Return of the Ascendant (The Ascendant Series) (18 page)

Oh, Ty
, she thought when her head had cleared enough.
That was amazing. More than amazing
.

One corner of his mouth rose as he lowered her nightgown and looked up at her. She hadn’t bothered to lift the straps of her nightgown back onto her shoulders. His gaze moved instinctively to her lovely breasts. He swallowed hard as his arms flared in sync with his desire.

Can I do that for you?

His eyes whipped up to meet hers. Had she really just thought that?

Please?
She shifted and pushed at his shoulder, trying to get him to roll onto his back.

No
, his mind said.

Hell fucking yes!
his body screamed.

Giving up on trying to move him, she reached down and started unfastening his belt, holding his gaze as she did. A small part of his mind kept telling him to stop her, but even that part shut up when she reached inside his waistband and gripped his arousal.

Oh, God
, he thought, unable to stop himself from thrusting against her hand.

No one has ever touched you like this, have they?

He shook his head. A shudder went through him as she stroked him again. This was wrong. He shouldn’t—

No,
Dem-Shyr, she thought.
This is right, and it’s what I want. Now I order you
to
roll onto your back.

This time, when she pushed against his chest with her free hand, he didn’t resist. He followed her silent instructions and lifted his hips enough that she could lower his pants to his thighs. There was a moment where she looked down at him in awe. Her thoughts would have been humorous if they hadn’t aroused him so much.

Finally, she settled herself alongside his thighs.
I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing
, she admitted,
but I’ve read a lot of advice in books and magazines
.

He might have returned a thought letting her know that was okay. He wasn’t sure. Her tongue was on him as she shared her thoughts, so all he might have sent out was garbled pleading.

By the time she took him into her mouth, he was beyond all rational thought. He had the vague notion of asking her if she wanted him to warn her when he was about to orgasm.

Then his body exploded.

Stars burst behind his eyelids as his lower body spasmed over and over. He kept just enough of his sanity to keep from shouting his blissful release to the heavens.

It took him several minutes to realize that his fingers were fisted in Kyr’s hair. She was resting her cheek on his thigh, smiling up at him.

Holy shit
, was all he could think.

That made her laugh. He couldn’t help himself. He pulled her up and kissed her again.

Thank you, Kyr
, he thought.

Thank
you,
Ty
.

Knowing he had been irresponsible enough for one evening, he reluctantly parted from her and climbed off the bed. He handed Kyr her panties so they could both right their appearances. She grinned at him as she slipped them back on.

No matter how gorgeous she had looked that evening, he would always prefer her as she looked now…fresh-faced and flushed with pleasure that he’d caused.

You think the sweetest things
.

He lifted an eyebrow. He hadn’t realized he had sent that thought out to her.
It’s true
, he returned simply.
Now go to bed, Ma’jah. I’ll be out in the parlor on the couch
.

Don’t you have your own chambers?

Yes. But the Guardians suggested I stay with you tonight since it’s your first night back.
Leaning down, he kissed the frown from her lush mouth.
Go to sleep
.

All right, all right. Goodnight, Ty. I…I’ll see you in the morning
.

He nodded and turned to walk out of the parlor, heading directly to the couch. He knew he wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon, though. He’d be too busy thinking about what they’d just done…and what Kyr had really been about to say before she said she’d see him in the morning.

Chapter 28

A knock on her bedroom door woke Kyr the following morning. She blinked blearily, trying to remember where she was. What day was it? Did she have class?

“Ma’jah?”

Oh, yeah. Different planet. Ruler of worlds. Got it.

“Just a minute,” she called out, fumbling for the light.

She pressed a small lever that released the chemical reaction to light the closest sconce. Stumbling from the bed, she tugged on her robe and raked her fingers through her hair. Once she was more presentable, she opened the door to her mother.

God, she looked perfect. She was wearing a beautiful light blue gown and not a dark red hair was out of place. Did the woman even go to sleep?

“Good morning, Guardian,” Kyr said, trying to rub some of the sleep from her eyes.

“We need to get you prepared, Ma’jah,” her mother said in lieu of a greeting. “You are to meet with the Prima Divyner this morning.”

Kyr stilled. “The Prima Divyner?”

“Yes. She sent word this morning—actually shortly after the welcome ceremony concluded—that she must meet with you as soon as possible.”

“Oh.”

Kyr brought a hand to the lapels of her robe, not sure what to think or feel. She remembered the renowned mystical woman, an older female from the same megai as Avana, the Luja megai. Her name was CaelysLuja, and she was the most respected prognosticator on all of Alametria. Getting called before her meant only one thing: Caelys had divined something important about Kyr’s future.

Why was she asking to see her now? And why did she ask right after—?

