Betrayal's Price (In Deception's Shadow Book 1) (10 page)

His heart
pounded, blood rushed to his extremities and his wings quivered as they
unfurled. At first he didn’t know what was wrong, and then an intense heat
having nothing to do with his elemental fire flooded his body. He closed his
eyes, surprised by the fierce spike of desire. A tempting image formed on the
backs of his lids. In it Ashayna was still asleep on a bed, but it wasn’t this
one. No, it looked suspiciously like his own.

Reason returned
moments later. What was he doing? Ashayna would pluck him.

After he tugged
his hand free, he tucked blankets up around her shoulders before he retreated.
At the entrance, he looked back, frowning in thought. With sleep gentling her,
she looked delicate, defenseless, in need of protection, though he knew it was
a lie. Ashayna was anything but gentle and defenseless.

“What were the
gods thinking to make us bondmates? We would make better adversaries.” Sorntar
shook his head and closed the door.

Ashayna awoke
in an unfamiliar room. By the slant of the light, it was late afternoon. Ornate
metal head and foot railings framed a wide bed, and an abundance of silky
covers kept her warm. Too warm, as if the one who’d brought her here was
uncertain of a human’s needs. She lifted the blankets, and her stomach
fluttered with nerves. The only thing she still wore was the strange necklace
with its indigo feather. How had she come to be naked?

She stroked the
feather absently and Sorntar’s warm scent engulfed her. It must belong to him.
She promised herself she’d return it to him soon, if her Larnkin was agreeable.

The last thing
she remembered was half-dragging Sorntar to a healer’s quarters, then falling
into a chair to rest for a few moments. The realization someone had carried her
here, and then undressed her, left an uneasy feeling in her stomach. There was
no possible way someone could carry her without her waking. She frowned. Not
unless someone used magic. And there was one particular someone her Larnkin
trusted.

She continued
to scowl as she got out of bed.

Crown Prince
Sorntar had some explaining to do.

A quick search
of her room revealed clean clothes of an unfamiliar style. After several attempts
to wrap the ankle-length robe securely, she succeeded in dressing. Obviously
designed for someone with wings, it wasn’t particularly modest, allowing an
alarming amount of cool air to caress her exposed back. A knock at the door
interrupted her thoughts.

“Come in,” she
called and was surprised to see Sorntar enter.

“Greetings of
the day.” His tone was pleasant, if a touch neutral as if uncertain of his
welcome. “I thought you might be ready for a bath and some food.”

“How’d you know
I was awake?” she asked with suspicion. More bondmate crap? Was it possible he
could detect if she was awake or asleep?

“Mother left
guards at your door. I asked one of them to let me know when they heard you
stirring.”

“And did a
guard help me out of all my clothing last night?”

“No…” Sorntar
held up his hands defensively. “It’s not what you think. I just wanted to make
you comfortable.”

“I don’t
believe that for a moment. Lucky for you, I’m happy to be alive after all that’s
happened, and I’m feeling forgiving today.”

He looked
completely refreshed. Apparently, he’d recovered from his ordeal. She could use
twice as much sleep and still not look half as good. He even smelled nice. He
caught her looking or read her thoughts, she wasn’t sure which, but a knowing
smile curved his lips. To cover her embarrassment, she motioned towards the
door. “I reek. A bath is a requirement, but you can answer some questions on
the way.” She motioned him forward. Relief flooded her when he led the way
without comment.

Sorntar made
his way through the warren of corridors, his longer legs lending him an ease of
movement Ashayna lacked. She lengthened her stride and came alongside the
phoenix, unanswered questions crowding her mind. Glancing at him out of the
corner of her eye, she studied his features. He continued without notice. She
stared openly.

He made no
comment, so she cleared her throat.

They rounded
another turn in silence.

Coming to a
halt, Ashayna glared at Sorntar’s back. “What’s to become of me?”

He faced her
with a swiftness that flared his robe around him, then he chuckled. “I thought
you’d ambush me with questions before we’d covered a dozen paces.” He gave her
an elegant little bow. “You’ve done better than I would have, had our positions
been reversed.”

“Glad to
entertain you.”

“Sorry. What
would you like to know?”

“What’s my
future going to be?”

