Splendor and Darkness (Rebel Angels) (11 page)

Clasping her hips, he braced his feet wide apart and thrust into her snug passage. Her pleasure went on and on, prolonged by his clever fingers. Each slide of his body triggered a new wave of release. She gasped, tossing her head, sending her hair flying all around them.

He claimed her mouth as he moved deeper, harder, inside her. She grasped his shoulders and tightened her sheath, dizzy and breathless. After several frantic thrusts, he buried himself to the hilt and shuddered violently. His throaty groan and the heat of his seed pushed her over the final summit.

She trembled, breathing harshly into his mouth. Her head cleared by degrees, sensations echoing through her body. Moving her legs to circle his hips, she settled against him. He helped her into the sleeves of her gown and tightened the laces. His chuckle made his shaft lurch inside her. “If someone glanced our way, they’d think you were just sitting on my lap.”

Grinning, she rested her hands on his shoulders. “I like sitting on your lap.”

“I like having you on my lap.” He kissed her with leisurely tenderness. “But I’ll like having you in my bed even more.”

Daniel stood in the corner of the solar, unseen by the three humans. Young Will battled an imaginary enemy with a wooden sword. Anna sat on a low stool in front of Judith while her mother worked the tangles from Anna’s long auburn hair.

“That hurts!” The girl squirmed and twisted her head to the side.

“This is why I ask you to leave your hair braided.”

Anna fell silent, her head slightly bowed. “Is he going to watch us all day?”

“Is who going to watch us?” Judith glanced around the solar then returned her attention to her task.

“The man in the corner.”

“There’s nobody there, you dunderhead.” Will swung his sword in a skillful arch, followed by three quick jabs. Someone had obviously been tutoring the boy. “Why don’t you punish her for making up lies?”

“Will, see if you can find Hamill, but do not leave the castle compound.”

“If I tried to cross the river, wouldn’t one of Anna’s angels swoop down out of the sky and carry me back?”

Anna launched herself at her brother. Judith caught her around the middle, ignoring her flailing limbs. “Go!” Will stuck out his tongue and fled, slamming the solar door on his way out.

Daniel solidified and strode toward the struggling females.
“My apologies.
I didn’t mean to—”

“Spy on us?” Judith spun to face him, her daughter still clutched in her arms.

“Frighten the children.”

She set Anna on her feet and the girl circled Daniel with obvious curiosity. “Does she seem frightened to you?” The little mite studied him from every angle, her thick-lashed green eyes filled with wonder.

“Where are your wings?”

His gaze flew toward Judith then returned to her daughter. “What makes you think I have wings?”

“Don’t all angels have wings?”

“I’m not an angel.” He bent to one knee, bringing his face closer to her eye level. “Have you really seen angels in the sky above the castle?”

Anna looked at her mother, uncertainty clouding her gaze. She reached out and poked him in the chest. “You’re not a ghost. So what are you?”

“Anna, go lie down. I’ll come tuck you in after I’ve spoken with Daniel.”

“But the bells didn’t ring yet. I don’t lie down until the bells ring.”

“Perhaps Father Roland forgot to ring the bells.
Do as I say and do it now.”

With a lingering look at Daniel, the child nodded and disappeared into an adjoining room.

“Is she always so composed?”

Judith fiddled with the skirt of her
cotehardie
. She’d removed the sweeping
houpeland
with its elaborate, trailing sleeves as well as her headdress. The simple garment molded to her curvaceous form. Daniel had no objection to her choice.

“How dare you invade my privacy? You have no right to—”

“I promised I would protect you.” He took a step forward. She held her ground but discouraged his advance with a glare. “I had no idea Anna would be able to see me in my angelic form.”

“There is nothing about you that is angelic.”

He grinned.

“What do you want?” She cocked one eyebrow, keeping her voice even and low.

“Let’s start with how long Anna has been able to see angels and work our way around to why you didn’t feel the fact important enough to mention this morning.”

“You accused me of murdering her father! Why would I tell you anything?”

His hands itched to touch her again, but he kept his distance—for the time being. “Without accurate information I cannot protect you or your children. The demon horde searches for the Empowered One. That person is not necessarily Nate.”

“Anna is a child! What could demons want with her?” Multiple blue-black braids extended beyond her simple veil. With her dark eyes flashing and her cheeks deeply flushed, her Romani heritage was especially apparent.

“Start at the beginning. How many of your tribe
have
the sight?”

She lifted her chin and glanced toward the door through which her daughter had departed.

“When I was still officially sanctioned, I was a Guardian. Even as twisted as my nature has become, I would never harm a child.”

Her gaze locked with his, her expression demanding. “What if her abilities are not angelic? Will this Council you speak of order her destruction?”

“The Council already knows she is likely to have abilities that are not angelic. That’s why they expect the Empowered One to be so influential.”

She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Her expression turned thoughtful. “You believe Anna is the Empowered One?”

“It is much too early to draw any conclusion.” He motioned to the chairs arranged before the fire. “May we sit? This doesn’t need to be an argument.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she joined him at the hearth.

“Tell me about your people.”

