Magical Lover (26 page)

“Sorry. Thank you for listening. I...I need, I mean want… I want to know mating customs.”

Aryana took a sip of water. “What about them?”

“Everything. I mean, how does one go about convincing a male that you want to join with him?”

“Keara, love, a male only has one mate. There is only one female who complements him. When he finds her, he becomes possessive to the point of idiocy. There is a test for mating compatibility. If you are not compatible, then you are not mates. Even if you want Thoren, if you are not compatible, you are not his mate. Do you understand this?”

A hollow cavity formed in Keara’s chest. What if he wasn’t hers? What if he belonged to another? “Can you do the testing?”

“Of course. Would you like to be tested?”

Might as well. Finding out now would save her heartbreak later. “Yes. Can you do it now?”

“Not now, but later.” A pause. “You’re not going to ask what the test involves?”

Not that it mattered. “I guess I should. What does it involve?”

Aryana took a sip of water. “We put one of you in danger in a place where the other has never been and see if you can transport to the one in danger. Now, don’t worry, you won’t be hurt. Your instinct takes over when your mate is in danger, be it real or imaginary, so you’ll react as if they are about to be harmed.”

Keara gulped. What kind of danger? Would the dragon’s instinct really overtake her higher reasoning and convince her Thoren was to be harmed when she knew he really wasn’t? What a strange test.

“Was there anything else you wanted to know, Keara?”

She might as well ask all her questions while she had a semi-willing audience. “What will happen to Fafnir?”

“He will go live with the other males in dragon form. Why?”

“Maybe I could help him. I can take illnesses into myself and turn them into something no longer harmful. Perhaps I can absorb the energy it takes to remain in dragon form and allow him to turn back into a man.”

Aryana’s mouth gaped like an opened present.

“I didn’t think of that. If I remember correctly, there is an ancient ritual, but it would involve using the male’s offspring. Fafnir says he never mated, so it probably wouldn’t work, but perhaps using a priestess or other female relative would. Strange, I don’t recall anyone named Fafnir going missing years ago, but there are many Draconi.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to know them all. The priests in my town didn’t know everyone. If you need help, I’d be happy to assist anyway I can. I like Fafnir.”

“I’ll ask if the time comes. Thoren is waiting for you and I need to run. Stop by my room tomorrow if you have any other questions.” Aryana stood and rested her hand on Keara’s shoulder. “We’re glad to have you here.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you taking time to talk.”

“No problem.”

As Aryana walked away, Keara wanted to cry. Thoren might not be her mate. Although Aryana welcomed her, Keara couldn’t imagine a life without Thoren in it. And watching him take another mate? She swatted at the tears. Silly things. She’d cried more since she came to Draconia than she had in her entire life.

“What’s the matter? Did she upset you? Do I need to have a talk with Ari?” Thoren’s fists slammed into the table as he leaned against it.

“I’m fine. There’s just something about the air in Draconia that makes my eyes tear up.”

Thoren’s face held doubt as he pierced her with a stare. “So, you want me to give you another magic lesson?”

Just what she needed. More reason to fall in love with him. Oh, Goddess, did she use the “L” word? Yes she did. She pulled out the big, scary word. Only love explained the thrill of her heart when Thoren came near, the happiness felt when he spoke to her, the pride when his protective side roared in defense of her. And if he wasn’t her mate? If Aryana tested them and found them incompatible, then what?

Her eyes would be stuck on permanent water mode, her heart aching from ribbon-like slashes.

“I’d like that.”

“Great! We can practice my favorite move, throwing an energy ball.”

****

She was not meant to throw energy balls. Keara rubbed her upper arm while watching Thoren demonstrate an underhanded throw. Overhand, underhand, it didn’t matter, her arm muscles apparently weren’t designed to lob an energy ball.

“Now watch. To get maximum velocity on this...”

If she threw one more energy ball...”Thoren?”

He stopped moving mid-motion. “Yes?”

“I need to go check on Conr.”

His gaze darted from her arm-rubbing to her face. One hand ran through his hair. “I’m sorry for not noticing sooner that your arm hurts. Want to take a break? There’s a really nice reflection pool behind those bushes. I’m sure Annaliese has Conr under control.”

As much as she wanted to check on little Conr, Thoren was right. Annaliese knew how to take care of him. And if the child took a turn for the worse, they would know about it. Zeke would want Thoren there with him.

“You haven’t shown me the reflection pool. I’d like to see it.”

Thoren grabbed her hand, his green eyes twinkling, loose strands of his hair blowing across his face. Priestesses milled around the Courtyard, the noise from their conversations drifting around her like the wind, but when she looked at Thoren, the noises faded.

What would she do if he wasn’t her mate? If the testing showed them incompatible?

She refused to think that way. He belonged to her and that was that.

The warmth of his hand caressed the skin of her palm as they strolled along stone paths. Keara held out her free hand, touching the bushes blooming with autumn flowers. The pleasing scent of nectar wafted on the air, carried by the breeze. How peaceful and relaxing the Courtyard was, with its red and gold trees, flowers, and bush-lined pathways.

