Feeling emboldened, she lowered her voice. “Perhaps that is a part of my training you should oversee.”
…
Siban held her gaze. Rell’s response surprised and delighted him. He’d been leery of pursuing the urges he’d gained once she’d been turned human, thinking perhaps she was still too delicate. Though she seemed open to his advances, he definitely needed to move forward with caution.
He wanted her in his life—always, but she’d been so young when she’d been turned and he didn’t know what had happened to her during her time as a Bane. Asking seemed crass and far too personal for his comfort. Now that she was human, several possible scenarios concerned him. Perhaps he wouldn’t please her or maybe she’d find another Bringer more to her liking. There was no doubt she was beautiful. He’d staked his claim the second Rell had been taken prisoner. Though other men might respect his obvious interest, she might not.
Her large green eyes searched his face. She reached and rubbed a thumb between his eyebrows. “Did I say something wrong?”
He removed his hand from her thigh and placed it on her back, running it up under her chestnut-brown hair. “No, you’ve made me very happy.”
She tilted her head and narrowed her gaze. “You don’t look happy.”
“I want nothing more than to show you how much I care about you, Rell.” He cupped the back of her head and gently massaged. “How much I desire you.”
“But?”
“But you’ve been through a lot. I want you to know I’m willing to take this as slowly as you need. You must be certain that I’m the man you want.”
“Siban.” Her pupils dilated. “There is no doubt in my mind that you’re the man I want.” She paused, a smile turning up the corners of her mouth. “Both in my life and in my bed.” She leaned into him and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Always.”
Her words set his blood on fire, and he pulled her against his chest, repeating the kiss with far less restraint than she’d shown.
“There are rooms for that,” Luc said from behind them.
Siban broke the kiss, turning to Luc. His friend stood with his arm around Jade, both invaders repressing obvious grins.
“As always, Luc, your timing is impeccable.” Siban released Rell and stood. “Or, should I say, annoying.”
Luc’s grin stretched, betraying the fact that he was not the least bit repentant for his rude interruption.
Jade nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. “Now you know what I must endure, Siban.”
“You have my deepest sympathy, my lady.”
Rhys and Ravyn joined the group. “We’re on our way to the bailey,” Rhys said. “Join us?”
Rell rose and slid her hand into Siban’s.
He twined his fingers with hers, pulling her closer. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Four
The bailey spread in front of the manor house and several outbuildings dotted the surrounding area. An unseasonably warm breeze ruffled the grass and birds sang their early morning song, welcoming the sun’s golden rays.
Rell inhaled, loving the freshness of the morning. “For so long I awoke to dampness and the smell of sulfur. Clean air is something I will never take for granted again.”
Siban remembered the dank and stifling feel of the Shadow World, how it used to claw at his lungs, burning them with cold and caustic vapors. “Nor will I.”
They walked to the group congregating around Juna and Gregory.
“Let’s get started.” Juna’s face was set in a no-nonsense expression that would make most men cower. The Bringers formed a half circle in front of her, each giving her their full attention. “The first group of names I call out will go with Magnus and Brita to begin learning our history. Ravyn, Luc, Rhys, Jade, Rell, Siban, and Meran.” Juna’s gaze tracked down the line, picking out each one of them. “Afterward we will train. Luc, Rell, and Ravyn will join Odette and Okee for hand-to-hand combat.”
Siban glanced at the blond twins. They looked too young and innocent to be powerful warriors, but over the last weeks he’d learned that all the Bringers who had come through the Mystic Arch possessed abilities he could only hope to match some day.
“Jade, Siban, Rhys, and Meran will work on controlling their Bringer powers with Brita,” Juna continued. “Though your powers are different, you’ll learn how to communicate and understand each other’s abilities. This will become imperative in battle.”
“I will stay with Rell.” Siban spoke the words, leaving no room for argument.
“You and Rell are both newly brought to power and both Tells. You would be best served working with those who do not share the same abilities,” Juna said.
“I will stay with Rell,” he said again.
She held his gaze and after a few seconds nodded. “Jade, you will switch places with your sister.” The woman squared her shoulders. “I cannot stress how important it is that you do not coddle each other.” Her eyes scanned from Siban and Rell over to Luc and Jade. “You will want to spare your companion discomfort, but you need to treat them as you would any other training partner.”
“Don’t worry. I will make sure I push Siban and that he challenges me.” Rell glanced around the circle. “There are several demons I’d like to pay back for the last thirteen years.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” For the first time since Siban had met her, Juna smiled. Her pale blue eyes crinkled at the corner, softening her hard edge and making her similarity in appearance to Ravyn all the more noticeable. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Siban couldn’t help but compare Rell and Juna. Where both women’s sisters laughed freely, they seemed unable to indulge in whimsy or fun. Their determination and blunt manner gave them an air of detachment that made them seem unapproachable.
The burly man named Magnus stepped forward. “If you come with Brita and me, we’ll start your history lesson.”
Without waiting, he turned and walked toward the manor. Brita held out her arm, indicating they should follow him. She smiled at them with the kind of grin that warmed a person from the inside out—the kind of smile that soothed the harshness of the world like a healing balm. From her gentleness, Siban would have thought her to be a Redeemer, but the line under her lip marked her as a Tell.
He focused his attention on Magnus’s back and opened his senses. The man wore a thick red beard, which was braided on each side of his mouth. Though unable to distinguish what kind of Bringer Magnus was, Siban had noticed he didn’t bear the mark of the Redeemer on his palms.
A Tell. The thought came unbidden, surprising him. Would his powers work the same on the Bane? Would he be able to decipher if a demon had once been a Bringer? When he’d felt Icarus the night Rell had been transformed, it had been impossible to untangle the web of impressions. Perhaps a lesser demon might be more easily read.
The morning meal had been cleared but the smell of food still lingered in the air. The banging of pots emanated from the kitchen on the other side of the Great Hall. Every so often Delphina’s laugh could be heard wafting through the open doorway. The group settled onto the benches around the long table. Siban sat next to Rell, wanting to keep her close. Jacob Le Daun joined them and took his place next to Luc at the end of the table. Magnus stood where Gregory had during the morning meal, while Brita moved to the back of the group at the opposite end of the table.