Healer's Touch (29 page)

“Oh!” She stepped back and looked up into a pair of light brown eyes under long lashes she could only describe as beautiful.

“Hello, ladies.” The man smiled at them. “Enjoying the festivities, are we?” He held two glasses of wine.

“Oh, yes!” said Anya. “Everything is perfect.” She almost purred.

“You are regulars at Lord Tovias’ court?”

Anya giggled, politely declining the drink and nudging Llew.

“Ah, no.” Llew accepted the glass, emptying her own in one gulp. “We just arrived in Rakun last night.”

“Really?” He leaned an elbow on the stone balustrade. “Where did you come from, then?”

“Cheer,” said Llew, adding, “Aghacia,” when the man didn’t seem to recognise the name.

“Oh? A long way. What brought you to Rakun, then?”

“Anya is to marry Lord Tovias.”

“Well, well. That is wonderful.”

“Thank you.” Anya curtsied, glowing under the man’s admiration.

“Was your journey pleasant?”

Llew and Anya began telling him of the journey from their home, each filling in various details. While they both took turns telling of their ups and downs, Llew was aware that he seemed most captivated by her. Well, Anya was already promised to wed, after all.

“And they didn’t hurt you?” he asked, when she recounted her encounter with the Zaki warriors.

“Oh, no.” She laughed. “Our friend is in the Quaven army. He took care of them for me.”

“I’m glad he did, or I might not have had this chance to meet you.” He smiled at Llew. Something about the smile shot straight through her, lighting something deep inside. A smiling Jonas flashed into her mind, but she pushed it away.

“I would be honoured if you’d let me show you a few sights around Rakun.”

Llew didn’t know what to say, and took a sip of wine.

“In fact, there’s somewhere special I’d like to show you. Tonight, if you would come with me?”

Tonight?

“Um, well, I,” she floundered and turned to Anya, but Anya was disappearing back into the throng of the ballroom. “I should really stay.”

“Why? What’s keeping you here?” The man’s eyes burned into her and, again, an unwanted flash of Jonas looking at her filled her mind’s eye. She shook her head clear and returned her attention to the man before her. Certainly all of his attention was on her. It was as though he thought he could compel her to go with him if he looked at her intensely enough. For a moment Llew almost believed he could. She looked at her wine, watching the bubbles break the surface.

“Well, I just got here, and . . . ” A commotion drew her attention, and she looked over her shoulder to see Jonas pushing through the crowd to the balcony, with Anya and Cassidy close behind. She looked back at the man. Or rather, where the man had been. She was alone.

“Where’d he go?” Jonas demanded as he reached her, scanning the darkness for movement.

Llew shrugged and looked at Anya for answers.

“I didn’t like his tone,” said Anya with a one-shoulder shrug.

“It’s okay, Anya,” Llew said, and then turned on Jonas. “For a worry-wart, you sure know how to leave a burden behind.”

Cassidy and Anya looked surprised at her accusation. Cassidy knew his place though and, with his hands resting lightly on her shoulders, he turned Anya and guided her back to the ballroom.

“They make a cute couple, don’t they?” Llew leaned in to Jonas as though she were making an idle observation, before raising her voice again. “Cassidy likes her, you know? But he knows how to keep his hands to himself.”

Jonas hissed. Anya looked back at Llew, her mouth open and cheeks reddening with scandalised horror. Cassidy looked sick.

“He’s cute, too. But he doesn’t have
Lord
Torvias’ pockets.”

“That’s enough, Llew.” Jonas gripped her arm. “You’ve no right to ruin everyone else’s night just ’cause you’re sufferin’ misplaced jealousy. What’s your problem?”

“You’re my problem. Leaving me to carry your burden while you catch up with an old flame.”

“She’s not–” He stopped. “No one knows you’ve got it, do they?” He stepped in closer to avoid being overheard. “You’ve barely been out of my sight all night.”

“Oh? So you weren’t bothered when yet another man was showing interest in me?”

Jonas looked uncomfortable for a moment. “Alright, so I wasn’t watchin’ you then.”

“Too busy with your other women?” Llew downed the rest of her wine, watching him over the rim. It felt good to say what was on her mind and she wondered if the fruity liquid had anything to do with it. She placed the glass down on the balustrade, forcefully enough to make a point but with sufficient control not to break it.

“That’s enough, Llew.”

“I don’t think it is, Jonas. I think we’re only getting started.”

By no other guests standing by the doors were looking at them and whispering.

“He can bed me when I anger him,” Llew said loud enough for them all to hear, watching Jonas’ mounting anger. “But he won’t be seen to enjoy my company in public.”

Jonas grabbed her by the wrist hard enough to make her squeal, and dragged her down one of the staircases to the lawn below.

“Looks like I’m getting lucky!” she called over her shoulder as she stumbled down behind him, and smiled at the titters that followed.

“Has it all got a bit exciting for you?” she ventured when they reached the shadow below the curved peak of the balcony.

“Don’t be a fool!” He spun back to face her, his arm raised. She flinched from the threatened assault.

“How dare you!” She was positive it was the wine making her so bold.

“Damn it, Llew. Little more than a week ago I could have killed you!”

“No, you couldn’t.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because you didn’t.”

He gave a brief laugh and shook his head. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and laughed again. The band struck up a new, slow tune.

“Dance with me?” She held out a hand.

He looked at her with an expression suggesting that he wondered if she was thinking clearly, or if she was indeed crazy.

“Dance with me,” she commanded, shaking her hand at him.

