Mona Lisa Awakening m-1 Page 7

  "I don't know that I healed Amber, per se," I admitted. "He may have just acquired my tolerance of the sun. Do you have a healer here I can speak to?"

  "No, which is why we all thought Amber would surely perish."

  "Is that why everyone looks so surprised?" I asked.

  "That and the extent of his recovery." Sonia paused and I had a feeling that she had left something unsaid. "There are few healers who could do what you did. There are some at High Court where we are going. I am sure they will be as eager to converse with you as you with them."

  Chapter Six

  How did Moonies travel? Wealthy ones, that is. They flew. In their own private jet. We didn't need to pass through the other Queens' territories, we simply passed over them. Solved a lot of problems.

  Mona Sera sat up front in her well-appointed private jet. Marble gleamed and gold trim sparkled. Surrounded by her eight guards, she swiveled around in her reclinable seat and studied us with a smug, calculating expression like a cat who had just swallowed clotted cream. Or perhaps more like a snake that had just downed a rat whole and was digesting it while it still squirmed, alive within her. I sat in the rear with the whole distance of the plane between us, snug between Amber and Gryphon, and yawned.

  "Sleep," Gryphon told me, lifting the armrest between us and drawing me against his side.

  Ignoring Mona Sera's reptilian eyes making a cold study of us, I snuggled into his arms and rested my head against his shoulder. "Amber and you need to rest as well."

  "We'll take turns."

  "Turns?"

  "One of us needs to remain alert. I shall take first watch."

  I blinked. "Oh. I'll take the next then. Wake me when it's my turn."

  Gryphon and Amber exchanged a look. "An honorable notion," Gryphon said, "but that won't be necessary. Amber and I will suffice."

  "Men. Still the same. Full of macho crap," I muttered, too tired to argue with them. My lids closed, much too heavy to lift back up, so I missed the smile my men shared.

  I awoke three hours later as we were descending, my head in Gryphon's lap, his hand stroking my hair. I sat up, tucking the loose strands behind my ears. "Did you two get any rest?"

  "Yes."

  I turned to Amber. "How are you feeling?"

  "Better, milady," he replied politely, that cool control back in place. His normal defense and demeanor, I suspected.

  My hand automatically reached out to assess him, then stopped. I hesitated, uncomfortable about touching him so freely. "May I?"

  Amber nodded, his firm lips unsmiling.

  I gingerly freed one button and slid my hand over his bare chest. My palm tingled and I smiled happily as I read him. "You are well." I buttoned him back up awkwardly while he sat there gravely, letting me perform the small task.

  I turned to Gryphon and he lifted his shirt without my having to ask. My palm tingled and itched but didn't heat as I covered his wound. There was no happy smile with him. The poison was spreading slowly, insidiously, and there was not a damn thing I could do about it. I removed my hand without looking at him.

  "It's all right," Gryphon said with a gentleness that moistened my eyes.

  I shook my head. It wasn't. It wasn't all right at all. I looked up to meet Mona Sera's black moribund eyes. The plane thudded lightly as we landed and she swung her chair back around, that morose calculating mind of hers computing all she had seen, no doubt.

  We had landed in a nicely appointed private airstrip in Ericsburg, Minnesota. A generous expanse or' black tarmac was visible under the bright night-lights that lined the airfield. Whatever the Monère were, they did not seem to lack money.

  "Why is the High Court here?" I asked as we descended the steps. "What's in Minnesota?"

  "Exactly," Gryphon said dryly. "We own hundreds of acres of wooded land here and the climate is cool year-round. Canada abuts us less than twenty miles to the north and we are encircled by private Indian reserves and state parks on all other sides. It is, in a word, ideal, is it not? If one wants isolation. "

  Three new generic grey vans awaited us. Two drivers were Full Blood males, but the third was a Mixed Blood with red hair and ginger-red freckles sprinkled across his young, perky face. I knew he was a Mixed Blood because he radiated much less power, barely any at all, in fact. We stared at each other with equal fascination. There was no pull between us, only a sense of recognition, as with the women but much fainter.

  "Are there many Mixed Bloods here?" I whispered to Gryphon as they loaded our luggage into the vans.

