Shadows of the Keeper (54 page)

“They approve.”  She swallowed
again.  Her breathing hitched.

“They know I serve their father,
and save their mother.  Drink, my queen, and I will hold them as you
feed.”  Strong arms encompassed where her babies nestled, relieving her of
having to hold their weight.  Just that alone was a wonderful relief she’d
not enjoyed ever.

“Vaifyr, if the children arrive and
you haven’t fed, you will not survive.  I command you drink now!”

She refrained from pure rapture no
more.

Her fangs sank deeply into hot
flesh.  Her eyes closed.  Mindless, she suckled for long, long
moments.  None dared make a sound.  Vaide growled, knowing it
heightened the flavor, her Lumynari blood stimulated, domination rearing. 
Harder, she pulled blood from his neck.  Oh, how she missed tasting this
nectar!  For too long, she’d not felt this alive!  At long last, she
released her bite, licking the droplets of blood until none continued to
spill.  Even his flesh tantalized her mouth.  Emily rested her head
against Vaide’s, weakened from the overwhelming nourishment she’d not realized
she’d been lacking.  “Thank you.”

“My queen, your time.  My
apologies we did not arrive sooner.”

Emily looked down at him. “Sorry, I
didn’t mean to take so much.”

“He is pure Daemon, not some human
punishment for a lifetime of atrocities.  Toxic to any other, for you, he
is the sustenance you will require when weakening from breastfeeding your
children.  And, daughter . . .” Inzyr looked around at the Outlanders,
switching to Balkorian, “the lover you may need to satisfy lusts awakened in
you that no human will live through, should you seek release.”

“My heart is wherever Dezenial—“

“We are not talking about the
heart.  We are talking about Lumynari lust.  Especially when you
feed.  Only Vaide will be able to accept what you will do.  Only
Vaide has Dezenial’s
permission
.”

“
Permission
—aaahhhh!” 
Emily grabbed her side, panting.  She clutched Vaide’s shoulder for dear
life.  Teeth clenched.  “Shit . . . hell . . .
damn
!”

Vaide quickly stood, her father
moving to her side as did the laird.

“Her time comes!” Eldaryn
shouted.  Buoyantly, he dashed away, bounding up the stairs.  At the
mouth of her corridor, both heads barked several times.  It sounded more
like thunder.  Windows rattled.

Emily’s mouth hung open, unable to
inhale, pain
unreal
.  Grasp of her father’s arm turned to clawing
as spasm after spasm seared her back and lower stomach. 

First gulp of air, she
screamed.  Bloodcurdling.

Hades’ protectors back away.

Several immortals charged in
different directions.  All wanted to help; none knew which way to
go.  Maeve rushed to her side.  Cianna, forever calm, looked to Inzyr
and made her way to the stairs.

“Help . . . me.”  Emily
started to sink.  Pressure unbearable.  Water gushed from her. 
Again, she screamed, clasping the weight of her stomach.

“Emily!” Broc shouted. 
“Urkani, your herbs!”

“Show me to her chamber, Outlander,
now
!”  Inzyr swept up his daughter, shouting commands over his
shoulder to the Daemon Elite.  They followed at a close gait as the Shadow
Master trotted across the expansive great hall with his burden, hastily
following where Broc led.

“I’m . . . too heavy.”

“Do I look to be faltering?”

“My mother . . . scared . . . she
died.”  Perspiration bathed Emily’s face.  Again, she exhaled rapid
short breaths.  She drew in, another spasm of pain making her fold and
buck. 

“Vaifyr, do not do that
again.  Bite into me, hit me, pull my hair, but do not buck.  I’ll
have you upon a bed momentarily.”

Emily bit into her father’s very
large shoulder.  Band of his arms tightened. 

“I’m going to die . . . just like
she did.”

She was being laid upon a
bed.  When had they even entered the long, winding corridor? 
Softness enveloped her.  Cianna was near, slipping from shadow and into
the light.

“Vaifyr?”  Proud Lumynari
assassin wore such a stern look upon his face, had it not been for her
knowledge of his love for her, she’d have given into fear and screamed until
insane.  

Pretty much like the pain was
making her currently do now.  Pain ripped through her.  Cianna had
the buttons undone of her gown.  When?  Had she blacked out?

“Emily?” Inzyr called again. 
She opened her eyes.  Naked, save for the blanket covering her.  How
long had she slipped away?

