Out of the Mountain (36 page)

He blinked, trying to clear the shine from his eyes, while I tried to fight the urge to move into him and kiss those full lips. I licked mine at the thought, and his eyes caught the movement. His hands tightened at my sides, and I flinched as a pin stuck me.

“Ow!” I yelped, and Taylin hissed that she had told me to stay still. She moved to the front to finish placing a few pins at my sides. The spell was broken, and Rowan didn’t look happy about what had just transpired.

“There, all done. Now lift your arms up,” she said, and I did. She immediately pulled the dress over my head and hung it back the rack. I squeaked, trying to conjure my clothes quickly.

“You could have warned me!”

“Oh, don’t be so modest, dear. I suspect he has seen more of you than this . . . or, judging from the tension in the air, he will soon enough.” She snickered, and I huffed out an embarrassed sigh.

“Are we finished then?”

“Yes, I’ll alter it, and it will be perfect by the coronation,” she said, waving us away.

We walked in a strained silence to the dining hall, where I took my seat quickly beside Mauve. I was starving. I filled my plate with pork, beans, potatoes, and rice. Mauve watched me intently.

“Sorry, I’m famished. All this work is taking a lot out of me.” I took a gulp of water and then vowed to pace myself.

“Oh, it’s just another thing on a long list we will have to work on, I’m sure.” She laughed, but I didn’t think she was joking. I sat up straighter.

“My dress is perfect, wait until you see how well it matches the necklace you gave to me,” I commented, and her eyes shone. I noticed the look, felt a little surge of magic and took a chance, reaching out to touch her.

“Thank you so much for such a kind gift.”

“When do you leave?” Narissa asked bitterly.

“Tomorrow night. I have gathered a few to make the journey with me if she will allow it.”

“Yes, well. The sooner the better.” Narissa paced beneath the trees in the moonlight.

“You needn’t worry about the raid on the palace. Tomorrow you will have the meeting and secure a member of the girls’ group with a mark. From there you will be able to closely watch her while still getting everything else in order. There is no way any of them could see this coming. It will be easy to dispatch of the council and take the palace.”

“While you go gallivanting through the forest . . .”

“Do not mention my journey again. I would much rather be here to ensure that you do not fail to fulfill the plan. Do not fail, Narissa.”

“You had best return with your end of the deal fulfilled as well.”

“Are you all right, Princess?” Mauve was frowning, and I blinked away the vision.

“No, actually, I think I need to rest. I’m not feeling very well.” I only half lied, head spinning.

“Yes, you do appear ill.” She grimaced, sitting back from me.

Farran helped me to my feet, and Rowan joined us as we left the room. I walked slowly, trying to think of some sort of strategy. Had what I saw been recent or could Narissa have already have had this meeting and have someone marked? I was going to have to be discreet.

“Farran, I need to speak with you in the bathroom,” I said as I pulled him in the room and closed the door behind me.

“Bend down here.” He quirked an eyebrow but didn’t object. I checked behind both his ears, even rubbing to be sure there wasn’t any mark. I already knew there wouldn’t be. I couldn’t feel any of the dark magic on him. I left my hand on his arm and spoke to his mind. I told him what I had seen.

“You need to discreetly check the others, all of them.”

“
Yes, I’ll gather them, and if they are all clear I will warn them. You’ll need to stay in your room so that Mauve doesn’t get suspicious of your lie about being ill, I suppose.”

“
We need some sort of signal, something only we would know if we are truly still in control of our bodies. That way no one accidently spills the plan to a spy. She can’t know we are on to her. She will be watching; that’s what he said.”

“Yes, I will come up with something. You check Rowan, although I am sure he is clear and then I will convene with the others and come up with a plan. Neither of you leave this room in the morning until I come for you to share the plan . . . OK?”
I nodded my consent, and he was gone.

I quickly washed and donned my pj’s before exiting the room. Rowan was sitting in his chair scribbling into his sketchbook. He closed it and began gazing suspiciously at me. What if he was already marked and just really good at hiding it?

“Are you afraid of me?” he asked, and I shook my head.