Her eyes widening, she glanced over her mother’s shoulder to see Ty standing there. Somehow, he’d changed clothes and already looked ready to face the day. His expression revealed nothing, but she sensed a similar turmoil in him.

Do you think she knows about…?

I don’t know
, he returned.

“Come, come,” her mother said, clapping her hands like Kyr was a puppy in need of redirecting. “The Wrym are waiting.”

It was too early for this, Kyr silently grumbled as she was led into the bathing chamber. She wasn’t mentally prepared to meet with Caelys. She’d only just begun to grasp the magnitude of the responsibility being thrust upon her as the Ascendant. Now she had to hear something about her future? What the hell?

At least this puts off the Ruvex Rite a little longer
, Ty mused.

There was that, she supposed. Still, since Ty was conducting the Rite for her, she wasn’t too worried about it. This was definitely more alarming.

She fretted about it over the next hour as the Wrym readied her. The lengthy prep time was highly irritating. Why couldn’t she just throw on a dress, stick her hair in a ponytail, and be done with it?
No
. Her mother said she had to be “properly prepared” for an audience with the Prima Divyner.

Insert eye roll.

There was a time when getting you ready every morning took twice this long
, Ty thought.
You argued with everything the Wrym did, insisting it wasn’t good enough
.

Mortified, she dared a quick glance at him in the mirror as the finishing touches were applied to her makeup.
Seriously?

Yes. It was fun to watch. You were usually in your undergarments, arguing about your wardrobe
.

A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
You’re incorrigible
.

But he’d succeeded in distracting her, even temporarily, from the dread of what lie ahead. Soon enough, she was dressed in a formal black gown that met with her mother’s approval. Over the bottom sheath layer was a long-sleeved, floor-length fitted jacket decorated with detailed beading. Her hair had been pulled back at the temples in a series of braids interwoven with silver threads that matched the silver jewelry she wore. The rest of her hair hung down her back and over her shoulders in soft waves. Much to Kyr’s relief, she was given slippers with low heels to wear. She wasn’t sure she could have handled anything else after last night.

Ty took her arm when her mother finally declared her ready. His touch sent shivers of awareness through her. Although she tried to think about other things, her mind inevitably went to what they’d experienced the night before.

Not now
, he warned her.

Knowing he would have trouble hiding it if the memories got out of hand, Kyr blurted, “I slept well.”

Her mother glanced at her with a raised brow as they left her chambers. “I am glad, Ma’jah.”

Flushing, Kyr cleared her throat and tried for another, less idiotic subject change. “Is the Prima Divyner here in the palace, Guardian?”

“Yes. We have offered her our most luxurious guest accommodations. She was invited to the welcome ceremony, but took ill before the event started.”

“Oh. I hope she’s all right.”

“Of course she is, Ma’jah. She asked for your company, did she not?”

Kyr frowned. What was up her mother’s butt today? “I guess so,” she allowed.

“You will spend as much time with CaelysLuja as needed,” her mother explained as they walked. “
Dem-Shyr
TaeDane will remain just outside the chamber.”

Kyr felt Ty’s grip tighten at that, but he didn’t comment.

“You will be perfectly safe, Ma’jah.” Her mother gave her a small smile before looking away. “I will take my leave now. We can visit more later.”

As uncomfortable as she was in her mother’s presence, Kyr was suddenly reluctant to part ways. She tried to think of something to say to keep her mother with her, but the Guardian was already down the hall with a pair of Mynders on either side of her.

You’ll be fine
, Ty thought calmly.
Come on
.

He led her the rest of the way to the guest accommodations with several Mynders serving as their escorts. She spotted Gren and realized that Ty must really trust the other Mynder to have him serving as her guard so often. The other male sensed her look and gave her one of his small winks. Some of her tension eased.

They stopped in front of another pair of ornate doors. She could only assume Ty had gotten the correct location from her mother earlier. Either that, or he already knew which of the palace’s guest suites was considered the “most luxurious” by her mother.

Or I read her mind
, he added.

Ah. There is that
.

He knocked on the door. She took a deep, calming breath and nodded to herself. This was okay. It wasn’t going to hurt. It was just a conversation.

“Enter,” came a thin voice through the door.

Ty turned the handle, giving her the mental order to stay with Gren and the other Mynders while he swept the suite. Kyr did as he instructed, though she hoped his behavior wasn’t offensive to the Prima Divyner. Even though her memory still had holes in it, Kyr remembered how revered the elder female was by Alametrians.

“You may enter,” Ty told her at last.

“Thank you,” Kyr said, not caring if she was supposed to thank him in front of others or not. It was the polite thing to do, wasn’t it?

She walked into the sunlit room and spotted the imposing figure seated in one of the two wing-back chairs facing a fireplace. A fire with emerald green flames burned there, but Kyr didn’t sense much heat or smell wood burning. Another chemical reaction, she realized.

