Asking her to be a part of his life also – recognizing the power Layla was becoming.
With a deep breath, Layla rose from the table. As she rounded it, Rhennic’s blond brows lifted in surprise, and he pushed gracefully up to standing. Moving to him, Layla stood before him on the sheepskin rug, gazing up at his handsome face. Something tender moved in his eyes as he gazed down at her, not touching or taking advantage, just watching her take him in.
Slowly, Layla rose to her tiptoes, steadying herself with a hand on his broad, well-muscled chest. Something sparked in Rhennic’s violet eyes, a deep flash of desire as he realized what was happening. Winding his big hands around her waist, his fingers were so long they met at Layla’s spine and navel as she stretched up. With his strength, he steadied her as his chin lowered and his soft lips met hers.
They kissed gently, breathing in each other’s scents before Layla at last pulled away. As they watched each other by the fire’s light, she felt lightning and passion sear through Rhennic’s strong body, but she also felt how well he controlled it. Though his eyes sparked with storms, he merely held her with their intensity rather than rolling her with his power – letting her drown herself in his subtle, strong handsomeness as he held her close.
Layla knew he could take her with his magic; she could feel it. She could feel the Royal power in Rhennic and smell it all over him – the only son of the two strongest Royal Dragons in Europe. Layla’s drakaina roiled through her veins in a wave of scintillating heat, so hard that Layla’s breath caught. But still, Rhennic held her carefully away – only letting her feel the barest touch of everything he could give her.
In the bedroom and out of it.
Layla was flooded with desire as he massaged her waist with his big hands, then finally let her go. Taking up one crystallized pear from the table, he cupped it in his palms, and she felt a blitz flash through the fruit from Rhennic’s big hands. Glancing at her and taking up her hand, he escorted Layla towards the door like he had done this morning for the carriage-ride. Lifting her hand, he pressed the crystallized fruit into her palm.
“For later.” He breathed with a knowing look. “When you need some hope in the darkness.”
And then Rhennic opened the door and let Layla out of his chamber – though his deep violet eyes followed her all the way.
CHAPTER 20 – CAMPAIGN
Layla slept fitfully that night, one of the tensest, most restless nights she had ever known, even though she was clasped between both Dusk and Adrian in the same bed, sharing their warmth. Over and over she rolled, first facing Adrian, then Dusk, then Adrian again in the ample bed with its thick embroidered drapes drawn against the palace’s midnight chill. She turned over so many times that at last Dusk made a low growl in his throat, sleepily turning her and tucking her in against his hard, warm body, wrapping her in his arms and securing her from rolling over again.
Finally Layla drifted, lulled by the smooth rumbles of Dusk’s breath as he slept, and the slow flow of Adrian’s as it passed from his lips, sweetly kissing hers even in dreams. But when she finally woke to a ferocious winter storm rattling the shutters and swirling a catastrophic white at every vaulted window, her dark restlessness rushed up to claim Layla in force. Snow piled against the window-ledges, the wind howling and whistling through gaps in the fortress’ stones. Without saying much, everyone ate a hasty breakfast and dressed quickly in warm winter gear – the first time Layla had ever seen Dusk and Adrian don thick sweaters and parkas against the fierce chill, along with solid winter boots.
Layla did the same for their early meeting with Queen Justine and King Huttr; one last discussion of today’s plan to infiltrate the White Chalice’s stronghold. As they moved along one narrow corridor from their tower to the central halls on the palace’s second floor, Layla gazing out the vaulted windows at the whirling snow, she thought perhaps it was the worst day they could have possibly chosen to invade a Storm Dragon stronghold.
Gaining the vaulted hall where Queen Justine took audience, they were bowed in smartly by guards in blue-grey livery, the massive ebony doors booming inward to admit them. Layla saw as they entered the throne hall that Queen Justine and King Huttr were already there, joined by Rikyava and Luke. Both wore sweaters and parkas and boots like Layla and her men. And though Luke ran an uncomfortable hand through his Irish black hair as Layla entered, his green eyes were clear today as if he’d slept well. Layla wanted to go to him, to say something, when Rhennic whisked into the hall, dressed in his charcoal grey peacoat, a plum cowlneck sweater, and thick winter pants with stout hiking boots.
Rhennic’s eyes caught Layla’s – a battle-glorious dark plum today – and for a moment she couldn’t look away. His smile was subtle as he gave her a nod, then moved up the steps of the throne’s dais and pecked his mother on the cheek. Dressed in a long navy dresscoat with 1950’s high-waisted wool slacks and a white silk shirt, Queen Justine looked tiny between the two tall Norsemen, King Huttr dressed in his white bear-pelt and rough Viking battle-leathers. But Justine’s dark blue eyes were fierce as she beckoned everyone forward, stepping down from her gilded Dragon-throne and sitting casually on the ebony railing that separated the common area from her royalness.
