Discoveries

[Topaz]

Lucien had taken his fairy up to her citadel rather than back into town where the new kitty was waiting, as he had suggested while on the isle. All the decorations from the party were still there, only the buffet table and access furniture were gone.

She snuggled into Lucien’s arms. “I'm glad you two appear to be getting along.”

Lucien brushed a line of warm kisses over the crown of her head. “You enjoyed the party?” He knew she had, but there was something from the party that she wanted to talk about with him.

“Yes, every bit of it. The only way I could have enjoyed it more would have been if we had gotten to dance more.” She beamed a smile to him. “Everyone I got to talk with since then said that they had enjoyed it, too. I'm only sorry so many people around caused you stress.”

“We can dance any time you so desire. I have never been one for crowds of people, but for you, I will try not to fry anyone.” Lucien was pleased to notice that her body temperature appeared to be back to normal. He had been waiting for just that. He had kept himself from another blood exchange for just this reason.

“Now perhaps?” She quickly brushed her lips over his. “I appreciate that. I think Julian liked you. He actually smiled.”

A slow waltz started playing and Lucien swept her toward the center of the main area inside the citadel in time to the music. “How can he not like me?” He asked with a charming smile, fangs and all. “I would simply turn him into a toad if he did not.” While there was a smile, the eyes held no humor. He would not let anyone stand between he and his mate.

“Do you have any idea just how much you just sounded like a real fairy?” She chuckled. “I tried turning Harris into a toad once, but Gork moved and the spell hit him instead and he smashed against a tree. It was rather messy.”

Lucien lowered his head toward her ear. “Look out over your Isle Topaz.” She did as he had asked and swept her gaze over the isle as he led her through the turns. Every stream, riffle and waterfall was lit from beneath the waters, even the bay had flickering and dancing lights that appeared to come from beneath the water. Colors shifted and changed in time to the music. The entire Isle took on a glowing, magical appearance from the lights.

“It is so very beautiful.” Topaz eyes widened in surprise and awed delight as she tried to take it all in. Even with supernatural speed and the aid of magic, it must have taken him many hours to turn the whole into a fairy tale to surprise her with, her heart swelled at the thought.

“It reminds me of the tales we heard about the faeries of the mountains and how they played with faerie fire in the valleys.” They moved in perfect time to the waltz and the ever changing lights, his hand splayed on her waist the other holding hers. Her wings brushed gently against his arm when he led her into a turn. Eventually Topaz turned her shining eyes from the lights to look into his face. His obsidian gaze had never left her, drinking in her obvious joy at his surprise. “When I see you all I see is light and laughter, and I wonder how I could have been so blessed.”

“You have had to wait very long though.” Her steps were as smooth on the grass as they were on the marble-like floor when he led her outside. “Come to think of it, so did I. It's a good thing I didn't know I was waiting though. I'm really not very patient.”

As the music came to a close, he pulled her with him onto the small rise in the grass, beneath the stars and held her to him. “I was only waiting for Gabriel to find his mate, and then I was prepared to walk into the sun.” It was a somber reminder of just how old he truly was.

“I am glad you did not have a chance do that. Perhaps he waited looking because of this?” She again snuggled close to him and thought to distract him from that line of thought. Making use of her arch mage powers she called tiny stars down from the heaven above, but only for them to dance close enough to touch, not to hurt.

Lucien watched the stars as they reflected in her eyes. “I cannot now that I have found you.”

[Topaz]

She lifted a hand to Lucien's cheek in a gentle caress and whispered softly. “Good. I don't want to loose you. Ever.”

“You, my dear, are stuck with me, and it is a good thing I am here to protect you from being a warrior.” He gave her an unrepentant grin that for a moment left her at a loss for words.

“Is that so?” He lowered his head to hers, his nose touching hers.

“I think I can find some distractions to keep you off a battlefield.” With the barest of touches he slowly traced a vein in her delicate wing, marveling at the pulse fluttering below his fingertips. He loved the exquisite sensitivity to the lightest of touches.

“I am sure you can.” Her fingers slid from his cheek into his hair.

His laughter gurgled over her in a black velvet caress. “Never in this nexus. But, I claim you until the morning.”