“I don’t remember much before we arrived at the gates of Paris.” Her tone grew hushed and distant. Was she lost in memory, or separating herself from the pain? “I was no older than Anna is now, but I remember the cruelty, the utter disdain with which we were met.”

Daniel waited for her to continue as she stared into the fire.

“Many headed for
Pontoise
. The elders of our tribe thought we would be better off on our own. We never stayed in one place for long. The
Gadje
wouldn’t allow it. Papa worked as a blacksmith as often as he was able while Mama…”

“What happened to your mother?” Daniel prompted after a long pause.

Judith pulled off her veil and dropped the thin gold circlet to the floor. She twisted the fabric between her hands as the words flowed. “Mama was the most powerful
drabardi
anyone had ever known. Not only could she interpret dreams, she was able to lapse into a trance and summon visions. She did her best to conceal the true scope of her abilities. Still, they destroyed her in the end.”

Had her abilities destroyed Judith’s mother or had she been destroyed because of her abilities? Judith had barely grazed the surface of the tragedy, but Daniel didn’t push her. “Did you inherit your mother’s gift?”

“Within our tribe,
drabardis
appear every other generation.”

He nodded. “At what age do Roma gifts generally manifest?”

“About the same age when girls become women.”

“Then Anna’s abilities—”

“Anna may be a
drabardi
, but forces are at work in her that I don’t understand.” Tossing the crumpled veil aside, she stood and moved in front of him. “Last night you asked if I was willing to do anything to protect my children. If Anna is about to be subjected to the sort of persecution my mother endured, I will do anything to see her spared.” Gazing into his eyes, she placed her hand on his knee and eased it upward.
“
Anything
.”

Anger twisted around desire, propelling him to his feet. He framed her face with his hands, his gaze boring into hers. “When I join with you, it will be because you want me and not before.” He released her face as if her skin scalded him then stepped away, his scowl deepening. “I already vowed to protect you and your children, even if it means forfeiting my life. But know this, I have seen angels
Fall
. If the demon within Anna takes control, you will beg me to end her life.”

* * * * *

Nate couldn’t stop smiling. Not since before the tragedy had he felt this alive. Lailah soaked in a bath in his bedchamber, flushed and exhausted after their second bout of carnal pleasure. He’d returned to the library and sat by the window, staring out at the sun-drenched garden. The stone bench was barely visible from his vantage point, but brazen images swam through his mind.

Splendor.
How could he help Lailah rediscover life’s splendor? A specific plan eluded him, but he was determined to find a way.

“Where is Lailah?” Daniel appeared beside Nate without warning, causing him to start.

“Must you do that? Announce yourself or something.”

“I must speak with her. Where is she?”

Scooting to the edge of his chair, Nate dragged his mind away from the morning’s activities and focused on Lailah’s friend. “What’s so urgent? She’s rather…indisposed at the moment.”

Daniel’s brow furrowed. “Is she in bed?” He sounded both confused and impatient.

“She’s taking a bath, if you must know. What is amiss?”

Understanding suddenly lit Daniel’s gaze. “Is she in her bedchamber or yours?”

“What do you want with her?”

Daniel took the chair beside Nate’s and glanced out the window. “I just spoke with the captain of the angelic guard. Their assignment is not to protect Monthamn Castle, but to guard
Gadrayel’s
progeny.”

“Is there any reason for the demons to attack anyone else?”

Daniel crossed his legs then uncrossed them, his anxiety palpable. “I honestly thought the horde hunted you.”

“Thought? This is no longer what you believe?”

“You’re not the only Monthamn who can see angels.”

Nate’s heart lurched within his chest. The Rebel Angels had given Judith every opportunity to volunteer the information, and Judith had refused. So how had Daniel learned about Anna? “What are you talking about?”

Daniel laughed. “This is going to be a very long process if we don’t start trusting each other. I was in the solar guarding Judith and her children. I thought my presence concealed. Will chopped away with his wooden sword while Anna looked right at me and asked her mother if I was going to watch them all day.”

“Why were you spying on them?”

“Lailah seemed to think her ability to see Anna was significant. After what little I’ve learned about the girl, I must agree.”

“She has barely seen five winters. How can she be a threat to anyone?”

Daniel raked his fingers through his dark hair. “What do you know about her Roma grandmother? Judith indicated she was unusually gifted, even for a Roma.”

Nate shook his head. Daniel was a sly one. By listing what little information Judith had been willing to share, he had obviously hoped Nate would provide the details. “Judith’s stories are
hers
to tell. You’ll get no answers from me.”

With a lackadaisical shrug that didn’t match the cunning gleam in his eyes, Daniel asked, “And William’s stories? Are you able to tell me about your brother?”

“What is your interest in Judith?” Nate folded his arms across his chest, trying hard not to laugh at Daniel’s persistence.

“She…vexes me.”

He sincerely doubted vexation was the only emotion Judith elicited, but Nate understood the reaction. “William was the youngest. We lost our older brother when William was twelve. William fell into deep melancholy. My father thought a change of scenery might help him overcome the loss. He was sent to our kin in France and trained to be a soldier. William met Judith while he was there and fell passionately in love with her. I had married well and had a child on the way so my parents allowed William his love match. Imagine their surprise when he arrived home with his new bride.”