'Zeynon,' Rumal looked very unimpressed. 'We've had this conversation before. Kassandra's gift is NOT a toy. Now get on, you can help muck out the stalls.'
'Awww, Rumal,' whined Zeynon.
'Get going. You knew the consequences after last time.'
The child hung his head as he trudged off, but Kassie caught the mischievous glance he shot her, his lips trembling with suppressed laughter.
I'll bet I'll end up having to do that again, Kassie thought while exchanging an exasperated look with Rumal.
The last time had been off the cliffs by the beach.
Since arriving at the family estate on Delanta, Kassie had been riding daily. After Rumal had seen her lack of confidence on a horse, he'd set out to turn her into a top equestrian. Or whatever the equivalent of that was here, on Gar'nyse.
On that particularly memorable day they had been riding along the beach. The soft sand had been a new challenge for Kassie, and she'd been focused on her horse when she heard Rumal's gasp. When she glanced up, the mocha skinned man had been remarkably pale and was staring up at the cliffs that overhung the beach. Following his gaze, she saw a tiny figure standing there, observing. She'd extended her gift and "recognized" Zeynon.
Kassie had been puzzled.
'What's he doing?'
Then a change in air made her look up again, just in time to see Zeynon hurtling through the air with his arms outstretched like Sian had done that time off Nesha.
Except of course, there was no griffon to snatch him up.
Rumal had cried out in horror. Without thinking about it, Kassie urged her horse forward while stretching up out of the saddle to catch the boy with her gift. The child's delighted laughter had echoed off the battered limestone cliff face, as she lowered him to his big brother's waiting arms. As soon as he had a grip on the little fiend, Rumal had excused himself and dragged Zeynon off behind a bush to tan his hide. Trembling, Kassie had slipped down from the saddle and staggered to the water's edge, then thrown up repeatedly. And she'd thought horse riding was scary!
'Kassandra.'
Breaking from her thoughts, Kassie turned to find Rumal's mother, Lady Br'Laan, walking toward them with a smile gracing her elegant face.
'Nalimi.'
'Is my little darling teasing you again?'
Rumal snorted. Kassie laughed and took Nalimi's extended hands, pressing her cheek to the older woman's.
'Only a little.'
Nalimi smiled at Rumal, who offered them both an arm to lead them to the house.
'Well I'm sure your father and grandfather will appreciate the extra help. They've scarcely seen Zeynon since Kassie's arrived. I think they're actually missing him.'
'It makes a change from their moaning about him,' Rumal said.
After dinner that evening, Rumal and Kassie lay sprawled across the cover of Rumal's large bed. The man petted Lucky in an absentminded manner as they chatted about the day. The cat purred furiously as he stroked the soft white fur on her belly, and he smiled, reaching a finger up to tickle Lucky's chin. It was a while before Rumal realized that Kassie had fallen silent, staring at the bed.
'What's wrong?' he asked, though he knew the answer.
She glanced up in surprise, and then shrugged with that now familiar sad, resigned expression.
'I don't know, it just feels like… like a long two months.'
It was always this time of the evening that it seemed to dwell on her mind. Though he agreed, it did feel very long.
Rumal rolled over the top of her, holding his weight with his elbows at either side of her head and brushed his nose against hers.
'Soon, Kass.'
Kassie watched Rumal's molten gold eyes swirl as he smiled and that unusual energy of his began to extend as he bent his head to hers. The kiss was soft and sweet, and then deepened as he pressed intimately against her. All her concerns flew out the window and Kassie wrapped her arms around his neck, relishing the pleasurable escape from the present.
*****
At the castle in her chambers, Elena smiled at her sister in the mirror.
'How is the study going?'
'Fine. I have some field research to do that, hopefully, will provide some insight into the carnivores habits. The diversity of the creatures here is astounding. I'm not surprised Jenviet was able to find suitable test subjects.'
Elena drummed her fingers on the dresser surface and nodded, lips stretched thinly over her teeth as she grimly acknowledged that creature's ingenuity.
'Desperation appears to be rather inspirational for her.'