Star People Legacy by Smith, T.L. (feel good books to read .txt) 📕

up to him, feeling as close now as when we’d made love. I must have nodded off again, but Casey kept my head above water. It was still warm, the water heated by the jets, but I woke to see my fingers all wrinkly. I could also move again, somewhat. Casey helped me out of the bathtub.

Every muscle in my body was fatigued. I knew it was from the Rising ritual, but it was a lot more fun to blame Casey. He grinned and blushed at the same time.

I crawled back into bed. Whatever was going to happen was going to have to give me recovery time. A factor I was sure all Bound Ci’inkwia knew. I curled up in a pile of pillows, under the thick duvet, just breathing. Just sleeping, lost in Casey’s arms.

I barely woke the rest of the day. I was a bit surprised no one bothered us, but I really was in no shape to go to battle yet. At some point I stirred enough to realize I hadn’t eaten more than a half sandwich in two days. Casey ordered from the penthouse menu, then finally let the day in by opening the curtains.

It was evening already. The sun was dipping towards the western sky, but there was enough daylight left to invade our sanctuary. It also illuminated something else. “What the hell is that?” I sat up as Casey turned around in the light.

He had marks up his arms and down to the middle of his chest. Marks that weren’t there before and they weren’t the arrow scars. Those scars were gone, replaced by a design. I opened my mouth to demand an answer, but the memory returned. “I did that to you.”

“Yeah.” He looked down at his chest. “It burned a bit at the time, but it doesn’t hurt.” He came to sit next to me, catching my hand as I tried to trace the markings from his arm to his chest. “I’m a marked man.” He threw in a wink.

My Spirit did this to him in a moment of passion. Hers burned just as intensely as my own as she spread those wings of energy across Casey, proclaiming him the life-mate of the Ci’in?

I stroked the wings of a great bird and my body trembled. Casey caught my hand in his, looking a bit pale for a flash of a second, then laughing nervously. “Wow, that’s not…” He sucked in a breath. “As much as I’d like you to not stop doing that, now’s maybe not the best time to see what happens.”

His body said otherwise, his boxers not too successful at hiding his arousal. I was tempted, but steadied myself and pushed him away. “You’re right. We…” A knocking on our door worked at squashing the urges we were both feeling. Casey jumped from the bed, grabbing a robe as he went to the door. He open it slightly to peek out into the main salon.

Stephanie stood discreetly to the side of the door, so as to not catch a glimpse inside. “Ci’in, I brought your food.”

“Thank you, Stephanie.” Casey opened the door completely and grabbed the cart, pulling it inside the room.

“I am also to tell you of a council meeting at nine tomorrow.”

“Noted.” Casey lifted a lid off one of the plates. “I’ll make sure she’s ready.”

She nodded, without looking at either of us. “Is there anything else you require?”

“Stephie.” I called out from the bed. “I appreciate the heads up, but you’re my sister-in-law, my sister, not my servant.”

Her body turned further away from the door. “You are Ci’in. You’re THE Ci’in. Highest of all the Ci’inkwia. They bow in your presence, so must I.”

The awe in her voice was heartbreaking. “No. I’m still me, Beth, Daniel’s baby sister. Look at me.” She shifted her eyes towards me. “See, not glowing or anything weird. We’re still family.”

She nodded, though remained withdrawn. “I’ll try to remember that. Is there anything else you need?”

I held in the exasperated sigh. “No, thank you.” Casey eased the door shut as she turned away. “Not too sure I’m going to like this idol worship thing. I haven’t even done anything yet.”

“Normally I’d agree with you, but after seeing what was on your camera, and seeing what happened last night, you’ve been crowned their leader, babe.”

He pushed the cart to the side of the bed. “Let’s get some food, then I’ll let you play with my new tattoo.”

Our dinner was real short.

CHAPTER

27

 

Casey kept his word to Stephanie, making sure we were up in time for the morning meeting. I was a lot stronger and ready to face them, though I wasn’t rushing. I lingered on the side of the bed while Casey started opening closet doors. Inside were clothes, new clothes. Two rods holding his and hers outfits.

“Where’d all that come from, and when?”

“Yesterday, when you were sleeping.” Casey started dressing. “Joey only grabbed us a change of clothes and the stuff from our safe. Your computer, Lutz’, the guns, papers, anything someone might want to get their hands on.”

“Good.” Inspired, I started going through the closet. A cabinet door on the side held the guns, everything I hadn’t taken with us into the mountains. Casey’s guns, hunting and assault weapons he didn’t keep in the armory. We were well armed.

Computers, valuables from the safe, passports. I locked the cabinet again.

I pulled out a crisp new pair of black Levis, a matching tank top and from a drawer removed brand new underwear. I gave Casey a roll of the eyes.

He laughed. “I only told them your sizes. You have to blame their wives for the selections.”

“I’m sure!” He often tried to supplement my ‘military practical’ style with stuff he liked. I waved the push-up bra at him. “Really?”

He grinned. “If your sparkling personality doesn’t charm them, your ta-tas will.” I swatted him with the bra as he pulled on his new black Levis. He bent down and gave me a quick kiss.