Authors: Nichelle Gregory
As You Desire (5 page)
“You will not be bound to your vessel while you do this task for us.” Maurelle reached out and touched his shoulder. “Convince Lona she’s in need of your protection until we are satisfied of her alliances and have confirmed that Rue hasn’t found a way to escape from the dimension he’s trapped in.”
Rafi stared at Maurelle. Their gazes locked and held as the rest of the High Council members waited in silence for his response. It was ludicrous. Him ‘protecting’ Lona, keeping close to her for the rest of her pregnancy? He didn’t know the first thing about caring for a pregnant woman.
But you’d be free from playing genie for a while.
The thought was very tempting. He hadn’t experienced life like that in so long. “You can refuse,” Maurelle said softly, as if she could read his mind.
Maybe she could—he never had learnt what extra-sensory powers she possessed. “What happens if I do?”
Maurelle turned from him, her long, hunter-green robe trailing as she went up a few
stairs to take the only vacant seat among the other High Council members. “We’ll choose another Djinn for the task.”
Rafi tried to picture another genie staying close to Lona, protecting her…holding her
when she had one of those painful attacks.
Unthinkable.
“I’m in.”
Maurelle smiled. “Excellent.”
She stood, along with each member of the High Council as if they were one body, and
bowed to him.
Rafi returned the gesture, but not before he had noticed the twinkling glint in
Maurelle’s eyes—a knowing look that made him believe she
could
hear every little thought
racing through his head.
The soft voices of the elves around her quieted and the gentle hands upon her finally lifted as Lona slowly opened her eyes. The room seemed to spin as she looked up at Niri’s face.
“Just take some deep breaths. You’re going to feel a little bit disorientated and that’s perfectly normal.”
Lona nodded, taking several deep breaths. She felt like she was floating on a cloud and part of her wished she could just enjoy the numbing calm she didn’t understand.
How long have I been lying here?
The shadows outside told her it was now late afternoon. She remembered feeling a little nervous as Niri had ushered her away from Rafi. Despite her reservations, she’d found herself warming to the elf’s kindness. She’d been led through a garden outside Niri’s home to another ivy-covered structure, which had turned out to be a healing centre of some kind for all the elves and fairies living there.
The tea.
Everything after that fragrant cup seemed a little hazy. She remembered Niri reassuring her that all would be well, easily filling in the gaps in their conversation as she’d helped her change into a gossamer robe. The elf had instructed her to bathe in a warm pool and afterwards she’d been placed on a stone table within a room with the climate of a rainforest. Although the air had seemed hot and thick, she hadn’t perspired.
She should’ve been on edge, given the fact that she hadn’t known exactly what was about to happen, but she’d felt strangely calm. Niri had encouraged her to relax and Lona hadn’t even protested when she’d been stripped of her robe. A swathe of royal blue silk had been laid across her breasts and thighs, giving her some modicum of modesty. She’d closed her eyes for what had seemed like a moment, drifting off to sleep to the sound of Niri’s voice. When she’d opened them again, several elves had been at her side, each one a beauty in her own unique way.
She had soon lost track of how many touched her belly, feet, hands and head. Special oils had been rubbed into her skin as the sound of their soft chanting filled the room. She hadn’t been able to understand what they were saying, but had loved the song-like cadence of their language. The feeling of absolute serenity was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She had been completely at ease with the strangers flitting around her, touching her body.
Now maybe the elves would be able to tell her what was wrong with her.
What about my baby?
The answer seemed not to matter as she inhaled the soothing aroma wafting up from the burning candles in the room.
“Lona?”
She turned her head, surprised to find Niri by her side and the rest of the room empty.
“How do you feel?”
Lona stretched her body, testing her muscles, waiting for pain…and found none.
“I feel good. I feel almost like normal.”
Niri smiled, her aquamarine eyes focused on Lona’s face. “Do you want to get up now?”
Lona reached for the elf’s outstretched hand and held the silk covering her breasts with her other hand as she sat up. She exhaled as Niri helped her back into her robe. Her limbs felt feather-light as she stood up.
