Burning for Love by Evangeline Anderson
19
“It’s all right, Princess—everything is going to be all right,” James murmured soothingly as he stroked her flushed cheeks with his large, cool hands.
“No, it’s not,” Rissa protested. Burning hot tears were slipping from under her lids, leaving boiling tracks down her cheeks, but she hardly noticed them. “The Duke is right—I’ll have to dance with him at every ball and dine beside him at every state dinner.”
“But only for a solar month,” James said, his deep voice calm and soothing. “You only have to endure that fool for a month.”
“But I don’t have a month! Just look at me!” Rissa gestured to the tub, where she was still submerged in icy water. “If you hadn’t gotten off my Chastity Wire and plunked me in the tub when you did, I would have burned to ashes, just like my dear Mama did! The Duke is right—I will have to marry him and let him slake my Heat. There’s no way around it.”
“Yes, there is—there has to be,” James objected, frowning. “Though I have no emotions, I don’t like the idea of that bastard putting his hands on you,” he growled fiercely. “There must be a way to control your Heat Cycle, Princess.”
“If there is, I have no idea what it might be,” Rissa said weakly. She felt so tired—all wrung out—as she always did after her Heat Cycle peaked.
“Well then, we have to find out. Where can we get information about your family—the Very First Family, as you call them?” James asked.
Rissa shivered.
“In the Royal Library, I suppose. But that is where I was attacked,” she whispered, remembering the awful moment when the man in black had grabbed her and put a knife to her throat.
“You won’t be in danger as long as I’m with you,” James promised firmly. “We need to go, as soon as you’re able, and do some research.”
“But we can’t just go to the Royal Librarian and ask for information about controlling my Heat Cycle!” Rissa exclaimed. “Such knowledge is forbidden and Lord Bookish is a terrible gossip—the whole thing will be all over the Court in no time!”
“Then we won’t say that we’re looking for information on your Heat Cycle—we’ll say you’re researching your family for some kind of Royal event,” James suggested.
“Well…the End of Summer Gala is coming up at the end of this month,” Rissa said, frowning. “I suppose I could say that I wanted to make a speech about my ancestors and the Very First Family’s long, noble lineage.”
“That’s perfect.” James nodded decisively. “If there is any knowledge to be had about your ‘Fire Blood,’ it should be in the records of your ancestors.”
“Do you really think we’ll find a way to stop my blood from overheating?” Rissa asked, looking up at him anxiously.
“I certainly hope so.” James sounded grim. “Or else I’m afraid you’ll be spending the entire next solar month in a tub of icy water.” He stroked her forehead. “But I don’t think it will come to that, Princess. I’m sure we can find some kind of cure for you.”
Rissa felt a tiny tendril of hope growing in her heart. Maybe he was right. Maybe they would find the answer they sought in the archives of the Very First Family.
“I want to go and look for a cure right away,” she said, putting her hands on the edges of the tub to try and get out.
“Not yet.” James frowned at her sternly. “You nearly went up in flames just now. You can’t leave the tub until you can control your emotions—I believe those are what have caused your Heat Cycle to go into overdrive in the first place.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Rissa nibbled her lower lip. “If only I could be emotionless, like you,” she said to him.
Though to be honest, he hadn’t been acting like a man with no emotions, she thought as she looked up at the big Kindred. He had seemed really worried about her and he had acted with amazing speed to save her by getting her undressed and into the tub. And even now he had a worried frown on his stern features as he looked down at her and stroked her forehead and cheek with infinite tenderness.
“I don’t think I would want you to have no emotions at all,” James remarked, shaking his head. “Your happy emotions are very pleasant to be around and even when you are sad or upset, as you are now, I find it intriguing to be near you. I only wish you could keep your feelings from triggering your Heat Cycle and putting you in danger.”
“Thank you, James—that’s very sweet of you to say,” Rissa murmured, looking up at him. It occurred to her that she was naked under the cold water and he was very close, kneeling by the edge of the tub and leaning over her protectively. But she had no urge to cover herself—being with him this way, close to him, just seemed right.
“I am not trying to be ‘sweet’,” he protested. “Only practical. We must calm you down in order to cool you down, Princess. Close your eyes and take some deep breaths. Think soothing thoughts, if you can and I will massage your temples.”
Rissa closed her eyes obediently and took some long, deep, even breaths. But the only thing she seemed able to think about was James’ cool hands stroking over her forehead and cheeks and temples, easing her heat and calming the tumult inside her. At last she felt herself relaxing under his gentle touch.
“James,” she murmured. “You are so very good to me. Thank you.”
“I’m here to serve you and protect you in any way I can, Princess,” he rumbled, stroking his big hands soothingly over her shoulders and down her arms. “And…” He seemed to hesitate for a moment. “And I don’t like seeing you upset,” he finished at last. “It…bothers me. Greatly.”
Rissa blinked and opened her eyes to see the big Kindred leaning over her. Was he admitting to having an emotion for her? It was difficult to say but she couldn’t help noticing that he was close. So close she could see the flecks of gold and silver in his metallic blue eyes and smell the clean, fresh, masculine scent he seemed to exude whenever she was near him.
He is close enough to kiss you, whispered a little voice in her head and for a moment—just a moment—Rissa allowed herself to picture how that would be. She focused on his sensual mouth, wondering how it would feel to have his lips pressed to hers…
Suddenly a memory of her time with her good friend, Alyssa, surfaced in her mind. They had been staying up late in Alyssa’s room after her End of Season party and all the chaperones had already gone to sleep. Lady Mildew had been snoring fit to shake the house down when Alyssa had asked Rissa if she wanted to know how babies were made. Rissa had nodded—it was forbidden knowledge, but she couldn’t help being curious.
“Yes,” she had whispered eagerly. “How?”
“It’s like this—the man kisses you and puts his tongue in your mouth and that’s how the baby-making seed slips down your throat and into your belly,” Alyssa had told her, in a hushed whisper. “After that, your Moon Blood stops flowing and your belly starts to swell.”
“And it happens every time a man kisses you?” Rissa had asked, both scandalized and intrigued.
Her friend had nodded solemnly. “Every single time.”
Rissa suddenly sat up in the bath and put her arms over her breasts.
“I…I think I am better now, James,” she said, breaking eye-contact and looking hastily away from him. “Let us make haste to the Royal Library and see what we can find out.”
He felt her forehead once more and nodded.
“All right, Princess—you seem to be cool enough now. Let’s get you dressed again and we can go.”
As he toweled her off briskly, Rissa tried to forget the forbidden things she’d been thinking about kissing the big Kindred. She must never, ever do such a thing or she would be ruined forever!
