Farlands Prodigal (Ultimate Passage Book 5)

by Elle Thorne

  He’s so relaxed, and I’m so nervous.

  She’d never been in a Kormic settlement before. The extent of her life experiences had been in the Asazi territory of Heartland and then in Midland, first as Saraz’s “guest” for years, then while wandering in the Midland rainforest until she the Midland refugees found her. Time there had been short. Measured in days.

  So this newness, this group of sunset-colored low buildings inhabited by Kormic—so many Kormic. So many of their fierce features.

  Will I ever become accustomed to their differences?

  A part of her knew the answer. Of course she would. They were different from Asazi, certainly, but then again, so was Saraz, and she’d become used to his differences.

  She didn’t realize she’d sighed until Qalen squeezed her hand. She glanced at him, and he tossed her a smile of reassurance. She gave back a small shrug with one shoulder.

  “You know I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered.

  She did. Somehow, deep down, she knew this man held an allegiance to her she didn’t understand. But she had the same allegiance toward him. She’d stand by him.

  Walking in front of Cinia, Taya turned to give her a smile. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you. To have you with us. You’ll stay, right?”

  Cinia froze on the inside. Her feet kept moving forward, but within she’d become more frozen than the coldest night she’d ever experienced.

  What would Qalen say? What would he think? Or do?

  She didn’t want to be a weak female, she didn’t feel like one, but at the same time, she didn’t want to think of making plans without knowing what his plans were.

  She was saved from answering as Taya’s mate Barz joined them, coming from one of the side alleys.

  “I wondered what was taking so long.” He placed a kiss on Taya’s forehead.

  Taya’s color turned a rosy pink with pleasure as she smiled and kissed her mate back.

  Whew, Cinia thought. That topic would have to wait a spell.

  She caught Qalen giving her a sideways glance and smiled at him, tentatively, wondering what was on his mind.

  After winding their way among the alleys of the Kormic settlement, Taya and Barz brought them to an open area with a large fire in the middle. Benches and tables surrounded the fire pit.

  Assembled were the Elders in their crimson robes, hoods thrown back, showcasing the red spiny knobs on their heads, so different than the other Kormic citizens. Also in attendance were Bel and her mate Gor, in the garments that showed their leadership, scarlet robes almost as luxurious as those the Elders wore. Ali and her mate Thane, who from a distance, so closely resembled Saraz in appearance, though it seemed from Cinia’s brief meeting with the man that he was nothing like Saraz.

  The fire pit was set up with a spit, roasting meats that made Cinia’s mouth water. Her stomach rumbled. She clasped it with her hand, embarrassed at the display.

  Qalen sent her a smile. “Mine did the same,” he whispered.

  “Not as loud though.”

  He let out a small chuckle, his eyes gleaming with mirth.

  “Maybe not,” he murmured, his voice huskier than usual.

  In the late afternoon sun, between the fire’s glow and the shadows falling, he took her breath away. Her heart seized, and her nerve endings pulsed with an awareness of this man who held her hand, searing the skin he touched.

  The food had been delicious and filling. Cinia settled back against the oversized, high-backed bench she shared with Qalen. She leaned against him, fighting the urge to lay her head on his shoulder and rest.

  No one had talked “business.” They’d enjoyed the meal and left questions unanswered and curiosities at bay. But now dinnertime was over, all of them as one—except the still drowsy Cinia—leaned forward, as if eager to discuss matters and bring everyone up to speed.

  It seemed Qalen had the most pressing matter at hand, for as soon as fingers had been wiped clean and dishes set aside, he gazed at Thane with an inquisitive expression. “You look like him. I have his wings.”

  Cinia did a doubletake. That wasn’t even a question.

  It seemed Thane wasn’t concerned with the matter as he cleared his throat and began to speak.

  “I’m Dumarian. So is he.”

  It seemed no one wanted to say Saraz’s name, as if saying it would summon him, though Cinia didn’t believe that for a second.

  Thane continued. “And you are half Dumarian. His son.”

