Chapter Six
Sitting across from Yuul was distracting, but since he was asking her parents questions, she could handle it. Maybe.
Her mother seemed to have had a hand in choosing the foods for the evening. There were cool mints, iced fruits, and a selection of chilled meats. For those who wanted it, hot wine and spiced juice were available, but Minya stuck to ice water.
Her mother was explaining the significance of Christmas and how it tied in with the longest night.
“It started as an ancient observation on Gaia, and when a ruling religion spread, it blended its beliefs with that of the locals. What started as a festival of hope and survival, as well as the death of old grudges, became a celebration of a deity’s birth. As time went on, each generation attached new rituals until the first idea was buried beneath so much sparkle and glitter that it was hard to see.”
Yuul cocked his head. “Then, why bring it here?”
“My children don’t need to keep it up, but it was part of my upbringing, and the kids enjoy parts of it, even now that they are grown.” Myka smiled. “It is fun for me to give them things that they can’t get for themselves.”
“Financed by your mate?”
D’hai smiled. “My mate is the master midwife for Dremarai. She pulls a stipend that is more than enough to cover whatever shopping or investments she wishes to do.”
Myka smiled. “I am involved in a little light lanthanum mining in a nearby asteroid belt. I have enough spending money to add my great-great-great-great grandchildren in my will.”
D’hai chuckled. “We don’t use wills, dear.”
“Right. I will do it by spectral decree.”
Minya chuckled, as did her sister and brothers.
Yuul smiled. “Well, I thank you, High Prefect, for offering the hospitality of your house to me. I will endeavour to find gifts suitable for you and your children.”
Minya froze in place when her father said, “Minya can take you around the markets. She needs to reset her familiarity with them.”
Yuul smiled. His gazed focused on her. “I would be glad of her company.”
Minya looked at the benign expressions on her parents’ faces, and she got the feeling that she had just been set up. Her siblings were highly amused.
Minya looked at her sister and wrinkled her nose. “It may be your time one day.”
Myetta winked. “But today is not that day.”
Yuul was looking at her with amusement in his eyes. “Tomorrow morning is just for the marketplace.”
Minya nodded. “Right. Shall we leave after breakfast?”
He inclined his head. “It will be my pleasure.”
Minya turned to her parents. “May I be excused?”
Her father nodded. “Of course. See you at breakfast, Minny.” It was an order as well as a light dismissal.
Minya got to her feet, walked around to kiss her parents on the cheeks, and then, she beat a retreat to her quarters.
She had no idea if there were babies to be delivered, but her mother got along before Minya returned, and she could make do for a few days until Minya was back on her own two feet at a normal temperature.
She tossed and turned for hours before getting to her feet and wrapping a gauzy cloak around her. The pool was going to be empty at this time, so she didn’t need to worry about those who could view it. Privacy had been the first spell that she learned. It protected her and her patients if no drapes were available.
She walked on silent feet into the main courtyard. At the edge of the pool, she cast the privacy shroud, let the cloak slip from her shoulders, and she stepped into the pool, swimming in the embracing cold water while her body rioted.
Minya kept herself underwater as long as she could. The water around her changed temperature until it was no longer comforting. She pushed upward, and her head broke the surface while steam coiled and cascaded in the air.
“Are you supposed to be swimming in there?” An amused voice made her whirl.
Yuul was crouching on the edge of the pool, his wings spread for balance.
“It is a public area, but it doesn’t turn into the women’s pool until tomorrow. It is still the men’s pool right now, but I was a little warm.”
“Really?”
He stood up, and with a few tugs, he removed his skirt. His vest fell back gracefully to lie in a puddle.
Minya took in his physique as he stood, folded his wings against his back, and then, he jumped into the water next to her, landing with barely a splash.
He emerged from the water, his blue skin shining and his wet hair streaming water down his back. “You are right. It is refreshing.”
She blinked and studiously tried not to look below the waterline. Just because she knew what she would see didn’t mean that she had the right to look.
“If you want the pool, I will leave you to it.” She crouched in the water and walked to the edge.
“Please remain. You looked as if you were having a wonderful time. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“It is no intrusion. I needed the large amount of water for a strictly thermal reason. I am feeling a little warm, and the water cools me down.”
“Are you ill?”
She wrinkled her nose and turned to find him very close. She would be in water above her head, but he was standing on the mosaics, and his head and shoulders were still exposed.
“I am not ill. I am just going through a time of life, as do others of my kind.”
“Dremarai?”
“Women.”
“Ah. I believe I understand. Is there anything that I can do?”
She blinked. “That is a kind offer, but unless you can lower my body temperature by a few degrees, I think I am fine.”
