“Wild and dangerous.” Kat frowned. “Are you sure you have to go there?”
“I don’t think we have any choice.” Elise shrugged. “I mean, we have to get the plant and that’s the only place it grows.”
"Why couldn't Baird go get it for you?" Olivia asked. "That's my husband—he's from Rageron originally so he should know his way around. I bet he could just nip down and get the plant and be back here in no time."
Elise shook her head. "It's nice of you to offer but Dr. Sylvan said it has to be plucked from the vine by the hand of the person who needs it. So Merrick and I are the only ones who can get it."
“Then we’ll have to get you an injection of translation bacteria,” Olivia said practically. “To help you understand what the natives are saying. And don’t be scared, Elise. According to Baird, Rageron is beautiful.”
“And I’m sure it can’t be any worse than Tranq Prime which is where Sylvan is from,” Sophie put in. “It’s a subzero tundra and the people have to live in underground caves called grottos.”
“Uh-huh.” Kat snorted. “And the only thing colder than the surface of the planet are the hearts of its inhabitants—right, Sophie?”
“They are pretty cold,” Sophie admitted. “When Nadiah told us all about what had happened to her there, I wasn’t surprised a bit.”
“Nadiah?” Elise frowned. “Who’s that?”
“Another friend,” Olivia said, smiling. “We were hoping she would wind up here on the Mother Ship with all of us but she’s stuck on First World instead—the original Kindred home planet.”
Sophie sighed. “I wonder how she’s doing? Last time I talked to her she and Rast were still angelically happy—no pun intended. But I certainly do miss her.”
“I miss her too,” Kat said smiling. “Freaky visions and all.”
“It’s true things weren’t dull with her around,” Lauren said. “Hey, Elise, would you like another cupcake?”
“Another?” Looking down at her empty cupcake wrapper, Elise realized she’d finished the enormous chocolate cupcake almost without noticing. “Oh my! I didn’t mean to eat the whole thing.”
Olivia laughed. “The famous last words around here! Only in my case, it’s ‘I didn’t mean to finish the whole plate.’” She helped herself to another cupcake, still laughing.
“Chocolate is therapeutic,” Kat lectured, taking a second cupcake herself. “So if you think of it that way—”
“Mistress Kat?” a new, masculine voice interrupted her.
“What?” Kat looked around, startled. “Where did that come from?”
“I think you have a call,” Lauren said.
“Oh, all right.” Kat got up and pressed a button on a black cube-like device. A blue holographic image of a Kindred warrior’s head suddenly expanded, hovering over the cube.
“I am communications officer Jarule. Pardon me for interrupting your female bonding,” the head said. “But I was told by Commander Sylvan this was where I might find the Earth female, Elise Darden.”
“Yes, I’m here.” Elise felt suddenly uneasy. “What can I do for you?”
“You have a call in the viewing room. An Earth male who is most distraught,” the warrior told her. “He says he is your fiancé and that you were kidnapped and taken aboard the Mother Ship. He demands to know what has become of you. Will you speak with him?”
Elise groaned. “Oh no, James…” Of course her fiancé was upset. He was probably missing his flight to Japan while he tried to track her down.
Sophie looked at her sympathetically. “You’d probably better go and explain about the trip to Rageron,” she said.
Elise groaned again and put a hand to her head. The trip to another planet—she’d almost forgotten about that. James was just going to love hearing that she was going light years away with another male—especially the one he thought had kidnapped her in the first place.
“I’ll come with you if you want,” Olivia offered. “For moral support.”
“Thanks.” Elise nodded gratefully. “That would help.” She had a sudden inspiration. “Um, do you think you could try to explain that I have to go, for medical reasons? Without telling him…”
“About the bond? Sure.” Olivia nodded understandingly. “Of course I can. I’ll do my best strict nurse routine for him. That should do the trick.”
“I hope so.” Elise sighed. “I really hope so.”
“Don’t worry.” Olivia struggled to her feet, helped by a gentle push from her sister. “We’ve got this. Let’s go.”