“Is it over? I don’t remember…”
“I’ll tell you everything, but let’s get you dressed first. You must be hungry, hmm?” She handed Lona the yellow dress Rafi had given her. “Come up the stone path to my house when you’re dressed. I’ll have a snack prepared for us to enjoy outside and we’ll talk.”
Lona nodded, dropping her head to stare at the dress in her hands. She slowly unfolded the dress to find her sandals and panties as Niri left. With each movement, she felt more like herself. She dressed quickly, hating the uneasiness that was slowly creeping back into her system.
What would Niri tell her?
The elf’s face and tone had given nothing away.
Once dressed, she stepped outside and immediately missed the serene ambience behind the door as it clicked closed. She crossed the garden, carefully watching her step on the cobbled stones beneath her sandals as birds sang in the trees overhead. The weather was perfect, as it always was here—never too hot or too cold. On any other occasion she would’ve stopped to admire the colourful, exotic and lush flowers blooming all around, but now she could only focus on reaching Niri’s home.
Her heart dropped the moment she saw Rafi and Niri sitting at the wrought iron table in the middle of the garden, obviously deep in conversation. Somehow, she knew they were talking about her and, from the solemn expressions on their faces, whatever was being discussed wasn’t good.
Rafi looked up first, standing with Niri as she came to the table. She took the chair offered, fully aware of his gaze running over her entire body before returning to hold her gaze. Lona was touched by the concern she saw in his eyes.
“I’m all right.”
“Good,” Rafi said, sitting back down.
“So, tell me…what’s going on?”
Lona saw Niri hesitate as she exchanged a look with Rafi.
All the serenity she’d felt only moments ago seemed to seep from her pores in the stagnant silence.
“Please, just tell me. I want to know. I’m not going to crumple. Is it the baby? Am I losing the baby? Is that what the pain means?”
She knew she was rambling, but it seemed so much easier to keep talking than to hear whatever it was they were both reluctant to tell her.
Niri shook her head. “No, that’s not why you’re having pain.”
Lona swallowed, looking down at Niri’s hand as the elf laced her cool fingers with her own. “Then what is it?”
“Not what…but
who
.” Niri tossed silvery locks of hair over her shoulder before wrapping her other hand around their interlaced ones. “Your pain is being caused by Rue.”
Lona blinked, stunned for a moment. “Wh—what? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Rue’s been manipulating you, using your ability as a conduit of psychic energy to control you.”
The rough edge to Rafi’s voice let her know exactly what he thought about the other man’s actions.
“I don’t believe it.”
Rue was using her as a conduit of psychic energy?
She’d have laughed out loud if it hadn’t been for the serious looks on Niri and Rafi’s faces. The implications of what Niri said were unimaginable…and yet, how long had she yearned for some explanation for her own behaviour where he was concerned?
“And how is he able to hurt me now? You said he’s the reason I’m having these weird pains.” She glanced at Rafi, whose eyes remained glued on her face as if he expected her to faint or scream.
“The moment you stood up for yourself and defied him, his incredible hold over you weakened a great deal. His ability to make you do what he wanted lessened, but he still maintains a psychic connection to you. That’s how he’s able to hurt you.”
Niri sucked in a tight breath and Lona realised she was squeezing the elf’s small hand in a death-grip. She tried to pull away, but Niri held on tighter, her wide, blue eyes almost luminescent in the waning sunlight.
“His seed… He’s able to because of the child growing within you. I doubt he’s even aware you are pregnant. For Rue, it’s all about maintaining whatever amount of control over you he can.”
Lona slumped in her chair, sliding her hand free of Niri’s to touch her stomach. It was ironic. She had nothing else to show for all the time she’d been with Rue. No house to go home to and no money except for what she’d stashed away—hardly enough to sustain a decent way of life. All of her clothes and personal belongings were no doubt still in that dark castle where Rue had held Karis and her mother captive. She had no desire to go and retrieve them.
What kind of mother would she be, when she couldn’t even accept she was having a baby?
“This is wrong. Everything”—Lona looked down at her belly—“everything is just so wrong.”
