The speech was said with such confidence and surety that she had no doubt he would do just that. Jenna swallowed nervously at his continued stare. When he didn’t look away, she nodded to signify she understood. Ivar nodded once and again led the way forward.
“So, Ivar,” Jenna interrupted. “Or should I call you Lord Ivar since you all keep calling me m’lady?”
“You may call me either, Lady Jenna,” Ivar said, easily leaping over a thick tree root growing across the path.
“I’m a little unclear about what being a ward entails.” Jenna leaned over to brace her hands as she crawled over the root. Dusting them, she hurried to catch up to Ivar. The sound of Rafe’s feet landed behind her.
“You are under my protection,” Ivar said, again leaping over an obstruction in the path.
“Yes, I get that part. But what am I expected to do?” Jenna again had to climb over a tree root.
“Act honorably,” Ivar stated as if such a thing should have been obvious. He leaped over two more roots.
Jenna stopped walking and put her hands on her hips as he kept going.
“May I assist you?” Rafe asked, touching her arm.
“Is he obtuse on purpose or just a…” Jenna bit her lip. She almost called Ivar an “ass” but thought better of it. He was her protector, after all.
“He is…” Rafe searched for the right word. “He is burdened.”
“Burdened?”
“Yes. By duty, by family expectations…” Rafe offered his hand to help her step onto the root.
“And you are not burdened?”
“It is my duty to see to it my brother does not take life so seriously.” Rafe stepped up and over before assisting her a second time.
“It is your duty to aggravate me,” Ivar yelled back at them. He’d stopped and waited for them to finish climbing over the tree roots.
“How did he hear that?” Jenna whispered. “You weren’t speaking very loudly.”
“Shifters have extraordinary hearing compared to humans.” Rafe’s eyes flashed, changing color. A tiny shiver of pleasure worked its way through her, and she tried to hide her attraction to him under the pretense of dusting her hands on her pant legs. “As well as vision.”
“Stop harassing my ward,” Ivar said.
Rafe chuckled. He glanced over her. “I am sorry I did not have a gown ready for you when you arrived. I promise you will have everything you need as soon as we arrive home.”
“She is my ward,” Ivar corrected. “I will see to what she needs.”
Jenna held her arms self-consciously tight to her body. Did she look that much of a mess? Her shirt was wrinkled from having slept in her clothes. The walking had caused her to sweat a little, even though the temperature was moderate. She ran her fingers through her hair to comb it out. They hit a tangle, and she grimaced.
The path straightened, and they could again walk with ease. Rafe fell into step beside her.
“Does it hurt when you change into Var?” she asked, thinking of Rafe’s shifting eyes.
“We do not change into Var,” Ivar said. “We are Var.”
“No, it does not hurt to shift,” Rafe answered. “Being in cat form can often be more relaxing.”
“How so?” Jenna asked.
“We are not expected to wear clothes.” Rafe winked at her.
Jenna coughed in surprise at the bold statement.
“Rafe,” Ivar scolded.
“Sorry,” Rafe mumbled, before saying to Jenna, “We are not expected to wear clothes, m’lady.”
Jenna couldn’t help herself. She laughed. It didn’t take much to deduce the family dynamics. The overly serious older brother was probably constantly scolding a mischievous younger brother who in turn became more rebellious. She probably shouldn’t encourage Rafe’s mischief, but she found herself saying, “So basically you’re telling me there are a bunch of naked cats and dragons running around the planet?”
“No, m’lady,” Ivar answered. “Draig remain clothed when they shift. As Var, we have the option of shifting partially into a man-cat—”
“Like I showed you outside the diner,” Rafe inserted.
“—or completely into our animal form. As a man-cat, we can remain clothed. As a feline, we do not.”
Rafe held up a finger. The tip extended into a pointed claw. He plucked lightly at the cross laces going down his chest. One pull and he’d cut out of his shirt almost instantly. “Would you like a demonstration?”
