Stolen By The Warrior

by C. J. Brookes

  She’d seen that same purple-red glow before. But that didn’t mean it was safe.

  A woman was thrust through the cloud, her arms wrapped tightly around a small, dark-haired child.

  Kindara.

  Kindara was followed quickly by a man bigger than Aodhan. The creature—she didn’t think he was a vampire, since his skin was almost cherry red—held Aodhan’s sister tightly in his arms.

  He was huge, at least a few inches taller than Aodhan and even more muscled.

  The cloud closed behind him as Kindara fought to reach the cloud again. Screaming something. Something that sounded like…Rathan’s name.

  Mallory heard her family’s surprised questions, but she ignored them, heading straight toward Aodhan. Someone else would have to explain this new paranormal world they were all in now. Not her. Aodhan needed her.

  He’d just noticed his sister and had started running. Mallory was terrified of what he would find when he reached Aureliana’s side.

  63

  “I heard the Beansidhe,” Aureliana told Aodhan as Mallory helped her remove her robe and replace it with a clean vestis and pardus almost an hour later. The big man—a demon who claimed to be Rathan’s brother—had carried her to her suite. He’d disappeared quickly, after ordering Aureliana to take better care of herself from then on. “She was wanting me but couldn’t get in through the realm barrier. The coldest, most frightening thing I’ve ever experienced.”

  “Yet you managed to escape her.”

  “Yes. For now. I don’t know, Aod. She may come back. She was not happy to not get my soul.”

  Mallory shivered. “And she won’t quit?”

  “We don’t know. No one has ever escaped a Beansidhe before. But if she wanted Auri, why did she not take her soul that first night? I just do not know.” Aodhan hugged his sister after she was redressed. He straightened the blankets over Aureliana’s bed. “I’m not sure how you did.”

  “I heard her and knew she was coming. Until she reached some type of barrier. I think it was because of the realm difference. She was angry, a lot like when she can’t get to someone to deliver her message.”

  “And she wasn’t just trying to deliver a message to you? The first Beansidhe did say something about a child. Could she have referred to that demon’s daughter?” Aodhan stood next to the bed, his sword on his hip and worry for his sister in his eyes.

  “I don’t know. And I don’t want her to return for me to find out. Had Rathan’s castle not been under attack I would have stayed there. At least until we heard about what happened to Bronwen.”

  “What happened to Bronwen?” Aodhan asked.

  “I’m not certain. You’ll have to ask Kindara.” Aureliana’s eyes were drooping, and she seemed so weak compared to how she’d been when she left.

  Mallory tried not to worry for Theo’s sister. But she was more naïve than Mickey, and nearly blind. She had been left behind in the world of demons. The entire resort was in an uproar trying to figure out what to do about that. And how to get the young woman back.

  Mallory took the hand Aodhan held out to her and let him pull her to her feet. Aureliana definitely needed to rest. “We’ll go. Let you sleep. Do you need anything else?”

  “No. I’m just glad to be back in my world. The demon world was not what I expected.”

  “I just wish Kindara had had time to finish the search she started,” Aodhan said. Mallory knew what he meant. Kindara had traveled to Rathan’s home world to find medicines for the Dardaptoan people. But she hadn’t been gone long enough to accomplish much of anything. “That information she found could have been invaluable.”

  “Rathan swore he’d come back for her,” Aureliana said around a yawn. “I believed him. He really has it bad for her.”

  “Does she care about him?” Aodhan asked. “I’ve never heard of such a thing as a gamata bond between a demon and a Dardaptoan.”

  “She’d better care about him,” Aureliana said, bluntly. “At least for the next twenty years or so. They’ve made a demon babe together. Or a spawn, as he calls it. Kindara is freaking out, considering what happened to her before.”

  Mallory’s eyes widened as Aodhan cursed. She hadn’t heard that. Rathan was going to be a daddy? With Kindara? It made since; he’d been all about the blond healer after Kindara had been found with him. Almost obsessive.

  “Does Cormac know?”

