Sehra's Honor

by Kama Spice

  As the heat between them intensified, Sehra felt herself rocking and easing into a different space. She felt safe in Rhian’s grip, but her lungs felt as if they were collapsing. She struggled for air, as if she were at the bottom of the river, fighting to reach the surface.

  And then, right before she broke the surface, she felt it. Like the sudden impact of a blast from one of the humans’ shotguns, she knew.

  Rawa was dead.

  Chapter Five

  The sounds of the river. Birds were chirping high on a branch nearby. There was a warm mist. Was it morning? Eyelids heavy…

  “Bloody hell,” came a voice from the right. “He rises from the dead!”

  Rawa struggled to sit up.

  “Easy, my friend,” Inuku said, gently lowering him back onto the skins he’d been lying on.

  Rawa’s voice was gravelly. “Where are we? What happened?”

  “They just about killed you,” Inuku said. “You have some awesome regenerative powers, my man. You were all but dead when I slipped into the cave and found you. I’m beginning to wonder if you’re immortal.”

  Rawa shook his head, but then thought better of it when it began pounding. “How did you find me? And how did you get me out without…?”

  Inuku grinned. “You forget that I am a Bronze. I can vanish at will. I’d been watching those protectors and your mate’s brothers for some time. I came into the cave a couple of times, but I couldn’t risk it when the protectors were too close. They’re trained to detect the likes of me.” His voice became more serious. “They were holding your head under the stream that ran through the cave. You were still cuffed and bound.” He growled. “The cowards.”

  “It’s starting to come back,” Rawa said, rubbing his temples. “Bylon and Cylar wanted to break me without actually killing me. They did everything in their power to do that. The last thing I remember is slamming the metal chair into Cylar’s side.” He winced with the pain of trying to remember. “Cylar and Bylon both unhooked the chair, dragged it to the stream I’d kept hearing in that blasted cave, flipped the chair over and held my head under the rushing water.”

  Inuku gritted his teeth. “Man, I wish I’d been there. Those bastards wouldn’t stand a chance if the odds were even.”

  Rawa sat up, feeling the blood begin to course through his limbs again. He was gaining strength. Now that the regeneration had begun it was only moving faster as he continued to heal.

  “I struggled against the restraints, thrashing to turn over, to reach the surface of the water—something…until my lungs just exploded,” he said. “But you know, for the faintest moment before I gave up, I could swear I felt the presence of Sehra.”

  “Your mate,” Inuku said. “Well, you were at death’s door, my friend. I’m sure we see all sorts of things we wish for in that moment. When I found you, I thought you were dead for sure. I was only taking you out to give you a decent burial. Dragged you out of that cave, strapped you on my back and ran as far as I could. Almost jumped out of my own skin when you started to breathe again!”

  Rawa tried to grin but thought better of it when the side of his head began to throb.

  “They won’t be far, Rawa. Once they see your body is gone, they’ll all be on the hunt for us—in full force no doubt.”

  Rawa nodded. “No doubt.” He rubbed his face. There was a few days’ worth of stubble there, and he knew he had to smell like sewage.

  “Do you have any more of that…”

  Inuku threw the bottle of herb paste at him. “I’m way ahead of you.”

  Rawa walked to the river’s edge and began lathering the herb pasted into his hair. “It’s a good thing you were around, Inuku.”

  Inuku shrugged. “You saved my ass plenty of times on our travels. Just repaying the debt.”

  “How did you know where I was?”

  Inuku shook his head. “I was having the time of my life with a couple of females at the stations when I saw a Lith’han carrying your mate in a net. He was trying to stay within the cover of the trees, but she was struggling, and I remembered her scent from when we first arrived and you were staring at her. She was the dancer.”

  Rawa narrowed his eyes as he shot Inuku a look of warning.

  Inuku laughed. “Hey, she’s hot. You can’t blame a cat for looking.”

  Rawa let his gaze stay for a moment longer and growled just to get his point across but finished rinsing his hair before rummaging through Inuku’s open bag for a blade to shave his facial hair.

  “And what have they done with her?” he asked, lathering his face with the herb paste.

