A Magic King by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online

animal's purr. He smiled and snuggled deeper into his warm pillow. Much to his chagrin, his motion brought Jane's scattered attention back to her questions.
    "Er, no. I mean, she did go rest but only after she..." Her voice trailed off.
    "She what?"
    "She came up to you and licked your face. I swear I was about to cleave her head in two with your sword."
    "More likely, you'd have missed her and gotten me," he said dryly.
    "Well, yes. Your sword is rather heavy."
    "But you didn't."
    "No. I waited, terrified out of my skull. If it weren't for you, I think I would have bolted when the creature first showed up."
    He grinned, inordinately pleased she would stay with him, even in terror. Then the thought hit that he had received homage from the pantar. This was turning out to be a great morning-night. Tev used to get homage all the time. Cats, dogs, bears, they'd all stop by to bow regally to him. But this was Daken's first.
    "Quit grinning, Daken. It's not funny. I was really scared."
    "I'm grinning because I feel good. I'm rested. I'm lying in a beautiful woman's lap. And a pantar paid me homage. Why shouldn't I be grinning?"
    Jane gazed down at him. "You really think I'm beautiful?"
    His grin grew even wider. Even his odd little fool was a woman at heart after all. "Yes, I do."
    She blushed and shifted restlessly beneath him. Then her expression changed, slipping into slight irritation. "You're trying to distract me."
    "Not at all."
    "You're much nicer this morning," she said. "Or rather tonight."
    "I'm allowing myself to be distracted. But not for much longer. I'll give you five more minutes, then we must go."
    "Go? Go where?"
    "I already told you. To Bosuny." He was losing his patience. Not with her, although from the look on her face, she certainly thought so. He was losing his temper with himself. How much time had he lost to dally with this Jane? How many people were dying on his home lands? Were there any left at all?
    "We're not going anywhere until you answer my questions," she said firmly.
    "You cannot stop me, woman, so I suggest you ask quickly."
    With his ear pressed into her stomach, he felt her grumbled oath more than heard it, but still the sound made him smile. She was so different from all the women he knew. She didn't attempt to hide herself—her irritation or her passion. She was open and free, and so very vulnerable because of it.
    "Okay. Question number one: How can a soul inhabit a stream? And how can it talk to me?"
    He rose up on one arm. "It talked to you?"
    "I'm not sure." She pressed him back down into her lap.
    "What did he say?"
    "I'm not sure." She glanced down in irritation. "And I'm asking the questions here."
    He sighed, wondering how she could have lived so long without knowing the most simple things. "A soul lives in the stream because that is its home. I don't know how it spoke to you, only that it sometimes happens."
    "Great. A non-answer."
    Daken folded his arms across his chest. "If you don't like my answers, then perhaps we could start walking."
    "Not yet. Question two: How can a cat give homage to you? And why?"
    "That was two questions—"
    "I don't care, Daken. My sanity's slipping by the second, so just answer me, okay?"
    She was so beautiful when agitated. It was as though she had no artifice in her. It struck him that she was perhaps the most honest person he'd ever met.
    "Daken!"
    "Hmmm? Oh. The pantar gave me homage because she knew I healed the stream which in turn healed her. It's really very simple."
    "But how can you heal a stream?"
    "I'm—"
    "A healer. I know."
    "A King."
    "I thought they were the same thing."
    "They are."
    She groaned.
    "The healing skill runs through the royal line. That is how you know royalty. My father was a King, but he was killed. My brother then became King, and he too, was killed."
    "Which leaves you."
    "Which leaves me." He tried not to let the pain seep through his words, but she was smart. She heard it in his voice or saw it in his features.