“Say, Lucien?” The limit he mentioned gave her an idea. “Is there a way for me to get past those impressive doors so I could be closer to you when I'm done with the business part of the day, or would that be too dangerous? Does Azjah even know? It is her Palazzo, isn't it?”

“The wards can be set to allow you past.” He would do so this very night. “And yes, the Marchioness knows.”

“Good. I would hate for her to think me an intruder.” She tilted her head and brought her lips to his.

“She would not think that of you. She knows of our mating, and both the Marquis and she have given us their well wishes.”

“I did suspect it at the party,” she smiled, “but I couldn't be entirely sure.”

His laugh was a warm caress over her. “Now my tiny warrior, why the surprise awaiting me in the driveway tonight?”

“Because you mentioned you'd enjoy a blond and light blue present and I wanted you to have your very own car. I do not share well either. It was very generous of Azjah, to loan you her cars, and I am glad and appreciative that she has, but she's way too often between us as is.”

Lucien slid his fingers through her hair. “The Marchioness is a generous soul, despite what many mistakenly believe about her.” Then quirked a brow at her, “She is?”

“I eventually figure out when I didn't have your undivided attention.” Her wink was teasing, but the underlying feelings were not and she did not like them.

“My responsibilities to the Marchioness do not mysteriously end Topaz.” Lucien would eventually have to tell her more about that. Though he wanted to right this very moment, this situation warrented a different response. “But you always have my undivided attention. Even when I am not with you physically, I listen to you.”

“I know it's silly. I have a job to do, too. Just the same, I rather have it be your kitty you take me places with.” She finished with a warm, loving smile.

“Well, it now shall do just that. Where would you like to go first?” He nuzzled her throat.

She thought of the desert, the cave and a fountain with sparkling rainbows and chuckled softly. “Tonight?”

“Not tonight, tonight you are mine.” He tightened his arms around her waist, feeling her heartbeat against his chest. The heated look her regarded her with just before he claimed her lips in a passionate kiss told her just what he meant by that.

[Lucien]

They had remained in his recently created bedchamber for hours, but it felt like fleeting seconds. There was no finer sensation than the touch of her skin. No finer taste than that of her blood. She was addiction rolled into every conceivable sense.

He didn't need to see the outside world, he knew unerringly where the sun was in the sky, and it was beginning to claim him with a lethargy that he would soon not be able to elude.

Lucien regarded the face of his sleeping mate with concern for her well being. He wondered if she had truly been ready for the second blood exchange, though to have waited any longer would have extended the sweet agony of needing to be closer than they could be. But the need to fully claim her had over-ruled his desire to wait, and he had initiated the second exchange, and perhaps taken more blood from her than he intended as she did look a bit pale in the candle light.

The sun had already risen, and though he would have liked nothing better than to hold her sleeping form in his arms all day, he knew he could not. He brushed a soft, lingering kiss against her brow before he reluctantly left her side to go to ground. As the soil closed over him and his breath left his body, his thoughts remained on Topaz.

He had left chocolate, hot coffee and fresh fruit for her. She would awaken hungry, and would still require such nourishment. He hoped he had gotten the images right and that she would be pleased with the table beside the bed.

[Topaz]

Topaz woke and stretched languorously, aching most wonderfully, and then sat up. A wave of dizziness assailed her and the cool air touching her skin made her shiver. It took several long moments before the surroundings came back into focus. She wrapped the cover securely around herself and slowly moved her gaze over the items in the room. The tapestries and the carvings in the granite walls gave to room a warm and welcoming aura and she wondered what the flasks on containers of spun glass and metal and the chest they were sitting on held.

Then her gaze fell on the treasures on the little round table next to the bed, that she could have sworn had not been there before, and a smile spread across her features. There were a coffee can and a cup, a bowl of berries and a small box, with an oddly bright Edelweiss bloom sitting among them. Her curiosity about the other furnishings could wait.

The candles had gone out she realized suddenly. Yet, she could see just fine. Lucien had warned her of what she might expect, but it still came as somewhat of a shock.

She scooted closer to the small table and had to fight off another wave of dizziness before she could pour a cup of coffee. To her amazement and delight it was steaming hot, and she wondered how Lucien had managed that as she sipped the coffee and pulled the lid off the box. Chocolate truffles, the same kind that had been on the buffet at the party, she recognized and reached for one. Even as the chocolate melted in her mouth she started feeling sleepy again. After a last sip of coffee she set the cup on the table and then curled up again on the soft bed.

