Part 24 (1/2)

She shook her head and held out a hand to him.

”Wha-?” he asked.

Bending, she grasped his hand and pulled him up, Flair bringing him to his feet. He swayed.

”Let's play in the fountain.”

Complete disbelief radiated from him.

She tugged, and he stumbled the few paces to the fountain. She climbed into the large, lowest bowl of the five. Let him go to bend under the water and circle the fountain, feeling the fresh water sluicing over her back, sliding into her hair, down her b.u.t.t and her legs. Wet hair tangled in front of her eyes, she rounded the basin and b.u.mped into him. He reached and grabbed the lip of the fourth bowl to steady himself.

”It's cold,” he gasped.

She laughed.

”How can you do that?” he asked. ”How can you move? How can you see to move?”

She stepped around him, brus.h.i.+ng against him with her full body, and his grip on the stone basin showed white knuckles. Filling her cupped hands with water, she flung it against his chest.

He inhaled on a rush of air. She giggled and admired the pattern of droplets caught on his chest hair.

Blinking down at her, his eyes widened as she plopped into the basin. The coldness of the water only refreshed her. She washed the s.e.x from her, eyed him from behind a swath of hair.

He stepped back. ”I'll do it.” Planting his feet, he curved his hands, dipped up water and said ”warm,” then let the water trickle down around his groin.

”Sissy,” Mitch.e.l.la said between giggles as he repeated the process.

”I've lived in untamed Celta too long to like cold water when it can be warm. I appreciate the niceties of civilization.” He slapped the rim of the stone bowl. ”Like running fountains.” Watching her with gleaming eyes, he finally smiled-l.u.s.tily. ”Like the curves of a city woman.” He bent down, both hands reaching.

Mitch.e.l.la scooted back over the smooth marble, then glanced at the sky, searching for the dark shadows of the twinmoons that must be setting-a few septhours before the dawn. ”It's very late.”

”Very early,” corrected Straif, then scanned the sky himself. He pointed out the round blackness of the moons that blocked the starlight. When she followed his finger, she saw them herself, slight curves of obscurity above the grove.

Straif stepped from the fountain, dried himself with a Word, and plucked her from the basin to do the same. A moment later they were clothed. He sighed, twined his fingers into hers. ”Let's pursue this activity, longer and on a proper bedsponge.”

She didn't think she could face making love on the Blackthorn generational bed, so she smiled slowly, putting every iota of s.e.x and charm into the curve of her lips, the lowering of her lashes. She licked her lips. ”My room.”

He shuddered. Nodded. ”Right. Let's 'port.”

With a throaty chuckle, she shook her head. ”Let's walk.” And started through the grove to the path toward the Residence. He curled an arm around her waist, and their height was so even they walked in stride. She sensed him fumbling for words.

”Don't,” she said, not looking at him. ”There's no need for any explanations between us.”

He hesitated, then picked up the pace. They walked to the great lawn, then up to the west terrace. There was no sign of detritus of a gathering.

”All my housekeeping spells are at full strength and work as designed,” the Residence said proudly, booming through the night.

”Very good,” Mitch.e.l.la said, and they entered the quiet house. It gleamed around them, clean and energized.

Drina and Antenn, Pinky asleep in his arms, awaited them, sitting on the bottom stair. Both boy and Fam looked disgruntled.

The moment Drina saw them, she launched into complaining mews. Pinky woke and hissed, but that didn't stop the little cat.

Where have you been? You left Me to be hostess to everyone. The thought chilled Mitch.e.l.la. That was exactly what had happened.

Drina preened. Though I handled it well, and everyone admired Me, it was much work. She lifted a paw and licked it-with no hint of any exhaustion. You should have been here to admire Me, too, as was your duty.

Mitch.e.l.la's eyebrows raised. She heard the little cat, probably because they'd been linked in the Circle. Mitch.e.l.la hoped her connection with Drina would go away. Fast.

Antenn stood stiffly, looking angry, and Mitch.e.l.la realized that he knew she and Straif had had s.e.x. Mitch.e.l.la had been very discreet about her lovers, never taking them to her bed at home-and the thought crashed down on her that she had no home. All her previous exuberance vanished. ”The birthing went very well. Captain Elder and SupremeJudge Elder have a lovely baby girl. She's a Null.”

That caught Antenn's curiosity. ”Really?”

”Yes,” Mitch.e.l.la said.

”Then she might be captain of Nuada's Sword someday,” Antenn said. His eyes gleamed with possibilities, with speculation as to what his generation might do, looking toward the future. Good. Mitch.e.l.la smiled. ”You can talk it over with the Clovers later today, at Trif 's nameday party.”

”That will be great,” he said, rubbing his hands. ”That Vinni Lord didn't come up after the Ritual.”

”He stayed to be the Oracle at the new baby's birth,” Straif said. ”Thank you for taking part in the Ritual. Your Flair and bond with Mitch.e.l.la helped her. Your energy and knowledge of the Residence, as well as architecture, was also an a.s.set.”

Antenn eyed him warily, hunched a shoulder. ”You're welcome.” His expression went distant, he shook his head. ”Incredible experience. So much Flair. Really sizzling event. Those FirstFamilies . . .” He shook his head. ”Zow.”

”We try to please,” Straif said. Drina walked up to him, muttering cat sounds, then leapt onto his right shoulder. Straif winced, but didn't answer her, keeping his gaze on Antenn. ”I appreciate you working with the Residence in my absence.”

”Not much to organize, just oversaw the cook, followed the Residence's advice.” Antenn sneered at Drina. ”T'Holly and D'Holly acted as host and hostess. n.o.body came inside, like you ordered. I told everyone that T'Blackthorn Residence was a work in progress and invited them to your summer solstice open house.”

”Again, my thanks,” Straif said.

Yawning, Antenn stared at Mitch.e.l.la. ”Will you see me to my bedsponge?” He looked more worried than angry now. Straif treating him as an adult had soothed the boy's pride.

”Of course,” Mitch.e.l.la said, walking up to him and putting an arm around his shoulders. She looked down at Pinky, who grinned back at her. The small tom had flecks of food on his whiskers, and something that looked like cream. ”As Straif said, you did very well. You have much more Flair than I, and you and Trif stabilized me so I could direct the energy to rehabilitate the Residence.” She and Antenn climbed the stairs.

He grinned up at her. ”Yeah?”

”Yes,” she gave his shoulders another squeeze. ”I couldn't have done it without you.”

”Yes, you could have.” He stopped at the top of the flight, looked down. Mitch.e.l.la followed his gaze. Straif and Drina were gone. Still, Antenn kept his voice low. ”You and T'Blackthorn have a strong link, and that was even before.”

As they walked along the corridor, Mitch.e.l.la sighed. ”True, not as strong as yours and mine, though, and my connection with Straif Blackthorn is strictly temporary. You know nothing can come of it.”

His mouth set. He didn't look at her. ”I don't want you getting hurt.”

”Living full-heartedly can hurt,” she said. ”I'm not going to step back from pleasure, from life, because later circ.u.mstances may bring me pain.”