Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(31)

"Corinne had such a look on her face," Katya grinned.

Rafe went crazy, trying to get to me. If Val hadn't been there to intervene on my behalf, he could have done me harm. I was too stunned at first to recall that I could place a shield about myself when he came after me with murder in his eyes.

That meant I was forced to watch as he destroyed everything surrounding my hastily erected shield in an attempt to kill me. When the tears came, that's when Val put a stop to it and rendered Rafe unconscious.

*

"There was no harm done, young one," Val attempted to soothe Katya. "I merely placed your father in a healing sleep. He will wake shortly with his obsession in check."

"I didn't mean to say her name," Katya brushed tears away.

"Honey, don't cry—this really isn't your fault. A Sirenali did this to us," I said. My voice shook, but I was determined to keep Katya from having a breakdown.

Val and I hadn't yet cleared away the destruction Rafe had caused with only his fists and strength. It made me glad he didn't have his warlock abilities wakened—the damage could have been much more severe—to the house and to me.

He and I—we should be together on Karathia. As it was, that had been stolen away from us. My sigh was shaky and I was close to tears.

"Are we still going to Italy?" Katya quavered.

"I'll see to it," Val said gently. "We'll bring your father around. Please, someone take over for me—Rinnelar needs my attention," Val announced.

"I will." Opal sat next to Katya on what remained of a sofa.

"Come, dearest," Val said, gripping my hand and folding space.

*

"I wish I could say there is no cause for tears, but that would be an untruth," Val wrapped large, blue arms about me. Without a word, he'd convinced me to remove my human disguise once we arrived at a secluded spot next to a waterfall on one of the Hawaiian Islands.

Before I could wipe away the next tear that fell, he did it for me. "Hush, dearest. He loves you very much. That is why the obsession is so violent. If he could, he would turn that destruction upon himself, instead."

"I don't want him to do that," I quavered. "He doesn't deserve this."

"And neither do you. Wicked Sirenali have been a curse since their creation. If your Ilya had his way, you would be in his arms while he soothed your hurts and fears." A hand stroked and massaged the back of my neck—exactly where the tension was. I buried my face against Val's chest and sobbed.

*

Ilya

The room was dim when I woke. I had no idea that Val or any Larentii could leave a mental or physical message waiting, like anyone might leave on a phone, a card or any other communication device.

She is most upset, the message came. I have repaired the bones in your hands. Do not make me regret that act by destroying your bedroom and harming yourself a second time.

I cursed myself instead. Val was correct—there was no sense in allowing my anger to surface a second time, just so I could destroy more of a house that did not belong to me. And the harm I'd brought to her, well, I feared that would never be repaired or forgiven.

All it had taken was the mention of her true name. The obsession had surfaced after that, destroying all of Val's good work at keeping it submerged in my consciousness. Yes, I realized he'd been secretly working to hold it back. I wanted to thank him and curse myself again in the same breath.

"Papa?" Katya's voice came from a corner of the room. I'd failed to see her sitting there, waiting for me to wake.

"Little moth, I am better now," I reassured her. "I hope I didn't frighten you when the obsession manifested."

"They told me that's what it was. I didn't understand until now." I could hear the closeness of tears in her voice.

"Come," I sat up on the edge of my bed and beckoned to her. "Sit with me. We will talk about this."

"But," she began.

"No, my precious girl," I said. "I will never harm you. The obsession only makes me violent toward—you know." I gritted my teeth as I said the words.

"You love her," Katya said and rose from her chair.

"I do." I studied my hands in the dim light. Val had repaired most of the damage, just as he'd said. All the cuts and abrasions were healed; only a few small bruises remained of the wreck I'd made of my fists.

"This makes me afraid," she took one of my hands in both of hers while shaking her head. "If this obsession thing can make the strongest person I know do things he would never do," she didn't finish.

"I know, my little moth," I sighed, grasping her fingers with mine. "And I would never do that. Never."

"Papa, I was hoping she wasn't dead. That you would be together, and you would be happy. I know you weren't for a long time—not after Alexi's death. I worried about you going to the Americans. I worried that they'd only use you and then toss you away. She made sure that didn't happen, didn't she?"

"I think she had much to do with that," I agreed. I almost smiled when she said it, too. After all, if I hadn't been treated well and if I hadn't fallen in love with her, I would have found a way to escape.

Colonel Hunter had turned out to be an honest man. Those were rare, in my experience.