As expected, her fiancé was livid.
“Elise!” he exploded, the minute she and Olivia walked into the viewing room. “Do you realize I’m going to be late to my business conference because of this nonsense? What is going on?”
Elise opened her mouth, trying to think of an explanation that wouldn’t send the already angry James into the stratosphere, but Olivia beat her to it.
“Elise is very ill, Mr.…”
“Blaisdon,” he said impatiently. “And she looks perfectly fine to me.”
“Are you a medical professional?” Olivia snapped, her grey eyes flashing.
“Well, no…” James seemed taken aback by her attack. “But who are you?”
“I’m Elise’s nurse,” Olivia said frostily. “And I’m sorry to inform you that your fiancée has a very rare but serious illness called stasis sickness.”
“Really?” James looked genuinely distressed. “Darling, is this true?” he asked Elise.
“I’m afraid so.” Elise nodded, feeling guilty for not telling him the whole story. “I’m sorry, James.”
“It’s not your fault if you’re ill, darling.” He looked at Olivia. “What can be done for her? Is it curable?”
She nodded. “It is, but unfortunately we don’t have the necessary medicine here on the Mother Ship. Elise is going to have to visit Rageron, one of the other Kindred home worlds, to be cured.”
“What?” James began to look less worried and more displeased. “Are you seriously saying she has to go to an entirely different planet to be cured? That seems rather excessive.”
“Do you want her to be well in time for your wedding or not?” Olivia demanded, glaring at him.
“Well, yes, of course I do,” he protested, obviously caught off balance again. “I mean, it’s only a month away now.”
Just a month. Elise had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The date of the wedding had been set for ages but she’d somehow managed to forget it was quite that close. She’d taken care of the details months ago and then promptly put the whole thing to the back of her mind. The way I put James to the back of my mind. So far back I forgot him completely, she thought, another wave of guilt sweeping over her.
James looked at Olivia anxiously. “Will Elise be home in time for the wedding? It will mean a fearful amount of rescheduling if she isn’t.”
“Don’t worry about that,” a deep, familiar voice growled from behind them.
Elise turned with a start to see Merrick standing there, his muscular arms crossed over his broad chest.
“Ah, so it’s you again.” James gave the big Kindred a most unwelcoming look. “Am I to take it that you will be accompanying my fiancé to this other planet for treatment?”
“That’s right.” Merrick nodded insolently. “But don’t worry, I’ll have her back in time for your joining ceremony.” He gave Elise an inscrutable look. “All healed up and good as new.”
“I don’t like this,” James blustered. “I don’t like it one bit. I insist on having a second opinion. And I think I should be the one to accompany Elise to this other planet.”
“You on Rageron?” Merrick barked laughter. “Sorry, buddy, but I don’t think you’d last very long in one of your own jungles on Earth, let alone the Deep Blue.”
“The Deep Blue?” Elise said. “What’s that?”
Merrick spared her a glance. “It’s what they call the darkest, most inaccessible part of the jungle on
Rageron. It’s the only place the pain vine grows.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” James’ voice on the viewscreen was shrill and his face was red. “It sounds dangerous.”
“It is,” Merrick growled. “But then, so am I.” He gave James a level look. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Elise and bring her back to you in one piece. Then the two of you can be joined and live happily ever-fucking-after. All right?”
James looked like he wanted to protest more but Elise spoke up.
“Please, James, it’s the only way I can be healed,” she said. “I know it puts a crimp in our plans and I’m sorry for that. But I promise I’ll be back…back in time for our wedding.” The words seemed to stick in her throat but she forced them out anyway.
James was still frowning but at least now he looked somewhat mollified. “Well, if you’re certain this is the only way…”
“It is,” Olivia said firmly.
“And you can guarantee my fiancée’s safety,” he continued, looking at Merrick.
“I guarantee it.” The big Kindred nodded.
