The Forbidden

by Jessie Donovan

  His signature of a feline and hers of the flower with thorns were melded together, with no space in between them. It appeared as one, oval-shaped signature.

  Kalahn spoke again. What does this mean?

  To be honest, I have no idea.

  But whatever it was, it seemed Kalahn had been telling the truth earlier about being within her own mental area. Somehow their two places had become one.

  And the hell if Ryven knew what that meant.

  ~~~

  Kalahn had gone from the high of Ryven kissing and touching her in ways she'd only dreamed of, to him feeling guilty, and then eventually with her at his side, staring at his cat and her flower creating one oval-shaped signature.

  Even being outside the shared space, she sensed his emotions of confusion mixed with fascination.

  When they'd been kissing, she'd felt his every emotion as well, but had put it down to her own desire. After the fact, she started to wonder. Can you tell what I'm feeling right now?

  He didn't hesitate to answer. Yes. But I put it down to you projecting.

  I think it's more than that.

  Retreating inside her—or, rather, their—shields, she used her voice. "I think, somehow, we're now telepathically connected."

  He frowned. "There's nothing in the records about this happening with others, though. Maybe it's my fault, for coaxing out strong emotions before you had a firm grasp on your telepathic abilities."

  She took his chin between her fingers and leaned forward. "My shields never cracked. Up until you stood between my thighs, I was constantly checking them to ensure I didn't broadcast my fantasies."

  "Putting aside your fantasies for the moment, then it must've been something I did."

  "Ryven, stop. Until we talk with a natural born, knowledgeable telepath, neither one of us will truly know what caused it."

  He ran a hand through his short hair. "Kason will kill me for this."

  Releasing his chin, she placed a hand on his chest. "Kason doesn't matter right now. What we need is to find a way to contact someone in the outside world and get answers from someone who understands what's going on."

  He hesitated, and Kalahn did her best to hide her disappointment. However, Ryven's eyes widened and he said, "I'm not doubting your suggestion, Kalahn. But I must think things through." He switched to his telepathic voice. I may have a way to reach someone at the settlement, but it's risky as unknown telepaths could be listening in. I'm skilled in secure transmissions, but there could always be someone better.

  When will you make a decision? The longer we wait, the greater the chance this might be permanent.

  Ryven paused before saying, I'll figure it out soon.

  A pounding on the front door made her jump. Orvar bellowed. "I didn't make the request lightly. If you wait much longer, it will be too late."

  An idea struck Kalahn. Go with Orvar and ask him to deliver a message to Syzel. He can then seek out a telepath inside the Jasvarian colony. I'm sure Taryn will know who to trust.

  Ryven grunted his approval. And it will help to hide our tracks, as the request and inquiry will appear to be Syzel's.

  Exactly.

  Pride at her suggestion emanated off Ryven, and she shifted her position on the counter. "It seems we're going to be sharing a lot with each other for at least the next little while."

  "I'm sure we can reverse it. And you can still try to build your own wall within the space. That might lessen the intensity of the other's feelings. Because the best I can tell, you feel my emotions but don't hear all my thoughts, correct?"

  She bobbed her head. "Words only come through sometimes."

  "That's probably because I always keep up a set of inner shields, just in case. At least try to construct your own while I see what Orvar wants." At another pounding, Ryven sighed. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss. "Regardless of what happened, I don't regret kissing you, Kalahn. Remember that."

  With a wink, Ryven left Kalahn alone in the kitchen. And although she knew he was out of sight, she still sensed his presence nearby.

  While she wanted to know Ryven better, Kalahn wasn't quite ready to have him understand every emotion that flitted through her mind. It was almost more embarrassing than if out of the blue she dropped her dress and stood naked in front of him in full daylight.

  Her best bet was to try and construct her own shield around herself and see if it worked.

  She only had the few experiences and the information she'd read, but she would try her hardest. Because if she couldn't learn how to do this, she wouldn't be able to eventually help her family.

  And so Kalahn closed her eyes and tried her best to construct a new type of shielding.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ryven was still trying to process the strange situation he'd found himself in with Kalahn when he exited their home and came face-to-face with Orvar.

  The male eyed him a second before speaking. "I don't care what you do with the female, but I'm only here as a favor to Taryn. So if you take too long to heed my request next time, I may just leave."

  Ryven took a closer look at Orvar. He'd had yet to see any lightness or joy in the male's eyes. And while Orvar had always been casual, relaxed, or even indifferent in the past, the male currently kept shifting his feet and glancing over at what was the bathing area.

  If not for the monumental problem he had with his and Kalahn's mental signatures melding together, he might ask the male for more details. However, those would have to wait. All Ryven cared about for the moment was getting back to Kalahn's side. "You said this was time sensitive. So, let's get a move on."

