“I told you I willlll heal yoooou.”
“Are you majji as well? Having the sorcery gift of healing now, too?”
He chuckled. “Nooo.” The big cat strutted toward her.
She took a step back and assumed her battle stance, not caring that her top dipped to her waist and left her breast bare before him. “What are you about, beast?”
“Simplyyyy mending myyyy mate. Turn around.” He halted and sat on his hunches.
For a long moment she remained in her position and eyed him. Looking into his wide eyes she saw no threat in them, only kindness and sincerity. Deciding to trust him, she resumed her full height and slowly turned and displayed her injured back to him.
“My apologies for the injuries I caused you.”
Glancing over her shoulder at him, she asked, “You did this to me?”
“Yes. It is our custom. This would have been accomplished the night of our joining, however, because of—”
“The ring of adornment you couldn’t.”
The cat’s broad head lowered in a nod. When he began to lean in closer to her, she faced forward again, not wanting to see what was coming. If he made the marks on her back, with claws she assumed then she could imagine several other things he may decide to do…like bite her. Sink those long, razor-sharp teeth into her back.
She flinched when something rough and moist dragged along her spine from the curve of her back to the base of her skull.
“I’ll beee gentle,” he said, before his next lick was feather soft over her shoulder blades.
She wanted to tell him that his attention didn’t hurt. In fact, just the opposite. It was soothing and caused her heart to beat in a hard tempo in her chest. Not out of lust, but something deeper, more intimate. In a way, she could not explain to herself but it felt as if a mystical ribbon was connecting her to him. Warmth spread across her back with each swipe of his tongue providing an overwhelming feeling of peace to overtake her.
“My service is complete. How do you feel?”
Moving her shoulders around and arching her back, astonished she faced him. “The pain and tenderness is gone. How did you do that?”
“I ammm your mate. Now that weeee have truly bonded andddd I have placed my markings onnnn you, all that you need issss within me…and you for meee.”
What he was saying didn’t seem possible. She had never heard of matches supplying things for each other except children. Not wanting to offer doubt to his words she covered herself, securing her clothing. “Are we ready now? Is all the threat of me being captured and mauled removed now?”
“Yessss. Even with your clothing innn place the stripes acrossss the top of your shoulders aarree still displayed.”
If she wasn’t wrong she would have sworn that she noted a sparkle in the intense orbs of the cat and a smile pulling his mouth wider—male pride at its finest. Shaking her head, she said, “Let us go. We only have so much time here and I don’t wish to delay our trip longer than is necessary.”
Not waiting for him to lead the way, she headed in the direction they had been going before they were waylaid by passion.
Within a short distance they reached the edge of the glen. Before them there was a flowing river with the largest and brightest orange fish she’d ever beheld. There was a wide bridge that arched over it for passing. However what halted her in her tracks was the enormous group of people and cats gathered on the other side. They had all been so close to the area she and Rymingten had had a passionate interlude.
She swallowed down the lump in her throat. What kind of greeting would that have been.
Rymingten’s soft pelt caressed the back of her hand as he rubbed his head against her. “Dooo not be apprehensive. The grove isss a sacred area. Myyy people don’t enter itttt without cause. It is used forrrr a place where mated couples have their firstttt day together following the ceremony and celebration.”
She realized two things…Rymingten somehow had a read on her emotions and he’d set her up.
When he’d projected an image in his mind for where they should land, she realized it had been Rymingten’s plan all along to have her remove his ring and mark her. She was hindered from confronting him as someone noticed them and called out to Rymingten. Then everyone started waving and proclaiming greetings.
The conversation with her mate must be placed on hold for the time being, but it would not be forgotten.
Chapter Six
“Come, Krysss, we must greet them.” Rymingten was filled with both joy and pride at seeing his people. Emotions overwhelmed him at being back on his planet, around all that was familiar. Even having Krysteena at his side made him strut with his head held a little higher and caused his tail to swish wildly in the air.
She only hesitated a moment before following his lead. As they crossed the bridge he noticed in his peripheral vision that she had a grip on her braid, security or protection he didn’t know. He could only hope she would give his people a chance before starting a galaxy war.
“Rym!” The chanting of his name was music to his ears as they reached the other side. Krandal stepped from the crowd and was the first to welcome him. His friend was still in his secondary form—human, but beside him was a ginger speckled female cat, svelte and lean.
Immediately, he recognized who it was, Dyssa. Had something gone wrong with her alternate mate match? Had his father, the King, in some way managed to preserve the agreement for their joining? He didn’t see how that would have been possible.
His body tensed. For the first time since discovering he would be able to return home he felt strong reservations, especially with Krysteena beside him. This could be an awkward situation.
“Dyssa?” he began.
“Yessss, Rym,” she tucked one front paw beneath and bowed offering him royal respects.
He was trying to come up with a way of letting her understand that whatever she had been promised for waiting for him he would still honor, but they would never be together.
Before he got his words formulated, Krandal spoke up.
