Healing Fire (3 page)

“Drink, my prince.”

Jules shook his head once, but nonetheless opened up. Lem poured the water into Jules’ mouth, pleased when his prince swallowed. Maybe the water couldn’t heal what was wrong with Jules’ heart, but, at least this way, Jules was staying hydrated and his body could be stronger.

Jules blinked at Lem and licked the water from his lips.

“How does it taste?” Lem asked, hoping the flavor of it had been the same for Jules as it had been to him.

“Sweet.” Jules met Lem’s gaze, the sorrow pouring off him. “You don’t have to be kind to me.”

“I’m not.” He did not act out of kindness, but out of a need to have Jules happy, well, whole.

“Okay.”

“Will you eat something?” Lem hoped that coming out and drinking some of the healing water would have stimulated Jules’ appetite.

Jules sighed and shook his head. “I shouldn’t. Mabon cannot eat.”

“Mabon is dead, my prince. And it would hurt him if he knew you were suffering.” Lem could say with some confidence that Mabon would be horrified to think that the prince was not eating because of him.

Jules’ bottom lip settled in a stiff line. “Mabon died for me.”

“Mabon died because the Graithen tried to take you. This is their fault, not yours.”

Even as Lem said the words, he had to hear them in his master’s voice. Perhaps if he told Jules enough times, he would believe it himself. It was worth a try, yes? Especially if it eased Jules’ soul.

“It isn’t your fault,” he said again before collecting more of the water in his hand and offering Jules another drink. Perhaps there was a fruit-bearing tree out here as well, and he could entice some actual food into his prince.

Jules shook his head, pulling his cloak around him to hide. Lem touched his wet fingers to Jules’ lips, letting a few drops wet them. The prince’s tongue lapped them up, instinctively, and Lem placed more drops on Jules’ lips, encouraging the lapping.

Jules looked nearly hypnotized, tongue moving restlessly, randomly.

The urge to lick Jules’ lips hit him. Lem straightened and looked across the courtyard, making his face a mask. What was wrong with him? He should not even think such a thing, not even for a fleeting moment.

Jules stiffened and slipped from his arms, heading back to the dark rooms. Lem followed, of course, it was his duty, but he feared he had offended Jules with his unexpected desire. Had his prince known his thoughts?

“You can stay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. I just want to sleep.” Jules’ words were dull.

Lem didn’t understand. He had been the one to offend, had he not? “You did not offend me, my prince. You could not.”

Jules didn’t answer. He just hid himself away beneath the covers, not even his nose poking out from them.

Len sighed, but, even so, he felt that today must be counted as a victory. His prince had spoken, had drunk some healing water, and had felt the touch of the sun’s rays. Tomorrow, there would be food. He would make that happen.

***

Jules hid under his covers with a light, reading a book about demons that destroyed all they touch. His vision was blurry, his head felt so heavy. Even his books were failing to bring him the joy they used to. He missed his reading companion, so much that it felt like there was a hole in his heart.

“My prince. It is time for us to go into the garden.” Lem had carried him out to the courtyard for the last three days in a row.

Jules found himself looking forward to the little outing, found himself actually eager for company.

The covers lifted gently from around him, and Lem held out a hand. Jules found himself reaching out, meeting the touch. Lem gave him a pleased look, fingers wrapping around his and pulling him upright. He stood on trembling legs, allowed himself to be pulled close to Lem’s strong body.

“Can you walk?”

He knew Lem would carry him if he didn’t have the strength, but he hated to be a bother. “I can.” For a bit, anyway.

“Very good. I want to see if the apple tree has any fruit that is ready.” Lem had discovered the apple tree yesterday and had been quite excited about it.

“You do not need wait for me. Mabon had full run of the space.” His quarters were as much his bodyguard’s as his own, after all. As long as he was in residence, so was his guard.

“I must keep you safe, my prince,” Lem insisted.

They went out, and the sun’s rays hit Jules, warming him immediately. His face turned to the sun, his body relaxing. He wasn’t sure it was right for him to enjoy such a simple pleasure, but he supposed there was only Lem who would know. He was the worthless child, his father had always been clear on this point, and none of his royal siblings had come to see him, at all, after his attack. Not one. Nor had he been sent for as he sometimes was.

