Dangerous Lovers (193 page)

Liasare was an emotional wreck. She trudged to her room and didn’t even get to the bed. She slid down the wall and sat there with her head lying on her arms, as they rested on her raised knees. She’d never felt so battered in her life.

She didn’t hear him enter; she only smelled his presence and felt the fan of his breath as he knelt before her. “That bad, huh?”

“Ugh, the absolute worst.” She didn’t even move her head.

“What can I do for you? Can I run you a bath? Bring you some wine? Or some brandy perhaps?”

“A bath, some wine and you, please.”

“Anything to please you.”

A few minutes later, he lifted her up and carried her into the bathroom. Stripping off her clothes, and then his, he sat her in the large tub in front of him between his legs and let her lay back against him. Handing her a glass of wine, she relaxed as he massaged her neck and head.

“Mmmm. That feels so good. Thanks for taking such good care of me.”

“I aim to please. Besides, Naroo put you through hell today. I’m sorry it was so horrible. I couldn’t bear to watch. I know you weren’t aware of it but I was only in there for a short period of time. I could feel your anguish tearing at me. Liasare, she couldn’t get through.”

That brought Liasare out of her exhausted stupor and she sat up so quickly, she knocked Jurek’s wine out of his hand that he was about to raise to his lips.

“What did you say?” she asked, twirling around to face him.

He beamed and said, “I think you heard me. Naroo couldn’t get in. Even when she had you at your worst, when you were so drained, she couldn’t breach your shield. She told me she was extremely impressed.”

“You’re not screwing around with me are you?”

“Not yet, but I’d like to be shortly,” he said smirking.

“Jurek!” she splashed him. “I’m serious!”

“I am too, on both accounts. She couldn’t get through your shields Liasare. You’re good; actually, you’re epic. I trust her abilities more than anyone’s. If Naroo thinks you’re good, I think you’re good.”

Liasare just stared at him.

“You doubt my words?” he asked incredulously.

“Oh please. Don’t go all kingly on me here. I’m surprised because I totally felt like Naroo shredded my mind, chewed it up into tiny pieces and spit it back out at me. I could barely walk back here and honestly, I don’t know how I made it. I was positive she’d uncovered my deepest darkest secrets and it was killing me.”

He cocked his head at that odd angle and narrowed his eyes. “What kind of deep dark secrets might you have?”

She squiggled around so her back was facing him again and his arms snatched her and spun her back to where she was.

“Oh no you don’t. Spill it Liasare.”

“Most of them you know Jurek. They’re things that are of no consequence, things I don’t care to talk about. Unhappy memories, that sort of thing.”

He let out a long breath. “I don’t like the fact that you have unhappy memories. Why won’t you tell me about them?”

“Because they’re a part of Sarah St. Davis who is no more. I want a life filled with better memories with you. Richer memories. That’s why I want to be Liasare from now on. And besides, you know the worst ones anyway.”

“Come here,” he said, pulling her into his lap. “I hope to make a lot of great memories with you Liasare Davidson, mate of Alaric Herdekian. There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“I know on Vesturon, wedding ceremonies are important, so I was wondering if you would like to have one?”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I suppose I am.”

“But according to your laws, or whatever, aren’t we considered married already?”

“Well, yes, but...”

“Then that’s good enough for me.”

Jurek looked at Liasare as she looked at her hands beneath the surface of the water. He wasn’t really buying it, but he’d let her have this say for now.

“If you’re sure about that, but I would love to do it your way as well.”

“No, I’m good.” He nodded, but he couldn’t help feeling disappointed either.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Praestan

They were back on Praestan. Liasare thought it unwise for them to go to Vesturon. She decided she would take no chances where her nieces’ and nephews’ safety were concerned.

They went directly to Jurek’s home this time and not the sanctuary. Liasare was in awe; his home was magnificent.

“Er, a little warning would have been nice.” She looked around at the stunning views from every window. They were standing in the private living area that was right off their bedroom. It was a large room filled with furniture that was nothing but wide flat bench like sofas filled with tons of cushions. The floors were made of smooth stone and there were water features built into one on the walls. The room was soft, the lighting, the furniture, everything about it oozed comfort and softness. Liasare fell in love with it at first sight.

Jurek watched her every expression and smiled every time she saw something new. The icing on the cake was when he showed her their bedroom suite. Every bit as grand as the sanctuary, Liasare gasped when she entered the room. It was lush, soft and extravagant. Silken bed linens, plush carpeting, gorgeous paintings and wonderful views combined to create a perfect place to nest. The bathroom was exactly like the one in the sanctuary and Liasare was eager to use the shower and bathtub. She grinned at Jurek when she saw it.

When she walked in the huge closet, she was astonished to see stacks and rows of clothing for her. Jurek smiled and shrugged when she opened her mouth to speak.

“You needed clothing so I took the liberty of taking care of that small task. Are you tired, hungry? Can I get you anything? I need to attend to some things before Rykerian and January arrive later this afternoon.”

“No, I’ll take a short nap and maybe read a little. Go ahead and do what you need to do.”

They kissed and he was gone.

Liasare sat on one of the comfy sofas and started thinking about the beautiful series of waterfalls and pools of sparkling emerald green water she and Jurek had dipped in when they had been here last. Those waterfalls she loved so much were simply amazing and she wished she knew the way there so she could check them out again. The next thing she knew, she was standing next to them.

“Oh sweet baby bunnies! How the hell did I do that? Where am I and how the hell am I going to get back?” she said out loud. She threw her hands up in the air and started pacing.