  “Yes. That behemoth warrior demon who carried me back here told him.” Aureliana closed her eyes and winced when she shifted. She’d been stabbed, apparently. By a longsword. She hadn’t told her brother who’d wielded that sword yet. Mallory tilted her head toward the door. It was time they left. Aodhan nodded once in agreement.

  “Rest, Auri. Your brother and I will be back later to check on you.”

  “See you later, little sis.” Aureliana said, weakly.

  Aodhan kissed his sister’s forehead. “I’m posting a guard outside your door. No more Beansidhe visits for you.”

  “A futile attempt, brother. But one that is appreciated. Now go. I’m sure you have more to do than babysit me.”

  Aodhan started from the bed, then turned back. “One more thing? Just who exactly stabbed you?”

  Aureliana yawned one more time before answering. “The big demon who brought me here…he’s a bit impulsive, apparently.”

  “Do I need to kill him for you?”

  She shook her head. “Don’t worry about him. I’m certainly not going to think about him ever again. Not ever again. Not even once.”

  Somehow, Mallory got the feeling Aureliana meant the exact opposite. Something had happened in the demon world; now they had to figure out just exactly what that was.

  64

  “Do you think the Beansidhe will come back?” Mallory asked as she and Aodhan walked through the gardens later that evening. “For her?”

  “I think that the Beansidhe would have taken her if the Beansidhe wanted to. There has never been reports of someone escaping the Beansidhe. And our people keep very detailed reports. No. I think the Beansidhe was after Auri to deliver a message.” He leaned over a flower bed and picked a night-blooming blossom. It was of a plant she’d never seen before. He handed it to her casually.

  “To her? Or to your family in general?” Mallory’s fingers wrapped around the blossom carefully. It was the first he’d ever given her, and she treasured it for its simplicity.

  “We’ll find out. Beansidhe are the most determined beings in this world. They will not stop until their mission is complete.”

  “So it will come.”

  “Yes. Eventually. Anywhere from tonight to sometime next century. Beansidhe know no time but their own.”

  “So we have to wait. And wonder.”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “How can you be so accepting of all these things? Beansidhe, demon babies, your sister being stabbed with a demon sword! These kinds of things aren’t supposed to happen in the real world.”

  “Ah, but who said these things are not part of the real world? They have been a part of my world far longer than the humans have.”

  “I suppose. We should go inside. Try to work out who it is threatening my family.” Mallory didn’t want to go inside, to end the moment. A calm had settled over the resort that she didn’t want to shake. Her family was within its walls, safe and enjoying themselves, though most knew the reprieve from the harsh realities of the things her grandfather had done was only temporary. She, Rand, and Emily had told their fathers and uncles and adult cousins exactly what it was Grandfather had done. They’d even brought out the photographs that had been found. And Joselyn had repeated the information she’d found.

  Her family hadn’t been as surprised to find out that vampires and werewolves and demons existed. Not as surprised as she would have thought. Even Cass had not been surprised, just humming and returning to collecting seeds from the flowers surrounding her.

  Joselyn and Barlaam were studying files they’d found in Grandfath
er’s things—files that referred to Mallory and the rest of her cousins. She and Emily had been part of their grandfather’s control group. As had Rand.

  He’d never known Rand was a Lupoiux.

  But the possibility existed he’d done something to Jade, Cass, and Becca, too. Possibly even the rest of her cousins. Marsh and Mitch and Declan, most likely.

  No one knew for sure.

  Mallory didn’t care. As far as she was concerned the old man was gone from her life in every way that mattered. But it was left to her and the rest of the family to endure his legacy, to try to make right the things that they could. And restitution for the things that they couldn’t right.

  The Taniss Industries lab dedicated entirely to finding medical cures for the Dardaptoan people would hopefully be a good start.

  Mallory didn’t fool herself into thinking things would be easy. Her grandfather was the worst human the Dardaptoans had ever encountered. Many of the hotel’s occupants were openly hostile to her and her family; still others were reserved and coldly polite.

