She narrowed her eyes. She might not be an inmate, but what he wanted from her would forever strip away her independence. He shook his head.
“Where are you getting this from?” he asked, sounding confused. Hell, he might really not get it.
“I wasn’t around Janice and Falkor long, but it was enough to know they’re psychically bonded. Same for Britt and Barak. A bond like that can never be severed.”
He went very still next to her. “What makes you think they want to?”
“Now? I’m sure they don’t. The sex is probably great,” she said sarcastically. “But in ten years? Twenty? What happens when the bloom wears off? When the desire fades? Even if they went their separate ways their minds will always be connected.”
She shuddered. “Can you imagine how awful that would be? You’d know when your ex was screwing someone else, because you’d always be tied to them.” She shook her head. “That is the very opposite of freedom, Roarr.”
She could read the protest in his mind, but he didn’t voice it. After a moment he shielded his thoughts.
“Okay,” he finally said. So softly she had to strain to hear. “When we arrive at the Keep, you will be shown to your rooms. If you want to pursue our relationship, you can seek me out.”
What the fuck? He was withholding sex because she didn’t want a serious relationship? It was the craziest thing she’d ever heard. Usually it was the guy running the opposite direction. This just wouldn’t work. He’d stoked this passion between them. He’d made in unbearable. And now he wanted to back off? Fuck him. She reached for her lap belt, but he stopped her before she could release it and stomp off.
“Oh no, angel. You want to make the rules, you get to live with them.” His voice rose and several of the others turned to look at them.
“Hush,” she hissed.
His eyes narrowed, glittering in warning. She felt a shiver of excitement and her sex clenched in anticipation.
“Don’t,” he whispered. “Don’t make this harder.”
When had it been easy? She’d only known him a week and he’d turned her inside out. She pulled her hand free.
“Then don’t touch me.”
And wow, now that it had sunk in, his rejection stung a lot more than she would have expected.
“I’m not rejecting you, baby. I’m giving you what you want. If you don’t want that connection you see in the others? Then I suggest you stay far away from me.”
God, he was right. She’d known a few telepaths on Earth who were bonded. If she wanted to avoid that fate she’d need physical and psychic distance. The more their minds touched the harder it would be to resist. Again, she reached for the lap belt, but he stopped her.
“Don’t.” There was a rawness in his voice that made her freeze, and she resisted the urge to enter his mind. “Just give me this time. We’ll be separated soon enough.”
She couldn’t say no when he asked like that. When she felt his regret and sorrow and longing. She nodded and was careful to keep her mind shielded as he laced their fingers together again, leaned his head back against the rest, and closed his eyes. Unfortunately, that left her with nothing to do, but face the situation and try to figure out what the hell she was going to do. She could try to return to Earth to continue the work her father had begun, but surprisingly she no longer felt any guilt about giving it up. It had been his hope one day she’d have a normal life, and her life would never be normal there. She could insist on returning to Saber City or seek the protection of another chief. It would be the smart thing to do and she thought Roarr might even go for it right now. Something held her back. It sucked. She couldn’t give him what he wanted, but she couldn’t make herself turn away either.
“It was a fluke,” she said softly. “Getting caught.”
It wasn’t the fear she’d buried so deep even she wouldn’t face it, but it was a fear. A secret. He didn’t open his eyes, didn’t turn to look at her, but he squeezed her hand in silent encouragement to go on. She exhaled a breath she hadn’t been aware of holding.
“There’s a network of people like me in the Alliance. Unregistered psychics. We exchange information and help people escape the country when we can. We’re spies more than soldiers, but we can do that too.”
“You had a way out but didn’t take it?”
“No,” she said, almost sad to hear it put so bluntly. Her next words skated too close to a fear, a truth she wasn’t ready to share. “I didn’t have as much to lose if I got caught. We mostly helped families.”
She didn’t have anyone to lose she should have said, but she buried the thought.
“What happened?”
“We went to meet a woman and her little girl. We arrived in town a couple days early, just checking it out and stopped at the same gas station as a Tel agent.”
She still couldn’t believe they’d been caught because of something so coincidental. So stupid.
“He knew who you were?” he asked curiously.
She laughed. “Oh yeah. I was the leader of the underground. I’m on their most wanted list.”
What a bitter pill to swallow. Thirty years of living free, of avoiding Tel, and caught so effortlessly.
“And that’s why you think you make such a valuable prisoner,” he murmured. “They want you alive to expose your network.”
“I couldn’t give them names even if I wanted to. It isn’t set up that way.”
He squeezed her hand again. “You have honor, baby. You’d never betray people you’ve sworn to protect.”
She smiled, relieved he understood that much about her, but feeling a strange unwelcome sorrow settle over her. In some ways they were alike, she and Roarr, but for the first time in her life she wished she was different. If only for just a moment, she wished she was the kind of woman who could give back what he needed.
Roarr watched Kareena as she leaned towards the window for their descent. He’d told the pilot to swing out over the sea so the newcomers could get the best look at their new home. It was simply called the Keep. At the summit of the mountain, his fortress sprawled, the city seeming to spill from its gates down the sides of the mountain. Whitewashed buildings glared in the bright sun, some few of the city’s hidden green treasures visible from this height. They landed inside the fortress walls in moments and he led the way down the ramp, allowing Kareena to pull free and hang back, though it damned near killed him.
