Chapter 3: The Feeling of the Feelings

Well, this was a fun chapter to write so I hope you all have fun reading it. Don't hate me for playing a bit with Karina' love life, things aren't always what they seem. Also, there is a rather intersting little scene in here, but it is the only scene like it in my entire plot, so don't hate me. If you're uncomfortable with a bit of lemon, skip the paragraph.

Karina lay in her new bed that night, eyes wide open, unable to sleep. She was a telepath. A telepath? Like a reading minds invading your head kind of telepath? We've been over this already. Her mind scolded. Yes, you are a telepath. Yes, you can read minds. Yes, the Strategos is seriously easy on the eyes. She let out a little giggle at the last thought, and then quickly supressed it. He was not her friend. None of them were. She could not afford to think they were her friends. They were using her for their dirty work, and that was all.

But still... the way he had whispered in her ear kept coming back to her, the way his breath had tickled her cheek... A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of his breath tickling her elsewhere. She frowned, angry at her traitorous body, the one that wanted her enemy, and furious with her unfaithful heart, who wanted to befriend those who had imprisoned her.

She turned over again in her spacious bed, and gazed around her new room, taking in the richly colored hangings and the clawfoot bath tub in the adjoined bathroom. Yes. They were definitely using her. And she would not be friends with people who used her.

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The next morning Karina took breakfast in her own room, not yet ready to face the Dragonslayers she would normally dine with. She ate her porridge slowly, delaying the moment she would ahve to got to her lessons with Folken as long as she could. When a maid finally came for her she wasn't even dressed, and so it was a full hour later than she was supposed to that she arrived at the throne room.

Karina slipped through the doors, clad in the loose purple undershirt and snug leather pants that had been provided for her, and scanned the shadows for her teacher.

His voice came first and then his tall figure slid into the dim light of the room. She felt her heart flutter at the smile he gave her and quickly extinguished the ridiculous feeling, determined to be nothing but civil to her instructor.

She said, bowing as the maid had done.

This morning, Karina—such a lovely name—this morning, I am going to teach you how to feel emotions. He began to walk about the room, speaking as he went. You will learn to feel hate, anger, hope, confusion, longing, fear... He paused and turned, pinning her with his cool aqua gaze. Lust, love.

Karina's breath caught in her throat at his last words, and she knew he was talking of more than the lesson.

So we will begin with identifying the feelings. I will summon up a memory or situation that has caused me one of these feelings and you will tell me what I am feeling. You back will be facing me so that you won't simply rely on the expressions on my face. Let us begin. Turn around, Karina.

She obeyed, turning her back to him and closing her eyes.

Concentrate on me, on me alone. There is not room, no Vione, no other people in the world. Only me. Now what am I feeling?

Karina concentrated on him, on the image she had in her mind and waited for the feeling to reach her. She opened her eyes. She whispered.

Very good. Came Folken's voice, equally quiet. Now what?

In the next hour Karina identified jealously, irritation, exasperation, hope, longing, vanity, obssession, and confusion. And each time she identified an emotion, she became faster at feeling them, at sensing the waves coming off of him.

Her teacher said finally. Now though, we're going to try something a little bit different. You have been sensing smaller emotions, ones with less power. He paused. Now, we're going to try bigger emotions. Karina humped as his breath brushed against her ear—she hadn't even heard him move. Now, Karina. He said, resuming his position several yards away from her. What am I feeling?

Karina closed her eyes again and felt for him, finding his presence much more quickly than the first time. For a moment she felt nothing, nothing but the soothing calm that always ruled him. And then suddenly pain erupted in her head, making her cry out with its force. She fell to her knees, clutching her head in agony as the onslaught continued. She could hear screaming in the room, heart-wrenching shrieks echoing in the huge chamber, and realized it was her.

And as suddenly as it had begun, it ended. The pain was gone, and Karina opened her eyes to find Folken leaning over her, concern bright in his eyes.

Are you all right.? He asked gently, reaching out to examine her face with his metal arm.

Funny, Karina thought dimly, still recovering from the shock. I didn't know one of his arms was metal. She replied, realizing he had asked her a question.

He said, relief softening the tension on his face. What did you feel?

Karina looked up at him, into his vibrant, gorgeous eyes. She whispered hoarsely, wondering where anger so powerful had come from in this calm, quiet man.

Very good. He said quietly, offering his real hand to her to help her up.

She smiled gratefully up at him and took his hand, letting him pull her up and hold her a little longer than necessary. And suddenly they were no longer standing in the middle of a slightly chilly room, standing too close for Karin's comfort, but making passionate, tumultuous love in an enormous bed, their intertwined bodies writhing with ecstasy. She could feel his lips hot on hers, on her neck, her breasts, and she could feel the muscles bunching in his shoulders, the cold of the metal arm and the heat of the real on wrapping around her. And she could feel the pleasure building, the movements of him inside her driving her wild, taking her higher and higher—

Karina released his hand and stumbled back a few steps, her cheeks flushed and her breath coming hard and fast. She could see her teacher's wide eyes, his parted lips, and she knew he must have been aware of the intrusion into his mind and the images and feelings brewing there.

That's enough for today's lesson. Folken said, unable to keep the tremor from his voice. After lunch, you are to report to the training room and train with the Dragonslayers. You must be able to defend yourself against anything.

Even you? A small part of Karina's mind asked silently.

Yes, Strategos. She said out loud.

My name is Folken, Karina. Please call me that.



Karina left the room and sagged against the wall outside, pressing her uninjured cheek to the cold wall. Oh bloody hell. She thought. What have I gotten myself into?