He viewed her obliquely. “Are you my opponent, Jenise?”
“If not, then what?” she flung back at him.
He exhaled heavily. “I warned you back on Ganakari that appearances can be deceiving. You chose not to heed that warning. Now you are mine—how did you put it? Ah, yes—to take.”
Her breath hitched in her throat. “What are you saying?”
“I am a male Familiar.”
“So? What point are you trying to make?”
“That is my point.” He began pacing toward her with deliberate steps. “Did you expect me to behave in a way foreign to my nature? We sense our mates; I knew who you were the instant you entered that cell. I am who I am. You are who you are…to me. Therefore, I am—”
“A predator,” she sneered.
“When it suits me.” He stalked closer to her.
“A hunter!” she threw at him, incensed.
“Depends on what you deem the hunt,” he murmured, coming closer.
“A king! You are a king!” She yelled what she considered the worst offense.
“Very much so.” He caught her face between his strong palms, forcing her to look up at him. Then he lowered his silken mouth close to hers.
“And you, Creamcat, are my queen.” He covered her lips and took her breath. A sharp, quick inhalation.
Jenise panicked, pounding on his broad chest. The warm, dry lips cleaved to hers, a firm, unyielding siege.
And when she began to grow faint, he casually blew into her mouth.
Letting her know it was his breath alone.
His.
She ignored him after he released her.
She disrobed silently and got into the enormous, low bed, which was covered in silken jade and gold krilli cloth and cushions. The same color as his eyes…In fact, many of the fabrics and furnishings seemed to reflect his eye color, as if the tones represented a symbol of—
She did not want to think of those mesmerizing eyes or anything else about Guardian of the Mist.
When Gian disrobed and joined her, she turned her back on him.
He slid in next to her and took her in his arms.
“Leave me be.” Her voice was cold.
“You are my mate.”
“Then that is unfortunate for you.” His eyes sparked with anger but he released her. Familiar men did not take well to being denied their mates. And Gian was very much a Familiar male.
Tired from the events of the past days, Jenise quickly fell asleep.
In the middle of the night she awoke with an intense desire that bordered on pain. Her breasts throbbed, her nipples tingled, her skin hummed with arousal. The curls between her legs were wet.
Gian came over her, the moon surrounding him with a halo of muted light. His incredibly handsome features were starkly sensual and starkly resolved.
She wanted him so much she ached with it. “What did you do to me?” she moaned.
He did not speak to her. His fingers delved into her hair to capture her in his possessive, feral hold. He did not take his eyes from her as he slid fast into her, hot and determined.
Jenise threw her head back and cried out at the sensual torture that was at once pleasure and pain. Pleasure from his touch and pain from needing it.
“What do you do to me, Gian?” she gasped as he silently answered her with ecstasy from his body.
His bold thrusts told her.
His lapping tongue told her.
His grazing teeth told her.
His stroking palms told her.
He was Guardian of the Mist. King of all Familiars. And she was his to take.
When Gian entered his official chambers the following morning, he was not surprised to see that H’riar, his utal, was already waiting for him. His first advisor had the reputation of being relentless; no matter how small the matter at hand, he never rested until it was resolved.
The man’s dark hair was slightly graying at the temples; he was past his incarnations. Gian respected H’riar immensely and often sought his wise council.
He wondered which topic H’riar would bring up first…Jenise or Karpon. Whichever one it was would indicate to Gian which of the two his advisor considered the more urgent.
Gian hoped it was the latter. He was in no mood for an altercation with his utal.
Especially not after the turbulent night he had spent with Jenise. When he left, she had still been sleeping.
During the night, he had made her give herself to him…in every way. He had mastered her with his sensual skills, but he had no illusion as to what her reaction was going to be to him in the light of day.
His hopes were not to be answered by H’riar. The advisor wasted no time in confronting him. “She is not Familiar,” he stated bluntly.
Gian exhaled deeply. “So have I noticed.”
H’riar raised a brow. “I am serious, Gian.”
Gian sighed. “What would you have me say?”
“The people are concerned…about many things.”
“They need not be concerned about Jenise—she had naught to do with the situation on Ganakari. If it were not for her, I might not be here right now—she aided my escape.”
H’riar was impressed. “I will let it be known. Although a tajan who is not Familiar will take some getting used to.”
“They will come to love her.” He faced H’riar. “You will see.”
H’riar accepted his king’s assessment. “Traed has arrived. I have placed him in the third spoke. Already word has spread of what he has done for our Guardian.” He snickered. “I vow he is very uncomfortable with all the praise he is receiving.”
Gian grinned. “No, he would not like it.”
“The people wish to have a mating celebration for you tonight. I have approved the festivities. The heads of the clans, their advisors and families are already journeying here. I am sure the people will wish to honor Traed for his heroic deed as well.”
A muscle worked in Gian’s jaw. Jenise was not going to be amenable to any marriage celebration. H’riar would not know that, of course. “You should have consulted with me first.”
