Magical Lover (31 page)

Keara patted his hand with her free one and blinked rapidly. Draconia tended to bring on tears no matter where she went.

“I’m glad to meet you too.”

Alviss stared at the horizon, face turned from her, obviously not wanting her to see his weakness. Not that she found grief a weakness, but men—and she assumed Draconi males fell into this category too—considered a show of grief to be a show of weakness. And Goddess forbid they appear weak.

“Do you know the symbolism of your mark?” Alviss turned toward Keara, one finger pressing on her mark. Did he have a kaleidoscope of thoughts running through his mind? Because he sure had a hard time staying on topic. Discussion of Draconi marks had been the last thing on her mind.

“It means I’m a Draconi.”

“Yes, yes. But in the hands of a powerful sorcerer, that would be yours truly, it can be used for other things. For instance, seeing into your magic, discovering whose family you belong to, controlling the person whose mark you touch. Not that I’d condone that, but you should know about the ability.”

Ah. She’d thought Thoren had used some sort of a spell to control her when he’d married—oops, rescued her. Nice to know she’d been right.

Alviss’s finger rubbed across her skin, his magic probing hers. She bit her lip to hold back the scream as fire poured from his fingertip into her veins, streaming through every part of her body. And just as quickly as it came, the pain disappeared.

Keara jerked her arm out of his grasp. “You really need to stop probing me like that. In case you don’t realize it, it hurts.”

Alviss’s eyes twinkled. “Now, now, I wouldn’t hurt you on purpose. I’m just trying to find out what magic you have.”

“You could just ask.” Keara crossed her arms.

“Do you know all your powers?”

Clearly, he didn’t think she knew. “I absorb illnesses.”

“And energy too, do you not?”

“I suppose.”

“Of course you do. That’s how you survived Thoren’s Change, am I right?”

“He told you that?”

“Answer the question.”

“Yes. That’s how I helped him through his Change. I absorbed his energy. I didn’t realize you were supposed to throw it away.”

“It’s a rare ability, absorbing illnesses, or energy. It’s a skill my mate, your grandmother, had. She worked in the Temple as a healer, but that is how she healed. That is not how she helped me through the Change, but she could absorb a great deal of energy. You remind me of her. A little in the face.” Gnarled fingers touched her cheek, his eyes darting away.

“Did she have...other magic?”

“What other magic are you referring to?” His sharp gaze returned to hers.

Keara shrugged. “Could she heal in...other ways?”

Alviss’s eyes narrowed. “Not that I was aware of. Annaliese might know more. Why?”

“Just curious. No reason.” He might be her Gramps, but she didn’t yet trust him enough to reveal her secret.

“Well, it looks like our talk is over. Look who is coming to pay us, more like you, a visit.”

Keara followed Alviss’s finger as it pointed at the Council’s Chamber. Two figures, tiny on the horizon, left the building. As she watched, the raven-haired one came their way.

Thoren.

After what Alviss said about Thoren being her mate, she needed to have a word with the male.

Alviss patted her hand. “It’s time for me to go. Someone wants to speak with you. Would you be willing to meet with me again? I would like to know you better.”

Keara smiled. “I’d love that. I’m glad you’re my grandfather.” She threw her arms around him in a hug.

His thin arms tightened around her waist, surprising her with their strength.

“Good-bye, granddaughter.”

“Good-bye, Gramps.”

Alviss smiled and disappeared out of her arms. A grandfather. She had a grandfather that seemed to like her. How wonderful was that?

Her new problem was coming fast. Keara turned toward Thoren and watched as he strode across the grass, his long legs making quick work of bridging the distance between them. Her heart fluttered at the sight of his black hair shifting against shoulders that filled out his tunic. Magic wrapped around him like a blanket, coating him in its power.

According to Alviss, Thoren was her mate.

So why had he denied being married to her?

“How’d it go with Alviss?”

“Great! I can’t believe I have a grandfather.”
And that he likes me.

Thoren started to sit on the bench.

“Wait!” He halted halfway down. “I have to return to check on Jamie.” In her excitement over meeting her grandfather, she completely forgot about her apprentice and his injuries.

What kind of apothecary was she to forget about one of her patients? Her only excuse was the day had been filled with excitement that now started to turn into a vague sense of anger.

Thoren offered her his arm. Keara paused before taking it.

“What’s wrong? Did he hurt you?” He growled the last words.

Keara darted a glance at his face and pulled back. Hard planes created shadows, giving an appearance of vengeance. Goddess, Thoren looked like he would kill Alviss if he thought the old male had hurt her. A smile started to blossom as she thought of his protectiveness toward her, but she squelched it.

“No, no! Alviss didn’t hurt me,” she refused to mention the second magical probing, “He just mentioned something.”

