Crystal Fire (14 page)

Brace allowed Teran to pull him to his feet. "Yes, I am."

Slowly the two men made their way down the long corridor to Brace's room. Once inside, Brace collapsed across the bed. Teran stood beside him for a long time, concern furrowing his handsome face.

There was something amiss here, he thought. The Knowing Crystal had never refused to commune with him before. Had his powers diminished, or could the stone only commune with one of them at a time? But that wasn't possible. He and Alia had communed jointly several times in the past and never experienced any difficulty. What made this instance so different? What was the Knowing Crystal trying to do?

Teran stared for a time longer at the form of his brother, sprawled in boneless exhaustion upon the bed. Uneasiness snaked through him. Brace and Marissa's quest was rapidly becoming one of unsettling difficulty and dire dangers. And Brace, a fledgling Crystal Master, was hurtling toward it allvirtually unprepared for what lay ahead.

The room was dark save for the soft, soothing glow that bathed Brace's face. He awoke to bright light and a sweet, melodious sound emanating from the brilliant stone hovering before him. Brace smiled dreamily.

He reached toward the stone, needing to join, when another sound intruded. It was a masculine voice, low, familiar, and filled with a tormented anguish.

Brace
, it moaned.
Beware. Beware
.

Confused, Brace jerked back his hand. Who was it, and what was he warning against? The Knowing Crystal?

But that couldn't be the Knowing Crystal was a Crystal Master's friend.

Or was it?

The mournful voice rose in volume, moaning and pleading.
Beware. Beware
.

The Crystal's light sharpened. The stone gleamed oddly, growing in size. Its once pleasant voice hummed irritatingly, turning louder, discordant.

Fear shot through Brace. The Crystal. It was turning on him!

He wheeled about and fled, pursued by the flashing stoneand by the loud, mournful voice. Down dark, endless corridors he ran, the terror rising, his heart slamming within his chest. And still they pursued him.

The stone grew closer, the voice's wailing louder. Mindless panic filled him. Was there no escape'? No way to evade the horror that threatened to consume him?

His breath came shorter now. He couldn't go on. It was over. Over . . .

Brace stumbled, fell. He clawed wildly, grasping for something, anything, to pull himself back out of the yawning pit, but it was too late. He was going mad!

A cry of stark, nameless terror rose to his lips. He screamed, again and again, then tumbled downward into a maelstrom of blinding light and deafening sound.

"Brace? Brace, wake up!"

Through the swirling tumult, Brace heard a voice. It was soft but nonetheless commanding, drawing him from the madness of his dreams. He struggled upward, out of the fetid, smothering mists.

The sweet voice came louder now. A sweet, gentle, loving voice . . .

"Curse you, Ardane! Wake up before I slap your eyes open!"

Once again Marissa shook Brace by the shoulders. Cold fear gripped her heart. By the Crystal Fires, would he never wake up? What vision held him so tightly, so horribly, that his frightened voice had carried through the walls of his room to hers next door?

His rich brown eyes opened slowly, meeting hers. For a moment confusion clouded his gaze, then his eyes focused.

"F-femina?" The word was choked out through a constricted throat. "Wh-what's wrong? What are you doing here?"

Relief flooded her. Marissa leaned back.

"You were dreaming and your shouts would have soon wakened the whole palace. I thought to slip in and gag you to silence." She moved to scoot off the bed.

Brace levered himself to one elbow. His hand stayed her.

"Don't go. Please."

Her gaze narrowed. She'd never seen him quite like this, sweating, shaking, with a haunted, wide-eyed look. And that anguished need that threaded his voice . . .

She should leave himand quicklybut something stopped her. An instinct born of time immemorial flooded Marissa. Brace needed her physical presence to soothe away the dream terrors, a need she could well understand.

With a sigh, she gathered Brace to her. His dark head found its place upon her breast, his body, a comforting haven within her arms. He groaned and moved yet closer.

They sat there for a time, Marissa stroking his hair, until the last of his wracking tremors eased. Then she moved, attempting to slip away. He gripped her tighter.

"Brace," Marissa murmured. "It's time I was going. We both need our rest."

