by Rosalie Redd
“The mountain we passed a while back may offer some shelter.” He touched the back of his shoulder. Blood coated his fingers. He wiped them on his pants.
“Can you shift?” Aramie bit her cheek, anticipating the worst.
He closed his eyes. The muscles in his face tightened, and he frowned, but he remained in human form. He looked at her and shook his head. “We go, now.”
The pain in his body must be intense to prevent him from changing, but he didn’t complain, didn’t utter one sound. A deep rooted respect for his inner strength caught Aramie off guard, and she caught her breath. There was a reason he was her Pride leader, and he’d proved it once again.
She followed him into the thick forest. The tree branches pulled at her hair, snagged her clothing, but that was part of the experience. She’d run from the sun before.
Boulders lined the area, reminders of the force of the now dormant volcano. A morning fog rose among the trees, cooling her skin. The sign was another reminder the sun would be up in minutes.
They broke into a small clearing. Demir stopped, causing Aramie to run into him.
He gasped and visibly stiffened. She’d hurt him, and her heart ached in response.
A meadow ran to the edge of the mountain, the grass wet from the fog. Through the mist, the snow on the mountain crags gleamed with the light of the morning sun. She’d never seen anything so beautiful.
He turned to her, his eyes intensely scanning her face as if this was the last time he’d see her. A tendril of fear raced into her heart. He cupped her cheek in his palm, the movement gentle and intimate.
“Aramie,” the way he purred her name sent a shiver of delight down her spine, “shift, you can make it before the sun hits the meadow. Find shelter.”
A lump formed in her throat. He wanted her to leave him here. She couldn’t believe it. Tears formed in her eyes, and she shook her head. “N-n-no. I…won’t go without you.”
“You’re wasting time!” His jaw tightened, the muscles flexing under his skin.
“We can make it together. I know we can.” She wouldn’t give up on him—she couldn’t.
“You’re so stubborn.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along as he ran for the mountain’s edge. The wet grass slapped against her pants, her shoes soaked from the damp soil. The fog dissipated into the air. The sun peeked over the tips of the trees casting strange shadows across the meadow.
They were out of time.
A bunch of boulders surrounded the mountain’s edge, evidence of a recent rockslide. Demir crawled over the rubble, inching closer to both the mountain and the sun’s encroaching rays.
Aramie followed, certain they’d find an outcropping of rock or some form of shelter. She couldn’t believe it would end this way—death by the sun. What had she accomplished in her life? She’d raised her sister and stayed away from any true relationship, her fear of being controlled ruling her in its vice-grip. She peered at Demir as they crawled over the rocks. His inner strength and sarcastic wit had crept into her heart. Had she missed out on what could be? Maybe she’d never know. A knot formed in her stomach, squeezing, clenching her insides tight.
They reached the mountain as the sun crested over the trees. The rocks right above her head brightened from the light. She crouched, away from the deadly sun.
“Do you see anything?” Demir glanced at her.
His pale face and red-rimmed eyes reminded her of his injury. He didn’t look good, not that it would matter now.
The solid rock face before them had no opening, not even the slightest overhang from a protruding rock. The sun’s warm rays moved over the rock, forcing them to crouch lower. They only had a few seconds left.
“Demir—” Aramie placed her hand on his shoulder, careful not to touch his injury.
He looked over his shoulder at her and his eyes turned into yellow slits. “Aramie—” He pulled her into his embrace as they crouched against the mountain. His warm scent cascaded over her, and she couldn’t imagine a nicer way to go.
A rumbling shook the ground. Boulders loosened with a loud crack and fell. Demir covered her head and shoulders with his body, protecting her from the debris. Small pebbles pelted Aramie’s arms and legs. Dust rose into the air, shielding them momentarily from the sun.
In the shadows, a small opening appeared. Their salvation. Demir pushed dust and pebbles out of the way, widening the shallow cave’s entrance. He turned to her, pulling her close. “Go.”