He looked surprised, but pushed himself out from the wall and clasped her hand. He pressed his other hand behind her back and began to move with the music, guiding her with gentle pressure from both hands and, occasionally, a hip. With the warmth of his body the effects of the wine seemed to double their grip and Llewella let herself relax into his embrace. She laughed as he stumbled forward to stop her from falling. Her head fell back and she took in the upside-down garden as he whirled her around, expertly recovering. Allowing Jonas to bring her upright, Llewella brushed her short hair away from her eyes as she regained her bearings.

Over Jonas’ shoulder, she saw the man from earlier step down the stairs. She suddenly realised she didn’t know his name. He stood at the bottom of the stairs for a moment, looking about. He saw Llew looking at him and smiled, though the expression was somehow cold, then he disappeared into the shadows. His name settled in her mind then. Braph. Clean-shaven and damn near as handsome as his brother.

“What am I to do with you, Llew?”

“
Do
with me? I have no idea what you mean.” She pulled back to look at him, Braph slipping from her thoughts.

“How can I hate everythin’ you are, but feel what I feel?” Jonas said in frustration. “It’s turnin’ me inside out.”

“You could try not hating me for a start.” She laid her wine-dizzy head on his shoulder.

He gave a small laugh. “I suppose it should be that simple.”

“Yes,” she said into his shoulder.

The music moved into another upbeat number and they pulled apart again for a moment before Jonas leaned in to kiss her.

“Ow!” He pulled back.

“Oh. Sorry, my feet were killing me.” Llew smirked at him. “If it weren’t for these gloves, I’d have been zapping Alvaro all night.” She gasped as she realised that she had totally abandoned her escort.

“Don’t worry about him. He’s been distracted since you stepped out.”

“Come on.” She took Jonas’ hand and led him from the garden.

They returned to her room where he assisted her in unbuttoning the gown. The dress slipped away and Llew stepped out from the layered skirts. Jonas laughed.

“What?” Llew scowled at him, then looked down at herself in her corset and knickerbockers with his knife slung around her waist, tied with ribbons. “Well, help me get them off then.” She untied the knife and threw it down beside him, then turned and let him pull at the knot holding the corset tight. She felt his fingers pull unhurriedly at the tie, loosening the garment down the length of her back, until it finally fell away. She remained standing, facing away, expecting him to dispose of the ugly undergarments as quickly as she wanted to be free of them. But instead his warm hands clasped either side of her waist, and he pressed his lips to the small of her back.

“You’re a fine woman, Llewella.”

She closed her eyes to savour his words. Then she turned and, pressed him back onto the bed.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Llewella woke the next morning to the sound of gentle, even breathing and a warm hand resting on her belly. She smiled to herself and turned to Jonas. She was surprised by how refreshed she felt. The movement was enough to stir him and his eyes opened.

“Good morning,” he greeted her, his voice muffled by the pillow. “I think I got your hangover.” He rolled onto his back.

She gave him a smile, but inside she cursed herself. It wasn’t fair to go passing her stupidity onto her friends. If it was possible, she needed to learn how to control her power.

She shuffled closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, breathing him in. Was this how her parents had felt about each other? No wonder her mother’s death had pained her father so.

“I wish this moment could last forever.”

He kissed the top of her head, but said nothing.

“It can’t, can it?” When he didn’t reply, she continued, “Aris wants me kept safe, and you’re a lieutenant in the army. You won’t have time to stick around.” She pushed herself up on an elbow, enjoying the feel of his skin with her other hand. He was looking at her, listening, but his expression gave nothing away. “And then there’s the small matter of Aris wanting you for his Syakaran breeding program.”

Jonas sat up in the bed and swivelled his legs off the edge. Llew’s eyes trailed down the mighty black curves of his tattoo.

“What if he doesn’t find one?”

He turned his head and she gazed on his profile. Now free to do so, she openly admired what she saw: a strong brow, straight nose, full lips . . . 

“I don’t know, Llew. A little over a year ago I was gettin’ ready to meet my son or daughter. But he, she . . . 
it–
gods, I wish I knew!” He slapped the edge of the mattress. “My wife and our child were taken from me.” He turned to her. “I ain’t planned for nothin’ since.”

She felt terrible for his loss, she really did. She knew she did. But she couldn’t help feeling that if he hadn’t suffered that, she wouldn’t be here with him now. Would he have even been in Aghacia a month prior? Would they ever have met? If he hadn’t lost his family, Llew could have been in Braph’s, or Turhmos’ hands already. She might not even have had the option of going to Quaver, even if she did still have to talk herself around to wanting that as a future. Quaver looked a whole lot more appealing if she went with Jonas, rather than just being escorted by him.

She placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Would he ever let me have you?” She let her hand drop, brushing down his side with the backs of her knuckles. It must have tickled, because he flinched and snatched her fingers in a fierce grip; then he held them gently, giving her a playful smile. He pressed her knuckles to his lips.

“Let’s get you safely to Quaver–” Kiss. “–out of the reach of Braph–” Kiss. “–and Turhmos.” Kiss. “Then we can make a plan.”

He released her hand, and began pulling on his clothing.

“Tell me you didn’t just sleep with me only to leave me behind at the end of all this.”

He leaned back across the bed and kissed her gently.

“I care about you, Llew.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means . . . ” He stood up. “It means I want what’s best for you. It means I ain’t even sure you’ll be safe in Quaver.”

“I would be if I was with you.”

“Llew, look at me. I’m surrounded by ghosts. I ain’t about to let you become one of them.”

“But I don’t want to live my life not living. And what about you? You want to live the rest of your life running from love because you might lose it again? My pa did that. Maybe he was right, maybe he would never have found anyone like my ma, but he didn’t even try, and look where that got him.”

Jonas pressed his lips together and turned away to finish buttoning his shirt.