Tristan ran his hands through his hair. “I realize that. The thought of somebody else touching her…” he trailed off, the unspoken words hanging over them.
“If you do claim her,” Logan began in a soft tone, “you have to tell her of the ritual. You have to make her understand its necessity. From what Jed and I saw earlier, I don’t think she’ll be opposed to it.”
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Ambivalence gnawed at Tristan. The Ritual of Acceptance existed among the Cyborg warriors. One had to share his claimed woman for one time only with one of his comrades. If he claimed Ava as his, he’d have to share her with either Logan or Jed. If he died in battle, the ritual would mean that Logan or Jed would take his place, ensuring the continuity of the Karn’alian line and assuming responsibility for Ava’s well-being. How would Ava react to that? Would she be open to the idea? He recalled her reaction when she’d spotted Logan and Jed watching them from the doorway. She’d been uncomfortable initially, but he knew she found it exciting that they were being watched while they fucked. Maybe with the right preparation and stimulation, she’d be open to the idea of letting another man join them in bed once to complete the ritual. He clamped his jaw. Just one time, that’s all he needed to do to fulfill the damned ritual. Any more than that and he didn’t think he could do it, certainly not on a regular basis. “I’ll think about it,” he said when he finally spoke. “We leave at dusk. Get ready.”
He turned and left, honest enough with himself to admit that there was a measure of excitement at the thought of the pleasure he and another man could give Ava. 105
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Chapter Six
Tristan followed Jed down the narrow hallway. The tracker Jed held in his hand was locked on the energy output from Ava’s brother. His restless, alert eyes surveyed the path up ahead. He didn’t like the feel of things. It had been way too easy. They were able to get in with hardly any problem at all. There weren’t any guards posted anywhere in the building.
Something’s not right, he warned Logan and Jed over the com-link. It’s too easy. Almost like they’re expecting us, Logan remarked. I don’t have a good feeling about this either, Jed put in. We’re almost there. Hey, Logan, he added. Maybe we’ll get the fight we’ve been hankering for. Bring it on, Logan countered with more than a hint of relish in his voice. Be alert for anything, Tristan instructed. We get him and get out. Aww, Tris, Logan drawled mockingly. Where’s the fun in that?
We’ll have fun later. Right now, he ordered firmly , we get Kell and get the hell out of here. He glanced briefly back at Ava, who was following him quietly. Logan brought up the rear.
Jed turned left at the end of the hallway, halting in front of the last door and inclined his head. Right here.
Tristan nodded and moved into position. Logan took up the other side of the door, giving the go-ahead. Tristan opened the door carefully, silently and walked inside, followed by Logan.
“Well, well,” said a masculine voice. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
At the end of the room stood a tall, slender man flanked by about two dozen Erosian guards. A young man was tied to a chair, his head bowed, his body marked by bruises and dried blood.
“Kell,” Ava gasped in shock. She turned furious eyes at the man in the middle of the guards. “Damn you, Malek.”
The man Ava called Malek smiled with malicious glee. “You left me no choice, my beautiful Ava. When you escaped from the isolation cell, I knew you would come for Kell sooner or later.” His hard glance slid over Tristan. “I just didn’t expect you to bring friends.”
Ava glared at him with hate in her eyes. “Let him go.”
“You know I can’t do that,” Malek replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “This is all his fault, by the way. He wouldn’t tell me where you were.”
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Tears pricked at the corners of Ava’s eyes. “That’s because he didn’t know,” she replied, choking on a sob.
Malek’s gaze hardened. “I’m going to be magnanimous, Ava. I’m going to let your friends go free. But you, you stay with me.” The way he said it left no doubt what he was going to do to her.
Tristan shook his head. “I don’t think so. How about you let Kell go and we won’t kill any of you?”
An ugly laugh erupted from Malek. “You’re in no position to bargain, whoever you are. You’re surrounded. Even if you manage to get outside, they’ll shoot you on sight.”