“Sorry to say that with your absence, Rym, my father was the first to put in a counter agreement for Dyssa. Once it was apparent your return was not imminent, she and I were joined.” Krandal reached out and stroked Dyssa behind one of her ears, a mate caress.
Dyssa purred and leaned in toward Krandal.
Relieved, he offered his congratulations to his friend. “May the father offff all Kitcy blesssss you two with many offspring.”
Rym received the hand Krandal placed on his shoulder with fondness. If someone else was going to get his expected bride, his childhood friend was the best option.
“Whoooo is this beautiful female with you?” Dyssa’s cat eyes landed on Krysteena who stood behind him, close but not approaching his people.
Glancing back at Krysteena, he was overwhelmed by the swelling of pride and emotion that filled him. “She isss my—”
“Rym! Rym!” A deep voice called out.
“Rymingten!” A lighter and more melodic voice blended with that one.
His heart leaped and he turned and beheld his parents racing through the multitude that parted for their king. He recognized the faces of his siblings and their spouses trailing behind his mother and father.
Instantly, he shifted. Even though they were all in flesh form, he could have greeted them as his cat, but after such a long absence he wanted the full contact…needed to feel his family’s arms around him. Something that would guarantee this was not all a dream—that he was truly home.
His mother was the first to grab hold of him. Tall, lean and pale-skinned with her short hair the same golden hue as their planets sun framed her tear streaked face. “My son, my son…” Her arms tightened around his neck. “The Kitcy Spirit is good to us and has returned you. I feared we would never see or touch you again.”
He squeezed her tight to him. “I’m alright, mother. I am sorry I could not return before now. Sorry you had to worry.” He hoped Krysteena
was listening as she bared witness to the pain and stress his abduction had caused his loved ones. He didn’t look at her, because for the moment he didn’t want to bring any attention to his mate. If his family realized that she was responsible for his disappearance things could become furry quickly. He wanted to discuss that with his parents privately, especially since he was not home to stay. That bit would break his mother’s heart, particularly when he couldn’t promise when or how often he would be returning. That was in the hands of the Argona queen.
“Rym, my son! It pleases me to see you are in noble health.”
“I am, father.” Rymingten received the robust hug and hearty pat on the back from his sire. He then went around and greeted all of his brothers and sisters.
“Whom might this be accompanying you?”
Turning around, he wasn’t surprised that his mother had zeroed in on Krysteena.
“Welcome, visitor. I am Lyra, Queen of Kitcy. You are..?”
“Blessings from the galaxy gods to you.” Krysteena gave a nod to acknowledge his mother as she stepped forward. “I am—”
“Krysteena of Argona. My mate.”
A gasp went up among the crowd surrounding them, followed by murmurings and questions.
Rymingten rushed back toward Krys and stood beside her, taking her hand in his. He could feel the tension in her grasp. It would not take him to read her mind to know as a warrior woman, she had most likely been offended that he had spoken up for her. However, that was something they could discuss at a later time. Right now, he needed to tread lightly in how he broke the full news to his family.
“Your mate?” His mother looked back at her mate, the King, then fixed her gaze on him again. “How can this be when your family was not in attendance to bear witness to the joining?”
Tension and heat seared his body from the shame of not giving honor to his father and mother when he brought a mate under his protection. Even with the extenuating circumstances he still felt the weight of the guilt. He wasn’t sure how Krysteena received the communication between he and his mother, because he kept his gaze from her. It was best at this time.
“My Queen and King. The journey has been arduous. Is it possible we may take refreshment in the home of my family and discuss what is necessary there.”
Dylin, the King answered him. “Hospitality is extended.” The king turned and thanked everyone who had made their way to the River Cree to welcome his youngest son’s return and bid them good day, promising a festival soon.
Rymingten wasn’t sure about that. As much as he would have loved for his mate to see how they celebrated on his planet, he wasn’t sure how long he could press her to remain on Kitcy. A celebration was the last thing on his list. His mind was calculating the best way to tell his King and Queen about his capture without them shifting and ripping Krysteena apart—causing an inner galactic war.
“Let us adjourn.” His mother made a wide sweeping motion with her hand toward the path that led into the heart of the city where the royal palace was located. She shifted into a cream-hued female cat and headed off in a regal prance.
Soon everyone changed and followed the leading of the queen. His father hung back and accompanied him and Krysteena into the city.
~YH~
“You were what?” The booming question of the king filled the large chamber where all the family was gathered.
They had already eaten and the servants had been dismissed for a while for more discretion to talk.
“Abducted.” Rymingten stated again, even though it was clear by the anger and tension flowing around his father that his king had heard him clearly.
“For what purpose?” his mother asked.
“Was this an attempt to control the hand of the King? Ransom possibly?” This inquiry came from his oldest brother Kiran, heir to the throne once their father’s spirit journeyed to meet the galaxy gods.
This part was what he had dreaded. Even though he had been forced to join with Krysteena, she was his mate in every way now and he desired only to protect her. But, he had to be honest with his King and Queen.
