The Krinar's Informant

by Charmaine Pauls

  “We both know you don’t make the best decisions.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. Do you want me to remind you what would’ve happened to you in that bar had I not walked in? I’m sure you get my point. We’re done talking about this.” He let go of her hand, advancing on the path with large steps.

  “You can’t lock me up for the rest of my life,” she said to his back.

  He turned, his eyes narrowed. “Is that right, kitten?” A look of determined calculation washed over his features. “Watch me.”

  Helpless anger engulfed her. There was no talking sense into him. He didn’t understand, and he never would. How could he? They were from different worlds. He could never imagine what it felt like to be in her shoes, to feel the suffocating injustice and bitter anger at having been downgraded to nothing but his pet. She had no say. No opinion. No choice. She wanted to be anywhere but here, in his hateful presence. She wanted to run, to escape. To hide.

  When he resumed his stroll, his steps faster and longer, she remained on the spot. Tears built in her eyes, but she blinked them away, staring at the tense set of his shoulders as he continued, certain she’d follow, because she didn’t have a fucking choice.

  Everything inside her rebelled. Something snapped. Turning in the opposite direction, she broke into a sprint. She needed to get away from him. Eventually he’d find her–there was nowhere in Lenkarda she could escape to–but she could hide, if only for a while. She could have freedom, if only for a moment, and she owed it to herself to at least try. Putting all the strength she possessed into the effort, she ran for the nearest wooded area, taking a shortcut over the grass. She glanced back over her shoulder. He’d stopped, looking at her with something she’d never seen in his eyes before. Something wild. Something predatory.

  Pumping her arms and legs, she ran like a crazed animal. The arched exit was closer, almost within reach. Another few seconds. Almost there. Before she skidded through it, she looked back again, only to gasp in fright. Zavir was chasing her, and he was much faster. She could never outrun him. Glancing up and down, she went right, toward the beach, but she didn’t get far.

  A hand clamped down on her shoulder, breaking her momentum. She would’ve fallen if not for the arm that came around her waist. In a swift movement, she was lifted off her feet. Her cry echoed through the space as Zavir hauled her up like a ragdoll. His boots thumped angrily on the ground. She didn’t have to look at his face to know he was furious.

  She struggled in his hold, but the vice of his arms squeezed harder.

  “What are you going to do?” she squeaked.

  “Something you’re not going to enjoy.”

  “Zavir, please.”

  “I told you not to make me chase you,” he said in a dark tone. “Now stop talking.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Liv stood on her hands and knees on the bed, naked, as Zavir ordered. She watched him from over her back, tense and frightened. His eyes looked like two pools of smoldering coals. He was naked as well, and very imposing as he stood between her legs at the edge of the bed.

  “This is going to hurt,” he warned, “but you asked for it.”

  “Zavir.” His name was a plea, even if she knew it wouldn’t help.

  Her thighs quivered when he ran his fingers lightly over her sex. She watched as he brought his hand to his face, inhaling, then licking her moisture clean.

  “Your wetness and smell tell me you want me. Pity that little mouth of yours refuses to do the same.”

  “That’s not true. I admitted what you wanted me to.”

  “Still,” he tilted his head, studying her intimate parts, “you ran from me when I told you not to, when I warned you what the chase does to me. When you clearly want me.”

  “Wanting you and being held as your pet prisoner is not the same.”

  His eyes narrowed at her biting tone. “I also asked you not to test me.”

  “Whatever you’re going to do, just get it over with.”

  He chuckled. “Always so brave.”

  When his hands cupped her ass, she pinched her eyes shut, waiting for the smack, but instead, he pulled her open wider. A moment later the heat of his tongue slipped over her folds, all the way to her clit, and higher. She clenched her globes when he neared her dark entrance. Turning her face into the mattress, she hid the heat burning on her cheeks when he flicked his tongue there, too. His fingers traced her folds and clit. Her inner muscles clenched, protesting at the emptiness. She needed him to fill her, but he only teased her for a long time. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it any longer, he slid his erection between her thighs, gathering moisture from her arousal. Fingers digging into her ass cheeks, he placed his cock at her dark entrance.

