Dream of Me (12 page)

Stopping in front of the raging flames that danced in the wide hearth, he felt his heart become heavy with concern. His people had suffered so much because the council of lords refused to stand together. This couldn’t continue. Something had to be done before more lives were lost. Before he had a chance to dwell on the worries that plagued his mind, a heavy pounding on the door drew his attention. Rolling the scroll up, he placed it upon the black stoned hearth before turning towards the door.

“Enter,” he commanded. The heavy door of his chamber was pushed open as one of his personal servants entered. Bowing her head respectfully, the old servant remained standing in the doorway.

“Pardon my interruption, Gu’an. One of your warriors requests a short audience with you.”

Though for many it wasn’t customary to meet him unless the
Li’r
had arranged and approved the meeting, Cian always made a point of bending the rules when it came to his warriors. At least they hadn’t forgotten their true honor unlike his advising lords.

“It is alright, Yira. Send him in.” Without bothering to reply the small woman stepped aside, allowing the warrior in question to enter. Bowing, Yira turned and left, allowing the door to close behind her.

“Good eve, Kieran. Not to seem rude, but it is a little late in the day for a warrior to request an audience with me, particularly when I am in my private chambers.”

Rising to his feet, Kieran nodded his head but he refused to shy away from the matter that had brought him here so late. “Forgive me, but this could not wait.”

Moving to his desk, Cian reached for the dark bottle of Je’ra wine that sat half buried by clutter. Turning back to Kieran, he held up the bottle in offering.

“Yes,” Kieran nodded toward the offered liquor. After the day he’d had, he would need something stronger than Je’ra wine, but it would do for now. “I’m sure you know my reason for bothering you, Gu’an.”

Holding up a staying hand, Cian gave his old friend a hard look. “There is no reason to stand on ceremony here, Kieran. I never have asked that you always call me by my title, call me by my name.” Pausing he uncorked the bottle and pouring its contents into two dark goblets. Passing one to Kieran, he lifted his own. “Besides, using my name helps to give me the illusion that I am just a normal warrior like you,” he added with a smirk.

“Cian,” Kieran began again. “Do you know why I came to see you?” he repeated with a knowing look.

Tipping back the burning liquor, Cian nodded, “You have begun the
Malrai Hin
.” Setting his goblet aside he folded his arms over his wide chest with a look of regret. “But there is something else I must discuss with you. Because we have been friends for many years, it saddens me to inform you that another has come to me to petition the right to court your mate.”

Kieran narrowed his eyes in confusion, “I do not understand.”

“Come and take a seat.” Walking past him, Cian motioned to the padded seats on either side of the roaring hearth in offering. Taking a seat across from his friend, Kieran felt more edgy as Cian’s look of worry deepened. “Drink first; you may need it before I tell you what I must.” Doing as his Gu’an and friend advised, Kieran winced as the dark liquor burned a trail of fire down to his stomach.

“What is it?”

Looking away, Cian focused his concerned gaze on the dancing flames as he spoke, “
Li’r
informed me of the incident between Rurik and you. Not long after it must have happened, Rurik came to the throne room pleading that I speak with him.”

Growling low in his throat, Kieran could just imagine the scenario that Rurik had painted for him. “What did he say?”

Turning back to look at him, Cian tilted his head to the side in thought. “That you attacked him — unprovoked — and that I should deny you the right to claim the human, Elena. He beseeched that I give the human female to him and leave you to suffer the
Malrai Hin
instead. He also claimed that you were unsuitable for a
sou’tali
.”

Snarling, he leaned forward in his chair as his dark eyes glowed with rage. Rurik thought to take his mate from him; he swore he’d see Rurik dead before he stepped aside as Elena’s
sou’tali
. “That is a lie!” Leaping to his feet, his chest rose and fell rapidly as he glared down at Cian. Already he could feel his beast threatening to emerge to fight for his mate.
No one
would claim Elena but him and
no one
would keep him from her. Not Cian and certainly not Rurik. “Her name is Elena and she is
mine
,” he said darkly, his clawed finger pointing at himself.

Not the least intimidated by him, Cian shrugged his shoulders carelessly. Resting his chin against his closed fist, Cian regarded his agitated friend. “That may be the case, Kieran. But it doesn’t erase the fact that I have two Garmorian males that wish to claim the same female — regardless that Elena isn’t Garmorian or not, the same laws apply here.”

Snarling at his words, Kieran paced away with angry strides. He knew all too well what laws Cian was referring to. In the times of old, if two warriors wished to claim the same female — even if she wasn’t their
sou’tali
, the law stated that no matter the outcome, the female had the last word. In other words, if Elena favored Rurik over him, he’d lose her forever. It didn’t matter that she was his one and only mate. The mere thought left him with a mixture of jumbled emotions. The fear of losing her and the rage that another sought to take what was rightfully his made his blood boil.

He wouldn’t let anyone take Elena from him; she was his and his
alone.

Turning back to Cian, he clenched his fists at his sides with restrained anger. “What was your answer?”

Shaking his head, Cian smirked, “What Rurik didn’t realize is according to our laws, the female in question must first agree to the
Malrai Hin
before permission can be granted. Has she given you
the right
?”

Slowly a knowing grin formed on Kieran’s face. His friend was nothing if not wise and sneaky. “She has,” he nodded.

Leaning back in his seat, Cian clapped his hands together a single time. “Good, may you be victorious in claiming your
sou’tali
.” Rising to his feet, Cian crossed the room to him with a look of foreboding once more. “But understand this; a second challenger can still attempt to sway your mate. I have a feeling that Rurik will not easily back down.“

“Then I will kill him and then there will be no need to worry.” Spinning around, he headed for the door to do exactly that, but was halted by the words of his Gu’an.