  With a grunt, Orvar turned and made a beeline for the exit. Ryven followed, attempting to reinforce the outer shields over him and Kalahn at the same time. He sensed her confusion, but held back on contacting her.

  Ryven had never had a problem balancing a current task with a brief mental exchange in the past, but his and Kalahn's situation was much more complex. He wouldn't risk going into a telepathic trance and losing focus on his physical self, which he suspected could easily happen what with he and Kalahn being connected for the present.

  Right before they exited the main entrance—the one covered by bushes—Orvar put up an arm. "What I'm about to show you is one of the deadliest predators on Jasvar. There's a rare flock of them not far from here."

  "A flock? As in birds?"

  "Yes, you'll see. I need you to be quiet and not step into any streams of sunshine. Their eyes are hypersensitive to changes in light levels, and one misstep could spell your death."

  Ryven was tempted to raise an eyebrow at the possible hyperbole, but managed to keep himself in check. After all, Jasvar was a new planet to him. Maybe there were actual death birds waiting nearby. "I'll follow your lead. But what should I do if they attack?"

  "Play dead. It doesn't always work, but unless you have a crew of hunters firing arrows and throwing spears at the same time, there's not much else you can do. But the predators do prefer to eat their prey alive, and usually walk away once their prey is dead."

  Sadistic death birds might be a better title. "So why are we seeking out these predators in the first place? I imagine a picture and information on signs to watch for would be sufficient."

  Orvar met his gaze. "A picture won't convey the noise or the smell they project. Both are important to memorize, because if you hear or scent them, you need to flee as soon as possible. They don't appear often, which is why we need to hurry."

  Under normal circumstances, Ryven would probably be fascinated with learning about a Jasvarian predator. However, he wanted to test the limits of his new situation with Kalahn and focus on fixing that problem instead.

  Motioning with a hand to follow him, Orvar treaded lightly, careful to make as little sound as possible. It wasn't long before they were deep inside the tree cover. Ryven started to note a few cawing sounds in the distance. Unlike with regular birds, they were in a deep cadence. The louder it bec
ame, the more he wanted to follow it.

  Yes, he should find what animal made it. No animal with such an addictive melody could be harmful.

  Orvar put up a hand and whispered, "As you can tell now, their song attracts people to the source. You must resist it."

  He blinked, the spell broken. "Why didn't you warn me before?"

  "Because sometimes you need to experience something to truly make a warning stick. And I would've ensured you didn't get too close, either."

  The brief conversation had brought back his wits, and Ryven committed the cawing to memory. If he ever heard it, he would plug his ears and turn around as soon as possible in the future.

  Orvar motioned them onward again. This time Ryven was careful to notice any sounds or smells, and to analyze them rather than simply ignore them as part of nature. Although given how everything smelled different from his home on Keldera, it was borderline overwhelming to keep track of it all.

  When the cawing was almost unbearable to his ears, a sweet scent bombarded his senses. Tapping Orvar's shoulder, he garnered the male's attention. Ryven touched his nose and raised his eyebrows. Orvar nodded.

  So the flock of doom awaiting them both hypnotized with sound and tempted with scent.

  Orvar halted them about ten feet from the edge of the tree line, to a spot hidden mostly by bushes and undergrowth. It was then Ryven saw them.

  The iridescent feathers of the people-sized birds glinted in the sunshine, reflecting every color. If Orvar hadn't warned him of the danger, he would've thought the birds beautiful and harmless. After all, they merely stood on the ground, occasionally pecking at the dirt. Each time they did, the longer feathers on top of their heads flopped around as if it were hair.

  The blue beaks and legs were the final touch to the beautiful predators.

  The wind blew and Ryven was accosted with a sweet scent. At the same time, the birds began to sing in unison, almost as if they knew the wind would start to bring in their prey.

  One pig-like beast tottered from the woods and into the bright sunshine. In a matter of seconds, the flock of eight birds surrounded it, pecked furiously as the beast tried to run away, and then retreated.

  When they cleared, all that was left of the creature was bone.

  Ryven had faced many dangers over the course of his life, but never an animal that could clean a carcass so quickly.

  Orvar met his gaze and raised his brows. Ryven nodded—he'd seen enough and understood the dangers.

  The male turned back and Ryven began to follow. However, after a few steps, large branches tumbled down from above and crashed into the ground. He'd barely jumped out of the way before Ryven realized he was no longer hidden by the undergrowth.

  On top of that, the midmorning sunlight bathed him from head to toe.

  The birds were on him in an instant. As sharp beaks torn his flesh, his every instinct was to scream and flee.

  But somehow, he ignored the intense pain, gritted his teeth, and did his best to flop to the ground and play dead.

  He swore some of the birds backed away and stopped ripping off his skin.

  However, the world went dark before he could be sure.

