Crucible of Fate

by Mary Calmes

  “Because you look like hell.”

  He framed my face with his hands.

  “I woke up to get laid,” I quipped, even though just that much talking was exhausting.

  He leaned over and kissed me again, laughing into my mouth, so happy, even as I parted my lips under his, his tongue sliding over mine as he tasted me, savored and ravished me.

  “You missed me,” I said as he kissed my eyelids and my nose, my cheeks, my forehead, my chin, and then fused his lips to mine once more.

  “Sleep,” he commanded. “You’ll shift when you wake up.”

  “Stay with me,” I ordered. “Right here. I want to smell you when I wake up.”

  “Yes, my semel.”

  “And I expect some action then too.”

  I was kissed again and it was good.

  I WOKE up ravenous.

  “Shift,” Yuri said the second I opened my eyes.

  It hurt, my muscles were sore, but I did it and lost time as I always did when I was in panther form. I was starving and there was meat and water, so much food, and I ate and drank my fill. When I was sated, I found my mate outside in the sun, lying down, and I crept over and joined him on a blanket in the grass. It smelled good, there was shade, and I could hear a fountain. I fell asleep curled into his side.

  The next time I opened my eyes, I was in bed. I had been bathed; I knew because I no longer smelled like blood and dirt and sweat. I had felt gritty before, but now, smelling good, clean, lying on my back under freshly laundered sheets, I felt better. The best part of all was that when I rolled my head to the left, I found Yuri sleeping beside me on top of the sheets, barefoot, in jeans and a threadbare old T-shirt. The man was gorgeous all rumpled, and I would have reached for him, woken him up to hold me, but the sound of a throat clearing drew my attention. I found myself caught in the gaze of Dr. Pakhom.

  “Oh,” I said, yawning. “Hi.”

  She sucked in a breath.

  “What?”

  Quickly, she shook her head.

  “Good Lord, woman, get a hold of yourself,” I grumbled.

  “You scared me to death,” she said, then pursed her lips together in a tight line. “But I guess you’re going to be doing that a lot.”

  “I hope not.”

  She reached down to take my hand without permission.

  “This is a slippery slope,” I said with a grunt.

  “I want to hold your hand,” my doctor confessed.

  I shook my head.

  “Are you really planning to visit every tribe in the world?”

  “Yes.”

  “And are you planning to take me and my team with you?”

  “Yes, if you’re up for an adventure.”

  “I am.”

  “Then, yes, you’re invited along.”

  Her tears were instant.

  “Oh come on,” I complained.

  “No, you come on!” she ground out. “Scaring me to death, how dare you! Broken clavicle, deep puncture wounds, a bullet, for heaven’s sake—and still not fully recovered from an assassination attempt! Who are you?”

  I let out a huff of air to let her know I was annoyed too. “And? Did you save Taj? Rahim?”

  “Of course I saved Taj and Rahim!”

  “Where are they?”

  “That is for your steward to tell you,” she huffed, and I saw her begin to fidget.

  “Do you need to hug me so you know I’m well?” I asked bluntly.

  “Yes. Do you mind?” She sounded just as practical.

  “No.”

  And with that she bent and wrapped her arms around me for a long minute. When she straightened, I gave her a compliment, telling her that she was very beautiful for a doctor.

  “Well, I’ve seen a hundred more handsome semels.”

  I chuckled, and she said to get ready for visitors.

  “Not in my room,” I groused irritably.

  “No. Use your eyes, what do you see?”

  And she was right; I wasn’t in my own room. “Why did we move?”

  “It’s only while you recuperate. Your sekhem didn’t want everyone traipsing through the private quarters he shared with you, but once you’re all healed, you can go back up there. It’s quite the walk to get up there. Have you ever noticed that?”

  “I haven’t.” I sighed, pleased that he wanted our room to stay just ours. I would have done exactly the same.

  “So this is just temporary? Until when?”

  “Until you can make the climb without being winded.”

  “I can do it now.”