James sighed and threw up his hands. “Well, I still don’t like it but I guess I have no choice. I’ll see you in a month, darling.” He nodded at Elise.
“Or possibly sooner,” Olivia said helpfully.
“As long as she’s back in time for our wedding,” James said. He looked at Elise. “My mother’s put in a lot of work on this and I don’t have to tell you how upset she’ll be if you spoil the big occasion, darling.”
“Yes, I know,” Elise muttered. Her future mother-in-law wasn’t exactly one of her favorite people. Luckily she lived in London and rarely visited but she’d still managed to put in her two cents on almost every single detail of the upcoming wedding. It was one reason Elise had been so happy to have the whole thing planned and out of mind.
“Well then.” James clapped his hands together in a gesture of finality. “If that’s all there is to be said then I should get going. I can still make the next flight to Japan if I hurry.”
“Go on then, don’t miss your flight again,” Elise urged him.
“Very well. I love you, darling.” James blew her a kiss which she pretended to catch. It was a ritual with them but Elise couldn’t help feeling silly doing it in front of Merrick.
“Um, I love you too,” she said. It wasn’t exactly the most rousing display of affection but James didn’t seem to notice. Now that Elise’s situation was all squared away, he was probably already thinking of his business trip and how he would explain his tardiness to the Japanese businessmen he’d be meeting.
“Be safe,” he told her. He gave Merrick one last frown and then the viewscreen went blank.
“Well, well…so your joining is in less than a month.” Merrick was giving her an inscrutable look, his mismatched eyes narrowed.
“More or less.” Elise crossed her arms over her breasts protectively.
“Another little detail you forgot to tell me.” His deep voice was flat.
“No, another detail I haven’t been thinking about,” Elise snapped. “I’ve been a little too busy to focus on my wedding, what with being kidnapped, tortured, put in stasis, taken out of stasis, and forming a fake bond that apparently means absolutely nothing with you.”
The minute she said the words she wished she could call them back, but it was too late. Merrick’s eyes flashed briefly and then his face went blank. “Don’t worry about it,” he growled softly. “You’ll be free of the bond—and me—before you know it. We leave for Rageron tonight.”
“Merrick, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” Elise put a hand on his arm. “It’s just…this is all extremely stressful. You know how I really feel, don’t you?”
“No, and neither do you.” He shook off her hand. “Like you said, all our feelings are a lie. As fake as our bond.”
Elise caught her breath. His words felt like a barb in her heart. “Merrick…”
But he was already turning away. “Be ready,” he said, over his shoulder. “This won’t be an easy trip.”
And then he was gone, leaving Elise feeling even more wretched than she had earlier, if that was possible.
Chapter Eight
“My Lady, I would speak to you if you permit it.”
Nadiah looked up slowly from the scroll she’d been studying—an ancient thing, written on parchment which was cracked and fragile with age. It was one of the oldest documents in the temple library…and yet, it was still less than a thousand years old. She’d been hoping to find something older, something from the time when Rast’s father had been the ruler of First World, but so far her search had turned up nothing.
“My Lady?” Lissa asked again and Nadiah realized she’d been lost in thought.
“Yes, of course,” she said, smiling and pushing the scroll carefully to one side. She wore white gloves made of grantham silk to handle it, as the curator of the library had instructed her. They felt like spider webs against her fingers and she drew them off with some difficulty, afraid she would rip their fragile fabric.
“Forgive me,” Lissa said, coming to stand at her side. “I know it is impertinent of me to address the Lysell in such an informal way but, well…” She twisted her fingers together, seeming unable to go on.
“Don’t be silly,” Nadiah said gently. To tell the truth, she’d been hoping Lissa would approach her. Rast was a wonderful mate but he was still a male and what Nadiah most wanted on First World was a good girl friend, someone she could gossip and have girl talk with. Though Lissa had somewhat stiff and formal manners, Nadiah thought she was mostly just shy and unsure of herself. She was sure if she could just get through the barrier the young high priestess had put around herself, she would find a wonderful and loyal friend. “I don’t mind—in fact, I’d love to talk,” she told Lissa, hoping to draw her out more.