“Your future is
what you make of it; being host to a Larnkin doesn’t change that. We’ll talk
more of this later. For now, a bath. Afterward, I’ll answer every question you
can think up. Perhaps we should find some better-fitting clothes first.” He
tugged at the material of her robe. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to collect your possessions.
I feared staying there longer might give our Larnkins another chance to
jeopardize the treaty.”

Ashayna was
still too unsettled to find humor in his chagrined look, but some of the
tension between her shoulders eased. The corridor came to an abrupt end. Three
wide arches—two smaller ones flanking a larger central one—framed a world of
hazy greens accented with flashes of silvery water. More water tumbled over
ledges to fall into swirling pools below, where it churned up great shrouds of
mist.

“Ah, I thought
this was a bath area, not a garden,” she commented.

She followed in
the shadow of Sorntar’s broad wings. A haze rose out of the pools to swirl
around her ankles. Each pool had its own small waterfall. A thick blanket of
greenery functioned as both boundary and screen for added privacy. It was
beautiful.

“You like it?”
he asked with a shy smile while he ducked around a vine covered trellis.

“Yes,” Ashayna
replied. “However, I’m sure I’ll appreciate its beauty far more after I’m
clean.” Rounding a corner, she found a private bathing area, complete with more
vine covered screens.

“You may use
this one. I’ll be near if you require anything.” Sorntar showed her hidden
steps leading down to the water. After an awkward pause, he dipped his head in
another show of respect and then left her on her own. She eyed the numerous
bottles where they sat tucked in baskets along the lip of the pool. After much
sniffing and dabbing of unknown liquids, she found a delicately scented soap
among the exotic perfumed oils and lotions.

The exquisitely
warm water soothed her sore muscles. There was even a place carved out of the pool’s
stone walls to sit and take one’s ease. After scrubbing her body, she gave her
hair two thorough washings. Sitting back, she was determined to enjoy the
neck-deep warm water.

Half a
candlemark later, she dragged her body out of the water’s embrace. After
dressing and combing her hair, she sat down to wait. Another quarter candlemark
crept by. Sorntar still didn’t return.

Deciding she’d
waited long enough, she set out in the direction he’d gone. It wasn’t long
before she heard Sorntar’s voice.

“I’m not in
need of what you offer. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to finish grooming in
peace.”

His voice
sounded slightly strained. Ashayna’s protective instincts roused at his tone.
Her suspicions were confirmed when a seductive laugh echoed across the water of
the bathing pool.

“But, my Prince,
mutual grooming is much more enjoyable than solitary.” An unknown female purred
the words.

Ashayna frowned
as she parted the greenery and made her way to the other pool.

“I’m not
interested.” Annoyance tightened Sorntar’s voice even more.

 Ashayna
emerged from a wall of vines to find Sorntar oiling his feathers. He sat
sideways on a bench, one leg propped on the stone seat and his left wing bent
forward so he could work on the feathers. He glanced up when he saw her. His
expression was bland, but she was certain she saw relief in his eyes.

“When you didn’t
show up, I thought I’d come looking. Am I interrupting?” Ashayna asked.

“Not at all.
Lylantra is leaving.”

Ashayna felt a
prickle of envy while she studied the female phoenix. What would it be like to
have such lovely smooth skin free of training scars, or to have her golden
wings and tail, each feather polished until it glowed under the sun? Or a crest
bedecked with jewels and intricate designs inked on the largest feathers? There
were also symbols painted on her golden body, their details so precise it made
Ashayna’s head hurt just to think of the time involved. A set of armbands
finished the display.

Here was a
female to match Sorntar’s majesty.

The female,
obliviously unconcerned by Ashayna’s arrival, stalked forward until she was
close enough to run her finger down Sorntar’s arm. He hissed at her and slapped
her hand away.

Ashayna tilted
her head in the female’s direction. “If you keep it up, Sorntar’s going to toss
your ass in the pool behind you. And that would do nasty things to all your
hard work.” Ashayna put humor into her voice. “Why, the paint alone must have
taken you hours. I cringe to think what such lovely warm water would do to those
polished feathers.”

 “And you are?”
The golden-feathered female asked, her voice no longer holding even a hint of
her previous seductive tone.

