Legend of the Touched (8 page)

At school with the other normal human students, I do
as well, but for different reasons. They can't know the truth about
my current situation. Darien is a dragon and that can't get out.
People don't know the dragons walk among the people as humans.
There'd be panic, confusion, and who knows what else. Dragon
slaying is not a common practice, thank God, but that might change.
For now, they're revered, holy creatures of God. It needs to stay
this way.

Maybe I'm so desperate for normal interaction, I've
finally pushed a lot of my past inhibitions aside. I'm not exactly
sure to be honest, but I can say that when I get to school, I have
a strong desire to be a part of the group. People like me and go
out of their way to talk to me. Instead of pushing them away, I
cling to them. The problem with this is that I can see it upsets
Darien. Somehow I've disturbed a balance inside of him.

He's always been a lot like me in the past. The
students didn't give him much time until after I came around. Being
a dragon, he doesn't understand all of what would be considered
normal human relationship dynamics. It's led to a lot of negative
perceptions about him. Most of them are starting to fade and it's
nice to see him having some friends who aren't a part of his family
for a change. I think he secretly likes it too. It's a whole new
kind of companionship for us both. Even more important, he finally
is belonging somewhere. Given a lot of his family baggage, this has
got to be nice for him.

As we start to experience this new life, I feel my
heart changing. Yes, I still love Darien. But I can't help but feel
sad at how much I am missing out on because of him. Going out with
the girls is one of them. Granted, I probably could go to the mall
some time and do some shopping. I don't think that would be a big
deal, but I'm not sure what the lines are. What's okay and what
isn't? What if I wanted to go to a school function? Would we even
have time for that sort of a thing? What about a date? Darien and I
went on a handful of them over the summer, and they were nice. It's
been a while since he's taken the time to give me the attention I
need. A few kisses here and there, cuddling, that happens a lot. We
still talk, but it's not the same. He's settled down and gotten
comfortable fast. I'm not sure I'm in the same place.

He asked me if I wanted to be courted normally. I
had told him no because if anyone had tried to court me like the
normal human way, I probably would have pushed him away. I would
have found something wrong with him. It's good that he was shoved
into my life like he was. That doesn't mean he gets to stop doing
the work though.

We're young. Why do we need to settle down? Yes
we're having a family, we're going to be parents shortly. Does that
mean we have to sit and do nothing? Turn into...old people? I miss
flirting with him, doing crazy things, doing something period. I'm
not exactly sure how to bring this up to him. I was hoping that by
writing this out, I'd be able to figure something out. Not quite so
simple. Darien is very set in his ways. It's the only thing he's
ever known and seen. Since he didn't grow up with a mother, he
never got to learn about what women want. The wives of his brothers
treat him like a little brother. I can tell they aren't close. He
doesn't know better, and I can't get mad at him for that. He's
ignorant and he lives in this delusional bubble sometimes
still.

I think I was able to pop it for the most part over
the summer. His views on our relationship aren't quite as
dream-filled and naive. On top of that, there's him being the Lord
over all of the Oceina people. This creates a whole new kind of
stress on our relationship. It's all he thinks about more often
than not. Understandable, but it does leave me feeling a little
lonely. To the point where I notice when someone decides to treat
me like I'm supposed to be treated.

There's another guy at school. He's nice,
attractive, and we have a few things in common. Not many, but
enough. We don't have the same kind of intellectual bond that
Darien and I have. I can't say he's better looking than my husband
either, because it'd be like comparing apples and oranges. Darien
has a gentleness about his looks. His hair is soft and dark, and
his blue eyes full of life and love. This other guy is tall and
blond, muscular, and his blue eyes pierce. What he has that Darien
lacks however, is the game. Which might be the only reason I find
myself gravitating towards him to begin with, the game. It's one I
don't mind playing, but it bugs Darien a lot. He seems to think I'm
going to leave him, or that I actually like this guy.