The advisor was surprised. “I truly did not think it necessary. There is always a celebration when the taj takes a mate.”
Gian wiped a hand over his face. What could he say? He did not want anyone, including H’riar, privy to his personal problems. He would just have to think of a way to get Jenise to go along with it. “You are right, of course. My apologies.”
H’riar smiled softly. “I understand—it is the situation on Ganakari that has you worried. What of Dariq, Gian?”
Gian shook his head sadly.
H’riar’s eyes moistened with tears. “This news saddens me greatly. He was a sweet, kind youth and on his first adventure too.”
“I know. He would not have had much of a chance against them, H’riar.” Gian was pained by the young Familiar’s terrible fate.
“I will let his family know.”
Gian nodded in sorrow.
“Tell me what has transpired on Aviara with the Guild.”
“I have told them that Karpon is not alone—he has an accomplice. They seemed very interested in that and asked me to recollect what I had gleaned. As they usually do, they looked into my mind to see if they could learn more than I from the glimpses I had—a black fingernail and part of an orange ring.”
“Could they?”
“No. They were all as baffled as I had ever seen them, including Yaniff. They are still debating what to do about this situation. Yaniff seemed most concerned. He later told me that he wondered if the real danger was not Karpon but this unseen threat.”
H’riar rubbed the back of his neck. “If Yaniff was concerned, then I am truly worried.”
“Yes, I as well.”
“What of the poison? Can they neutralize the drug?”
“No, not unless they obtain a sample of it. None of the High Mystics could get a sense of its essence from me.”
H’riar was concerne
d. “What will we do, Gian? Our people will be powerless against such a threat.”
Gian took a deep breath. “I have told the Sages to seal the Tunnel.”
H’riar gasped. “But Gian! That will curtail the freedom of the Familiar people! Are all of our activities to be monitored by Aviara now? The second Tunnel was our secret door!”
“Think you I do not know that? I assure you, I have thought on this well, utal, there is no other alternative—not if we want to ensure the safety of our children. There is nothing to prevent Karpon from stealing them from us; there is nothing to stop him!”
“Could we not guard the Tunnel against such an attack?”
“There are too many of them and they are well armed. In addition, we know not what friends they have. The potential losses are too great.” His fist slammed down on a tabletop. “I will not lose another Familiar to Ganakari. Dariq was the last! It is bad enough that for years Oberion slavers have hunted us in certain sectors, but now this! I vow I am heartily sick of it! If Karpon should gain entrance to M’yan our very world will be in jeopardy. I know his kind; he will not stop until he can call M’yan his.”
“We could fight him.” H’riar said seriously. “No Ganakari could stand up to a Familiar.”
“True; I took down many, but what of the drug, utal? It renders us helpless at their feet. We must bide our time and find out the source of this drug. Until we do, I will protect the Mist.”
“There will be a great sadness amongst the people. To lose one’s freedom—is there a worse thing for a Familiar?” H’riar asked sadly.
Gian looked at him evenly. Never would he forget the effect the insidious drug had had on him. The horror of it. “Yes, utal, there is.”
H’riar knew then what Gian had gone through. He wisely acquiesced to his decision. “When will the Sages do it?”
“Tonight.”
“I will inform the people.”
Gian inclined his head. Walking over to a window, he stared out at the incomparable view of the Placid Lagoon. M’yan, his home. So beautiful. So untamed. Like his people. The sealing of the secret Tunnel had been the most difficult decision he had ever been forced to make. Somehow, he suspected it was only the first in a long line to come.
A sudden tremor shook him. A bead of sweat formed on his brow. Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against the window frame.
“Your Incarnation approaches.” H’riar spoke quietly. Even from across the room, he had noted the signs. The man had been through enough of them himself to recognize the symptoms.
“Yes.” Gian tried to regulate his breathing, which suddenly fluctuated erratically before becoming even again.
“Does she know?” H’riar walked over to stand behind him.
“No.” Another body tremor seized him.
H’riar placed a kind hand on his shoulder. “What will you do, my sister’s son?”
“I will tell her soon. It will be her choice.”
“She may not survive it,” H’riar felt compelled to point out. “There never has been a non-Familiar woman who—”
“She will survive it.” Gian pierced him with a meaningful look.
H’riar sucked in his breath. “You mean to sacrifice yourself?”
“If need be.”
H’riar squeezed his shoulder. “Who will rule us then?” he asked devotedly.
Gian smiled faintly. “There is no reason to think she cannot go through an Incarnation.” Whether she wanted to or not was the essential question, but that doubt he kept to himself.
“That is true. We have nothing to go by—yours will be the first between a male Familiar and a non-Familiar mate. A fitting place to start…with the ruler of us all!” He slapped Gian’s back affectionately, trying to lighten the seriousness of the situation.
Gian appreciated his utal’s gesture.
“You will have no Familiar child, though, Gian. Whatever chance existed that a son of yours would be taj is forever gone.” It had been a great source of pride to Gian’s family that for many generations the taj had come from their direct blood descendants. Such an unusual occurrence denoted the exceptional strain within their house and clan.