  It wasn’t a safe or welcoming place. It wouldn’t be with these threats hanging over the family’s heads.

  But she had Aodhan and that helped. She’d take every opportunity to steal moments with him that she could get. “Kiss me. Right here.”

  “Any particular reason why?” He stepped closer, pulling her chest to chest. Her arms slipped around his neck and she stretched up to get closer.

  “Because…the moon is shining, the garden is blooming out of season, our families are safe, we’re not trying to kill one another, or escape one another, and most of all…we’re together. So kiss me.”

  “Happy to.”

  He did. For several long, beautiful, perfect moments. Mallory didn’t know who pulled away first, but they stepped apart, almost as if of one mind.

  “I think we should check with Barlaam and Joselyn. See if that girl is awake yet. I have a feeling she’ll have some information we need.”

  “And tomorrow, I will interview Nalik. A Dardaptoan is causing all of this; who else would know our unique vulnerabilities? Would know how to get to the Equa of the Houses but someone high in the royal Houses?”

  “We’ll find the threat,” Mallory said as she slipped her fingers back in his. “And we’ll do what we have to in order to keep our families safe. I know you will. I trust you.”

  At her words, he yanked her back into his arms. Mallory let a squeal escape. It was quickly muffled against his mouth when he kissed her until her body burned for him to do more. And she let him, in the middle of the night-blooming garden less than fifteen feet from the balcony steps that led into their suite. He lowered her to the ground and parted her vestis with hands that trembled. Mallory covered his fingers with her own. He pulled away slightly. “Kitten?”

  “We don’t have to rush, Aodhan. We pretty much have eternity…”

  “Together. It has a nice feel to it, doesn’t it? Almost as nice as this soft, soft skin right here.”

  His hand burned a trail of fire across her chest. Mallory shivered. He laughed. She shivered again. “Cold, kitten? I can always stop?”

  “No. Don’t you dare!”

  He obliged, despite them being visible from every balcony on the north side of the hotel, if anyone cared enough to look. Or if anyone happened to stroll by.

  Yes, he’d pulled her to the ground behind a large plant, with leaves nearly as long as Mallory’s arm, affording them a bit of privacy. But none of that mattered to her. Not anymore. What mattered was that she’d found someone who loved her and that she trusted. She’d found someone she could love like she’d once feared she never would. What did it matter if someone saw them kissing in the moonlight?

  It didn’t matter at all.

  65

  Their loving was hurried, but all the more powerful because of the new trust between them. When they had finally regained their breath, Mallory hastily fastened her vestis and straightened her pardus. Dardaptoan wear was easy to push out of the way by hurried lovers, she had to admit.

  Aodhan’s laugh was smug and arrogant and echoed through the garden. She wiped the taste of him off her lips delicately. She had not been able to resist tasting his blood once again.

  He pulled her to her feet and lifted her, tossing her over his shoulder like he had that night when they’d first met. Mallory laughed. “Put me down!”

  “Never. You’re mine now.” His hand cupped her rear, just like it had that first time.

  “Never thought I’d live to see you sneaking around a garden with the enemy of our people, cousin.”

  Mallory suppressed a scream at the harsh male voice that came out of the darkened garden. She hadn’t felt his presence at all. A large man—just as big as Aodhan—stepped out of the foliage and onto the path near them. Mallory slipped off Aodhan’s shoulder and immediately tensed into a defensive position.

  Aodhan had tensed as well, but she felt him force his body to relax. “She is not the enemy. She is my Rajni. Nalik, I had wondered where you were.”

  Nalik. She shivered as what Aodhan had told her about his cousin registered.

  The most dangerous Dardaptoan of all.

  “Is that why you sent warriors to fetch me like I was an errant lad?”

  “I thought it best to have you brought here where we could discuss things safely.” Aodhan didn’t pull her behind him, but his hand did wrap around her arm. Mallory knew it was to keep her silent while he spoke with the other male. “No one knew where you were. Why was that?”