"You smell so good," he rasped. "So fresh, so clean . . . so female."

Uneasiness curled within Marissa. "Brace, let me go."

He gazed up at her, his glance suddenly dark and smoldering. "What are you afraid of, femina? There's nothing wrong with holding each other, enjoying the closeness of our bodies. And
you
came to me, took me into
your
arms."

Marissa twisted free. "You always find some way to place a lustful connotation on everything I do, don't you? Even to the simple kindness of comforting your dream terrors. You sicken me!"

Brace grabbed Marissa before she could get away, wrestling her down to the bed. For a long moment he leaned over her, fighting to pin her hands above her head. Finally Marissa stilled and glared defiantly up at him. Beneath the thin veneer of anger, however, Brace saw her uncertaintyand fear.

"Marissa," he whispered thickly, "I meant no offense. I only tried to point out the innocent pleasure there is in holding each other. And the fact that you must feel something, to come to me and offer comfort. It wasn't an act of a femina who loathed me."

She averted her eyes. "You are a valuable asset."

A callused hand captured her chin, guiding her eyes back to his. Reluctantly Marissa met his gaze.

"If I kissed you now, I'd wager I'd prove those last words wrong."

She stiffened. "Don't even think it."

His glance lowered to her lips. "You have the most beguiling mouth. Full, and red, and soft as the petals of an arosa flower. And when I kiss you deeply, you taste like"

"Don't!"

He quirked a dark brow. "Don't what, Marissa? Are you afraid to hear what you do to me? Afraid it will stir those same feelings in you? And, worse still, what those feelings might lead to?"

His hot glance moved over her, slowly, thoroughly, igniting a feverish heat wherever it went. Marissa swallowed hard as his gaze came to rest on what her parted bedrobe revealed.

The full mounds of her breasts were half exposed, the vee of the open garment plunging low to her belly before the cloth finally joined again. Marissa cursed her stupidity in not securely belting her bedrobe before leaving her room. But there'd been no time when Brace's cries had called her.

Now the slightest movement might expose her completely. The realization sent a tremor of excitement through Marissa. Another move and she'd reveal her nakedness to his hot, hungry gaze, her body to his mind-numbing, marauding mouth . . .

Marissa's lids lowered and she felt the desire engulf her. She wanted him. Oh, how she wanted him!

His hand released her chin to trace a searing path down her neck and chest until it reached the satin valley between her breasts. With slow, deliberate strokes, Brace's finger outlined the firm flesh, slipping beneath the cloth to ease the robe off first one breast, then the other. Marissa shivered as the cool air washed over her, tightening her nipples to hard little nubs.

Brace smiled and lowered his head, his tongue lightly laving one pouty rose tip before taking it into his mouth. Marissa gasped as he began to suckle it. Unconsciously she writhed beneath Brace, one thigh brushing his groin.

She tensed at the touch of him, at the thick shaft straining his breeches. Reality flooded back with a frightful, piercing clarity. If she didn't stop this he'd take her. Take her, and she'd willingly, nay, eagerly, let him. Confusion whirled through Marissa.
Should
she let him?

''B-Brace," she moaned. "Please. Oh, please . . ."

Were those indeed her words, her voice groaning out a need she could barely admit even to herself? Begging him, like some pitiful, weak-spirited woman?

She was a Sodalitas, a warrior. She should demand her release and, if he refused, fight him for it. Anything but lie here so passively, melting at the very sight of him and the image of what he intended to do to her.

But she hadn't the strength save to whimper piteously in his arms. "Don't. Please don't, Brace."

He released her and leaned back on his haunches.

"What are you so afraid of?" Brace demanded in a savage whisper. "Your feelings?"

Marissa clutched her bedrobe shut, then violently shook her head. "No! I'm just afraid what you'll do to me!"

"Little liar. When will you face the truth?"

She propped herself up and glared at him. "The truth is nothing more than I don't
want
to feel anything for you. Why won't you just leave me alone?"

"And I say you don't know what you want, except to drive me mad!"

Brace climbed from the bed to tower over her. "You want me, Marissa," he growled. "Why do you fight it so? I won't hurt you. I'll go slow, be gentle with you. Your needs matter as much as mine."