[Topaz]

When Topaz woke again she was feeling much better. Though she still sensed nothing in particular from Lucien, there mere continued existence of the fae link told her that he was fine, but still sleeping. They had talked about going out to the desert this evening. At least she thought that it should be evening. There was really no telling what time it was by her surroundings.

Perhaps she would have time to satisfy her curiosity about the vials and the chest. Lucien did say that the room was for her, so it wasn't snooping, really, she told herself as she walked over to the chest and picked up the vials one at a time, unstopping them to see what was inside them. She found them to hold scented oils, perfumes and lotions of varying colors, textures and odors. Her curiosity about the vials satisfied she sat them aside carefully and had a look inside the chest. It held silk bedding in various jewel tones. She looked through them and decided that she likes all of them. Lucien either shared her tastes or he had made some very accurate guesses.

As she returned everything to its proper place she noticed a small jewelry cask sitting on top of a chest of drawers. That, of course, aroused her curiosity as well and she promptly went to thoroughly inspect it and its contents. She brushed her fingers appreciatively over ear rings and bracelets and necklaces she found inside, identifying them to be from many time periods, beginning with the simple cabochon cut rubies from the time of Charlemagne, to the ornate diamond cut gold and platinum of today and admired each piece. Then she noticed a simple ring with a blue sapphire and a matching bracelet lying beside the jewelry chest and picked them up. She guessed them to be most recently acquired by Lucien with her in mind rather than collected for a soul mate he didn’t know at the time and fastened the bracelet around her wrist and slipped the ring on her finger.

But Topaz was far from done with exploring. There were the drawers that just begged to be pulled open. In the first drawer she found lace of the finest quality in abundance, from personal lingerie to fine gloves for formal affairs, in the second silk slips, silk camisoles, and silk robes in shades of blue, watercolor greens, ivory. She was alternately touched by the evidence of Lucien’s thoughtfulness, overwhelmed by just how much there was of everything, and giggling with delight at all the surprises. When Lucien said he'd get her something to wear, he really meant it. Obviously. She just had to try on one to see if it fit as well as it looked it might.

She felt a light mental caress. “Do you like them?”

“Yes!” She chuckled softly. “Come here so I can show you how much.” Before she had said the last word she felt him stand behind her and coil his arms around her waist.

“I am here.” His whisper caught in her ear as she leaned back against him.

“That was quick.” She tilted her head back for a good morning kiss. His lips were still cool when they touched hers. “Look! I found a treasure trove.”

“Did you see anything you like amongst these treasures?” He nuzzled her neck lightly.

“I like everything, there’s not a single thing not to like. There is one drawer left, though, to discover what it might hold.” Then she held up her left hand to show him the ring and bracelet.

His black velvet laughter enveloped her. “Then please do open the remaining drawer, and have you checked the closet?”

”There is a closet?” She was incredulous. How could she have missed that? “I've been too busy to even notice.” She looked where he was pointing and laughed. “Well, wouldn't you know it, there it is.” A tall and ornately carved cabinet, rather difficult to miss, stood to her right.

Lucien slid open the last drawer to a plethora of robes and cloaks of differing materials and colors, suitable for magic users to wear when casting. Topaz brushed her fingers over the robes with s silent “Oh”.

“I have never seen you wear such robes, but perhaps you might find one or two to your liking?”

”I'm sure I will.” She turned around in his arms, wrapped him up in a proper hug and showered his face with kisses, excitement and delight glowing in her eyes. “Thank you.”

“There is one thing missing.” His obsidian eyes held hers.

“There is?” She couldn’t think of anything to be missing. “What might that be?”

[Topaz]

Lucien sat her down again and reached into his shirt, retrieving two hair combs of platinum with sapphires embedded into them. “They bring out the color of your eyes.” Her eyes widened in surprise and her smile deepened, but for the moment she was speechless. He slid the combs into her hair before he placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.

“Now I feel like a princess.” She smiled. There was really no adequate way to express her awed delight and appreciation.

“But I am no prince.” With that he scooped her into his arms and heads for the curtained bed.

“You must be at least be a prince.” She chuckled softly when she noticed where he was heading. “The desert can wait.”

