The Dragon and the Dreamwalker (Elemental Series) (14 page)

She bravely reached out and ran her own hands down his rippled chest. She could feel every cord of muscled strength within him. He took her hand and placed it lower. She looked up at him curiously, feeling like such a wanton woman.

“Go ahead and feel me,” he coaxed her. “You told me to have my sword polished for the wedding, did you not?”

She felt her face blush, if blushing was possible without a physical body. She touched his male strength and knew the same emotions that ran through her ran through him, as he closed his eyes and moaned softly.

“You are magnificent, my lord,” she commented, running her fingers along his length.

“And you are driving me mad,” he told her. He removed her hand and placed his own hand between her thighs. She’d been touched by Calais when she so disgustingly gave herself to him, but she had left her body at the time. Physically, she felt nothing.

Now she was out of her body again, but this time she was feeling things on a different level. Drake wasn’t touching her physical form, but he was making his presence known upon her soul.

“Drake!” She clutched his shoulders as he laid her back in the hay with one hand, and created magic between her thighs with the other. “This feels so real. So good.”

“This is what a man and wife are supposed to feel, Brynn. Do not deny my physical form the same pleasures.”

He leaned over her, his long hair encompassing the two of them. She reached up, no longer able to hold back her emotions, and pulled him closer.

“I want to know how it feels to make love with you, Drake. I need to feel you within me.”

He entered her then, and her world exploded. Bright swirling colors of indigo, emerald and orange-blush filled the mews as their etheric bodies joined together. He filled a part of her soul that no other man would. She brought her hips to meet his with every thrust, and they found their release together.

She wanted it to go on forever. She wanted to try it again and again, but that wasn’t going to happen this night. His physical body stirred and his etheric body swept back into his form immediately, leaving her by herself.

Drake - the physical Drake - bolted upward and looked right at her. She didn’t move. She couldn’t have moved if she tried. She almost thought he could see her, until she realized he was scanning the room, looking but not finding. She let out a deep breath. Then she saw his hand go below his waist and grab himself. His physical body was affected from their foreplay and the act of making love.

“Oh, Brynn,” he moaned and buried his face in the hay. She wanted to go to him and give herself to him so he could find his release physically as well, but couldn’t. She had known the pleasures of coupling with him, and would remember them upon awakening. But he was still frustrated. He would not be as lucky as her to remember it all in the morning.

She held back the tears as she saw him take his dagger and fling it into the wall in aggravation. The birds fluttered their wings and screeched, startled from his action.  She had to get away. She couldn’t watch any more. She found her way back to her own body, opening her eyes to a cold, dark room.

“Oh, Drake,” she cried into her pillow. What had she done? She was afraid she would never be able to undo the damage she had created this night.

Chapter 11

Drake staggered out of the mews, having had the most miserable night of his life. He kept dreaming of Brynn. Dreams that were more than dreams, in his opinion. He couldn’t help but remember the way she felt, the way she tasted as they made love in the hay. If he hadn’t awakened to find himself alone, he would have sworn she’d really come to couple with him last night.

But it wasn’t real. His own unsated arousal proved that theory wrong. He clutched a cloak in his hand that he had found in the mews and headed for the stable to find his horse. Gollimer awaited him eagerly, wanting to go for a ride. He jumped atop and headed out to the creek for a bath. Mayhap the cold water would bring him back to his senses where the girl was concerned.

Brynn fastened her father’s dagger at her side as she made her way outdoors. She felt so alive and vibrant this morning - and satisfied in a strange sense. She hadn’t seen Drake yet, and she was glad. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face him yet after last night. Of course he wouldn’t remember a thing, but she could not forget it. It was so invigorating and wonderful that she wanted to do it again.

She made her way to the mews, knowing Drake would be long gone by now. The guards no longer followed her everywhere she went and she was pleased to see that Drake trusted her enough to let her wander about the castle and courtyard freely. Or mayhap, he just didn’t care. Either way, it was to her advantage.

The villagers of Lornoon greeted her in a friendly manner this day, several of the village women rushing to her side.

“Can we be of any assistance to you, my lady?” asked one.

“Can I get you some wine or ale, or perhaps some fresh bread from the bakehouse?” asked another.

“No, no,” she answered with a smile. “I believe I am fine, but many thanks just the same.”

Several children ran up to her, clinging to her skirt, and one even handed her a crushed flower. Brynn took the flower and patted the child on the head. They ran off with squeals of delight. She continued on, with Drake’s men bowing their heads to her in passing, looking at her with a new respect. She saw the alewife whispering behind her hand to the butcher, both smiling and waving as she walked on through the courtyard. Everyone was so friendly to her. No one was calling her a witch and backing away. It felt good to be liked and accepted. It felt good, indeed.

“My lady, my lady, wait up.”

Brynn turned to see Birdie holding up her long skirt, dodging children playing in the courtyard, running to catch up to her.

“Good morning, Birdie,” Brynn said with a smile. She looked up to the blue sky and took a deep breath and released it. “’Tis a beauty of a day, don’t you agree?”

Birdie dropped the edge of her skirt and grabbed Brynn’s hands in her own. “Oh, my lady I am so sorry. I did not mean to tell anyone, but it slipped out when I supped with the servants early this morning. Please forgive me.”

So her plan had worked beautifully. Brynn had already seen the results by the friendly acceptance of everyone around her. Birdie had spread the word, and now Brynn was on her way to reclaiming her father’s castle. In no time, she’d have everyone’s respect and support. With the people behind her, she would find a way to take back from Drake what really belonged to her.

“Whatever do you mean?” she asked, feigning ignorance.

“Oh, my lady, I have spilled your secret about you turning your husband away on your wedding night.”