  She studied me. “Let’s wait a few more days, all right? Humor your doctor.”

  I scowled at her.

  “The semel-netjer would like a word. I’m going to get him.”

  “Thank you.”

  She breezed out, and I turned to Yuri. Cupping his cheek, I noticed the bruise there, the dark circles under his eyes, and the new scar over his right eyebrow. There was a line through it now, the brow almost cut in half. I wanted to know what had happened.

  As I opened my mouth to wake him, Logan walked into my bedroom, followed by Jin carrying his son.

  “Let me see your child,” I ordered.

  Jin smiled wide and bent over. I took in the carbon copy of him, except that he had Logan’s angular jaw and sharp Roman nose. The rest—the eyebrows that quirked, the long lashes, full lips, and black hair—was all Jin.

  “Wake him up so I can see his eyes.”

  “No,” Logan and Jin said at the same time.

  “Problem?” I teased.

  “Your steward is throwing us out,” Jin said playfully. “We are not to come back until he, meaning Ilia, has learned to control his power.”

  “What’d he do?”

  “Apparently before I got back a week ago, when Ilia was here with Yusuke and Crane, a lot of your staff were dragged through their shifts on a regular basis.”

  “Oh, lovely,” I said sarcastically. “And Kabore wants you gone? I can’t imagine why.”

  Jin passed Ilia to Logan before he sat and hugged me. “Thank you, Domin.”

  “For what? You saved me, not the other way around.”

  “No,” he said, holding me tight. “Crane reminds me who I am; you sort of ram the truth down my throat and shove me toward the right path.”

  I eased him back so I could look into his face. “There’s only one place on the planet you belong.”

  “I know. It’s just that you, much like Logan, don’t let me get away with anything. I appreciate you helping me through my crisis.”

  “Thank you for saving my life.”

  “You saved mine too,” he assured me. “Ask Logan.”

  “Get up,” the semel-netjer grumbled at his mate.

  Jin rose and Logan moved by, passing Ilia over to him. The second his hands were free, Logan ran a hand through Jin’s long glossy black hair, as he always did. Logan could not keep his hands off his mate.

  “So what did you do?”

  “I didn’t kill you for taking Jin into the catacombs and again when we got inside and found my naked mate wrapped around you.”

  “Thank you. I should be dead.”

  “Yes, you should,” he said, putting a hand on my cheek. “But I have grown fond of your face after these many years.”

  “And?”

  “And it would upset my mate if I eviscerated you, and I never upset my mate.”

  “It’s good to know.”

  He patted my cheek and then got up. “Crane named Kabore the new maahes of the tribe. That’s what you wanted, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Crane’s coming home with us, but you knew that.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m also taking Koren.”

  “Oh, that’s a tragedy.”

  He grunted. “You did good by him, too, both you and Yuri.”

  “We try.” I grinned up at him, throwing the covers off and then moving to stand up.


  “What’re you doing?”

  “I’m gonna hug you good-bye.”

  “Okay.” He seemed pleased. “Let’s see if you can get up. You’ve been lying around for two weeks, did you know that?”

  “You’re such an ass!” I scolded the semel-netjer.

  Logan made a noise and pointed at Yuri. “Don’t wake him up, please don’t wake him up. The man has been running around—”

  “He’s been making everything perfect for when you woke up after he knew that you actually would be,” Jin soothed. “And I remembered when I saw him discipline your khatyu and your sheseru that—”

  “What were Yuri and Taj fighting about?”

  “They disagreed about how many of your khatyu should be garrisoned in Ipis.”

  “You lost me.” I was still a little muddled. My brain felt like it was stuffed with feathers.

  “Just don’t worry about it,” Logan chimed in. “Yuri won, and I agreed with the number. Until the two djehus get that tribe in order, they need backup.”

  “The djehus?” I was confused.

  He nodded, helped me sit up, which was harder than I thought it would be.

  “Be careful with him,” Jin cautioned his mate.

  Logan arched an eyebrow.

