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  “If Isran isn’t near here, our chances of getting to see Eldar should be in our favor.”

  “Should be. Tell me, what exactly happens to Isran if he bathes in the yolk. I know you said he becomes invincible, but everything can be killed.” She shook her head. “Of all the dragons, our blue dragon holds the most magic. Take the purest form of that in the yolk and mix it with black magic. The combination has been whispered about for ages, but no one has ever managed to steal an egg. We don’t really know what Isran will become if the yolk touches him.”

  “Eldar has taken Isran’s magic away.”

  “He’s used great amounts of it though. There is no doubt that his power will be greater if he has the use of his black magic.”

  “He’ll have to kill Eldar for that then.”

  Aimery wanted certainties, but there weren’t any. The only thing he could do was hope the idea of more power would prevent Isran from using the yolk until he reached Eldar and the palace.

  Chapter Ten

  Kendra blew out a breath. “Then it’s up to the castle?” Aimery shrugged. “Maybe.”

  She wanted to roll her eyes. Maybe she mouthed and turned her back to him to look at the pool of water. Her skin was salty from the sweat and caked in dirt, and her hair stuck to the back of her neck making her itch. She palmed the small dagger hidden in the top of her boot and cut a strip of cloth from the bottom of her skirt. As thick and heavy as her hair was, she would be lucky if the material held, but she was willing to chance it if it gave her some relieve from the heat.

  Kendra knelt by the pool and splashed water on her face before she combed her fingers through her hair in an effort to untangle the mass before she began to braid it. After she tied off the material to the end of the braid, she let out a sigh.

  It was then she realized Aimery hadn’t spoken. She looked over her shoulder to find the commander watching her, his blue eyes blazing with a yearning so intense she found herself wanting to go to him.

  Her stomach flipped. Many men had looked at her with lust and desire. But none had made her heart pound and her blood heat as Aimery did.

  “I was getting hot,” she said after a moment.

  He swallowed and turned his gaze away. “Don’t you find it odd that Eldar hasn’t sent guards to find us?”

  “Why would he? You said yourself he holds all the power.”

  “That’s true but, if I were him, I would want to know why a Fae had come to my realm.”

  “Wouldn’t the same argument be used for Isran?”

  Aimery shrugged his wide shoulders. “Who’s to say Eldar didn’t send men to look for him? Maybe Isran was able to hide.”

  “And we don’t want to hide. We want to be found.”

  “Exactly,” he said with a grin. “So where are the guards?” A shiver of apprehension raced down her spine. “I’m not liking this. Not at all.”

  “Neither am I.”

  “If only we could have our powers,” she started.

  “Kyndra, don’t.”

  His gaze bore into hers, alight with a fire she didn’t understand. “I just said—”

  “I know what you said, but as soon as you start wishing for your powers, you’re going to realize what all you could do with them. That’s how a Fae goes insane.” She shrugged. “I’ve felt fine since we came to this awful realm. It hasn’t affected me.”

  “Yet. Don’t tempt it. Please.”

  It was obvious her words had bothered him. They had enough to deal with without adding her insanity on top of everything. “All right.”

  Aimery pushed away from the wall and moved toward the waterfall to tilt his head back and look at the mountain. “It’s midday, I believe.”

  He had to shout over the roar of the falls, and Kyndra walked closer to him. It had felt as if they had walked the canyon an entire day, not just part of it. “Then we best not waste more time here.”

  “I agree.” He turned to her. “Drink your fill. We should find water on the mountain, especially if we follow the flow of the river.”

  “But you aren’t sure,” she finished for him.

  They shared a smile and went to the pool. Kyndra was the first to finish drinking. She sat up and stilled. “Um…Aimery?”

  “Hmm?” he murmured while drinking.

  “Remember how curious you were about Eldar’s guards?”

  In an instant Aimery was on his feet, his sword in his hand as he faced six guards. Kyndra glanced behind her and saw three more descending the canyon wall.

