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  Her protector, her friend, her lover. Lover? It hadn’t happened, but it still sounded right. He had never asked anything from her, yet he was by her side every time she needed him.

  “How did you find me?” She asked him quietly.

  “I heard you. I heard your voice, small but clear. And I was to your room in an instant after that.” His voice was husky, pained. “I cannot begin to tell you how hard it was for me not to kill that boy. I could feel the power coming from him in waves. He was using everything he had to overcome you.”

  Tears slipped from her eyes again, rolling down her cheeks and splashing onto his leg. He cupped her hand that was still against his cheek and closed his eyes.

  “He was shirtless, just beginning to unbutton his trousers when I came in. I, I do not know if you want to hear this. But before your kind heart gets in the way you should know all of it.” He had opened his eyes and was starting into hers again.

  Rodelle could only nod. She did need to know.

  “He had you laid out on the bed, arms above your head. He was bent over you when I came in, as I said unbuttoning his trousers. He …he had his mouth on your body, one hand reaching down to touch you…below. Ah!” He stood up suddenly and walked across the room, to lean against a wooden bookcase.

  When he turned back around Rodelle was startled to see how pained he was. She knew he cared for her but had no idea that the situation she had gotten herself into would scare him so much.

  “Rodelle, I came upon you just in time. One moment more and he would have hurt you in so many ways. You are such a tender soul. I could not have borne the fact that I failed to protect you this time.” He had both hands placed on the book case and was turned facing away from her again.

  “I can’t tell you how scared I was Dreven. For the last bit, until he laid me down, I was fully aware of what he was doing. But I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. I could only think of how he was going to rob me of the one tiny piece of innocence I had left.”

  At those words she saw Dreven’s hands tighten on the bookcase and heard a crack as something broke.

  “I thought of how that was the worst way I could lose that piece of myself, how unfair it would be for him to take that away from me. I didn’t want him, I had always been a bit repulsed by him and his attitude. There’s no way I would ever feel clean after that. But I had no way to make him stop. I was so helpless, and when I thought of being that way I thought of you.”

  Dreven turned his head to look at her, still holding on the bookcase. He stared at her over his shoulder, eyes a bit narrow, not sure he knew what she meant.

  “I thought of how if I had just already told you that you are the one I want, then I wouldn’t be in that situation. That you would never hurt me. And that you are the one I want to give myself to. Dreven, I’ve never felt love before, but I am pretty sure this thing between us is real.”

  His eyes got wide as she stood up from the bed, letting the blanket fall to the floor. As she began to walk toward him, he let go of the bookcase and turned toward her.

  Dreven took in her entire body in one longing look, and his eyes lit up as if candles illuminated them from behind. Slowly she walked across the room towards him, staring into his eyes the whole time. Stopping in front of him she took his hands and placed them on her sides.

  If the touch that Guy was making her feel felt like sparks, Dreven’s touch was downright electrifying.

  She brought her hands up behind his head and drew his face down to hers. As their lips touched he drew her against him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. His hand ran up into her hair pressing their lips together more firmly.

  She opened her mouth to him, and his tongue immediately swept inside. It was the most captivating feeling, being explored from the inside out. But it felt right. Everything about this moment felt right.

  Dreven slowly pulled away from their kiss, breathing heavily. “I have waited for that, for a long time.”

  “We haven’t really known each other for that long.” Rodelle smiled at him, teasing.

  “Ah, well, that is not entirely true.” Dreven turned around to the bookcase and grabbed a small box from it.

  Taking her hand, he led her back to the bed and sat down. Once she sat down next to him he grabbed the blanket and draped it over her, then handed her the box.

  “I think it is time we had that conversation about my past. Our past.”

  Chapter 13

  Holding the box on her lap, she stared at Dreven as he finished his story. She couldn’t help her silence. She felt as if she should say something. But she couldn’t think of one thing to say at that moment.

  Processing the words, he just spoke, she felt terribly sorry for him. And what of the woman whose soul he claims she owns? What a tragedy.

  “Was she pregnant?” That probably wasn’t the first thing she should ask here in this moment but couldn’t help herself.

  Dreven seemed surprised at her question. “Tell me, what do you think?”

  “She was. She was pregnant with your child, and that horrible excuse of a man tore you apart in every way.” Rodelle closed her eyes and could see the room in her head. The room where she died all those centuries ago. “He killed us both, Dreven.” She opened her eyes, tears spilling down both cheeks.

  “You remember?” Dreven’s eyes were wide.

  “I don’t know. I think so, but nothing is solid. There’s clarity in some of the things you’ve said, and a couple of images here and there. It may take some time to bring it all back. Especially if I’ve lived many lives between then and now.”

  “Then you believe me, you believe what I have just told you?” She could see the hope and longing in his eyes. The love that was pooled there just beneath the surface…daring to hope that she could be his again.

  “I have no reason to distrust you. And it would certainly explain why we are so drawn to one another.”

