“You should have stayed with me in Jazid, he said. “Then we wouldnt be Cobalts prisoners.
“Ah, Markus, she said. “Why is it all right for you to hold me prisoner but not for him to hold us?
“Its not the same. You took Ozarson. He caressed her breasts, waist, hips, thighs. “Cobalt may still execute me. I would never have done anything like that to you.
“He swore he wouldnt.
“Because you intervened on my behalf. He drew back to look at her. “Why? You despise me.
“I dont want you to be hurt!
He spoke wryly. “I thought I was a pig.
“Youre a man. A complicated, violent man. Markus, I dont despise you. Not at all. She hit her palm against his chest. “But you took my freedom. I cant fight every law in Jazid. Its always about you, what you want, where you go, touching me, lying with me, dressing me, using me for your pleasure without thinking how I feel.
“Thats not true. He cupped his hand around her cheek. “ Always I think of you. Its making me insane. He pulled her close and spoke against her ear. “I dont want this weakness, but I cant stop feeling it any more than I can stop needing to eat or drink. Looking at you, touching you, lying with youits pleasure, yes, but more than that. ItsI dont know. Like Im dying for water in the Fractured Desert, and youre the Saint Verdant River. If you dont let me have you, Ill die of thirst.
Flustered, she said, “Youre lying in a pool of water.
“Ach! Youre impossible. Sliding his hand behind her head, he kissed her deeply. “I need you now, he growled. “Or you will have a lunatic in this pool of water.
Her voice softened. “Then have me now.
It was all he needed. He rolled her onto her back and shifted his weight so he was on top of her, his hips settling between her thighs. The power in his muscular body seemed barely contained. He caressed her, his hands strong and sure. When he entered her, he pressed his lips and teeth against her neck. She let go to the sensations of his strong body against hers. The water was silken on her skin, and it surged while he made love to her. She was in the center of a storm borne of his anger, fear and pain, but it wasnt directed against her; she was the vessel that contained it. The force of his passion could have been overwhelming, but knowing he wanted her that much excited her, kept her holding him, her arms around his solid waist, her breasts against his chest with its thick, curling hair.
His rhythm increased, becoming more demanding, more urgent. The muscles in his body went rigid, and he groaned, pressing down on her, straining, his hips jerking. They slid down the sloped side until he was kissing her with their lips just at the water.
Markus exhaled with a gasp, stirring the water, and his body finally relaxed. As his weight settled, he eased her back up the side, enough so her nose didnt go underwater. Then he laid his head next to hers on the slope and was still. Allegra closed her eyes, her own body still unsettled. He lay next to her, breathing deeply.
Too deeply, in fact.
“Markus. She nudged his shoulders. “Dont go to sleep.
With a sigh, he lifted his head. A satiated look had replaced his intensity. He brushed his lips across hers, gently this time. “You sing to me even when your voice is silent, night bird.
“If Im a bird, you must have such a name, too. When his look turned wary, she smiled. “But not the pig.
“My mother says I smell like a goat, he offered.
She laughed softly. “Not that, either. A lion.
He kissed her, his lips lingering as he slid his hand between her thighs. It aroused her even more, and she wasnt sure what she wanted him to do, only that she didnt want him to stop. She tilted her hips up and pushed against his palm.
He rubbed her in slow circles. “I wish we could stay here.
She agreed. But she said, “We cantbe late.
His finger slipped inside her, tantalizing. “Later, hmm?
Oh, yes. Later, definitely. She nodded, knowing they had to hurry, but she felt restless and flushed, wanting him.
Markus slid into the water and ruffled his hands through his hair, making the curls float. He came up, sitting on the bottom of the shallow pool, and shook his head, splashing water everywhere. He rolled his shoulders, then jerked as the injured side spasmed.
Allegra slid behind him and massaged the scar tissue on his shoulder. “Does that help?
“Ah, yes. He sounded blissful. “Very much.
“We should go. But she kept massaging, aware of his back against her front, his muscles sensuous under her palms.
With reluctance, he said, “Yes. We should. When she took her arms off his shoulders, he stood up, water cascading down his body, and stepped out of the pool.
It was the first time Allegra had seen him in daylight. He was as impressive as in the starlight, but she saw now what she had missed before, because she had been shy about touching him. Scars covered his body, especially his torso. She started to ask, then stopped when she realized he would probably describe being hacked on a battlefield. She couldnt bear to hear about him being hurt that way, particularly given how close they were to another war.
They went to the bedroom and changed. Markuss armor had long since disappeared, but someone had left more clothes. He chose riding trousers and a blue shirt with blue embroidery on the cuffs. Although the threadwork barely showed, it seemed an odd choice for someone with such strong ideas about what he considered masculine. Then she remembered how his Jazid clothes had fastened, with complex loops sewn in the leather. Maybe the embroidery reminded him of his home.
Allegra searched the room until she found a stack of games. The playing pieces included two dice cubes, a wooden pyramid with four sides and a little hole at its point and a metal ring. She put the ring on her big toe. She tied a cord through the pyramid to make a necklace and she tucked the cubes into a pocket of her tunic. She had lost the dodecahedron from Ozarsons toys, but she had the octahedral block, which she pocketed with the cubes.
Markus watched her as he drew on his boots. “It isnt just round things, is it?
“No, she admitted. “Any geometrical shape works.
He came over and touched the pendant hanging between her breasts. “Lucky necklace.
Allegra smiled and folded her hand around his. “Markus
He waited, then spoke curiously. “Yes?
“Im glad youre here.
He started slightly, as if stunned, then raised her hand and pressed his lips against her knuckles.
“How did you know I would be in Aronsdale? she asked.
He lowered her arm, holding her hand. “I wasnt sure. But it seemed what you would do. He shook his head with a grimace. “Yargazon was convinced you went to Quaaz. We rode along the Kings Courseway for a while, but we couldnt pick up your trail. So we decided he would take the army to Quaaz while I came here. Then he said, “Actually, I chose. He wanted me with the army. He was furious I decided otherwise. But he couldnt stop me.
It gratified Allegra to know he was willing to stand up to the powerful general. “Before the TAmbera caught me I had been coming to Crofts Vale to study at a guild for mages.
“It is important to you, yes? Learning these spells?
“Yes. Very.
“Can you study even if you dont stay here?
It was a good question. “Possibly. She thought of Cobalts men. “We should see if Ozi is ready.
Markus nodded, and they went out into the parlor. They found Ozarson eating breakfast.
The boy looked up with relief. “I saved you some food.
Markus sat down and started eating without another word. Allegra settled next to him and grabbed the last roll before he could inhale it.
“Youre hungry, Ozarson said, watching his brother.
Markus took a hard-boiled egg. “Its been a while.
“They fed you, didnt they? Allegra asked. He had been in the cell for a day.
“Nothing. He shook salt and pepper on his egg. “They gave me water this morning when they took me out.