“Lona…please. Please don’t think of it like that. The baby is part of you, too, and you are full of light and love. You wouldn’t be able to be a conduit otherwise.”
Lona tried to clear her throat, but the sound that emerged sounded more like a dry heave. Her thoughts were definitely not full of light and love right now. She hated herself for not being able to bond with the baby growing within her. How many times had she pushed back the thought that she wished she wasn’t pregnant at all?
Tears filled her eyes as she realised that, even with Rue out of her life, he still had the power to ruin everything…even her hopes for becoming a mother.
“The connection between me and Rue gets stronger as the baby grows, doesn’t it? That’s why the pain is getting worse.”
Niri nodded, her expression as grave as Lona felt.
“Is there a way to break this connection?”
“If there is, we’ll find it,” Rafi said, his deep voice edged with steel.
“There’s something else…”
Lona’s blood ran cold as Niri paused. “What is it? Am I or my baby in physical danger?”
“Rue kept you young for many years, using his magic. Your body is still strong now, but without that healing magic, I’m afraid the nature of this pregnancy will take its toll on you physically.” Niri sighed. “When was the last time the two of you had one of those healing sessions?”
“The night I conceived.”
A moment of silence passed around the table and Lona squeezed her hands in her lap to keep from yelling with frustration. Towards the end, Rue had loved using her need for his healing magic to his advantage. The healing sessions had renewed her body, filled her with energy like nothing else she’d ever experienced in her life, and the end result had been a kick-ass libido that refused to be denied.
“I could use my magic.”
Lona looked across the table at Rafi in surprise.
He held her gaze and a frisson of heat skittered across her skin.
There is no way…
The healing sessions were so intimate and, although she had detested them with Rue towards the end of their twisted relationship, she couldn’t imagine doing one with Rafi.
“Lona, you need this. You need to be at your physical best for this pregnancy.” Niri touched her arm, her expression one of concern and empathy. “You must rest. Go home—”
“Home?” Lona laughed, the shrill sound irritating her own ears. “I don’t have a home.”
“You can stay with me for as long as you need to.”
Lona whipped her head in Rafi’s direction. “Stay with you? I couldn’t possibly sta—”
“It’s no problem. I’ve got the space. I’ll give you
your
space. You’ll get plenty of sunshine, fresh air…I’ll even cook for you on occasion. And when you need my magic, I’ll give it to you.”
His choice of words brought heat to her cheeks as he smiled at her.
The guy was a saint…a thoughtful, charming,
gorgeous
saint.
“Plus, I can teleport you back here if the need arises. So, whaddya say?”
Lona glanced at Niri, who flashed her the thumbs-up sign.
“Well, all right…just until I can find my own place.”
“Sure. We should go now. It’s been a long afternoon.”
He stood and held out his hand to Niri, who laced her fingers with his. Lona watched him bend to kiss the elf on her cheek as she got to her feet.
“Thank you, Niri.”
“Yes—thank you for everything,” Lona said.
On an impulse, she gave the elf a hug, grateful for her help.
Niri nodded, her smile wide and lovely. “Rafi will take good care of you and, if you ever need me, I’m always here for you.”
“Ready?” Rafi asked, offering his hand to her now.
No.
“Yes.” Lona felt the warmth of Rafi’s palm pressed against her own as she waved goodbye to Niri. The truth was that she wasn’t ready to deal with everything she’d learnt, but what choice did she have? She took a deep breath as Niri disappeared in the shimmering wave of energy engulfing them.
Rue cursed out loud as his stomach twisted in agonising knots. He was so hungry. It was getting harder and harder to tell the hunger pains from the other aches causing discomfort. As a genie, he could go months, even maybe a year without food, but he
loved
food. He took great pleasure in having his meals specially prepared for him. Succulent fish, the finest meats, wines, fruits, cheeses…anything he desired had been made to order whenever and however he demanded it.
Hell, he could have used his magic to conjure up some grub if he hadn’t been trapped in a place where his powers were all but useless. Now, stuck in this godforsaken dimension all alone with no food and only the water he could glean after a rainfall, he was dying for a real meal. He was dying to talk to another living soul. More than anything, he was dying to exact revenge.