“I have come for . . .
fusing.  You will not pass as your mother did.  Do you accept?”

Her eyes landed on Vaide.  A
slight nod from him, he remained against a far wall, arms crossed.  “It
will bind me to him . . . as mate.”

She held her breath, head thrashing
side to side as she pounded the bed with her fists during the worst pain
yet.  “You . . . knew.  Time today.  Or course.  Now . . .
your words make sense.”

“As it should be.  Now, do you
accept?”

“Dezenial . . . would never
forgive—“

“Hades has chosen and sent
Vaide.  Which means, vaifyr, Dezenial
most
approves!”

“He said he would send . . .
yes
,
I accept.”  She bucked, screamed, then grappled her huge stomach and
breathed as if asthmatic.  “You . . . better explain—“

All she could do was jab towards
Broc.  Her intent, comprehended.

Inzyr scowled.  “I explain to
no—“

“Would,” Lightning speed, Emily
yanked her father close by his jerkin, “you like to see how much your bloodline
has taken over during this pregnancy?”  She collapsed, releasing him.

“I would not advise you accepting
her offer,” Allen stated, appearing.  “Most treacherous, our suffering
since coming into her power.”

Vaide pushed from the wall. 
Emily waved a hand.  “He’s . . . ally.”  Inhale.  “What are you
. . . doing in here, Allen?”

“My Queen, the children,” Cianna
softly said, leaning close and waiving Vaide closer. “Your time is now.” 
She gently pushed Emily into a sitting position, she and Vaide piling pillows
behind her. 

“I need drugs,” Emily hissed. 
“Shit-hell-damn! Give me scotch, or
something
!”  Bloodcurdling
scream echoed around the room.  Allen clapped hands over his ears. 

“They’re ripping me apart!”

Cianna placed her hand upon Emily’s
belly.  “Come,” she ordered Emily’s father.  “You must partake in
this, if she is to survive.”

“If she is to survive?”  Broc
paled.  He moved to offer his hand for Emily to squeeze.  A gesture
he instantly regretted, not realizing the power within a birthing woman. 
He’d be lucky to ever grasp his sword again.  Her father’s arm bled where
she’d bitten.

“These are Lumynari children. 
Because she carries two, they will battle for first rights.”  Cianna
looked steadily at Inzyr.  “You know what to do.  Place your hands
upon her now. 
You
must dominate them or they will kill her!” 
Her vehemence shocked Maeve, Cianna otherwise a very reserved woman.

Emily screamed.  Kicking
commenced within her womb.  Her stomach contorted under the sheet. 
“Help . . . me!”  She shouted so loudly, Broc wondered if his tower
guardsmen would come running.  Maybe he could run out as they ran in.

“Forgive me your human modesty,
daughter.”  Inzyr yanked down the sheet, and with both very strong hands,
spread them upon her swollen belly.

Brutal motion within her womb
abruptly ceased.

So relieved, not caring if Broc’s
entire garrison marched in while she was naked, Emily collapsed.

“Allen, a plaid,” Broc quietly
ordered.  The ghost vanished and reappeared so fast, Broc scowled. 
Gently, the laird covered Emily’s breasts.  She smiled weakly, though her
eyes remained closed.  Apparently, the Forest Lord minded her nudity.

“Nay, lass, but I wondered if ye’
would feel a bit more comfortable.”

“I’m . . . thinking out loud?”

“Aye.”

Blessed moments passed allowing her
to breathe without agony.  If this was only the first few minutes, what
would the duration be like while waiting to dilate?  Nervous crying
started.  Excitement and terror clashed as violently as her unborn
children.  “Please. 
Please
.  Hasn’t anything been
invented in your world for the pain?”

Inzyr chuckled.  “I am the
relief you seek, daughter.”  Dressed similar to how Dezenial used to,
black leather leggings, and baldric strapped diagonally across his torso, black
wristbands, warrior garb belying the gentleness his strong hand currently
offered; hands responsible for the mutilation and murder of scores of
enemies.  He was muttering again.

“What are you saying?” Broc
demanded.

“It’s okay.  He enthralls them
with tales of their father, the battles they both fought and won.”  Emily
inhaled deeply.  “And threatens to thrash them, should they kick me one
more time.”

“They understand this?” Allen
asked.

“Allen!”