As much as Jenna did want to see such a thing, she looked at the commanding Ivar’s back and said, “No, thank you.”
They continued on. The forest became dense, and she dropped behind Rafe before he could let her go first. It was her turn to study him. There was an ease to which Rafe moved which could only be called a feline grace. His motions were smooth and confident. Ivar also had confidence, but his gait was more militant as if a heavy weight pressed down on him.
The path continued to narrow. Brush pressed along her left and marsh water spread out to the right. Her pace slowed, and she looked down to watch where she stepped. Seeing motion in front of her, she glanced up. Rafe had jumped off the ground and swung forward on a branch only to land with ease and keep going.
Jenna lost her footing and stumbled, slipping into the murky marsh water. The surface rippled. She started to laugh at her misstep when she noticed the water didn’t stop rippling. Peeks of red streaked around her sunken foot.
“Snakes,” Jenna whispered, trying to get Rafe’s attention. He’d moved up ahead. Her legs trembled. She slowly lifted her hand toward him. “Snakes.”
Jenna had no way of knowing if the creatures were dangerous, but they swarmed her calf aggressively, brushing against her pant leg. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. Her eyes met Rafe’s concerned ones. He turned his attention to the water.
“Don’t move,” he ordered. Rafe tapped his toes against the water several times. The swarm surfaced and darted away to hunt his foot. “Lift out.”
Jenna obeyed as Rafe darted forward to steady her on the narrow path. Her heart beat hard. “I assume those are poisonous. Thank you.”
Rafe brushed her hair from her face. His gaze held hers, and the familiar tingle of his nearness erupted all over her body. “I would battle a thousand givres for you, m’lady.”
“Givre?”
His thumb moved along her bottom lip, and it was hard to concentrate past it. “You said snake? Yes, they are venomous.”
Jenna looked at his mouth, remembering what it felt like when he kissed her. She wanted him to do it again. Her breathing deepened and she waited for him to dip forward.
“You protector is turning around to see why we’re taking so long.” Rafe dropped his hand from her face but kept a steady hold on her arm. “Let me help you past. It won’t be much longer now.”
* * *
Rafe looked for any excuse to touch Jenna, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted her in his arms. He wanted to kiss her and touch her without the stares of his disapproving brother. None of this was as it should be. Jenna was meant to be his. Only the gods could have created such perfection for him. He wasn’t looking for her, but he’d found her, and he wasn’t going to let her go.
Jenna was his and in turn he was hers. For the rest of his days, he belonged to her. Three days ago he would have laughed at the very notion of such a feeling. Three days ago he’d been a complete and utter fool. He felt Jenna with every inch of his soul. How could Ivar not see it? How could Jenna not admit to their connection?
Rafe glanced to his side, wanting to again stroke his fingers along her magnificently red hair. Though he was confused by her reluctance, he was not disheartened. He would continue to offer himself to her, and she would one day accept. He just hoped that day was soon.
Chapter 11
“This is your home?” Jenna stood at the gates of a castle that looked like it popped out of the Middle Ages and into reality.
They had come to a red wall constructed of e
arthen bricks in the forest and walked along the side until the stone opened to reveal a palace in a clearing. Trees surrounded the path that led around the outside wall. The red earthen wall matched the rectangular configuration of the castle. The corners had been built up into square towers, and narrow chimneys reached alongside them with gray smoke filtering from the tops. Bridges connected the tops of the towers, long open walkways that made her knees weak just looking up at them. If someone was to fall, it would be at least a fourteen story drop to their death.
Lights radiated from the roof like a spotlight into the sky, dissipating into the expanse of green-blue overhead. It created a halo over the castle. Banners fluttered in the breeze along the length of the towers, held down so they didn’t blow away. The Earth medieval-influenced design of a big gold cat stood boldly against the purple background. It made sense. They did say they used to live on Earth during that time.