  Qalen nodded, but he didn’t appear happy. Cinia wondered if he had hoped a different Dumarian was his father. She certainly would have.

  “Dumarian are another race, from another planet.” Thane paused, chewed on his lip as if pondering what he would say next. “I am part of a group called the Brethren. We remained secret from humans but were sent to Earth to protect them. We were not to be intermingling or procreating with them. Two of the Brethren fell in love with a human. The same human.”

  Thane paused, shaking his head, as if this were difficult for him to understand.

  “It’s a complicated story, and there are not many of us who are privy to it, but Saraz was one of those. The other one was a head Brethren. Centuries later, the love triangle came to the attention of the Brethren. How it was kept secret so long is beyond me, but that was long before my time as I had not yet become one of the Brethren.”

  Cinia was reeling. Learning Saraz was centuries old was so overwhelming. She leaned forward, fully engrossed in the history Thane was revealing, while questions built in her mind.

  “Please continue.” It was easy to see from Qalin’s inquisitive expression, he also had questions.

  Thane nodded. “Centuries later, the woman who’d been at the center of the love triangle was long dead. Saraz was silently overseeing the descendants of this woman. A breed that…” He took Ali’s hand. “A breed you know as the Asazi. A breed that was half-Dumarian, half-human. Beautiful skin that shimmered and changed colors with their emotions. The males had wings. But one day, this new breed came to the attention of the Brethren. They exiled Saraz and his descendants to this planet we are on now.”

  Qalen glanced at Cinia while Thane had been talking about the Asazi. She’d locked gazes with him, now unable to read the emotions in his eyes.

  Thane continued. “Sadly, Saraz was punished, but not rightfully so. Not really. You see, he was not the originator of the breed. Another Dumarian had mated with the woman, and he later became the head of the Brethren, the driving force behind Saraz and the Asazis’ exile.”

  “So…” Cinia chewed on her lip, processing the information. “Saraz doesn’t know about the other guy?”

  “He does not. I don’t know if he should find out. He seems to have become unstable with the passage of the centuries. I’m not completely sure how the entire Kormic race came about. I’m not sure…” Thane paused, scratched his jaw. A sad look moved over his features, his already dark Dumarian face grew darker. “He’s not quite right in the mind. I think it’s safe to say perhaps he’s gone insane.”

  “I’ll say,” Taya agreed with him.

  Barz nodded. “I’d agree.”

  “Which is why we are here,” the head Elder finally spoke. “He has to be stopped. He’s a menace to all the people on this planet. He is ruling with fear and manipulation. The manner in which the Kormic people came to be, their past with the Asazi, all of that history is irrelevant in light of the fact he must not be allowed to perpetuate his madness.”

  Qalen cocked his head. “You have a suggestion?”

  The Elder looked at Thane. “We were hoping—”

  Thane slammed his fist into his hand. “I cannot. I am done with the days of being a death-dealer.”

  Cinia glanced toward Qalen, wondering if he had any idea. He gave a slight headshake.

  Ali sat forward. “He does not want that role anymore. He will no longer be an assassin.”

  The Elder cocked his head curiously. “You will not kill?
”

  “I did not say that. If I need to save a life or if I’m called to serve in an army, I will serve. I will do my duty, but I will no longer be a mercenary who kills without cause.”

  “You think there is no cause?” The Elder stood, his presence larger than life. “After all you know he’s done?”

  A woman stepped forward, and all heads turned her way. She was holding the hand of a little boy.

  Cinia gasped. That was… She could not remember her name or the child’s name, but they had been at the refugee camp in Midland.

  Qalen glanced at Cinia. “You know her?”

  “She was with us. When I left the camp. She’s the mate of the Asazi warrior that…” she shrugged. She really didn’t get that close to any of them.

  15

  Qalen looked at the woman. Kormic, through and through. He turned his gaze to the boy. He had Asazi wings and skin, coupled with the bumpy, spiky knobs the Kormic had on their heads and the top halves of their faces. Clearly, his sire was Asazi.

