Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Warm sunlight flowed over me and my eyes fluttered open. I blinked a few times to make the blurry room come into focus while my memory recalled where I lay. Soft blankets covered me and a flood of heat washed over me as I remembered how I'd fallen asleep. I shifted in the bed but was stopped from moving by a strong arm wrapped around my waist.

A gentle chuckle rumbled through me. "Awake at last?"

I twisted my head around and found myself staring into the smiling face of Will. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he nuzzled his face into my hair. "Good morning." I blushed and instinctively tried to cover myself from his lustful eyes. He drew me closer to his chest and pressed his lips close to my ear. "No need to feel shy around me, my bride. We have a long life ahead of us."

My eyes widened and my fingers flew to my lips. The blood. That sweet, delicious blood. "That. . .does that mean-?"

He closed his eyes and settled in beside me. "Very much so."

I looked down at myself. The blood hadn't made me grow any extra feet or arms. So much for becoming a radioactive spider woman. "I, um, forgot to ask you if there were any downsides."

His chuckle vibrated into me. "Only if you consider me a disadvantage."

I snorted. "I don't think many women would find you to be a downside. I just, well, wasn't sure if there wasn't some catch."

His face took on a more serious expression. "There is the long life span. Many would find that unbearable."

"I have you," I pointed out as I swept my eyes over the room. "And Helen and Torch seem nice. There are others, too, aren't there?"

He nodded. "A few dozen of us."

A thought struck me. "Do you have kids?"

"It is possible, but very rare."

A lump developed in my throat. "Do. . .do they have a long life, too?"

"Yes."

I breathed out a long sigh. "Ah, okay. So what is the downside?"

"Perhaps your powers."

I lifted an eyebrow. "What about them?"

"Neither of us have any control over what they may be. You might be disappointed with what you're given."

I laughed and squirmed out of his hold enough to twist around and face him. "I think I'd be pretty happy without powers just as long as you're around."

A smile brightened his face and he leaned down. Our lips met and that familiar sensual heat welled up inside me.

And was promptly killed by a knock on the door.

"Will? Rose?" Helen's voice called to us. "Breakfast is ready."

Will drew away from me and sighed. "We'll be there in a moment."

There was a hint of amusement in Helen's voice with her reply. "Don't let yourselves become distracted during dressing." I heard her footsteps retreat from the door.

Will's mischievous gaze returned to me. "Would you care for some help in dressing?"

I snorted and drew out of his warm grasp. "I think that's what Helen was talking about when she said we should avoid getting distracted."

I rolled out of the other side of the bed and plucked our clothes from the floor. Will did the same, and in a few minutes, our wrinkled attire was draped over the dresser. We slipped out of our birthday suits and into some new clothes that had been unpacked for us last evening during dinner.

I couldn't help but feel some regret as Will hid all of his manliness underneath his clothes.

"Your face betrays your thoughts like an open book," he teased as he buttoned up his shirt.

A blush accented my cheeks as I hurried on with my dress, or tried to. The front buttons were still a hassle for me. "I'll have to remember to close the book sometime."

He gently waved away my fumbling fingers and finished the buttoning himself. I looked up at him and found him smiling down at me. "Please don't. I want nothing closed between us."

I grinned as I toyed with one of his buttons. "Ditto."

He chuckled as he offered me his arm. "Then shall we?"

I accepted his limb and nodded. "Let's."

We ventured downstairs and found a fresh breakfast waiting for us in the large hall, along with our hosts. We took our seats with Will on Torch's right and me beside my dragon.

Helen smiled at me from across the table. "You have a very becoming glow about you this morning, Rose."

I blushed a little and fumbled with my napkin. "I slept really well."

Her eyes twinkled. "I'm sure that is it."

"What do you propose to do today?" Torch asked my dragon husband.

Will leaned back in his seat and folded his arms over his chest. "I thought to take Rose on a tour of the city, and should anything arise from that we will follow it. Tomorrow we will begin the search in earnest."

"Would you not rather keep Rose here during that search?" Torch proposed as he nodded at me. "She would be safest here than anywhere."

Will shook his head. "I would rather keep her by my side."

I sheepishly smiled at our host. "I have a bad habit of being kidnapped when Will isn't around."

"Would you both like to come with us on the tour this day?" Will offered our hosts.

The corners of Torch's lips drooped and a dark cloud settled on his brow. "That would. . .that is, perhaps another time." Helen's shoulders sagged and she bowed her head. Torch reached over and grasped one of her hands in his. "Another day, my love."

She managed a small smile. "Of course, dearest."

Food was brought from the kitchen and was eagerly devoured. Within half an hour Will stood and looked down at me. "Are you ready?"

I scarfed down what remained on my plate and smiled up at him with more food in my teeth than I intended. "As ready as I'll ever be."

He chuckled as I stood, and even Helen showed signs of amusement as our hosts rose to their feet. They followed us to the front door where Helen set her hand on my arm. "May I speak with you a moment?"

I blinked at her and cast an uncertain look at Will. He nodded, and I returned my attention to Helen. "Sure."

Helen guided me into a small study off the main hall and close to the front door. She closed the door behind us and turned to face me with her gentle smile. "I thought perhaps I should warn you about your nascent power before it surprises you at a most inopportune moment."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Is that how it always works?"

She chuckled. "That is how it worked for me. My power manifested itself at a ball Alex held to celebrate our union. I was in the midst of a dance when suddenly all the people around me began to glow. Being unaware of auras, I thought perhaps they had all been possessed by some dark magic."

My eyebrows shot up. "What did you do?"

She sauntered over to a high-backed leather chair and set her hands on the top. A soft smile graced her lips as she stared down with unfocused eyes. "I panicked and fled the ball." She set a hand on her chest and closed her eyes. "Fortunately, our connection meant that Alex soon found me and carried me home. The next day he took me to the Arbiter and she explained what I was seeing."

Something she mentioned caught my attention. "Your connection?"

"Yes," Helen replied as she raised one of her arms and turned the limb upside down. She traced one finger up a vein to her wrist. "The blood our dragon offers to us allows them to sense where we are, and the same is true for us after we have mastered our power. All this the Arbiter told me."

I cocked my head to one side. "What is this Arbiter?"

Helen laughed and spun around to face me where she grasped her hands behind her back. She looked so adorably young, like a doll. I could hardly believe she was centuries old. "I must scold Will for not teaching you more about this world. To answer your question, the Arbiter is one of the oldest creatures in the world. She was here long before the city was established, and I suspect she will be here long after we have all vanished."

I blinked at her. "She's that old?"

"And then some," Helen confirmed as she strode over and looped one of her arms through mine. "But we should return to the gentlemen. They no doubt suspect we are plotting some mischief."

I grinned at her. "We should try that sometime."

We both laughed as we headed out of the room.