“I’ve never even heard of a female Sobrin. I thought there were only males.” She frowned as she looked at the picture.
“It’s very rare for a female Sobrin to be born. Males are much more common.” Callan wrapped his arm around her waist. “If you’re interested, there are a few more women down here. They’re all mates to Sobrin Kings.”
“Are there any infamous Queens among your Sobrin Queens?” She grinned eyeing the portraits of Kings as they passed them.
“No, Sobrin Kings know how to keep their women busy.” Tyral gave her a look filled with sensual promise.
“Let us show you the first two Sobrin Kings.” Callan drew her forward to two pictures.
Tyral stood to the right, very near to the paintings. “These two proud men are King Vadin and King Tavik.”
She tilted her head and studied the two Sobrin men. Although it was only a picture, those two men looked menacing, predatory. “They look wild, hard.”
“They were genuine warlords on Carush before they became the Kings. They were very hard.” Tyral smiled. “They ruled with strength and no tolerance for the in-fighting that had marked the previous King’s rule. They barred several clans from the Royal Palace on Carush until those clans had pledged to cease the bloodshed. Not one of them was brave enough to break that promise, because they knew that those men would crush their clans if they did.”
“I thought you were going to show me some more of the Queens.” Karissa tapped her foot and gave them a sassy grin as she folded her arms across her chest. “Those are your ancestors. Of course they were barbarians.”
Callan’s hand landed in an open palm smack on her right buttock. He nodded to Tyral. Tyral took two large steps back, revealing a woman with honey-blonde hair and vivid blue eyes. Her face was rimmed in blue-green. At her neck, she wore a necklace with a rare Frejan Tamish gem of deep blue flanked by two, deep red Lishan stones.
“By the Veil…Rana…” She stepped forward, her hand outstretched toward the painting.
“Your friend is safe. She’s in very capable hands. She was sent to where she was fated to be.” Callan curved his arm around her waist, pulling her back against him.
“That’s the past? She was sent into the distant past?” Her throat tightened.
Callan nodded. “To the time of the first Sobrin Kings. They intended to send you there, but you belong with us. King Vadin and King Tavik found her shortly after the vortex dumped her into the desert on Carush.”
Karissa realized she’d never see Rana again and tears gathered in her eyes. She looked at the portrait. The woman in that painting looked happy. “Is she happy with them?”
“It’s said that few had seen such a happy woman. Before they were joined, she pushed them, tested them far more than you did us, but when she realized she belonged there, she embraced her life with them.” Tyral brushed a strand of hair that had slipped loose of the pins back behind her ear.
She took a deep breath and brushed the tears away from her eyes. Rana wouldn’t have wanted tears when she’d found what she’d wanted. The only way she could honor her friend was to be happy for her in her life with her mates. “I can’t mourn for her when she’s found her destiny and when it brought her the happiness that I see in that picture.”
Callan leaned close and drew his mouth along the column of her neck sending shivers down her spine and beginning a warm tingle in her belly. “We’ll be just as happy, if not more.”
She raised a brow at that arrogant statement. “Why do you say that? I know for a fact that you can be arrogant, unbending wretches. Are you two going to reform?”
Tyral shook his head. “Now, tana, you know you love us as we are.”
“I could still love you if you reformed.” Karissa smiled. Even the idea of them reforming wasn’t believable.
“Forget reforming us, little one. You’d miss our arrogance and provoke us into forsaking our best intentions.” Tyral lowered his head and brushed his delicious blue lips across her cheek.
“So, how do you know we’ll be happier?” She laced her arm around Tyral’s waist.
“That braid you’re holding tells me,” Callan lifted her hand and nipped her knuckle.
“It does?” She looked at the braid of ribbons. “I knew it was strange when it did that, but I didn’t realize it meant anything.”
“It means our marriage has been blessed…in all ways.” Tyral slid his hand down to cover her stomach.
“In all ways…” She looked down at that hand and then up at the picture. “Do you think that…”
“Curious thali, it’s your wedding day.” Callan smiled down at her. “Can’t you think of anything more interesting to do than ask questions that time will answer for you?”
Her smile grew wicked as she turned to Tyral. She rose up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips over his chin before he leaned down and fastened his mouth on hers, one arm lifting her tightly against him. Her tongue slipped into his mouth and tangled with his as she reveled in the feel of his hard body against hers.
Breathless and a little dazed when Tyral’s lips left hers, she had only a moment to realize that Tyral had set her down before Callan spun her around. His hands cupped her buttocks and lifted her against him. She saw the desire in his eyes as he lowered his mouth to hers.
“Teasing sitga,” Callan reproved, nipping her lips before his mouth fastened over hers.
About Rebecca Airies
Rebecca Airies has always loved to read. Futuristic, the classics, mystery or horror, the genre doesn’t matter as long as the stories capture her interest and take her on an adventure. She soon discovered a love for writing and characters just waiting to tell their stories. Since that time, writing has become an obsession.
Rebecca lives in the heart of Texas. She loves the outdoors, growing things and working on crafts when she’s not lost in the worlds of her characters. Please feel free to write and tell her what you think; she’d love to hear from you.
Rebecca welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Rebecca Airies
Between Two Tiron
Chosen Destiny
Desperate Measures
Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile II anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction II anthology
Exile’s Longing
Guarded Beginnings
Hunted Intensity
In Sorcery’s Hold
Lisia’s Journey
Lost Memories
Primal Attraction 1: Primal Quest
Primal Attraction 2: Primal Pursuit
Primal Attraction 3: Primal Encounter
Protective Affairs 2: Vampire’s Witch
Protective Affairs 3: Close Contact
Protective Affairs 4: Uncertain Claim
Second Chance
Print books by Rebecca Airies
Between Two Tiron
Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile II anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction II anthology
Fire Princes’ Bride
Primal Attraction 1: Primal Quest
Primal Attraction 2: Primal Pursuit
Primal Attraction 3: Primal Encounter
Protective Affairs 2: Vampire’s Witch
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Fire Princes’ Bride
ISBN 9781419916793
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Fire Princes’ Bride Copyright © 2008 Rebecca Airies
Edited by Nicholas Conrad
Photo and cover design by Syneca
Models: Alex, Shannon and Nick
Electronic book publication June 2008<
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