A blush darkened her cheeks.
“I’m okay,” she said after a moment of silence. “Things are coming to me in drips. I remember us. That we’d give this relationship a chance even though we aren’t destined mates.”
“The latter makes little difference, Leya. All I want isyou, as long as you want that, too.”
“I do,” she whispered. “But the banishment?”
He snorted then his expression softened. “I doubt that will happen after what you did.”
“Aerén, your father, we rescued him, right?”
“Youdid, yes.”
“We were both there.” She frowned at him. “Is he okay?”
“He is. As well as can be under the circumstances. It will take time after what the sorcerer did. He’s been your constant visitor since he awakened a week ago.”
A wan smile appeared. Then her jaw hardened. “I wished I could have killed him.” She clearly meant the sorcerer.
“Oh, we will. Don’t worry about that.” He helped her out of the water and wrapped the warm terry cloth around her. She took the other and fastened it around her wet hair.
In the dressing room, he retrieved a thin, silky nightgown and a faded light-blue robe from the closet and helped her with both. As she tied the belt, he ushered her to the bedroom, where a meal had been set on the coffee table near the roaring fireplace.
Leya lowered to the armchair and sighed. She removed the towel from her damp hair, and ebony waves slid down her shoulders and back.
Aerén uncovered their meals, setting the silver domes aside. There were bowls of hot broth, fresh rolls, butter, and the mouth-watering smell of dark roasted coffee.
He poured her a cup, added sugar and milk, and slid it to her.
“Coffee? How?” She picked up hers and took a deep drink. She hummed in pleasure.
“Lykon brought it on his return.”
“Thank God for that.” Smiling, she glanced at the food. “Oh, this smells divine. I’m starving.” She picked up her spoon, scooped the thick soup, and ate some.
Unable to stop, Aerén let his gaze trace the delicate lines of her face, leaner after being in a healing stasis for so long. How had he ever lived millennia without her in his life?
She took a bite of her buttered roll, then licked her lush lips free of the glistening dab.
Lowering his gaze, he started on his meal. Hunger wasn’t what had him eating, but an overwhelming longing for his mate. However, he kept his desire bolted down. She needed to recover, feel more like herself, and come to terms with all that had happened.
“You’re quiet,” she murmured, and he looked up. “I guess me being in this coma worried you. What happened?” She picked up her coffee again.
He set his silverware down and leaned back in his seat, flexing his fingers. Playing with the lethal force of nature and letting the lightning consume him, even if it hurt like hell, had been worth getting his mind off his troubles for a while. He needed to Ground the excess power. But not now, not when she’d just awakened.
Aerén tightened his mental shields, ignoring the splinters of pain in his head. “What do you last recall?”
Another sip of coffee. “It’s all a jumble. You took me out to sea. It was raining…and we fell into the ocean and found a portal deep underwater. It led us to a volcano…” She frowned, setting her cup down.
“It was another realm. What else?”
“I don’t remember what happened in the volcano. Just bits of it…us saving your sire… Wait! You were shot with those arrows, and it locked up your abilities or something, and I-I…” Her jaw fell open. Her eyes fastened on his. “Did I really do that, tap into your powers?”
He caressed her hand, fisted on the table. “You are what we call a Siphon, Leya. It’s a powerful ability to wield. I let you in because I myself was unable do a thing. Whoever the sorcerer is, he’s damn powerful if he can render me helpless.”
“Did you locate him?”
“Not yet.” He leaned back again. “He’s quiet for now, probably reforming his rebel army. But we—or the mages—are now searching for hidden realms and him.”