“No currency. Not to guide the hand of the Kitcy King…but for procreation,” he clarified.
Instantly his mother’s head snapped right and she fixed her intuitive gaze toward the female on the long seat beside him.
“Perhaps Krysteena and her people aided you in your escape from those that laid siege upon you?” his mother offered.
“No.” Rymingten replied. The tension in the room elevated by his confession. He could tell it was beginning to dawn on his family the role Krysteena possibly had played in his being taken away.
From the corner of his eye he could see his mate was continuously stroking her braid that lay over her shoulder and pooled in her lap. He wasn’t fool enough to believe she was doing it out of nervousness, meteor shower hell no. His mate was a warrior, just as much a warrior as any in his family, she was keeping herself on guard. Krysteena was prepared for an attack.
“You’re not telling us that this female is the one who stole you away, are you?” This time it was Styla the youngest of his older siblings, and the only female of his parents’ eight offspring.
He glanced at his sister. Her face, unlike others in the room, was beaming with humor. “It is more complicated than that, Sty.”
“Oh, this is stardust having rich.” There was a smile on her face now. Her mate Dunkin, rubbed her knee, most likely attempting to keep her hilarity from spilling over.
Rym’s king stepped forward, away from his queen’s side where he had been standing. “Tell me, how it is possible that you were even captured when there was no report of any vessel entering our atmosphere.” Arms folded over his massive, broad chest, he waited.
“My people do not need to use physical methods to transport things or people from one place to another.” Krysteena spoke up, her hand pausing for a brief second while she spoke.
“How is that possible?” His mother leaned forward, eyeing Krysteena hard with both rage and curiosity filling her gaze.
“Argonians are majji, mother.” Even though he replied to his queen, he made sure that his voice was loud enough to carry throughout the room.
Whispers and more questions filled the chamber.
“Everyone out! Clear the room!” That booming directive came from their father and king and no one hesitated in departing from the scene.
Rymingten took hold of Krysteena’s hand and was prepared to exit as well.
“You two sit.”
Rymingten watched as his siblings and their mates kissed the queen on her cheek one at a time before walking out. Once the last person stepped through the automatic panel and it sealed behind them, Rymingten expected his father to open up on what he was thinking. His king’s features were set in a blank mask, not giving away any of his inner thoughts.
“What issue lies before us, Dylin?” His mother rose from the seat across from him and Krysteena and glided up beside her mate.
Turning to his mate, his father cupped her cheek. “The caves of history.”
Rymingten saw his mother’s features go from confusion to bewilderment. Not comprehending the hidden communication that transpired between his parents, he just continued to hold Krysteena’s hand, offering her his comfort, and watching.
“Who would have conceived that after so many millenniums it would even be possible,” his mother gazed over at them.
“I’m not sure if anything can come of it…alter the way things are, but I have to find out, in case there is cause to warn the people.”
“Warn them?” Rymingten released Krysteena and rose. “What is going on, father?”
Moving to him, his king placed a hand upon his shoulder. “As the youngest of my cats, this is something you would have never been privy to. For generations what I will show you has been the deepest and most precious secret of every king as far back as can be remembered. Your older brother will know as time grows closer for him to take the throne and one day h
is oldest and so forth.”
A heaviness swelled inside of Rymingten and pressed down in his gut. For the first time since his abduction and trying to return to his planet, he wondered if he should have returned at all, maybe he should have just stayed gone. Let his family believe him dead.
“Tell me, my king.”
His father reached out and clutched his forearm. “It is better that I show you.”
~YH~
“I never even realized this entrance was here.” Rymingten stood with his father and Krysteena at the narrow mouth of a cave at the top of the highest mountain—Madul Peak. Madul could be clearly seen from anywhere in the city, but few ever journeyed to it. And definitely not this high up.
He and his father could have shifted and run it. He could easily have allowed Krysteena to ride his back. However, they had traveled in a small heli vessel to ensure quick arrival.
“That is the point. No one but Kings discuss it or have directions to it.” Holding out one of two flat disks his father had carried from the craft, the king pressed his palm against the center until it started to glow. He gave it to Rymingten and then performed the same act to the second one that he kept. “Let’s enter.”
Rymingten allowed Krysteena to follow his father first. The passage was slim but still wide enough to allow them to go in with ease, space on the sides to spare. Kitcy was already cooler than Argona but inside the mountain the temperature dropped several degrees and it was damp.
“Are you all right, Krysteena?” He slipped an arm up her spine and over her back when he saw her shiver.
“I’m all right. Just takes a little getting used to. Argona is always hot.”
Yes, it is. He could deal with it, but his cat would always prefer the milder climate. If he could think of a way to have them stay on Kitcy he would discuss it with her. Besides, she was the next in line to rule her planet, where he was the youngest child and would never lead the people. However, he could not see ever going back into that collar-like ring again.
“It will be warmer once we get further into the mountain.” The king held his light disk out before him illuminating the rocky walls around them.
Scandalous Heroes Box Set Page 147