A Warrior's Quest

by Calle J. Brookes

  He needed information. Every good Warrior knew that before a strategy could be devised all the information must be gathered. But who? Who would be willing to explain the Rajni process to him?

  There were plenty of Dardaptoans in his brother’s castle for him to ask, if he so chose. He just had to pick one and ask his questions.

  It would have to be a male. One who would understand what Ren was asking. One who was a Warrior. One old enough to know the ways of their deities.

  Other Dardaptoans had arrived for the Summit, including the dark Predatoi who was Kindara’s only living brother. He would answer Ren’s questions, but Ren couldn’t be certain what the bastard would do with the information that Ren was asking. He did not trust that Dardaptoan in the slightest.

  There were others, but none he knew well enough to question.

  “Perhaps I can answer your questions?” The voice was smooth, calm, quiet. The male who’d spoken stood to Ren’s side. Ren was in the courtyard, watching the warrior girl and his daughter. And the spawn Thas. He had not heard the prognosticator approach. Was the male that good at stealth, despite his near blindness? Theodoric and his quiet mate had been in the castle for over two weeks now, and Ren had spent little time with the male. He would admit, he did not understand the quieter male.

  “How do you know I have questions?” He’d heard before that the man had a bit of a talent for reading stray thoughts. Nothing well developed, but still there.

  “Mmm. It is my way. When someone needs me.” Theo sat on the nearest stone bench. Ren continued to stand, though he moved closer. “You have questions about Aureliana, do you not? A good woman. I have known her since she was but a child, so lost and abandoned.”

  “How so?” What did he really know of the female other than that she was connected to Kindara through bonds of loyalty and friendship? Did he even know the girl’s approximate age?

  “She was brought to us by her parents at the age of fifteen or sixteen. Not quite grown in our Kind. She’d been raised in the wilds of South America, and her parents felt that she needed to be in a more civilized place. Truth be told, they were used to males, and had no use for a female. Especially her father. He was—is—an extremely renowned warrior among our Kind. None holds comparison to him, except for his oldest three sons. They’ve had three more since leaving Aureliana with Aodhan to raise.”

  “They abandoned one child, then went on to have more?” No wonder she was drawn to lost and forgotten children. The motherless, the ones without family. Did she still feel the pain of her parents’ abandonment? His sister Danae had followed a similar path, being brought to him and Rathan at about the same age. He knew she still hurt at her mother’s callous treatment.

  “Yes. But they did end up making the right decision for Aureliana. She was—is—loved with Aodhan and our tribe. I know that hurts her, to be away from her home. And Dardanos is more home to her than anyone else I know. She struggles with the homesickness, still. Despite having Kindara and Bronwen and the others here. Despite the wee babe Thas to care for. Aureliana wants to go home. She needs it.”

  “And the Beansidhe prevents that. Can it be killed for her?” He did not want her to leave, that would be far too dangerous. Especially if the Beansidhe still hunted for her. “She will not be returning to Gaia.” Not if he could help it. She would adjust; in time, Relaklonos and he would become her home. Perhaps it was best if she was under the mistaken impression that he was her Rajni?

  “She is not mistaken. You are her Rajni.”

  “Do not read my thoughts. It is an intrusion.” And one he had used against the warrior girl. Should he feel guilt for that? “And how do you know?”

  “I have been gifted with Sight from the very Goddess that you question. Your path and Aureliana’s are intricately woven together. You are indeed her mate, though you do not like the idea of someone else—someone who you see as inferior, both because of gender and abilities—fating you to be with someone not of your original choosing. Aureliana understands that, you know.”

  “What?”

  “That you want her not because of true feelings but because of some other purpose.”

  “There are true feelings.”

  “Lust. Control. Power. Admiration. But not true attraction. Or at least, that’s what she has convinced herself of. And that you will never love her as she needs to be.”

  “So if I am her mate, why has she denied such for the past nine months?”

  “To protect. Aureliana wholeheartedly believes that she is fated to die soon. She would not wish you—or your daughter—to develop too strong of feelings for her, just to have her die within a short time.” Theo tilted his head, listening with a half-smile on his face to the sounds of the warrior girl and Ren’s daughter giggling together. “And because she doubts that you would want her for who she is. You’ve apparently made it clear to her that you do not.”

  “Can the bond be broken?” Was that what he was wanting?

  “Not easily. Kindara nearly died along with her Rajni when he was lost thirty years ago. My father simply walked away and most likely died after my mother was lost. Our Rajni bonds are the strongest mating that exists, and that is saying something. If she chooses to acknowledge your bond, she will give herself to you fully. Do not act on it unless you are willing to do the same for her. To do otherwise would harm her in ways unimaginable. I’m not sure she would recover. Aureliana is more fragile than most, though she would deny it if you were to ask her that. As it is she is hurting immensely.”

  Ren jerked his head in her direction, studying the way she moved. She was dancing with his daughter, the spawn-of-whatever once more strapped to her chest. “How?”