  “There is one more thing. There was a stone on your casket, placed there by Vlad. He called it a soulstone. He had damned your soul to come back to that tomb where I laid desiccated, every time you died. It was his final punishment, trapping you and I together for eternity with no way to be together. When Alarin found me in that tomb, I demanded he pry that stone out of the lid and bring it with us.” He pointed to the box she still held.

  Having almost forgotten about it between his tale and her moment of a maybe-memory, she held it up and inspected it. The wood of the box was close to the same color as her hair, and the dragon engraved on the top was worn by age.

  “The box is just what I placed it in to keep it. Open it and see for yourself.” He said.

  Rodelle flipped the lid open and cried out, startled. The stone inside shone so brightly that she was blinded temporarily. It was a large diamond shaped stone, clear in nature, but shone yellow from the inside. She reached in and picked it up, cradling it in the palm of her hand. Small tendrils of light seeped out of the gem and passed into her hand.

  “It has always brought your soul back to me. I never did think it would ever bring you, living and breathing and so completely different from the woman you were before.” He smiled at her. “But the way you came back to me is perfect.”

  Rodelle closed her hands around the gem and reached her power out to it. The stone brightened and dimmed, pulsing, recognizing her.

  “This stone is a power core. It makes sense that it could hold a soul.” She placed the stone back into the box and handed it back to Dreven.

  He tilted his head at her, curious as to why she had given it back.

  “Dreven, my dear, you have been the holder and protector of my soul for so long. It belongs with you. I cannot think of anyone else I would want to keep it. Not even myself.” She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. After their lips parted, they rested their foreheads together in a shared moment of intimate silence.

  Rodelle yawned. She was exhausted, drained after the situation with Guy. And listening to Dreven’s tale had take
n the last of her energy.

  Dreven rose and placed the box back on his bookcase. By the time he walked back over to her, she had lain down. He crawled onto the bed and laid down next to her, drawing her back against him. His arm around her was the best feeling in the world at that moment, and she closed her eyes.

  “Rest my dear Rodelle. When you are rested you will need to sit in on Guy’s judgement. But only when you are ready.” Dreven’s voice was low and deep, and continued speaking to her in the same language he had before as she drifted off. “Obicham te, Luminita. Rodelle. Obicham te.”

  ---

  It was late the next day before Rodelle felt refreshed enough to face the task ahead of her. Not only was she nervous about seeing Guy again, but she was worried that her friends and house mates would make assumptions as to what happened and judge her.

  Only Dreven’s near constant presence bolstered her enough to force herself to go through with it.

  He had brought her some clean clothes from her room, because she hadn’t wanted to go up there at all.

  Standing in front of the mirror in the basement level bathroom, she stared herself down. Her eye color had turned back to normal, thankfully. When she had first come into the bathroom to shower, she noticed they were very dark.

  They were like a dang mood ring, and she found it to be very much a nuisance. Dreven could already read her like a book. With her eye color telling him her moods, she couldn’t hide anything from him.

  Not that she really wanted to.

  Thinking about him brought a smile to her face, and a blush to her cheeks. Spending the night in his bed was the most comfortable she had felt since she came to the House. Nothing had happened between them during the night. He had been a perfect gentleman, worrying only about her comfort and emotional distress.

  And he had been standing outside the bathroom door for close to forty minutes, waiting to escort her to the meeting chamber.

  She was as ready as she would ever be and was beginning to feel guilty about making him wait so long. Twisting her hair up into a loose bun, she turned and left the bathroom.

  She came to a stop in front of Dreven, and he placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “I have told the Leaders that you are ready. They will be ready for you when we go up. If you are not ready, though, this can wait.” He said while peering into her eyes.

  She placed one hand on one of his on her shoulder and brought the other up to cup his cheek.

  “As long as you are with me, then I can see this through.”

  He nodded at her and turned his head to kiss her palm. He removed his hands from her shoulders as he turned and took her arm and hooked it through his. As he had the first day they met when he had escorted her to the dining hall.

  Her nervousness intensified as they entered the meeting room. All the witches of the House were there, as were most of the adult wolves. Those vampires who cared enough to witness stood in the very back of the room. All three of them.

  There was a single chair in front of the rows of benches, and Dreven led her to it. It faced the front of the room where the podium stood. Alayna, Mary Ellen and Shar sat on the front bench right behind her.

  As she sat down she felt their hands on her shoulders and heard their whispers of encouragement and strength.

  “This will be over fast. Trust me,” Dreven said to her before withdrawing to one side of the room.

  She really didn’t want him to go but felt better knowing her friends were with her.

  The barest moment slipped by before the door opened again and Alarin and Dirk entered, marching Guy along between them. They walked to the front of the room, next to the podium

  Morgain entered the room right behind them and walked over to stand behind the podium.

  “Dear members of Hartman House. We are here to witness the trial of Guymon Pierce. He has been charged with using magic recklessly, to injure one of our own. We will hear his side first, then Rodelle’s. We will decide how to proceed once both parties have spoken.”

  Morgain turned to Guy.

  “Guy. Please state what happened last night between yourself and Rodelle.”