  Inuku didn’t speak for a moment. “There was a lot of yelling outside the den, but things quieted down by nightfall.”

  Rawa shaved his face clean with steady strokes, relieved that Sehra had had to endure only an afternoon of yelling.

  “They took her away by caravan during the night, several nights ago,” Inuku said quietly.

  Rawa froze. “In which direction?”

  “East.”

  Rawa cursed, splashing water on his face. He flung his hair back and bound it with a piece of leather. “I’m going to get her.”

  Inuku grabbed his arm. “She may already have made the vow, Rawa.”

  Rawa clenched his jaw, snatching his arm away from his friend. “She is mine,” he growled. “She would never have made the vow. If she did, it was under duress.”

  “She is promised to Kelum,” Inuku said, shaking his head. “He is a powerful Emerald, Rawa. He can do whatever he wishes…to her, and to us if we set foot in the Eastern Territories.”

  “Let him try,” Rawa snarled.

  “If she has made the vow, he would be fully within his rights as her True Mate to have us both prosecuted. That puts us in a bad position, Rawa—we’re hunted here as fugitives and we’ll be hunted there.”

  Rawa narrowed his eyes into slits. “You can do as you wish, Inuku. I will not think less of you. I will always be grateful for what you’ve done for me. But I am going to the Eastern Territories, with or without you.” He gathered the skin he’d been sleeping on and began to collect berries for his journey.

  “Think about what you’re walking into, man,” Inuku beseeched. “I know your gift gives you superpowers like coming back from the dead and such, but some of us can’t do that.”

  Rawa winced. He didn’t want to be reminded that his body had healed fully from death. It meant his gift was stronger than he’d ever imagined. He had no idea how it became this powerful, but he didn’t want it if immortality meant losing those loved on a regular basis. He wanted no part of it.

  He filled a pouch with cold river water, tied a piece of leather around the opening and slung it onto his back along with the rest of his supplies. “Go where you have to,” he said before beginning the shift into his cat form. “I am heading east.”

  Inuku gave a frustrated growl. “You’ll not be satisfied until you get us both killed, is that it?” But he quickly grabbed his own belongings, slung them onto his back and shifted quickly to catch up to Rawa.

  Rawa grinned as Inuku fell into step beside him. But he allowed himself only a moment before he set his mind back on the task at hand—to find Sehra.

  They ran eastward without stopping, keeping to the streams and the edges of the river so their scent wouldn’t be carried back to the trackers who were no doubt on their trail by now.

  Rawa didn’t want to stop at all. He knew his body would heal quickly, but Inuku needed to rest. Still, Rawa pushed them onward until Inuku dug his heels in.

  “My flesh feels as if it will tear off my bones, Rawa. If we continue any further at this rate, I will be completely useless.”

  Rawa reluctantly slowed. They set up camp without a fire and slept in shifts until they were ready to move on again. The next stretch would be a long one, Rawa knew. But he was not going to stop now until he reached the eastern border.

  * * * * *

  They moved carefully under the cover of trees. They�
�d arrived hours ago in the Eastern Territories, but Rawa waited. He searched the grounds of Kelum’s pride for Sehra in vain. Not a sign of her anywhere. He had Inuku stationed on one end of the grounds while he scoured the other, both of them taking great care to conceal their scents, though hardly a soul paid any attention as the pride members went about their daily activities.

  He sat, poised for action, as a group of males entered the grounds from the end close to where Inuku was. The tallest, largest one among them had to be Kelum, the Emerald Lith’han who may or may not be Sehra’s True Mate by now.

  Rawa willed himself to simmer down as he watched Kelum break away from the group and head toward the trees where Rawa waited. The platinum-haired prince strode into the woods and headed for the river.

  Rawa followed carefully, hoping Kelum would lead him to Sehra. He made sure to keep away from the direction of the wind that would carry his scent to the Emerald.

  When Kelum arrived at a small clearing, he turned. “Show yourself,” he said calmly.

  Rawa wondered what had given him away. Just as he leaped down from the branch he’d been crouching on, Inuku materialized in front of Kelum.