”I am a simple vassal to my Prince, I have simply had many years to obtain things.”

”But how did you know to collect fairy clothes?”

”Ah, those I had made just for you. There is a dress maker in Rhydin who caters to the Marchioness, and we put the woman to work.”

“Who is we?” She slid her fingers through his hair.

”The Marchioness and I. I needed a woman's influence.” He laid her onto the Eider down comforter, following her down.

”Thank you. I guess I will eventually get around to have a look inside the closet. But for now I'd rather have this.” She pulled his head to hers for a deep kiss. Lucien wrapped both his arms tightly around her, his lips devouring her in kisses that barely left time for catching her breath.

[Topaz]

Lucien’s eyes never left her as she prepared for their outing scant hours later. When she was dressed she turned around her axle for him, making the skirt flare out. “Does it pass inspection?”

He canted his head slightly. “I think I prefer you in naught but skin.”

“Only until we come across other people.” She chuckled softly as she grasped his hand.

“In such a case, perhaps the robes of the Saracens would be more appropriate.”

She squeezed his hand gently. “It is way too warm for those. I've never before had so many clothes to choose from.” She was still very much awed by all the surprises he had waiting for her.

“Wait until you see the closets.” He pulled her close.

”You mean to say that there is yet more?” She was incredulous. What clothing she had discovered so far was more than she knew what to do with.

”There are the dresses for those dinners out you wanted and dresses for dancing.”

“Somehow I pictured those dinners to be more like picnics, not warranting special clothes.” She chuckled softly and brushed a fingertip along the side of his neck.

Lucien motioned toward the stairs. “I believe we have a date with the desert and a new kitty.”

[Topaz]

Lucien rolled the sleek car to a stop before a deep pool of water glistening in the moonlight and turned his obsidian gaze to watch his fairy’s reaction to the scenery. Her eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of the rainbow pool. The colors of the stone around it varied from tans to beige to orange to red, and the pool was a rainbow of colors from palest white to yellow to orange to red, green and blue in the depths of the center.

“Oh, this is pretty.” Lucien, sensing her desire for a closer look, got out and walked around the blond Ferrari to open her door. Once she stood beside him he reached in behind her, lightly brushing her wings, and turned on the stereo system with the Rumba music. The slow rhythm enticed to sway with it and Topaz turned her light blue eyes from the beauty around them up to him. “Mystic gave me a present when I dueled her last week.” Lucien quirked a brow at her as she pulled the shiny stone from her pocket and offered it to him for a closer look. “It will change colors and shades every hour and become warmer as the temperature gets colder, and vice versa.”

Lucien handed the stone back to her with a nod and with a soft laugh offered his arm to her once she had the stone tucked away again. “Come, dance with me.”

”It'll be my pleasure.” An impish light started to gleam in her eyes as she moved into his arm. But when his hand slid over her waist and lower back and she noticed his practiced opening stance for the dance that light faded. “You already know this dance? And here I thought I'd get to teach you.”

”Would you prefer to teach me?” A slow smile curved his lips.

“There'd be no need if you already know.” She replied with a soft chuckle as she moved her hips forward, backward and sideways in harmony with the music.

”The offer stands.” He started to lead her slowly across the desert floor as the night creatures began to come out, curious about their visitors.

“Thank you. This is just fine.” She gazed into his eyes and kept her body close to his, far closer than what was generally considered as proper. “What do your babies do during the day?”

“That is an odd question.” Lucien looked at her for a long moment, his thighs brushed hers as he led them into a series of turns. “The young ones are not so intolerant to sunlight. There are usually human families associated with Carpathians. Ones we can trust, that stay associated with a family for generations.”

“It isn't so odd a question. I'd like to know what to be ready for.” Her left slid down his arm and came to rest in his hand as he stepped back, then turned her to come to dance with her back resting against him. So they do not start going to ground until they start eating blood?”

[Topaz]

“Yes, they learn to go to ground by the time they are around five or six.” His hand let go of hers and moved back her waist, brushing against her as he twirled her under his raised arm then pulled her back to him. “We will try to raise a child, when you are ready Topaz. I have seen the longing.” That promise called a soft smile to her lips.

