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took a deep breath and pulled the blanket more securely around her shoulders,
suddenly very aware that she hadn t changed from the ceremonial dress that
exposed far too much of her body. I thought I was alone, she said, amazed
that her voice sounded so normal.
I did not mean to disturb you. I came only to see that you grounded yourself
after the ritual.
Mikki stared blankly in the direction of the faceless voice. Ignoring the rose
blossom, she took a long drink of wine. It was him the statue the beast from
her dreams the creature who had stalked her through
the rose garden. Unlike her voice, her hands could not hide their emotions so
easily and she had to wrap both of them around the goblet so their shaking
didn t clatter the crystal against her teeth.
When she didn t respond, he continued speaking in that preternaturally
powerful voice that was at such odds with his civilized words.
Again, Empousa, I ask that you excuse my lack of judgment. I thought only to
see that all was acceptable to you so your grounding could be completed. I did
not intend to disturb or to discomfort you.
She stared into the dark space from which the voice originated.
You did all this?
I directed the servants, yes. Empousa, you must always remember to eat and
drink after you cast the sacred circle and perform any ritual. In that way you
will once again be grounded to this world. If you do not, you will feel weak
and sick at heart.
Mikki had to swallow down a hysterical bubble of laughter. She was conversing
about post-goddess ritual rules with the living statue of a beast who talked
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like a college professor in a voice that could have belonged to Godzilla.
It was totally fucking Loony Tunes.
Mikki took another long gulp of wine. This time the scent of the rosebud
tickled her nose and she noticed the way its elusive sweetness heightened the
richness of the wine. She put down the goblet and looked out across the table.
Fine linens. Beautiful porcelain china. A crystal goblet and pitcher etched
with a rose design. Plates heaped with carefully chosen delicacies. A blanket
and warm, comfortable slippers. He had ordered all of this for her?
Mikki glanced at the corner of the balcony and then hastily averted her eyes
and poured herself some more wine. His silence was making her even more
nervous than his inhumanly powerful voice. Had he left? Was he sneaking up on
her? Stalking her?
The erotic chase scene from her last dream teased through her memory, causing
her cheeks to flush and nervous words to rush too loudly from her lips.
I didn t know about the grounding. And everything is delicious. I guess I owe
you my thanks. She wanted to bite her lip at her idiocy. She guessed she owed
him her thanks?
You owe me no thanks, Empousa. I am Guardian of this realm, and as such it is
my duty to see to the welfare of those within the realm, which includes
Hecate s High Priestess, he said gruffly.
Oh, well, she mumbled, feeling awkward and not knowing what to say, but
wanting to be polite. Still, I appreciate
Do not!
She felt the force of the command against her skin. It battered her and made
the flush that had heated her cheeks drain white and cold. Hecate s assurance
that the beast wouldn t harm her seemed only weak, faraway words. Mikki
pressed her hands into the arms of the chair and bunched her legs under her,
preparing to sprint for her room. Maybe he wouldn t come inside the palace. Or
maybe she could call for help and . . .
Forgive me. It seems I have again frightened you. That was not my intention.
It is just that your appreciation is not appropriate. What I did for you is
out of duty. It is why Hecate called me into her service. Do you understand?
He was clearly trying to modulate his voice to a softer, less- intimidating
timbre. She recognized the attempt, even though he was being only partially
successful. Instead of answering right away, Mikki took her death grip from
the chair handle and, two-handed, lifted the wineglass to her lips. After
she d had another fortifying drink she stared into the darkness again. This
was ridiculous and twice as scary because she was talking to a disembodied
voice and letting her imagination fill in all the gory details of his
appearance.
I m trying to understand, but it s not easy. Especially when I can t see who
I m talking to.
There was a long pause. And then he stepped from the darkness. The crystal
goblet slid from between her numb fingers and shattered against the marble
floor. He made a movement like he was going to approach her, and with a rush
of adrenaline, Mikki surged to her feet, knocking over her chair with jerky,
panic-laced haste. Shards of broken crystal crunched under her feet.
Instantly, he halted. Have care where you step. The glass can cut through the
soles of your slippers. The words were meant to be gentle, but the voice that
spoke them rumbled with an inhumanly thunderous warning.
Mikki couldn t breathe. She couldn t make her vocal cords work. She could only
stare at the creature. Then he sighed, and it was in that lonely, wordless
sound that she heard the echo of a familiar roar. That one small thing pushed
through her panic, allowing her to draw a gasping breath.
I did not come to you tonight to harm you. You have my oath that you are in
no danger.
Her lips felt cold and numb, but she forced herself to speak. You re the
statue. The one from the rose gardens.
He nodded his massive head. Yes, you have known me only as I was in your
world, entombed in marble amidst the roses. Now that I have awakened, I have
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resumed my rightful position as Guardian of the Realm of the Rose.
Mikki brushed a shaking hand across her forehead, trying to clear her mind.
The creature took a step closer to her, his hooves thudding inhumanly against
the silent balcony.
No! she blurted, blood pounding in her ears. Stay away!
As if to show that he meant no harm, he raised one huge hand toward her, palm
up. Except for its size it appeared normal, but Mikki was sure she caught a
flash of the candlelight glinting off something sharp and deadly. She stared
at his hand without blinking.
He closed the hand and let it fall to his side, where it was enveloped in
shadow. I was only concerned that you might faint.
I m fine, she said automatically, but she did pick her way carefully among
the pieces of broken glass, righted her chair and sank into it before her legs
gave way. I don t faint. She forced herself to sound as normal as possible.
He said he wouldn t hurt her. Hecate said he wouldn t hurt her. And, anyway,
if he was going to attack her, it would do no damn good for her to
hyperventilate and freak out. She clasped her hands together to stop them from
shaking. Really, I m fine, she repeated, more for her own assurance than
his.
You should eat, he said. It will strengthen you.
She just stared at him. How the hell was she supposed to eat with him standing
there?
She was surprised to easily recognize comprehension on a face that was so
alien. And at the same time she recognized something else, something that
clouded his powerful voice like fog. Sadness . . .
Did he really sound sad, or was she just imagining it?
I should leave you to your meal. First allow me to . . . He broke off and
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