  The prince stepped back, looking surprised. “There are two of you. I had detected only one—the Bronze. Clearly, I need to sharpen my instincts.”

  “Where’s Sehra?” Rawa said. A quiet kind of thunder roiled in his belly.

  “Ah,” Kelum said, raising a brow. “You must be the great love of her heart.”

  It was Rawa’s turn to be surprised. “She has spoken of me? To you?”

  “Wait—why are you asking her whereabouts?” Kelum looked from Rawa to Inuku in confusion. “She left here accompanied by three Violets…she said she was coming to find you.”

  Rawa lunged forward, grabbing Kelum by the throat. “You lie.”

  Inuku wrestled him off the prince. “Are you out of your mind?” he said under his breath. “He is a prince of the Eastern Territories!” He turned to Kelum. “Forgive him, Your Highness. He is crazed with fatigue and the desire to find his mate.”

  Kelum stumbled back. “A woman like Sehra could certainly drive a man to do far worse—I am not offended.” He rubbed his throat where Rawa’s hands had been. “But try that again and I’ll have you cuffed underground before you ever find your lovely mate.”

  Rawa took a few deep breaths. He could tell the prince was telling the truth. “My apologies,” he said. “But you sent Sehra back…to her father?”

  Kelum shook his head. “No. Back to you. She was not in agreement with the match as I had assumed. I would not hold her against her will. I sensed that she was waiting for the first opportunity to escape. I would not have her wandering the territories on her own, so I sent for the aid of a few Violets.”

  “Ancients,” Rawa cursed.

  “She can’t be too far, Rawa,” Inuku said.

  “Why do you worry that she is returning to her father?” Kelum asked, looking puzzled. “I released her with permission. And she is always under my protection in the Eastern Territories. She will return with her head held high. There will be no shame for the lieutenant’s family.”

  “The lieutenant is not interested in a match for Sehra,” Rawa spat. “He is interested in a strong match for himself, to help him increase his influence. He has been running gold coins since she was a cub. If he had any interest at all in her future, he wouldn’t have brought such unsavory elements so close to his den.”

  Kelum’s eyes widened. “I hope you have evidence for such claims.”

  Rawa was itching to run. He had to find Sehra before she was within her father’s reach. “I don’t need evidence,” he said impatiently. “Sehra has more than enough for both of us.”

  Kelum gave a low whistle. “If you are right, then I will do everything in my power to help you bring him to justice—and protect Sehra.”

  “I can handle that just fine on my own,” Rawa growled.

  “I’ve no doubt.” Kelum grinned, rubbing his neck again. “But I am a prince and my word holds much weight. Please let me know if I can be of service.”

  Rawa sensed no deception or manipulation from the young prince. He inclined his head. “I thank you. But now, if you’ll kindly allow us…”

  “Of course,” Kelum said, “shall I call a few of my men to accompany you?”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Rawa said. “Inuku and I will travel faster if it is just the two of us.”

  Kelum nodded. “Very well then. May the Ancients illuminate your path.”

  Rawa took a deep breath and turned to Inuku. “If the protectors are looking for us, they’ll surely find Sehra first. She’s headed right for them.”

  “She is well-protected,” Kelum said. “The Violets are highly skilled in combat and excellent at shielding themselves.”

  “They won’t stand a chance against the king’s protectors,” Rawa said, raking a hand through his hair. He thought for a moment then turned to Inuku. “Ready to run?”

  Inuku cursed. “I thought we were done with the running.”

  But Rawa had already shifted and was heading back the way they’d come.

  * * * * *

  Sehra stretched out on the skins next to Rhian. The sun had already dipped behind the mountains and the fire was burning strong in the center of their camp. They had spent days wandering around the woods as Sehra tried to decide what she would do next. She knew they would soon become impatient with her. But going back to her pride was out of the question.

  And the Violets had made it clear she could not make the decision to join them while she was in mourning. It would not be a true decision from the heart but one made out of desperation. She also knew for certain that she would not go back to Kelum. She would have a half-life with him the same way she’d lived a half-life with her father.