I can't say if I do or don't, but I can say I enjoy
the attention and the connection we have. Maybe Darien is right and
I shouldn't humor him so much. I've been playing dumb for the most
part, not outright squashing his hopes, but not completely
indulging them either. The last thing I want to do is lead him on,
but I also don't want to hurt him and have him stop. I'd miss the
attention. Selfish of me I know.

Perhaps now that I know what it's like to be
pursued, to play the game, is the reason I want it. If only because
it's nice to be desired. How do I tell Darien though? How long will
it take for him to notice that I have needs too? The last thing I
want to do is add another task to his long list of "to dos". Logic
would say that keeping our relationship strong and healthy would
help make our lives easier. Right?

I don't know. God give me the words, the way,
because I am completely stumped. And I still hate being pregnant. I
don't want to moan and groan about that again today, though. Four
more months. I think? I'll have to look at my calendar. Either way,
it's a lot longer than I'd prefer.

Satisfied, Tai closed her journal and put it back
into the top drawer of her nightstand. She'd never hidden it in a
difficult spot. The most over looked places were always the most
obvious ones anyway, right? Besides, she wasn't so sure she wanted
to keep it hidden from him any longer. Maybe that's how she could
get him to find out. Darien could read it and see for himself on
his own time. The problem was how would she encourage him to snoop?
She liked that he respected her privacy. She didn't want to do
anything to betray his trust in her and lose it. While he went off
to do whatever it was he did when he was hit with his late bouts of
insomnia, she lay in bed and stared up at the ceiling thinking.

There had to be another way for her to get him to
notice her again.

Chapter Sixteen

The Inero

At least an hour passed before Gwen awoke. She knew
it had been a long sleep because her body was groggy, lethargic,
and like lead. She felt rested however, and this was nice since
sleep didn't come easy while she and Jason were in their awkward
period. Having a resolution to her insecurities helped a lot. The
smell of the turkey filled the air and candles lit up the room.
There were at least thirty of them in the den alone, more in the
kitchen, along the hallways, and the dining room.

Slowly, she lifted herself from the couch and saw
Jason standing near the refrigerator. He quietly tossed something
into the garbage.

"Good nap?" he asked and she could see him smile in
the orange glow of the flames.

She nodded, standing so she could join him. "What are
you doing?"

"Finishing dinner. The power went out shortly after
you fell asleep. I was able to save the turkey with my magic, get
some mashed potatoes made too. Right now I'm trying to figure out
what we can use and save, and what will need to be tossed."

"You saved the turkey with your magic? How did you
manage this?" She couldn't help but laugh. All sorts of crazy
images were coming into her mind. In particular the turkey spinning
on a spoke over Jason spitting out a flame from his mouth. His
magic probably didn't work like that to begin with, but she'd yet
to see it in action. Too bad she missed it.

He shrugged. "It took some creative problem solving.
I'll leave it at that. And I of course was able to get us some
light."

"I noticed." Gwen stared at all of the candles. "A
bit of an overkill though? Seems like more of a fire hazard to
me."

"I'd stop it before it got that far. Can't help it
though. I like to start things on fire. It's so natural, and not
something that happens enough."

"Thank you. It's beautiful," she said softly.

"Go ahead and sit down. I think I figured out how to
make crème brulee."

"How fancy!"

"Don't get too excited until after you taste it and
it doesn't kill you. Thank goodness I know how to follow
instructions well, or we'd be at a loss."

Gwen took a seat at the dining room table, watching
him move about the kitchen some more. Fire poured out of his hand
with a great force as he "blow torched" their dessert. Her eyes
widened in awe at this. So beautiful and strong all at once, almost
frightening in a way that he contained such power inside of
him.

"Cool trick," she whispered.

