Lynn glanced down at the unconscious Lilandra and marveled yet again at the power she had displayed. He was amazed yet disturbed by the implications of what this would mean for his master's relationship with the young woman.
Aries glided in quietly through the open balcony doors, landing gently with his two passengers in his arms. He set Lynn down before moving to his bed, laying Lilandra down so she could rest. "I think you could do with some rest as well old friend. I will watch over her for now."
"I'm too worked up to sleep. Besides, we must figure out what to do about her power, my prince."
"So far it seems she has used it only when the situation requires it. Such as saving our lives. Perhaps she could be of use to us in the coming months, healing the wounded and such like."
Lynn grimaced. "I hate to think of her being stuck in the middle of all this. She is so young, my prince, though I do believe her heart is generous. Her courage though, well, I do not think it could hold up during a war."
"Not everyone's does Lynn, but we must remember that even the most hardened of troops were once naive young boys. People harden eventually." "True, but do you want her to get that hardness? Remember what happened to another young woman whose heart became hard. She cursed you into the form you now bear."
"True, but her sister did not. Her sister was quite the opposite of that wretched Sea-witch." Aries paused for a moment as he thought about something.
"She seems to resemble her quite closely doesn't she?"
Lynn sucked in a breath. He had wondered when Aries would make the connection. "Yes she does my liege. Do you think it is possible?"
"Anything is possible Lynn, but the question is, when did she find time to have a child? And more importantly, how did she end up here?"
"Well, if I believed in the triad of elements, I would say it was that power that brought Miss Lilandra to us. As to when Aquene found time to have a child, I can't say."
"I did not even know she was married."
"Obviously it was out of wedlock, but I can't see her having allowed that beast Victor to have come near her, let alone touch her at all. Perhaps Lilandra was adopted?"
Lynn shrugged. "We won't know unless we ask Miss Lilandra." He glanced over at the slumbering young woman. "I think she'll be asleep for several more hours."
"Indeed, she looks exhausted. I doubt I will get much sleep tonight myself after what has happened." He stood up, slowly pacing back and forth in front of the window.
"I do believe General Karas and his men will be a while in coming back." Lynn had seen the gleam in Karas' eyes as they were flying away. The good general would be short one man and possibly have more information on who was after Lilandra.
"I would be disappointed if they did not take their time, Lynn. Zanthiel betrayed his Commander after all. The man who took him in, protected him and made him a real man. Such betrayals come with harsh punishments."
"Would you like me to put her back in her room? And do you have any wounds I should look at, my Prince?"
Aries quietly walked over to the bed gazing down at her, a slight smile gracing his features. "No, there's no need to disturb her sleep. I'll watch over her tonight. It's getting close to my time to change anyway."
"She still hasn't figured out the connection, has she? My Prince, I hope for so much but at the same time I worry that she will fail you."
"If it is meant to be then it will be so Lynn. You know that as well as I, we cannot force such things to happen. If we try then it is guaranteed to go wrong."
"Yes, my Prince. I'm being foolish. Just blame it on an old man's fears. Now, I'll go and check on our food stores. Good night, my Prince."
He nodded towards Lynn as he left, looking out from the balcony as the moonlight slide across his body, the change beginning. He grunted in pain, clutching his ribs as his body changed forms. Letting out a low roar which slowly changed into a suppressed scream. Aries once again became human.
Lilandra groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Disoriented, she let out a yelp when she saw a nude man by the window. Wildly she looked around for something to hit the intruder with.
Gasping he stumbled into the bathroom, hidden by the shadows. He groped around and quickly pulled a bathrobe around himself to keep his modesty. He took a moment before popping his head out. "It's ok...it's me."
"My Lord Aries!" she squeaked, scrambled from the bed and dropped into a curtsy.
"No, no need for that my lady. Please, continue resting. Just pretend I'm not here."
"Oh, I, oh!" She wrung her hands nervously. Pretend he wasn't there? How did he expect her to do that? She was aware of his muscular body. She felt her face heat. But right on the heels of that thought, came an image of Beast and his kind eyes. Startled she sat down and pondered this new thought.