  Rhian smiled through heavy-lidded eyes. “You are gorgeous,” she said, tracing the outline of Sehra’s mouth.

  Sehra offered a small smile back. “And you are stunning…just like your pridemates.”

  Rhian stopped tracing and leaned back on one elbow. “Your heart is heavy.” She looked into Sehra’s eyes. “The loss of a mate is a deep one,” she said. “You will heal over time, but for now you must be kind to yourself.” And she leaned in to kiss Sehra tenderly.

  The pain of losing Rawa welled up in Sehra’s chest and she reached across to pull Rhian close. The other woman’s warmth was like a balm, seeping into the cracks and fissures that steadily widened, threatening to swallow Sehra until there was nothing left of her. A tear slid out of one eye, slipping down her temple and into her long, black-and-tan hair as she pulled desperately at Rhian.

  “Easy,” the other woman said, pulling gently away. “I am here for you, sweet Sehra. Lean on my shoulder. I will comfort you…soothe away as much of your pain as I can.” She looked deep into Sehra’s eyes. “But I am not an escape.”

  Sehra took a deep breath and closed her eyes. What she needed above all right now was an escape. She wanted nothing more to do with this world. Wanted nothing more to do with the crushing disappointments her life had been littered with.

  When she opened her eyes again, she nodded. “I understand. I will not use you in that way. You are far too important to me.”

  Rhian smoothed Sehra’s hair. “I wish you would reconsider your gift.”

  Sehra shook her head. “No. I am not using it ever again. It has been the source of all my problems. If it weren’t for my ‘precious’ gift—a gift my father thought made me so much better than my love…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Rawa might still be alive.”

  Rhian took Sehra’s chin firmly in one hand. “You are not to blame for your lover’s death, Sehra.”

  “I certainly didn’t help. I’m not using my ‘gift’ ever again. I’ll live the rest of my life without a gift—without a lineage that separates me from other Lith’hah, making me better or worse.”

  “Don’t do this to yourself,” Rhian said. She dropped a kiss o
n Sehra’s forehead. “Our gifts are precious. They are meant to connect us with the Ancients, to help us know the divine and teach one another. That is why we all have something different. Our gift,” she said, nodding to the two women on the other side of the fire, “allows us to go places and times no other Lith’han can enter. Because of that, we carry information from those times and places and use it to better our current time and place.”

  “My gift has only served to keep me away from the only true love I’ve ever known,” Sehra said.

  “No,” Rhian said. Anger glinted in her eyes. “Your elders and your den members have done that. Not your gift. You are of the Onyx lineage. You have no idea how special your gift is.”

  “My father has tried hard to teach me just how ‘special’ my lineage is,” Sehra said. Bitterness swelled in her chest.

  Rhian pursed her lips. “He has taught you how superior your gift is,” she said, “that’s not the same thing. And it is a false belief. Onyxes are meant to plumb the wisdom of the Ancients and bring the knowledge back to help us evolve as a species.”

  “My father seems to think the knowledge is to help him become the most powerful Lith’han in the territories.” Sehra dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands. Why hadn’t she ever allowed herself to admit any of this before? It seemed so obvious now. For some reason, Rawa’s death allowed her see everything more clearly. It wiped aside the cobweb of lies through which her parents had allowed her see the world. Lies that no longer held any power.

  “Well, that is the part of our nature that we must all battle, isn’t it?” Rhian said.

  Sehra looked at the Violet next to her. It felt so good to speak with someone who spoke the truth! Rhian spoke what was in her heart. She did not swathe it in lies that benefited her or twist it into something she wanted it to be.

  Sehra slid closer to her, sliding her hand down the woman’s arm. She didn’t want to talk anymore. She wanted to soothe the dull throb inside where the absence of love was a gaping chasm. She pressed her lips against Rhian’s and slipped a hand between the woman’s legs.

  Rhian moaned, pushing Sehra back against the skins and positioning herself on top of her. “Lie back, sweet Sehra,” she whispered as she slid down Sehra’s body, planting soft kisses straight until she reached the hairline of her mound.