“I feel your apprehension, fear, worry. What is going on?” I walked over to him, and while he was sitting in the chair it left us eye to eye. His eyes were so beautiful. I reached a hand toward his face, and he stopped it with his own.

“What are you doing?” he asked, and I used the contact to push my power into him and feel. There was no darkness inside of Rowan, only bright, bright light. It filled me quickly, and I sighed with relief.

“Narissa plans to plant a spy,” I admitted, and then filled him in on what I had seen.

“We will have to tread carefully,” he said, still holding my hand in his. I laced my fingers through his, and his eyes softened.

“Did you hear what happened today at training?” I asked, needing to get it off my chest.

“Bits and pieces,” he said, and a grin quirked his lips.

“Briony did bait her, but I wasn’t going to let her land a punch on my best friend.” I defended her, and he nodded smiling.

“I would expect nothing less from you.”

“Adelaide and Tasmin aren’t very nice,” I complained, leaning into him. He allowed it.

“They aren’t so bad really. There is just a lot going on right now. Tensions are high.” I harrumphed at his defense of them, and he chuckled.

“I guess you would have had to like something about Adelaide. I saw evidence of that more than once,” I grumbled at the memory of them plastered against a wall on my birthday. Hurt filled me at the memory.

“Do not give it another thought,” he said, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes.

“So I was a little jealous.” I tried to joke, but it fell flat with the truth.

“I can sympathize,” he carped, and I frowned.

“What could you possibly have to feel jealous of?” I puzzled, and he rolled his eyes.

“If you recall, I nearly ripped Malachi’s head from his body when I thought he had slept with you.”

“But he did sleep with me, multiple times,” I quipped, and his scowl deepened.

“I do not need a reminder of the fact. I was referring to the time I found you in nothing but his shirt, pressed firmly against him,” he growled, and I blushed.

“He was only trying to protect me when you all busted into the room.” I complained at the memory.

“Yes, well, the noise that was coming from the room sounded like a lovers’ quarrel. I lost myself in the moment. It was my mistake,” he admitted, and I accepted his sort-of apology.

“I’ve never . . . nothing like that happened . . . with anyone,” I mumbled, flustered and embarrassed.

“Yes, I had figured as much,” he said as he slid a finger across the blush deepening on my cheeks.

“You have though, right?” I spat out, unable to help myself. Why was I so curious to know everything I could about this man? His eyes narrowed.

“Vivienne!”

“What? It’s obvious that you have. I’m just trying to confirm,” I said, and he frowned.

“I am not remotely as innocent as you.” His eyes held mine firmly. He wanted me to know the truth. I’ll be damned if that didn’t just turn me on. His eyes glowed.

“You are trouble.” He chuckled and my insides began to heat. He pulled me into his lap, and I sat happily across his legs as I folded my arms around his neck. My fingers slipped into the line of his hair, and his eyes slid closed. I smiled.

“
This is nice.”
I sent the thought to him, and a grin spilt his face.

“Mm-hmm,” he rumbled as I ran my hands through his thick mane of hair.

“I kind of feel bad for Adelaide,” I blurted, unable to drop the subject until I said what I needed to say. It was almost a lie but not quite. His eyes met mine.

“And why is that?”

“She just seemed really . . . into you. I just think maybe you are being insensitive toward her feelings. It kind of seems like you used her.” I sat up straighter, realizing how much the thought bothered me and frowned. Humor lit his eyes.

“You will never cease to amaze me, Vinnie.”

“I’m being serious,” I complained, and he straightened his expression.

“Why must you insist on bringing her up?” he asked, and I frowned, feeling insecure. He was right; I did keep bringing her up to him. I just felt like I needed to know what she really had been to him.

“Adelaide knew from the start what our arrangement was. It was her idea. I made it perfectly clear to her that I was . . . emotionally unavailable. She made it perfectly clear that she too was looking for something simpler. It is much less complicated than you are trying to make it.”

“If that is true, then why is she so angry over it? She seems to be taking it harder than you, at least.”

