Enchanter (20 page)

“Well, since you asked so nicely. My bed. Let’s go.” I had no problem with this request.

 
We snuck out and into the closest darkened alley. In a flash, we returned. Yay. Home.

I kicked off my heels and slung my purse onto my nightstand. “My room is your room.”

“Great.” Rolling into bed, he tipped me in with him. “My mate is my mate.”

I stroked his stubbly jaw, looking deep into his stunning eyes. “Are we really together?”

“You need more confirmation?”

“It would help.” This was real, but our words of release had been too. “Could you— I mean, could we un-release each other properly?”

“Yes. I should have suggested it. I’ll start.” His voice turned husky, as if he fought his emotions. “Silvie, you hold the other half of my soul and I, yours. I wish to be bound to you, to keep you safe and to cherish you, to give you all you desire, and…to never let you go again. It’s been a living hell without you.” He kissed me, deep and slowly.

Wow. I was strong, but I needed him. My enchanter. No wonder Faith and Hope had worked so hard to make their relationships work. It made total sense now, no matter the future difficulties we faced. We’d deal with it all, together.

“My turn.” I couldn’t wait to speak my words. “Guy, my heart and soul are bound to yours. I wish to give you all you desire, for us to work together side by side. I wish to cherish you, to keep you close, and to pester you for all time to come.”

“Pester?” He nipped my butt. “Yep, you already have that well under control.”

Happiness swelled in my heart and bubbled over. “Trust me, I can pester with the best of them. You haven’t seen the half of it yet.”

Eyes twinkling, he rolled over top of me. “Then show me the other half.”

“Oh, you’ve got it. Pestering coming up.” Heat flared through my body. Fire flickered on my fingertips, although with one thought I snuffed it out. “Okay, just don’t get me too hot.”

“I like hot.”

So did I. I caught his face and dragged his mouth to mine. I got bossy, until the air surely pulsed with my heat. Perfect. I had my mate back and my soul at peace. Nothing more could surpass this moment.

* * * *

I wriggled and rubbed my feet against Guy’s jean clad legs. He still slept like the dead even though it was mid-afternoon. Lucky for him, I didn’t care to get up either, no matter I was wide awake.

“I’m tired,” he mumbled under his breath as he stirred.

“Go back to sleep. I’m not going anywhere.” I brought fire to my fingertips and bounced the tiny flames in short spurts.

“Mmm, closer.” Throwing one leg over mine, he all but smothered me. “Why can I smell—” He cranked one eye open. “Ahh, didn’t your parents teach you not to play with fire?”

“Nope.” I blew on the tips and the flames flickered brighter. Oooh, so pretty.

He wet his thumb and finger then pinched one of the tips and extinguished it.

“There’re nine more still to go.”

“Put them all out before you burn something.”

I relit the one he’d snuffed. “I’ve got this under control.”

“So do I.” He wrapped his hands around mine.

“Hey.” With no choice, I doused the flames in one go. “You are no fun right now.”

“We should talk some more, since we’re awake. Faith and Hope’s problem bugged me the entire time we were apart.”

“That’s because all roads still lead to Dralion, and you know I’m going back there.”

“I’ve already said no to Dralion.”

“Yeah, but that’s where their issue exists. I can’t fix it from here.”

“I’m not taking you to Dralion.”

“You don’t have a choice. Wincrest wants you to continue the Moyer line, and eventually he’s going to meet me.”

He frowned. “Damn, in my happiness, that slipped my mind. Still, you’re not going to Dralion. You have culinary school next year, and your education is important.”

“Peacio is my home, but so is being with you. Your fellow warriors will surely begin to notice your longer periods of time away.”

“I’m in the outback half the time. I’ll just explain it that way.” With the back of his fingers, he stroked my cheek. “Your safety remains imperative.”

“I’m safe when I’m with you, and I can handle spending a little time in Dralion as needed.”

“It’s not needed.”

“Yes, it is. I’m going.”

“No, you’re not.”

“You’re being difficult.”

“I’m being reasonable.”

“We have to work together on sorting the girls’ problem, and we need to get it fixed now. Give me a second to get ready.” I eased out of his hold and bounded into my dressing room. Fishing around, I found dark leather pants and a fitted black t-shirt, the closest I had to warrior attire.

After changing, I marched back to the bedroom. Guy hadn’t moved other than to cross his arms behind his head.

“Will you take me?” I ran my thumb over his forehead, smoothing out the deep worry lines.

“No.”

“I can’t let Faith or Hope down, because if either is forced to marry another, I can assure you, Davio and Silas won’t rest until they get their mates back. You think we’re at war now, but it will be far greater if those men lose their soul-bound ones to slayers.”

“They won’t lose them.”

“No, that’s right. They won’t.” With the image of the dome room at the forefront of my mind, I ’ported.

The floor stones were slick under my feet, and I made the jump straight on to Faith’s bedroom. Hopefully, she’d “see” my arrival, because right now, I needed her support. Drat. Her bed was made and her room tidied. She wasn’t here.

Guy shimmered into view, his growl fierce as he stormed toward me. “You looked when I last ’ported you.”

“I’ll never tell, not a single soul. I may despise Wincrest, but I’d never use that hate against you. I’m bound by our bond to keep you safe, just as you are with me. I’d never encourage a war.”

“This is too dangerous.” He crushed me against him.

“Not if those from Dralion still believe me a warrior. We’ll simply tell them I’m your mate as we did with the healer Nicolas. Allow me to have a presence here when needed. Think about it. It’ll solve your problem with Wincrest making demands on you, if he believes we’re together.”

