Seventeen

 

That night, Graciella stood beside Yavi facing Master Volkan in the sanctuary. Their wedding attire was monks’ robes and sandals, but she didn’t mind. Her older sister and younger brother stood to her left, and to Yavi’s right stood his twin brother. A small group of Tylvan monks encircled them, holding candles. Their warm yellow glow illuminated the ancient stone walls and flickered in Yavi’s silver eyes as he held her hands in his and gazed down at her, his expression full of love.

Beautiful bells chimed, echoing hauntingly off the walls, summoning more monks to come and fill the sanctuary. They filed in solemnly, each of them carrying a small candle. Once they were all gathered, the sanctuary glowed brightly with blazing candlelight.

Master Volkan raised his hands in prayer, and the room fell silent. He closed his eyes and murmured in an ancient tongue for a moment, then placed his hand first on Graciella’s shoulder, then on Yavi’s, praying for each of them.

When he opened his eyes he asked loudly, “Why have you come, Yavi of the Zulfikars?”

“I have come to take this woman as my wife.”

“Why do you wish to take her as your wife?”

Yavi looked down at her. “I love her with all my heart and soul, and I wish to be irrevocably joined with her forever.”

“And what do you offer this young woman as her husband?”

Yavi smiled, holding her gaze. “I offer her my heart, my soul, and my body. I offer her protection, provision, and comfort. I offer her my life itself. Forever.”

Volkan turned to Graciella. “Do you, my daughter Graciella, accept Yavi of the Zulfikars as your husband?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why do you desire to have him as husband, my child?”

“I love Yavi with all my heart and soul, and I wish to be joined to him forever.”

“What do you offer Yavi as his wife?”

This was unrehearsed, so Graciella spoke her heart. “I offer him my love and devotion, my wisdom, laughter, companionship, and physical comfort. My loyalty and my service. Forever.”

Volkan smiled. “Good, my daughter.” He turned back to Yavi. “Do you, Yavi, wish to claim Graciella Stovy as your wife?”

“I do. With all my heart.”

“By my power and authority as a priest of Tejeshwar, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May your bond be secure, your love burn strong, and your home flourish and prosper all the days of your lives.”

“May it be so.” Yavi brought her hands to his lips for a kiss.

“Yes, may it be so,” she repeated softly, not sure what her response was supposed to be.

Volkan raised his voice to address the assembled crowd. “I present to you our Lord Emperor, Yavi of the Zulfikars, and his Empress wife, Graciella Stovy.”

The monks bowed their heads as Yavi swept her into his arms for a kiss. Graciella clung to his strong neck and kissed him back with all her might, hardly believing this moment had finally arrived, that her long-held dream of becoming his wife had come true.

They were escorted ahead of the assembly of monks to a large dining hall and seated on cushions at the head table with Volkan, Jiandra, Yajna, and Rafe at their sides. Servants brought out a simple but delicious meal of lentils, flatbread, and herbed rice. A light, fruity red wine was served in modest wooden cups, and platters of fresh fruit were laid out as well, laden with apricots, apples, and figs from the monastery orchard.

To her delight, Yavi never stopped touching her as they enjoyed the food and the wine, hugging her waist, nuzzling her ear. Toward the end of the meal, he pulled her close. “I love you, my beautiful wife,” he whispered, his warm breath prickling her skin.

Graciella stroked his jaw. “I love you too, my handsome husband.”

Yavi winked at her before rising from his seat, and the dining hall fell silent. He spoke in Nandalan, then translated it to Villeleian. “My family and friends, I thank you for your well-wishes on this, my wedding day, and the day of my joining to this beautiful, valiant woman at my side.”

Graciella smiled up at him, her heart pounding.

He held her gaze a moment before turning back to his audience. “It is time for us to take our leave for the evening. Please, enjoy the rest of your dinner. We bid you goodnight.”

The dinner guests rose to their feet, bowing to Yavi as he led Graciella out of the dining hall. Once she and Yavi were outside in the cold air, he squeezed her in close to his side and pulled her along with him to their sleeping quarters. They hurried through the garden and into the stone building, then down the long hallway to their door. Yavi pushed it open with his foot and scooped her into his arms to carry her inside.