She dived into the cave, the sharp rocks scratching her arms in the process. The smell of her own blood permeated the air. She inhaled. Dust coated the back of her throat and she coughed.
Demir! Adrenaline spiked through her system. She scrambled onto her knees, heading for the opening.
A figure filled the entrance to the cave, blocking out the light. The scent of musk and incense competed with the smell of burnt flesh. He slid into the cave, coming to rest by her side. He lay motionless.
Her heartbeat pounded. With shaky hands, she rolled him onto his back. He was still alive, or he’d show signs of disintegration. His pale face was unmarked, his eyes closed. The diamond stud above his lip glittered in the dim light. He seemed at peace.
She glanced over his body, looking for the source of the burn she’d smelled. Black, charred skin on his left hand and forearm made her wince. He’d recover, but the pain would be excruciating.
She shook him gently. “Demir.”
He didn’t respond. She shook him harder this time, but to no avail. He was out cold.
She dragged him over to the soft dirt at the back of the small cave. The shelter itself was barely big enough to contain them. There wasn’t room to stand, so she sat cross-legged, cradling his head in her hands. She’d do whatever she could to make him comfortable. Until nightfall, they were stuck here.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Get me another.” Zedron held up his glass and glanced at Carine.
Her hand clenched around the washrag. Drops of water landed on the deck and soaked into the wood. She didn’t comment, but lowered her chin in a slight nod.
A tratee fly with its brilliantly lit wings buzzed around his head. He grabbed a nearby cloth and swatted at the annoying creature, but it eluded him. The fly circled his head once more before fleeing into the branches of the Rolmdew tree. He looked at Carine and caught the smirk on her face. His cheeks heated.
He tapped the edge of his manicured fingernail against the fine grain of his armrest. The noise would annoy Carine, as Arotaars had extra sensitive hearing. That was fine by him, he enjoyed taunting her. The lounge creaked as he adjusted himself to a more comfortable position.
She wiped her hands on her apron and grabbed the pitcher from the bar. With deliberate strides, she approached, her defiant attitude etched in the fine lines in her face. The orange spots on her skin pulsed lightly, confirming what he’d seen in her expression.
She snatched his drinking glass and poured him some judona ade. The juice in the container didn’t quite fill the glass. She peered at him.
He raised an eyebrow, and smiled. “More would be nice.” If nothing else, he was ever polite and cultured.
The strands of her blue hair crackled.
He had managed to irritate her. A laugh burst from his lips. She couldn’t hide her emotions from him, and he loved that about her.
While he waited for her to return, he studied his surroundings. Leaves whispered in the trees, the dryness a reminder the forest this time of year was a tinderbox. The brief rain they’d had a few days ago was long gone, and the coolness of the night was a gentle reprieve from the relentless Lemurian sun.
“Master, come quickly.” Carine’s soft voice filtered out the open door.
That she called him ‘master’ warmed him on the inside. He bolted from his chair and ran across the deck. A growl from below alerted him to the presence of rhondo beasts. He stopped at the back entrance to his home. A shiver ran over his back. Good thing he was one hundred feet up in a
Rolmdew tree.
“What is it, Carine? Don’t tell me the rhondo beast scared you.” He rolled his shoulders and entered the sitting room with a casual air.
“Look!” She pointed to his visus bacin.
The scrying bowl was his tool for searching out new planets to supply Lemuria with needed resources. It was also used to watch activities unfold when two colonizers battled over the right to colonize a planet. Events could be displayed as they occurred, and sometimes he could get a glimpse of a possible future. The invaluable information could alter the course of the game. His current battle was with Alora, over Earth. Although he couldn’t spy on her directly, he could watch the characters, or see through their eyes.
“Well done, Carine. You are dismissed.”
Her lips pursed, but she did as he asked and left the room.
The water bubbled on the surface of the large stone, froth spitting over the edge and onto the polished wooden floor. This was an indication something had changed in the game.
