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Celeste could see the owner of the voice. A lovely woman with large green eyes and long, blue-black hair.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Zarria. I am here to help.”
Celeste felt herself being lowered. A few seconds later, she felt hardness beneath her bare toes, then her feet flattened onto the cold, damp stone of the floor. She stumbled a little as her legs took her weight. The woman named Zarria gripped Celete’s arm to steady her.
One of the bands from her wrist released, then the other. She lowered her arms and gingerly touched her wrists. Excruciating pain shot through her. Blood, fresh and caked, stained her flesh.
Zarria smoothed her hands over Celeste’s wrists and the pain dissipated as the abrasions healed.
She smiled and took Celeste’s hand, her touch gentle and reassuring.
“Come.”
Chapter 10
Celeste clung to Zarria’s hand as they fluttered through space. A large, sumptuous room appeared around them. Rich, gold cloth draped over the walls served as an elegant backdrop for burgundy velvet settees and lots of silk and satin cushions in shades of burgundy, navy, and gold. Zurvan sat amongst the cushions, looking rigid and uncomfortable despite the coziness of his surroundings.
Celeste stood in an arched doorway staring at Zurvan’s profile, wanting to run to him and throw herself into his arms. Zarria disappeared and reappeared in front of Zurvan.
“Zurvan.” At Zarria’s melodious voice, Zurvan’s head rose.
“Zarria?” He pushed himself to his feet and swept her into his arms in one fluid motion. He hugged her close.
Celeste’s hands clenched into fists. Who was this woman?
“I have missed you so,” Zarria said, her cheek pressed tight against Zurvan’s chest. “I didn’t know where you were. I didn’t know what Atia had done to you.”
He stroked her hair. “You couldn’t have done anything about it, dear Zarria.”
She glanced up at him. “Actually, as it turns out, I seem to wield a certain amount of power with Atia.”
“What do you mean?”
She shook her head.
“I’m not sure yet. She came to me, distraught and incoherent, wanting to talk. She told me she had imprisoned you in a crystal and a woman released you, then she started babbling. I refused to listen any further until she told me where you were.”
Zarria stepped back and faced Zurvan.
“This woman who released you,” Zarria said fiercely. “Has she treated you well or poorly?”
Celeste froze, her breathing shallow. Was this woman another powerful sorceress like Atia who had her eye on Zurvan? Did she resent the fact Celeste had control over Zurvan because she had freed him from the crystal?
She remembered how she had felt after learning Atia controlled Zurvan. If Celeste had had the power, she might have struck out at Atia for hurting Zurvan. Would Zarria decide that Celeste had forced Zurvan to love her, and therefore decide to punish her?
“The woman’s name is Celeste, and I have loved her for centuries,” Zurvan said. “She is my beloved Yana reincarnated.”
Zarria’s eyes brightened, and her mouth turned up in a broad smile.
“Then you’ll be pleased with the gift I’ve brought you.”
Confusion careened through Celeste. Why was this woman comfortable bringing her, or rather Yana, to Zurvan when she knew he loved her?
A cold thought stabbed through her. In Zurvan’s culture, did marriage consist of one man with multiple wives? Her heart clenched. She wanted no other man but Zurvan. Ever. But it seemed he might not look at love the same way. Celeste might be one of many women for him.
Zarria glanced in Celeste’s direction, and his gaze followed. His face lit with joy.
