Central

by Raine Thomas

  Now, he grinned wickedly. “Is that so?”

  She flushed with color. “Well, at least that’s what I hear, anyway,” she said with an eye roll. When he issued a shout of laughter, she added, “We have to talk with the others about all of this. Everyone should be prepared.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” he said soberly.

  “But…we’re not going to talk to them right now, are we?” she asked, recognizing the look in his eyes.

  He paused, obviously sending a thought out to James and Caleb. Then he flicked his hand and she heard the snick of the locks on both of the room’s doors.

  “Nope,” he replied.

  Chapter Twenty

  “They have reached the Estilorian stronghold,” Kanika reported.

  Grolkinei looked up from the map he had been perusing in his home’s study. His gaze narrowed with interest. “It has been weeks since we have received any word. You are certain about this?”

  “Of course,” she scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest and tossing her dark hair over one shoulder.

  Even after all these weeks, she still treated him with barely concealed contempt. For some reason, he found it incredibly alluring. It was quite unlike Layla’s doting and kowtowing. He didn’t know what that said about him, nor did he care.

  “Of course,” he repeated, giving her one of his potent smiles. “Will you have a seat, my sweet? I would be happy to pour you some wine.”

  She shrugged and walked over to one of the two leather chairs facing his desk. As she sat, he moved over to a table topped with glass decanters of varying heights and colors filled with an array of liquids. Pulling two crystal glasses out of a tall, narrow armoire made of dark wood, he placed them on the table and filled them both with deep red wine.

  “They did quite an excellent job of masking the whereabouts of the sisters these many weeks,” he said as he walked over to hand her one of the glasses. He sat in the chair beside her rather than behind the desk, desiring to establish a level of comfort and intimacy with her.

  She sniffed her wine and swirled it in her glass. “I believe that the elders have highly limited the information that leaves their direct knowledge. They are no fools. I served as a lesson to them that no one can be trusted.”

  Watching her sip the wine, he considered her words. “We have been adding to our ranks quite steadily for years now. Why would your conversion cause them more alarm than any other?”

  “Because I was a direct threat to the half-humans at the time of my conversion,” she responded.

  “Are we not all a threat to them?”

  “To them, you are distant…removed. As are your ranks. They know that you cannot find their stronghold. The enchantments are too strong. You will likewise never find the homes of the elders. If possible, those enchantments are even more powerful. I think it likely that they will keep Saraqael’s daughters within these enchanted locations at all times.”

  He frowned. After sipping his wine contemplatively, he observed, “The oldest daughter will most certainly have to travel from one location to another. She will surely not remain at Gabriel’s home for all the rest of her days without seeing her sisters. And they will likely be kept at the stronghold.”

  Kanika nodded after a moment. “You are probably correct.”

  Satisfied with that, he leaned back. “There is bound to be a time when someone will let it slip that they are leaving one location or another, allowing you to intercept the thought. I may not know where they are departing from or heading toward, but I now have enough Mercesti to cover nearly every part of the plane if I so order it. It is only a matter of time before I find them.”

  “Gabriel would be with her,” she warned.

  He grinned malevolently. “I know.”

  She eyed him over the rim of her glass as she sipped. Then she asked, “Why is it you so despise him?”

  “Because he is righteous, upstanding, self-sacrificing and altruistic,” he answered simply. “I hated every moment of training under him after I became an Estilorian those many centuries ago, but it was a standard part of our introduction to this life and thus, unavoidable.”

  “But all of the elders have those qualities,” she pointed out.

  He sneered. “Yes, but it was only Gabriel who realized that I did not subscribe to those tenants. He tried to warn Volarius about me, but the Mercesti elder dismissed it. Much to his ultimate peril.”

  “So, you hate Gabriel because he saw through your attempt to disguise who you really are?”

  He raised a thoughtful eyebrow at her persistent probing. “Does one really need a good reason to hate another?” he countered evasively. “You hate Gabriel’s avowed for no reason other than she is his avowed, is that not correct?”

  She clamped her mouth shut, but her red eyes flared in response.

  “Precisely,” he said. “We all have our reasons.”

  They sipped their wine in silence. He kept his eyes on her, however. Her questions had been pressing and odd. But he had more important things to worry about than a female’s jealousy.

  “Well, it is excellent news that they are within the stronghold,” he said at last. “Although the thoughts are strongly masked as they are generated from that secret location, there will be so many Estilorians thinking about Saraqael’s daughters that we are bound to get a useful tidbit or two. I want you to continue to focus on intercepting those thoughts and report them to me. I will speak separately with the other commanders to relate this news and impart orders on them.”

  She nodded in agreement.

  “Do not worry, my sweet,” he said, reaching over to tip her chin up so that she looked into his eyes. “We will find them. And with your help, it will be sooner rather than later.”

  James left Olivia with Skye in the younger sister’s room under Caleb’s care. With directions from Sebastian to guide him, he found Aurora where they had settled her the day before.

  The accommodations were actually quite nice. The cat was being housed in an indoor atrium with access to the outside. It was filled with trees, a pond, some large rocks and even appeared to be populated with some wildlife. He wondered if they had created the area just for Aurora.