“Kyndra was complaining that she didn't have a place for a party.” Topaz offered as Lucien led her into the next dance. “She may try to talk you into having another one at the Citadel.”

His deep chuckle let her know he wasn’t completely set against repeating the experience. “How many men shall I have to refrain from frying for this event?” The idea of having to share her with other males was disconcerting, but if he kept her on the dance floor, everything should be manageable.

“All of them, of course,” Her wings brushed against his body as turned around herself within the circle of his arm. “But I would rather she'll talk someone else into having a party. I'd much rather dance with you and have someone else do the hosting.”

“The Marchioness invited Kyndra to have her party at the Palazzo.” He swept her into another series of turns, his hand splayed against the small of her back. Lucien knew he would have to keep an eye on the Marchioness, but that would not preclude his enjoying having Topaz close.

“Better them than me.” She moved against him with the seductive rhythm of the music and caught some of his thoughts. “Will you be on duty the evening of that particular party?”

His arms tightend around her briefly. “I will be required to assist with security, especially if the house is full of strangers.”

She gave a brief nod, a little disappointed that they would not be able to simply enjoy themselves. “Perhaps I should hear more about your responsibilities.” Then she stepped around him with lithe grace.

He felt her swaying with the rhythm of the music against his back, and waited with his answer intil she was in front of him again, facing him. He drew her back to him. “I am a bodyguard, what more would you know?”

That much she already knew and also that the prince had something to do with his responisibilities. “I would like to know everything, every detail.” As the music came to its end, she twirled around herself, remaining so close to him she brushed against his body, then stood still, her light blue gaze held his.

[Topaz]

Lucien snaked an arm around her waist and they headed for the pool. “Every detail? I have lived a long life Topaz, are you certain you want to know 'everything'? You know already that my job, given to me by our Prince is to hunt the Vampyre. And so here in this nexus, I still follow the mandate from my Prince.” Her query brought him the realization that there were things from his past that he was not excited about sharing with her. Things so dark, he did not want to burden her with just how riddled with holes his soul was.

"Yes, Lucien, eventually I do want to know everything. This much I knew, but the whole of it is more complicated, isn't it?" She suspected the complications to have something to do with Azjah, and that they went beyond whatever way Azjah had chosen to help solve the mystery surrounding the mortality rate of Carpathian babies.

He studied her expression long moments. “I must continue to hunt the Vampyre Topaz, as I must honor my commitment to the Marchioness. Ah, the ties to the Marchioness trouble you?” It struck him then that it was his ties to the Danaan family that were at the root of these questions.

"Ties." She repeated the word thoughtfully instead of answering. Lucien already knew what troubled her. "What do these ties consist of?" She kept her gaze on the fountain in front of them. Lucien knew that this time she would not let his distractions allow him to get away with a vague reply.

“The Marchioness saved both Gabriel and I. We were so close to death, there was only one way to save us Topaz. We took her blood. She was the only source to us as she flew us off world. We, Gabriel and I, have taken her blood, and given her ours in exchange. She has a link to us that no one else has.” During the flight, both brothers had needed her blood, but with their need, they had drained her to the brink of death on more than one occasion. It was complicated.

She had not known what answer she had expected or been ready for, but this certainly wasn’t it. "You both did? She has had two exchanges with you?" Her knowledge regarding the subject was limited at best, but some of the implications were rather obvious.

“Yes.”

That single word all by itself made her turn her head to look at him. His face was unreadable. “Obviously something about that exchange was different from mating or was it? What does that make of your relationship? And what does it mean for ours?”

Though her voice was quiet and held no hint of the turmoil of emotions inside her, Lucien was well aware of them and held her close as his black eyes looked deeply into hers. “It means we have a permanent psychic connection. It means she can use some of our abilities. It means that she is in our protection, as will all of her heirs and descendants. But, it means naught to our relationship, because you are my mate.” While the Marchioness would never come between them, he did still owe her the protection mandated by their prince, and by his own honor. That would not change.

”You can read each others' thoughts and communicate telepathically.” She tried to absorb that information and her eyes still held questions. “That makes one of the presences hers.”

”Yes, at times.”

“Her, Gabriel, Adriel - they all can just come calling whenever they please?” Topaz didn't know just yet if to like or dislike that.