“I imagine that has more to do with her pride than anything. She would have liked to have been the one to end it and with a bit more fanfare, I’m sure,” he quipped, studying my face. I took in this information and wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

“That seems kind of cheap of both of you,” I complained at his nonchalant attitude over meaningless sex. He laughed aloud, full and deep. I had to force myself to keep my frown in place at the sound of it.

“I apologize for my laughter. I forget sometimes how young you really are.”

“Adelaide is only a few years older than I am. She doesn’t seem to have had a problem with your arrangement. I hardly think my age has anything to do with it,” I hissed, sliding off his lap to put distance between us. I was more than tired of him calling me a child.

“I meant no offense. I just meant that you are naïve yet to the harshness of the world outside the mountain you were raised in.” He tried reaching for me, and I backed farther away.

“I am not naïve of the outside world. I saw many uncouth things in Velia, and I snuck my fair share of romance novels into that mountain.” I blushed at my admission and a grin split his face, putting the dimple on full display. I tried not to let it distract me.

“The fact that you think that seeing public displays of affection and hiding in your room reading of trysts between lovers rids you of naïveté only furthers the point I am trying to make.”

“So, what then? I should just enter an arrangement with Malachi for casual sex, and that will enlighten me to the ways of the world?” I growled, and he shot up from his seat, anger filling his expression.

“Absolutely not! You are better than that.”

“So are you,” I grumbled, and his face fell. I felt guilty immediately after uttering the words.

“You would be mistaken to put me on such a high pedestal. I am far from perfect, and you will only disappoint yourself further.”

“You seem pretty perfect to me.”

“You are trying to perceive me that way. I can feel it and see it even now. You are trying to excuse what I have done because you think there is a reason for it. People show you who they are, Vinnie. All you have to do is believe it.”

“I don’t think that’s always true. I have witnessed the contrary. Some people put on such a big front that they even fool themselves of who they truly are.”

“I am not perfect. I have many flaws and secrets in my past. My life has been long and weary. I have done unspeakable things, much worse than you could even imagine,” he growled as he held my arms firmly in his grasp. With his eyes latched on mine, he was begging me to believe him.

“I don’t care,” I said honestly, the words slipping through my lips even as they popped into my mind.

“You should!” He pleaded with me to understand his warning.

“I don’t,” I said firmly as I pushed him back into his chair and slammed my lips into his. A moan escaped his throat with the sheer force I put behind my lips, and my body ignited at the sound. He returned my kiss, eagerly parting my lips and entering my mouth. My hands were in his hair, his body firm underneath mine. It was intoxicating.

I quickly pulled away as a thought ran through my mind.

“Wait, you have to know that’s not what this is,” I said breathlessly, and he blinked a few times.

“What?”

“What you had with her . . . That’s not what this is. My emotions—all of them—are involved.” His forehead fell against mine, and he took a deep steadying breath.

“I know. I can feel them merging with my own this very moment.”

“I need to know that this isn’t just because of the bond. I need to know that you aren’t just reacting to what I feel for you out of duty. If that’s the case, then I don’t want it. I don’t want something so meaningless. You may think that is naïve, but it isn’t to me.”

“Vinnie, if this were about the bond . . . if it were that simple . . . I would be outside your door standing guard. I would not be taking every chance to see you, to hear you, to touch you. What I am doing with you has nothing to do with anything as noble as our bond. It is selfish need and want that pulls me to you,” he whispered it fiercely, almost as if asking for forgiveness.

My heart skipped a beat and satisfaction filled me. This man wanted me, truly and of his own will . . . against his better judgment. A smile lit my face, and he pulled me harshly onto his lap. Forcing my legs to straddle his. I gasped at the quick movement, but his mouth on my neck quickly distracted me. His lips, teeth, and tongue were like instruments of torture, pulling a deep and throbbing need into my bones. His hand waved in front of me quickly, and I was wearing the strapless bra and underwear from the dress fitting. He chuckled at my yelp.

“I wanted another look.” He purred as his eyes roamed slowly down my body. I shivered at the thought of him thinking of me like this. With a wave of my hand, his shirt was off, and I was wearing it. A smile lit his face.