He skimmed his hand over the surface, allowing the water to guide him. Outlines of tall evergreen trees, shrouded in fog, coalesced in the water. The smell of pine and wetness filtered into his senses. Earth. His skin tingled with anticipation. A meadow spread out between the trees, the sun cresting over the pointy tips.
Two figures, a male with brown hair tied in a queue and a female with short, dark hair, ran for the safety of the mountain. Zedron tensed. Demir and Aramie—Alora’s characters. Their frantic pace indicated the depths of their anxiety for getting caught in the waning moments of daybreak.
The vision shifted. A pale hand with knife-like claws gripped the edge of a branch. The hairless arm and the intense astringent smell were a dead giveaway. Ah, one of my own.
Unlike Alora’s warriors, who suffered the same punishment as their goddess and couldn’t go out in the sun, his fighters had no such restriction. That gave him an advantage in the game, one he exploited every chance he could. He willed the creature to glance back at its prey. It complied.
The couple climbed over boulders and huddled close. Demir stroked Aramie’s face with his hand. How touching. They crouched, away from the impending sunlight. Zedron looked forward to watching them fry.
A loud rumble echoed from the visus bacin.
The mountain shook, and a hole formed in front of the couple. Demir pushed Aramie into the cave. A shaft of sunlight caught his hand and part of his arm. Smoke rose in the air.
The smell of burnt flesh wafted into the room.
Demir hunched over, in obvious pain, and then dove into the cave.
The image vanished.
Zedron inhaled and stepped back. The way the cave opened right in front of the couple was no accident. Alora did this—he was sure of it. He smiled. One of the benefits of the visus bacin was the recording device. Everything displayed was saved for future reference. She’d cheated. He had her. How would he use the information?
As for Demir and Aramie, he had faith Ram would take care of them as he’d instructed.
The floor creaked.
Zedron glanced toward the sound. Over the years, he’d come to know every nook and cranny of his home, including every squeak and groan. He rolled his head and eased the stiffness in his neck.
“Come out, Carine. It’s no use hiding.”
Carine stepped out of the shadows between his ornately carved cases. His trophies and favorite collectibles from his colonized planets lined the shelves. Her eyes glowed with her defiance.
“I thought you’d learned, but apparently not.” He stared at the ceiling and tapped a finger next to his chin. “What new task shall I give you? What would be fitting punishment?”
She jutted out her chin.
He chuckled. “I know how much your kind detests chilopods.” He had a colony of the small, multi-legged creatures as pets. They secreted venom from tiny fangs. Although the sting wasn’t deadly, the bite caused discomfort. “Come, I have several that need attention.”
She furrowed her brow, but obeyed. He’d break her yet.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Tender fingers stroked Demir’s goatee and the fine hairs over his lip. Aramie. He inhaled, eager to soak in her feline fragrance, the one he’d grown so accustomed to. Her strawberry scent filtered into his brain, along with the stench of burnt flesh. A dull throb started in his hand and raced up his arm.
He wasn’t in a coma, not anymore. Memories crashed down on him. Gossum—sunlight—cave.
He opened his eyes and jerked to a sitting position.
Aramie gasped. “Demir, you’re awake…are you ok?”
He flexed his fingers. The burn had healed, but the pink skin was still sensitive. “I’m fine.”
With a glance, he took in her features, assessing the damage. A few cuts and bruises in the last stages of regeneration marred her face and arms. Dark circles rimmed her eyes. She needed rest and food. He wanted to provide for her, but with the burning sun outside, all he could do was ferment in his own frustration.
He peered around the small cave, their safe haven for the day. They were lucky. If the rockslide hadn’t uncovered the cave, they’d be dead.
“You’re not fine.” She narrowed her eyes, evaluating him. “Your shirt is damp from blood, do you want me to take a look at—”
“I said I was fine.” The last thing he wanted was for her to see the skin on his back.
She sighed and rubbed her eyes.
