Chapter 16

16

Temptation leads us down alleys full of muggers and thieves.

~ Dionadra, Essays on the Motivations of Men

When Kaylina led Vlerion into Stillguard Castle, their taybarri mounts choosing to bed down under a tree by the river, they found the dishes already washed, only a few lingering scents promising that another dinner service had passed while she’d been away. She lamented not being around to help and hoped her brother and the staff understood.

A single lamp burned, left out for her, though Frayvar couldn’t have known if she would return that night. Glad for his thoughtfulness, she laid the short article about the Deep Sea Honeybee on a counter for him to see in the morning.

On the way over, she had convinced the taybarri to slow down as they passed under each streetlamp, giving her time to read it. Twice.

The journalist had praised the mead, hinted that the maker was druid-blessed, and urged others to visit and try it. There’d also been a line mentioning a young genius chef who made delicious meals. Frayvar would be ecstatic—and probably smug. In order to keep his ego in check, Kaylina would be sure to point out that most of the article had been about the mead.

“Not too much damage here,” Vlerion said, though he waved at a waste bin that held a couple of broken glasses that must have fallen during the earthquake. “It’s surprising, considering how old this castle is and how many years— centuries —there was no maintenance done. As far as I know, the Saybrooks never sent anyone over—never could find anyone willing to step foot in it—to do repairs or upkeep.”

“Don’t forget the live-in sentinel.”

“You think the plant is the reason the roof never caved in during the centuries after the curse was laid and it was abandoned?”

“Certainly. And we’ve done a lot to tidy it up.” Kaylina touched her chest and waved upstairs to indicate her brother, who was presumably asleep in his room. “Admittedly, we haven’t repaired walls, roofs, or the floor.”

“Maybe there is some magic keeping it together.”

“If your mission in life is to grow vines out of the walls and strangle enemies, you need to make sure the mortar remains in sufficiently good shape.”

Vlerion grunted. “I suppose that’s true.”

He stepped close, wrapping his arms around her, and rested his face against the top of her head.

She didn’t know if he wanted to be close to her or felt the need for support. Maybe both? Even though he hadn’t said anything to indicate he felt overwhelmed or beleaguered by everything that was happening, it all had to be emotionally taxing. Stalwart rangers probably weren’t supposed to admit that they felt such things. This might be as close as he would get.

“I should show you to a room.” More softly, Kaylina said, “I wish I could invite you to mine.”

For a long moment, Vlerion didn’t answer, merely holding her, but his silence was contemplative. “I brought along a potion Sergeant Zhani gave me.”

Since Zhani had also given her potions, it took Kaylina a moment to remember he wasn’t talking about the substance Sabor had thrown at him.

Vlerion released her, stepped back, and dug into a pouch at his waist. He withdrew and unwrapped two tiny vials with clear liquid inside.

“Those are supposed to… calm your libido?”

“Yes. Swallowing one should allow me to give you an enjoyable experience without the beast making an appearance.”

Kaylina couldn’t keep from making a face. She understood his reasoning for acquiring the concoctions, and she was touched that he wanted to give her pleasure, even when he couldn’t take his own, but she didn’t like the idea of sharing an experience with him that he wouldn’t be able to enjoy himself. He would only be able to…

She rubbed the back of her neck and admitted she didn’t know what he would be able to do. She’d only been with one other man besides Domas, the boyfriend she’d spent a couple of months with, the one who’d thought she was pretty and sexy but not normal.

Both men had been more experienced than she, but neither had spent a lot of time worrying about her pleasure before taking their own. She hadn’t disliked sex with Domas, but she’d always had the vague sense that it should have been more satisfying. Her sister always made smug comments about how wonderful her nights with her husband were. Since she did everything better than Kaylina, it hadn’t seemed that surprising that her bedroom experiences would be superior too, but Kaylina had wondered if she’d been missing something.

“That’s not the usual expression of someone eager to get naked with me,” Vlerion said dryly.

“I would love to get naked with you, but you know why I’m hesitant.”

“Because you don’t know about the heights of pleasure I can bring you to?” He managed a smile, amused despite everything going on.

Kaylina swallowed, wishing she could bring him to heights of pleasure. He needed a distraction from life far more than she. Not that his words—and that sexy smile—didn’t intrigue, but…

“It’s true that I don’t know, but it’s late. You must be tired. I’m tired. This isn’t the time to experiment.”

And yet… if he kissed her or even touched her, she wouldn’t push him away. She would never push him away. Even when she should , she always longed to be close to him, to mold herself to his hard body, to bask in the thrum of warm energy that emanated from him, the power that cloaked him and enshrouded her when she was close.

“Perhaps not an ideal time, but…” Vlerion gazed toward a dark window, his strong profile half in light from the lamp, half in shadow. “You know what the morning could bring. I told Targon I would stay in the city, and I would like to, but the populace may rise up against me. I may be forced to flee.” He grimaced at the lack of appeal. Had he ever fled from anything in his life?

She didn’t know. “You can stay here. The plant will defend?—”

“You. I believe that. Me…” Vlerion touched his chest. “I am certain it would prefer me to be dead. Nothing has changed. I’m still a threat to you. Although…” His gaze lowered to the vials.