“I am not going to miss this event
by pacing with that pack of wild men downstairs.  They’ve heard your
screams.  Erchyll yells his prayers, crossing himself every time he looks
at your . . . uh . . . your
guests
guarding the stairs.  Colin
plays his cello attempting to cover your screams . . . or Reignsfeugh’s
piping.  A bloody madhouse filled with nutters! You cannot make me. 
I will not partake in that melee!”

Emily’s door banged open. 
Though she flinched, her father’s concentration never wavered.  “Oh my
God!”

Aedan, Garreck, Colin, and Erchyll
waltzed in as if appearing for the noon meal.

“How did you get past my guards,”
Inzyr growled.

“Holy water,” Erchyll piped up.

Broc choked.

“I’m naked here!”

“And a foyn bonny lass ye’ be,”
Erchyll quipped.  Ashen, Colin duly clobbered the priest.

“Make them leave,” she whined,
grateful her father tucked a sheet around her for modesty’s sake.  “Broc,
I’ll set fire to your castle if you don’t get rid of them.”  But she could
tell by the laird’s fixation upon her father’s hands, her labor was about all
he could concentrate on at the moment.  “Who’s
panting
?” Pain began
building.

Colin walked through the English
ghost, ignoring Allen’s sputtering about ill manners, and re-opened Emily’s
door.  Eldaryn paced, tongues hanging.  Panting exchanged for
whimpers.  He stopped, suddenly, and looked straight at her.  “You
are finished?”

“Come . . . lay beside me . . .
Rover.”

“Now see here!  You cannot
allow something like that—“

“He has protected me for a long
time, Allen.  Do you see him . . . out there?  He’ll wear a hole in
Maeve’s fine rugs.”

“Oh, you do have a point. 
Maeve is most unreas—“

“Yes, Sassenach?” Maeve said,
standing to her full height.  Which wasn’t much.

“Having a dog in the room can’t be
any worse than having a spirit hover over me,” Emily grumbled.

“Indeed,” Allen said, rocking back
on his heels.

Maeve dabbed Emily’s brow with a
cool lightly scented cloth.  She too was muttering.  Pagan words
bathing Emily in calmness.  Emily smiled weakly. “I think Danu hears my
screams.”

Maeve laughed.  “ ‘Tis always
worse, your fist time.  Aedan near kilt’ me.”  She patted Emily’s
arm, and resumed her mutterings and ministrations. 

“You must begin to push.  It
is time,” Cianna whispered, and lowered herself in front of Emily.

“Can’t be.  My first. 
Not dilated.”

“You are Lumynari,” her father
announced.  “Your time is now.”  His eyes blazed.  “You have
been commanded to push by a high priestess.”

“Cianna’s a—“

“You prove most difficult,
daughter!”  He began applying pressure to her abdomen.  Emily smacked
his hands.  Broc grabbed hers.  Inzyr shouted something and Vaide
took his stand beside her, a long silver box clutched in his imposing hands.

“What’s his purpose?” Broc
demanded.  Birthing rooms were for females.  A private affair.  Weren’t
men supposed to be away from this?  Drinking foyn scotch?  Visions of
Emily feeding from this being’s neck would take time to accustom to, but he
promised this time he’d not be fool enough to judge, nor allow any others to
judge her.

“Fusing.  If I begin to bleed
. . . to death . . . Vaide will cut himself, and fuse with me to save my life.”

“This is what you discussed
downstairs, in your father’s language?”

“He is sent from her
father-in-law,” Inzyr growled.  “Hades has lost a son.  He will
not
lose a daughter.  I have my orders.”

“You will not stop him, or I will
die.  And he
will
avenge me, Broc.  On that, I cannot command
him otherwise.  Keep your men back, should it become necessary.”  She
puffed air in short gasps.  “All . . . will be annihilated . . . if Vaide
is stopped and I die as a result.”

“Do not stop me, human, from saving
our queen.”

Broc didn’t bother glancing up at
the deep voice speaking over him.  There was just too much to digest at
the moment.  Draw his sword, or jump from the window?  He hadn’t
quite made up his mind yet.

Emily looked to her sire. “Take
them . . . take them from my womb, if I don’t make it.”

“Emil—“

“Swear oath!”

Motion suspended.

Her father finally yielded his
word.

“I charge . . . you with . . .
their life,” she hissed.  “You . . . as well, Broc.”

Emily threw her head back and
screamed.