  "Very few. They are rare among us. Almost all live among the humans, unaware of our existence."

  "Why?"

  "Mixed Bloods are essentially human, more fragile, requiring more care, and they often die if left among us. Most are abandoned at human hospitals, orphanages, or such like facilities at birth."

  As I had been. My hand unconsciously rose to finger my cross.

  Beldar approached, handing me back my knives and returning Amber his sword. I gazed at the sword closely. It was full length, quite long, in fact, but looked almost toy-sized once strapped to Amber's strapping girth.

  We rode for five long minutes along a private paved road, the only disturbance to the otherwise natural, pristine land, before reach ing a sprawling compound where several smaller buildings flanked a large, three-storied stately manor house. Untamed forest surrounded and enclosed us in wild, peaceful serenity. The sky began to lighten as night slowly ebbed into rosy dawn.

  An impeccably groomed man not much taller than I bowed to Mona Sera, his black hair touched with silver strands at the sides though his face remained unlined. "Welcome, Queen Mona Sera. It has been too long since you last graced us with your presence." A small army of attendants stood at attention behind the neat little man.

  "Thank you, Mathias," Mona Sera replied with a true enigma of a smile. It told you fucking nothing. "This is my daughter, Mona Lisa."

  Mathias swept a low bow. "Most welcome, young Queen. We are pleased you have come. My title is that of steward here in the Great House. If you have any needs or questions, please do not hesitate to seek me out. Some of the other Council members have arrived but have already retired for the day. More shall arrive tomorrow. I will show you to your quarters for now and let you seek your rest."

  Under his efficient guidance, the luggage was separated and carried upstairs. Mona Sera and her eight dwarves—oh, sorry, wrong story—Mona Sera and her eight guards were taken down one hall, and I, gratefully, down another hall. I was given a large, luxuriously appointed suite with two separate but adjoining bedrooms, normal but for the fact that there were no windows. Sure beat sleeping in coffins, I guess.

  The door closed, leaving the three of us alone in the larger bedroom in sudden silence.

  "Where would you like the luggage?" Amber asked, his strong, rugged face carefully blank.

  I swallowed. Well, hell, maybe the coffins wouldn't have been so bad after all. Would have solved the dilemma of where we were all going to sleep. "Um, they're all yours, right? I didn't bring anything."

  "The small trunk belongs to you," Gryphon said. "Sonia packed you some clothing and other such items."

  "Bless her. Then you can leave that here. And your things, Gryphon, if you'd like." The latter was added on softly, a shy afterthought.

  A beautiful smile lit Gryphon's face. "I would like."

  Without a word, without any change in expression, Amber hefted his trunk easily and carried it to the next room. I threw Gryphon a troubled look and followed Amber into the other bedroom, closing the door behind me. "Amber?"

  He set the trunk down at the foot of the bed. "Yes, milady." Reserve colored Amber's voice and face. But I remembered that burning flare of emotion in his eyes.

  "What we did…" I chewed my lip. "I know the greater part of me is Monère, but I'm still human, inside me, in my mind." My voice softened. "You are a magnificent lover."

  The blueness of his eyes heated, causing me to rush on hasti
ly.

  "But I want what other human women want. Just one man. And for me, that's Gryphon."

  Amber's eyes, so terribly expressive when he allowed it, lowered to the ground. "I understand, milady."

  "I know it's horribly unfair to you." I took in a deep bracing breath and released it. "Amber, you are free to go to another Queen. Is there any particular one you wish to go to? If there is, I will try to intercede on your behalf."

  Amber's head snapped back up and an intimidating scowl darkened his face. He shook his head. "It has been over twenty three years since a Queen last took me to her bed."

  My brows creased together. What the heck did he mean by that? That he was willing to forgo sex? Or that he didn't mind waiting that long to "mate," as they seemed to term it, with me again? Dammit, I was never good at guessing games. I struggled on. "Is there a certain Queen you wish…"

  "No," he responded brusquely.

  "Do you guys date or something?" I ventured tentatively. "Other Full Blood women?"

  "Mona Sera did not allow it." His voice was a low growl. He seemed as uncomfortable with the topic as I was.

