Page 40 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
Gold thread against black fabric. Navuh's colors. She'd long ago given up wondering what that said about her that even her small rebellions came wrapped in his signature colors or that she loved making these items for him.
It was true that love defied logic and transcended reason.
She slipped the needle into the fabric, in and out, creating patterns that existed only in her mind until her hands brought them to life. The repetitive motion soothed her racing heart, gave her hands something to do besides tremble with the aftermath of the adrenaline rush flooding her system.
Footsteps on gravel. Heavier than a woman's, purposeful rather than casual. A guard, then.
Areana didn't look up from her work. Looking up would suggest guilt, surprise, or concern. She was simply a woman enjoying the morning air, finding peace in her embroidery. Nothing more.
"Lady Areana?" The guard's voice was respectful. "Is everything alright?"
Now she looked up, offering a serene smile that had fooled better and smarter men than this one. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
"It's a hot day, and you've been out here for a while. I was wondering if you needed water or perhaps an umbrella for the shade? I'll gladly deliver anything you require."
"Thank you. That's very kind of you, but I'm almost done here. I'm just waiting for my companions to join me, and then we will head home."
"Of course, my lady. If you need anything, just lift your hand and I will rush over."
She thanked him with another smile and a nod.
His footsteps retreated, but she could feel him hovering just out of direct sight, close enough to observe, but far enough to maintain the illusion of privacy.
He was just doing his job.
Areana let out a breath. Five thousand years of pretense made her a natural. She could slip into roles as if she had been born into them, and sometimes she had a hard time finding her true self under there. Did she even remember life before Navuh?
For better or worse, he was all-consuming. Life with him was a constant challenge, a constant dance, balancing on the edge of danger and at the same time falling into the embrace of his love.
She must be out of her mind to love not only him but this complicated life they had built together. Annani couldn'tunderstand that, and neither could Lokan and Kalugal. In their eyes, she was the epitome of goodness, a gentle soul trapped in the clutches of a monster.
But was she?
She remembered telling Carol that Navuh was not a monster, and in her eyes, he wasn’t. Not entirely. But others thought so, and Areana wondered if she was a little bit of a monster herself to love Navuh.
The needle slipped, pricking her finger. A drop of blood welled up, shocking red against her pale skin. She watched it for a moment, mesmerized.
She pressed her finger to her lips, tasting copper and salt. The tiny wound was already healed, leaving behind just that tiny drop as evidence of the injury.
Female voices carried on the wind, her ladies getting closer with their escorts. They were apparently finished in the gazebo, tolerating the heat for as long as they could before coming to seek her out as instructed.
Tula met her eyes, a question in her gaze. Areana gave the slightest nod—yes, the call had been made.
The wind shifted, bringing the scent of plumeria from the gardens. Somewhere below, waves crashed against rocks, eternal and indifferent.
"We should head back," she said. "The day grows hot."
"Yes, it does." Tamira fanned herself with her hand. "I'm ready to pay homage to the god of air-conditioning."
That got chuckles from everyone, including her. "Indeed."
As they walked back toward the vehicles, Areana glanced back at the cliff. Hopefully, she would be able to come back here tomorrow.
She wasn't going to call Annani again until next week, but she needed to go back to established routines, so when it was time to call again, her sitting on the stone bench at the lookout point wouldn't seem strange.
When they got back to the house, the head butler bowed to her. "Lady Areana. Lord Navuh requests your presence in his office."
A spike of fear triggered a rush of adrenaline, but she kept her expression schooled. "Of course. Tell him I'll be there momentarily. I just need to freshen up a little after being in the heat outside."
