Chapter Forty-Six: Heart's Desire

 Sunny rose and joined Fury in the center of the room. She took his hands in hers. She drew in a steadying breath and let it go slowly. She closed her eyes, centering her focus. She smiled as she began to visualize Fury's room. It was surprising to her how easily she could move about now.

 She opened her eyes and looked around. She and Nicodemus were standing in his quarters. Fury pulled her behind him. "Stand down. Moon Bear!" Fury ordered softly. 

 Moon Bear's ears flattened, he drew his dagger and slashed it toward them. A soft hissing growl escaped his mouth. Sunny frowned at him. "I'm not going to harm you!"

 "Has something happened to alarm the Ard Ri?" Nicodemus asked. He waved away the dagger Moon Bear continued to jab in his direction.

 "I do not know," Moon Bear said softly. "I have only just arrived to leave my report."

 "I've met your father, Stone Tiger," Sunny told him. "He never stuck a knife in my face, and I don't think you should either."

 "You have seen my father?" Moon Bear looked uncertain, then scowled at her. "Then it is as he said," Moon Bear's face wrinkled in fear, his ears flattening against his head. "You are the Daj Sultana!"

 "Put your weapon away, Moon Bear," Nicodemus said softly.

 Suddenly, Sunny felt the tremendous drain on her, and Nicodemus turned to catch her. He easily lifted her and deposited her on a couch near the low-burning fire in the fireplace. "She has already spent her energy today so I doubt she could cause you any harm even if she wanted."

 Even Moon Bear approached and peered over Fury's shoulder at Sunny. She had saved his life, but he had seen his father and the emperor speaking in hushed voices about the Daj Sultana, and it had caused him to feel fear, real and true fear listening to Stone Tiger and Gaddis on those quiet nights. 

 He had been there the evening Gaddis had called Orion to him and given him the task of watching over her. To make sure that the Pookah would come into service on the other side of the arch. He looked over at Fury, he had wondered why his father had urged Orion to go to Nicodemus for help. Now he knew – to help protect the Daj Sultana.

 Nicodemus was concerned by the blank spot in his head when Sunny had lost consciousness. Was this what it felt like before he had been blood-bound? Before he had opened his heart to her? Alone and lonely? 

 "When we were checking the progress of the quarantine tent at Fra'mora, we were stopped by Rory Affaron's men. I need to know why he's taken a sudden interest." 

 Nicodemus felt Sunny's consciousness touch him. She was about to wake. He went over to the table that held various bottles of liquor. He lifted a bottle of dark amber liquor and examined it in the firelight, "Can you find out with that keen sense of hearing of yours, what is being discussed at the dinner table?"

 Moon Bear silently slipped out the window and into the evening. He was eager to be away from the Daj! She made his fur stand on end! He easily scaled up the side of the shadowed wall to the roof and was away.

 Sunny smiled up at him and slowly sat up, feeling the terrible fatigue wash over her. Nicodemus curled Sunny's fingers around the glass and watched her sip the golden liquor. His black gaze fastened on Sunny. She was very pale. 

 "I think that it would be safest for us to rest here tonight and return tomorrow to Ranjai Tor in the morning," Nicodemus told her. "I can do a bit of snooping on my own while you are resting."

 "No one will be curious and come here?" Sunny asked.

 Nicodemus smiled. His heart was lighter now that she was with him. She could do that for him, push back the loneliness and the shadows that were with him as constant companions. "No one will be curious. This room is heavily warded against intruders, and I will know if anyone tries to get in. Moon-Bear and I are the only ones allowed entrance. And now you, Acushla!"

 Sunny smiled and prepared to wait for him on the couch. Nicodemus took the glass from her, and he led her to his bedroom. He made sure she was comfortable, then left her dozing. He glanced back at her. She was in his bed! He would hurry and finish up his business and perhaps even join her.

 He went to his living room and where his bookshelves were. He reached past the row of books on the third shelf and pulled the thin metal lever toward him. The bookshelf swiveled out revealing a hidden walkway. He entered and pulled the bookshelf door closed. Fury waited for a moment with his eyes closed then when he opened them, he could dimly see the narrow corridor he stood in. The palace was honeycombed with halls, corridors, and staircases leading throughout the palace. He knew where each led, including the tunnels under the palace.

 Quietly he headed toward the private apartments of Rory Affaron and his sister, Brianna. He arrived in the narrow corridor behind the fireplace. He felt the heat radiating from the bricks as he moved toward Rory's private study. There he heard the conversation between Rory Affaron and his captain.

 "You say he came with a young woman to the encampment?"

 "Yes, Your Highness," 

 "Do you know if it was the woman the Morrigan was so concerned about?" Rory wanted to know. "Fury seemed highly interested in keeping her close to him."

  "I suspect so," the captain answered. "They were blood-bound in Arwyn, so they will be connected even if they are separated for any reason."

 "Fury would not have put the woman in harm's way bringing her to a place where there was sickness," Affaron replied. "I have to believe that he has not brought a sickness here."

 "Sources say that Fury is setting camps to contain those with the sickness and treat them before it spreads. That the woman with him has the cure."

 "He has never done anything without an ulterior motive!" Affaron rumbled irritably. "See that the Affaron presence continues to be seen at the camp in Fra'mora and anywhere else you find them. Set patrols along the highways and trade routes – anyone sick should be sent to those encampments."

 "It will be done, Your Highness!"

 "If it is the same woman I saw at the Lightrock trial, then I want to bring her to the palace," Rory said, "She needs cultivating."

 There were sounds of agreement from the captain. Then they left the study and joined Brianna in the living room. Nicodemus had heard all he needed to hear. Affaron was looking to be seen as a benevolent hero. Fury silently left the corridor and headed back to his apartment. 

 When he slipped back into his study he found Moon-Bear perched on the windowsill. "Did you hear anything interesting?" Fury asked the Sith.

 Moon-Bear allowed a light hiss of distaste at the task he had completed. "All the evening talk was about matchmaking. Your sister wants her son to marry and give her grandchildren. The women at her table were discussing who he should mate with. There was even talk of the Daj as a potential mate."

 Fury scoffed at the idea. "Any word from the Crimson Palace?"

 "No word," Moon-Bear replied. "Did you expect to hear from them?"

 Fury shook his head. "I suppose not. But hearing word of the Daj Sultana's return should have caught someone's attention."

 Moon-Bear's ears twitched. "Will you be staying at Ranjai Tor from now on?"

 "It will be safer for Siobhan," Fury replied. "And easier for me to protect her."

 Moon-Bear approached Fury and they touched their foreheads briefly in a brotherly farewell. The Sith went out the window and was gone. Fury closed the window and latched it. 

 Fury washed up and went into his bed chamber to find Sunny asleep in the same spot he had left her. He eased down next to her and studied her. As he watched her, her eyes opened dreamily, "Aren't you coming to bed?"

 "Don't tempt me, Acushla!" he whispered.

 "Why do you think you'll frighten me?" Sunny asked him. "Maybe I'll surprise you!"

 Nicodemus felt his heart snag against his ribcage. "Siobhan!"

 Sunny smiled and drew him down to her and he willingly allowed himself to be cradled in her arms. For the first time in his long life, a woman made love to him. Gave her body, mind, and soul to him. Nicodemus was overwhelmed by the intensity of emotions that coursed through his body. When he had found his release, she was just a heartbeat behind. He watched the result of his lovemaking and was aroused by her over and over again. They finally fell asleep, their bodies entwined beneath the covers of a bed he once avoided because of the nightmares that came when he closed his eyes. He slept peacefully holding the woman who had captivated his heart, and who he never wanted to be parted from – ever!