Fear was a cold sword through him. It wasn’t just her people who faced that; it was Mickey and Mallory, Josey and Emily, now. They would face the same threats. His girls, his loves. His family. Kindara. Her daughter. All faced such threats now. “I know of your women’s plight. And if it will help you, I pledge all my people’s resources to assist you in your search for answers. A mate is to help and isn’t that what we now are?”
“We will never be mates. I have had only one mate, and you are not him.” Venom soaked each of her words.
“I will not be him. But I will not compete with a dead man, either, pet. You and I have a future together. What we make of it is up to us. Do not tempt me to just take you from this place altogether. I can do it, easily. I just have to open a single porthole and you and I can pass through to my lands. Do you want me to do that? Just take you from your home and your child? I don’t want to do that. But this is my child and my heir growing here.” He cupped a hand over her stomach, ignoring her hissing and arching away. “I will stop at nothing to protect him—or you.”
“And if I tell my brother to kill you? To set his men after you? What will you do then?”
“Think you that he would do it? Josey is a particular friend for me, like a wee sister to me. Think you she would allow your brother to hurt one of her family? Would he choose you over his mate?” Rathan smiled at the anger and uncertainty on a stubborn yet beautiful face. “Might as well accept it, my love. I am yours and you are mine. We might not be Rajnis in the true sense of the word for your people, but we will be forming a life together. It is up to you how pleasant that life will be.”
He would have said more, but the sound of running feet—feet of a youth from the sounds—silenced him. A boy of about ten rounded the corner, his garb of gray stating he was a servant, his sash of orange shouting royal line. “Lady Kindara! I’ve been searching for you.”
“Yes, Briken?” No hint of their conversation and its effects on her was evident in her tone or manner as she spoke to the child. “What is it?”
“Lady Aureliana and Lord Aodhan requested your presence in the Green Room.” The boy eyed Rathan with fascination and fear. Rathan considered flashing his horns at the child but knew the boy would be thrilled if he did. To the Dardaptoans, demons were the bogeymen in many stories. And here he was, a living one in their home—he would be a true curiosity for many. “About your trip that was interrupted, milady.”
Kindara nodded. “Thank you, Briken. You did well to deliver the message. Now run along. I think some of your friends are gathering around the pools.”
He nodded and bowed before taking off at an almost run.
Rathan wrapped a hand around her arm. “You will not be going on any more of such trips. It is too dangerous.”
“I will not be told what I can and cannot do by one such as you.” Her words were calmer now, yet he sensed the true resolve behind them. “I’ve made my own decisions for decades, even centuries. That has not changed despite your delusions.”
“If you insist, I will stop you. Count on it, pet. You can continue this quest to help your peoples, and I will help you, but it will be done safely.” On that he was not wavering. “Now where is this green room the boy spoke of? I will accompany you before taking my leave for a while.”
****
Kindara felt the weight of their entire conversation sitting on her shoulders as she allowed him to walk beside her. Allowed him? She could not stop him; he’d made that more than adequately clear to her from the moment he had pushed her over the hood of her car.
He was stronger physically and much more powerful. And thought his words would become law over her.
But they were in her home, where she had her people—her brother, her king—to protect her. He would not take her from them.
But could she fault him for wanting his child? Even though he saw such child as only a possession, as his precious heir, he still wanted that babe. And was willing to take her to get what he wanted.
If she was completely honest, that chafed. He did not want her for who she was; he wanted her for the child she carried. He had taken her originally because of her connection to Cormac and to King Rydere. He had wanted her for position and circumstance only. Now it was because of the babe. Could she accept that? How was she to stop him without him being killed?
She did not want that to eventualize. She didn’t want another man’s death upon her hands. How would she explain that to the babe someday? Mommy had your father killed because he thought he owned her?
He would not own her, but how was she to prevent him taking her? She stopped outside the hall leading to the conference room. “Look...demon. I cannot do this. I need time to think this through.”
“Cannot do what? The babe? That is already a given; neither of us has much choice where the child is concerned. You will be his mother, I his father.”
“But how? Where? I cannot leave my people. I do not even know where or who your people are! Are you going to stay here with me then? You, King of the Demonkin? Would that be feasible, even if I wanted you to?”
“We will find the answers as we need to, my love. We have time. Nothing needs to be answered now, does it? Speak with your friends regarding your quest. Tell me how I can help you in this journey. We can always work together.” He slipped his hand in the nape of her hair, wrapped the other around her waist.
Kindara knew she should resist him, pull away before he kissed her yet again. Hadn’t her easily giving him what he wanted caused this situation in the first place.
He had lied to her, manipulated her into giving him what he wanted from her physically. Now he was as caught in the consequences as she. How she dealt with him now would set the map for all of their interactions in the future. And she had no doubt he would try to be a part of her future—he would want the babe that badly. Yet she wanted his lips on hers, wanted some sort of escape from the world she found herself in.
And when he touched her that was exactly what happened. She forgot all that had shaped her, all that she had lost and all that she feared. And she so wanted to forget again.
