Anoush nodded. Then she said, looking down, “I wonder if we shall ever be able to get the blood out of the stone, my lord.” Her head came up again. “Give my mother my love, my lord. I will come to see her soon.”

“She is in Shunnar,” he said, and then disappeared from her sight.

He had transported himself directly to Lara’s chamber in his palace. Drawing up a chair, he sat by her bedside for the next few hours. She was paler than usual, but her breathing was even and steady, to his relief. And then to his great joy her dark eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her green eyes to meet his ardent gaze. Kaliq caught her small hand in his two big ones, and, bringing it to his lips, kissed it fervently. “Nasim says you will be all right. He got the poison out in time,” he told her. “It will take you several weeks to recover, however, and you are going to remain here in Shunnar. I will send word to Terah so the young Dominus will not worry. You can trust Corrado to guide him in your absense, my love.” He kissed her hand again.

“Where is Andraste?” Lara said weakly.

“She didn’t leave your hand until I got you here,” he said. “She is with Lothair for the interim. She needs honing, for slicing Cam through dulled her. Lara, you cannot leave Shunnar right now. You are weak. You need to be taken care of until you are strong again. You cannot go!” Kaliq told her.

Lara’s eyes grew misty. He was crushing her hand, but she would say nothing, for the concern on his handsome face, the desperate love in his eyes told her all she would ever need to know about him. He did indeed love her. She would never doubt it again. “Oh, my dear lord,” Lara said. “You will not so easily get rid of me this time, Kaliq. Not this time!”

Not ever! the Shadow Prince told her in their silent magic language. But then he spoke the words aloud as if to reiterate them. “Not ever, Lara, my love. Not ever!”

Bertrice Small

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