  “Zavir,” she exclaimed, apprehension mixing with lust and a curiosity darker than she’d felt before.

  He gave her no mercy as the huge head of his cock applied steady pressure on her virgin hole. Or maybe he did. Something warm and wet like pre-cum lubricated her, taking away some of the burn. It stung, though, and when he finally breached the tight ring of muscle, she dug her fingers into the blanket and moaned.

  “You’re going to take me in this tight little hole, kitten.” His voice was guttural. “All of me.”

  More of the hot liquid leaked into her, first increasing the burn and then easing it. She focused on her breathing as he pushed again, sliding in what felt like at least another inch. Her breath caught on a hitch as he started to move, pushing deeper with every thrust. It was too much, too overwhelming as his cock slowly sunk into her. She knew how big he was. How thick. She’d never be able to handle all of him. She clawed at the linen and bit her cheek. When he drove home with one last thrust, she let out a gasp. His fingers were on her clit and in her pussy, not teasing this time, but wrenching hard pleasure from her. The ache turned into something else. A carnal need. It grew and grew until it consumed her, until he started to pump with shallow strokes while one hand kept her in place and the other punished her sex with brutal pleasure.

  Her voice was broken, uneven. “Zavir, please.” That she managed to speak at all was a wonder.

  “Do I need to stop?”

  “No. Please don’t.”

  Victory sounded in his tone. “Very well.”

  He pulled out halfway and slammed back in. Over and over. His pace was as savage as her need, the pivoting of his hips as hard as the hammering of her heart. She was going to pass out. Needing to hold onto him, she reached behind her and gripped his wrist. His fingers were bruising her hip. His cock was bruising her inside. She was too full and too empty, but when he shoved two fingers into her sex, she convulsed and exploded. She came, stars and spots marring her vision. He pumped harder, holding her up when her knees gave out. He thrust one last time, lodging himself deeper still, and grunted out his climax. Jets of warm liquid filled her as his cock swelled and jerked. Her body had long since turned to jelly. She collapsed face down on the bed when he let go. He followed her down, kissing her nape while keeping his weight on his arms. When he pulled out, she wasn’t capable of forming more than a whimper.

  “I’m going to take care of you,” he whispered.

  A sob wracked her body and then another. Maybe it was the hard way in which he’d taken her, or the implied meaning of his words–that she’d lost her independence and freedom irrevocably–but she couldn’t stop crying.

  He gripped her chin and turned her face to the side. “Shh. I’ll make it better.” Kissing her lips softly, he ran a hand down to her hip. “Don’t move.”

  She tensed when he lifted from the bed. “What are you going to do?”

  “Relax. Your punishment is over.”

  She couldn’t move even if she wanted to. She was boneless, aching in her core.

  He returned with a glass filled with milky liquid. After helping her to sit up, he said, “Drink.”

  She sniffed at the liquid. “What is it?”<
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  “It will make you feel better.”

  Too drained to argue, she swallowed it down in one go. It tasted sweet. Immediately, her aches vanished.

  He put the glass aside and gathered her in his arms. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  She leaned her head on his chest as he carried her to the shower. He held her while the intelligent shower cleaned their bodies and hair. When they were dry, he fed her a bowl of soup in bed and pulled her into his arms. She nestled against him, too tired to fight the warmth of his strong arms, until her eyes drifted closed.

  “I’m not letting you go, kitten,” he whispered in her hair.

  “I know.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “You need to know I’ll never stop trying.”

  “Trying what?”

  “To get away.”

  “Go to sleep.” He kissed her temple. “You need your rest.”

  “Zavir?”

  He threaded his fingers through the strands of her hair. “Mm?”

  “Tell me something beautiful.”

