“I wouldn’t…”
“I visited the female Commons, but two females barred your door, saying you would not see me.”
So he hasn’t been looking for her. “So, why now?”
“I couldn’t stand being without you. I had planned to storm the female Commons, demand that you speak to me. Instead, I overheard Tarra talking to my brother, and I heard about their plot against us. Shena confirmed what I suspected.”
Catalina swallows back the tears and nods. “I went for a swim, and someone knocked me out. When I woke up, I was on the wrong side of the mountains.”
He cautiously opens his arms. She hesitates and then steps into his embrace. All is not forgiven, though, not yet. He should’ve known she would not leave without a goodbye.
His arms are so comforting, so familiar, she nearly crumbles inside. She can’t breathe. Composing herself, she steps back and tries to smile. “Can you give me a few minutes alone?”
She can tell he doesn’t want to, but he nods. “I’ll be waiting for you at camp.”
“Thank you.”
She watches him walk away, and when he’s out of sight, she crumbles inside and out as she drops to the ground.
She sits with her forehead on her knees, hugging her legs as she cries the ugly cry. Tears run like rivers down her face as she tries to let go of her pent-up emotions. All the anger, all the fear, the outrage of the entire living situation in the North, which was so bad it forced her to kill.
When her tears slow, she swipes at her snotty nose and swallows hard. There remains one thought that hangs on, the one person she blames for all of this…Tarra.
Finally pulling herself together, she makes it back to camp. Theon looks sad, and although she needs some distance, she also needs his reassuring presence.
That night, she lies on her side, her back to his front. He holds her tight, but there’s still emotional distance between them.
The next day is the same. Silence except when something needs to be said. They all treat her differently; they are more cautious around her, which makes things worse. They ride for most of the day, and in the distance the Commons comes into view.
They secure the gamels in the stable, and Catalina walks silently beside Theon.
As they near the training fields, Catalina spots Tarra standing with her posse. Her voice grates on Catalina’s nerves, and jealousy takes hold when she calls out to Theon.
“Theon, I missed you yesterday.” She smiles until her eyes land on Catalina. One quick flash of fear shows until she masks it. “Why, Catalina, I did not think you liked it up here any longer.” Her smile sends Catalina’s rage skyrocketing—she’s had all she can take. She changes directions and heads toward Tarra.
One thing foster kids can do is fight. Although Catalina always tries to control herself, she can’t hold her anger back any longer.
Every step is sure as she pierces Tarra with an angry stare. There is no hesitation, only determination as she marches in Tarra’s direction. With every step closer, Tarra’s nervousness breaks through. Her trembling hands give it away. She smiles, but it is insincere.
Catalina is only a few feet away, still silent. She rears her fist back and punches Tarra in the eye with mighty force. Tarra falls on her butt, cups her eye with her hand, and moans in pain before she wails in anger.
“Theon!” she screams. “Do something!” Theon glances down at Tarra and keeps walking. “Theonnn!”
He stops, spins around, and addresses the female who has caused so many problems. “This is a female issue, and you are not damaged. You may have a bruise, but you will recover.” He starts to walk away, but Tarra’s yell stops him.
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”
He stops mid-step, turns back toward Tarra, and speaks in a loud, booming voice, letting everyone hear his words. Both males and females stop everything to watch the display.
“No, that is not all I have to say. As leader of the topside, you are banned from visiting the training fields.”
“What?” she gasps.
“You heard me. Without you topside, you and Jeat cannot conspire to kidnap Catalina and dump her in the Northern Clan territory. Nor will I have to listen to your lies.”
“But…but…but…you cannot!”
“I can, and I have.” Theon crosses his arms and cocks his head. “Tell me. Why did Jeat want Catalina removed?” Tarra clamps her mouth shut. Theon smiles down at her while he says in a commanding voice, “If any female here knows of Tarra’s and my brother’s plan, and you do not speak up, then you will also be banned from topside when I find out.”
When no one steps forward, Tarra smirks. That smirk drops, however, and her face twists in hate as a fearful voice speaks out.
“I know why.” Shena takes a step forward, her eyes bouncing from Odias to Theon.
Catalina is a distance away with her arms folded protectively across her middle. But this involves her, and she wants to hear what is said.
“Shena, step forward and tell me what you know.”
Shena glances at Odias once again before giving Theon her attention. Her fingers twist the fabric of her long dress, and it’s obvious to anyone that she’s terrified.
Catalina feels a little bad for Shena, but if she had stood up to Tarra a long time ago, Theon would have known where she was, and maybe he would have come after her sooner.
“One night I couldn’t rest, and thought I would take a walk. I happened upon Tarra talking to someone, but at the time I did not realize it was Jeat. So, I listened as they argued in hushed tones.”
Her eyes dart back to Odias, and it’s clear he will not help her right now.
“The male she talked with had something wrong and was unable to have young. They had planned for Tarra to get pregnant with your seed and tell everyone that the young belonged to him. This would secure the line of succession. That is when I realized she spoke with Jeat.”
“And why did you not tell me this earlier?”