  “What are you doing on Thav?” demanded a guard.

  Aimery lifted a shoulder. “I’ve come to see, Eldar. I have a private message he’ll want to see.”

  “Give me the message.”

  Kyndra licked her lips and put her hand on her sword. She had thought the guards would take them to Eldar but, by the way they were acting, they seemed to want a fight.

  “As emissary to King Theron of the Realm of the Fae, I demand to see King Eldar,” Aimery said.

  At once the guards lowered their weapons. “Follow us.”

  Kyndra walked to Aimery as he put away his sword. “Why didn’t you say that to begin with?”

  “I wanted to see what they would do,” Aimery whispered. “At least we won’t have to climb the mountain.”

  She smiled. “I’m more concerned with finding food.”

  “I’ll make sure you’re fed.”

  And she had no doubt he would.

  They followed the guards up the side of the waterfall to a path that was hidden amid the lush foliage that had grown around the water. It was such a stark contrast from the barren canyon that Kyndra found she wanted to enjoy it. The pink leaves intrigued her.

  “No time,” Aimery whispered in her ear as he took her arm and steered her near him.

  “Once all this is solved, I’ll ask Eldar for a few days so you can explore the mountain.” Kyndra had been on her own, making decisions herself for so long that it felt…nice…to have Aimery think of her. In the Order, each priestess was responsible for herself and all elders.

  She had quickly gotten used to the routine, but now she realized what her sister had meant when she told Kyndra it was nice to have someone to share a burden with, someone to help make decisions.

  At the time, Kyndra thought her sister weak. But she wasn’t weak, she had recognized a solitary life was lonely. Kyndra wasn’t lonely. She had her dragons and the other priestesses.

  Aimery, however, was different. He made her think differently, feel differently.

  She should be shocked and wary of such feelings, but instead she found she wanted to explore them more.

  The path took them to an entrance in the mountain. As soon as they stepped into the mountain, the cool air surrounded her. Torches lit the way, and the lead guard held one above his head as well.

  Aimery’s hand on her arm was reassuring, warm. It brought to mind his hands caressing her back as he pressed her against his hard length. Kyndra swallowed as her nipples hardened.

  She shivered thinking about his hands on her breasts.

  “Are you all right?”

  Aimery’s breath fanned her neck as he leaned near her. His heat was distracting, making her think thoughts she was better off not thinking. “I’m just chilled.” They didn’t speak more, and Kyndra forced her mind away from images of licking Aimery’s body and stroking his chest. But the flames of desire were already consuming her, making her sex throb and her breasts ache.

  Aimery knew something was wrong with Kyndra, but the inadequate light didn’t allow him to see her face as he wanted to. Her body was stiff, and her breathing had quickened. Maybe she was afraid of closed spaces. The thought of Kyndra terrified left him with the urge to wrap his arms around her, to hold her close to his body and tell her everything would be all right.

  “In here,” a guard said.

  Aimery guided Kyndra into the lift. He looked up to see the ropes disappear into the darkness it went so high. A board connecting each s
ide of the lift was the only thing separating them from the emptiness below them.

  Kyndra leaned on the board and looked over the side. “How far down does this go?”

  “Very, far,” a guard answered. “Careful lest you fall over.” She righted herself and raised her brows. “And these…ropes…that are holding this…

  piece of wood…with all of us on it is supposed to take us to the top. Without breaking.” The guard nodded. “We’ve used it for years.”

  “My point exactly.”

  Aimery grinned and turned his face away so Kyndra couldn’t see it. The lift frightened her, not that he could blame her. The wood was squishy in places, and the board going around the sides didn’t give him the feeling of being safe. Falling had never scared him until now.

  He scooted closer to Kyndra so he could grab her if she fell. She gripped the boards, her knuckles turning white as the lift squeaked into motion. Aimery should have been thinking of what he was going to say to Eldar, but he watched Kyndra with a hunger that grew the longer he was with her.