“Jurek! Jurek!” she screamed. And then she yelled, “Alaric!”

She heard a popping noise and she flew in his arms. She was trembling and having a total freak out. Her heart was in her throat and her palms had turned to sweat. “Oh, thank God you’re here.”

“Calm down. It’s okay Liasare. You just transported yourself here. You’ve advanced another degree,” he laughed.

“Holy shit! Someone needs to give me a fucking manual because this is making me mental, I’m telling you. Crap!”

Jurek laughed even harder. “Damn Liasare, you do have a way with words, but I would prefer less colorful language coming from that beautiful mouth. In fact, I would prefer this instead.” He proceeded to kiss her, passionately, making her forget everything but his demanding lips, velvety tongue and sinful taste.

When he eventually ended the kiss, she felt like he’d stolen some valuable treasure from her. Sensing her loss, he breathed, “It’s only temporary, Liasare. There’s always more where that came from.”

“Hmmm, I guess I’ll always feel like that when you end a kiss. They’re like heaven to me,” she smiled as she traced his brows with her thumbs. “I was serious about the manual Jurek. This really is driving me nuts. One minute my butt is sitting on the sofa and the next I’m standing by the waterfalls wondering how the hell I got here! This is making me psycho!”

“I get it. Listen, now that we know you can do this, which is epically impressive by the way, what you need to do is never wish you were somewhere. That’s the trick, love. When you think about it and wish it, that’s the key to shifting into your energy form and traveling there.”

“Like I’m gonna remember all this stuff. I don’t know how you do it.”

He pulled her into his arms and laughed again. “I’ve had five hundred years to practice.”

“Oh, well gee, that makes me feel so much better. So by the year 2530, I should be pretty much set then, right?”

“No promises here,” he smirked. He was making fun of her so she drew back and punched him in the shoulder. “Damn, Liasare. That hurt!”

“Serves you right for poking fun.”

“Yeah, speaking of poking.”

“You have a one track mind buddy.”

“What’s your point?”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’m going to try this thing and hopefully get us back to the house. Hold my hand just in case.”

She concentrated on wanting to be back there and wishing she was there, but somehow they ended up in a broom closet.

***

Jurek and Liasare were standing in one of the many living areas. He had given her the grand tour of his home, which was more like a mansion, and she decided it would take days before she had this place figured out. They had wandered through room after room filled with beautiful artwork, gorgeous furnishings, priceless artifacts and so many other things Liasare couldn’t wrap her brain around them all. Her mind was addled with everything that was Jurek and he eventually pulled her aside and calmed her, assuring her these things were meaningless compared to her. At some point, she came to terms with what it meant to be Jurek’s mate.

January and Rykerian were shown in a few minutes later. Liasare still was angry with them for the way they handled the Tommy issue. What she hadn’t expected was their reaction to her appearance. She hadn’t noticed much of a change, other than the absence of her scars. Jurek told her constantly how beautiful she was, but she just thought it was because he was emotionally tied to her. Apparently her physical appearance had undergone quite an alteration.

“Sarah? Oh my God! I’m not sure I would have recognized you,” January gushed as she moved to embrace her. “What happened to your scars? My God, you were beautiful before, but now you’re, you’re perfect!”

“I’m sorry January, but if you call me Sarah, one more time, I’m going to beat you. And Rykerian, take that look off your face because I’ll beat you too. That girl you once knew is gone. My name is Liasare and I would ask you to remember that.”

Jurek stepped to Liasare’s side saying, “She means business too.” Then he gave January a hug. “To answer your question, I took her scars away for her.”

“I wasn’t even aware you were capable of doing that Jurek.” January gave them both a very long intense look. “Are you two together, as in...?”

“Yes,” they both answered together. Jurek went on to say, “She is the queen of the manor and my mate.”

January narrowed her eyes at Jurek, staring at him for a long moment. “You know I love you as a brother. I also know you well Jurek and know how you are with the women.”

“January, Liasare has my heart and soul. I used to question why Rykerian acted like a lovesick fool around you, but now I know the answer. Put your fears to rest where she’s concerned.”

“If you ever hurt her, I’ll...”

Liasare interrupted her by saying, “Don’t worry January, if he ever hurts me, I’ll kill him myself. But you don’t have to be concerned about that.” She looked at Jurek and her eyes softened. “We are bound together by a force that transcends anything you can even imagine.”

January and Rykerian stared at them for a moment and then they both grinned. “I can see you two together,” Rykerian said as he laughed.

“You need to know something else about her,” Jurek said. “She shares my power.”

They looked at him and he explained all the details.

“So you mean she has your extraordinary strength, as in energy?”

He nodded, saying, “I think she will eventually be even stronger than I am. Her powers will be unmatched by any. But there is more, which is why we needed to speak with you both.”

They took turns telling their complete story. January and Rykerian were stunned. They didn’t know what to think. They worried for Liasare’s safety, but were astonished by what had become of her. January still couldn’t believe Liasare’s scars were completely gone. Rykerian kept asking to see power demonstrations. Liasare finally told him to stop asking or she was going zap his ass.

“Can you at least show us a tiny demonstration?” Rykerian begged.

Liasare looked at Jurek and he nodded. They faced each other and held out their hands. Suddenly, Liasare’s light emerged, dancing from her fingertips to her palms. She turned her palms toward Jurek’s and her power leaped onto his hands where his erupted and joined hers. Before long, they were both engulfed in the blue, green and violet light as it flowed around them, waltzing and twisting into beautiful forms. Liasare tilted her hands then, and her power withdrew into her body, while Jurek’s flowed back into his.