  “She has denied her Rajni for nine months. That is not an easy thing to do. The longest I’ve ever seen such a denial was three months. It is taking its toll on her physically, and mentally. A Dardaptoan is not meant to deny the one the Goddess has chosen for them. It affects them. Their health. Their heart. And not in good ways. Remember that, while you are deciding what you will do next.”

  The prognosticator left Ren staring at the girl warrior. She was suffering? Because of him? Because she was denying a goddess-given bond between them? She was denying him. Him, prince of all Demonkin. Why did that anger him so?

  She should have made it clear to him the moment she opened her eyes and looked at him nine months ago. He had sat at her bedside himself after they’d first met. He’d been there when she wakened. She should have told him. He might have been angry at the time, but he would have adjusted. Would have taken her to gamata rather quickly. Would have kept his female safe during that time. She would not—had not had to—suffer all of this time. Suffering, because of pure stubbornness on her part. Unnecessarily suffering.

  Was the prognosticator right? Had she done it to protect him and Cerridwen, or was it to protect herself?

  She whirled Cerridwen in her arms, her pretty dark hair spinning around them both. She was a beautiful female. He would deny that no longer. His female.

  Her goddess said so. And he had agreed.

  His. He would not ever stop until she understood that.

  He stalked across the courtyard, waving a hand at Cerridwen’s nurse, who sat under a shading tree. He stopped at the warrior girl’s side. “Give me the spawn. Cerridwen, go to Isolde. She will take you inside now. And the spawn.”

  His female stared up at him, her hands tight on her spawn-of-whatever. “Excuse me?”

  “I said, Isolde will be taking our spawns inside. You and I have something to discuss. Unless you wish to discuss it out here, for anyone to overhear, Rajni?” He growled the words in her ear. She stiffened and tried to pull away from him. Was she going to actually run? Oh how he almost wished she would. “Do not run from me; I will only chase you down. And we both know that will excite me.”

  She was trembling, half in his arms. That had his body tightening with anticipation. “Ren…please, don’t…”

  “Give the boy to Isol
de. You and I will be going inside.” His hand tangled in her hair. “Unless you want someone to see what I am about to do to you.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Aureliana slipped Thas, wide awake and cooing, from his sling. The nurse took him, quietly following her employer’s orders. Aureliana knew the babe would be safe with the other woman. Isolde took excellent care of Cerridwen.

  But without the children between them, Ren seemed even larger. Even more imposing and threatening.

  And that had her jerking away once the babe and Cerridwen were safely inside. “Leave me alone, Renakletos. I want nothing to do with you. I thought I made that perfectly clear earlier.”

  Aureliana knew her protests mattered little to the big demon bastard. He had his hand wrapped so tightly around her arm she was certain there would be bruises tomorrow. He dragged her into the back entrance to the wing they shared with his child and his brother and Kindara. He hustled her toward his room and pulled her inside the dark green and brown suite. She was familiar with it; she’d been brought to his room months ago when he’d first hurt her with his sword. She’d never forget waking with the scent of her Rajni surrounding her, despite the pain filled haze that had encompassed her for so many days back then.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Claiming my Rajni. Gamata. Isn’t that what your Kind does when you find your mates? And do not deny that your goddess has decreed us together. I know it is truth.”

  “So? I still have a choice. And I choose not to be with you.” He closed the door and slid the bolt lock in place. Aureliana wanted to run, to get out of the room and away from him as fast as she could. But dammit, she was not a coward. She lifted her chin. “Unlock the door.”

  He smiled, eyes flame red. “No.”

  “I’ll scream.” She wouldn’t. Couldn’t face that kind of embarrassment. And if he told the others that they were Rajnis, what would she do then? “I don’t want this.”

  “You do. We are mated, are we not? Fated by your girl goddess to be together for the rest of our lives. Shouldn’t we take this time to enjoy one another?” He stalked her around the room. Aureliana wanted to stand her ground, but if he got his hands on her…

  She couldn’t know for certain what she would do.

  “Don’t touch me. I mean it, Ren. I don’t know what you’re planning, but this is not something I want.”

  “But we are Rajnis. Meant for one another for all time. Can you deny it?” His tone told her that he knew she couldn’t. “So tell me, kitten. Why have you waited so long to claim your mate? Are you frightened?”

  Hell yes, she was frightened. How could she not be? He could hurt her so much more than he could ever know. He already had. “Of course not. I just don’t want you.”

  “Now you speak drivel. We both know that you want me. As I want you. So come here. We must get this out of the way if we are to plan for our future together.” He feinted left, when Aureliana went right. She spun. If he got his hands on her….Fight him would probably not be one of the things she did.

  “Get it out of the way? Some romantic you are!” She hopped over a small footstool. He pushed it out of his way with one foot. So easily. So big. So strong. With him she couldn’t help feel delicate and feminine, for once. Fragile. Weak.

  Unable to resist.

  Damn him. Was he using some sort of demon magic on her? Or was it just the natural desire to be with her Rajni in spite of the circumstances?

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Female, you know that a chase excites me. Perhaps that is your goal? Exciting your male to new heights? I am glad to oblige, if that is so.” He jumped over the end table she’d darted around. His suite was large, but the places she could go to escape him were limited.

