She had to ask herself why his betrayal hurt so much. She shuffled the cards and fanned them out because she needed the familiarity of them in her hands for comfort. Her mother had read her stories at night like most mothers read their children. Hers had been all about demons and the woman and her hunter partner who fought those demons, and together they saved the world. Each story centered around the couple. How he came when she was lonely. How they laughed together, fought the worst of the demons and survived every kind of battle thrown at them. The stories grew more exciting and adventurous as she got older. He was always there, fighting at her side. Her partner, treating her with love and respect.
You are someone special. There was that caressing note again. Sliding into her mind, over her skin, sinking into her bones. You are my only. I will make many mistakes, but never think I make them because I do not think you are special.
Adalasia tried to drown him out. She had counted on him. Waited for him. Believed in him. She had been prepared to send him away in order to protect him even though she was so lonely and afraid of those watching her. She had developed a fantasy of her prince. When she saw Sandu and he was so beautiful—a gorgeous, rough and dangerous man—she couldn’t help but be thrilled. He had seemed perfect. Scary, but she needed that. Dangerous, but she really needed that in a partner if they were going to battle demons from the stories she’d heard all her life.
Adalasia, you are not capable of holding grudges.
She tilted her chin. She did her best to shore up her defenses in her mind, to give him pure steel. I can hold a grudge forever. You don’t know the first thing about me.
I have been in your mind, ewal emninumam. You are soft inside, all empathy, while I am all hard edges. You carried my light that was in your soul for far too long, lifetime after lifetime, and having all that light, yours as well as mine, gave you that compassion and understanding.
Compassion, she conceded, but not understanding. Don’t assume I’m a pushover.
I hurt you and I did not mean to do so.
His voice was a caress. It seemed to stroke the inside of her mind like a whisper of a feather, a sensual brush that swept through her. She made the mistake of looking at him again when she knew better. Those flames were in his eyes, but this time, they ignited a different kind of heat, one that moved through her veins in a slow burn that grew hotter and hotter until it reached her feminine core.
The sudden ache was shocking, especially since they weren’t alone or getting along, and it was so strong and compelling. If his tone had simply been sexual, she might have been able to cope, but there was too much sincerity, and she didn’t dare trust him. She didn’t dare trust anyone. She was trapped underground with the five of them, and he knew it.
She sent him a glare. “We have to sort this out.” She said it aloud, more for his benefit than for the others. She had to get back on track. Find a starting point.
She sat in silence, looking to the cards to guide her. Since she was a small child, she had been beside her mother, listening to the stories of her grandmother and great-grandmother guiding others on their journey through life. It was her turn. She needed to have the wisdom handed down to her through her bloodline.
Adalasia knew that wisdom wasn’t always about knowledge and conscious mind. Sometimes, she had to listen to her intuition. Her intuition told her that Sandu had called each of these four men to him for a reason other than just to help him guard her. He was a powerful being. Why so many? Sandu might not even understand why he had asked these specific four to make the journey with them, but intuitively, he had invited them, and they had accepted in spite of him warning there would be danger.
“All of you have spent time with Sandu. You must have memories of things he has told you of his past. Things you may think are insignificant. People or places he has mentioned. Something or someone that stands out in your mind.” She kept her voice matter-of-fact.
Sandu leaned back in the armchair, his long legs sprawling out in front of him. He gave her a little smile and shook his head slightly. She figured he could melt the panties off a girl with that look. She didn’t need the distraction, but then she’d been studiously avoiding every single card that gave her any indication about the journey of her love life—including whatever light the High Priestess card might shine on it. Raging passions. Intense emotions. Her gaze flicked to Sandu again. He certainly could inspire both in a woman—in her—and she wasn’t the type of woman to fall for a man just because he was good-looking. She was done with fairytales.