The Mark of Arella(Book One of the Dragonfly Chronicles)

Chapter Twenty Three

Lilly walked into her room and before she turned on the light she could sense Rhylan was in there, sleeping soundly on the bed. She sighed, of course he would be there. He was her husband and he would not sleep anywhere else. She felt a stab of pain when she thought about leaving him tomorrow night. She already knew how much she would miss him and felt guilty for thinking of going without him. Maybe she should ask him to come with her? If she was being honest with herself, she didn't want to be without him even if she was angry. She took off her clothes and snuggled into bed with him. He stirred and breathed into her neck. He hugged her close to him and she felt instantly calm. She had to ask him to come with her. There was no way she could do this without him. But would he tell Colvin and Aeron? She didn't want them coming. She blamed them for all the secrets and pain she had been feeling these past few days. She turned over and kissed him on the cheek and laid her head on his chest and fell asleep.

She awoke in the dark, cold, cell. The smell of urine and vomit was overwhelming and familiar. She was freezing cold and felt like she hadn't eaten in days. She crawled along the cold dirt floor towards the cell bars and tried to stand but she was so weak she could only lay on the floor trying to look out towards the hallway. That's when she saw footsteps and a swirling dress moving towards her. She looked up and saw the dark haired woman who had haunted her dreams for so many nights. The woman peered down at her with a sneer and said, "Have you decided to give up yet? You know you can only save your friends if you do. You can save them my child, all you have to do is give in, give us your power and all this suffering will end. Help us child, help us end your pain." Lilly looked up at the evil woman terrified with realization setting in. She knew what she needed to do. She woke up panting, and sat straight up in her bed. Rhylan instantly sat up with her and said, "Are you OK? Your dreams, they seemed so dark and desperate." Lilly shuddered and leaned into him. He grabbed her and held on tightly. She held onto him, shaking terribly, knowing now what her future had in store. She knew she had to keep this secret because if she was to save the realm, she knew she needed to sacrifice herself. She clung onto Rhylan feeling desperate for his touch, wondering when she would have to say goodbye. She looked up at him, sadness and longing in her eyes.

Rhylan was fast asleep when he started to feel a tint of a dream, a terrifying dream. Lilly was in a cell. A cold, dark cell and she was so, so pale and thin. A dark woman had come up to her and taunted her with visions of freedom and life for her loved ones if she would just give herself up. They both woke up shaking and fearful. Rhylan took her into his arms and held her. She was shaking and terrified. She looked into his eyes with longing and fear. He couldn't stand to see her this way. She moved into him and gave him a kiss. He could feel her desperation and pain and her kiss grew stronger and more eager. He needed to comfort her, he needed to help her pain. He kissed her back passionately as they made love in the dark.

Lilly woke up with Rhylan's arms wrapped around her. She couldn't shake off the dream. The implications of it. She shuddered again. Rhylan woke up and squeezed her tightly. They laid together in the bed holding each other, both afraid to say anything. Finally Rhylan moved to speak, "We can figure a way out of this Lilly, I know what you think this dream means but I refuse to let you give yourself away like that." Lilly shook her head, she didn't want to talk about it. If she did, it would make it real and she didn't want to face that. If it was real, then it was terrifying. She simply said to Rhylan, "Hold me, make me feel like this moment will never end." Rhylan shuddered and held her close. The frenzy took over again and they made love. It was urgent and dark. She wasn't tender with him this time. She was violent and hectic. Taking him  with a bit of anger and passion that he never felt from her before. He was lost in her emotions and let her take him.