  ~~~

  Kalahn barely finished her attempt at constructing an inner wall around her half of the mental area when pain, such intense agony, crashed over her.

  She instantly crouched to the ground and screamed.

  Almost as quickly as it came, the hurting ceased. Catching her breath, she dismantled her new wall and reached out to Ryven. Ryven? Are you okay?

  Silence.

  Please answer me.

  Again, no response. She moved closer to his flickering presence in their shared space. If he were dead, she surely wouldn't be able to sense him. Right?

  While she had a feeling it went against every rule of conduct for telepaths, she brushed against Ryven's presence.

  Within seconds, a lifetime of memories rolled over her. To the point that Kalahn couldn't keep up. All she could do was lay there and experience them.

  Ones of Ryven with his parents, laughing in the garden.

  Another of him holding a motionless small girl in a dirty building as he cried.

  Kason inviting him to the palace for the first time and Ryven feeling out of place.

  His first kiss with Kalahn, and the guilt of his fantasies.

  Kalahn brushing his mind for the first time.

  A flock of giant birds descending on him as they tore at his flesh.

  When the nothingness finally came, Kalahn opened her eyes and tried to catch her breath. She didn't remember laying on the ground, but she was content to remain that way as she tried to regain her own mind.

  Because instead of just her memories, she now had Ryven's. That also meant his knowledge, too.

  Timelines then warred with each other, each side wanting to take center stage as her own personal timeline.

  As minutes ticked by, Kalahn curled onto her side and put her hands to her head. If she didn't learn how to control and manage her own thoughts, she would lose herself. While she cared for Ryven, she didn't want his memories to erase her own.

  Gathering her mental muscle, Kalahn created an imaginary vault and slowly separated Ryven's memories from her own. She had no idea how long she sorted through them, but she was only partially done when a guard's voice broke through. "Princess, are you all right?"

  With what remained of her waning willpower, she closed the mental vault and waited. When it looked to hold, she blinked her eyes open. It took a second to make her voice work. "Ryven's in danger. Help him."

  The guard's brows came together. "How do you know that?"

  "Just trust me. Find him."

  "Not until I know you're well."

  She put out a hand and he helped her sit up. Her head pounded, but she did her best to keep her markings a neutral color and emotion free from her face. "I'm well enough. Just please check on Ryven and Orvar."

  "As you wish, your highness. But I will go alone. However, the other guard will stay and monitor the entrance. Shout if you need anything."

  The guard saluted and left Kalahn alone once more.

  Raising her knees, she laid her arms and head on them. She closed her eyes and returned to her and Ryven's shared mental space. While Ryven's presence was weaker, he was still there. Ryven, someone is coming to help you. Please, hold on.

  There was no reply.

  If his final memory with the birds was true, then Ryven was severely injured and he would need medical help.

  Kalahn had only minimal first aid training.

  But then an idea struck. No matter if she wanted them or not, she had Ryven's memories as well. It was worth sorting through them to see if she could find anything to help him.

  Slowly, she opened and stepped inside her mental vault. Images came in quick succession, of not only first-aid training but field medic training. Ryven wasn't a doctor, but a video-like sequence played out of him staunching bleeding, sewing up a deep cut by hand, and a variety of other tasks using the Kelderan laser instruments.

  When the pictures stopped, she took a deep breath, moved out of the vault again, and tried to process what she'd just seen. It was surreal to see things from someone else's point of view.

  But while helpful, Kalahn had no idea of the extent of Ryven's injuries, and field medic training might not be enough. She might have to reach out to Syzel for help.

  Even though she'd never tried to contact someone so far away, she now had the information via Ryven. However, she wouldn't risk the connection unless she had to. Kalahn had already used up an enormous amount of energy separating memories. Given what she'd read earlier, a telepath could overexert themselves to the point they burned out.

  And sometimes that meant the telepath would be turned into a motionless vegetable.

  No. She wouldn't allow that to happen. Ryven needed her.

  Finally standing up, it took a few seconds to keep her balance. Once she had it, Kalahn quickly assembled
as many items as she could find to help with first aid and triage. She was just about to race out and check the other buildings in the area when Orvar's voice echoed inside the extinct volcano's walls. "Princess Kalahn!"

  Racing out of the house, she missed a step when she saw Ryven's body propped between Orvar and the guard's.

  He was covered in makeshift bandages, most of them seeped with blood. His head lolled around, as if he were dead.

  Orvar grunted. "He's alive. But I need medical supplies. Go get them."

  At Orvar's order, she snapped back to the present. "I have as many as I could find in the kitchen. Come on."

  The Kelderan male didn't blink twice at her statement. Either her brother Kason or Ryven must've shared her tendency to defy Kelderan female norms.

  Still, she didn't have time to think much on it as she raced into the house and helped Orvar and the guard get Ryven onto one of the counters in the kitchen.

  The next hour was a blur as Orvar barked orders and Kalahn fetched supplies. As often as she could, Kalahn murmured encouragement to Ryven via telepathy. He never responded, but she had to believe it helped.

  By the time Orvar finally stepped back and surveyed his work, he, Kalahn, and the guard were covered in Ryven's blood.

  Orvar placed two fingers at Ryven's pulse. "It's slow, but steady. The next few hours will be the most dangerous." He met Kalahn's gaze. "I don't wish to leave you, but there are some medicinal herbs I need to find as soon as possible. Otherwise, infection and fever will set in."

  As the adrenaline left her body, Kalahn struggled to stand upright, so she leaned against a counter and motioned a hand toward the door. "Go, Orvar. The guards and I can watch over him in shifts. When you get back, you can tell me everything that happened. Just one last thing before you leave—will reaching out to Kason and Taryn help at all?"

  Orvar nodded. "Since the colony transport ship is still in orbit, the Kelderan medical supplies and devices could greatly speed up the healing process. However, I need to stabilize him first and then I'll race to the settlement."