The Fire Lord's Lover - 1 (10 page)

   And she still recoiled from the thought of Martin's foul hands on her body.

   So she jumped when she felt Dominic's arms around her. He loosened them for a moment, as if to draw away, and Cass flung herself at him. Dominic gave a great sigh and lifted her off her feet so she could bury her face against his neck. He held her for a time, caressing her hair and face and whatever else he could touch, as if assuring himself that she was unharmed. Then he carried her out of that room, into the open air, where the wind blew and the sun hid behind the clouds.

   Cassandra no longer cried for the men she had killed, for the fright they had given her. As soon as she'd seen Dominic at the door, his sword dripping with blood from the men he'd killed while coming to her rescue, she'd wanted this mockery of a marriage to be real. So she cried because she wanted to love this man, wanted him to love her. And it could never be.

   When she calmed he set her back on her feet, removed his cloak, and settled it about her shoulders with a gentle touch. "Close your eyes."

   "Why?"

   "So the light doesn't hurt them."

   Cass closed them. Even then she could see the blue fire from behind her lids. The powerful throb of pain in her face faded and she regained some of her spent strength. Even the sadness she felt inside eased a bit.

   "How do you feel?"

   She opened her eyes and stared at his impassive face. The wind threw his silver hair against his strong cheeks, across his stern mouth. His voice had held such concern, she'd thought for a moment… "Much better, thank you."

   "Good." And then he leaned down and kissed her breath away. It felt different from the other kisses he'd given her. More tenderness than passion within it. But then she threw her arms around him and kissed him back with fervor and it changed again, that passion that always lay between them sparking to life. Her knees grew weak and she thought of the small tent that they'd shared and the pleasure he'd given her, and she wished they had someplace they could go away from the demands of their world, to just be together. For despite his denials she knew she gave him pleasure. That second night in the tent he had wanted her so badly she'd felt it shimmer in the air between them, and the moment he had her alone he'd claimed her…

   She pulled away from him and stared in wonder. Her husband had managed to make her forget the horrors of the past few hours.

   He set her from him again, picked up her hand, and studied the unfurled petals of the rose ring. "You are fully recovered now."

   Cass nodded, even though she still felt a bit weak. But rest and a good meal would fix that.

   "Then next time I tell you something, woman, you will listen."

   "I… I beg your pardon?"

   The wind shushed through the tall grass and whispered in the trees. "This never would have happened if you'd obeyed my wishes and stayed back at Firehame Palace."

   He sounded as if he blamed
her for being abducted
. "Surely, sir, you could have used your gray fire to keep me there, as you did back at the inn."

   "I can't afford to always be wasting my magic on a disobedient wife."

   Lady Cassandra realized that despite his stoic demeanor, he was still very angry with her. Could she hope that he had truly feared for her? That what she'd glimpsed in his eyes had been real? Or did this anger really come from injured pride because someone had dared to take something of his? "Then I'm sorry to say, dear husband, that you'd best get used to it, for I cannot promise to obey your every command."

   His lip twitched. And not from amusement, she felt sure.

   "You could have been killed." He said it as if he commented on the weather, but his voice had dropped dangerously low.

   "I can take care of myself."

   "Indeed?" And those crystal eyes of his glittered, a deep black full of dangerous intelligence, and he stared at her a long time. Cassandra feared she had aroused his suspicions and mentally scolded herself for a fool. She could at least pretend to agree to obey him.

   She opened her mouth, but he spun on his heel, stalking back into the ruined castle without a backward glance. Cass wavered in indecision for a moment and then trudged after him, skirting several dead bodies near the entrance of the keep.

   "General Raikes," called Lady Agnes as soon as they entered the long hall. She swayed toward them, an officer on each arm. "I knew you would come and rescue us. I told her you would." And she glared briefly at Cassandra before batting her blue eyes at him again. The rest of the ladies followed behind, avoiding Cass's eyes, except for Lady Verney, who gave her a nod and a hesitant smile.

   The wind blew harder from outside, reaching into the hall, plastering the ladies' gowns against their bodies. They pulled borrowed cloaks closer about their shoulders.

