Venus’ will that all of Pompeii die?”
“I do not know.” He moved steadily closer,
making her feel small and vulnerable. “You are trying to confuse
me.”
“Your people would not listen to you, so
Venus sent someone else. That doesn’t reflect badly on you. It
reveals the foolishness of those who would not listen. If they had
heeded your warnings, this relocation would not have been
necessary.”
The closer he drew the harder she found it
to concentrate. “If you are a priest of Venus, why was I not warned
of your coming?”
His brow arched and he leaned his hand
against the wall, caging her with his body. “Does she tell you
everything she does? I thought you were her servant, not the other
way around.”
“That is not the point,” she flared. “Where
are the others? Everyone must be terrified. I must comfort
them.”
“Everyone is fine. Let’s focus on you. How
do you feel? Would you like something to eat? You’ve been in stasis
for six days. Do you feel weak?”
Up close, his eyes were captivating. Rings
of lighter green made the emerald shimmer. His hair was short on
the sides and in back, but the top was left longer, revealing a
charming tendency to curl. She’d never seen clothing like his,
formfitting yet conservative. Only his long-fingered hands were not
covered. Did Venus require him to keep himself hidden from view so
she could enjoy his body in private?
The thought sent an odd ache deep into her
belly. Surely she did not desire this strange man! She never
reacted that way to men. She must be hungry. “What is stasis?” The
word echoed back to her as her mind sifted through the unwanted
distractions.
“It is a sort of trance or a sleep so deep
your bodily functions are turned off for a while.”
“This is not harmful?”
“There can be side effects, but nothing too
drastic. Some experience muscle weakness, others hunger or chills.
All the side effects are temporary.”
“I see.” Did he have to stand so close to
her? It was disquieting.
“All your friends are in stasis right now,
so you don’t need to worry about them. How is your head? Do you
feel any pain?”
His questions reminded her that the female
had said she was fetching a doctor, not a priest. A fresh surge of
suspicion set her in motion. She ducked under his arm and ran for
the door.
“Felicia, wait. If you go dashing down the
corridors, I’ll have to sedate you.”
“Sedate me?” She spun to face him, robes
swishing around her legs. “Who are you really? You are no priest.
More like a physician.”
“Can’t I be both physician and priest? Many
priests have other vocations before they find their calling.”
“I have known priests who claimed to be
chosen by Venus. You are nothing like them.”
His gaze searched hers for a moment as if he
sensed the wealth of meaning behind her casual comment. But he did
not know, could not possibly know the indignities she had suffered
in the name of worship. His brows drew together in silent question,
but she simply looked away.
“I seem different because my home is very
far from yours. Many of our customs are bound to be unusual.”
Shivers shook her shoulders and cramped her
upper arms. Was this one of the side effects he had warned her
about? “If we are traveling through the sky, show me.” She crossed
her arms, rubbing the muscles in an attempt to loosen the painful
spasms. “I want to see the stars floating past our sails.” Her
teeth were chattering by the time she finished the sentence. “What
is wrong with me?”
He slipped past her and left the room. She
closed her eyes, thinking she had driven him off with her
obstinacy. It served her right. Now she would suffer in
solitude.
Blessed warmth settled around her shoulders
and sank into her arms as he wrapped a thick blanket around her
body.
“Can you walk?”
She tried to shift her foot forward but her
leg refused to respond.
“I’m going to pick you up, all right?” She
managed a shaky nod and