He set her down, latched the door, and led her to the fireplace. He stoked the fire with the poker, stirring up the flames, then set the poker aside to rub her small hands between his larger ones, warming them.

She shivered, more with anticipation than with cold. “Do you have the bride oil?”

He looked around the room. “They said they were delivering it here this evening.” He went to retrieve a small burlap sack tied with strings from the table at the side of the bed. He opened the bag to reveal a rose-colored bottle, then pulled the cork and sniffed it. He brought it over for her to smell as well.

She caught the scent of balsam and jasmine. “Mm.”

He re-corked it, slipped it into the pocket of his robe, and bent his head to kiss her lips gently. “Are you tired, Sheir-zin?” he asked, caressing her back.

“No. The soak in the hot spring pool this afternoon plus our nap gave me plenty of energy.”

“Good, because we may not get much sleep tonight.” His silver eyes were mischievous.

She giggled and tiptoed up to wind her arms around his neck. “Fine by me.”

He bent his head to claim her lips in a hungry kiss, then pulled her toward the bed. He set the bottle of bride oil on the bedside table and reached down to untie the belt at her waist. Graciella stood still and allowed him to remove the robe, baring her body to his view. He lay the robe over the back of the chair, gazing at her.

“Sundarra suauf de solil. Beauty that overwhelms my heart.” He cupped her cheek and tasted her lips a moment, then bent down to draw the blankets back on the bed. “Lie down on your stomach for me, Sheir-zin.”

She complied, stretching out on the mattress and turning her head toward him on the pillow, eager to see what he was up to.

He shrugged out of the sleeves of his robe, baring his torso but leaving the robe tied around his waist, then took the bottle of oil and knelt on the bed beside her. He moved some escaped strands of her hair out of the way and drizzled the oil over her back. Then he leaned over her and began to massage her shoulders and neck in his strong, warm hands, the oil instantly warming under his touch.

Graciella closed her eyes, groaning softly at the soothing pleasure of it. As he massaged her back, the oil’s enchanting fragrance filled her senses. The balsam fir and jasmine she’d detected earlier were complimented by other spices, herbs, and florals—there was a hint of sandalwood and patchouli, as well as sage and lavender. His hands worked magic on her back muscles, relaxing and arousing her. He massaged her arms, then returned his hands to her waist, running them smoothly down over her hips. He stopped a moment to coat his palms with more oil, then cupped her buttocks in his hands, massaging them as well. Then his hands smoothed down over the backs of her thighs, kneading and massaging, then lower to massage her calves, ankles and feet.

His voice was husky when he spoke. “Turn over for me, Sheir-zin.”

She did, eager for more of this luxurious treatment, settling her head back against the pillow and watching him with half-lidded eyes.

He stood up and untied the robe from around his waist, holding her gaze as he laid it aside. Graciella took in the sight of his naked, muscular body, all six-and-a-half feet of it. At his groin, his thick shaft strained upward toward his belly. She watched as he again knelt on the mattress beside her, drizzling oil in a line between her breasts and down over her belly. He set the bottle aside and spread the oil with his fingers over her belly and chest, then caressed her breasts slowly in his warm, slick hands. Her nipples puckered at the pleasurable contact, tingling like crazy as they absorbed the oil.

Yavi gazed down at her breasts in his hands. “Your body is exquisite.”

“Yours too,” she muttered thickly, reaching up to stroke his thigh.

He smiled, setting her hand back on the mattress. “Not yet. Focus on my touch on your body right now. I want you to relax completely.”

“I’m pretty relaxed.”

“Your body will need to stretch and strain in a moment to receive me.” He stroked her belly. “So do as I say. Relax and soak it in.”

She smiled. “All right.”

He caressed and massaged her hips, then down over her legs, ankles, and feet again. She was warm and tingly all over from the massaging and the oil, and aching to touch him, taste him, feel his body against hers.