He returned one to his pouch but opened the other. He poured himself a cup of water from the well bucket, then swigged the vial, making a face but following it with the water.

“You should have had mead with that.” Kaylina leaned into the pantry and withdrew a handful of vanilla-honey cookies that she’d made a couple of days earlier. “Here. These will get rid of the taste.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” Vlerion did accept a cookie and ate it. “This is much better.”

“Naturally. It’s been kissed with honey.”

She watched him chew, the tendons in his strong neck shifting in the shadows, and a little thrum of excitement ran through her. Vlerion was here in the castle with her at night, and if the potion worked as promised, she could invite him to her room. Even if they couldn’t do what they both wanted, she could lie in bed with him, embracing him as they gazed into each other’s eyes, sharing warmth and company.

And maybe, while they were so linked, his hand would stray down her side, touching her where she’d only touched herself for many long months. Maybe, under the effects of the libido-dulling potion, he could give her what other men hadn’t.

She bit her lip, shifting closer to him, wanting…

“I believe it will take some time to take effect,” Vlerion said softly, lifting a hand to keep her back. His gaze lowered from her eyes to her mouth and then her chest.

A flush of heat swept through her, pooling at her core. All he had to do was check her out, and it turned her on.

He shifted his gaze toward the hearth. “Yes, it’s not doing anything yet.”

“How will we know when it’s safe?”

He snorted softly and waved toward his crotch. Usually, she didn’t stare at that particular area, but he did gesture to draw her eye.

“Oh,” she said. “Yes, I see.”

She wanted to feel smug that she could have that effect simply by being in the room with him but reminded herself that it was dangerous when he was aroused. He wasn’t humming, not yet, but he was determinedly looking into the fire instead of at her.

“Maybe I should wait upstairs?” Kaylina asked uncertainly.

Naked and sprawled on her bed, she thought, ready for his touch, for him to do whatever he had in mind. But that might be dangerous too, if he was mistaken about when the potion took effect.

“Better for you to stay close so…” Vlerion looked at her again. “So I’ll know.”

His gaze was heady, intense with desire, and it pulled her like a magnet, but she gripped the cool edge of the counter to keep herself in place.

The call has been heard, the sentinel spoke into her mind, startling her.

Uhm, what?

He who heard wishes a response, wants to know if you’ve the power to send without the aid of the ashandar .

The what?

Maybe it was her imagination, but the sentinel seemed to sigh into her mind, impatient with her ignorance. The artifact you used in the ruins. It shared the memory of the sphere with her. Come, and I will instruct you on how to use your power to call without it.

I’m… kind of busy now. Can it wait until morning?

As soon as she shared the words, she realized she should prioritize the calling. If ‘he who heard’ was out there in the world somewhere—could that be her father?—then contacting him sooner would be better than later. Maybe he could come here and show her a few things. Maybe he could even use his power to help with all the problems floating around Kaylina. Would a full-blooded druid do something to assist humans? Maybe not, but even if all he did was show her a few things…

Like how to lift curses…

You will come, and I will instruct you on using your power.

Okay. On my way.

“The plant is requesting me,” Kaylina said.

“Does it want more honey water?” Vlerion didn’t sound surprised.

Maybe he thought it summoned her to serve it numerous times a day. No, not quite, thankfully.

“Not right now, but it said something may come of the call I sent out from the ruins, and it’s going to help me reach… Well, it didn’t say exactly. I don’t want to make assumptions, but it might end up helping us.”

Vlerion nodded and clasped her hand. “When you are done… I will come to you.” He gazed intently into her eyes. “By then, it should be time.”

Since her interactions with the sentinel—and other druidic items—had resulted in her being knocked unconscious before, she didn’t want to assume they would be able to have their moment tonight, but she would hope for an opportunity. For whatever he was willing and able to give her.

“Okay.” She smiled and rose on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.

At least, she meant for it to be on the cheek. He might have moved, or maybe her own treacherous body shifted her aim, for their lips met. They touched with longing, aching, unquenched desire, regret, and need.

For some reason, she thought of him carefully tearing out her article and handing it to her before destroying the rest of the paper. Who would have thought the haughty ranger lord she’d met when she first arrived would turn out to be considerate? And devoted to her?

She kept herself from gripping his shoulders and pressing against him, but barely as her reservations about his plan vanished. She wanted whatever he would give—whatever he could give.

You will come , the sentinel spoke firmly into her mind, power accompanying the words. Compelling power that flowed into her, urging her to obey.

Maybe the sentinel communicated with Vlerion as well, because he leaned back, frowning slightly. His hands clasped her waist, and the interest burning in his eyes—the lust —promised the potion hadn’t taken hold yet.

“You need to go,” he said, his voice raspy.

“Yeah.”

She waited for him to release her, raising her brows when his hands lingered, holding her. Capturing her.

He let go and stepped back, as if doing so were more difficult than riding into the dangers of battle. For him, maybe it was.

“I’ll be back,” she said.

“Yes.” His lids drooped as he watched her leave.

The question of whether that potion, even once more time had passed, could truly affect him—the magic of the beast curse—came to Kaylina as she walked away.