Thoren led her to the reflection pool, a rectangular shallow pool surrounded by thick bushes, giving it a secluded feel.

“It’s beautiful!”

“Not as beautiful as you.”

Keara’s heart flip-flopped. He liked her. Or at least he thought her beautiful, which was a start. A really good start.

She felt her cheeks warm and glanced at the ground, looking up at him from under her lashes. “You’re pretty good-looking yourself, you know.”

Thoren’s hand lifted her chin, his lips brushing against hers. And as quick as a snap of her fingers, she became lost in his kiss, in the strokes of his tongue against hers, the feel of his hands on her back. Their bodies pressed together and she felt the hard length of him against her stomach, her core flooding with wetness. His hand stroked to her hip, his fingers gathering her skirt. At this moment, he belonged to her.

And then he stopped.

Keara tightened her grip around his neck, trying to draw his lips down to hers, but he grabbed her wrists.

“There’s a commotion in the Courtyard.”

And that mattered, why?

Footsteps slapped in a dash against the stones, bushes rattled and an out-of-breath priestess darted into the clearing.

“Thoren!” she gasped. “The High Priestess sent me to find you. Your Watcher, Enar, has arrived.”

Lily! Keara stepped from Thoren’s arms, sexual heat forgotten as she hurried to the main area of the Courtyard, Thoren and the priestess behind her. Was Lily all right? Had Enar hurt her? And Jamie. How was her apprentice? She hiked her skirt above her knees as her feet flew across the stones and grass.

Enar stood in a circle of priestesses, his blond hair easy to spot in a crowd of black-haired beauties. Keara scanned the area, looking for Lily or Jamie. Where were they? They had to be here. Enar wouldn’t have left them behind, would he?

As if hearing something she didn’t, the gawking crowd turned as one toward the Temple, watching as the High Priestess made her appearance. Aryana strode across the paved stones, still wearing her finery from meeting with Fafnir. As she walked toward Enar, the crowd of white-clad priestesses parted, allowing Keara a glimpse of her friend.

Lily stood nestled against Enar’s side, his arm clamped around her shoulders. Her wide blue eyes stared at the crowd surrounding them, her face paler than usual against the black of her tunic. Keara didn’t see Jamie.

“Lily!” Keara pushed past a gaping priestess and sprinted to her friend, grabbing Lily in a hug.

A little thinner, but other than that Lily felt the same. Red tinged the pale skin of her face from where her cloak failed to cast shadows, and dirt stained her clothes, but overall she looked fine.

Keara released the breath previously frozen in her chest. Her friend was unharmed.

“Enar, my friend. How are you?” Thoren stepped around Keara and clasped hands with Enar while simultaneously smacking him on the shoulder. Enar returned the whack-on-the-back. All fine and dandy for them, where was her apprentice?

“Keara!”

Keara snapped her head toward the sound of Jamie’s voice as a brown head poked up from behind Enar’s back. The little imp had turned the Watcher into a packhorse. How had Jamie managed that?

Keara reached for Jamie, stopping when she saw the crudely fashioned sling he was wrapped in. Why was he in a sling?

“Jamie?”

Pain-filled eyes focused on her. Oh, Goddess, he was hurt. Steam roiled in the back of her throat, her hands cranking into fists.

“What did you do to him?” She hissed at Enar, steam escaping through her teeth.

Thoren placed a hand on her shoulder. “He didn’t—”

“I carried him for the past four hours. It wasn’t easy. The lad’s more trouble than he’s worth.” Enar shook his head, ignoring the steam wafting across his vision. Removing the sling, he lowered Jamie to the ground.

Keara knelt by Jamie’s side, noting the pain lines etched in his pale face and the odd bend of his limbs.
Tell me no.

“What did you do?”

“He fell out of a tree.” Lily knelt beside her. “Broke his arm, sprained an ankle and broke his leg. We didn’t know how to set it.”

“Can you heal him?” Thoren asked.

Keara swallowed. It was worse than she thought. The longer a broken arm and leg remained unset, the more difficult it was to reset them. Once she moved the broken ends into alignment, she could run her hands over the break and join the ends together. It took several tries, though. And that was only if she could pull the swollen limbs into place.

The sooner she started the better chance of success.

From her peripheral vision, she saw Aryana step closer, and the priestesses move out of her way.

“Greetings, Enar,” Aryana said, peering over Keara’s shoulder. “Is this the male Halfling?”

“Male trouble-maker is more like it,” Enar said. “Your Highness.”

Keara glanced up in time to see Aryana place a hand on Enar’s arm, a look of sadness on her face. By the time Keara finished blinking, the moment had passed. Not that it was any of her business, but it sure seemed like Aryana had a liking for Enar.

Definitely none of her business. She had more important things to think of.

“His arm and leg are broken. I need to get him to the infirmary.”

Aryana knelt at Jamie’s feet. “My apologies for not noticing earlier, young one. Hang on and I’ll send you to the infirmary where Keara and our priestesses will help you.”