AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So this was what it was to be a blood rose.
She realized with a start that she couldn’t carry this around with her forever. She’d have to donate.
Another reality of the blood rose phenomenon struck her suddenly. Other mastyrs would catch the scent of her blood, those unbonded, and they’d crave what she had to offer, just as Stone did.
Without warning, Stone’s voice pierced her mind. Just checking in. Everything okay? I’m heading to my lake house.
I’m fine. I’m safe in Ferrenden Peace. I lost Margetta, though I had to access the elf-lord power to get a final burst of speed to escape her. Did everyone get away okay?
I had Davido come in and teleport the mastyrs home. So, yes, all is as it should be.
Stone’s telepathic voice deepened. So, I was wondering. I’d like to ask you something.
Sure, but could you hold on for a sec?
Absolutely.
She turned to Vojalie and aloud, said, “I’ll think about what you’ve said. I will. I’ll weigh it all, including what I’ve suffered and my need to help Stone to understand my reality as the support for the veil of mist. But right now, I can’t promise that I’ll bond with him. Once he knows the truth, he won’t want me.”
Vojalie lifted her chin sighing deeply. “We’ve come to a point in realm history where the immediate future is little more than a boiling mass of chaos. But I trust you and I know you’ll do what’s best for the Nine Realms.” With that, she vanished.
Aralynn, hey. You still there?
I am. Sorry. Vojalie was here and I had to finish our conversation. She just left.
Understood. But I’ve had an idea. We’ve got a couple of hours before dawn and I don’t know about you, but I’m starved. A friend of mine owns a wonderful restaurant in Sandismare and she’s holding a booth for us. That is, if you’d like to join me for a late supper.
Rosamunde pressed both hands to her cheeks. They were burning with so much pleasure tears started to her eyes. I’d love to. She didn’t dare say anything else for fear she would betray just how much a simple dinner invitation meant to her. It was thoughtful and even romantic and just what she needed given Vojalie’s horrendous vision.
But there’s more, Stone pathed. Will you join me at my lake house afterward? I’d like to be with you for the day. And yes, that means I’m asking if I can take you to bed.
Rosamunde gasped. The invitation was bold, to the point, and very much Stone.
She put her hand to her chest again. Being with him would at least take care of her too-much-blood problem.
For a moment, she forgot all about Vojalie as well as Margetta’s intention to subjugate the Nine Realms to her bidding. She set aside her need to tell him the truth about her identity and her fear that one day he would discover that she’d had foreknowledge about the deaths of his parents.
Instead, she chose for herself. No matter what happened in the future, she would have this date with Stone and a day spent in bed with him. Maybe somewhere in all of the intimacy, she’d be able to tell him the truth about herself in a way he could accept.
I’m with you, Stone. All the way.
Good. He gave her the address and they settled on forty-five minutes, which provided enough time for a shower.
When he disconnected his telepathy, she headed for the bathroom. At some point during the next few hours she would have to reveal the truth to Stone about who she really was even though she felt sure Stone would never forgive her for the deception.
Despite it all, she was going to have dinner with him and spend the day at his private lake house.
The chips could just fall wherever the hell they wanted to.
~ ~ ~
Stone stood beside the booth, waiting. He’d made arrangements with the club’s owner, Marny, a fae woman whose troll husband kept her very pregnant. They had a brood like none he’d ever seen, but he wasn’t sure he knew of a happier couple.
Marny had set him up in a private corner, slightly apart from the rest of the club so that he’d be able to talk with Aralynn while enjoying the live jazz music at a quiet distance.
Marny returned with a candle in a crystal bowl. “She still coming?”
“I hope so. We’ve only got an hour before dawn and it’s been a long night.”
