Page 27 of Caress of Fire
“You can show her much more. Try, concentrate on an image you want her to see,” Fedryc said simply. “You cannot share thoughts with her like I do, but you share hervitalem. She can see what you see and feel what you feel.”
Marielle closed her eyes and brought back the image of Devan, bloodied and full of terror on that day Ignio Marula came to her house. Pain and fear, anger and despair filled her as she saw Devan’s face etched in her mind, clear as day.
The dragoness growled in fury and Marielle brought her hand down, breaking the contact.
“Please.” Marielle put all her hurt in her words. “Help Fedryc save him. He’s all the family I have left.”
Nyra lifted her head and shook it vigorously, then shot another piercing glare at Fedryc and Marielle before taking to the sky again. Behind Marielle, Fedryc closed his hands on her shoulders, then gently turned her around to face him.
She was stricken by the beauty of his face, by the warmth in his silver eyes. She had thought them so cold only a few hours ago, but now she saw they were not. They could be full of kindness, of passion and of need.
“Nyra and I are your family now.” He brought his hand to cup her cheek. “But I will free your brother as soon as Henron finds Ignio Marula for me.”
“I can find him for you.” Marielle scoffed at the idea of staying behind while Fedryc rescued Devan. “I grew up as a street rat in the capital. I know where he’ll be.”
“You are my Draekarra.” Fedryc shook his head and his eyes lost all trace of warmth. He was the High Lord again, and he was making it clear she had to obey. “You are too precious to be exposed to the dangers of the capital. I will find your brother on my own.”
“But Devan will never go with you,” Marielle insisted, and was rewarded with a deep scowl. She didn’t care. “You could be too late. I can’t let you do that.”
“You have no choice.” Fedryc pulled his hand away. “Your presence would make this rescue even more dangerous, for all involved. We still have no clue as to who murdered my father, and Nyra and I will be exposed in the streets. If I have to ensure your safety as well then I won’t be as alert as I should be. I am sorry but you need to stay here, where you’re safe.”
He shook his head again but his scowl loosened when Marielle pursed her lips and nodded. His hands closed around her waist and he pulled her against his hard body.
“You are my life now.” Fedryc kissed her hair. “Nothing can ever happen to you.”
Marielle chuckled, but didn’t pull away. Never before had she felt so safe, and that made her guilt all the more vicious. Because Devan wasn’t safe.
How she wished she could go back to that rock and lose herself in Fedryc’s body again. Forget everything else. But she couldn’t.
“I trust you,” she admitted, and it was like a dam had broken. All those years of fear and tension, always being the one who had to provide, who had to keep her little brother safe and fed, were gone. Fedryc was going to take care of her, and of Devan. “Just don’t get hurt, okay?”
“Nyra and I are the scariest things for hundreds of miles around.” Fedryc chuckled in a rare moment of humor. “I’m pretty sure it’s Ignio Marula who should be careful not to get hurt. I won’t permit thugs in my kingdom.”
Marielle lifted her eyes to see Silva walking quickly toward them, her golden dragon at her feet, gleaming like jewelry in the blazing sunlight. Soon, another figure emerged on the platform, a tall, slim woman Marielle had never seen before. Silver eyes shone with anger in the middle of a perfectly oval, milky white face that was so beautiful, she looked like a painting. Behind her was another dragon, the size of a horse, emerald green with a metallic sheen.
Marielle didn’t need anyone telling her this was Isobel Haal, Silva’s mother.
“Is this true?” the Draekon woman shouted, her musical voice carrying over the wind as if she were right next to them. “Tell me you didn’t take that creature as your Draekarra!”
Fedryc let go of Marielle and stood beside her. The loss of his skin against hers made Marielle feel cold despite the heat of the sun.
“Aunt Isobel.” Fedryc’s voice was cold, filled with suppressed anger, but his face remained expressionless as the Draekon woman approached and stopped right before them. “You know Marielle Jansen, I presume.”
“Of course I know that girl.” Isobel Haal glanced with disdain in Marielle’s direction without making eye contact. “She’s the one who killed your father. My brother.”
“Marielle Jansen had nothing to do with my father’s death.” Fedryc took one step closer to his aunt, his face still expressionless but his eyes glinting dangerously. “And you will address her with the respect due to the Draekarra of the High Lord of Aalstad.”
Isobel scoffed, then she locked gazes with Fedryc. He stared her down with open anger, his powerful body unmoving. Isobel pursed her lips, then her eyes widened and her brows arched high on her polished, aristocratic face when Fedryc almost imperceptibly leaned towards her.
“Of course,” Isobel answered abruptly, the venom in her voice betraying her true feelings. “Lady Marielle is welcome to Aalstad.”
“Lady Marielle is the new owner of Aalstad, Aunt Isobel,” Fedryc corrected mercilessly. “She will be the lady of the house from now on.”
Marielle stared, horrified, as Isobel turned flashing, accusing eyes her way, looking directly at her for the first time. Isobel’s fine lips disappeared as her mouth reduced to a thin, cruel line and fine wrinkles bloomed around her eyes. She didn’t look beautiful and elegant anymore; she looked old and bitter.
“No!” Marielle spoke fast, gripping Fedryc’s sleeve as she stepped to his side once more. “Lady Isobel has lived in Aalstad for a long time. She can keep being the head of the household.”
“No.” Fedryc shook his head, denying her words but keeping his eyes steadily on Isobel. “You and Silva are family. You are welcome to stay as long as you like, but I will have no one other than me above my Draekarra in Aalstad.”