He gave a soft chuckle. “We have the ability to communicate on a more private telepathic channel.” The link between Topaz and himself was along different lengths, and while yes, all of them could communicate telepathicaly, there were private places he and Topaz alone could go. She would learn this with time.

[Topaz]

”I'll learn to sort out all the information eventually and how to bug you all right back eventually.” A small smile came to her lips. How had he known issuing a challenge like that would make things slip into place just like that? “She's family then, of sorts.”

“She is family in a way, yes.” Lucien gave another soft laugh. “And I have little doubt you will learn how to use the communication channels.

Then Topaz was reminded of the buffet at the party and laughed, then explained her sudden mirth. “Azjah was eating meat stuffed chilies. I don't think she really liked them despite her compliments.

“She does still eat meat on occasion, though it does not always sit well with her.” He ran his fingers through her hair and she relaxed in his arms as she started to accept the idea of his immediate family being larger than she had previously assumed.

Her eyes twinkling with impishly, she teased him. “It is a human tradition to introduce one's bride to the family before hand.”

”It is our nature to protect our own, but you come first mate of mine.” Topaz pulled his head down to hers. His lips were brushing hers lightly, teasingly. She giggled, then flicked her tongue over his lips before she let go of his head and slid her hands down his chest. He shuddered deliciously at her touch. “And you will learn to close the doors against family at crucial times.”

”Oh, but you like it when I don't bother with shields.”

He nibbled along the column of her throat. “Yes, I prefer you without shields.”

“You really should have at least a glance at this beautiful fountain. I'm coming home with you to look at later, the fountain will not.” She lipped out of his arms and quickly moved behind him.

”I have the beauty of your eyes, why would I desire to look anywhere else?” His question was from the heart, he didn't want to look anywhere but into her eyes.

”Because they are just one shade of blue. This fountain has many shades of just about all the colors.” She giggled and hugged him from behind.

“Show me?” He glanced over his shoulder at her. She fluttered up, her body brushed against his back and, covering his eyes gently with her hands, turned his head back toward the scenery.

“Are you ready to have your eyes open?” Her warm whisper caught in his ear.

”Yes, but I much prefer the feel of your hands upon my skin.” Her touch was pure delight.

“You can have both.” With a soft chuckle she moved her fingers to let him peek between them. After a few moments she asked, “Would you like to see more?”

He perused the scenery, then turned once again to study her. “Always.”

Silly man. She laughed and removed her hands from his eyes completely. “Oh well, at least you got one glance.”

“Not nearly enough.” He gave her a slow smile.

”Then you shouldn't have turned around.”

“I should have turned sooner.” He traced her cheek bones.

[Topaz]

She answered his soft smile and brought her hand up to cover his. “It is possible to enjoy various things on multiple channels.” Though the words were teasing, the teasing glint in her eyes was replaced with something else altogether.

”Of course, but I prefer to focus my attentions on one thing.”

”I'm not a thing.”

”The thing I refer to is pleasuring you.” His velvety voice washed over her like a soft caress and the look with which he regarded her made her feel warm and tingly inside.

“You are doing that.” She blushed promptly and nuzzled against his neck.

He swept her into his arms. “Indeed?”

“Yes.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I want to spoil you, too, you know. There's centuries to make up for.”

“I have no objection to such if it pleases you.” He began to walk toward the car.

“That would please me immensely.” He opened the passenger door and sat her into the car. Half a moment later he settled behind the wheel of the car.

”We will have just enough time to get back to Rhydin before the sun rises.” He turned the ignition and the car purred in response.

”Aww. This night has passed way too fast.” But all the nights of late passed way too quickly to please her.

”This is true, but who said I was letting your return to the Valley this morning?” He gave her a wolfish smile.

She chuckled with delight at the promise in his question. “You didn't. But you won’t know if I'm there or not while you sleep.”

”I will know. I will feel your absence now even more sharply than I did before.” He would feel her absence, and that thought was sobering to him.

Topaz snuggled to him, careful not to disturb his driving. “I miss you all the time, too. I don't think I'm getting much work done these days.” But despite her well developed sense of duty, this didn't bother her just now or yet.

Lucien took his eyes from the road. “Stay with me.” His look was pleading. As though the thought of losing her was simply more than he could bear now that he'd found her.

“Of course I will stay with you, Lucien. I did not mean to sound like I had any objections.”