He reached out and pulled her in to contact with his body. He was cool, pleasantly, blessedly cool. Minya didn’t hesitate; she wrapped around him and held on.
How long they stood there with her body stealing the cold that he was offering, she had no idea, but when she found herself nodding off, she had to get out.
Minya unwrapped her legs from around him and noticed what she had been focused on ignoring. Parts of him were warmer than she was.
She eased away while looking over his shoulder.
He chuckled. “I thought you were a healer.”
“I am. You seem fine.”
She hoped that the dim light hid her blush as she floated toward the edge where she had left her cloak. She heard the rush of water and turned to see Yuul rising slowly as his wings pushed him upward.
Minya exhaled slowly and waited until it was obvious that he saw her watching and quickly turned away. He knew he was lovely to look at.
She sighed and pulled herself out of the water, scrambling inelegantly to her feet, wrapping her cloak around her.
A flick of a drying spell made her concealment decent again.
“Pity. I was enjoying the view.” Yuul came up to her, and he was dressed with water still dripping from his wings.
“I am sorry to have woken you.” She murmured it quietly. Her concealment spell was dispersed as she spoke.
“I have slept enough for a thousand years. The air here is warm, and there is much to see. I will remain awake and see it when it is near enough to view.”
She nodded. “Of course. Why did you leave your cavern?”
He stepped toward her, and she could feel the beckoning cool of his skin again. “Your arrival woke me and aroused my... curiosity.”
She tilted her head back as he got closer, and she whispered, “Sorry that I woke you.”
He smiled and lowered his head until his lips were just above hers. “It was my pleasure to wake for your hour of need. My body was then, and is now, at your disposal.”
All she had to do was rise on her toes, and her lips would be touching his. Minya inhaled sharply, taking in the heady scent that the water had not washed away, and then, she turned and whispered, “Thank you for the offer,” over her shoulder.
She didn’t run back to the protection of her quarters, but she didn’t walk slowly and look over her shoulder. She knew he was there. She could feel him with every cell in her body.
* * * *
Yuul watched his mate beat a retreat into her family home. He checked the height of the moons and calculated that he had enough time for a short visit.
Yuul waited until Minya was back in her quarters and trying to sleep. He used his song to lull her into a restful state, and then, he took off, heading northward.
The feeling of the air rushing around him was an old and familiar friend. He had missed this part of his existence. Waiting underground had given him time to think. Minya was his mate, that much was certain. The blend of Gaian and Djinn genetics was enough to make an ideal mate for him. The power that Dremarai let those on his surface was something that made his intended a far more equal partnership than he had imagined. He wasn’t upset by it, but he did have to adjust his plans for their union. She was not going to return to the dead zone with him. He knew that without even asking. She had duties to the population, and he was not going to try and pry her from them.
Yuul flew over the mountains and looked for the small valley. When he sighted the location, he glided to the ground and walked toward the small temple, hidden away and inaccessible to the locals.
The woman who emerged was not the avatar that Yuul had met on the previous occasion that he had visited.
“Greetings, Dremarai.”
“Yuul, it is good to see you again.” She smiled brightly, her eyes swirled with a dark blue that mimicked her skin colour. She extended her hands to him.
Yuul gripped her hands and remained standing while the crushing waves of energy washed over him.
“Dear one, you are much stronger.”
Yuul inhaled slowly as the assault ceased. “It happens when you have time to consume energy and nothing else.”
“What will your people do when their abilities come back?” She walked into the temple and poured some tea for each of them.
“I will tell them, I will explain to them what happened and that it could not last forever. If they want to be permanently blocked, they can take it up with you.”
He cocked his head as he sipped his tea and then asked, “Where did you get this avatar?”
“She was a widow. Her husband killed himself when he found out he was infertile. He wanted her to find a new husband and have a family... she didn’t want to live without him, so she wandered into the mountains to die, and my previous avatar found her.”
“How does she feel about your presence?”
“We have been together for two centuries. She is content to wait until the next Avatar raises its head.”
Yuul nodded. “I have found my mate.”
“I guessed that you had. You are here, after all. So, tell me, which of my daughters is your true mate?”
Yuul smiled and told Dremarai about Minya, her family, her talents, and her friends. They talked until dawn was threatening, and then, Yuul returned to the palace of the High Prefect and his large family.
He had a shopping trip to execute with his mate at his side. He had brought a few things from his home, and he needed to purchase a few things for the celebrations. Currency was not an issue. High Prefect D’hai had offered him any funds he needed. What Yuul really needed was Minya, and he was glad to be back in the city before she woke.