Brynn couldn’t help but smile. If only Birdie knew that she hadn’t turned her husband away, but rather consummated their marriage in the mews last night - even if it wasn’t in the physical sense.

“I understand, Birdie, and I forgive you. I know it must have been an accident.”

“Oh thank you, thank you, my lady. But I am not so sure Lord Dunsbard will be so forgiving. I am so frightened that he will punish me. So frightened that I cannot think straight.”

Brynn laid an arm around the girl’s shoulder, smoothing down a lock of her hair. “Don’t you worry about Lord Dunsbard, Birdie. I will make certain he doesn’t raise a finger to you.”

“But my lady - ”

“Hush now,” she told her, giving her a slight squeeze. “Now haven’t we been friends for a long time?”

“Aye.”

“And haven’t I always taken care of you?”

“Of course, my lady.”

“Then be on your way and try to enjoy the day.” Brynn pushed the girl gently toward the great hall. “After all, I am enjoying it immensely.” Birdie hurried on her way and Brynn continued on to the mews.

Once there, she pulled open the door, meeting the falconer on his way out.

“G’morning,” he said.

Brynn nodded. “Good morning, Rowley.” Rowley was one of the few original people left after the siege of the castle. He lost a son in the battle as well as a wife, and Brynn knew he held a lot of vengeance toward Drake.

“Have you seen Lord Dunsbard this morn?” She tried to sound chipper, but the man’s scowl was very darkening.

“If I had, I’d run the man through with me own hand. If it wasn’t for you coming back milady, I would have left Thorndale Castle by now, even if it meant me life.”

“Rowley, I’m so sorry about your son and wife. But you mustn’t hold it against Lord Dunsbard. He was not responsible for their deaths.”

Though she yearned to regain her castle, she wouldn’t sully Drake’s name in doing so. She believed him when he said he hadn’t kill children and women. She had to let Rowley know the truth.

“You can’t tell me y’ believe the bloody liar. He’d say anythin’ to get y’ in his bed. You did th’ right thing throwin’ him out last night. We all admire you fer that.”

Brynn didn’t want to talk about the wedding night and decided to change the conversation’s focus.

“I am here to visit Feathers,” she told him. “I think ’twould do her good to see me again.”

“Aye, well, she’s in there along with the new falconer I’m trainin’ from Lornoon.”

Brynn nodded, knowing Rowley had had plans for his own son to be his apprentice. And that he would have, hadn’t the attack on the castle come and claimed so many lives.

“Thank you, Rowley. If I can do anything to help ease your pain, let me know.”

“You ken kill that bastard in his sleep is what y’ ken do. I feel for y’ Brynn, forced to be that man’s wife.”

Rowley headed for the stable, mumbling to himself. Brynn suddenly wondered if her little plan to regain the castle was working too well. She didn’t want the people rebelling against Drake to the point of wanting to kill him. She just wanted their loyalty, and that she could see she’d earned from Rowley.

Brynn shook her head in thought. All of the survivors seemed to hate Drake, so mayhap it wasn’t of her doing. Before yesterday she would have been the first in line to lead them into a rebellion, but now she thought differently. She saw Drake in a different light, though she still wasn’t happy he took over the castle. She entered the mews, cooing out softly to her pet.

“Feathers, you are such a big bird now,” she said, approaching the bird and running her finger over the falcon’s head. The bird twitched its head under her endearing touch. “You look so ravishing today.”

“And you’re looking ravishing too, for a woman who supposedly hates her husband so much she kicked him out of the bedchamber on his wedding night.”

She didn’t expect to hear Calais’s voice in the mews. She turned to see his broken-toothed smile as he made his way towards her. He held up a gloved hand for Feathers, but the bird snapped at him, sensing his bad intentions.

“Why you no good bird. I’ll have you for dinner because of that!”

Brynn grabbed his hand before he could hit the bird.

“Don’t you dare harm my bird or any of the others or I’ll see to it Drake puts your head on a spike.”

“Now is that any way for you to talk to your lover?” He grabbed her hand in his and laughed.

“Let me go, Calais.”

“Did you tell that husband of yours about us yet? Mayhap I can pleasure you since he can’t seem to do the job. After all, you came to me willingly - something you won’t do for him.”

“You cur!” she said and spat in his eye. “I only laid with you to try to save my life. Now I wish I hadn’t.”

He wiped his eye and grinned. “Mayhap it’s time your husband knew you whored yourself out to me. Here he comes now,” said Calais, motioning with his head out the door.

Brynn glanced out the door, spying Drake dismounting from his horse. Calais’s words alarmed her. If he was to tell Drake she had lain with him, her plans would be ruined. Not only Drake would see her in a different light, but also the people of Thorndale.

Drake would probably have her flogged, and all would see her as a traitor or a whore. They wouldn’t pledge their allegiance to her if they knew she had passed herself off as a virgin when she wasn’t. The people of Lornoon saw her as a heroine, saving their lives and willing to sacrifice her own. She couldn’t let them know the truth. If so, they’d rebel against her. She needed their support if she was to reclaim her castle from Drake. And for some odd reason, the thought bothered her of how Drake would feel if he knew she’d lain with someone besides him. She had to keep her coupling with Calais a secret.

“No! Please don’t say anything to him,” she begged.

“Why not? Afraid what he might do to you?”

“Afraid what he might do to you if he finds out, is more like it,” she threatened.

“I’d love to believe you care for my safety, but I’m not addlepated. You promise me I’ll be trained as one of his knights and I’ll promise you that I won’t spill our little secret.”

“It’s almost amusing how you were so closed-mouthed about it when I wanted you to tell the Elders, to save my life. Now you are so eager to make it known.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore to me, Brynn. We are under the lord’s protection and can’t be harmed by the dragon. The way I see it, you’re the only one with something to lose. So what is your decision, my lady?”