That desire shamed her and had her pushing him away. “No. Do not! I must go!”
Chapter Fifteen
Rathan allowed her to step away from him, sensing that she needed the space. Her face was tormented and her slight body shook. He ran a soothing hand down her arm and stepped back. “Of course, my love. I will be with Rand.”
He slipped his ring off his finger, the ring given to him by his father. He placed it in her hand and wrapped her fingers around it. “If you have need of me, touch this and say my name. It will bring me to you instantly.”
She nodded, staring down at the ring. “From anywhere?”
“Anywhere in this world. I must be in the same world as the wearer for it to work.”
****
He popped into the room where Rand sat staring at the Dardaptoans surrounding him. Mallory sat on her twin’s left and only she didn’t start with his appearance. “Hey, Rath, Kindara kick you to the curb?”
“She was called to a meeting. What is this? Everyone glare at Rand time?”
“How could you guys do it? And why did you keep all of...what you are secret? Didn’t we have a right to know?” Mallory’s temper sparked in her green eyes. “We get that grandfather was a great bastard to these people. Hell, we know he wasn’t that great of a guy to us. But you took innocent people in retaliation. Not smart, there, boys.”
“Back off, Mal,” Rand said. “We did what we had to do.”
“Did you, then?” Mal’s words hissed between her newly acquired fangs. Rathan had to admit she made a beautiful Dardaptoan female. Fangs suited her. “Just as the king here thought they were doing what they were supposed to, as well.”
“So all is not what you would have it?” Rathan knelt beside her. Took her hands in his. “Do you wish to leave this place, then? Are you not happy with your Rajni? Mickey? Are you not?”
“I’m very happy
with Theo!” Rand’s younger sister shook her head. “That’s not what Mal is saying. We just want to know if this is the end of all of it. We need to focus on the future. Apparently, it’s going to be a lot longer than we first thought.”
Mal didn’t answer Rathan’s questions, and he did not overlook that. Was the girl still troubled by her past? She was at ease with her large Dardaptoan protector, though he was not in the room with her now. Rathan had had no trouble seeing that earlier. And for Mallory that was truly remarkable; after the events of her twenty-first year several years ago all had feared she would never let a male touch her again. Had she told her Rajni about that bastard who had attacked her as revenge against her...grandfather?
The sick horror of it settled into Rathan’s mind. Mallory had been raped as revenge against her grandfather when the older man had fired one of his inventors, causing the man to lose everything he’d had.
Mallory had paid the price when the man caught her walking through the parking lot alone the next evening. Rathan could only hope her Rajni had been gentle with her.
“It does end for me, here. I must focus on other things.” He hesitated. “I must eventually return to my realm. I have unfinished business I must attend to.”
“Other realms? Come on, Rath. This isn’t exactly Sci-Fi.” Mallory challenged him openly. She always had; it was one of the things he loved about the girl.
“Is it not? Your brother and uncle are werewolves. And you are a vampire, my fiery brat.” Rathan smiled, flashing fangs before throwing his head back to expose the horns his hair normally covered. “And I am a demon. Head demon, king of all Kinds. I have whiled away so much time among your family, but it is getting closer to the hour when I—and my family—must return.”
“You have a family? There are more of you?” Mickey asked.
“I have several siblings—half siblings, mostly. My father is gone—I think. And he left me the throne, to assume when the time was right.”
“Why would the timing not be right?” Mallory asked, suspicion on her face. She at least realized his story had a few holes.
“Politics made it impossible for me to take over in 1900. Yet I have people who are working to rectify that. I also have a half-brother bent on taking my place; he has the backing of a faction of my people, yet not enough to do it. My world is as complex as this one, pet. With kingdoms and factions and even different species vying for control of it all. That control is currently in the hands of my court, but that could change so easily. It is time I returned as leader of my peoples.”
“And where does my mother fit into this?” A feminine voice asked him from the door. Rathan caught the tightening of Rand’s features out of the corner of his eye. Rand’s mate stood trembling in the door though she looked not at the wolf.
“That is between us, do you not suppose? I will tell you this; I will see to it that she is happy.” Rathan kept his words gentle. Did the girl know of the sibling growing within her mother?
“Will you? How can you? Taking away choices makes no one happy. If you’ll excuse me. I’m going to my rooms. Mickey? You wanted to talk?” There was pleading in the girl’s eyes when she looked at the younger of Rand’s sister. They were close, then, as the girl’s mother had indicated.
“Of course, Ji. Rand...” Mickey stood and stared at her brother for a moment. “Well...never mind. Let’s go, Ji. Goodbye Rathan.”
Mallory followed her sister out moments later, with the information that she was to find Emily and discuss some matters with her and Josey. That left Rathan with the wolf.
“I see the girl wants nothing to do with you. I fare little better.” Rathan was now free to voice the concerns he held. Rand, he knew, would hold his counsel and could offer sound advice. It was why they were friends—they trusted one another with everything of import.
“Fair enough.” Rand’s words held derision. “I’m not sure I want anything to do with a woman like her, either.”
