Elspeth had stopped dead still in the middle of the street. She was pale, her gaze fixed on the upper story of a large house just ahead. It was an imposing stone house with an upper balcony overlooking the street.
“Elspeth?”
“They didn’t leave.” The words were so low that he had to bend his head to hear them. “The people climbed to the first plateau of the Sun Child to give sacrifices that night. They never left that plateau. They never came back to the city.”
“How do you know?” His gaze slowly followed her own to the balcony. A heavy filigree curtain fashioned of a metal blackened by time and the elements veiled the interior of the house. “What are you looking at?”
“They’re there. Dalkar and Sayan. They’re there beyond that silver curtain.”
A shiver ran down his spine. There was absolute certainty in her voice. “How do you know?”
“How do you know Torres is still following us? I tell you, they’re
“Do you want to go inside?”
“No.” She closed her eyes and two tears brimmed and then ran slowly down her cheeks. “Only their bodies are there. What they were and are and ever will be moved on when the Sun Child destroyed the people of Kantalan.” Her eyes opened and she started to walk swiftly down the street, past the house of Sayan, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Perhaps it’s only my imagination. I want to make camp and eat something, and then…” She wanted to do all the mundane things that made up the ordinary routines of life. She didn’t want to think about Sayan and the love that had tortured and destroyed her. She didn’t want to think about death.
Dominic was beside her, taking her hand again. “Wait for me,” he said. “I’m going with you, remember?”
She drew a tremulous breath. “But how far?”
“All the way,” he said gravely. “I thought you knew that.”
She experienced a showerburst of joy that took her breath away and banished the melancholy that had claimed her. It was immediately followed by intense exasperation. “How would I know?” she asked tartly. “When you never saw fit to tell me. For all I knew, you meant to leave me and go back to Hell’s Bluff or to perdition or to-”
His fingers were on her lips. “Hush,” he said softly. “How could I leave you when I can’t trust you out of my sight? If I turn my back, you’re likely to fall down a mountain or take off for El Dorado.” His words were teasing but his eyes were saying something… beautiful.
Her breath caught in her throat. “That’s not a very good reason for staying with a person. If you have something to say to me, I wish you’d speak out. I’m no mystic who can read your feelings in the flames. I’m not Sayan, for goodness’ sake.”
“Aren’t you?” he asked with a curious smile. “If you want a declaration, love, I’ll try to accommodate you. I love you. I love you more than my family, Killara, or my life. I think you are my life now. Is that enough for you, Elspeth?”
“Oh, yes.” She blinked rapidly to keep back the tears. “Quite enough.” She suddenly hurled herself at him, hugging him with all her strength. “But you certainly took your time about it.”
He laughed helplessly. “Elspeth, you’re like no one else.” He kissed her with a tenderness that caused her throat to tighten. “And I’ll thank God for that fact for the rest of my life.” His smile faded. “I guess I was afraid it would be bad luck to tell you. Everything I’ve ever really wanted seems to have slipped away from me. I couldn’t take a chance on losing you too.”
She swallowed. “Then why tell me now?”
“I thought you needed to hear it,” he said simply. “I didn’t have the right to protect myself if it was going to keep you from having anything you need or want.”
She gazed at him, something inside her melting helplessly. “Daft. Completely daft, Dominic Delaney.”
“Oh, yes, more daft every day, love.” He pushed her away. “Now, let’s get back to the palace and set up camp. Declarations are all very well, but I never was very good with words.” His eyes were twinkling as he slipped his arm around his waist and turned her toward the palace. “I’m much better with action.”
23
Something cold and metallic was slipped over her head and then arranged carefully to encircle her naked breasts.
Elspeth opened her eyes to see Dominic smiling down at her. His light eyes were glittering with excitement and seemed to hold all the beauty in the world.
She smiled back at him drowsily. “Again?”
He laughed. “I’d be delighted, but not until you tell me how much you like your necklace. It’s the first time I’ve ever given a lady jewels worth a king’s ransom, and I expect at least a polite thank-you.”
Her hand went to her chest and her gaze followed it. “Dominic!” She wore a long chain of diamonds interspersed with large square-cut emeralds. Facets of the diamonds caught the firelight and turned it into a dazzling array of brilliant hues that cascaded down her body. “Where did you get it?”
He nodded toward the palace across the garden. “The royal treasury. That necklace is only a small sample. The room is overflowing with chests of jewels and gold.” His index finger tapped one of the emeralds. “Just one of those stones would buy another Killara. Do you know what I can do with such an enormous fortune?”
“Create the Delaney Kingdom.” A tiny smile touched Elspeth’s lips. “Long live the king.”
“You can laugh, but that’s what a treasure like this can buy.” He pulled the necklace taut, twisting the diamond chain beneath her breasts to lift them into prominence. “I thought the emeralds would match your eyes, but maybe rubies would be better.” His head bent to nibble teasingly at her rosy-pink nipple. When he lifted his mouth, the nipple was no longer pink but cherry red and distended with arousal. “Do you fancy rubies, Queen Elspeth?”
“I fancy King Dominic.” She took his hand and held it to her breast so that he could feel the erratic pounding of her heart. “See?”
His hand closed on her breast, his thumb gently flicking the nipple he had brought to fiery attention. “I don’t think you’d be so unappreciative if I brought you another of those damn clay tablets with that hen-scratching on it.”
“I didn’t say I was unappreciative,” she protested. “I merely appreciate you more.” She lowered her eyes demurely. “As a proper wife should.”
“There’s nothing proper about you, my love.” He gathered her up in his arms, blanket and all. “As I’m about to prove.”
“Dominic!” She clutched at his shoulders as he began to stride across the garden toward the palace. “Where are we going?”
“The royal treasury. There’s something I want you to see.”
“Couldn’t it wait until tomorrow?”
“Maybe. But I want you to see it tonight.” His eyes twinkled down at her. “Call it a whim.”
Heat tingled through her as she remembered Dominic’s last “whim.” “Indeed?” Her voice sounded breathless even to her own ears. “You could have waited and let me put some clothes on. It appears all your whims involve having me naked as Eve.”
“I thought it fitting.” Dominic was now crossing the moonlit throne room. “Eve should be right at home in the Garden of Eden. You know, I think I’d have liked the people of Kantalan. I went through several chambers before I found the treasury, and every room-no matter what appeared to be its primary purpose-had some object of artistry or learning in it.” His expression was thoughtful. “Even the treasury. You would have thought the idea of the acquisition of wealth would have been at odds with-” He stopped. “But you’ll see for yourself.”
“You could let me down. You’re always carrying me around as if I were a child.”
“The floors are dusty. I’ll put you down when we reach the treasury. I lit the torches on the walls and tried to clean up the floor a little. At least you won’t be ankle-deep in dust and cobwebs. Its just ahead.” He was mounting the two steep steps leading to the tall brass-studded double doors he had left thrown open when he had hurried back for Elspeth. Then he was within the chamber, setting Elspeth carefully on her feet. He noticed with satisfaction that both the torches on the wall and the wood fire he had lit in the huge copper brazier in the center of the room