He gave her a smile and returned his attention to the road. “Have you met my sister yet?”

”Not in person. But I did meet a little of her in the statue Azjah gave me.”

“I think the two of you together are going to be trouble for Gabriel and I.” His frown was barely perceptible, but there.

”Of course.” She chuckled softly. “It's a mathematical law.” Seeing his raised brow she explained, “When there's more than one woman around, the men are all wrong with whatever they're saying.”

He gave her a skeptical look. “What are they teaching young faeries these days? What happened to teaching a woman's place?”

[Topaz]

“Fairies are neither human nor Carpathian.” And she hadn’t learned that particular bit of wisdom until after she had come into town. “Would you like to teach me?”

The grin she gave him was decidedly impish and he gave her a fanged smile in return. “I do have the superior experience.”

”Do you?” She laughed, not in the least intimidated. “How many females have you had the chance to teach their place?”

He joined his low laughter to hers. “I have watched how men have trained their mates for years.”

”I am convinced that my place is by your side, even if you don't want me there all the time. It would be rather odd having you sit next to me at my desk, too. But believe you me that there will be reckoning should you copy any of some of those men's less than desirable methods.”

”Ah, but I can remain there unseen, and only you would feel me.” His smile promised wickedness indeed.

”Like I said, she grinned, “it would be odd. You would not want me looking over your shoulder and blowing into your year while you're out hunting, either.” She briefly glanced at the landscape when she felt the car slow, then turned her undivided attention back on him.

”No, there are some things you should not be witness to.” He thought of the Vampyre deaths at his hands, and the slaying of the puppets of the Vampyre, and knew these were things she need never see. But they were there, in his mind if she sought them out.

”I may not always be agreeable to staying out of the way, especially not when I believe you would benefit from my assistance.” That should serve as a fair warning, she thought. It wasn’t that she disagreed with him on that in general but sooner or later there’d be situations where he’d be better of with her help. She would also find it difficult enough to remain at a safe distance when that wasn’t the case. “When you mentioned Adriel, did you do so because you mean for us to meet upon our return into town?”

”I do not expect you to stay out of the way, I only ask that you permit me to protect you. Not tonight.” Protecting her was his primary objective. She might not like some of his methods, but without her, he would walk into the sun. Or become the thing he hunted.

”I like the feeling of being protected, so long as it doesn't mean being locked in a protective cage.” She firmly squelched the unbidden memory of tigers and worse roaming the hallways at Dalton’s castle.

“What about a bedchamber underground?” Lucien pulled the purring car into the garage, shutting off the purr of the engine.

”I do believe you already made me one of those. Remember, it has this huge Eiderdown filled bed in it, and a treasure trove of silks and lace and jewels.”

“I meant to retire to now.” He opened her door with a smile that promised much.

Topaz stepped out of the car and into his arms. “That is a splendid idea.”

He kissed her, a lingering kiss that more than made up for the kisses they didn’t share during the drive from the desert, gathering her to him before he moved them both with his preternatural speed into his suite.

[Topaz]

Topaz walked into the arena with the hope for an evening busy with dueling and that staying busy would take her mind of Lucien. He was out hunting Vampyre this evening. Though he had locked her out of his mind, the fae link that was getting stronger with every passing day kept her well informed. She stopped at the bar for coffee before heading toward the tables.

“Good evening, Azjah.” Azjah came from the locker room, dressed for officiating. Topaz picked a seat at the table by the callers’ couch and sat down just as Azjah made herself comfortable on the couch.

”Good evening Topaz. How are you tonight” Topaz waited until Hubie had left to fetch Azjah’s scotch.

“Missing Lucien, of course.” Topaz gave her a ready smile. “But I'm well. How about you?”

“Trying to keep busy. I know he is hunting tonight for the Prince.” Azjah took the scotch from Hubie with a grateful nod. She had added that because she knew Lucien was blocking the telepathic links, even to her.

“Thank you for helping Lucien with the clothes.” Ignoring what she sensed from Lucien would be impossible if the conversation remained on what he was doing tonight.

“Did you like them?” Azjah’s smile widened happy to have a change in the subject.

“I'm afraid I've not even seen all of them yet. There's so much to look at.” Topaz allowed her awe at the quantity to show.

