Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning #4)(97)

"You were wrong about him," Mikki said softly.

Gii glanced at her, surprised by the High Priestess's words. "Him, Empousa?"

"The Guardian. He's not a beast, and he doesn't deserve to be treated like one."

Gii stayed carefully silent.

"I don't know what happened before. I don't know what he did, and now, I don't want to know. But let me tell you what I do know. He saved this realm yesterday when my mistake could have destroyed it. He would do the same today and tomorrow - or for every tomorrow until eternity. He's honorable, Gii. And he's kind. Did you know that he's an artist?"

"No," Gii said.

"He is."

"He loves you," Gii said hesitantly.

"I know. I love him, too." Mikki drew a deep breath. "And that's why I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that you'll treat him better. Don't ostracize him. He . . ." She paused, struggling against a wave of emotions. "He gets lonely, and I don't want him to spend eternity alone. If you change the way you react to him, so will all the handmaidens who come after the four of you. Would you do that for me?"

Gii stopped and gazed into the High Priestess's eyes. What she saw there made her breath catch. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Yes, Empousa. You have my oath."

"Thank you, Gii. Now, let's get out of here. It's been one damned long day," she said with forced cheerfulness.

They reached the rose wall in time to see Asterius closing the gate, much to Mikki's relief. For a little while the four Elementals, the Guardian, and the Empousa stood with the women of the realm and watched the diseased roses burn at the edge of the forest. Then the women began to move off in little groups, calling tired farewells to Mikki, until only the Elementals were left.

"You did well today," Mikki told them, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "I want you to know how proud I am of you."

The handmaidens smiled wearily at their Empousa.

"Tomorrow I want you to sleep past dawn - we'll all need the rest. Then eat breakfast and meet me at Hecate's Temple. We'll start again then, doing the same things we did today - pruning and burning the disease from the roses. But I believe they will be better tomorrow."

"Is that what your instinct tells you?" Gii said, grinning at her.

"That's most definitely what my instinct tells me." Mikki smiled through the tight, hot feeling in her chest. Then, impulsively, she hugged each of them before saying, "If you need me, you can find me in the Guardian's home." She enunciated "home" distinctly, deciding then and there that she would never call it a lair again. "Good night," Mikki called, turning to join Asterius where he waited in the shadows.

"Sleep well, Empousa." Gii hesitated only a moment and then added, "Good night, Guardian."

Mikki was facing him, so she saw the look of pleased surprise that crossed his powerful face.

"Fare you well, Earth," Asterius said somewhat stiffly.

Then each of the other three handmaidens called similar good nights, leaving the Guardian to gaze in wonder after them.

"In all the centuries I have been Guardian of this realm, that has never before happened."

"I told you I was going to change things." Mikki linked her arm through his. "Let's go home."

Chapter Thirty-Four

MIKKI stretched out on the pallet beside Asterius. The softness of the thick pelts was soothing against her flushed, sweaty skin. Absently, she traced a finger along the ridges of his abdominal muscles, prominent even as he lay there completely relaxed with his eyes closed. They'd made love twice. Once in his bathing pool again. It had been rough and fast, and Mikki knew her skin still showed raised marks where his claws had shallowly pierced her ass during the climax of their passion. The second time had been long and slow and incredibly gentle. He'd brought her to climax with his tongue twice before he'd entered her and slowly, slowly, rocked them to repletion.

Mikki couldn't imagine leaving him. Couldn't imagine never feeling his touch again - never talking with him again, or never seeing the uninhibited joy and wonder in his eyes when she reached for him. She couldn't imagine it, and so she refused to think about it. She would do what she had to do when the time came. Until then, she wouldn't waste the hours she had with him mourning the future.

"I want to paint you."

Mikki jumped and made a little "squee" sound.

Eyes still closed, his chest vibrated with his low laughter. She smacked his belly. "I thought you were asleep."

"I cannot possibly sleep with you touching me like that," he said.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize . . ." She started to pull her hand back, and he caught her wrist.

"I do not mind." He let loose her wrist and smiled when she continued to trace a soft path over his stomach. "I still want to paint you."

"You already sketched me."

"Yes, but I want to paint you, too. Just as you are now. I want your image on the walls of my bedchamber."

He didn't say "so I can remember you when you're old and/or dead," but Mikki's mind shouted the words in her head, along with words that whispered that he might need the painting to remind him of her much sooner than either of them expected. She pushed down her morbid thoughts, but suddenly she wanted desperately for him to paint her - for him to capture even just a piece of what they had so he would remember . . .