  "Oh. Well, it would be fine with me," I said, backing toward the door. "More than fine. If you saw them… you know. Other women. Not rape them," I added hastily, just for definite clarity. "But you can sleep with them. Have sex with them. Consensually, that is." I was babbling like an idiot, I realized, and shut my mouth.

  "I understand, milady."

  "If at any time you, uh, change your mind about going to another Queen…"

  "I will not change my mind," Amber said sternly.

  "Well, if you do… just let me know." I had my hand on the doorknob and was turning it, blissful escape only a moment away, when he spoke again.

  "Milady?"

  "Yes?"

  "Why did you save me," he asked, his voice a deep quiet rumble, "if you do not desire me or wish my protection?"

  Escape had been so freaking close. I blew out a breath, releasing my grip on the knob, and turned back to face Amber and the incredibly awkward discussion that I so badly wanted to drop. "It's not that I don't desire you. I do. But I am not going to sleep with every male I lust after."

  "Other Queens do."

  No statement could have set me off more. "I'm not like other Queens!" I almost shouted. "Nor do I wish to be," I added more quietly. "I do value your protection, Amber. Don't misunderstand me. You are more than three other men. I just wanted to give you a choice. I want you to be happy."

  "Why?" he asked.

  "Why?" I repeated, incredulously. "Because everyone deserves to be happy."

  It seemed an alien concept to him. And that honest bewilderment almost broke my heart.

  "Why did you save me?" Amber asked again.

  I ran my fingers through my hair. "I don't know. Because you did nothing to warrant your punishment. Because it was hard for me to just stand by and not at least try to save you if it was within my power to do so."

  He looked at me like an intricate puzzle he could not reason out.

  I'd done everything short of ripping open a vein with that little speech. It would have to be enough. "Good night, Amber. Are you sure…"

  "I will not leave you, my Queen," he said testily.

  For some perverse reason, it pleased me that Amber sounded so vexed with me.

  "I'm glad." I flashed him a warm, grateful smile, trying to convey to him that I did value him, that I was happy he had chosen to stay with me.

  I closed the connecting door gently behind me.

  Gryphon had unpacked and stored the trunks somewhere. He sat waiting for me on the bed, my beautiful wounded creature of the night.

  "Are you tired?" I asked.

  "Do you wish to seek your rest?"

  "After I eat. I'm hungry. It was hard to eat with Mona Sera watching me. Do you think they have any spaghetti or pizza around here?" I asked wistfully.

  His brow furrowed. "I do not know. Let us go see."

  Amber was waiting for us out in the hallway, a towering grim-looking guardian angel. I grimaced.

  "The doors just give the illusion of privacy, I guess," I grumbled.

  "I will accompany you," Amber said.

  "It will be more prudent, milady," Gryphon added, forestalling any protest from me.

  I blew out a breath, letting go of my irritation. "I'm sorry, guys."

  "Not at all," replied Gryphon most solemnly. "It is our duty to see to the care and feeding of our human."

  Even Amber cracked a smile.

  "Ha, ha. Very funny." But my stomach was making its demands felt and it was letting me know that bad jokes would not fill it.

  A footman met us at the bottom of the stairs. "How can I serve you?" Acute hearing had its uses.

  "Milady wishes for some food," Gryphon replied. "Do you perchance have some spaghetti or pizza?"

  "Anything but steak," I said.

  A brow raised as if to acknowledge what odd requests humans make. "I shall see what we can do. This way, please."

  It was a lovely old house, decorated with antiques and delightfully ancient portraits of dignified men and women, some in the Elizabethan style of dress, one bearing the red cross of the Crusades, another in actual armor with a helmet resting in the crook of an elbow. One portrait of a slim, elegant man with dark hair, silvered at the temples, stood out, his bronze skin glowing like a warm beacon among all the other pale faces. He looked quite ordinary otherwise but for his long, pointed nails.

  The attendant brought us to the dining room, seated us at one of the smaller tables, and disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later the door swung open and the redheaded Mixed Blood who had fascinated me so much earlier, entered bearing—God bless his part-human soul—a tray of cheese, crackers, and fruits. Yum, yum.

  "I had it ready," the redhead said, giving me a toothy grin. "Just in case."