  When he caught the guards looking at her with lust in their eyes, it was all he could do not to smash their faces in. Kyndra wasn’t for them.

  She’s not for you either.

  It was a fact he knew well enough, but he could fantasize. He’d been doing that since before their first kiss. And after the kiss, after he’d tasted her, his fantasies only increased.

  No, Kyndra had chosen the dragons. He would not put her in a position where she had to choose him or her vows, because he knew, though she might like his kiss, he didn’t stand a chance against a dragon.

  He couldn’t deny that, if she gave a hint of wanting him, he would throw caution to the wind and make love to her until they were both too exhausted to move.

  Her fingers grazed his leg, causing him to look down at her hand. She had moved closer to him, as if seeking his protection. He could promise her safety, but without his powers his vow was nothing more than words.

  He had told her earlier not to speak about the loss of her powers because it had been affecting him more than he liked. All he could think about was how much easier he could protect Kyndra with his magic. He felt the loss of his magic like a kick in his ballocks. And he hated it.

  Kyndra, however, seemed to be adjusting well. There were times she fisted her hands as she if she compared their situation to how it would be if she had her magic. Yet she never complained. So far she had kept a level head. Aimery didn’t think he could say the same. With the lust burning his blood for her and the frustration of his loss of magic, he was on the raggedy edge. Not a good place to be in their present situation.

  “Will it ever end?” Kyndra whispered.

  Aimery looked into her eyes, her face in an orange glow from the torch held near her.

  “Soon enough.”

  Her brows furrowed and, her fear of the lift forgotten, she placed her hand on his chest as she faced him. “Are you all right?”

  Nay. “Aye.”

  She stood up on tiptoe until her mouth was near his ear. Aimery bit back a groan and fought to keep his hands at his side instead of wrapping around her.

  “It’s the magic, isn’t it? I need you, Aimery. I can’t do this alone.” He clenched his jaw and breathed in her scent of jasmine and sunlight. As he parted his lips to answer her, he caught one of the guards giving him a knowing look. Something in Aimery snapped. He stepped toward the guard, causing the lift to rock and Kyndra to yelp in fear.

  “Easy, Fae,” the guard said.

  Aimery leaned until he was nose to nose with the man. “Don’t look at her again. Do you understand me?”

  The guard nodded, and Aimery returned to his spot beside Kyndra.

  “What was that about?” she demanded as she looked from the guard to Aimery.

  Aimery’s gaze met the guard’s before he turned to her. “A small conflict that has been seen to.”

  She rolled her eyes and turned away from him, but she kept her hand near his. A small sigh escaped her parted lips when the lift began to slow. Aimery’s looked away from those plump lips that he imagined sliding over his cock. His rod swelled with a hunger only Kyndra could quench, a hunger that grew with each beat of his heart.

  “We’ve arrived,” another guard said.

  The lift came to a halt and Aimery stared at the yawning corridor before him, ablaze with light from candelabras hanging from the ceiling and walls. Lining the walls were giant tapestries of vivid colors, the artwork some of the best Aimery had ever seen. Of everything he had imagined Eldar’s castle to be, this certainly wasn’t it.

  He stepped off the lift and held out his hand for Kyndra. Once she was beside him, he heard her gasp as she took in the splendor.

  They had made it to Eldar’s castle.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kyndra lounged in the massive bathing tub. It wasn’t as nice as what she was used to on her realm, but it was a bath with hot water, which was enough for her. She had washed the sand and sweat from her body three times and washed her hair four times.

  She smiled as she thought of Aimery. He had been indignant that Eldar hadn’t seen them immediately. The only thing that had calmed Aimery down was Eldar’s promise that he would see them in a few hours.

  It had been enough for her. The thought of a room to herself with food and a bath had been all she needed to hear. Yet when Aimery had discovered their rooms weren’t near each other, she had thought she would have to restrain him herself.

  Something had happened to Aimery. She still couldn’t believe his reaction on the lift.