“Hello, Prima Divyner Caelys,” Kyr said, stepping forward and bowing. Ty had said she bowed to no one, but she couldn’t imagine not greeting this woman respectfully.

“Hello, Ma’jah,” Caelys said. Her voice sounded like it would benefit from a good cough. “I hope you will forgive me for not returning your flattering greeting. I have been ailing and do not have the strength to stand right now.”

Though tall, Caelys was thin enough to look as though she would blow away in the first stiff wind. Her cheekbones were too prominent, her nose too thin. Since her skin was wrinkled with age, Kyr supposed that her advanced years had a lot to do with how she was feeling.

“Of course,” Kyr said, waving her apology away. “Is there anything I can get you to make you more comfortable?”

There was a pregnant pause, during which time the Prima Divyner stared at her and Kyr sensed Ty holding his breath. Had her offer been inappropriate?

Eventually, Caelys started cackling. “The Ascendant is offering to get me, CaelysLuja, something because I’m ailing? Child, you have just made my day.”

Kyr shifted uncomfortably. This wasn’t at all what she’d expected when she woke up this morning.

“Please take a seat, Ma’jah,” Caelys said, once again under control. “I have tea and cakes.
Dem-Shyr
, despite what Guardian Shaya said, you will stay here with us. I know you will not allow Ma’jah to eat or drink something you have not sampled, and I doubt you will feel comfortable on the other side of the door while I meet with her. It isn’t as though you can’t read Ma’jah’s mind to hear what I have to say anyway.”

“Thank you, Prima Divyner,” Ty said with a bow.

See? Kyr told herself as she sat in the second wing-back chair. She’d been right to bow.

“You must be curious why I summoned you just after you arrived back on Alametria,” Caelys said as she poured tea from the pot on the small table between them.

“I did wonder,” Kyr admitted.

“Cream? Sugar?”

“A little sugar is fine, thank you.”

“It was all of the energy present here last night,” Caelys explained as she added a spoonful of sugar to Kyr’s cup and then handed it to Ty to taste. “With so many souls in one place, a vision was bound to happen. This one was, shall we say, timely.”

“Ah.” Kyr accepted the teacup from Ty when he handed it to her. Her stomach rumbled as the smell of the rich brew reached her nose.

“Please eat. The vision will wait,” Caelys said with a smile.

Ty reached down and picked up one of the cakes…the exact one Kyr had been considering, of course. He took a small bite and swallowed, then handed it to her. She thanked him and ate it in three bites. They repeated the process four more times as she sipped her tea and answered the Prima Divyner’s questions about Earth, a planet she’d never visited during her lessons many decades ago. When she was full and the tea was finished, Ty stepped away and posted himself near the door.

Kyr folded her hands in her lap and nodded. “I’m ready whenever you are, Prima Divyner.”

Caelys gave her an inscrutable look. “Are you?”

“Okay,” Kyr amended. “Maybe that’s overstating things. It might be better to say I’d like to receive your message now.”

“All right. Please give me your hands.”

Kyr did as instructed. She felt an instant connection with Caelys, one that she couldn’t explain. It was like their minds were talking to each other, but not in the same way that she and Ty “talked.” It was more like Caelys was projecting herself into Kyr. Kyr’s head felt too full, as though it was housing two brains.

Maybe it was.

“There is a sense of urgency and desperation in the air,” Caelys said, her voice clear and strong. Somewhere in the back of her too-full mind, Kyr registered that the elder female’s lips weren’t moving. “The spirit of Yen-Ki talks to me. Usually, it is a soft whisper. Now, it is a steady roar.”

Kyr couldn’t look away from the Prima Divyner’s deep blue gaze.

“Alametria is enjoying a time of peace, but that peace will soon come to an end. Illusions will be shattered.”

What? Kyr thought numbly. But she was the Ascendant. She was supposed to bring peace…unite worlds. What nonsense was this?

“I foresee a time of darkness,” Caelys continued. “A time of questioning and uprising. People will turn to you, the Ascendant. And then they will turn against you.”

She should feel fear, Kyr thought, but she felt nothing. There was only a pair of eyes holding her in thrall.

“You, the Ascendant, will be challenged. In body, in mind, and in soul. You will be faced with making life-altering decisions and terrible sacrifices. If you make those sacrifices, you will open yourself up to unspeakable pain, but you will spare Alametria from its dark fate. If you do not, you may find happiness, but many will suffer.

“In the end, it will all be up to you.”

The final words faded in Kyr’s mind. She felt the Prima Divyner’s influence leaving her. Her brain, so full a moment before, now felt too light. The room spun.

Then everything went dark.