   Her husband raised a brow. "My wife doubted me?"

   Lady Agnes tittered. "She said we should use our magic to protect ourselves, can you imagine? As if sparkles in the air and nimble fingers could save us."

   Lady Verney stepped forward, her height commanding attention. "Lady Cassandra offered herself in order to give us time to gather our resources, sir. It was the most selfless act I have ever witnessed." She stepped over to Cass and took her hand. "Please tell me you suffered no harm. I shan't be able to live with myself if you have."

   Cassandra didn't know how to react to this sudden support. She glanced over at Dominic, but if anything, his black eyes glittered more dangerously than they had but moments ago. Was she the only one who noticed the fury beneath that calm expression? "I assure you I'm fine, Lady Verney."

   "Sophia. Please, call me Sophia."

   "As you wish—"

   "I do believe I shall faint," announced Lady Agnes. The men holding her tightened their grips and she turned and scowled at them. They let go. She staggered over to Dominic. The bastard caught her in his arms. "You have no idea what horrors we suffered through, General."

   "No doubt, madam." He glanced through the hall to the outside. "Let's see if we can make it to the Fire and Water Inn before the storm breaks." He picked up Lady Agnes, who squealed in delight, and carried her out to his horse. The wagon that must have brought them here sat next to the mounts but the officers ignored it, each taking a lady and riding double.

   After giving his general a swift glance, a young man with fiery hair and a wide mouth assisted Cass up into his saddle. Apparently Dominic intended to ignore his wife and ride with his mistress. If he thought to punish Cassandra this way for his ridiculous notion of her rebellious behavior, it wouldn't work. She could not afford to subjugate herself to his will.

   But the general acted as if he hadn't given his wife another thought once he had her back in his possession. When they had all mounted up he motioned for them to ride, except for his own horse, Lady Agnes still perched in the saddle. He walked back to the ruins alone. Cass watched over her shoulder as he raised his muscular arms, red fire blazing from his palms. It first touched the dead men surrounding the entrance, then surged within the keep, flaring out the windows and jagged openings and roofless chambers. The fire rumbled and hissed, shaking the stones from the walls and making the entire structure waver in her sight.

   Her husband had used magical red fire, and as far as she knew, the most potent of his arsenal. Within a few hours, nothing but black rubble would remain of their prison.

   Lady Cassandra shivered.

   Her escort gave her a squeeze of reassurance. She sat in front of him, one leg thrown over the pommel to help her sit sidesaddle, even though the saddle wasn't meant for it. He had one arm wrapped around her waist, the other holding the reins. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Our enemies will think twice before trying to abduct you again, my lady."

   His voice reeked with pride.

   Cassandra fought to stop her shivering. She had never seen such a potent display of power, had never witnessed the destructive strength of her husband's magic. And she thought she could assassinate his father, whose power far surpassed his? Perhaps Thomas had been right. Perhaps she should have run from this task God had given her.

   She prayed for courage.

   The sound of hoofbeats approaching made her glance up into the smiling face of Lady Agnes and the expressionless face of her husband as they rode up to her. But her escort must have read something in those elven features, for he quickly removed his arm from about her waist. The general nodded at his officer and then urged his horse to the front of their column.

   Lady Cassandra struggled to maintain her seat the rest of the way to Devizes, for her escort refused to touch her after that.

   And yet Dominic had no qualms about touching the woman sharing his saddle. Fie, he barely kept his hands off her. Unfortunately, Cass had an unobstructed view of them in front of her. How the general managed to direct his horse while his mistress rubbed her hands all over him and held his face while she kissed him was beyond Cassandra's understanding.

   She decided she could keep her face as stoic as her husband usually kept his.

   And then Lady Agnes wrapped her hands in Dominic's hair.

   Cass narrowed her eyes, tightened her grip on the edges of the saddle. She loved the feel of his hair, those satiny strands beneath her palms, the silvery mass of it twined about her fingers. Damn the woman, that was
her
territory,
her
favorite way of touching him.