He slowly walked out of the bathroom and sat down in the comfy chair by the bed, his face was fresh with scratches and small cuts. "I heard about what happened at the ambush."
"Oh?" she dropped her head and stared at the floor. She wasn't sure if he was going to scold her or praise her and she wasn't sure if she wanted either one.
"I'm glad you were there to help Lynn, I don't know what we'd have done if he'd passed away. Thank you."
Lilandra squirmed. "It was nothing. I mean, it was something, just that I...Shutting up now." She grew quiet, ashamed at her inability to tell him her feelings.
He smiled a little and gently took her hands in his. "I understand. You don't have to explain anything to me."
He looked up into her eyes with his own big brown deep eyes, "You are so beautiful Lilandra."
"You keep saying that. You're embarrassing me." She blushed and looked into his eyes. They were so familiar. It teased the corner of her mind but like water it slipped away.
"It's true though, you have an amazing body, a perfect face and an incredible mind to go with it all."
"If I had such a mind then why do I keep falling into trouble?" Bitterness this time at herself made her cry angry tears.
"We all fall into trouble Lilandra." Motioning to his own cut face he spoke again. "I wasn't exactly the most careful person in the world tonight either."
She gasped and hurried to his side. "Who hurt you?"
"Oh it was nothing serious; I just got a little careless walking through the woods tonight. I tripped and...fell down a ditch. I'm fine."
Gently she touched his face. He wasn't bleeding and she sighed in relief. She was puzzled that she wasn't more concerned and she frowned.
He gave her hands a gentle squeeze as he looked into her eyes, "Something troubles you Lilandra?"
She blushed. "No, nothing important. I, I feel lost. I thought I understood who I am but tonight...well now I'm not so sure."
His thumbs gently rubbed the back of her hands, his skin feeling much softer than she expected, a tingle crossing her skin as he did so. "Tell me about it..."
She glanced at him and looked away. She wanted to tell him but it didn't feel right. He wasn't the one she really wanted to speak with. An image of Beast popped into her mind and she suddenly felt guilty for being intimate with Aries. She abruptly pulled her hands from his and stood up. "I'm sorry. I really should get back to my room."
He stood up, unsure of why she was reacting like this. "Lilandra, what's wrong? Did I do something to offend you?"
In his haste to stand he did not notice his robe slipping open slightly at the front.
At his tone she raised her eyes and froze, her gaze sliding down to his penis. She blushed, and flustered, hastily averted her eyes. Yes he had taken her virginity but he had never come back to her bed after that. She had wondered in the beginning if she had done something wrong. But if the hardness of his cock was any indication, then he was still interested in her in that way. It was all so confusing!
He saw her blush and at a gentle breeze from the open window, realized what she had seen. His mind told him he should stop, but his lust, pent up for months now overpowered him. He took a step forward, the robe opening wider as he approached her. "You've been lonely haven't you, without the caring touch of a man upon your body?"
He reached out, gently caressing her cheek, "You need not fear me Lilandra. I wish to only please you."
"I, I." Timidly she came forward and kissed his lips.
He tenderly returned the kiss, cupping her cheek, parting his lips slightly, his firm tip brushing against her dress, pressing against her abdomen.
Uncertainty filled her but she continued. She had started it with the kiss and mother had always told her to never be a quitter. She ran her fingers lightly down his arms, still too shy to take her hand lower as she deepened the kiss.
He gently pushed her backwards until the door prevented them from going further, his free hand roaming across her stomach, up towards her firm pert young breasts. With growing desire, he cupped it firmly, squeezing it between his strong fingers, feeling her nipple grow erect beneath his touch.
"Aries," she breathed, her eyelids fluttering closed as she enjoyed the sensation. "Please, more." He nodded, his breathing getting heavier as he took her hand, guiding it down to his hot, hard shaft before letting his robe fall away from his body fully. His hands worked deftly, freeing her from her dress, allowing it to join his robe as it pooled on the floor around her long slender legs.
Her fingers slid around his shaft and slowly she started to move it up and down. She had heard from her sisters-in-law crude conversations that men liked this sort of thing.