The bite mark over his shoulder burned, the heat so intense, spikes of pain pounded into his brain. He touched the spot through the torn shreds of his shirt. Blood leaked onto his hand, and he wiped it onto his pants. “How long was I unconscious?”
She swallowed and turned her attention to him. “A few hours, I’d guess. I cat-napped a couple of times, so it’s hard to tell.” As she pushed to a kneeling position, she stretched her arms over her head, her fingers pressing against the cave’s ceiling.
He couldn’t help but admire how her firm breasts strained against her tight shirt. The smooth skin of her abdomen peeked from beneath the hem, and he longed to run his hand over the concave flesh, stroking her until she purred. He swallowed and forced himself to return his attention to her face.
Her cheeks reddened. She shivered, visible goosebumps forming on her arms. “I can’t wait to leave.”
Demir glanced out the cave’s opening. The sun’s rays still penetrated the rocks at the entrance. “Looks like we’ll be here for a while. Got any cards?”
Her strained laughter filled the small space, and her shoulders relaxed.
The sound penetrated into his chest and warmed him on the inside. At least his joke had helped relieve some of her stress.
“Nope, not a one.” The smirk on her face erased some of the tiredness from her eyes. Her lips quivered with amusement. Memories of their kiss and her warm, soft body pressed against him made his heart pound. Blood rushed through his veins.
She must’ve sensed his intense stare, for her smile faded, and she pulled at her bottom lip with her teeth. Absolutely irresistible, he couldn’t resist her. He tensed, eager to take control.
She focused on something over his shoulder, and her eyes widened. A tremble started in her chin. “No—noooo.”
He turned to look. Nothing but the cave wall.
“I-I’ve got to…” She bolted for the entrance, crawling on her hands and knees. Dirt from the soft earthen floor kicked up in her wake.
“Aramie, no!” Demir grabbed her ankle just in time.
She fought him, kicking her feet with a force he had to admire. Although she was strong, powerful, and full of tenacity, she couldn’t match his strength. He grabbed her other leg and pulled her toward him. “Stop—fighting.”
She landed a heel to his head. The ringing in his ears sounded like a swarm of bees, and he loosened his hold. She bolted for the entrance once again.
He regained enough sense to snag her pant leg. She landed on her side, the air escaping her lungs with a whoosh.
> In her effort to escape the small cave, she flailed on the ground, scratching at the dirt floor. Her head hit a rock near the entrance. The coppery scent of blood permeated the air.
Fear gripped his chest. His breath squeezed from his lungs. Aramie! He crawled over her back and trapped her legs, capturing each of her wrists in his palms. With tender care, he cradled her in his embrace and protected her from further harm.
A small sob escaped her lips and wedged itself into his heart.
“It’s ok, tough stuff. I’ve got you.”
Her chest hitched, her body still trembling. Several seconds ticked by. Finally, her tension subsided, and she relaxed in his arms. Soft strands of hair caressed his face and caught in his goatee. The sensation tickled his skin, teasing him.
“Did you…did you kill it?” The words were a mere whisper, a soft plea.
“Kill what, Aramie?” She feared something, and every male fiber in his being wanted to protect her.
“The s-spider.” A bead of perspiration rolled down her nose and dripped onto the soil.
A wave of understanding hit him in the chest. He’d never known about her fear. She’d always put up such a strong front, he didn’t think she feared anything. A spider, of all creatures.
“I’ll take care of it.” His voice sounded raspy, but he couldn’t hold back his compassion for her. “I’m going to let you go. You won’t run from me, will you?” He needed to be sure she wouldn’t bolt if her anxiety took hold again.
“No. I-I promise.”
His shoulders relaxed. He crouched on all fours and helped her to sit. Small bits of rock clung to her palms. He wiped the dirt away, cleaning her, massaging her skin to take away the sting. Her brown eyes tracked his movements with catlike precision.
“Where did you see the spider?”
She pointed into the dark corner. “It ran under that rock.”