   The beat of the horse's hooves, the wild swish of the wind in the trees, the sway of the bushes beside their path all combined to form a single harmony. A song that crept in with her jealousy and started to form a dance of magic.

   "Lady Cassandra," said a female voice.

   Cass turned and blinked. Lady Verney and her escort had ridden up beside her. The tall lady reached over and patted her shoulder, glancing at Dominic and his mistress with contempt. "The elven lack human feeling," she said. "You cannot judge them by our standards."

   "He's half human," muttered Cassandra, grateful for Sophia's timely appearance. When had she ever allowed the dance to come upon her without willing it to? Not since she'd had her trials.

   Lady Verney hadn't heard her, but the man sitting behind her said, "Not enough to notice, lady."

   Cass ignored him.

   "I daresay," said Sophia, "that Lady Agnes has a way about her."

   Cassandra grimaced. Sophia laughed.

   "What I mean," continued the lady, "is that she actually made us feel as if
you
were the interloper. That a new wife would steal her lover from her." Her thin lips curled down. "Faith, I wonder how she managed to hoodwink us into believing such nonsense?"

   "She charms women as easily as she does men."

   "Indeed." Lady Verney's watery eyes narrowed. "It's hard to withstand that elven allure when they choose to apply it." Her gaze strayed to Dominic's firm back and muscular shoulders. "None of us blame you, you know. For being unable to resist him."

   Cass shrugged. "Why should I? I do not know the art of being coy, Lady Verney, having never been taught it."

   "Sophia, dear, and yes, I'd heard of your… insular schooling. Your innocence is quite refreshing, and yet…"

   She let the thought trail off while the sky overhead rumbled.

   "I do believe we shan't beat the downpour." Lady Verney turned her head and nodded at the ladies behind them. "They will come around as well, my dear. You shan't be so alone anymore."

   Cassandra's eyes burned, but fortunately rain started to fall, so Sophia did not see the start of her tears. She'd had to be kept apart to keep her secret, to pursue God's purpose for her. But that didn't mean she had ever liked it. Indeed, it might be half the reason for her infatuation with her new husband. Besides Thomas, she'd never been as close to anyone as she had become with Dominic.

   The rain washed away her thoughts, and Cass pulled Dominic's cloak up over her head against the sudden downpour. It smelled of him. A clean, spicy scent that made her head spin and her body ache with desire. She felt only relief when her escort bent his body over hers and they broke into a gallop, racing for the comfort of the inn. By the time they reached Devizes, the rain had soaked the material and banished any scent of her husband.

   The general and his mistress had entered the Fire and Water Inn well before them, so Cassandra had the advantage of walking in unseen. Dominic must have changed the king's mind about coming to Firehame, because His Majesty looked quite pleased with the company at the moment. On his left sat Mor'ded, his elven beauty like a shining light next to the small older king, and on his right must be…

   Cass almost fell to her knees. She'd heard so much about Sir Robert Walpole, the leader of the Rebellion. Despite his gentle smile and affable expression, Cassandra could see the intelligence in his dark piercing eyes. For a moment she could see nothing but him.

   "Ah, Your Majesty," drawled Imperial Lord Mor'ded, "this is my champion, General Dominic Raikes. Without his services we would never have had the esteemed pleasure of your company."

   The king turned his bug-eyed gaze upon Dominic and regally nodded. "He looks very much like you."

   "Indeed," replied the Imperial Lord. "Except he always dresses like a soldier. Perhaps you can educate him on the benefits of court attire, now that the ruler of fashion will reside in Firehame Palace."

   Dominic bowed stiffly.

   Cassandra heard the mocking tone in Mor'ded's voice when he addressed the king. Sir Robert did as well, for he watched the king like a hawk, as if waiting for any sign of eruption. But if the king noticed Mor'ded's tone he did not give any indication of it. And indeed, what could he have done about it anyway? He signed the papers the elven lords gave him for new laws, new titles, the transfer of land. They hardly needed the king's stamp yet used him as if it gained them credibility among the people. Cass sighed. Which it surely had to the general populace anyway.