  She didn’t know why, only that she needed a kind word–something pretty–to hold onto. She was so desperate, she’d even settle for a lie, as long as it was sweet.

  His hand stilled. “Like what?”

  “Anything that ends happily.”

  She waited, hoped, but there was only silence.

  Leaving Liv to sleep, Zavir got out of bed at sunrise, dressed, and made his way to Anita and her cheren, Wian’s dwelling. He pondered his problems on the way.

  After what Liv had told him about the circumstances of her parents’ deaths, he understood her brothers’ quest with the Resistance better. They were doing what he would’ve done if he’d been in their shoes–avenging the death of their family. At least Liv was wise enough to see beyond the vengeance, to understand that the Krinar was here to stay, in peace, and that any fight against them was suicide. Her brothers were lucky to have her. She was a compassionate and insightful woman, a woman whose parents had been taken from her as a direct consequence of the Krinar Invasion. In her eyes, that made him the enemy, but he’d make up for it every day of the rest of their lives. In the end, after enough time had passed, surely the pain would fade, and maybe she’d be able to look at him and see more than an enemy. One thing was for sure–he couldn’t let anything happen to her brothers. Learning to forgive his kind, and in affect him, for her parents’ death was one thing. Not keeping his oath to save her brothers after he’d stolen her freedom in exchange would not go well for him.

  Hans, Karl, and Erik seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. He wasn’t making progress in his search for the traitor, either. A team of guardians appointed by the Council was questioning all inhabitants of Lenkarda, and all security feeds had been filtered. They’d found nothing. Every person who’d been in Lenkarda on the day of the escape was still there. No one had been allowed to leave. No reason had been given for the sudden lockdown. Only three people knew about the escape–Korum, Xita, and himself. Korum felt it was safer if less people knew, plus they were trying to avoid a pandemonium that could lead to a flare-up in Resistance attacks.

  He had to consider the only logical conclusions. One, the twins and their leader were somewhere where the Krinar cameras couldn’t penetrate. Two, the person who’d helped them escape was still in Lenkarda. Scanning brain memory to find the culprit was the only option left. It was a lengthy process. To scan every person’s brain would take more than a month. Time was a commodity he didn’t have. In less than three weeks, he’d have to hand Liv over to be used as bait in any way the Council saw fit. She’d be released with a big, fat target on her back, inviting hits from Keiths and humans alike. The Resistance wanted revenge for her betrayal. The Keiths wanted to make an example of her. Everyone wanted her dead. She wouldn’t last a day. Not on her own.

  Whoever freed her brothers and Hans would surely come for her, if someone else didn’t get to her first. It was a mess. On top of that, her demeanor concerned him. With every passing day, the light in her eyes dimmed a little more. It was as if her fire was burning out. Since it was that very fire that first attracted him to her, he couldn’t let that happen, not that he’d like or want her less, but he’d never forgive himself for breaking such a beautiful creature. Of all the things he wanted for her, crushing her spirit wasn’t one of them. Why couldn’t she accept her fate and just let him make her happy? He could give her anything her heart desired. Health, protection, eternal life. Wasn’t that enough?

  With his mind clouded, he announced himself at Wian’s dwelling. A short while later, the wall disintegrated to reveal Anita standing on the threshold. Her hair was bed messy, and she still wore her sleepwear.

  “This is an early surprise,” she said, tying the knot of a robe around her waist.

  Judging by her attire, too early. “My apology. I hope I’m not disturbing?”

  “Not at all. I was just making coffee.” She stood aside. “Come on in.”

  Wian appeared in the entrance of the lounge. At the sight of another male facing his charl, his face turned tight. With long steps, he crossed the floor to place himself in front of Anita.

  He acknowledged Zavir with a nod. “What can I do for you?”

  “Actually, I’m here to see your charl.”

  Wian crossed his arms. “What about?”

  “I need to ask her a favor.”

  “No.”

  “You don’t know what I’m going to ask.”

  “I don’t need to. My charl won’t do you any favors.”