Lem put his hand onto one strong arm and walked him to the fruit tree. “Look! One is ready!” Lem plucked it from the branch and offered it to him.

“You should have it.” It would be sweet, delicious. Lem would appreciate it far more than he would, he wagered.

“Oh, no, my prince. It’s yours.” Lem blushed suddenly. “After I have tested it, of course.”

Jules nodded and sat on one of the marble benches that dotted the courtyard.

Lem took a bite, the apple ripe enough that juice dribbled from the corner of his mouth. Then Lem came to sit with him. “We will wait a few minutes and make sure there is no poison hidden within the fruit.”

“There will be no poison here.”

No one who intended him hard could see this space. As he understood it, even the courtyard was not visible from the air, the magics woven tightly around his quarters. Jules wondered sometimes if they hid him from everyone within the palace, as well as those without.

“I cannot trust anyone or anything when it comes to your safety, my prince.”

“No one cares.” So what did it matter?

“I care.” Lem’s answer was fierce. “I care. And clearly I am not the only one as the green lizards came for you. They tried to take you!”

“They did.” Jules wore the marks on his palms, and he obviously carried an evil magic within him.

“There must have been a reason. There is something special about you. I mean, of course there is, you are my prince!” Lem exclaimed.

“I’m defective.” It was the only answer.

Lem looked shocked at his words. “No! No, my prince, you are perfect.”

Jules shrugged and closed his eyes. He knew better, and Lem was trained to believe that he was special. It didn’t make it so.

“I haven’t died yet,” Lem said after a few moments of silence, regarding the apple as if it would respond to him.

“You haven’t.” Was that a laugh? Had he really laughed? Jules could scarce believe it.

Smiling, Lem handed over the apple. “Then this is for you.”

“We could share,” Jules offered.

Lem’s eyes went wide once again. “But it’s yours.”

“Ours.” He could insist.

“Yes, my prince.” Lem still held out the apple. “You first.”

Which was funny, actually, because there was a bite out of the apple already from when Lem had tested it for him. He felt his lips pull up in a smile and was somewhat amazed. A laugh and a smile. Was his bodyguard bewitching him?

Jules took the fruit, the scent of it heady—tart and sweet and floral—and it made his mouth water and his stomach twist with how empty it was.

“Eat, Your Highness,” Lem insisted.

Jules took a bite, the flavor exploding on his tongue. It was everything the scent had promised, tart and sweet and juicy. Lem smiled, and when Jules had swallowed, Lem put the fruit to his lips again. He shook his head when the fruit was offered yet again after his second bite. Lem had promised to share with him.

Nodding his understanding, Lem took another bite from the apple. Watching Lem eat was not the same at all as watching Mabon. Watching Lem made Jules blush.

“I have never tasted anything as good as this,” Lem noted.

“The tree only grows here. My mother’s tribe brought it as a wedding gift.” The courtyard itself had been his mother’s idea, and everything in it reminded him of her.

Lem dropped the apple into his palm. “You should have more then.”

Jules pressed the partially eaten apple back into Lem’s hand. “You will enjoy it.”

“If you’ll have the rest of this one, I will share another with you,” Lem suggested.

“You swear?”

“I promise.”

Jules knew Lem would rather die than break an oath. So he took the apple, and the memory of his mother’s eyes seemed to fill him. Alyssa, she had been called, and she had been the most beautiful in, not only the land, but on the earth.

Lem watched him carefully as he took another bite. He wasn’t sure what he was meant to do, what was best. Most proper. Most right. He only knew it felt… so different, eating as Lem watched. It made him more aware of every movement he made.

When he’d finished eating, Lem went to get another fruit, looking very pleased. Jules caught himself looking, even admiring his guard. Lem was the most fit guard he’d ever seen—more so even than Mabon—defined muscles everywhere, but most especially across the chest and along the belly.

How odd. He rarely looked at others. His books were much more interesting than the world and those who populated it.

Lem caught him staring and smiled. “I’ll get you some water, my prince. To wash down the apple.”

“Thank you.” He needed to go inside, settle with a good book, and return to his life. These outings were rousing strange feelings inside him. It was time to hide away once more.