  “Why? I need a nurse, still? I have been coming and going on this world more than a hundred years longer than you. Remember you not?” Cold derision was the only way Mallory could even hope to describe the man named Nalik’s tone. “Are you finished frolicking with your female, now? I’m sure we have much we need to discuss. Like the fact that I’ve been confined to my family’s House or these damned gardens. Gardens that are overrun with Tanisses.”

  “Not on my doing. But what else were supposed to think? Someone has put a bounty upon our Rajnis’ heads. That can’t be ignored.”

  “And your minds immediately jumped in my direction? Questioned my honor? I’m…flattered, cousin, that you know me so well.”

  “Not immediately. But you do have the means, knowledge, and…the motivation. What would you have done in my place?”

  “I would have simply asked, cousin. Trusted.”

  Aodhan winced. “All right, then. Are you the one who has put the hit out on the Taniss family? And should I be worried for my Rajni’s safety?”

  Mallory held her breath, knowing that the man’s answer would set the stage for what Aodhan—and she—would do next.

  “No. I am not. Unlike Taniss, I do not make war on the young or innocent. On females barely of age. The idea disgusts me. As for your female’s safety, no threat to her comes from me.”

  Aodhan was silent for the longest time, and Mallory knew he was considering whether to believe his cousin or not. She didn’t know if she did.

  They’d been friends, once, he and this Nalik. How hard was it for Aodhan to consider his friend—and apparently cousin—may be the traitor? That kind of betrayal would seriously cut deep.

  “Thank you for that. I’ve spoken with your mother. Have you?”

  “Mmm. Not the highlight of my visit, but duty has been met by her.” The man stepped into the light slipping from the main garden entryway.

  Mallory fought a gasp. She’d encountered him before. Once. In the halls, when she’d first been trying to escape Aodhan, to reconcile what had happened in her own head.

  He was beautiful. By far one of the most beautiful men Mallory had ever seen. Also one of the most terrifying.

  His hair was dark black, and she had no difficulty seeing that in the low light. Fitting, since his name was Black. But what held her attention was the evil-looking scar. It started just beneath his mouth and ran up his cheek, past his eye, and disappeared into his hairline.

  She k
new how he’d gotten it. She’d seen his face in the photographs of her grandfather’s acts.

  This man had been tortured by her grandfather and had lived to tell of it. No wonder he so obviously hated her. She could not blame him. She knew the pain a soul could feel. “Welcome home, Equan Black.”

  He stared at her for the longest time, and she knew what he was seeing. She favored her grandfather. The eyes, hair color, shape of her face. She favored him probably more so than any of her cousins or siblings—except for Rand and her cousin Marsh. That had to be hard for someone like this man to see. “Is it my home? Funny you should call it that, girl. How old are you? Tell me: Are you of age?”

  “I’m not a girl. I’m a woman. And I’m twenty-nine. I’ll be thirty next February. How old are you?” Mallory refused to look away from him or be intimidated by him. And that was what he was wanting her to do.

  A defensive mechanism or just a natural hatred for all named Taniss? Either one would be understandable.

  “Seven hundred and twelve. There. I have you beat.”

  “Can’t deny it. Aodhan, we need to get inside. I need to see my sister. Make sure she’s ok.”

  The scarred man snorted. “See? She’s already pulling your strings, Aodhan. Pity. You used to be a warrior worth respecting. Perhaps it’s the hair. Or the eyes. Or…other things. She’s rather fascinating, with that hair and those…eyes.”

  “Watch it, Nalik. We may have been friends once, but there are lines to never cross, and you know them.”

  “Mmmm. I suppose. I guess you have to care for those lines to even be noticed. But you’d best get your female inside. Hate to see her catch her death…from a chill.”

  Aodhan tensed at the obvious innuendo in the other man’s voice. Mallory put a hand on his arm. It wasn’t a battle worth fighting right then. She shook her head, knowing Aodhan could still see the movement though the night around them was getting darker.

  “Nalik…we will speak more on the morrow.”