She’d finally opened up some with her story of how she’d been caught and what she used to do. She was strong and capable, used to going her own way, used to having a noble purpose. He couldn’t give her that. It’s not like he was going to let her go out and fight. Especially with rebels after her and the seer’s warning. The very idea made him shudder. He turned back to look at her, thinking over their conversations. She hadn’t hinted even once she wanted to replace her old work. She hadn’t indicated any new plan for her life. Letting his mind expand, he took in her emotions and was surprised at the stark loneliness that washed over him. He wanted nothing more than to go to her, wrap her in warmth and companionship. She yearned for just that, yet still she held herself apart. He ignored the twisting in his gut and thought he’d succeeded in keeping his feelings from his face until his mother stepped forward ahead of the welcoming party.
“Hello, mother,” he murmured, embracing her.
She kept her hands on his arms as she leaned back and gave him a searching look. “And who is the woman who dared put that look on my son’s face?” she responded just as softly. Teasing. He hoped. “Should I send my assassins for her?”
“You would be condemning me to a lifetime of misery. Hopefully this will only last a few days,” he replied dryly.
She cocked an eyebrow. Roarr didn’t need to use empathy to know his mother was intrigued. “Most women on Delroi would kill to mate into our clan.”
“And therein lies the problem.” He sighed, turning to watch Kareena with her friends. “She’s from Earth.”
He felt more
than her heard her gasp. “She’s one of the newcomers the rebels were after at the temple.”
He was surprised her seer hadn’t told her already. He didn’t respond to her right away. He didn’t need to. His mother read him too well.
“Yes,” he said reluctantly. He had a pretty good idea how her thoughts had turned. “I don’t know if Delroi is ready for your prophecy to be fulfilled, Mother. Be careful what you put in motion.”
“The attack couldn’t have been anticipated. You don’t have the authority to interfere with the goddess cult and you couldn’t have changed a thing, sweetheart. And you’re wrong. Delroi needs the prophecy now more than ever.”
He heaved a sigh. There was no way he’d change her mind or steer her to another course. “Let her settle in at least before you try to recruit her to restart an old religion.”
“We’ll see. How did you find her by the way?”
“It’s a long story. If you promise to be nice, I’ll let her tell it.”
She gave him an arch look and squeezed his arm. “Like you could stop me, sweetie.”
Well, he couldn’t argue that could he? His mother was a force of nature. He changed the subject.
“How is your priestess?”
“Novice, actually. And she is doing fine.”
“Where’s Kayna?”
She rolled her eyes. “Working on that antique you had sent from Earth.”
He grinned. He’d known his sister would find the old automobile fascinating.
“I want to meet your woman, Roarr.”
“You’ll want to meet all three of them. They’re under our protection.”
“Not the Saber Clan’s?”
He shook his head. He could have left the other two women with Barak, but not only would Kareena have protested so would his brother. Jarek hadn’t said anything about his intentions however, and Roarr wasn’t saying anything on his brother’s behalf to his mother.
“Kareena wouldn’t be separated from her friends, so all three are my responsibility.”
“I see,” she said almost expectantly, but damned if Roarr could figure out what she was waiting to hear. He led her to the three women for introductions.
“Ladies, this is my mother the Lady Rona Idis, high priestess of the Keep.”
“Mother, this is Zola Gray, Parker Reed, and,” he paused just a second, hoping he could conceal his emotions from his mother when he spoke the last. “Kareena Smith.”
He failed miserably. His mother was excellent at shielding her emotions and since he felt them, he knew she hadn’t bothered. So he felt her curiosity and a bit of irritation. She didn’t like her son being rejected.
“Okay, what’s going on here?” Kareena asked him.
“My mother is wondering why you’re rejecting me. You should make up better excuses. I think you call it the third degree on your world.”
She gave him an incredulous look and spoke aloud. “You have got to be kidding me.”
She was off balance. Flushed. Beautiful. Maybe throwing her to the wolves, or the best local equivalent, his mother, wasn’t such a bad idea. He shrugged.
“You could at least apologize for putting me in this position,” she hissed.
“I could. But I wouldn’t mean it and we both know it.”
“Roarr,” his mother interrupted. “Your lieutenants are waiting for you. I’ll show the ladies their rooms and give them the tour.”
He nodded. “Put them in the guest wing of the family quarters,” he said softly as he kissed her cheek.
“You’re sure?”
“Unless she chooses my suite, yes.”
He gave Kareena one last look. It didn’t matter what rooms she was in. He’d vowed to give her space, but he knew he’d be breaking his promise before nightfall. She didn’t need to know that yet though. To use her vernacular, he felt wimpy enough as it was.
“I don’t think I’m up for a tour,” Zola said stepping forward. She was even more secretive than Kareena and Parker, but it was obvious she’d been treated much worse for several months longer. Both women stepped up to shield her and Roarr couldn’t help but approve that. He saw his mother nod, silently agreeing.