“I heard them only a few moon cycles ago, but it scared me. When I knew Tarra plotted with Jeat, I felt they were too powerful for me to cross.”
Theon focuses on Tarra. “And you decided to get rid of Catalina, hoping to lure me to your bed?” Tarra neither confirms nor denies anything that is being said. “What was to happen to me when you carried young?”
Silence. Catalina knows that Tarra can’t say anything without making herself look even guiltier. Her heart softens a little more for Theon. Betrayed by his own family. She shakes her head in disgust and walks away from the rest of the display. She has seen and heard enough.
Back in the Commons, Catalina basks in the comfort of familiar surroundings as she looks around Theon’s room. Walking over to the furs, she lies down and runs her hands over the softness.
That’s where Theon finds her.
Walking over, he scoops her up in his arms, holding her tight. “I have missed you so much, Catalina.”
Laying her head on his chest, she closes her eyes. “I’ve missed you too.”
19
____________________
Theon
Theon holds Catalina’s hands. “I don’t want to leave you here.”
“I know, but it’s important for us to get past this. And I feel safe here.” She lets out a long breath.
Theon’s lips thin to a grimace. She’s been back a fortnight, but nothing has changed. They hold each other at night, but they do not participate in bed sport. She holds a sadness in her eyes, and even though she says no one violated her, Theon has his doubts.
“You will be here when I get back?”
She smiles, and this time it almost reaches her eyes. “If I’m not, it’s not by choice.”
He doesn’t smile. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I’m sorry.” She squeezes his hands. “And besides, I heard you order everyone to watch out for me.”
“I will be back as soon as I can.”
&nbs
p; She stares into his eyes, and for the first time since coming home, she throws her arms around his neck and sears him with a kiss. “Hurry home and be careful. I’ll be waiting.”
Swallowing hard, Theon mounts Coliea, and with one last look, he and Odias head out for patrol.
They ride in silence, and Theon’s mind constantly turns to Catalina. He understands her reasoning—they need to get past this fear that they both share.
They ride all day before they reach the campsite.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how is Catalina?”
Theon barely hears Odias’ question. “What? Oh, no, I am not sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“She remains distant. There’s a sadness in her eyes that I don’t understand. She assures me that no male touched her, but I don’t know. Shena has tried to apologize, explain how things are and why they happened, but Catalina barely grunts, let alone speaks.”
Theon knows Catalina is having a hard time trusting anyone after the betrayal, even though most of it was orchestrated by Tarra.
He also needs to find out what happened, somehow find a way to break down the barrier he feels every time they’re together.
“How are things with you and Shena?” Even though Theon asks, he still can’t take his mind away from Catalina.
“Great!” Odias’ grin is wide and genuine. “We talked about everything. She was terrified of Tarra and felt terrible every time she told a lie or half-truth. Now that everything is out in the open, we have grown a lot closer. She even moved in with me.”
Theon’s head swivels toward Odias. “Really? That is wonderful. I am happy for you, my friend.”
“She said Tarra is worse than ever now that she is banned from topside. The best way to protect Shena is to keep her close by.”
“She blames Shena for being banned?”
“Yes. And you, and Catalina.”
Theon shakes his head. “That female is trouble.”
“I agree.”
They both stretch out. Theon lies with legs crossed and one arm behind his head, gazing up at the night sky. Where is her planet? he wonders as he searches every star visible in the night sky.
Never once has he wanted to travel the stars, but as he lies there, his mind wanders to a place that Catalina described. Machines and buildings above ground without the threat of geo-storms. A place where a storm means water falling from the sky to help the plants grow. A place where there are so many people, you retreat to your rooms just to have some peace.
When he closes his eyes, his sleep is restless. He dreams of a Northern Clan male attacking Catalina, forcing himself on her while she calls out Theon’s name for help. And he does nothing.
Startled from the dream, his eyes pop open, and sweat beads his brow. Not from the sun, but from the nightmare itself. The first rays of light are scattering across the clear sky when Theon hops to his feet. Now more than ever, he is determined to finish his patrol and talk to Catalina. The distance is killing him, and he needs to find out what happened.
Theon cleans up the campsite and has everything loaded by the time Odias rolls out.
“You are up early,” Odias complains as he rubs the sleep from his eyes.
Theon stands at Coliea’s side, fastening the last pack that hangs over her back. “I am ready to finish this patrol and talk with Catalina.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Odias grins over his shoulder and then makes quick work of his own tasks before the two of them head out. As they ride quickly along the boundary, Theon narrows his eyes when he spots someone up ahead. The male stands just on the other side, as though he waits for them.
As they near, rage fills his veins with the sight. Theon grabs his knife, jumps from Coliea, and barrels for the Northern Clan male. “Arrh!” he yells a battle cry as he races toward the other male with his knife raised above his head. He doesn’t care which side he stands on; Theon will kill him either way.
The other male raises his own knife, slowing Theon’s steps, but not by much.
“I am not here to fight you!” The Northern Clan male yells.
“Then die where you stand!”
