Vision of Light [The Renegades 1] by Amanda Hilton

in the palace and the Circle to dig for the information he needed, Lucien had only one alternative.
    The Fulfillment.
    Lucien wrung Aislan's clothes bone dry and put them aside. He took out the spare tunic he had packed. When he sat her up and pulled the tunic down over her head, she did not even stir. Pausing, he stared at her thin, naked body. The outline of her ribcage protruded through her skin where he could count each rib. As he studied her stomach, he gingerly pressed his hand against the flatness, her belly almost concave. He wondered if she had lied to avoid rough handling. Lucien had been careful with her during sex, and when he healed her earlier, he had studiously avoided channeling sorcery power anywhere near her womb. Having survived his mother's abortion attempt, or so he had been told, the thought of tampering with an unborn babe made him shudder in distaste and some horror.
    Regardless of whether or not she was with child, Aislan looked like a half-starved waif. She needed to eat regularly. Smoothing the tunic over her tiny waist and slim thighs, Lucien's hand lingered for a moment on one shapely calf as he admired her long legs and perfect ankles.
    He packed all her clothes before going to the riverbank to retrieve her boots. Rewrapping the cloak about her, he picked her up. She weighed nothing, but she slept like the dead, striking him again with her oddity. He jostled her, and though she stirred, she would not wake up. Even though she breathed steadily, it still gave him a moment of unease because she slept too deeply. A light sleeper, he could not imagine being oblivious to the world. Again, he wondered what could be wrong with her.
    First things first, they needed shelter for the night.
    * * * *
    Aislan woke when dawn broke the sky. “What happened?” She rubbed her eyes.
    Lucien looked at her almost quizzically even as he shifted her in his arms while he continued walking. “You slept through the night in a cave, through a rainfall, with bats flapping overhead.” He shook his head, looking concerned. “I have never known anyone who slept so soundly."
    She did not know how to answer him. On many occasions, Hayton had to fetch a healer to wake her, thinking her brain had become damaged while she slept because she could not be roused. This usually happened when she hurt herself applying sorcery energy improperly, when plagued by confusing images and sleep took control, or when highly distressed. Aislan did not know what to do about her deep sleeping, which she had no control over.
    They stared at each other.
    "'Tis all right, milady. You have been through a lot.” He gave her a warm, understanding smile that lit up his devastatingly attractive features, causing her heart to dance a few extra beats. His gaze lingered on her mouth for a moment. She remembered what had transpired between them, seeing the image of his head between her legs, his mouth wreaking havoc, and then—
    Mortified, Aislan pressed her hand to her mouth.
    "'Tis all right.” He smiled again and kissed her forehead.
    Refusing to discuss this, she looked away, feeling her entire face flaming. “Sir, you need not carry me all the way."
    "You weigh nothing."
    "Milord, please put me down. I—I can walk."
    "We will stop soon. You need to eat."
    In a short moment, they came to the river again, where he put her down. He set about building a small fire, then went in the water and caught a couple of fish with his bare hands. While he cleaned them, Aislan went to freshen up. Breaking off a twig, she stripped the end and used it to brush her teeth and scrape her tongue clean. Feeling considerably better, she rinsed her mouth and washed her face. She combed her fingers through her messy hair until she had freed the last tangle before she braided it, all the while aware of Lucien's gaze on her.
    He joined her to wash up also. Aislan avoided looking at him, trying not to draw too much attention. However, she could not stop the flashing of images