“Mother,” Jarek said, finally stepping forward to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll take Zola and Parker to their rooms. Why don’t you show Kareena around?”
If Roarr didn’t know better he’d think that had been prearranged.
“It’s fine,” Kareena said mentally, but he still heard it said through gritted teeth. “I can handle your mother.”
He almost laughed out loud. “Only if you accept me unconditionally, baby.”
She turned to glare at him. “You are not helping.”
The others had moved out of earshot and he stepped closer, pretending his mother wasn’t there drinking in every word. “Helping? No, der’lan. I won’t help you run away and hide.”
She turned to him, real fury lighting her eyes as she poked a finger in his chest. “I don’t run and I don’t hide. But I do have a sense of self preservation even if you don’t. I’m not saying no, never.” She stopped and took a deep breath, pressing one hand hard over her chest. “I should be, but I’m not.”
“Do you really believe the sacrifice is worth it? The kind of bond you’re talking about? You really believe you’d never want to walk away?”
“It doesn’t work that way here, baby,” he said, taking both her hands and kissing her palms before releasing her. He glanced at his mother, took a deep breath, and turned back to Kareena. “I told you if you wanted your freedom to stay away from me. I will make sure you are protected and provided for. But I don’t want that and I don’t think you do either. Not really. Let my mother show around. She can explain things much better than I can. You can stay in the guest wing with your friends or my suite.”
He took a deep breath then. That was a hell of a risk. Those rooms belonged to the woman who would be his der’lan. He was chief of the only clan on the planet that would not force that bond. She had to accept him. Or she would never be his.
“If you aren’t making the choice to be mine,” he warned. “Don’t pick my suite.”
He didn’t trust himself to say anymore, so he turned around and strode off, despite the questions he felt in her mind.
Chapter Nine
She was going to kick his ass. He’d left her alone. He’d left her alone with his mother. And she, you know, might just want to kill Kareena. She faced the other woman reluctantly and her effort at honesty was a little too raw.
“I don’t understand this place. I would go home except I’d be dead in a week.”
Her expression morphed from pissed to sympathetic, which made Kareena even more nervous. Rona was at least four inches taller than Kareena. She moved up to Kareena’s side, slipped her arm around her waist, and steered her onto one of the many paths.
“Our world is very different and Roarr said you have a story to tell. Perhaps we should start there.”
Kareena sighed and sensing a potential ally, starting talking. “Did you hear how I came to be here?”
Rona shook her head.
“I’m a telepath,” she said, paying close attention for a negative reaction, which was common on Earth, and breathing a sigh of relief when she didn’t sense one. “On my planet, anyone with psychic abilities must be registered with their government. Unfortunately, in my country there’s a group who abuses those powers. The Tel Group.”
“You opposed these people?” Rona asked.
“Yes. I was able to hide from them for most of my life and was leader of an underground to help others escape. I was captured six months ago and held prisoner. Roarr was part of the group that rescued us.”
“Your companions?”
“Parker and Zola. They were imprisoned too.” She didn’t say anything more about them. Their stories were their own to tell. She changed the subject. “Roarr said there’s a goddess cult here?”
While she tripped over the word cult, she wa
s intrigued since she’d followed a goddess focused spiritual path most of her life. If it was similar, it might make the adjustment to Delroi easier. Rona’s smile was radiant. Pleased. It made Kareena nervous.
“This way,” she said and reversed directions. They retraced their steps and crossed the landing area, finally stopping at a steel door. Rona set her hand against an access plate and it slid up to reveal a tunnel. Kareena followed her inside. The door closed behind them and lights on the ceiling lit up.
“The temple is outside the fortress,” Rona said. “This entrance is controlled, but the priestesses who live inside the Keep have access and as Roarr’s woman you will too.”
Kareena wasn’t touching that statement, but she was so distracted by Rona’s easy acceptance that she wasn’t prepared for the sight that greeted her when they exited the tunnel into a narrow valley. The temple was huge, carved into the side of a cliff. Steps led up to the entrance. Massive columns spanned the front, and on each end were the tallest statues she’d ever seen. Both were women. One was obviously a warrior, she held a spear and bow. The other, Kareena judged to be a healer. She held what looked like a stethoscope.
“Wow,” she murmured. It was impossible not to be impressed. She didn’t even try to hide her awe. It was like standing at the foot of the pyramids back home. But grander. “How old is it?”
Rona stood next to her and stared up at the edifice. “Ten thousand years.”
That number was hard to wrap her mind around. “And the Keep? This city?”
“Not nearly as old,” Rona said. “We’ve been plagued by wars just as you were on Earth. The Keep is about three thousand years old. It’s seen countless renovations, of course. Parts of the city are a bit older, most a bit younger.”
“Amazing.” The sheer scope of the history of the place, the people. The culture. That was a hell of a lot of tradition to fight. “And this mating business?” she asked. “How long has that been going on?”
“As long as this temple has been here, at least,” Rona said.
“Well, hell.” How did she fight that? She decided to go back to ignoring it.
Freedom (Delroi Prophecy) Page 9