Familiar offspring from mixed unions were rare. Only one child had ever been born Familiar from such a union, and that was Rejar.
Gian glanced at his advisor from under veiled eyes as he flexed his shoulders. “She will birth a Familiar babe.”
H’riar grinned. “Oh, what are you now—a Charl mystic? Think you to possess their gift of prophecy?”
Gian threw back his head in a leonine pose. “Of course not! I possess something much better, utal.”
“And what is that, son of my sister?”
“Familiar arrogance!”
H’riar’s deep laughter echoed through the halls.
Jenise rose from the bed and walked over to the wide window.
The scene before her was one of utter beauty. A lagoon of aqua water surrounded by tropical plants and fronds.
A soft breeze laden with the scent of krinang spice ruffled her hair. Gian. He was this world. Mysterious and beautiful to look upon. Dangerous and unpredictable to know.
She was furious with him!
He had left her while she slept and she was glad of it. Last night he had ravaged her. Over and over. He had brought her to peak so many times she lost count. And throughout it all he remained steadfastly silent.
He let his body speak for him.
In no uncertain terms, he showed her this other side to his nature. Dominant and conquering.
He had tricked her as to who he was.
Tricked her in the worst way possible! Although the clues had been there…
The way he had saved them from the valdt, the steadfast endurance of the man, his extraordinary abilities, his refusal to give up even in the face of the overwhelming odds against them. All of those attributes pointed to a superior individual.
To a man who was king of all Familiars.
Her mind went back to that first time, in the cell on Ganakari when he had “accepted” her terms. She remembered he had told her then that appearances could be deceiving. How right he was!
At the time, she had not known what he meant. In her conceit, she had thought herself in control of the situation and the chained captive. Now she knew better. Who could ever control a Familiar?
He had been right about one thing yesterday—she had had no right to propose such a bargain to him.
But desperate situations called for desperate measures. And she had been so very desperate.
He knew that. They both had been desperate. The memory of his breath teasing at her ear weakened her in a way she could not name. He had been so very passionate as he stood behind her, ready to take her. Ready to snag his unsuspecting prey.
His heated, soulful murmurs came back to her. Hot, sensual phrases, which at the time she believed to be words of passion. How wrong she had been.
With her new knowledge of the Familiar tongue, she recalled a few of the arcane phrases he had uttered…
Ei mahana ne Tuan, I discard all others…
A jhan vri re Tuan, For me there is no other…
Jenise bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes. Why had he done such a thing? He had told her that Familiars could sense their mates. If that was so—and from everything she had seen of the Familiars, she had no reason to doubt it—why had he not let her make her own choice?
Why had he not waited?
His purring voice came back to her anew. His powerful hand had been wrapped securely around her hair and his silken lips were at her throat. “I ask you to wait…tell me to stop…”
She had told him he must not stop. And so he’d done as she had demanded of him.
But she had not known!
If you had, a voice inside her said, would it have made a difference? She had been desperate to escape Karpon and had been ready to do, indeed had done, anything to accomplish it.
It was a complicated, tangled mess. And
it all centered, as everything had in her life, on power.
Perhaps Gian had no choice initially. Perhaps since he realized what she could be to him, he was bound to do what he did. But after? All those days they had traveled together—he could have told her.
But then he was a predator. His purpose was to ensnare her.
Her nostrils flared. It would not do. He must release her now.
A tear found its way down her face. She staunchly wiped it away.
As far as she was concerned it must be over between them.
If in the future she had a longing for krinang spice and ached for the feel of smooth, dark golden hair with singular black strands, she would just have to remember what price is demanded of those who embrace the source of power.
Resolved, she waited patiently for his return.
Chapter Fourteen
Despite her morose mood, Jenise gazed up in amazement at the twisting trunk of the gnarled tree that grew through a hole in the flooring and on through the roof above. It was midmorn and she was still waiting for Gian to appear.
Small trills sang happily in the leafy branches. Inside the room.
She had never seen a tree growing inside an abode before but decided she liked the effect of it. It was a rather peaceful addition which conveyed a nice feeling to the room.
There was a rock-lined pool in the chamber as well, its source continually refreshed by a small fountain which trickled forth streams of warmed water. The gentle, bubbling sound of the fountain soothed her frayed nerves somewhat as she relaxed in the scented water.
Someone had placed flower blossoms in the pool. The exotic white blooms had pale pink centers and were really lovely. Jenise picked one up in her cupped palms to sniff at it. The sultry fragrance teased her, evoking images of warm tropical nights and even warmer passion. Sparkling green and gold eyes dilated with lambent hunger… She shivered at the memory.
A rich, purring voice brought her out of her reverie.
“The tasmin flower is believed by some to be a sexual stimulant.” Gian stood in the doorway intently watching her.
Jenise looked away from him, blushing as she recalled the things the Familiar had done to her in the middle of the night. With his lips and tongue and teeth. He had licked her from head to foot and back again.