At last he stretched out on his side next to her, propped himself up on one elbow, and caressed her waist. He kissed her lips, sliding his well-oiled hand down over her belly and Venus’ mound to her heated, slick folds, finding her clitoris with his searching fingers. He massaged it gently, the oil on his hand intensifying the pleasurable sensitivity of that spot. Graciella moaned against his mouth, arching up against his chest, and wound her arms around his neck. This time he didn’t refuse her touch. He tasted her lips and teased her tongue with his as his fingers worked their magic on her body down below.

After a moment, he coated his hand with more of the bride oil, gently moved her thighs apart to give him more access, then reached down to stroke the opening to her vagina with his fingers. “You feel so good,” he breathed against her lips.

Graciella squirmed a little, stroking his shoulders. “You do, too. I love how you touch me, Yavi.”

He probed inside her with his finger, stretching her. “You’re small, Sheir-zin. We will have to go slow.”

“I’m ready.”

“I’m going to stretch you a bit first.” He made some sort of adjustment with his hand.

She felt something large penetrate her, almost painfully. “Oh—what was that?”

He chuckled softly against her cheek. “Two fingers. Relax, let your body grow accustomed to it. The oil should help.”

She closed her eyes as he resumed kissing her lips, moving his fingers ever so slightly in and out, massaging and stretching her. Her pelvic muscles relaxed after a moment, and he pushed a little deeper, gently probing and caressing. Eventually she relaxed a little more, and he began massaging her clitoris with his thumb. The combination of that with the penetration of his fingers felt strangely wonderful, and she hugged him tighter, arching up against his chest.

His fingers pushed against some sort of tender spot inside her. “Do you feel that?”

“Yes?”

“This is the flesh veil that has to break for me to be inside you. It might hurt.”

All she knew was her climax was very, very close as he kept touching her with his hand. “I’m ready for it, Yavi. Just—” She kissed his sexy lips. “Just do it.”

He slowly withdrew his hand from her body and positioned himself between her thighs. He bent her knees up on each side of his slim hips, then nuzzled her neck with his lips and tongue as he reached down to guide himself to her entrance.

“Relax, Sheir-zin. Don’t hold your breath.”

Graciella released the breath she’d been holding. “Do it, Yavi. I need to feel you.”

“I need to feel you, too. So much.” He pressed the tip of his shaft to her opening and paused. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“I won’t.”

Almost before the words left her lips, he thrust, hard. Stinging hot pain stabbed through her, like being suddenly sliced with a knife. She tensed and bit back a groan—it was a tight fit. He was bigger than two of his fingers, that was evident.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, stroking her hair back from her face.

“Don’t be—I’m all right.” She released a breath and offered him a half-smile as the sting soothed. “It wasn’t that bad.”

He hugged her against his chest, holding himself immobile inside her. “Still burning?”

“Only faintly. The oil must have calmed it.”

His voice was raspy against her earlobe. “Relax, my love; I won’t move until you get used to me.” He caressed her waist, her breast, kissing her neck and jawline.

After a moment, she felt her muscles unclench just a bit.

He felt it too, and moved slightly out, then pushed in a little deeper, groaning. “Graciella, my love…sweet precious one.”

She focused on the pleasure he was giving her with his lips and tongue against the column of her neck, his fingers massaging and teasing her nipples, sweeping down to caress her waist. He moved his hips ever so slowly, filling up just a bit more of the space inside her.

“I’m going to push deeper.” He reached down to stroke her clitoris gently, making a little circle with his fingers.

“Yes, do,” she begged, arching against him.

He kissed her, then drove inside her a little farther. Between the unexpected pleasure of his shaft filling her up and the touch of his hand on her swollen clitoris, she felt her climax beginning to rumble to life again. He moved his hips out a bit, then pushed back in. Again, carefully, in and out, massaging her sensitive spot in a circle with his thumb. He moved with a slow, steady rhythm, until she was moaning, her pelvis pushing up against his involuntarily. He kept up the pressure with his thumb, stroking her in and out with his thick, hard shaft until the friction became pure bliss. He felt so good inside her, and her body sought him hungrily, her hips bucking up against him. He drove even deeper, shuddering, his breathing ragged. Graciella smiled at the effect her body had on him, thought about the fact that he hadn’t touched a woman in six years, and suddenly felt very, very powerful and sexy. She gripped his buttocks in her hands, urging him forward.