Quickly, Broc explained what she’d
been muttering to him in between breathing and panting.  His men
grudgingly gave their assent.  They’d not interfere.  They were lax
about hiding their grins, their laird having found himself saddled with a
Lumynari as joint guardians over the wee lass’s babies.  Hidden from the
MacLarrin, wagers were whispered and placed.

“Now, daughter!”  Inzyr
released his hold, repositioning himself with Cianna.  He looked up at
Emily’s face, imprisoning her gaze.  “I will hold your firstborn, as
Dezenial held you.”

“You knew?” She gulped, arched her
neck, acute pain spearing her. 

“I have not been amused by the
besiegement of your fears.  Your thoughts have plagued me until rather
annoying.”

Emily grinned.

Erchyll crossed himself.

“Shall I send . . . you a . . .
visual now?” She screamed and bit into Broc’s arm when the laird held tight,
not allowing her to punch him.

“Outlander!  Position yourself
behind my daughter.  You will help push the children you are going to
sire.”  Broc didn’t have time to remove his boots.  Nor dwell on how
the bloody ‘ell Inzyr knew of his offer to Emily.  Straddling behind the
ferocious tiny woman, he tugged her back against him.  And arm banded
below her breasts, his other hand grasping her forehead.  She clawed and
squeezed his arm.

“She is forbidden to hold her
breath when pushing.  It can rupture her brain.  Do you understand?”

Broc was incredulous.  Colin
made note, muttering for Erchyll to remind him of this tidbit later.  Broc
could only nod at the Lumynari, mute. 

I’m not supposed to be in
here.  This is woman’s domain
.

Emily pinched his arm.  “Well,
you
are
in here, so . . . help me!”

“My thoughts—“

“Were out loud, aye, laird,”
Garreck said. 

Erchyll began praying.  Colin
watched with utmost interest.  Garreck eased back.  “You will
not
make your escape, brother!” Broc bellowed.  Emily winced.  “Mi’
apologies, lass.”

“Now, Outlander!”

“Push, lass.  Push and tell
Erchyll how much ye’ ‘ate his prayin’.”

“Shut . . . up . . . your fucking .
. . noise,
priest
!”  Emily screamed, breathed, collapsed, screamed,
pushed, and screamed again.  “Why . . . have me talk?” she gasped.

“Ta’ keep ye’ breathing,” Broc
said, lopsided grin and helpless shrug following.

Emily’s teeth sank into his
arm.  Broc wished it manly to scream.  They could chorus
together.  Eldaryn lifted both heads and howled.

Erchyll swooned, crashing heavily
to the floor.  Stunned silence was broken by Allen’s eruption of laughter
while pointing down at the priest.

“Blasted Sassenach!”  Garreck
drew his sword and impaled the ghost.

“Now that’s just bloody
rude!”  Allen yelled, looking aghast down at his torso.

Emily’s scream caused them all to
hush
and
grit their teeth.

“The male won battle to enter
first,” Inzyr boasted.  Grin fell from his face as he did a double-take,
looking from the sword, to Allen, then to Emily.  “A strong warrior, he
will be.  You reside in bedlam, daughter.”

“Shouldn’t . . . shouldn’t you have
a blanket or towel—“

“First contact is to be
flesh-to-flesh,” Inzyr schooled.  “As it was for you.  His name,
daughter?”

“Denzyr.”

Inzyr’s throat bobbed.  His
chest swelled.  And his eyes watered.  A curt nod, his
acknowledgement of the high honor bestowed him.

Denzyr made his entrance true to
his father.  Silent and scowling.  A small fist waved, already
threatening the world.  Emily shakily fell back against a soaked
laird.  He was working miracles at keeping her hair from plastering her
face and neck.  For that small wonder, she would be eternally
grateful.  Wonder filled her, the look upon her father’s face, the deadly
assassin gazing down at his grandson.  Bored, her son stretched his tiny
arms, then settled into the giant hands cupping his messy little body and fell
asleep.  Inzyr snorted.  “Just as arrogant as your sire.”

“And his grandfather.”

Inzyr presented a viewing of his
grandson to Vaide who in turn muttered words, then wound a tiny gold chain
around her son’s wrist.  Vaide yanked a small gold blade free from his
jerkin.  Pricking Denzyr’s tiny fingers, he repeated the motion on
himself.  Fingertips were joined and pressed together, blood mixing
between infant and deadly Daemon Elite.