He raised his eyebrow, looking at Ava with ill-concealed lust. “I’ve changed my mind, Ava. Obviously, you wouldn’t be suitable for the Neehaleese king. I think I’ll keep you as my bed-mate. I’ll keep you in line.”
Her lips curled with disgust. “Never.”
Jed and I will take care of the guards, Logan offered. Tris, no doubt you’ll take care of Malek?
Absolutely, Tristan replied with barely leashed anger. He could gleefully wring the man’s neck for the way he was looking at Ava. Pulling her behind him, he faced Malek.
“We’re taking Kell and Ava with us. I don’t want this to get ugly. If I were you, I wouldn’t stop us.”
Malek gave him a disdainful stare. “You’re sure that you’ll get out of here alive?”
Tristan gave his men an imperceptible signal. With a ruthless skill honed by years of fighting, they attacked the guards. It happened fast, with not a single shot fired. A cacophony of groans and grunts filled the room, and for a while, chaos reigned. The Erosian guards didn’t know what hit them. Karn’alian Cyborgs were highly trained in combat, whether with their bare hands or with weapons. Their strength was vastly superior to humanoids. In the end, the guards all lay on the floor, lolling weakly, or were rendered unconscious.
Malek stared, horrified at the speed with which they’d disposed of his men. He brought out a radio and called for more guards. But before he could finish speaking, Tristan threw a small, curved knife. The pierced radio fell, useless, to the floor, crackling loudly.
A flicker of fear crossed Malek’s face as Tristan began to advance toward him. He took a hasty step back. “You’ll never get out of here alive.”
Tristan grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against the wall. He stuck his face close to the terrified Erosian and said in a low, menacing voice, “I’m tempted to snap your neck in two for the way you’re looking at my woman.”
Malek gurgled noisily, his face turning red.
“I’m taking her and her brother away from this planet. And if I even think you’re following us, I’ll come back here and finish you off. Do we understand each other?” he asked.
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Nodding, Malek choked and gasped. Tristan simply let go, letting him slide to the floor, limp and shaking. He dismissed Malek and turned to find Logan and Jed untying the slowly rousing Kell.
Ava rushed to his side. “Kell, are you all right?”
Kell slowly opened his eyes and blinked, eyes widening despite the cuts around his eyes. “Ava?” he rasped. He glanced around in bewilderment, his gaze landing on the three Cyborgs. “What happened? Who are you?”
Upon seeing Kell’s face, Tristan stiffened. Logan and Jed looked shocked. Logan was the first one to recover. “Tristan?”
“I know,” Tristan replied grimly. “I see it, too. But we don’t have time right now. Let’s get out of here.”
Feeling the undercurrents between the three men, Ava glanced at Tristan questioningly. “What is it?”
His lips thinned. “Later. Logan, take Kell.” He waited a moment as Logan helped Kell to his feet. He frowned as once again his eyes fell on Ava’s brother. Could it be that they really didn’t know who they were? This was big. Bigger than simple retrieval of surviving Karn’alians. For Kell was the very image of the Prime Ruler. Ava and Kell were the long-lost children of the Prime Ruler of Karn’al.
* * * * *
Tristan stared with tight-faced grimness at the vast openness of space
outside the operations room of the Destroyer.
“Is it possible that it’s them?” Jed asked. “It was believed they were killed while trying to escape the Pagans.”
“Apparently not,” Logan stated dryly. “I don’t think there’s any mistaking Kell. He’s the very image of his father.”
“I know,” Tristan agreed quietly. “The Prime Ruler hadn’t yet ascended to power at the time the Pagans invaded. According to the elders, he sent his wife and twin babies on the last ship to escape Karn’al, the ship that was never heard from again.”
Jed whistled. “He’ll be very surprised and pleased when we get back with them.”
Logan nodded. “No doubt. But his wife died some time back, right, Tris?”