“Good. We are assembled.” She spoke in an iron tone like a war-commander as she gazed around the group, her blue eyes flashing lightning to match the whirling storm outside. “If all goes well, today’s events will join those of history, my friends, and I intend that they do. I have spoken at length with Adrian, Dusk, and Rikyava last night, and Luke, and together we have formulated a decent plan of attack. Please listen closely, and at the end of my briefing you may ask what questions you need.”
Queen Justine launched into the plan without any hesitation. Briskly, she explained that today’s storm was the work of herself and her seven top weather-formers – its severe windchill, heavy snow, and occasional lightning a cover to confuse any movement around the Château. Specifically, it was masking the movements of Blood Dragon and Storm Dragon strike teams amassing this morning on the grounds, ready to move at Justine’s call.
“As I have already told Adrian, we believe the last of the White Chalice to be holed up at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Chartres,” Queen Justine continued, her blue eyes flashing fiercely. “In the Twilight Realm, that cathedral was destroyed centuries ago, along with the entire town. I have feltnullaxenergy surrounding the ruin of Chartres, and believe this is the access-point for our enemies’ last stronghold. Though most of that cathedral is gone, the labyrinth upon the floor still holds strangely pristine against time. In addition, the main ruins have oddly disappeared, and I believe that labyrinth is the access-way to our foes, the rest of the cathedral hidden behind a cleverly-wrought magic that keeps it not just hidden butseparatefrom both the Twilight Realm and the human world. A phenomenon called a Nexus-space.”
Heads nodded around the circle as everyone digested Justine’s information. She glanced to all of them, making sure they understood, before continuing. “The plan is as follows. From Chambord, Dusk will use his Royal Crystal Dragon abilities to escort Layla, Adrian, Luke, Rikyava, and Rhennic through the Thin Ways to the ruined Chartres here in the Twilight Realm. You will emerge in an old well that stands inside a warning-barrier that surrounds the ruined town, and proceed to the cathedral. At the labyrinth, Luke will open hisnullax, feeling for the magical barrier that separates off the Nexus-space. Once his power has opened the Nexus, you should be able to step through into the cathedral, where we suspect the White Chalice are.”
But then, Queen Justine’s energy sharpened, a pre-lightning sensation shivering along Layla’s skin as the Storm Queen glanced to each of them. “This is where our operation becomes difficult. Many elements are unknown, such as whether Luke’s ability will be able to open the Nexus into the cathedral, or whether the White Chalice will be laying in wait as a trap. Be prepared for anything. Once you go in the Nexus and are inside the stronghold, the plan is simple. Find Layla’s friends; rescue them. Identify the High Priest; kill him. Kill any others who stand in your way. And if you find yourselves outnumbered – Luke will act.”
“What do you mean, Luke will act?” Layla blinked, speaking reflexively even though she knew the Storm Queen had asked everyone to hold questions until the end.
“I’ll collapse the entire Nexus back into the Twilight Realm with mynullax– nullifying the magic that keeps it separate.” Luke spoke, holding Layla’s gaze with a calm clarity. “Allowing Queen Justine and King Huttr’s strike teams access to the cathedral.”
“You can do that?” Layla blinked, feeling herself go pale.
“I don’t know.” He spoke quietly. “But I have to try. I’ll do anything to get our friends back, Layla. You know that.”
“I have given Luke a talisman imbued with my energy,” Queen Justine spoke, looking to Layla, “which when he opens it, will deliver him a very serious bite from my magics. It will draw out hisnullaxjust as it did yesterday, and all he will need do is direct his fury towards the Nexus-barrier to bring it crashing down. Though his power is under enough control to tear a hole through the barrier to get you all in, Luke cannot wield enough of hisnullaxyet to cause it to completely wipe out the magics that keep the cathedral separate from the Twilight Realm. Hence, my bite. He and I have spoken, and he has agreed to take this risk upon himself.”
“If anything goes wrong, I’ll be there to absorb Luke’s power,” Rhennic glanced to Layla with a sober gaze, “so no one accidentally gets hurt or nullified.”
“Bullshit.” Layla spoke with a growl, suddenly feeling an intense protectiveness rise for Rhennic’s welfare. “You’ll be hurt. Badly.”
“And you, Adrian, Dusk, and Rikyava will be there to heal me.” Rhennic held Layla’s gaze with his calm steadiness. “It’s a good plan, Layla. And together we have all the right talents to get it done.”
“Dusk? Adrian?” She growled, glancing to them. “Rikyava?”
They didn’t even need to glance at each other for Layla to know everyone was in accord as Adrian spoke gently, “Like Rhennic said, it’s a good plan. As many variables as possible have been accounted-for, Layla.”
