Bonded Spirit

  ***

  I see you are feeling much better … La’Kera’s snide voice was coy, upon waking two hours later.

  La’Kera! I can hear you at last. I’m so sorry. What happened? Why couldn’t we talk …?

  We could. It was just that your mind was fogged. If I tried to talk, you would think it a bug buzzing in your ear. I was never far away. Besides, I was thoroughly entertained. You need to let off steam about Karson, and Connor was a welcomed listener.

  Hmmm … You can say that. I was so troubled with all that was happening … Karson, Tora … and being told I had to go to bed.

  Yes, that was most annoying. Karson may have stepped over a line this evening.

  How so?

  When he said you and Connor could not see one another. But he is seeing Tora, which would make him in a distractive relationship.

  Hmmm … You have a point, and we can use that next time if I have to. You think me and Connor should date.

  If you don’t, then it would be sad. He is a fine male for you, his aura was welcoming, and whenever you touch one another, the small warmth makes me … warmer. She snorted at her translation.

  Thanks girl. I made my way to the Dinner Hall, as La’Kera filled me in all that happened. The comical moment I was proud at how light the trunk was, and Connor laughing in hysterics was actually using mânã to make it lighter. Then there was the fatal scene with Karson. The memory was similar to what I had, but a little clearer and easier to read. She lingered on Connor, seeing his smile, his actions, his kindness, and she was thrilled that my feelings for Karson were now in their proper place.

  It was amusing. Though why did you keep falling down, you had flat shoes on.

  That is the good news in that sentence … I reached for a tray of food and made my way to a seating table. Taking in Karson several tables over with Tora and Corbin, who was dashing here and there with other guest. Least, they were all busy. I turned my attention to my meal. Listening to La’Kera fill me in her day’s events, she was my light, my love, my pearl. All things—us.

  “So. How did the whipping go?” Asked a gentle voice as he straddled the seat and placed his tray beside mine.

  “Not too bad. I was on the verge of passing out or laughing in hysterics and Karson let me go.” I decided not to let him know the argument of what Karson wanted. “He mentioned something about a led whipping if I drink again, least until I’m eighteen.”

  “Ooh. Led whipping. That’s serious.” He showed caution. “We definitely won’t be able to get you drunk again.”

  He traced my face with his index, hooking a curl behind my ear. A tremble ran down my spine and our eyes locked for a time. My heart fluttered and silence became clear and void. Taking in the supple rose pink of his lips as they parted, the dip of his top lip held my attention for a length of time before lingering over his mouth. The desire to kiss him grew with each passing moment. Tracing his lips with my eyes became a silent action between us. Taking in the peachy hue to the corner of his mouth, the suppleness of his lower lip, the curve of the top. I wanted to trace my fingers along the edges. His lips were moving … he was talking. I blinked several times to focus.

  “So. You’re not going to the party tonight?”

  “No. I’m not invited. And I don’t want a led whipping.”

  “And that means your plans for this evening are now … limited.”

  “Yeah. Guess. Bed it is then,” I teased.

  “So early.” He pressed his lips together, smirking.

  “You can spend time with me.”

  My heart fluttered as he stared into my eyes. The smouldering gaze held mine with desire. A flicker of autumn leaves mingled with chocolate hues, became mesmerising and unavoidable. His fingers were teasing a lock of my hair, feathering it between his thumb and index. He was lost in thought, staring at me, as I was him.

  “You’re beautiful.” His compliment sent warmth all over my body.

  “Thanks. You’re beautiful too,” I said sheepishly, dropping my gaze.

  His slim fingers curled under my chin, lifting my face to his view.

  “We should eat,” I said without looking away from him.

  “Yeah. We should.” He didn’t turn. He leaned in, slowly … closer and closer—

  Crash!

  We both jumped to the sound as cups and plates clattered to the floor from a table behind us. Turning to take in the mess of several Royals bickering over the spilled contents, Connor and I sighed heavily. They couldn’t have waited a few more moments. Gazing at him, we smirked. The moment was gone. The … almost kiss didn’t happen. Damn. So close. I was looking forward to his lips on mine.

  I exhaled slowly and did as I suggested. Eat. After all, we were not alone in the hall. There were Royals all around us. Least not sitting at our table. Breaking the spell, we turned to our meals and kept to a light conversation. How I kept a conversation moving was strange. Since, I would glance at him; smile and look away, to have him do the same. He paused in his meal to reach over and touch my chin, it made all my insides have a dance of excitement.

  “So. Do you want to meet Brow’Dur?”

  “Sure. Has he met La’Kera?”

  “He would love to.” Connor curled his hand over mine, I returned with a light squeeze of mine as we set out to the north garden. The giddy sensation was welcoming. There on the high dragon roost was the thirty eight foot Em’Adels bull. His tail coiled around the tower, as his wings, lazily hung to his side. Arching his neck, he hummed, similar to La’Kera’s vocal songs.

  “It is nice to meet you Brow’Dur.”

  “As is you Rehema Thorndale. Your Bond is in hiding I see.” He nodded to the south dens.

  “She’s a little shy. And she has so many other dragons to Er … dazzle,” I teased, just as she showed herself, landing in the opening.

  She snorted playfully, I am not dazzling them. They are dazed.

  “I know what they mean,” Connor spoke to her and I smiled. “You are a rare find indeed La’Kera, as is your Bond.” He was confident in his words, which had me blush. “I mean it Rehema. You’re a rare diamond.” He turned to me, touching my face.