Ashayna,
feeling like a little drab duck, glided by the other female and sat down next
to Sorntar. “I am Ashayna Stonemantle. I also have the dubious distinction of
being Sorntar’s bondmate.”

Sorntar held
out a small pot of oil. Ashayna blinked at it, and then dipped a bit out on her
fingers. After watching how he did it, Ashayna started grooming Sorntar’s wings,
applying a thin layer of oil to each individual feather. Lylantra frowned at
them for many moments, but turned and vanished through the vines.

When she was
gone, Ashayna dropped the pretense of grooming and held out her pot to Sorntar.
He didn’t take it. She tapped him on his shoulder. He stopped preening long
enough to glance in her direction, but still didn’t take the pot.

“You do realize
I was only helping you out, don’t you? I’m not actually interested in…whatever
this is.”

“Mutual
grooming.”

“Ah.” She
shoved the pot of oil at him again.

“I rather like
your clever fingers. I could use the help.”

Sorntar watched
her through his lashes long enough to raise a blush. She started looking for
distractions but was saved hunting by the sound of talons on stone. Lylantra
back for more?

But it wasn’t
the golden female. Kandarra parted the undergrowth and nodded when she spotted
Ashayna. “There you are.” She took in the scene with a knowing smile. “I should
have known. Was it Lylantra I saw leaving? Ran her off, did you? Good.”

Ashayna
groaned. Gossip would spread like a flooded river in spring. Just what she didn’t
need.

“Yes, but it
wasn’t nearly as interesting as you’ll make it sound,” Sorntar said. He
finished oiling a few last feathers, then stood, shaking them in place. “I
still have a couple things to do before the feast tonight. Can you help Ashayna
prepare?”

“Anything for
you, brother.” Kandarra nodded vigorously, eyes merry. “I have so much to tell
Ashayna about being a bondmate, this is perfect.”

Ashayna
furrowed her brows. “I wish people would stop talking about bondmates. I haven’t
done any ‘bonding’ with him, nor do I plan to do any anytime soon,” Ashayna
said, trying to ignore Kandarra’s smirk.

“Very well, I
won’t say anything more while I help you get ready for tonight’s feast.”

* * * *

The great hall
had changed since the last time she’d stood at its empty center. Now its vast
space was filled with the scent of a myriad of strange foods. Within was a
dizzying number of species, each dressed in unfamiliar fabrics, and, if her
eyes were not mistaken, some even boasted iridescent scales. She took in the
scene from her vantage point behind one of Kandarra’s wings.

“Do you plan to
come out of hiding tonight?” Kandarra asked in all seriousness.

“I’m not
hiding.” Ashayna managed to take a half step out from behind Kandarra’s shadow
when a ripping sound heralded the ruin of her borrowed attire. She glanced down
and sighed. The owner of her skirt might be somewhat perturbed to find a small
tear the exact size of Ashayna’s boot toe in the draping hem. Maybe they wouldn’t
notice, since the tear was almost concealed by the skirt’s moss-green and
earth-colored leaf embroidery. The dark green fabric and the lighter colored
needlework lent it a feel of an ancient forest—calm and mysterious. That’s
where her liking of her finery ended. As for its matching top, it wasn’t much
more than a particularly large scarf crisscrossing over her breasts to tie at
the back.

Several table
lengths distant, a flash of indigo blue feathers reminded her of Sorntar and
all the complications he’d brought to her life. The bond laid heaviest on her
mind, for no matter what bonding entailed, it sounded like a threat to her
independence. She grudgingly admitted it frightened her.

While she
mulled over her insecurities, Kandarra wove a path through the crowded hall to
where Sorntar stood with the young Lupwyn warrior Ardalwyn. Kandarra fell in
beside her sibling. Ashayna followed her lead and greeted Ardalwyn first,
leaving Sorntar until last.

Sorntar’s
feathers shone with a radiance that spoke of long hours of work. A large band
made of hammered gold, inlaid with jewels, circled his throat. Matching
armbands formed to his muscular upper arms. What could only be called a paneled
kilt stretched from his waist to his knees. Shorter panels flanked a longer
middle panel. After a moment’s study, it looked similar to a stylized bird’s
tail. Its broad belt matched the golden torque and arm bands.