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her skin against their razorlike tips. Would he allow her to escape, as he had
the deceiver who had come before her? No. He could not. The roses were sick,
and he had little doubt as to why. Their last Empousa had fled without
completing her destiny. What would happen to the realm if this one did the
same?
He knew what would happen. It wouldn t survive.
If he would be the only one to pay the price, he would gladly do so. He knew
it for truth, even though the thought shamed him. It meant he was willing to
betray his goddess again. But no matter how desperately he longed for Mikado,
he would not allow his own desires to cause the destruction of the Realm of
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the Rose.
His growl deepened, and he had to fight against the urge to rend and tear. The
man within him held the beast at bay, but only just. The ache and yearning for
the impossible that caused his emotions to be in turmoil also roused the
monster within. She might believe in the man, but he was joined with the
beast they were one in the same. If she stirred the man, the beast roused. He
had to remember that no matter how sweetly she may speak his true name, or how
sweetly she might touch him and let him touch her, she would be imagining the
man. What would happen when she realized that she was seducing the beast, too?
She would reject him. Anything else was only a dream. And he, of all
creatures, knew how insubstantial dreams really were. He must forget the dream
and deal in reality, which was what he did best.
And none of this mattered. He could not love her he could barely touch her
without feeling the raging pain of Hecate s spell.
Asterius s head suddenly lifted and his eyes widened. That was it! He didn t
have to hold the beast at bay. The goddess had tethered the monster for him.
He could stay as close to Mikado as she would allow; the goddess s spell would
ensure that he never went too far . . . all he need do would be to bear some
pain. When it became too much, too unendurable . . . he remembered the feel of
her skin against his lips and her small hand within his. Yes, he could endure
a taste of the goddess s punishment for the miracle that was the touch of
Mikado s skin.
If she allowed him near her again. He resumed his frustrated pacing. After the
way he d left her last night it would be understandable if she avoided his
company completely.
But perhaps she would not always avoid him. She was so different, so unlike
any of the other women. She had asked him if he would seal the gate! No other
Empousa would ever have asked such a thing. Of course, she didn t know her
fate. Didn t know that her only escape from it was through the rose gate and
back to the world of the mundane that lay beyond the forest. Part of his mind
whispered that even if she knew, she might still choose to stay for the roses
. . . for him . . .
He went to the mouth of his lair. The sun was calling the sky awake with young
tendrils of light. He could feel Mikado s thoughts slide away from him as she
left the baths and then he could no longer feel her at all. He imagined that
she was preparing to summon the Elementals and begin her day. He, too, must
begin his. She had asked him to inspect the rose wall, and her request had
been a wise one. He left his lonely lair and began his solitary trek along the
boundary between worlds.
Choosing to remain invisible, Hecate watched her Guardian. His powerful stride
was weary, and she clearly saw the strain of conflicted emotions in his dark,
expressive eyes. The goddess smiled and let her hand absently caress the head
of one of her great hounds.
 It goes well . . . she whispered.
 See how I ve divided the gardens into fourths? Mikki had hated to tamper at
all with Asterius s map, but it was necessary that everything be clear for the
Elementals, so she d had Daphne bring her a quill and some ink, and she d
drawn her own considerably less-attractive lines to quarter the blueprint.  As
I said before, each of you will take the area that corresponds to the
direction of your element. Nera, you ll be west; Aeras, east. Gii and Floga
will, of course, be north and south. You ll each have your own group of women.
Start by fertilizing the beds, like I showed you yesterday. I ll make my way
through each area, checking to see if the roses need any other special
attention. Do you have any questions about your areas? Mikki asked the four
Elementals. As she d done the night before, she d pushed the dishes aside and
spread Asterius s map out on the dining table. The handmaidens were gazing at
it raptly.
 This is a lovely map, Empousa, Gii said, touching the delicate sketch that
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represented the realm s central fountain.
 And accurate, too, Aeras said.  I think every one of the paths have been
duplicated here.
 Your baths are even drawn in, Nera said, obviously delighted with the
squiggly water lines that represented her element.
 Who did this for you, Empousa? Floga asked.
Mikki lifted her eyes from her own contemplation of the map to meet the Fire
Elemental s sharp gaze.
 The Guardian drew it for me, Mikki said, careful to keep her voice casual,
her expression placid.
 The Guardian! Gii exclaimed.  But how could he have 
 She commanded it, Floga interrupted the Earth Elemental.  He would do
whatever she commanded.
Unruffled by her odd tone, Mikki said,  Actually, I didn t command him. I just
asked. She lifted a shoulder.  That s all. Apparently it wasn t that big of a
deal. He has claws that he can extend and use as built-in quills. And he s
been here for ages. No wonder he knows all the nooks and crannies of the
realm. She gave Floga a tight smile.  But thank you for reminding me. I do
need to command him to come here. I asked him to inspect the rest of the rose
wall and make sure there are no other weakened parts of it we need to pay
special attention to. Mikki didn t need to close her eyes to concentrate on
him. After last night, he never seemed to be far from her thoughts. She turned
her back to the handmaidens and looked across the gardens.  Come to me,
Asterius, she whispered into the wind.
She only had time to wonder if he minded that she called him by the name his
mother had given him, before the pressure of the air on the balcony changed.
It felt heavier and thick against her skin. Then she heard his hooves pound
forcefully on marble as he climbed the balcony stairs. Though his stride was
powerful, that unmistakable mixture of animal and man with which he moved,
Mikki thought he looked tired and was almost as annoyed as she was
disappointed when he bowed and spoke formally to her without meeting her eyes.
 You commanded that I come to you, Empousa?
 Yes. I was hoping you d had a chance this morning to inspect the rest of the
rose wall.
 I have, Empousa.
 And?
 I see no area that appears particularly weak except that which surrounds the
gate.
 So you agree that we can focus on the roses within the garden?
Finally, he met her eyes.  Yes, I am in agreement with you.
 Good, she said briskly, ignoring the fluttering he caused deep in her
stomach. She turned to the handmaidens.  So each of you collect your group of
women and set up your own line of fertilizer baskets. Prepare the beds just
like we did the area around the roots of the multiflora roses. I ll visit each [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]