  “Don’t say something horrible.”

  “Fine,” Logan rumbled out the word. “Assume I’m going to be gentle, then.”

  “The djehus?” I inquired, curling my leg under me and straightening up, taking a breath as Logan sat down beside me.

  “I put them in charge of Ipis,” he explained. “The house of Feran is done; the line is ended.”

  “Did you kill Hakkan Tarek there?”

  “No. Crane named Kabore as your new maahes, and for his first act, he read the charges and then had Taj execute him in the pit.”

  “So Kabore was able with that one act to show everyone that he is not a maahes to be questioned.”

  “Yes, as well as one who follows you and the law.”

  “He’ll be good, don’t you think?”

  “Oh yes, I’m impressed. He’s very capable, loyal, and no one is going to trip him up on protocol or custom or language. Excellent choice.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And by bringing Crane to Sobek in the first place, you built him up, proved to him that he’s capable, and let it be his choice to go home or not. He knows that being beset of his reah is of vital importance, and it’s a huge deal to others since Jin’s a nekhene cat.”

  “Good.”

  “He wants to see you. Can you walk out into the main hall and say good-bye to everyone?”

  “I think so,” I said, reaching for my oldest friend.

  Logan slid an arm around my waist, and with him lifting and me using him for leverage, I got up.

  “I could carry you.”

  “In some alternate universe, I’m sure I might let you.”

  A gentle sound rumbled out of his chest as he helped me out of the room. By the time we reached the hall, I was walking by myself and liking the feel of the marble floor under my bare feet.

  I saw Mikhail and Samani, Koren and Danny, and Kabore, Taj, Rahim, Ebere, and Jamal. It was nice that they all clapped as I came shuffling toward them between Logan and Jin.

  “Knock it off,” I demanded,

  Ebere moved quickly to reach me, and I put an arm around her, leaning her gently into my side.

  “You gave me quite a scare.”

  “It will probably continue to happen.”

  “Please, no.” She sounded tired. “You took years off my life.”

  “Forgive me.”

  “Perhaps,” she agreed. “But there’s so much to tell you.”

  “Let me say good-bye to these nice people first,” I said, lifting my arm for Koren.

  He moved forward and wrapped his arms around my neck gently.

  “You take care,” I said, turning my head to kiss his cheek. “And take care of your sweet little mate too.”

  “I will,” he rumbled. “And you do the same.”

  We parted, and it was good to see him so content.

  Danny stepped forward and offered me his hand. He could not control the trembling. “All the blessings on your house, akhen-aten,” he said, his voice cracking just a little.

  “Thank you.” I smiled, covering our clasped hands with my other for a moment.

  He stepped back and Koren took his hand in his, lifted it to his lips, and kissed his knuckles. It was very sweet and nothing I had ever seen him do before. The adoration and devotion on Koren’s face was good to see. I was pleased and really hoped that he wouldn’t break the beautiful boy’s heart.

  Turning, I saw Crane and Yusuke approaching us.

  “Oh, maahen, you’re gorgeous,” I said sincerely.

  She flushed deeply, dropping Crane’s hand as she moved by the others and walked into my arms.

  “Thank you for keeping my love safe, akhen-aten, and for releasing him now so that he may return home with me and be mated.”

  I squeezed her tight. “Congratulations. Send me an invitation, all right?”

  She nodded into my shoulder.

  Leaning back, I offered my hand to Crane.

  He took it, holding it tight in his as he stared into my eyes. “I said good-bye to Yuri last night. And you’ll come to my mating ceremony, yeah?”

  “I will.”

  “Bring him and the rest of your house, my semel.”

  I sighed, releasing his hand. “Take care of your reah.”

  “Always.”

  “Go.” I tipped my head.

  He took Yusuke’s hand in his, and said his good-byes to the others as Jin stepped in front of me.

  “Thank you again.”

  “I take, I give back,” I said playfully, leaning over and kissing his forehead. “Now get out of my villa.”

