Part 30 (2/2)
own gla.s.s, frowning. ”These outposts never have champagne...”
Davie sat next to Emma. The others began planning to spread across the city to be certain the stragglers from Asharti's army were no more. Davie took Emma's hand. It sent what must be the same electric shocks through her body as it had in the breakfast room of Fairfield House, but now they seemed magnified a thousand times.
”You are under no obligation, Emma,” Davie murmured. He glanced down at their joined hands, unable to meet her eyes. ”I
know the Companion in your blood must seem a... a violation. If you want to cry off...”
”A violation?” She drew her brows together. Did that mean he was the one who wanted to cry off now that together might mean forever? Should she free him from his vow and let him have time to decide?
No, dash it all! What good was being a rebel if you couldn't tell the truth and demand truth in return and d.a.m.n the consequences? She'd know how he felt for certain if she could look into his eyes. Diplomat or no, he wouldn't be able to hide how he felt about her. That was why he wouldn't look at her, because he knew his eyes left him vulnerable. She lifted his chin.
What she saw in his eyes was so complex she needed a moment to interpret it. He had put up a wall. He thought he was making his eyes calm and flat. But underneath was such longing that no wall could hide it.
She smiled. ”Can you call the life we feel, this sensation of wholeness, a violation? I call it a gift.”
”The gift comes with a few drawbacks,” he managed, swallowing.
She smiled and gave a tiny shrug. ”So does life.”
He cleared his throat. ”Does... does that mean... ?”
”It means I have no intention of releasing you from your promise, Davie Ware. It means I want to know what all this sensation flooding me will feel like in bed naked with you, with your lips on my body and your c.o.c.k between my thighs. I have been unable to think of almost anything else for the last hour. Am I making myself clear enough here?”
He flushed and laughed, whether in embarra.s.sment at her language or in sympathy with her wishes she'd wager even he wasn't
sure. They noticed the silence around them at the same time. They turned their heads.
The others in the room were staring at them, some with frank amus.e.m.e.nt in their eyes. Emma felt her rebellion dissolve into a fiery blush.
Davie stood, squeezing her hand for rea.s.surance. ”I... I crave a boon,” he announced to everyone and no one.
”We are leaving you alive,” the gaunt vampire with the mustachios noted.
”Once I would not have counted that a boon,” Davie said. He looked down at Emma and his eyes were soft. Then he glanced to
Rufford. ”I release you from your vow, you know.”
”Thought you would,” Rufford said wryly. ”I'm glad my services will not be needed.”
”Yes... well,” Davie continued, surveying the room. ”I was wondering if any of you monks from Mirso Monastery are... are
priests or... or capable of performing marriage rites. Miss Fairfield and I have recited the vows... unofficially, but we'd like to consecrate them.”
A small man in a simple black woolen robe stood. ”You could call us experts in Vows. I'll perform your rites.”
”Brother Flavio, would the Elders approve? The Rules dictate that we live one to a city. That doesn't allow for marriage.” The
mustachioed vampire frowned.
Brother Flavio c.o.c.ked his head. ”I wonder if that Rule is the reason no children are born, Dela.n.u.s. These two are new enough that they might get precious children.” He looked from Rufford to the Countess and back to Emma and Davie. ”We have several pairings represented here. I don't think they mean to live one to a city.” He approached Davie and Emma. He had to look up into Davie's face. He searched it for what seemed a long time and then turned his attention to Emma. She couldn't help but flush, but she held her head high and looked him straight in the eye.
”Kneel,” he said.
Davie grabbed a cus.h.i.+on from one of the chairs for her knees and knelt beside her. He fairly glowed. And she knew that before
she had crossed her line she had only been half-alive. Her spirit was strong now and she wanted Davie in a spiritual way that was much larger than she could have imagined before and in a profane way as well.
Brother Flavio motioned to Rufford and the Countess, who came to range themselves on either side. ”You two shall witness,
who have gone before.”
”Your blood calls, one to the other, life to life,” Brother Flavio intoned. ”Will you answer her blood, Major Ware?”
”I will,” Davie said firmly in that baritone rumble she loved so.
”His blood calls to your blood, Miss Fairfield. Will you answer?”
”I will,” she said, thinking how far the drawing rooms of England were behind her now.
”Then for all the years there are, the Companion will sing inside you, one to the other.”
It was like a singing, a humming vibration of energy deep in her veins that sang to her.
”You are now joined.”
Applause broke out around the circle that had gathered. Whistles sounded. ”Here, here!” and, ”A toast!” ”Ware, you dog, kiss
her!”
Davie leaned down. His eyes glowed, not red but blue. ”Forever,” he murmured, and just brushed her lips.
<script>