“Talk inside your head?” He grinned at her, his eyes still lazy with desire. “Yeah,” he said out loud. “Guess I did.”
“And I heard you. And you heard me—didn’t you?” Elise demanded.
He nodded. “Loud and clear, baby.”
“So then…does this mean…” She was almost too afraid to hope. “Is our bond back?”
“Not like before,” Merrick said, frowning.
“Oh.” Elise was crestfallen. “Oh, then…”
“Better than before.” He grinned at her. “It’s a good healthy bond this time—I’d bet my life on it. Though we should probably get checked out by Sylvan, just to be on the safe side.”
“But…but I don’t understand,” Elise said uncertainly. “How could this happen? I thought with you being a hybrid…”
Merrick shrugged. “I don’t know. A gift from the Goddess, maybe.”
Elise frowned. “I thought you didn’t believe in the Goddess. Or didn’t care for her much, anyway.”
“That was before,” he said seriously. “Who do you think healed me and sent me back to you, baby?”
“Oh.” Elise nodded, understanding. “Then we should give thanks!”
“We are, in our way.” His hips rolled up in a deep thrust, making her gasp, reminding her they were still joined. “The Goddess is pleased by the pleasure of those she puts together,” he murmured, smiling at her. “And she definitely meant you for me.”
“And you for me,” Elise told him, rather breathlessly. “Forever.”
“Yes, baby.” He kissed her again and then gave her another long, deep thrust. “And forever starts right now.”
Chapter Forty-six
“So I’ve finally figured out what Minverna was up to.” Nadiah had a frown on her face which worried Lissa.
“What was it?” she asked, picking her steps carefully as she walked the long, winding road to the temple hidden inside the holy mountain. Though she’d been on First World for three years, the dark, circuitous path could still trip her up if she wasn’t careful.
“She—ow!” Nadiah stumbled and Lissa just managed to save her by grabbing her arm.
“Be careful, my Lady!”
“Thanks.” Nadiah rubbed her shin. “I don’t see why we have to keep the path to the temple so dark,” she complained. “It’s really a safety hazard.”
“There used to be glows on the walls to light the way,” Lissa said. “But they burned out and Minverna wouldn’t replace them. She always said the path to enlightenment ought to be dark so that pilgrims who came to us could better appreciate the beauty of the temple.” She cleared her throat. “But I believe she simply didn’t want to spend the credit to have them replaced.”
“That sounds in line with what I’ve found out about her,” Nadiah said grimly.
“What did you find out?” Lissa wanted to know. By now they had left the winding road and passed into the huge natural cavern which housed the temple.
“We’re here now,” Nadiah said, nodding at the temple’s many steps which led up to the Seat of Wisdom. “I’ll tell you when I tell everyone else. Rast has to know too. And Saber, of course.”
“Saber?” Lissa’s heart started beating double time. “Is he still here? I…I thought he was going back to Tarsia today.”
“He stayed at Rast’s request. We’re still deliberating what to do about Draven, and since Rast is tied to First World, he needs someone else who can act as an ambassador to the Kindred Mother Ship. Viewscreen communication is wonderful but it can be kind of patchy this far out. And Rast wants someone actually there, to gauge the reactions of the Kindred Council.”
“I see.” Lissa looked down at her feet as they mounted the steps. “I wonder how the Kindred High Council will feel about having one of the banned Touch Kindred as an ambassador aboard the Mother Ship?”
Nadiah shrugged. “Rast says they’ll have to get over it. He doesn’t have anyone else he can send, and he likes Saber. There aren’t many males here, you know, and he and your, uh, brother have really ‘hit it off’ as my friend, Sophia says.”
“They hit each other?” Lissa asked, horrified. “Is that some kind of male bonding thing?”
Nadiah laughed. “No, no—it’s an expression that means they got along well right from the start. They like each other’s company.”
“Oh.” Lissa felt a measure of relief. “I see.”