  His smile was gorgeous, and when he moved, Logan Church filled my vision.

  “You’ll come for the mating ceremony.” It was a statement; I wasn’t getting out of it even if I wanted to.

  “I will.”

  “And when you do the traipsing around the world you’re planning, call me from places where you’ll be and I’ll meet you.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, I’d love to.”

  “There’s going to be more… I sort of signed you up for the deep end with me. I don’t know if when I was out you talked to Kabore at all, but—”

  “I did, we did,” he assured me, taking his son from Jin and then passing Ilia to me. “So I’ll be with you when you start your newest adventure. Thank you for wanting me along.”

  “Wouldn’t be real if you weren’t with me,” I sighed, staring down at Ilia, noticing again how beautiful he was before I looked back up at Logan. “Why am I holding this kid again?”

  “You need to kiss him good-bye.”

  “You know you’re not supposed to demand that people give your child attention.”

  “No?”

  Ilia was so small and soft, and his little hand closed on my finger the same instant it felt as though a tuning fork had been struck inside my chest.

  “What was that?” I was startled.

  “Oh, did you feel it?” Logan asked, his eyes warm as he held my gaze. “That’s what he does. It’s like he checks the strength of whoever’s got him. There’s a ping, almost, that he sends out, and it resonates back. If it doesn’t come back, he’ll cry. But with you, he got pinged back and so… he’s good.”

  Ilia yawned big, there was a quick back-and-forth twist, and then sleep.

  “He likes you.”

  I scowled at him. “Stop. He’s a baby.”

  “Still.” Logan was very pleased with me—I could tell. “He’s good with you, that’s why.”

  “That’s why what?”

  “You know.”

  I was afraid to ask. “Logan?”

  He inhaled deeply. “Who else would you have raise the son of the semel-netjer and the nekhene cat? Who else could e
ven attempt it?”

  I was completely floored. “You’re not serious.”

  “I am deadly serious. When have you known me to joke?”

  He didn’t. In fact, Logan was not much for jokes of any kind. He laughed, not often, but he did. I had seen him do more of it since he found Jin than at any other time in his life. But still, words like reserved, serious, and intense described him best. So I knew he was not pulling my leg. If he and Jin died, Ilia would come to live with me.

  “Is it wise to make me his guardian?” I swallowed hard. “I mean––what will your parents say and Koren and––”

  “I decided,” Logan said as his mate moved to my other side and put his hand on my arm. “And Jin agreed. I have faith in you, and so does he. And then, there’s Yuri to consider as well. I trust Yuri with my life and Jin’s. Of course I would put my child in his care.”

  My vision blurred, and for a moment I couldn’t speak.

  “Aww.” Jin nuzzled his face against me shoulder. “You have such a soft heart, Domin.”

  I ignored him, tried to chicken wing him off me.

  “You do,” Jin said softly, still fawning all over me, not intimidated in the least. “I know you and Yuri are the ones to watch over Ilia.”

  I cleared my throat. “I’m absolutely certain that Yuri would make a wonderful father.”

  “So would you Domin,” Logan assured me.

  My eyes dropped to Ilia, asleep in my arms. “Did Yuri see him? Hold him?”

  “Of course,” Logan said softly as I passed Ilia back.

  “And you all said good-bye to him?”

  “Yes,” Jin assured me. “I love that you wanted to make certain.”

  I scowled.

  “Oh, Domin—” His voice broke, and he tried again. “You really love him.”

  “Could you just go now?” I snapped.

  Logan was laughing as he kissed my cheek and then wrapped a tight arm around my neck. “I’ll always be right beside you.”

  It was a greater comfort than he could imagine.

  I put my hands on his sides and breathed in his earthy scent a second before pushing him away. He grabbed Jin’s hand and headed down the stairs without another word.

  Koren and Crane were still standing there with their intended mates, staring at me.

  “Better catch him,” I suggested.

  “Yes.” Koren agreed before he, too, turned away.

  “Domin,” Crane began. “I—”