  “Where is her mate?” He asked Cinia, studying the woman who’d just arrived and the little boy with her.

  Cinia shrugged.

  “When is someone going to do something to get my mate back?” the newcomer demanded of the Elder.

  Qalen cleared his throat, hoping someone would note he had no idea who this was and what she was talking about. He didn’t want to be rude and interrupt, but he was at a loss.

  Thane glanced at Qalen and Cinia, then back at the Kormic woman. He nudged Ali who in turn reached out and touched Taya’s arm.

  Taya turned to Cinia. “You remember Barz’s sister, Raiza? And Feroz, her son? She’s Norn’s mate and he’s his son. Norn is Finn’s father.”

  “Of course,” Cinia murmured. She leaned close to Qalen and whispered. “I’d forgotten their names. Rude of me.” She turned to Raiza and the little boy Feroz. “It’s nice to see you again. Where is Norn?”

  Raiza nodded at her. “Yes, good to see you, too.” But it was clear she was distracted. “Norn is Saraz’s prisoner. Held there until Finn and Marissa return with…”

  “With me,” Ali finished the sentence.

  Qalen did a doubletake and sat back. This was too much to absorb. “Are you as confused as I am?” he asked Cinia.

  “Mostly so,” she said with a slight smile. “I know some of these people, but not all, and certainly not these circumstances.”

  “Well?” Raiza put her hands on her hips, addressing the Elders. “Did Saraz say anything about my mate?”

  The Elders shook their head. “We will find your missing mate.”

  “What of Finn, Marissa, and her baby? She delivered her baby?”

  “She did,” the head Elder said. “They went to Earth.”

  “To bring me back,” Ali added, frowning.

  “So Saraz has no idea you’re here or who you are or anything? And Finn and Marissa are not with you?” Cinia looked puzzled.

  Qalen felt more than puzzled. All these beings, the different species, the history. Things were much simpler when he lived alone—or just with Cinia—in the deserted corner of the Farlands.

  Cinia.

  He surveilled her profile, studying her.

  “Marissa and Finn, and their baby, are all on Earth. They are not returning,” Ali contributed. “And I am not going back.”

  “You were on Earth?” Cinia asked.

  Ali nodded. “Not for long.”

  “You didn’t care for it? What was it like?” Cinia probed.

  “Too much technology for me. Too much…” She shrugged.

  Thane smiled. “Ali isn’t fond of all the sensory assaults. Noises, smells, timelines.”

  “You lived there? You liked it?” Qalen asked.

  Thane nodded. “For a long time. It doesn’t bother me. But then again, I like it here, too.” He put his arm around Ali.

  Qalen got the impression he would be happy wherever Ali was.

  As he would be happy wherever Cinia might be.

  “Elders.” Raiza stepped forward, her knobby head spines glowed in light cast by the orange-and-red flames. She released the hand of her son.

  Taya waved him over. The child moved away from his mother and stood next to Taya and his uncle Barz.

  “I would like to know what measures are being taken to—” Her voice choked up, and she paused. After a deep breath, she continued. “What measures are being taken to secure my mate’s return to us?” She gave her son a sideways glance. “Feroz needs his father,” she whispered, so the child was not able to hear.

  “We…” The head Elder began then fell silent. “We don’t know his location. We don’t know exactly where Saraz is keeping him.”

  “You could start by looking into Saraz’s stronghold, where he keeps his—” She gave a glance at Cinia and Taya then seemed to rethink her wording. “His harem.”

  Qalen frowned. There was something he wasn’t understanding here.

  “I know where that is,” Barz announced, and, rising to his feet, he faced them all. “If Saraz is not given what he wants—and I am not suggesting we turn Ali over to him, absolutely not—but if he doesn’t get what he is waiting for, he will become very unpleasant.”

  He was ready to tell them Garth had followed Saraz and could probably assist, when Raiza spoke up.