Lem cupped his big hands in the water from the fountain, holding the makeshift bowl to Jules’ lips. He wrapped his hands beneath Lem’s, head dipping down so he could sip. Lem made a soft noise, hands still as stones. Jules lapped at the water, humming deep in his chest.

“My prince.” His name rumbled in Lem’s deep voice.

“Thank you.” He licked again, tongue flicking at Lem’s skin. The taste of it seemed to explode across his tongue, salty and sharp, like nothing he’d ever had before and certainly even better than the refreshing water. Jules felt utterly confused, completely overwhelmed, his palms suddenly burning. “I should... I shouldn’t have licked you.”

“You may do anything you wish, my prince.” Lem’s voice had a new note in it.

Anything he wished. What a wonderful, wild concept. Jules wasn’t sure he believed such a thing was possible.

“What do you wish to do next?” Lem asked.

“I... I don’t know. I don’t know, Lem.”

“Maybe we could walk around your gardens. They are very beautiful.”

“If you believe it’s safe. They came for me, you know.” From the air, from the door. He knew no one was supposed to be able to see him here, but they had come, hadn’t they?

“I know. I will not let them take you if they come back for you.” Lem’s words were fierce, and his chest puffed up.

Jules nodded, but he didn’t believe it. Mabon had not been able to defeat the Graithen. It had only been his dark curse that had kept him from being taken, though it had not managed to keep Mabon from death.

Lem stood and offered his arm. Jules reached up, took it, a jolt of electricity shooting through him. Lem took a quick breath and turned to look at him, surprise and amazement in the dark grey eyes.

Jules was stricken. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I won’t burn you.”

“No, of course you won’t.” Lem patted his hand and began to walk. So confident. So sure. Lem was so sure.

Jules wondered at such confidence. What would it feel like not to worry about everything he did?

They walked slowly, the sunshine warming his skin. Jules leaned against Lem, just the littlest bit. The solid body stayed steady, Lem guiding him along the paths. The rhythm of walking eased him, the act a meditation. It was nice, too, that he wasn’t alone. Lem was quiet, but his presence was unmistakable.

Jules’ mind wandered, floating off to his books, the worlds he’d visited in them, like a bee bumbled along from flower to flower.

Lem’s words broke into his reverie. “Are you still with me, my prince?”

“What?” Jules blinked several times. “Yes. Yes, of course.”

“You seemed a million miles away. Can you do that? Are you a distance seer?” Lem asked.

“I’m nothing special.”

Lem’s reply was immediate, not a moment’s hesitation in it. “Don’t say that, my prince.”

“Oh, you’ll learn. It’s true. The others are the heirs. I’m the runt.” The one his father didn’t want. He glanced at the palm of one hand. It was probably because of the marks.

“Shh. Shh.” Lem shook his head, hand reaching for the one he had wrapped around Lem’s arm and squeezing tight.

How very odd. Mabon had loved him, but had known that he was... just the hidden prince. Lem seemed bound to uplifting him, seeing him as more than he was.

Lem walked them around the grounds for a long time, longer than Jules would have thought he had the energy for, before leading him back to his rooms. Once there, Jules found himself to be utterly exhausted, worn to the bone.

“Can I order you something special for evening meal, my prince?”

Lem asked him the same thing every night, but he always said no. He didn’t eat. Not anymore. Not since Mabon had been taken in his defence.

At least, not until Lem brought him apples.

“No, thank you.” Jules was tired, and his brain said he needed to read.

“Are you sure? You could have anything you wanted.”

“I want...” Oh, he didn’t know what he wanted. He really wasn’t hungry.

“Cocoa pudding?” Lem asked softly

“With cherries?” He did love cherries. And they were especially good with cocoa.

“Yes, my prince, you shall have cherries.”

Lem went to the door and opened it, speaking to the royal guard who stood there. Then his bodyguard came back. “It will be here soon,” Lem promised.

Jules was already curled in his blankets, but he lifted his head to say thank you. Lem was so good to him, the least he could was be polite and offer words of appreciation.

“What do you do all day long in your bed, my prince?” Lem asked.

“Read. Do you like to read?” Jules had loved reading out loud to Mabon. Books were wonderful, but even more when they were shared.