“What are you doing,” Broc and Emily
chimed.

“As I swore allegiance to your
father, Vaide is swearing allegiance to your son.”  He handed off the
little warrior to Maeve.

“
Every
boy should have his
own assassin.  I can’t thank you enough.”

Broc chuckled against her.

“Your insolence will only earn you
a beating, vaifyr.”  Inzyr beamed, as only a new lunatic grandfather
does.  His fanged grin caused Erchyll to revisit Emily’s floor.

Emily giggled, louder when she
spied her father’s scowl over Maeve’s clucking and cooing while cleaning his grandson,
then swaddling him in an ancient shawl.  A beautiful pin was clipped to
the cloth, his forehead anointed with scented oil.

“He’s Lumynari, not a puppy,” Inzyr
hissed.

Maeve smiled.  “Aye, but he’s
my
Lumynari.  Hush and tend yer’ daughter.”

“I think the only god he hasn’t yet
been blessed by is the one from my world,” Emily whispered up at Broc.

The next seventeen minutes were the
deepest sleep Emily had ever experienced.  Muted voices cradled her.

The little drama queen screamed her
indignation as soon as her rosebud mouth was cleared.  A dozen Forest
Lords charged the room, swords drawn.  Emily screamed, thrashing the sheet
over herself.

“S’blood!  The wee lass
bellowed like tha’?” Reignsfeugh flung himself from the squalling newborn, fear
marring his face.

“I say we’ve found ourselves a new
piper,” Colin shouted above the din.  It succeeded in making the infant
scream louder.

“Her name,” Inzyr yelled.

“Kendara.”

Again, he was visibly moved. 
“For your mother.”

Emily nodded, too deafened and
exhausted to say much more.  Kendara shrilled again.  Maeve passed
Denzyr to Emily and plucked the screaming lass from her grandfather’s arms,
scowling up at the Shadow Master.  “She’s cold.”  Waving off Inzyr’s
growl and show of fangs, Maeve cooed over the infant, drying and wrapping her
as she’d done for the wee lad.  It was to no avail.  Kendara’s lungs
expanded, spewing banshee scream after scream.  Emily handed her son to
Inzyr.  Broc still held Emily, shock and amazement dulling his reaction to
the chaos surrounding them.  “Give her to me,” Emily ordered, reaching out
for her.  But still, the tiny girl wailed.  “She’s a twin. 
Place Denzyr here, next to her on the bed.”  Emily patted the blankets,
frantic.  Screaming escalated.  “Oh my God!  Something’s wrong! 
Something’s hurting her!  Kendara, it’s momma.”  Gingerly, Emily
picked up her tiny daughter, patting her back, holding her closely. 

Emily cried.  Maeve wrung her
hands.  Kendara screamed in Broc’s face, the laird thinking to cup her
tiny head.  Seemed the daughter would be much like the mother, forever
screaming at him.  He would have laughed if his ears didn’t feel like they
were going to pop off his head.  He spied Eldaryn slinking from the
chamber, both tails tucked tightly.  “Coward!”

Kendara screamed louder.

Broc reddened.  “Oops.”

What was wrong with her baby? 
She couldn’t even comfort—wailing became shrieking.  Emily cried harder,
confused.  Was this due to Dezenial not being here?  Was there some
Lumynari bonding that was supposed to take place, but with him no longer . . .
gaze narrowed on her father.  Unaffected, he stood there, arms
folded.  “Are you
grinning
?”

Aedan plucked Kendara from Emily’s
arms.  “We’ll no’ be ‘aven’ anymore of yer’ nonsense.  Ye’ve made
yerself known, we ken yer’ finally here, now ta’ sleep wi’ ye’, lass.”

Kendara nestled into the crook of
Aedan’s arm, her little face turning into his chest, and with a shuddered sigh,
she slept.

“Oh-my-God,” Emily whispered,
stunned.

Inzyr merely shrugged.  “You
had the same reaction.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, or help?”

“And spoil my revenge?  After
your screaming, Emily, I couldn’t hear for a full week.  Thought I’d
reciprocate.  As Dezenial seemed to be the only one to calm you, I simply
waited to see who would be the one for her.”

“I claim her,” Aedan announced, his
gaze yet to lift from the infant dwarfed even more against his huge chest.

Emily silenced.  Air refused
to exit from the chasm of her lungs. 