Tristan nodded. “I’ll have to talk to Ava. This won’t be easy to accept.”
“What won’t be easy to accept?” Ava asked as she walked in, catching the last of Tristan’s statement. When no one answered, she continued. “Something’s going on. I’d like to know what it is.”
“Jed and I have to prepare for our landing,” Logan hastily spoke up. “We’ll leave you to it, Tris.”
Tristan waited until the two men were safely out of the room before facing Ava with a sigh. “I was hoping to wait until we got to Karn’al before I talked to you.”
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She gave him a wary look. “What is it?”
He ran his hands through his hair, wanting to make this easy for her. “Did you know your father?”
Ava visibly stiffened. “He died a long time ago, that’s all I know.”
“He’s not dead,” he revealed gently. He went on, not knowing how to break the truth to her gently. “Your father is the Prime Ruler of Karn’al.”
Tristan began to worry when she didn’t speak, didn’t even move. When she did, her voice was cold. “You’re mistaken. My father is dead.”
He sighed. “I’m not mistaken. Kell looks remarkably like him, Ava. So much so, that when we saw your brother, we knew instantly who your father is.” Tristan took her hand in his, rubbing her soft palm. “He thought you were dead.”
She tossed her head. “Is that why he never bothered to look for us?” she asked, bitterness lacing her tone. “My mother cried every day, Tristan. She didn’t think I knew, but she could never quite hide the loneliness she felt. He didn’t care to find out what happened to his family. He didn’t bother to look for us.” She turned away, hugging herself tightly.
Tristan shifted to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her. He didn’t know how else to comfort her. “I wouldn’t presume to know all the answers, Ava. All I know is, he believed you were dead. If it makes you feel better, he’s never mated with another woman, nor has he sired any other children.” He kissed the soft shell of her ear. “Your father is a good man. Give him a chance to explain when you meet him.”
She leaned against him. “I’m not sure I want to meet him.”
“You can’t avoid that. People will take one look at Kell and realize who he is.”
The sigh that blew from her lips was full of sadness. “Can’t you take me somewhere else? I don’t think I can do this.”
“My duty is to take you back home.” His answer was matter-of-fact. He wanted her to see there was no other way. “Even more so now that I know your real identity. I have to take you back to Karn’al.”
She sniffled, a sound which tore at his heart. “I have to let Kell know.”
Admiration blossomed inside him. He didn’t doubt she was brave enough to face whatever came. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right there with you if you need me,” he assured her softly. Something tugged at his heart, something he never expected to feel. If he could take her hurt away, he would. He never wanted anything to hurt her again. Tristan refused to examine exactly why he felt that way. Like so much in his life, he accepted it with grace and without question. If Ava was the woman destined to be his mate, then so be it. He would claim her as his as soon as they arrived on Karn’al. 109
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Chapter Seven
Killian was his name, and he was the Prime Ruler of Karn’al. Ava faced her father after so many years. She swallowed and lifted her chin. I can do this. I’m not scared. He was tall and silver-haired, his body still strong and muscular beneath the flowing robes. Her heart ached as she looked at Kell standing next to her. Father and son looked so much alike, there was no mistaking Kell as the progeny of the Prime Ruler. She held herself stiff as he hugged her. “My daughter, I have despaired of ever seeing you again.” Were those tears that glistened in his eyes?
Killian drew a deep breath. “Your mother? She passed peacefully?”
Ava nodded with a jerk of her head. “She died in her sleep.”
For a moment, stark sadness shone in his weathered, still-handsome face. “Aleesia was my first and only love. No other woman would do for me.” He gave a small nod, composing himself once more. “I told her to take you somewhere safe, and that I would come for all of you.”
Ava’s heart tightened. “But you never came.”
“No,” he agreed sadly. “I was lost for some time, presumed a casualty of war. I was badly injured and hid out deep in the mountains. By the time I healed and came back, I was informed your mother had taken you on the last ship to escape. A ship that I was told was lost, no survivors reported.”