“She’s right, Guy.” Faith peeked out from her bathroom, cheeks flushed. “You’ve really got to learn not to argue with Silvie. You’ll rarely win a fight.”

Hope nudged her chin over Faith’s shoulder. “Silvie’s loyal to all three of us, and when she’s here or at Wincrest Station, she can be a Moyer. Warriors will see her when she’s with you, and this is the only way around the problem.”

“I can’t believe this.” Guy raked a hand through his hair. “You two are ganging up on me too.”

“You have to agree.” I rubbed his chest. “We’ll make this work.”

“I hate this.” He heaved in a deep breath. “But I don’t see I have a choice, although I’ll only agree on one condition. You never come to Dralion without me, even though you have the image of the dome room. That goes the same for the station. You have to ’path me first to let me know you want to come so I can pick you up. When we travel through the dome room, we’re together. When you visit the station, we’re together.”

“Ah, I get it. Your condition is that we’re together.” I tapped his nose. “That works for me, big fella.”

“Big fella?” He grabbed my finger and kissed the tip. “I’m so angry with you right now. You’re too sneaky for your own good.”

Faith grinned at Hope. “Aww, don’t they make the cutest couple, sis?”

“Yep, and I can’t believe our enchanter is settling down. Donaldo will be pleased.”

“Talking about Donaldo.” Guy paced to the window and shoved the snowy-white curtains aside. “He organized today’s games. I haven’t forgotten the warriors are gathering in the field. The fire’s already lit.”

“Did you say a fire?” I edged in under his arm. Oooh, orange and red flames flickered from a massive bonfire in the meadow beyond the gates. “Oh, we so have to go. What kind of games?”

Faith joined us. “Any game involving a weapon, or the skill in using one. The spear, mallet, blade, bow and arrow. They even compete in horse riding.”

“Ah, then similar to the games we have in Peacio.”

“They’re so much fun to watch.” Hope nabbed a leather jacket from the end of Faith’s bed. “There’s food first. We cook meat over the open fire. Some of the warriors even play a few tunes if there’s time.”

“You said Wincrest organized it?” I tugged on Guy’s shirtsleeve.

“Yes, but he only comes once the action is underway.”

“So, what are we waiting for? Do I need to remind you there’s a fire?”

“No, you don’t, and neither will you leave my side.” He wrapped an arm around my waist, his grip firm over my hip as he ’ported us.

When we arrived, he bent his head and kissed me. His lips moved over mine with stealth and precision. Loud hoots sounded.

“Ignore them,” he murmured against my lips. “I’m trying to prove a point.”

“Oh, prove away.”

“Okay, enough of that.” Faith shoved between us. “The fire’s hot, but there’s also some heat now coming off you, Silvie. You two have to watch yourselves.”

Fire. That’s right. I gawked at the flames which burned and sent out a wash of warmth. Two warrior women sat on fallen logs before it, and music floated into the air from flutes they played. Nice. A couple of men strummed guitars in readiness to join them, and many others chattered in groups with drinks in hand. They all appeared so normal. Warriors taking time to relax.

“Are you hungry? We always eat first.” Guy closed the gap, stroked with a finger under my chin and brought my gaze back to him. “People are not always as they seem. You’ll give them a chance, won’t you?”

“Of course she will.” Faith played with the top button of her violet shirt. “Or she better. Wait here while I get you both some food.” She and Hope walked off toward a trestle table which bulged with an array of food and plated meats.

“Silvie!”

My name was an excited squeal, and as I turned, Vitaria plowed into me. Her blond bob fluttered across my cheeks.

“I’ve been so worried about you since Guy told me of your nasty speed-jump, but you can ’port. That’s so cool.”

I hugged her back since it seemed only right. “Nicolas healed me and I rested well. Thank you for the flower.”

“The rose was from my mother’s garden. I picked one for her and you.” She eyed Guy. “Where have you been?”

“With my mate.”

She frowned. “Your mate?” Then she smiled, wide. “You’ve found her?”

Guy tugged me in front of him, his chest against my back. “We had a few issues to work through, but now we’re sharing the news.”

“Wow.” Her eyes lit as brightly as her smile. “That’s wonderful. Congrats.”

“Did I hear you right?” Nicolas strode in and clapped Guy on the shoulder. “You’ve finally come to your senses. There’s no further secrecy?”

“You heard right.” Guy shook his hand. “Thanks for all you did.”

“No problem.” Nicolas slanted his head toward me. “You’re fully healed?”

“Yes. I rested as you said.”

“Good, then this is a day for extra celebration. I’ll catch you both later. I’ve promised to play one of the guitars for a bit.” Continuing on in his dark leathers, he joined those nearer the fire.

“Oh, there’s Hope.” Vitaria grinned. “She’s a hard one to catch, and I need to ask her if I can come out to the station. I’d love to see the outback. Later, you guys.” She raced off.

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but it feels weird that I’m getting along with—”

“Shh.” Guy pressed a finger against my lips as two warriors ambled past, the swords at their sides glinting orange from the firelight. “You truly can’t say it.”

The strangest emotion rolled through me. It was one of unease, but not for these warriors. All my life I’d been told to hate the enemy. Even Guy’s father was imprisoned for bringing harm to my people, but I still liked him. Nicolas and Vitaria too. It was crazy to have these conflicting feelings, but all was not as it seemed. Not every warrior was bad.