He grasped her hips to pull her in closer, grinding himself against her. His breath was warm and uneven as it fanned her ear. “How does it feel?”

Her eyes were squeezed shut. “Like, mnh, like you have to…”

“Give you more?” There was a smile in his voice.

“Yes,” she begged.

He pushed against her hard, his stiff erection filling her, stretching her, stroking her. He ground his pelvis against her swollen clitoris, rubbing himself in such a way as to drive her insane.

“Yes!” she urged.

He thrust again and again, a little deeper, a little faster, until she was moaning his name. She strained and arched against him, fulfillment on the verge of claiming her.

“Don’t hold back now,” he whispered hoarsely. “Take your pleasure, Graciella. Push on me.”

She did, and he groaned aloud, meeting the movements of her hips with hungry thrusts of his own. And then the wave claimed her, crashing over her with searing hot pleasure that spread from her core up through her breasts and out to every extremity. Somewhere within the vortex she felt his entire body stiffen as he drove deep inside her. His cock pumped inside her, intensifying the tremors of her orgasm as they continued to wash over her.

When it was over he pulled her into his embrace, hugging her to his chest, murmuring to her in Nandalan.

“I love you, Yavi,” she whispered back.

He lifted his head to look down at her flushed face, his breathing unsteady. “Ohkfu shah denahmay, Sheir-zin. With all my heart.”

“That means you love me. I recognize it now.”

“Yes.” He smiled, kissing her. He laid a hand on her lower belly, massaging it. “Are you comfortable?”

“Mm-hm. It felt wonderful.”

He moved back a bit. “Let’s go soak in the hot springs a moment, ease your body’s soreness.”

She pulled him back down. “No, I feel fine. I want to do it again.”

He chuckled. “I want to do it again, too, which is why I’m taking you to soak for a few minutes first. No arguments.” He stood and reached down to lift her off the bed.

Once he’d set her on her feet, he reached for their robes and handed her hers.

She shrugged into the garment and tied the belt around her waist, arching an eyebrow at him. “You promise a soak won’t make you too tired to do it again?”

He grinned as he tied his own belt. “I promise. In fact, I swear it.”

§

Once they were back from their midnight soak in the pools, Yavi made good on his promise, a few times, until Graciella truly was too satiated and exhausted to stay awake any longer. He held her in his arms and she slept like a baby against his warm, muscular chest.

At dawn she awoke to the feel of his lips nuzzling her shoulder from behind her, his heavy arm wrapped around her waist. She rolled onto her back to hug his neck. Wordlessly, he trailed kisses down over her collarbones and breasts, then lower over her belly and hips. He made love to her until she was writhing beneath him, moaning his name over and over.

§

Later that morning Graciella sat on the bed in her robe, watching silently as he strapped on his leather armor.

He avoided eye contact with her as he shrugged into his jacket, then sat down to tug on his boots. At last he stood and pulled on his cloak, then held his hand out to her, his silver eyes sorrowful. “Come, Sheir-zin. It is time. Let us go meet our siblings.”

Graciella took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet, but then gripped his bicep to stop him. “Yavi, please let me go with you.”

“No.” His face became a hard mask. “Don’t insist, because my answer is no.”

She blinked up at him. She realized she would be more of a liability than a help, but she still couldn’t bear to part with him, knowing she’d be forced to simply wait for news, going quietly insane wondering if he were all right. “Yavi—”

“Graciella.” He frowned, his eyes red with tears. He grasped her shoulders. “You are the most precious gift I’ve ever been given. Do not ask me to risk your life in this battle. I need to know that you are out of danger while I’m gone. Stay here with Volkan and let me go knowing you are protected and safe.”

A sob escaped her throat. “Yavi, I’ll die of heartbreak if something happens to you.”

He shook his head, bringing her hand to his lips for a kiss. “I will return to you, my love. I swear by Tejeshwar. By Zehu.”

She clung to his waist, and he caressed her back, her hair.