  "Oh!" I exclaimed with delight, and gestured for him to sit and join us. He did so readily, watching with enjoyment as I proceeded to stuff my face.

  "Mmm, heavenly," I declared, the sweet juice of a grape bursting in my mouth.

  Amber leaned down and sniffed the cheese, his face creased in a frown. "It smells of decay."

  "That's cheese—mold. Try some," I mumbled, my mouth full.

  Amber answered politely enough though his lips curled with distaste. "No, thank you, milady."

  "I have to seal up the cheese airtight or it drives everyone crazy," the man—boy, really—said.

  "What's your name?" I asked.

  "I'm Jamie. You?"

  "Mona Lisa."

  "How old are you?"

  "Nineteen. You?"

  "Twenty-one."

  "I have an older sister," he lobbed back, his freckles practically dancing on his lively face. "Tersa. Five years older than me."

  "Is she also…"

  Jamie nodded. "Yeah. I'll bring Tersa and my mom to meet you tomorrow."

  "Great! I'd like that."

  Amber and Gryphon followed our mad volley of words back and forth until Jamie and I just stopped and grinned idiotically at each other.

  "This is so cool," I exclaimed, happy to be in the presence of someone like me. Even better, someone who talked like me.

  "Cool?" Amber rumbled the word testingly in his deep bass baritone.

  "Yeah, cool. Like neat, wow, nice," I explained. "How old are you, anyway, Amber?"

  "A hundred and five."

  My eyes grew nicely rounded. "Really?"

  Jamie whistled. "Ancient, man."

  Amber eyed him repressively.

  "We'll get him to lighten up," I whispered.

  Jamie eyed the big man doubtfully. "You think?" he whispered back.

  "Sure. The bigger they are…"

  "… the harder they fall," Jamie and I chortled together.

  "And boy, does the ground shake when this guy falls," I said, laughing.

  "How do you know?"

  "'Cause I threw him."

  Jamie's eyes al
most popped out. "Nah, you're kidding me."

  I put my right hand up in the air. "I swear."

  "Really? Can you teach me? My sister, too?"

  "Sure."

  "Cool," Jamie breathed.

  If we'd had tails, they would have been wagging.

  Gryphon winced. "Enough, children."

  Jamie glanced at Gryphon and whispered, "Another old guy?"

  "Yeah. Seventy-five."

  "What's up with you and older guys?"

  "Don't know." I shrugged my shoulders. "But you gotta admit. They're interesting. And they sure do talk pretty."

  Gryphon sighed and Amber wore a pained expression as Jamie and I smirked at each other.

  I pushed back my chair, blissfully replete. "Okay, bedtime. Thanks, Jamie. That was great."

  "What would you like tomorrow?"

  "Got any spaghetti?"

  "Meatballs?"

  "Nah, just plain old noodles and tomato sauce."

  "You got it."

  We trudged up the stairs.

  "Children, huh?" I said, later, nestled replete and content against Gryphon's chest. It was fast becoming my favorite spot.

  "Sometimes I forget how young you are," Gryphon murmured, lightly stroking my hair. He seemed to enjoy playing with the long strands, rubbing them between his fingers.

  "Thanks, I think. 'S not so bad here."

  "You seemed to have found a friend."

  "Isn't he great? Can't wait to meet his sister." A jaw-cracking yawn escaped me. I covered my mouth and giggled. How unlike myself. I never used to giggle, was my last thought before sleep blanketed me like a downy quilt. "Good night, Gryphon," I said, closing my eyes.

  "Sweet dreams, Mona Lisa," Gryphon murmured, stroking my hair as I drifted off. "Sweet dreams."

  Chapter Seven

  The sun was a low fireball in the sky with sunset still hours away when I awoke refreshed, content, luxuriating in the feel of my lover beside me, the gentle beating of his heart, the soft soughing of his breath. I lifted my head from Gryphon's chest, stared down into his face, and my breath caught anew at the heartrending beauty that he had been graced with. I wanted to run my hands through the thick waves of his hair, taste his mouth, feel the downy softness of his nape. But I let him sleep, let him rest, and eased slowly out of the comfortable bed.