“A Lumynari princess and a Fey
prince—“

Maeve gasped.  “How do you
come to know this?”

Inzyr’s smile was friendly and
warm.  “The only true threat to a Shadow Master are the Fey.  You
have an aura surrounding you, Sister of the Woods, enabling us to know when
your kind is near.”

“And how do you come to know of mi’
Aedan’s royal heritage?”

Inzyr leaned closer and whispered
so only the shield master’s mother could hear.  She reared, eyes
wide.  “Oh.  Oh, well, I see.”

“Indonin?”

“The Fey royal has claimed my
granddaughter to one day be his life-mate, as Dezenial did with you.  Kendara
does not have her father here to acquiesce.  So,” Inzyr’s grin was almost
maniacal, “it will be up to myself and Broc, whom
you
have chosen to
sire your children in Dezenial’s stead.” 

Emily choked back tears. 
“Aedan, what little girls do to cats—“

“I will make a fine husband.”

“What happened to your brogue?”

“His true self emerges, enveloping
Kendara with comfort, enabling her to rest.”

Emily smirked at her father. 
“Well, aren’t you just a wealth of information.”

Inzyr’s brow arched.

Tomb silence befell them, or so it
seemed after the assault they all took to their hearing.  Emily stared at
Aedan.  Aedan stared down at Kendara. 

“ ‘Tis your choice, lass,” Broc
whispered.  His breath tickled, fluttering something long dead.  But,
she’d drank from Vaide.  None now, save for him, would be able to handle
her, should she
unleash
. 

“Yer’ auld enough ta’ be her
ancestor,” Colin whispered, terrified he’d awaken the banshee.

“A relic,” Reignsfeugh added.

Emily glanced down at her son,
sleeping next to her thigh.  Just like her father, he completely ignored
female tantrums.  “A fine husband you will make, Aedan,” Emily said
softly. 
So
softly, Aedan almost missed her answer.  “One
condition.”

“Aye?”

“If she doesn’t freely love you, as
a woman loves a man, and no magical influence is allowed, Aedan, she’s free to
choose another without interference or sabotage from you.  And, Aedan, you
must take blood oath you will accept that she is Lumynari . . . and
Daemon.  You will have to offer fealty to Hades.”  She eyed
Vaide.  Her son had his first member to his elite circle.  “You will
have strange visitors, Aedan, and must be ready to accommodate or assassinate
without questioning your wife.”  Her gaze swiveled back to the son of
Fey.  “She will surpass you in power, cunning and weaponry.  Issues?”

“Nay, my lady.”

None questioned Emily’s sudden
insight.  Her eyes glowed soft amber.  Out of habit, each man
clandestinely took a step away, lest she make a grab for one of their
hilts. 

“I’ll respect your wishes, Lady
Emily.  But, know this, when and if Princess Kendara says me yea, I may
not match her in power, but she will respect I am her equal, out for her best
interest, and at times, my word
will
be her law.  As I swear fealty
to her and her kin, so too, she will swear oath to mine of the Fey.”

Emily smiled.  “I didn’t say I
wanted her running roughshod over you.”

Inzyr pushed from the wall, freeing
his small gold dagger.  “Blood oath.  I’ll tolerate nothing less for
my granddaughter.”  He sliced his own palm then grabbed Aedan’s hand.

 Aedan snorted.  “Will I
one day drink from her neck, or will she drink from mine?”

Laughing softly, Emily shook her
head, watching her father tightly clasp Aedan’s bleeding hand, muttering
words.  Aedan stared hard at the Lumynari, showing no fear.  A few
more words and the Shield Master gave a curt nod.  Emily looked at their
hands, now released from their tight hold.  No blood. 
Weird
. 
“Don’t panic, Aedan.  She’s probably going have bitten each and every one
of you before she’s done.”

“Aye.  She’ll ‘ave all mi’ men
eatin’ out the palm of her hand,” Broc said from behind Emily.  His Emily
giggled. “Ye’ did well, lass.  Never ‘ave I witnessed such an event. 
Amazing.  I thank you, Lady Emily.  Can I get ye’ anything?”  He
shifted, pulling his leg gently from around her and heaved himself from the
bed.  He stretched, grabbed his lower back and winced.  Emily spied
bruising and claw marks up and down his arm.  She hadn’t realized she’d
been assaulting him.  She crooked her finger for him to lower his head,
whispering her request.