"This? I suppose. Haven't done it in a while, so I'm
a little out of practice. I should probably use my magic more,
huh?" He cracked a half smile. Then the fire from his hand stopped.
A few minutes later, he had the food dished onto plates and brought
it over to the table. The turkey was noticeably dry, but it smelled
good. It was edible. And while the stuffing she had put inside was
a little burnt, and the mashed potatoes were a tiny bit soupy, she
applauded his cooking skills under the forced improvisation.

Soon their stomachs were both full. A nice feeling to
have instead of the nervous knots which had been there the whole
week. The dishes were placed in the sink, and she was about to
start cleaning them when Jason came up behind her, kissing her
neck. They trailed up the curve to her jaw until he nibbled on her
ears.

A small giggle escaped her lips. "I can't focus. Is
that your goal?"

"Those can wait," he murmured.

"They'll get smelly."

"Our whole house will smell soon anyway."

"When will the power be back on?" She swallowed,
butterflies filling her stomach. Something about their talk must
have re-inspired him. This was awfully romantic of him. Maybe he
was trying to make it all up to her. Who was she to complain?

He shrugged. "I don't know. You're the one from the
small town. How long did this sort of thing take back home? In the
city it never lasted longer than twenty minutes."

"It depends on why the power was out. Usually it came
back in a few hours. Every so often it lasted for a day or two."
She couldn't focus much on the conversation. Their bodies began to
sway slowly as he hummed in her ear. Her heart started to flutter,
her cheeks went hot, and words stumbled out of her mouth. "Are you
serenading me?"

"That would mean I'd have to sing you a song," he
said, taking a brief pause in his self-made music to do so.

"So then what are you doing?"

"Filling empty space, trying to find something to do
while we wait, being sweet for a change, humming a tune because I
feel like it. Pick your favorite one." He spun her around so she
could stare into his eyes. The flames of the candles reflected in
them. It was beautiful.

Gwen put her arms around his neck, enjoying the
feeling of him holding her so close. He leaned down, their lips
met, and he hoisted her up into his arms. All of the candles went
out in the house outside of one standing next to them on the
kitchen counter. As he carried her through from the room, the light
moved from one wick to another until they were back in the bedroom.
A candle on either side of the bed was lit.

Kissing her over and over again, his hands caressed
her body firmly and with a new kind of confidence she'd never felt
in him before. Definitely sexy and intriguing all at once. It
wasn't long until his hands were under her shirt, running over her
bare skin. The warmth sent shivers of anticipation down her spine.
Was this it? Their moment?
Don't think or you're going to psych
yourself out, and that will make him do the same. The last thing we
need is another awkward mess.

"I'm not sure yet what's going to happen," he
whispered in her ear, almost as if he could read her mind. She knew
he couldn't, not yet. After they made love for the first time he
would be able to, another thing she was excited and afraid for.
She'd heard stories from him and the other Dragon Lord wives about
the phenomena. In some ways, it would make things easier. But her
privacy was nice too. The fact that he knew her so well made her
more solid in the decision they were right.

She kissed him before he could say any more. The
gears were turning in his head. He had his all too familiar
thoughtful frown on his brow. "We're past words now."

"The only point I wanted to make was that I still
want you."

"Then kiss me, and let your lips do the explaining
that way instead of with your yapping. Whatever happens does."

Instead of speaking again, he moved to kiss her
collarbone while his hands pulled her shirt up. When he stared down
at her, she became very aware of her body then, and wrapped her
arms over her stomach shyly. Air blew out of his lips as though he
was blowing out a candle, and then the whole room went dark.

Chapter Seventeen

The Oceina

For a while Darien was having the same reoccurring
nightmare. Sleep was hard enough to come by, and adding that on top
of the mix wasn't helping him at all. He wanted to blame it all on
nerves. Another Dragon council was coming up in a handful of weeks
to continue tying up all of the loose ends left over from the
summer meeting. Once Orion died, everything fell into chaos and
Darien still had a lot to catch up on.

The dream only added more stress. He didn't know what
it meant, but to have it so often there had to be some kind of
reason.