  There was always the window. But she doubted she could get through the small opening before he had her. Before he put his hands on her. “You don’t want me, Ren. You just think you do.”

  “Think you that after near two thousand years on this world I do not know my own mind?” He had her, and they both knew it. He’d backed her neatly in to a corner; one she wasn’t getting out of until he let her. Aureliana pressed herself against the silk wallpaper. He pressed his body against hers. Oh Dear Goddess, help her… “Or that as an Incubus I do not know yours? The things I can do to you, pet….I guarantee you will enjoy them.”

  Why was she denying herself the male the goddess had given her? Why was she doing this to herself? Aureliana put her hands against his chest. He was well made, muscled and strong beneath her fingers. Why couldn’t she just enjoy this time they had together, rather than fighting it and herself? Wouldn’t it be better to take what little time she’d been given and experience the bonds that only a Rajni pairing could bring? Why did she have to fight him?

  Why did she always have to fight herself?

  “Ren…”

  He knew she was weak; she could see that knowledge in the grin on his lips. He tangled a hand in her hair, tilting her head to the side more roughly than she’d expected. “Kiss me.”

  He didn’t give her a chance, crushing her lips beneath his. Aureliana just clung to him, like she’d wanted from the first. His arms were warm, his body strong, his smell just right. Perfect. She hummed in her throat and her own fingers slipped in to the dark hair that just brushed his shoulders. It was soft and silky, a contrast to the strength of his body. Oh, Ren. Why did she feel so weak where he was concerned?

  How long they stood there, pressed against the wall, lips pressed together, she didn’t know. When he pulled away she dragged in a breath. “Please…”

  “Please what, pet? I’d like nothing more than to please you. Let me.” He slipped the buttons of her vestis free. She let him push the white cotton off her shoulders. He traced the light blue strap of her silk bra with a questing finger. “This, too, sweetling.”

  What was she doing? She asked herself that question over and over while still flicking open the fastener to the silk.

  She just wanted her Rajni. Just once, just for a little while. What would it hurt anyone, other than herself?

  He lifted her, and Aureliana wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her so easily. Had she ever felt this vulnerable with a male before? Was it because it was him, the man she’d been waiting for four hundred years to find? That she still wasn’t sure she liked him mattered little—the goddess she’d worshiped for those four hundred years had put them together.

  Because they were meant to be together.

  So why was she fighting against the goddess’s will?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ren knew she was still conflicted, but she wasn’t pushing him away. Her hands were clinging to his shoulders, and she was near naked in his arms. Her skin was pale and soft, so different than that of the Warrior women he had consorted with in the past. Everything about her was softer than those sturdy, strong females.

  He would have to be gentle with her. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt her. He gentled his touch, spread his fingers on the silk skin of her back. He held her closer as he carried her to his bed.

  He laid her carefully in the center of it.

  Had he ever felt so awkward with a female? He didn’t think so. He pulled his own tunic over his head and flung it toward the corner. He wanted nothing between his skin and that of this female he’d spend the next little bit of eternity with. “Aureliana…”

  She closed her eyes. “I’m not sure what we’re doing.”

  Was she saying she was virgin? Somehow he had not expected that. “I will not hurt you, if this is your first…”

  She laughed at that. “Far from it, but it has been quite a while. You know what I mean.”

  There had been other males before him? That had a small rush of anger going through him. Who? Who had captured the girl warrior’s attention before him? Was the bastard still living? Would she care if he killed him? “Do I?”

  “What happens next? After we….I don’t want you for my Rajni. You are not what
I expected, nor what I wanted. I won’t lie to you about that.”

  He would never tell her that her words hurt him. Why had they? She was not his first choice, either. “So it will be honesty between us then? Tell me…this does not excite you?” He leaned over her then, brushing his teeth over her neck. She shivered, like he knew she would. “Yes. I thought it would.”

  “Bastard.” She turned her mouth toward him and quicker than a snake she sank her fangs into his neck. Ren growled. A Warrior Demon was not accustomed to providing for a female in such a way. It galled him to be vulnerable in such a manner. But…this was her way. Shouldn’t that supersede his reticence?

  If his female needed he would provide. Period.

  She pulled away. He looked down at her. Her eyes were hot when they looked back at him. “I don’t want you.”

  He cupped a breast, pleased with the instant result of her soft flesh. “Your body says otherwise. I can have you…however I want you.”

  “Physically, yes. I can’t deny that. It is out of my power.” She arched in to his hand. He smiled. Yes, she wanted him. His female wanted him. That was a heady feeling, for a male of any worth.

  “That’s bullshit. Your deity only controls you to the extent that you let her. Forget you not, female, that I am just as powerful as she. If I wanted to resist what she has put together I would have done so by now.” He yanked the white trousers down her hips, using one hand to lift her, the other to manipulate the cloth. He wanted his female naked, and by damn, that was what he was going to have. “Know this; I am taking you for my own. You cannot get away now. You are mine.”