckled low in her throat.
“
Do you like that?
”

“
No. Not at all.
”
The pace of his breathing said otherwise.

“
Then I’d better stop.
”

Slowly she pulled the hair from him and straddled his hips. He lifted up to meet her, but she rose on her knees out of range.

“
Not yet.
”

He settled back. Saeun unfastened the waist clasp of her tunic and shrugged out of it. Then she leaned forward and trailed the tips of her breasts over his belly and up his chest. Her nipples tightened and she ached to have his hands on her, but she wasn’t done with him yet. His head came up and he tried to capture one with his mouth, but she pulled back. Again she teased and tickled him, and rubbed her face against his hard stomach. He smelled of the scented candles on Baldur’s altar, soap, and his own sharp maleness. She scooted backward and pressed her breasts fully against his arousal. His shaft pulsed upward and she throbbed in response. Ragni groaned. Then she moved further down, and licked the hard velvet tip.

She was rewarded with a gasp. His excitement fueled her own heat and hunger. She rained little kisses down the length of him and back up again as his muscles twitched and strained. Her tongue teased and stroked, tasting him. Ragni’s fingers were white where he clutched the pillow.

Finally she took him into her mouth.

For a moment he stopped breathing. Then he sucked in a ragged breath.
“
Saeun!
”

She hungered to feel him inside her, but she continued kissing and licking and sucking.

“
Saeun!
”
His voice was hoarse. His muscles were taut beneath her.

She didn’t stop.

“
Saeun!
”

She raised her head.
“
I release you—
”

Before she’d finished speaking, Ragni had rolled her beneath him.
“
Wicked woman,
”
he said, grinning as he drove into her. She was ready for him. More than ready. He took the tip of one breast in his mouth and sucked hard, sending a bolt of pleasure shooting through her.

She rose up to meet his thrusts, a satisfied smirk on her face.
“
Wickedness
…
has its rewards,
”
she gasped just before she fell off the edge.

*

A sob rose in Saeun’s throat as aching loss rode in on the tail of sweet memory. Saeun blinked futilely at the tears that welled and escaped. She rolled onto her side, gazing with blurred vision at the roots that surrounded her bed like loving arms, wishing she were in Ragni’s.

*

Celia twined her fingers through Dahleven’s as they headed toward Neven’s suite. Fender had taken Baruq away after they’d finished questioning the
pinnsvin
. Dahleven had stayed in her room last night, but he hadn’t come to her bed. Instead he’d sat up, staring into the fire, thinking.

In the dark hours she’d awakened to find him still there, but he only shook his head when she asked him if she could help, and told her to go back to sleep. Instead she’d risen, wrapped herself in a blanket, and sat at his feet until the sun rose, her head resting on his knee, his fingers stroking her hair.

He still hadn’t told her what weighed so on his mind. There were plenty of troubles to choose from. His father’s illness. His use of Saeun’s magic. The secret of their Fey-marking. Eirik’s murder. The Tewakwe’s request. The
pinnsvin’s
information. All of it was on his shoulders now as the acting Jarl of Quartzholm.

The ongoing storm delayed the dawn. They’d dressed and breakfasted without talking of anything of consequence. She wanted to help him, if only to be a sounding board, but Dahleven just shook his head when she tried to bring up any of their worries and continued to eat in silence. She’d wanted to shout at him that a good marriage meant sharing burdens, but the way his brows were drawn tightly together made her keep her silence. He had enough to worry about. Right now she’d support him by not making demands. But she would definitely have that discussion with him later.

“
You’re sure you don’t know anything that would help Father?
”

Dahleven’s question jerked her back to the present.

She would have been pleased that he was finally letting her in if he hadn’t asked the question before. She understood his persistence, though. When her mother lay dying, she’d asked the doctors the same questions over and over, hoping that they’d finally give an answer she wanted to hear.

She shook her head.
“
I’m sorry, Dahl. A stroke requires specialized care and medicines that I don’t know anything about.
”

Inside Neven’s suite, they met Che’veyo, the Tewakwe shaman, coming out of Neven’s room with Gudrun. A fragrant aroma surrounded them.

Che’veyo nodded a greeting.

“
Thank you for trying,
”
Gudrun said. She was showing the strain of her vigil.

“
Trying what?
”
Dahleven asked.

Gris dropped the use of his Talent.
“
A Healing Ceremony.
”
His tone was cold.

Celia felt Dahleven grow even more taught with tension, if that was possible.
“
Mother?
”

Gudrun’s voice was firm, and brooked no argument.
“
I will pursue any avenue I think fitting to restore my husband, Dahl. Che’veyo offered his help and I accepted. I only wish it had worked.
”

Che’veyo laid a gentle hand on Gudrun’s arm.
“
It worked. The ceremony will enable his spirit to heal. We have cleared his path. Now we must wait to see if his body will follow. If it does not, he will go to the gods with a tranquil heart.
”

Celia saw some of the tension drain from Gudrun’s shoulders.

“
I’d hoped you could restore him to me,
”
Gudrun said softly.

“
I warned you, my lady,
”
Gris said.

Dahleven raised a silencing hand and Gris faded from notice. Celia wished she had that power of command. She’d have Gris fade right out of Quartzholm.

“
His spirit is restored,
”
the Shaman said.

Gudrun nodded.

Dahleven cleared his throat and everyone looked at him.
“
Che’veyo, will you tell Nai’awika and Loloma I would like to speak with them later? I’ve reconsidered their request. Nuvinland will send emissaries with you on your Spirit Walk.
”

“
AND, OF COURSE, Lady Celia will go as well,
”
Loloma said.

Dahleven jerked, taken off guard.
“
No.
”
He sat at the head of the table in Neven’s place, in the Kon’s council chamber, all too aware of the eyes turned on him in surprise at his abrupt veto. He didn’t care. He was not going to risk Celia again.

Magnus and his grandson Magni stared, eyebrows raised in exactly the same way.

“
Of course not.
”
Wirmund huffed.

Solveig, Hafdan, and Ragni remained silent, waiting for an explanation from Dahleven, or a reaction from Loloma. Gris was unobtrusive, as usual. The Nuvinlanders shifted in their seats, while the Tewakwe leaders sat unperturbed by Dahleven’s refusal.

“
Tiowa and Spider Grandmother have brought Lady Celia to the Fifth World for this reason, Lord Dahleven. We must not defy them,
”
Loloma said.

“
I have already explained, Kikmongwi, I cannot leave Quartzholm with my father so ill.
”
And by the gods, he wouldn’t send Celia out into the winter to face unknown dangers without him to protect her.

Nai’awika glanced at Tiva’ti then looked at Dahleven with kind eyes. She spoke directly to him.
“
I send my granddaughter, Lord Dahleven.
”

Ragni spoke softly.
“
Dahl, I’ll be there, and you can send Fender, too.
”

Dahleven glared at his brother.