The male dodges as Theon plunges his knife toward his chest, barely missing his mark. With knives in hand, they circle each other.
“I am here to extend an invitation, nothing more.”
“And why would you want to do that?” Theon swipes his knife at the male’s side, but the other male jumps back just in time.
“Catalina lives with the Southern Clan, and she has freed us from despotism.”
Momentarily startled, Theon drops his guard a little until he remembers the way she was dressed when he found her. The bruise on her cheek, the look on her face.
He snarls and raises his knife once again. Pointing the tip at the other male, he spits out, “Someone violated her!”
The other male looks confused until understanding shows on his face. “She did not tell you?”
The fact that Theon doesn’t know what the other male is talking about just makes him angrier. No, she hasn’t told him. She hasn’t spoken much about her time with the Northern Clan. But over the past moon cycles, he knows something has bothered her immensely, and he suspects something horrible…
“No,” Theon grounds out. Being left in the dark on such matters grates on his last nerve.
“I am Jove. Catalina saved my life, and I owe her a debt.”
Jove drops his knife to his side, but Theon keeps his pointed at Jove’s throat. He is moments away from slicing it, but Jove has information about Catalina, and that’s the only reason he still lives.
With his knife still pointed, Theon orders, “Go on.”
“She was on her way back to the Southern Clan territory when she happened upon me. My arm was bleeding profusely, and I knew I had met the end, but somehow, she stopped the bleeding. Instead of leaving me there, she killed a graset for us to eat and collected water. The next day, she was off to collect enough water for me before heading back toward the Southern border, but my brothers arrived.”
“And who might they be?” Theon cocks his head to the side and purses his lips.
“Hasan is the eldest and I the youngest.”
Just hearing Hasan’s name sends rage through Theon’s body. Theon shoves his knife toward Jove’s neck, but Jove hurries on.
“Catalina killed my three eldest brothers, leaving me to rule my people.” With a level, unafraid gaze, he adds, “That is the only reason I stand before you unarmed. I owe her a debt.”
Theon reels from the information, his mind racing as he remembers the sad look on her face, the clothes, the bruise. He needs to know.
“How could one tiny female kill three large males?”
“I spoke with her before she left. Someone must have told her about the Jia plant that is deadly to us. She had not only tested it on herself, she rubbed the essence on her hands and forearms. Anyone who touched her died instantly.” Jove shakes his head as he talks about that day. “From what I have been told, Catalina taunted Hasan when he came to the female Commons. Not long later, all three of my brothers were dead, and the reign of tyranny had finally ended.”
“Did he…”
“I do not know.” Jove stares down at his hands before he met Theon eye to eye. “I explained that she did what I could not do. One against three is not possible.”
“And now?”
“And now the females have a choice. They no longer live in constant fear, and even the males seem happier.” Jove smiles as he speaks to Theon. “I have heard rumors of you, and that you rule the topside. You and Catalina are welcome in the Northern Clan territory anytime, and perhaps we can inscribe a treaty.”
“A treaty?”
“Why not?” he shrugs. “It will be the first of its kind.”
Theon nods absently, not yet trusting the situation.
“Just send word if you decide it’s something you’re interested in.” Jove turns his back on Theon and walks away in an u
nstable truce.
Odias waits by the gamels, but Theon doesn’t speak about what he’s learned. Thoughts of Catalina consume him as he thinks back, remembering that day. Had she killed anyone before?
No.
He remembers when she killed her first animal for food. She would never kill a person. This explains the sadness in her eyes. To hold a person’s life in your hands is a huge burden to bear.
He also remembers running toward her, and with fear-filled eyes, she commanded him to stop, demanding she wash first. Did she still have the Jia essence on her hands and arms? Did she keep her distance to save him?
More than ever, he needs to see her, talk to her, hold her in his arms, and comfort her. Let her know that everything will be all right.
He pushes Coliea to go faster as he and Odias ride, unconcerned with the boundary any longer. There is only one thing he needs to do. One person he needs to see, and Theon is determined to help her through this.
When the Commons come into view, he jumps from Coliea’s back, leaving Odias to put her in the stable.
He runs toward their room and throws open the door.
Nothing.
He runs for the training fields, but doesn’t expect her to be there.
She isn’t.
And then it hits him. Her favorite place to go during the day is the Crystal Lake. And with that thought, he grins as a plan starts to take shape.
20
____________________
Catalina
Catalina floats naked on her back as she stares up at the sky. Depression has taken hold of her, and she knows she needs to shake it off.
She killed three males.
She killed.
She is a killer.
“Stop it! Stop thinking like that. They were bad, and they hurt your friends. You didn’t kill them, you saved your friends,” she insists.
She keeps reminding herself of that fact, saying it aloud as often as she needs to.
Her mind drifts to Theon. So many times, she has wanted to talk to him, to open up, but she held back. And now she doesn’t know how to start the conversation.
It still bothers her that he believed Tarra, but she understands that Tarra had all the females telling the same lie.
Theon Untamed: First Contact (Untamed World Book 1) Page 15