At the raw emotion in his voice, something softened in Marissa. He hurt, was as tormented and confused as she. Suddenly her own desires didn't matter anymore. All she wanted was to comfort him, to make him happy.

"Yes, Brace," she breathed on an agonized whisper, "I do want you. But this is all happening too fast. II need more time. Will you give it to me?"

A beautiful smile spread across his face and the anger eased from his big body. "All the time you need, sweet femina."

Silence laden with unspoken feelings settled over them. Finally Brace could stand it no longer.

"Come." He offered his hand.

"Where are we going?"

"I haven't eaten since last nocte and I'm starving. Come with me to the kitchen."

For an instant Marissa hesitated, then accepted his hand. He led her out of the room and into the chill, darkened corridor, away from the heated emotions of the past few moments.

There were still decisions to be made, frightening decisions. Marissa admitted that at last. But she could not make them just now, and not alone. However much she might protest or pretend it was not so, she was joined with the man beside her. Joined not just by the hand she now clung to, but heart-to-heart. Joined as inextricably as their fates had always been.

Marissa watched Brace for a time, marveling at the amount of food he was capable of consuming. After half a roast fowl, a small loaf of bread, and a large slab of domare steak she'd finally had enough. She rose from the table and strode across the kitchen to the stasis field, an electronic system of preserving food by maintaining its static balance.

He grinned at her as she returned to the table. "You must be getting used to my carnivorous habits. You don't look quite so green this time."

Her mouth twisted wryly. "Amazing what one can learn to endure, isn't it?"

She shoved a bowl of fresh berries and another of sweetened cream across to him. "You need something more than meat in your meal. These will help balance your diet."

"You think so, eh?"

"Well, it can never totally compensate for all the toxins you've just finished pouring into your body, but if it begins to educate your tastes . . ." Marissa picked up a plump, ripe berry and swirled it in the cream. "Here, have a bite. See if I'm not right."

Brace's lips parted to receive the fruit. Her fingers brushed them as she popped the berry into his mouth. A jolt of pure electricity coursed down Marissa's arm. His lips were so soft, so full, and the memory of that nocte in the tavern room rushed back with disconcerting force. She jerked away, nervous, unsettled.

"Th-there's something I'd like to speak of, if you'd care to talk about it." She forced the words out through a tightly constricted throat.

He smiled lazily, quite aware of her discomfitureand just as pleased. "Oh? And what is that?"

"Your dream. What frightened you so?"

Brace's expression darkened, then he shrugged, evading her intent scrutiny. "A typical dream terror, nothing more. I was being chased."

Marissa frowned. "I think not, Brace Ardane. You were locked so deeply in that dream I feared I'd never wake you. Something had you in its power, and you barely escaped."

His gaze swung to hers. The look in his eyes was suddenly wild and haunted.

"II'd rather not talk about it."

Once more he evaded her gaze, reaching for a berry which he proceeded to consume.

"Has it anything to do with our quest?" she persisted. "If it has, I must know, for the consequences affect me as well."

"Your concern moves me deeply." "I didn't mean it that way," Marissa hastened to explain, her voice softening. "Ultimately, anything that affects you affects our quest, but no one deserves to suffer like you suffered in that dream."

Brace covered Marissa's hand with his. His dark eyes met hers, and for the longest moment he just stared, until Marissa wondered if he'd ever speak.

Then he sighed. "The Knowing Crystal. First it seemed my friend, benevolent and warm. Then a voice intruded, warning me of it, and the Crystal turned hostile. It began to chase me, hovering behind me in the air, until I could run no further. Just as I started to fall into some horrible, yawning chasm, I awoke."

As Brace spoke a fine sweat broke out on his brow and, once more, he began to tremble. He lowered his head to hide the terror he knew must lurk in his eyes, struggling to master himself. Gods, even speaking about it seemed to evoke the same sense of helpless horror. Brace wondered if he'd ever be able to sleep again.

"And what did it mean, that dream of yours?" Marissa prodded gently.

She almost wished she hadn't asked him about the dream terror, but somehow sensed it was vital she know. He'd needed her this nocte, and might again.