“That would not be a wise course of action. I suggest you trust the Goddess and the bond that already ties you two together. Elena is yours already; you simply have to prove it to her. It’s a simple enough task, isn’t it?”

Simple? Far from it…

"My Lord!" The sound rushing steps echoed behind the chamber door in the wake of the bellowing voice.

Both Kieran and Cian turned towards the door just a moment before it burst open. Lowen rushed inside with a frantic look. Going down on his knee, he bowed his head, pressing his closed fist to his chest.

"Forgive me for the intrusion, Gu’an."

"Rise," Cian replied stepping toward the kneeling warrior. Lifting his head, Lowen rose up. "What is it?"

"It’s the human female."

Kieran jerked towards him at the mention of Elena. "What of her?" he demanded, moving forward.

"She’s been attacked."

Kieran’s heart stopped at the three words. Shoving forward, he gripped Lowen by his throat, he savagely demanded, “Where is she?!”

Not threatened by Kieran’s hold on his throat, Lowen answered, “In the courtyard, A Kelithian Dihma was spawned and it attacked her.”

“Within my walls?!” Cian’s voice boomed with anger.

Not wasting a second, Kieran shoved Lowen out of his way as he rushed away. He had to get to her. He didn’t care how a Dihma had gotten within their borders, let alone their walls. He needed to get to his mate.

Rushing toward an open window, Kieran leap out, calling upon his wings as he descended to the ground. Rising high, he flew toward the other side of the stronghold to the wide courtyard. As he drew near he took in the fallen form of the earth spawned Dihma. Nose diving toward the ground, he landed so hard that his bones jerked with sudden pain.

His eyes frantically searched for his mate. Shoving past the warriors that stood around the dead Dihma, he saw her. Lying on the ground with her back braced against the stone wall, her eyes were closed as her face tightened with pain. Rushing forward, he fell to his knees beside her.

“Elena,” he gasped out fearful as he pulled her into his arms. Her eyes flew open at the sound of his voice.

“I’m in trouble now, huh?” she grumbled with a wince. Looking down, Kieran saw her hand against her shoulder was painted with her own blood. Scowling down at her, he gripped her beneath her knees as his other arm snaked around her back. Ignoring her cry of pain as he lifted her off the ground, quickly he took to the sky. Holding Elena securely in his arms, he flew straight to his chamber. The moment his feet touched the balcony, he moved with quick strides toward his bed.

“Why did you not stay within this room?” he bit out as he lowered her down to the fur covering his bed. He instantly regretted how his question came out harder than he’d intended. The truth was on the inside he was shaking with trepidation. To find your sou’tali was a gift beyond measure, to lose her was a nightmare and a death sentence.

“I needed to think,” she whispered out as he took a seat next to her. Not replying, Kieran’s hands moved to the bottom of her shirt before he began pulling it over her breasts. “What do you think you’re doing?” she gasped out, as she attempted to slap his hands away with weak movements.

“I must heal you. The Dihma’s poison could be in your blood. I won’t allow you to die as a result.”

“So I need your permission to die too?” she grumbled as she allowed him to tug her shirt over her pink lace bra. She saw his eyes widen with interest at the sight of her bra that lovingly cupped her breasts. “This isn’t a peep show buddy,” she hissed covering her breasts with her good arm.

Ignoring his mate’s hissing words, he moved his eyes from the tempting sight of her alluring, yet strange covering to her wound. Already the area around the wound and inside had began to blister in result of the Dihma’s poison. Placing his hand over the wound, he allowed his spirit to reach out to hers. His palm begun to glow against her skin as his healing energy reached out. As skin begun to heal and pull together, he felt himself able to breathe easier.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she commented with astonishment. “The first time, I felt like I was burning alive.”

“You have my blood in you now. After that, your body will always accept my healing energy without pain,” he replied gently.

As he pulled his hand away once it stopped glowing, Elena saw that the punctured wound was no longer there, only a patch of new pink skin. Experimentally she moved her shoulder, only to cry out as pain stabbed through the muscle. The pain was still there.

“It still hurts,” she acknowledged, meeting his gaze.

“It will. You have Dihma poison in your blood. My healing energy has removed most of it, however not all. There is not enough of it to kill you, you were lucky. The pain should go away in a few hours. I can call Sera; she may have a tonic to help.”

Easing up, Elena pulled her shirt back on. “I’ll be fine. I can bear it.” she grunted, pulling her hair out from beneath the collar of her shirt.

Reaching out, Kieran’s hand gently cupped her chin, turning her to look at him. “I cannot. I cannot bear to see you in pain or even know that you are in pain. Just as I could never bear it if something happened to you. I know you don’t believe in the bond between us; if nothing else, believe in my words.”

Seeing how shaken up he was at her getting hurt, she whispered, “I’m sorry, I should have listened.”

The way his eyes bore into hers, pierced her heart. He looked at her like she was everything to him. As though his world would end if something happened to her. No one had ever looked at her like that.

Gulping past the lump that formed in her throat, she rushed to change the subject. “What was that thing?”

Allowing his hand to drop from her chin, he sighed, “It’s called a Dihma. A creature created of earth and darkness, a demon created to kill. The Kelithians must have spawned it.”

“Why?”

“King Zyaid must have sent it to kill you once he couldn’t capture you the other evening.”

“Why would he want me? I am a nobody. I’m not even the same species.”

“You are mine, and that is reason enough. I do not know why, but I vow I will find out.” Rising from the bed, he pulled back the fur coverlet on the bed. “Come, you should rest.”

In too much pain to argue, Elena crawled under the coverlet as he said. Resting her head on the soft pillow, her eyes widened as she watched him crawl in beside her. “What are you doing?”

Rolling onto his side to face her, his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her against the warmth of his chest. “Hush. I will rest with you, as I shall for the rest of our days.”