  He saw no one nearby, but knew that the Lekwuesti would never allow a guest to go unattended, even if she happened to be feline. Sure enough, after a moment of looking around, he spotted a male Lekwuesti with dark skin and a bald head dressed in a white toga sitting on a rock reading a book. He looked up with his lavender eyes when James approached.

  “Good morning,” he said politely in a lightly accented voice. He closed his book and got to his feet. “You must be James. I am Lucas. Archigos Sebastian contacted me to let me know you would be arriving soon.”

  “Yes,” James replied. “Good morning to you, as well, Lucas. I am here to visit with Aurora.”

  Lucas nodded. “She is resting after a successful hunt this morning.” He turned and pointed to a tree about twenty yards away.

  “Thank you,” James said, turning and walking over to the tree.

  Seeing her on a branch nearly halfway up the tall tree, James started climbing. It made him think fondly of the few times he had chased after Olivia in a similar fashion. She hadn’t had time to climb trees in recent weeks, he realized. He would have to remedy that.

  “Hello there, my friend,” he said with a smile when he reached a branch near Aurora’s perch. He sat down and reached over to give her head a rub.

  She made a sound in her throat reflecting appreciation.

  “I missed you this morning,” he admitted, looking into her green eyes. “I have grown fond of our morning runs.”

  She made another noise in her throat.

  Tilting his head, he thought, Can you hear my thoughts?

  Her head bobbed once, making him blink in surprise.

  I wish I could hear yours, he thought. I want to know what upsets you so. I can see the unhappiness in your eyes.

  She didn’t respond, of course. B
ut she did make a mewling noise.

  Why are you keeping things from Olivia? She is very worried about you.

  If cats could look apologetic, Aurora did just then.

  She said that she has been sending you thoughts and that you are not reciprocating. I suspect you are trying to keep her from learning something that you think will disturb her because you know she is already under a lot of strain. Am I correct?

  After a brief pause, her head again bobbed.

  I can appreciate you not wanting to upset Olivia. But by remaining silent and keeping her away from your thoughts, you are inadvertently hurting her. I have learned that the best means to a resolution for a problem is communication. Will you tell her what is bothering you?

  He took her hesitation as a refusal.

  Sighing, he thought, Does it have to do with your mate?

  She blinked, studying him carefully. Then she issued another bob of her head.

  Do you miss him?

  She tilted her head and made a noise in her throat. He sensed that meant he was partially correct. As he considered what else it could be, she carefully shifted her position on the branch, exposing most of her belly to him.

  He understood instantly. Surprised rolled through him.

  You are breeding?

  This time, she issued one of her panther cries when she nodded. He thought it was the most sorrowful sound he had ever heard.

  Reaching over, he gently stroked her slightly rounded belly. Even as he touched her, he felt movement beneath his hand that made his eyes widen. There was literally life inside her. Feeling it was utterly amazing. Not all animals on the Estilorian plane could breed naturally. Only those that made the transition along with the new plane could do so. All other animals were created by the Scultresti. He knew, however, that Aurora was the very first animal to ever traverse the planes. He could only assume that her particular DNA, perhaps in conjunction to her unique bond to Olivia, had caused her to retain the ability to procreate on this plane.

  Well, congratulations, he managed, uncertain what else to say.

  If he remembered correctly from his past education about animal husbandry, she would be about ready to deliver in another month to two months, depending upon exactly when she had conceived. He imagined that it wasn’t any less frightening for her to face delivering a babe on her own than it would be for another mother.

  After another moment of consideration, he remembered Olivia’s suspicion. Are you upset because your mate did not come for you?

  A head bob.

  But archigos Gabriel’s home is heavily enchanted. It is possible that your mate simply could not find it. Only minds that have been allowed through the enchantment can do so.

  Aurora all but stood up at learning this. He clutched the branch he was sitting on as she made the tree sway. How was it possible that he could read hope in an animal’s expression, he wondered, and react to it so thoroughly?

  I have some companions among the Waresti who are excellent hunters. If I provide them with a general geographic area, they can implement a search for your mate, bringing him safely to you once they find him. Would you like this?

  He didn’t have to read her mind to know that her answering lick to his face was a yes.

  It took him longer than he thought to find Uriel. After he had explained what he needed and gotten the Waresti leader’s approval, he headed back to the rooms they had been assigned. It was well past the lunch hour by then. He imagined Olivia and her sisters were resting after their initial visits by the Lekwuesti who would be preparing their gowns for that evening’s welcome.

  I’m back, he conveyed to Caleb as he approached the door to his room.

  After the thought ran through his mind, he realized that he had blended the words “I” and “am” together like the sisters and Gabriel did. Interesting. That hadn’t been a conscious decision on his part.

  The Lekwuesti are taking an interminable amount of time, Caleb mentally grumbled in response. The girls are each in their own chambers. I am in mine, keeping an eye on Skye and listening for Olivia. I had to battle with the Lekwuesti to keep the doors between our rooms open.

  I’m guessing you won.