  La’Kera hummed at our auras. To her amazement, she was seeing brilliant white light all around us. The many colours she saw on Karson and Tora, the same many colours she saw on Xavier and Alyssa, now here with Connor and me. It had to be important. As she angled her head to take in the auras, she was dazzled by the hue it presented.

  It’s like an electric-rainbow … she sniffed the air between us. It’s bright and mesmerising … it makes me warm. I see Connor likes you a lot. As you like him.

  Maybe it’s the connection I’ve been feeling.

  Perhaps.

  “You okay.” Connor’s words distracted me from La’Kera.

  “Sorry. She was … never mind.”

  “You can tell me anything. I know it’s a little fast. If … you don’t want me touching you. I will understand.”

  “Oh, no. I like you touching me … It’s not that.” I held my gaze on her unsure if telling him would be a good idea.

  La’Kera shook her head and lunged for the sky. Be honest with him … now and for always. She flew around Brow’Dur, wanting him to give chase.

  Taking in Connor, I risked making a move. My palm on his face, my fingers sliding down to his chin. His eyes widen at my touch, and so I told him of La’Kera’s ability to read auras.

  “She sees us like the others …?”

  “Yeah. But. Xavier and Alyssa were not together, they were just friends.”

  “Maybe they are good friends.”

  “Yeah. Maybe.” Dropping my gaze in deep thought. He stepped closer, placing a hand on my waist, with another on my face. The tips of his fingers touched the nape of my neck as his thumb brushed along my cheek, leaning in slowly, closer, and closer, to pause. His eyes gazed into mine. With the slightest lift to my toes. The moment his lips touched mine, I was stilled. Every fibre of my body was a tingle, to fe
el his lips on mine; the current surged. It had us both gasp with a hunger and yearning as he parted by a hair’s breath.

  “You’re so rare,” he murmured in a velvet voice; sending shivers along my spine.

  We kissed, relaxing further and smiling to the affection. Widening his mouth, to really kiss me, to hold me and kiss me. Our tongues tangled for a time. His moan was rewarding. Pressing closer, feeling the want in both of us, the desire and comfortably it offered. He was masculine, defined in a strong way, more than Bronson or Milton. My cheeks flushed, desire heated as his hand encircled me. His mouth moved with a hunger and a deeper passion I wanted to fill on, as the flip in my stomach tingled and my knees knocked together. Pulling apart, I inhaled deeply, and the first thing that blurted from my mouth had me turning red.

  “Did you want to come to my room?” I closed my jaw with a sudden jolt. What the hell did I just ask? I shouldn’t be so hasty. I shouldn’t be so eager.

  Connor tilted his head, his eyes reading my embarrassment. He watched without words as I sucked in my lower lip, his eyes narrowed.

  I wanted to say, sorry; I didn’t mean it like that. But what way did I mean. I liked him, having the connection of intimacy now or later didn’t matter. He was perfect, and in truth, just lying on my bed with him holding me. That was all I could have asked for. Our bodies were pressed close. Hips, thighs, abdomens. His desire to be with me was felt. To know his form was well toned and perfect. I wanted to see his form, to touch his skin. To trace my hand along his biceps, his back, and all of ... him. Clothes were all that separated us, his need was clear.

  He tucked another stray curl behind my ear to tap my nose playfully, and give me a chaste kiss in return.

  “In time.”

  I frowned at his words.

  He didn’t want me this night. I was still flustered. He brushed his fingers along my warm cheek. We had just passed our first kiss. I shouldn’t be rushing this. Relationships take time—should. Should take time.

  “Are you disappointed?”

  “No … Well, in myself.” I grimaced, biting my lip harder.

  He touched my mouth, stilling me.

  “Don’t be. I want to be with you. I like you. But … we only just met. And spending time with you in the girls chambers wouldn’t sit well with Karson, let alone the rest of the Royals.”

  “Oh. Right.” I hadn’t thought about that. “But there isn’t anyone sleeping on my floor … I mean not my floor floor, the ninth floor.”

  Connor cupped my face in his palms, and I rambled twice as much.

  “I didn’t mean for you to sleep on my floor. I don’t mind if you did. Don’t you have … Um … Do you have your own sleeping quarters while you are staying here?”

  Connor grinned at my ramblings.

  “Yes. That I do. It’s in the north teacher’s tower.” His eyes burned into me. “And I know what you mean. I will be yours. And only yours. Unless you still have feelings for someone. I don’t want to step on toes. But I would like to be with you. Is that okay.”

  “I don’t have feelings for him, least I don’t think I did. Are you mad that I might have?”

  “No. I’m pleased that you accepted that you don’t. As long as you’re not seeing anyone.”

  “I’m not seeing anyone. Except—You.” This time he kissed me longer, fuller like before, but not as open. He slowed the kiss, and he locked his fingers with mine; keeping me tucked to his side as we walked the path.

  “So. You’re behind in study. That’s got to be annoying for you.”

  “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

  Our light conversation continued as we walked around the north garden. Part of me listened to his tales, to his words; another part was a little unsure why he didn’t want to spend time with me in my room. Least there we had a bed and no mozzies biting us. As I studied his form, his smile, his touch and care was visible. He didn’t want to rush. And it was simple. There was no need, he was here for the two months at least, and he would return to Plumridge, to scout and watch over my town, my friends. He was happy to answer my endless questions about the town and all that happened in the past six months. Smiling and kissing my knuckles as we walked around the grounds. I never wanted it to end. To finally have someone beside me, not two steps ahead or three steps behind, but beside me.