  What had come over him to get in the guard’s face, and what had he growled at the man? Kyndra was likely never to know. What she did know was that Aimery wasn’t handling the loss of his magic well. He had hid it from her well enough, but she knew.

  She knew because she felt it herself.

  It would be so easy to give in to the fear and anger at the loss, but she couldn’t. She fought it every waking moment. She should have listened to Lugus better, taken to heart his words of caution and control. All she had now was Aimery. The thought of losing him left her gasping for breath.

  “Kyndra.”

  She jerked upright at the sound of his voice in the hallway. “I’m here.” Before she could tell him she was at her bath, the door to her chamber opened, and he stepped inside. She forgot all about her nudity as she looked at him. He wore a tunic of black, accented with cream thread, and black breeches that molded to his muscular legs. His hand was on the hilt of his dagger, and she glimpsed the pommel of his sword over his shoulder. His hair hung loose about his shoulders, the ends still damp.

  Then her gaze met his. The stark hunger blazing in his eyes made her heart skip a beat and her stomach flutter. She gripped the tub and started to rise before she knew what she was about. At the last moment, she stopped herself, wishing for the first time since she had become a priestess that she wasn’t bound by her vows.

  She wanted to touch, Aimery, to kiss him, caress him. Love him. She wanted to feel his hard length against her, to know what it felt like to have him lie atop her, thrusting inside her.

  “I wanted to make sure you were all right, that Eldar was treating you well.” Kyndra smiled at his words. He was always thinking of her. “Aye. I’ve already eaten my fill and then some. I see you have new clothes.”

  He grimaced and shrugged. “I came out of my bath to find my clothes gone and replaced with these.”

  “They left your weapons at least.”

  “Aye.” He moved to her bed and chuckled. “Looks as though you’ll be wearing something new as well.”

  Kyndra sat back in the water, letting it cover her breasts. She should be ashamed to have Aimery with her as she bathed, but it made her feel decadent and aroused. “I admit it is odd to see you wear anything other than blue, silver and white.”

  “Do you not like the black?”

  She liked it a lot. Too much. “It looks good on you.”

  He gl
anced at the bed. “I cannot wait to see you in this gown.”

  “What color is it?” Part of her was hoping it was black as well. She’d never worn such a color. To a Fae, black signified evil and death. Yet, seeing it on Aimery, watching how the tunic moved across his thick chest and arms made her appreciate the hue anew.

  “You’ll see.”

  The water began to cool, but she was hesitant to get out with Aimery in her room. Yet she didn’t want him to leave. How she had become so mixed up she wasn’t sure. Aimery turned her about, kept her off kilter until she forgot everything but him.

  Before she changed her mind, she stood and reached for the towel. She was too embarrassed to meet his gaze, but she felt his eyes on her. She wrapped the towel around her and walked to the bed and the gown that waited for her.

  “Cream,” she said and touched the soft material. The gown was simple in its elegance and so different from anything she had ever worn. “I like it.”

  “I want to see you in it.”

  The harsh croak of Aimery’s words jerked her gaze to him. If she had thought his gaze burned her before, she might go up in flames now. There was no doubt he wanted her. How she wished he would take her in his arms and kiss her again. She wanted him with a desperation that frightened her.

  But she didn’t want to have to choose him.

  If he took her, she could always say it had been the loss of her magic that had made her turn to him. Though she knew that wasn’t fair to Aimery, it was the only way she could have what she wanted.

  He walked to her and lifted a wet strand hair from her shoulder. He leaned toward her, his mouth near her ear. “Don’t go anywhere without me,” he whispered. “I don’t trust Eldar.” She forgot to breathe as he turned his head until their mouths were breaths apart. All she had to do was lean forward to touch his lips with hers, to feel again the thrill of his kiss, the way he made her body throb with desire.

  But she couldn’t do it.

  “I’ll be right outside your chamber,” he said before he turned on his heel and left.