Page 60 of Lucie
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Deception
“Lucien, if I die, promise me you’ll continue holding me like this until I’m gone.”
They had awakened some time later. How much later, he had no idea. They’d made love again, this time more slowly. Drawing out every moment of sweetness from their joining as they could before lust took over, and they ended with a burst of energy.When Lucien asked her if she was sore, she admitted she was, but it didn’t cause her any undue pain.
Finally separating, they lay there and listened to the sounds of the forest. To the owls hooting in the distance. The occasional snore from a soldier until he was nudged into changing his sleep position. And to the soft flapping coming from the tent sides as the wind picked up. Itwas growing chillier, but for the moment he andJohnawere content and warm inside the sleeping bag.
He was spooned up against her buttocks. His arms cradled her. Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, he gave her a little squeeze. “I might have to be wearing pants. I don’t think others would appreciate seeing my bare bum at that time.”
Johnagasped, then began laughing softly.The laughter quickly morphed into coughing. He continued to hold her as she gasped for air. When she finally managed to breathe normally again, she settled back into his embrace.
“Battle Prince?” a voice softly called from the other side of the tent’s door flap.
“I’m awake,” Lucien told the soldier, but didn’t give the man permission to enter. “What is it?”
“The battle lord requests your presence.”
Lucien felt his body go cold. “I’ll be right there.”
“I’ll let him know,” the soldier commented, and departed.
Rolling out of the bedroll, he hurried to pull his pants up and don his armor.Johnaalso dressed. She didn’t ask if she should go with him. She didn’t need to. She knew as well as he did thatthey were a couple now. Wherever he went, she would be there alongside him.
When they exited the tent, he could tell dawn wasn’t too far away. Sheathing his sword, he hurried for the blue and silver tent. He remembered his father telling him many years ago that he’d chosen that fabric’s shade of blue to matchAtty’shair when he’d commissioned the tent to be made for his weddinggift to her. In the back of his mind, Lucien briefly gave a thought to having one of his own. One that he andJohnacould share…if she lives.
I have to stop dreaming of a future with her. We can’t take that for granted. Not now. Maybe not ever.
But if by some miracle they did survive, and with their minds intact, he would see she got a tent with golden panels thatreflected the light the way her beautiful eyes did.
When he entered his parents’ tent, he found his father holding his mother as she was expelling fluid from her lungs. Iain had a bowl positioned under her face, and occasionally wiped her sweat-soaked skin with a cool rag. He stood just inside the door flap and waited until the episode was over before going over to take a seat.
“Mom?” He bowed his head and tried to look her in the eye, but she seemed out of it. Giving his father a concerned look, he silently mouthed the words, “How is she?”
“It’s been a rough night,”Yulenanswered in a low voice. “Any symptoms from either of you?”
Lucien started to answer whenJohnaspoke first. “I’m starting to feel congestion in my chest.”
“Any coughing or sneezing?” Iain inquired.
“Yes. Both.”
“How’s your breathing? Any trouble taking a deep breath?”
“It’s becoming more difficult,” she admitted.
“She’s also perspiring a lot, and she complains about being cold. Her skin’s also cold to the touch,” Lucien added.
“She’s clammy,” the doctor noted. “She’sin the first stages.” His eyes narrowed at Lucien. “What about you?”
Lucien shook his head. “I haven’t noticed anything different in the way I feel.” He turned toJohna. “Are you seeing anything in me?”
This time he caught the change as she shifted her vision. It was barely noticeable, and faster than a blink. But because he was intently studying her, he was able tonotice the switch. “No. I don’t see anything different in your temperature.” She glanced over at Iain. “Is it possible me getting sick is affecting my eyesight?”
“Have you ever been sick before?”
“Of course.”