She didn’t want to, but Ava felt herself softening toward this man whose pain was so apparent. He couldn’t hide the grief he felt upon hearing of her mother’s death. Ava found herself wanting to ease some of his pain. “Mother never loved another, if that brings you any comfort. She was devoted to your memory. Although Kell and I never had the chance to know you, we knew she loved you.”
Killian swallowed, gripping her hand tightly. “Thank you, my child. My heart aches just looking at you, for you are so like your mother.”
Something in her eased, allowing her to breathe lighter. Her eyes fell on her brother, so tall and handsome, looking strong and confident next to Killian. Oh Mother, how I would give anything for you to be here right now.
“It will not be easy,” she began, hope blooming in her chest. “But I want to get to know you, F-father.”
Killian didn’t bother to hide the tears in his eyes. “My heart thanks you, Ava. For some reason, the Gods have chosen to bestow upon me a second chance to be with you and Kell. I have no wish to squander it.”
He wrapped his arms around her. Ava leaned against him, closing her eyes, feeling his love for her. All the anger and bitterness she had harbored while growing up 110
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seemed to melt away with that touch. She realized she wanted to get to know the father that had been denied her by cruel circumstance. This was what her mother would have wanted.
“Everything will be well from here on out,” Killian declared gruffly. “Now that I have you and Kell with me, all is well.”
* * * * *
Ava was shown to a small dwelling on the outskirts of the city. It was pretty much like the rest of the Karn’alian dwellings—small, square structures identifiable only by a number. It was furnished sparsely, the only furniture being a large bed in the middle of the room. Her escort left her silently, the door closing behind her.
“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”
Ava jumped, whirling around to find Tristan leaning against an open doorway on the far side of the room. “Tristan.”
He searched her face intently. “Everything went well?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’ve decided he’s not such a bad man. We were all victims of the chaos that war brings.” She blinked in confusion. “Why am I staying here instead of with my father?”
Tristan strolled toward her, looking attractive in a tunic and loose trousers. Out of uniform, he was as devastating as ever. She looked up at him when he stopped a few feet from her.
“This is where I live,” he informed her, looking deep into her eyes. “You were br
ought here because I’ve claimed you, Ava. In the eyes of all of Karn’al, you’re my mate.”
She cocked her head. “Don’t I have a say in this?”
A shadow crossed his face, too fast for her to discern what it meant. “You can deny my claim. If you wish to do that, all you have to do is return to your father and declare it so.” He caressed her cheek with his hand. “By doing so, you’re declaring yourself free for another man to claim you, to lay his hands on you.” He lowered his head, brushing his lips against hers. “To fuck you.”
Her breath hitched. “What does it mean when you claim me?”
He licked the corners of her lips. “If you agree, we will be mated in a traditional Karn’alian ceremony.” He kissed her deeply. By the time he withdrew, her breath was coming in quick gasps.
She felt bereft when he moved away. “If you agree, there are some things you need to know about mating.” He took a moment before he spoke. “Cyborgs are more than just comrades, we’re blood brothers. When one of us mates with a woman, we have to fulfill what is called the Ritual of Acceptance.”
She frowned, not understanding. “Ritual of Acceptance?”
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He held her gaze directly. “You have to join with me and one other in the ritual.”
Shock coursed through her system. “By joining, you mean—?”
“Yes. For one time only, I and a comrade of my choosing, one who is closest to me, will join us in our bed to mate with you as well.”
Her knees weakened. Erotic images assailed her at his words. She remembered when Logan and Jed watched her make love with Tristan. She could feel the same thrill of excitement snaking through her system. She really shouldn’t be so excited at the thought.
But the possibility did excite her. The thought of another, maybe Logan or Jed, pleasuring her along with Tristan was very tempting.
She swallowed, trying to hide what she was feeling. Would he think her wanton for wanting to do that? “That’s all right with you?” she managed to ask through dry lips.
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