Four sets of balconies circled around the main structure, one on each of the second to fifth stories. They were cut into the building rather than jutting out, shaded from the sunlight in sections with long strips of white gauze. She watched people walk past the openings in the material, none seeming to stop to look at them. A shout sounded as one man leaned over his balcony to look up. A woman waved down at him. Jenna’s breath caught when the figure climbed onto the ledge and then leaped up to the next floor by way of the outside wall. The jump would have been impossible for a human man, but she was pretty sure she detected the guy to shift—though it was too far to see details.
“They are not supposed to go that way,” Ivar stated in irritation.
“Seriously, you live here?” Jenna asked.
“Yes,” Rafe said.
“But it’s like a palace. Or are they apartments?” She squinted, seeing what could have been movement across the bridge walkway. It was too far for her to be sure.
“And I told you outside the diner, I am a prince.” He motioned that she should walk through the front gate after Ivar. “Of course I would live in a palace.”
“Yes, you did,” she allowed, “but I have been focusing on the alien-catshifter-dragonshifter part of that conversation.”
Alien. Catshifter. Prince.
Jenna again hesitated and stopped walking.
“And when you accept me in marriage you will be a princess.” Rafe smiled and stroked a piece of hair off her face.
Alien. Catshifter. Prince. Potential husband.
Out of all of those things, potential husband scared her the most. Though it was impossible, Jenna felt as if his fingers skimmed her nerves instead of strands of her hair. His eyes shifted color, and she couldn’t look away. She shivered to feel his pull.
“So that must mean your parents are…” Jenna began, trying to keep her wits.
“King Ainmire and Queen Lassairfhina,” Ivar stated. The stern tone effectively broke through her growing daze.
“Of course. King and queen.” She swallowed nervously. Her mind whirled with thoughts. Rafe wanted to marry her. He wanted her to be a princess. She was to meet royalty. She was under the protection of royalty. So she’d be a curiosity to the people here. They’d be watching her, judging. Did they have tabloids here? Was she going to be in the spotlight? She didn’t want to be in the tabloid spotlight. Well, as a human, they might be watching her anyway. And then there were those who didn’t want her tainting their planet. Would she be safer at the palace with guards and stuff? Or would she be a bigger target to be made an example off. They did kidnap Princess Eve, so royalty didn’t seem to stop them. And Rafe wanted to marry her and make her a princess. And…and…and…
Jenna took a step back toward the gate. Her breathing deepened and she tried not to hyperventilate. She slowly shook her head. “I shouldn’t be here?”
“You’re right. You should be inside.” Rafe placed his fingers on her elbow to urge her forward. Her thoughts were too scattered to protest. Each time she tried to hesitate, he would nudge her to walking.
The path leading up to the palace doors was flanked by floral ground cover. The tiny dots of white, gold and red colors spread over the yard. She took slow steps, trying to breath, trying to slow her pounding heart, still not sure she wanted to go inside while knowing she didn’t have anywhere else to go.
The lights on top of the castle became brighter. Jenna stopped moving and looked up.
“Who arrives?” Rafe asked, not prodding her forward like before.
“It looks as if Roswell is delivering the new equipment I have negotiated for,” Ivar answered.
A flying saucer dropped down from the sky. It didn’t make any noise as it slowly descended on the rooftop, which was apparently a landing pad. It passed through the bridges and towers. Wind stirred, rushing against her body. Rafe placed his hand on back in a supportive gesture to keep her from stumbling.
When the wind died down, Ivar continued, “They are giving us something called a medical bed. It is able to attend wounds and help human frailties. We are also getting a handheld device.”
“What did you trade for it?” Rafe asked.
“Research. Anyone who wishes to use the bed must agree to have their treatments and outcomes reported back to the Reticulans so they may make advancements. It will also report any unknown illnesses for them to study. They were very enthusiastic over the prospect. I also told them about the planet’s reproductive issues. They said they’d look into it as they gather more genetic research information from us.”
“Why do they do it?” Jenna touched her head where the little gray men had fixed her concussion. “What is in it for them?”