Thoren’s face returned to normal. “You look upset all of a sudden. Don’t worry about Jamie. I’m sure Annaliese or one of the acolytes took care of him.”

“It’s not Jamie. Well, it is a bit. I got so caught up in talking to Alviss that I forgot about him. But what I’m wondering about is,” Keara took a deep breath. “Alviss mentioned we were mates.”

Thoren stiffened, his face turning red. He knew. He knew they were mates and he refused to tell her. He knew before Aryana had even tested them for compatibility. She felt steam in the back of her throat, snaking out her ears. Keara yanked her arm out of his.

“You knew! You told me we weren’t married. Why did you lie?”

“I did not lie! We weren’t married. I never agreed to marry you and it’s not my problem that your town has such crazy laws that by rescuing you from that sniveling lord you thought I married you.”

“Yes, yes. And Draconi have a mating ritual. That’s beside the point.”

“That is the point. I did not marry you in your town. I did not know when I rescued you that you were my mate. I discovered that later.”

“And kept it to yourself! I’ve been wondering how to get you to be interested in me and here you knew we were mates.”

“I was waiting to tell you.”

“For what? The Goddess to pop in for a visit?”

“I needed to be sure. Once I’m mated, I can no longer be a reconnaissance specialist. I love my job. I had to be sure you were my mate before I told you how I felt.”

Ouch. That hurt. “So your job is more important than me?”

“I didn’t say that. I had to reconcile myself to the thought of no longer doing my job.”

“What changed your mind?”

“You.” Thoren ran a hand through his hair and fixed her with a penetrating stare. “You. I couldn’t stop thinking of you. And going all dragon-crazy every time you were threatened.”

“Alviss was not a threat.”

“I know, but I can’t help it. A male, any male, even your grandfather, acts like he is going to hurt you and I can’t help it. I want to kill him. Just thinking of you being hurt, in any way, is enough to make me kill.”

“That’s...sweet.”

“Sweet?”

“I like it when you get all protective. But I don’t like it that you didn’t tell me about being your mate. What if I said no?”

“You can’t. You can say no all you want, but the truth is there is no other male for you besides me. Only one mate for each Draconi. And you are mine.”

“You still should have told me.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

Keara looked at the walls of the Temple as they jutted above a stand of trees. Had he really thought his job more important than her? She pressed her lips together as she remembered her observations of people in River’s Run. Men there tended to think of their jobs as their life. Draconi might be part dragon, but they apparently thought the same way. No wonder Thoren felt torn if he knew that by mating he would be giving up his job.

That didn’t excuse the fact that he forgot to tell her she belonged to him.

Thoren opened the back gate to the Courtyard, allowing her to walk in first. She needed to think, to pull her thoughts together. All the excitement of the day left her feeling worn out, tired, emotionally drained. She wanted Thoren, but she didn’t want him to think he could treat her like this. That he could leave her out of decisions that concerned her.

“Thoren, I need some time to think.”

“There is no thinking. You belong to me and me to you. What’s to think about?”

“You withheld truth from me and yet you expect me to let it go. I can’t do that.”

“I explained—”

“I know and I still need to think. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me, but you did. And what about your job? If I am an apprentice at the Temple, what will you do?”

Thoren’s face shut down, closed her out. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does. If you don’t do something, you’ll grow to resent me and I don’t want that. I need to think and you do too before we go through with the mating.”

“Keara, please. I’m sorry I hurt you. I want you more than anything.”

“I know and I feel the same way about you. But I still need time to think. We can talk tomorrow. It’s almost dark now.” Keara leaned toward him and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Goodnight, Thoren.”

Taking a cue from Alviss, she transported away from him before his arms encircled her waist. Before she acted on her heart and invited him into her room for the night. She appeared in front of Jamie’s room, two doors down from Conr’s.

When she finished with Jamie, she needed to see how Conr was doing. Not that Annaliese had problems treating the lad. Seeing to the ill was a calling Keara had no control over. Her blood begged her to attend and she followed.

Thoren probably felt the same way about his missions.

Keara turned the dragon’s head knob and pushed open the door to Jamie’s room. Annaliese stood over the boy, holding a cup to Jamie’s lips. Both sets of eyes locked on her as she entered.

“He needed some water. I hope you do not mind.”

“Of course not. I got transported away before I could tend to him. Thank you for your help.”

Jamie seemed a little groggy from the aftereffects of the datura. His words slurred as he spoke, “Hey, how’re ya? Where’d ya go?” He flopped his good arm to Annaliese. “She jus’ up and disappeared.”

Keara walked to him and stroked his shoulder as he turned his face into her hand. She ran her fingers through his dirty hair.

Annaliese paused, holding the cup as she watched Keara’s hands. Keara met her gaze. Her aunt. Why had she not noticed before? Their noses were different, but everything else looked identical.