“He did rather go on a spree, but he said he wanted you to have everything you might need.” She smiled at the memory of how much of a fidget Lucien had been for ordering the things, worrying that it wasn’t enough.

Topaz chuckled. “Everything and then some.”

“Let him spoil you. He needs to do that.” She sipped the scotch and watched the rings a moment.

“Yes, he does.” Lucien did take great pleasure in spoiling her, Topaz thought with a soft smile, but nothing could make up for missing him when he wasn’t with her. “Though his presence means far more than any amount of luxuries could.” Azjah nodded in response and greeted Harris who had just walked up. Topaz turned her focus toward finding a sparing partner. “Is anyone interested in a duel?”

“E is.” Harris was helpful on occasion.

“I am.” Ekthbjlgke agreed. “Like the man says.”

“Well, let's duel then.” Topaz rose and headed for the ring even before Azjah had a chance to make the announcement.

The evening’s activity helped to ease Topaz’s worry about Lucien for stretches at a time and the duels masked her reactions to the stabs of pain she sensed from him rather well. But she remained edgy until she sensed Lucien’s return to the Palazzo. She would have gone to meet him right then, but he was in no shape for that. He would need to go to ground immediately to heal the wounds he received over the last few hours in battle. She had to be content with sending him warm and reassuring thoughts instead.

[Topaz]

Sunday evening at the Annex

Topaz knew that Lucien had arrived before she could see him and suddenly the spells Rokin – Rokin was in the ring with her, spell-dueling – was casting appeared far less important than greeting Lucien. She felt Lucien’s obsidian gaze on her an instant later and took her eyes off her opponent to beam a smile his way. He was leaning against the wall near her ring, looking way too good and healthy considering the battle he’d been in only the previous night.

The official was announcing the result of the round. She had completely missed that Rokin had blocked her attack and she reluctantly returned her attention to the duel at hand, trying to guess what Rokin might cast next. It wouldn’t do at all to just stand there like a statue and Rokin certainly deserved better.

“Focus on him, I am not going anywhere.” Lucien’s mental touch echoed her own thoughts. He really wanted to sear Rokin with a bolt from the blue.

“You look so very good.” Topaz thought back at him and displaced when she lost Rokin from view, promptly bumping into him. “Oops.”

“You are unsurpassed, but it would not do for me to have to fry your opponent for harming you.” The man touching his mate drew a low snarl from him.

“Are you telling me that I had better win? There are wards, you know.” Her opponent could not inflict any permanent harm on her in the dueling rings.

“I do not much like to see you injured.” Lucien remained absolutely unmoving but she was aware of his struggle against the urge to grab and pull her out of the ring, or to fry Rokin.

Topaz focused on calling up a misty fog before replying, but Rokin’s defense was solid. “I do not like feeling you injured either.” Lucien remained silent and she deflected Rokin's next few attacks to the faint echo of thunder rolling outside the building.

“You felt my injuries?” Lucien had waited for a lull in the spell casting with his question. “I shut those paths Topaz.” He was contemplating the ramifications.

“Of course. I noticed that you blocked me out. But there's two links, Lucien, two magic forces at work.” Lucien withdrew at her answer. Something in what she had said bothered him, but what exactly she couldn’t guess. “Lucien?” Her touch was tender and barely noticeable.

Rokin flashed to the same side she had, but she noticed too late to avoid bumping into him again. “We should probably quit doing that.”

Lucien’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously as Rokin touched his mate yet again. “They let you know all, did they not?”

“Feelings and emotions, yes. That’s not near everything, though.” In a way it was worse than getting the full picture. It left way too much for guessing.

“It was more than I wanted.” His thoughts were in turmoil realizing she had access to images he sought to keep her from experiencing.

“I know.” Topaz wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and comfort him.

“Focus on him, I shall be here trying not to incinerate him.”

“I'm trying.” But she would need a lot more practice before she could effectively cast spells and hold a telepathic conversation simultaneously.

“This match better end soon... It's getting worse...” Rokin's words matched her desires perfectly.

Topaz could not quite ignore Lucien’s reactions to her attacks on her opponent but she did make an honest effort to keep her attention on Rokin and the spells he sent her way for the rest of the duel. She managed to keep the score close, but it wasn’t enough to keep from losing the match.