“We must go, my love. They are waiting for me.”

He led her out of the room and down the hallway. They crossed the garden courtyard, went up the stairs, through the main sanctuary portico, and through the entrance courtyard to where the horses were waiting outside.

Jiandra rushed forward to take Graciella’s hands in her own. “Sister. I will protect Yavi with the Omaja stone. Do not worry.”

Graciella released a sob and pushed herself into her sister’s arms. “Just please don’t let him die. Either of them.”

“I won’t, sweet girl,” Jiandra reassured her. “Don’t be afraid. Zehu gave me the stone for this purpose.”

Yavi pulled Graciella into his embrace. He hugged her tightly, kissing her temple and stroking her hair. “I will return to you, Sheir-zin.”

Yajna approached them and placed a hand on Yavi’s shoulder. He smiled down at Graciella. “I won’t let this bastard brother of mine make you a widow, Gracie. Don’t worry about that.”

She offered Yajna a teary smile. “I know you will protect him, like you always do.”

Yavi elbowed Yajna in the ribs. “More like me protecting him, like I always do.”

“Let’s go, you two,” Jiandra scolded. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we can return for Gracie.”

As Jiandra and Yajna moved away to mount their horses, Yavi took Graciella’s hands in his and held her gaze. “Hear me, my love. I will return victorious. Your love has only made me stronger, bolder. I will return to you, and from then on we will never be apart again.”

She nodded, swallowing.

“Be strong for me, sweet wife.”

“I will.”

He kissed her, then gave her hand to Master Volkan as the elder monk approached. “Keep her safe for me.”

Master Volkan nodded and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, patting it into place. Graciella felt comforted by his presence, offering him a half-smile.

Yavi strapped a borrowed scimitar onto his back and mounted Sikar, then turned to look down at Graciella and Volkan.

Master Volkan raised his voice to address both twins. “Be courageous and strong, sons of Zulfikar. Tejeshwar guide you.”

They inclined their heads to Volkan. Yavi gave Graciella one last look, then turned to kick Sikar into a gallop. Yajna and Jiandra rode after him.

Graciella swallowed as Volkan patted her hand and pulled her toward the steps of the monastery. “All will be well in the end, my daughter,” he said.

§

Uman surveyed the abandoned streets of Darpan. He didn’t know whether to be joyful or disappointed that the Zulfikar usurpers had evacuated everyone from the city.

Behind him, one of his hungry Vyrkune growled, drool dripping from his sharpened teeth. “Where is the meat?”

Uman ignored him and climbed atop a stone wall so he could address his army. “The usurpers must have evacuated the city. Spread out and search every nook and cranny for stragglers. There may be a few inhabitants left behind. Ravik, Terijin, and I will head for the palace. The rest of you may feast upon whatever flesh you find, human or beast.”

There was a rumble of excitement in their ranks, and Uman motioned Ravik and Terijin to follow as he leapt down from the wall and sprinted with lightning speed toward the palace district. The three of them reached the tall white gates within moments, finding them locked but with no guards in sight.

“They must be hiding inside,” Uman growled. “Let’s head for the secret passage by the southern gate.”

At the southern guard tower, Terijin pressed the corner of a stone near the base of the wall, and a hidden door opened. They slipped through the small passage, finding the palace grounds inside vacant.

Uman motioned them to follow him to the back entrance to the palace, the one he and Terijin had used when they took the Stovy girl.

All was quiet inside the palace, but Uman soon caught the scent of human flesh. Male. He grinned over his shoulder at his comrades, motioning them to follow him along the darkened passageway toward the source of the scent.

They threw open the door to the guards’ quarters to find a guard peering out the window at the far wall.

The guard drew his sword. “Back, you foul creatures!”

Uman threw his head back in laughter. “Go ahead,” he taunted. “Take a swing at us.”

The guard lunged forward, but Uman shrank back and dodged the blade. From his right and left, Ravik and Terijin pounced as one. They threw the guard to the floor, ripped off his armor within seconds, then engaged in a bloody feeding frenzy.

“Save me his heart!” Uman snarled, shoving them aside from the half-eaten carcass.