“It is their religion to help as many people as they can. They started the Medical Alliance for Planetary Health to carry out that mission. Many aliens have benefited from their research.” Ivar made his way toward the front entrance at a faster pace as the saucer landed out of sight.
“They have medical technology that can save lives, and my people kept asking to be anal probed,” Jenna mumbled dryly. “Way to go, Earthlings. That would be an epic planetary fail.”
They neared the castle entrance. The door had been left wide open, and no one stood guard. Ivar paused at the entrance and placed his hand against a stone. A woman appeared and reached to the side. The ornate pattern of her tunic dress hugged her many curves. The dark brown material matched her eyes. Blonde hair was pulled up to form a braided crown. When the woman touched the wall, the entryway tinted with transparent blue.
“What is that?” Jenna whispered to Rafe.
“It is called a guard shield. It lets the breeze pass, but it keeps intruders from walking inside without permission. The blue means it safe to cross.” Rafe motioned her to go inside.
Jenna hesitated. “And clear means it’s not safe? Then how do you know where it is and where you can walk if it’s clear?”
Rafe tilted his head in question. “You did not see the activated shield?” Jenna shook her head in denial. “That would explain why Princess Eve walked into one. She couldn’t see it with shifter eyes.”
“Is it safe? Does it hurt to—” Jenna began.
Ivar took her wrist and pulled Jenna through the blue-tinted barrier before she could protest. She gasped in fright but didn’t feel anything as she passed into the castle. “See. It is harmless.”
“Ivar, you found a wife!” The woman released her hand from the stone and held out her arms in welcome. Her bright smile lit up her entire face.
“This is my ward,” Ivar corrected. “Lady Jenna, my mother, Queen Lassairfhina.”
“Ward?” The queen frowned and turned her full attention to Jenna.
“It’s nice to meet you, Queen,” Jenna hesitated briefly, “La-sah-ree-nah.”
The queen’s expression fell. “I don’t understand. Did you change your mind once you passed through the portal? What happened? Why do you not wish to marry Prince Ivar? My son is an honorable man. There is no reason you should deny him if that is what the gods want.”
“I, uh…” J
enna looked helplessly at the two brothers. A man joined the queen and Jenna guessed he was King Ainmire by his bearing. That and the fact he brushed the backs of his fingers along the queen’s arm. Age had apparently been very kind to the couple as they hardly looked old enough to be Rafe and Ivar’s parents. King Ainmire could pass as Ivar’s twin except for the shorter hair and scar running down the side of his neck.
“It was not my doing,” Ivar stated. He nodded at Rafe. “Look to your other son for those answers.”
“Rafe brought home a bride?” The king started to laugh, obviously thinking it was a joke. His accent was thicker than the rest of his family, but she understood him.
“If she is Rafe’s wife, then why is she your ward?” The queen eyed both of her sons before settling on the youngest. “What did you do?”
“Rafe?” The king’s laughter died when no one joined him. “What did you do?” Then, turning to eye Jenna with a combination of superiority and pity, he didn’t give his son time to answer. “M’lady, did you follow Rafe through the portal? Did he seduce you and give you the wrong impression of his intentions? You would not be the first to fall for my wayward boy.”
“I, ah…” Jenna stiffened. Was running away an option?
The queen arched a brow, clearly expecting her to answer.
“I didn’t sleep with your son,” Jenna blurted. She might look like a wreck with her tangled hair and dirty clothes, but she still had pride and these people basically accused her of having a one-night stand and not taking a hint the next morning. “I didn’t ask to be brought here.”
Instantly, both parents turned to Rafe with looks of dismay.
“What did you do?” the queen demanded.
“She likes cats and the gods—” Rafe began.
“Communication error,” Ivar broke in. “Lady Jenna is under my protection until she decides to take a husband of her choosing.”
“Which will be me,” Rafe asserted. He smiled at Jenna. “If m’lady so decrees?”
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