Both men knew he lied. Lupoiux wanted their mates from the moment they first laid eyes upon them.
“Still. You are mated. She’s yours.”
“So what’s the next step in your plan?” Rand leaned forward, his expression dark. “Take her? Go where?”
“I am considering it, but I am not sure the results and the time it would take her to get past it are worth that action. She is the type of woman, I think, who requires a man to finesse her. She is determined. This quest of hers is one she feels passionately about. Her womankind do need medical care. You know as well as I do how fragile they are. And now that your sisters and cousins are Dardaptoan, they will need the same. How can I deny her from doing what she must? It may mean life or death for her, your mate or sisters or cousins.”
Both men were silent for a moment until Rand spoke. “What must be done?”
“That is something I must discuss with my woman. I suggest you speak to your own to find out what they were doing on that road in the first place. I will send a message to my peoples’ head healer, I suggest you do the same.”
****
Kindara accepted the hug from Aureliana and clung. They’d been friends for almost four hundred years.
“You ok?” Auri asked.
“I don’t know.” Kindara shook her head. There would be things she’d discuss with the other woman after her brother Aodhan was gone. “We’ll talk later. We have other things to discuss.”
“Security on your project from now on.” Aodhan sat at the desk that the king often occupied. As one of his top advisers Aodhan helped Rydere manage the Dardaptoan people. He had volunteered a few years ago to help Kindara find what she needed to help their people after he and Aureliana had lost a sister during childbirth. He had argued against her and Jierra going without an escort, but Kindara hadn’t wanted to wait for him to free some of his men from their tasks hunting the Lupoiux who had attacked Josey. Had he sent his guard ahead, the demon and Lupoiux would no doubt have been unsuccessful in taking them. “You choose, but no less than two guards at all times.”
“I’m not arguing. I want Aureliana and Belnus.” She named the male Dardaptoan who often accompanied Barlaam on research trips. Belnus was young—only around a hundred—but he had a keen understanding of sciences and medicine though he was not a healer. He was also strong and foreboding with dark features and an attitude much like her brother’s.
“Done. Although I wish you would take someone besides Auri.”
Kindara fought the urge to snap at him. Dardaptoan males would never believe that the females were as strong as they—and in most cases they would be right, but Aureliana was an exception. She was of the Adrastos house, same as her brother, and that house was renowned for their warrior spirit. Aureliana exhibited that spirit and had trained herself to be as fierce as any of her male relatives. “It’s Auri and Belnus or no one, Aod. I will need people with me who understand what we are doing, who can pull double duty if needed. Auri and Bel can both pitch in with the experiments in the field. I’m also taking Bronwen. She is young but so skilled.”
“Consider them yours for the duration. Provided Theo will let his sister go.” Aodhan frowned. “We were lucky with Cormac’s Rajni—we all know that.”
“But we gained something else from the attack.” Kindara thought back to the hours of research she’d spent while studying her sister-in-law’s newly changed blood. “Josey carried some strong antibodies. That’s what helped her. If we could duplicate those antibodies in a form older Dardaptoans could use, we may actually have a start. Mal gave me a sample a few days before I left. She’s got them, too. I’m assuming Emily and Mickey do, as well. I was planning to see, but we got a lead on that witch in Hot Springs.”
“Mallory mentioned it. She wants to help as much as she can.” Aodhan’s face darkened. “Are they worse off as Dardaptoan than they were as humans? Would human women have more medical options, you suppose?”
Kindara hesitated. Every Dardaptoan male she had ever known obsessed over the health of thei
r Rajnis. “I don’t know, Aod. But I’m going to do all that I can to answer this. We are so far behind the other Kinds medically. I will change that. Somehow.”
“Any resources you need, we will get it, Kinney. One way or another.” Aodhan’s vow was more potent for the quiet sincerity behind it.
“Dahn Emily has pledged all the resources of Taniss Industries as well.” The sick irony was not wasted on Kindara. “They’ve years of research in medicines.”
“We’ll use it, no matter how distasteful.” Aodhan’s disgust was as deep as Kindara’s and evident on his face. “We’ll do what we must.”
“Yes, we will. Whatever we must.”
****
Kindara would need to do more studies and more experiments on the Dardaptoan women. Compare their results to those of the newly turned Taniss women. It would be nice if she could also get some nonturned Taniss samples somehow, as well. That was something she would have to discuss with Dahn Emily. Jade, perhaps. Then Kindara would be able to study the closest biological relative of Josey. See if there were possible DNA markers for the antibody Josey and her cousins possessed.
Her mind was filled with various tasks as she walked back to her chambers. The demon featured little in her thoughts; by focusing on her people’s plight, maybe she could forget him.
Until she entered her rooms and found the very creature asleep in the bed she’d once shared with Iavius. She stared down at him for a moment. Has she ever met anyone as arrogant as he? How had he entered her rooms? Each wing of the hotel was guarded, kept private for the inhabitants. Even the demon should not have been able to enter without permission. That he had told her one thing—she could not avoid him, he would find her wherever she went.
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