“You are very kind.” The priestess bit her lip, her jade green eyes troubled. “But I fear you may not feel so kindly toward me when you hear what I have to say. I…I cannot say it to Challa Rast—I fear to. But I hoped that maybe you could talk to him on my behalf.”
“I’ll certainly do my best.” Reaching up, Nadiah took one of the girl’s hands in hers and drew her down to sit in the chair beside her. Luckily the library was completely deserted except for the two of them and the small, triangular table she’d been studying at had more than enough room for another person. “Now, what is it you have to say?”
“I…I…” Lissa took a deep breath. “I am not fit to be high priestess.”
“What?” Nadiah frowned. “What are you talking about?” Rast had made Lissa the high priestess after the old one had been demoted by none other than the Goddess herself. It had been a spur of the moment decision but Nadiah felt in her gut that it was right. So why was Lissa saying otherwise? “Why would you say that—think that?” she urged softly when the young priestess was still silent.
“I…I have had impure thoughts,” Lissa said in a rush. “Thoughts which I cannot deny or purge though I have tried over and over.” She looked down at her hands, her dark blonde hair, streaked with jade green that matched her eyes, falling around her flushed cheeks. “Forgive me, my Lady.”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Gently, Nadiah raised her chin and saw that Lissa’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “We all have those kinds of thoughts from time to time,” she said. “You don’t have to feel bad about it.”
“You don’t know the whole of it.” Lissa’s face was anguished as she spoke. “It is not only the thoughts themselves but the person I have been thinking of. He…he is my brother.” She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking. “Oh, the shame! I have tried so hard to bury my feelings for him, to cast them into the sands of the Rainbow Desert and be rid of them forever but I cannot…I cannot.”
“Wait a minute,” Nadiah said reasonably. “Now, if I remember correctly, when you say ‘brother’ you just mean someone who was born into your own clan, is that right? There isn’t r
eally any blood relation between you, you just happen to come from the same ‘home town’ as my friend, Sophie, would say.”
Lissa nodded but her eyes were still troubled. “If that was all there was to my story, it would be bad enough. The kinship ties of the clan, the fact that we bear the same mark…” She turned to Nadiah and lifted the hem of her simple white robe to show what she meant. There, high on her left inner thigh, Nadiah saw what looked like a ritual tattoo—a circle about as big as a coin surrounded by wavy lines. “I am a member of the Sun Clan of the Touch Kindred,” Lissa said softly. “As such, I could have been mated to a male of the Moon Clan or the Star Clan with honor. I could even have chosen a male from the Wind or Water or Fire Clan, though they are considered beneath us as they have almost no Touch ability.”
“So you fell in love with a male within your own clan with the same marking,” Nadiah said, trying to understand. “But you still aren’t related by blood, are you?”
“No. But what I did was more shameful than even that,” Lissa murmured. “I…I broke a sacred trust. You see, my parents—my true parents—were traders to the stars. So even though they were members of the Sun Clan, we didn’t often see the others in our clan because we were always off trading. Then when I was twelve cycles old, our ship was taken by pirates. A passing Kindred freighter responded to the distress signal my father managed to set off but by the time they came it was too late, my parents and little brother had all been killed.”
She spoke calmly enough, relating the terrible tale, but Nadiah thought she could still see the hurt and terror that twelve year old girl must have felt, watching her parents and brother being butchered in front of her. “Oh, Lissa,” she murmured, pressing the other girl’s hand gently.
“It was a long time ago.” Lissa sighed. “Though dreams of it still haunt me sometimes.”
“What happened to you?” Nadiah asked. “Were you adopted by another family in your clan?”
Lissa nodded. “Indeed—by none other than the Over Chief’s family. The chief of the Sun Clan is also the head of all the Touch Kindred,” she explained. “It was a great and unexpected honor but the Over Chief had been very close to my mother when they were children growing up together.”
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