  There was that contraction again. Now that he paid attention to it, it did make the conversation flow more easily. He had to wonder why Estilorians didn’t speak this way.

  Oh, yeah, I did, Caleb returned.

  Grinning at the self-satisfied tone to the thought, James opened the door to his bedroom and strode in. He automatically glanced into Olivia’s room as he walked in, wanting to be sure she was okay. His quick glance took in the chaotic scene in her room as he strode toward the bathroom. He took two steps past the open doorway and froze.

  Then slowly, and very carefully, he eased back those two steps and once again glanced into her room, allowing just his eyes to move beyond the doorframe.

  She was standing up on a wooden stool, turned slightly away from the door with three Lekwuesti females gathered around her taking measurements and discussing colors and fabrics. He completely ignored them. There was no conceivable way he could focus on anything other than the sight of Olivia in whatever semblance of clothing it was that she was wearing.

  The top of the strange, dark-pink ensemble was some kind of abbreviated tank with the thinnest of shoulder straps. It covered only her breasts, leaving her midsection completely bare. It also dipped down over her breastbone to reveal far more skin than any tank he had ever seen. It was paired with what looked like matching low-cut shorts without any legs.

  The rigorous workouts she had undergone over the past many weeks had left her with an incredible figure. He could easily see the definition in her arms, legs and abdomen. And at the moment, he couldn’t tear his gaze from the gentle flare of her hips where the unusual briefs dipped down below her navel.

  His heart thundered in his ears. He was pretty sure he hadn’t blinked in over a minute.

  Only when he had an image flash through his head of Caleb—or worse, archigos Gabriel—charging into his room wondering what was wrong did he force himself to take those two critical steps forward, out of the line of sight. And then he simply stood there, trying to process.

  “James?” she called out.

  He flinched at the sound. Heat suffused his face. “Yes?” he asked. He wondered if he possibly sounded as guilty as he felt.

  “One sec,” she called out. Then he heard, “Would you please hand me my robe, Brenna?” And a moment later, “Thank you. I’ll be right back.”

  Bracing himself, he turned to face her. It was a wasted effort. She ran through the door from her room and threw herself into his arms. All of the thoughts he had been struggling to suppress flooded to the surface at the feel of her body pressed against him. Still, he couldn’t find it in him to release her.

  “Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou,” she chanted in one long breath against his chest. Then she leaned back enough to look into his eyes. “Oh, James, thank you so much for going to Aurora. She connected with me again and—”

  Panic flared when he saw the tears in her eyes. Reaching up to take hold of her shoulders, he demanded, “What is wrong?”

  “N-nothing,” she insisted, sniffing and shaking her head. She gave him one of her smiles. “I’m just so happy! Aurora told me about your visit.”

  He relaxed a fraction. He hadn’t realized that females wept when happy. Wasn’t that a contradiction?

  Even as he tried to figure that out, she reached up with both hands and pulled his head down, touching her lips to his for one long, humming moment.

  Then she pulled away, her smile wide and brighter than the lights on the ceiling. “I can’t thank you enough,” she declared. Then she whirled and hurried back to her room.

  Somehow, he managed to stagger to his bed and sit down on the edge of it before his knees collapsed. Dazed, he glanced up to see Caleb lounging in the doorway from the corridor.

  “Believe me,” he said dryly. “I know just how you
feel.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  James and Caleb got changed in their rooms when the Lekwuesti females returned later that afternoon to get the girls dressed in their new gowns, style their hair and otherwise prepare them with their mysterious ways. The doors between the rooms were left ajar enough to allow sound to carry, but the Lekwuesti had drawn the line there. They didn’t want to be disturbed, and that was that.

  The tuxedo arranged for James had a standard black jacket with matching pants. There was also a black vest worn under the jacket. A starched white shirt, black dress shoes and a black bow tie completed the outfit. He had never worn anything like it.

  “This thing is entirely too confining,” Caleb grouched as they stood in the hallway outside the sisters’ rooms. He had pulled his long, curling hair back into a tail held by a series of silver loops, but otherwise looked very much like James. He tugged uncomfortably at the collar of his shirt.

  James couldn’t argue. He felt as though he was choking.

  They both glanced up at the sound of someone exiting a bedroom. Gabriel stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him.

  “If y’all think you’re squeezing me into that corset thing, you’re out of your ever-loving minds,” they heard Amber declare as the door was closing.

  “Phew,” Gabriel said, doing an exaggerated wipe of his brow as he approached. He was dressed much like they were, in a black tuxedo. “I’ve never seen so much fabric and underthings in my entire life. It looks like a silk factory exploded.”

  James and Caleb exchanged a thought to see if one or the other had any idea what he was talking about. Neither of them did.

  “Anyway,” he continued, eying them up and down. “Looks like you guys are ready to roll. Best you stay out here if you value your lives. Just keep everyone out who isn’t already in there.”

  They nodded. Caleb again tugged at his collar. Seeing the movement, Gabriel stepped closer, reached up and unbuttoned the very top button of Caleb’s shirt, slightly loosening it and the bow tie. Because the tie covered it up, no one would be aware of the undone button.