  “What you mean,” she cut in, “is he will hurt my mate.”

  “That is a risk, with every moment Norn is held prisoner.”

  “What do you suggest?” Thane asked.

  “Getting him back.” Raiza’s words were blunt.

  16

  With the dinner over, everybody had adjourned from the main gathering area and gone either to their respective homes or smaller gathering areas with smaller fire pits scattered about the neighborhoods. Raiza and the Elders were at one, joined by Gor and Bel.

  Qalen and Cinia were at a different fire pit at that moment. They had been joined by Barz and Taya, Thane and Ali. The time had been spent talking of matters that were light, keeping well away from the matters of Saraz and heritages and killings. But now, the evening was drawing to a close, and Qalen had a lot on his mind. He’d made a decision. He wasn’t a rash man, prone to silliness, and this was something he was certain of.

  He cleared his throat and rose to his feet, turning to face Cinia.

  “I would like to announce my intentions,” he said, in the manner Rodina had told him things were done in the tribe she’d come from.

  Cinia cocked her head, confused.

  Taya and Ali gasped.

  He stood before the seated Cinia, took her hand, and brought her to her feet. She felt her color changing. She didn’t know exactly what he was doing, but one thing was certain. He was making her the center of attention. This was an uncomfortable position for her.

  Qalen coughed slightly, then held her gaze captive. “Cinia, would you complete the circle by agreeing to be mine?” He turned to Barz. “Do you think Gor and Bel would preside over our ceremony?”

  Cinia was speechless.

  Taya jumped to her feet, clapped, then wrapped her arms around Cinia. “I am so thrilled for you!” She squeezed her so hard she almost couldn’t breathe.

  Cinia pulled away, looked at Qalen. “I have not agreed. I have not been properly asked. This should not have been done as it was. You should have approached me in private, first.”

  “Noted.” Qalen pulled her by the hand. “Is there a private place where I can plead my case with this Asazi woman?”

  Taya pointed them to a spot, one far enough to keep from being overheard. They took a seat on a stone bench.

  Qalen took Cinia’s hand in his. He studied her face, the way her tiny scales fluctuated varying degrees of crimson and rose. “I know you want me to ask you properly. I should have done that first. I apologize.”

  She swallowed hard, her throat working, but said nothing.

  Qalen took this as a sign he should continue. “I hope you will do me the privilege of—”

&nbs
p; “I can’t.” Cinia burst into tears while her skin undulated a deep-blue color. Gone were the pink and cerise colors.

  Cinia gulped, trying to control the sobs that ravaged her body. Qalen wrapped his arms around her.

  That made it worse. His understanding and compassion without truly understanding was too much. Convulsive sobs took over.

  He held her tightly. “Do not cry.” His voice sounded confused.

  She couldn’t blame him for that. She felt deeply but—

  “You don’t know my history,” she told him, cringing, because she didn’t want to divulge her history with Saraz.

  “You don’t know mine,” he countered.

  “Fair enough, but I don’t know if yours could be worse than mine.”

  “It’s history, right? We are here and now. Will that history repeat itself?”

  She leapt to her feet, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Curses! No. Never!”

  “Then I don’t think we have a problem.” He took her hand and brought her back down to sit next to him.

  Cinia heaved a sigh. “It can’t be that easy. It simply can’t.”

  Qalen cocked his head, studying her face. “Why can it not? I love you. I have come to love you and value you more than I do life itself.”

  Her breath hitched at his proclamation. The intensity in his gaze made her look down. “Please, let me tell you. Let me tell you of my history, then you can decide if it can be ignored.”

  He tipped her head up with one finger beneath her chin until she was staring into those mesmerizing eyes of his. Her gaze dropped to his lips, but she pulled it up again. This was not the time to think of anything but telling him everything. All about how she’d been put into service to Saraz by her own people. About the barbaric—yes, she saw that for what it was now—system of sending young women to Saraz to appease a man that was not a god but more like a demon. How her only experience with males was what she’d known with Saraz all her adult life.