  “Madam, thank you for allowing me to speak. I wish for all to know that I didn’t do anything to hurt Rodelle. She invited me up to her room. We got close and things started to happen. I had no idea she would get scared and run off like she did.” Guy spoke evenly, his speech aimed to the whole room.

  “So, you mean to tell me that Rodelle was a willing participant?” Morgain asked him.

  “Yes, she most definitely was. She was the one who invited me up to her room. She began to undress right before she got scared and ran away.” Guy replied casually.

  Rodelle gasped. What a liar. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing from his mouth. He didn’t really remember last night that way, did he? He had to be lying.

  “The account that we heard was different,” Morgain stated.

  “Only because her jealous vampire friend came in and found us, and told you all I forced her. He was just jealous because he didn’t get to her first,” Guy spat out.

  Rodelle looked over to Dreven, afraid he would be angry. But he stood still, casually observing the on goings. If he wasn’t bothered, then maybe she shouldn’t be. It was obvious Guy knew he was in trouble and was lying like crazy to cover his rear.

  “It is true that Dreven came upon you. He stated that Rodelle was passed out and that you were attempting to do things of a sexual nature to her without her awareness.” Morgain had raised her voice just a bit.

  At that last comment whispers broke out among the room. She felt her friends’ hands on her shoulders again, supporting her. They obviously had not known the whole story before now. Rodelle reached up and gripped one of their hands, seeking their strength.

  Morgain continued “You were observed using magic to incapacitate Rodelle, so that you could do with her as you wish. Dreven is quite good at sensing magic and he said you were using quite a lot of it.”

  “I may have been using a little, to heighten things. But like I said he’s just jealous that I was gonna get her first.”

  “Well I think that’s enough from you.” Morgain turned to Rodelle. “Rodelle, please tell us, was Guy using magic on you?”

  Rodelle took a deep breath and stood up.

  “Yes, Madam Morgain. He was using quite a bit. And it was not to heighten any mood. It was to make me completely helpless. He disabled my capability to think rationally, first. Then he rendered me unable to move or speak.” She swallowed the lump in her throat as she thought again of last night.

  “Please tell us what he intended to do to you. No detail, just simple terms.” Morgain’s voice was gentle.

  “He fully intended to force himself upon me. He waited until I was passed out, and he was ready to do it. Thankfully Dreven came upon us and saved me from what he intended.”

  “She wanted it! I didn’t need to force her into anything!” Guy’s voice choked off as Alarin grabbed his collar and twisted it, blocking his air.

  “Well since Guy will not confess, we must do this the hard way.” Morgain nodded to Dirk, who turned and went back to the door.

  After he beckoned to someone in the hallway, a small young slip of a woman came into the room. She was obviously recovering from illness but was fully alert. A keenness showed behind her eyes, and it was eerie. Like she could see right through you.

  “Guymon Pierce. Stand and face your confessor. Sophie will tell us what really happened.”

  The frail looking young woman strode purposefully over to Guy, and before he could say anything, she slapped her right palm to his forehead. Both hers and his eyes closed, and for a moment the room was completely silent.

  “He felt so triumphant, in the moment before the vampire found him. His plan had worked. He was going to tie her magic to his, make him stronger. He wanted to be a leader of the House.” Sophie spoke in a very soft voice.

  The silence from the rest of the ro
om continued. No one dared to speak, or they would miss what she had to say.

  “He resented her for coming in and being revered in so short a time. He felt his position in the House shift. He wanted to hurt her and use her at the same time.” The young seer brought her other hand up, and gripped Guy by both sides of his head.

  “He has a dark past. He has hurt others before, with his magic. Trying to take what is not his. Hurting young women because they did not want him. He is a predator.” Sophie opened her eyes and looked at Morgain. “He should be put down like the animal he is.”

  Sophie let go of Guy and quickly left the room.

  Morgain exchanged glances with Dirk and Alarin, then looked at Rodelle.

  “You have been through a lot in the last day. But I would have you do one last thing. Please advise me on how you believe we should punish this man.”

  Rodelle didn’t expect that she would be the one to choose how to handle Guy. And hearing that he had done such wicked things before made her very angry. She closed her eyes to gather her thoughts, forcing herself to be rational and calm.

  After a moment she opened her eyes. “Bind his power. Place a curse upon him that will never again let him access his power. If it was more power he wanted so badly, then make him go completely without.”

  Guy sputtered protests and began to flail about.

  “And after that is complete, I will make a necklace that he can never take off. And it will prevent him from being able to harm anyone. Even if they harm him. Let him feel as helpless as he has made others feel.” Rodelle could no longer look at Guy. She glanced over at Dreven, who nodded at her in agreement of her decision.

  “So be it! And more than fair it is. Tonight, at midnight, under the moon, we witches will gather and together we will brand you with this curse. Tomorrow shall be your first day as a normal person, with no magic. And no ability to cause harm to anyone or anything.” Morgain clapped her hands twice to seal the judgement, and Alarin and Dirk dragged Guy from the room.