  She pushed Wian aside. “You’re being rude.” To Zavir she said, “He’s just being over-protective.”

  “I hope you are well,” Zavir offered.

  He didn’t hold out a hand in greeting as per the human custom. It was forbidden for any man to touch another’s charl, and he wasn’t in the mood for having his arm ripped off.

  He turned back to Wian. “Do I have your permission to speak to your charl?”

  Walking toward the kitchen, she asked over her shoulder, “Would you like something to drink?”

  “It seems like it,” Wian said grumpily. He stood aside, letting Zavir enter.

  “Juice?” Anita asked. “Or maybe an infusion? I know you don’t drink coffee.”

  “Too much caffeine is not healthy for you,” Wian said, following her to the kitchen.

  “Sorry.” She went on tiptoes and kissed Wian’s cheek. “It’s the one addiction I can’t give up.” She winked. “Not even for you.”

  Wian made a noise that sounded like a snort, but his eyes warmed with a deep glow.

  “Nothing for me, thank you.” Zavir took the plank she indicated. “I know your cheren is anxious for me to leave, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

  Wian placed a protective arm around her shoulder.

  She smiled. “I have to admit, I’m curious. Whatever favor could you need from me?”

  “To pay a friend a visit.”

  “A friend?”

  “Liv.”

  “Liv?” Her brow pleated. “Why? I mean, I don’t understand. I know you were her contact with this whole Resistance thing, but what is Liv to you?”

  “My charl.”

  She took a quick step forward. “Your what?”

  “We’re having an engagement party in a few weeks’ time, which will double as a confirmation ceremony. I’m announcing it to the world then.”

  She appeared calm and collected, but there was note of hysteria to her voice. “Is this a joke?”

  “Not remotely.”

  Fisting her hands at her sides, she took another step toward him. “Where is she?”

  “Here.”

  She gaped at him. “Here, in Lenkarda?”

  “Yes. I’m concerned about her. I think a visit from a friend will do her good.”

  “When did this happen? Why hasn’t she come see me?”

  “She’s not allowed to move around freely.”

  “What?” she exclaimed. “
Are you telling me you’re keeping her prisoner?”

  Anger sparked in him, but he pushed it down lest Wian threw him out before he’d gotten a commitment from Anita. “I’m keeping her safe.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I see. Then I must assume your concern is as much about her wellbeing as her safety. The arrests were all over the news. I was worried sick when I couldn’t get hold of her. We assumed the Council was hiding her somewhere until things cool down.” Her tone held an accusation. “Little did I know.”

  “As I said, I think a visit from a friend will cheer her up.”

  She fixed that narrow-eyed look on Wian. “Did you know about this?”

  “First thing I hear about it.”

  “Why wasn’t I told?” she directed at Zavir.

  “I haven’t sent out a memo to every resident in Lenkarda,” he said drily, “but the grapevine gossip will inevitably take care of that.”

  “Zavir,” Wian said, his voice all but a growl, “watch your tone.”

  Crossing her arms, she tapped her foot on the floor. “How long has she been here?”

  “Just over a week.”

  “You were supposed to free her and her brothers. That was the deal. That’s why I told her to go to Korum.”

  “I don’t do deals.”

  She opened her mouth to say more, but Wian laid a hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t your fight, Anita.”

  “Are you letting her out at all?” she asked Zavir.

  “I would, if she didn’t try to run away.”

  “Can you blame her?”

  “This is what’s safest for her,” Zavir said, his tempter slipping. “Maybe you can help convince her.”

  She shook her head. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “Despite what you may think, I want her to be happy.”

  “I’ll go this morning,” she said, glancing at Wian, who gave her a nod.

  “Thank you. I’ll be indebted.” Zavir got to his feet. “I won’t keep you longer.”

  He inclined his head in greeting. At the door, he turned. “I’ll expect a report.”

  “Don’t expect me to betray my friend’s trust. Whatever Liv tells me in confidence will stay between her and me.”