Corralling Dawn [Midnighter Seductions 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Corinne Davies

  * * * *

  Derechos stretched out along Dawn’s right side with Storm on her left and curled up together in the large bed in their room. She wrapped her arms around him and slipped her fingers between his. The iridescent markings on her arms were a mass of swirling colors, a dramatic contrast to the black marks that now decorated his and Storm’s skin. The markings on his arms were a part of him he’d never really given much thought to. Storm was his natural brother and to his thoughts it was only natural their markings would match. Now they stood out sharply against his skin, drawing his eyes back and forth between the three of them. Storm seemed equally fascinated as he ran his fingers along Dawn’s arm and his own.

  “I’ve never really taken a good look at them.” Storm lifted his arm over Dawn, who was stretching out toward him.

  “Really? I think they are amazing, I may never stop looking at mine.” Dawn lifted her arms and traced the markings.

  “We were born with them. It would be the same if you were fascinated with your fingers as an adult.” Derechos clasped his brother’s arm above the elbow out of habit and a bright golden glow outlined the black designs. “This is new and fascinating though. It never happened until you came into our life.

  “I like that we match.” Dawn grinned as she lifted her arms and pressed them against theirs. The muted rainbow of her markings glowed delicately in response to theirs. A vibrancy traced around the markings on his arms and then along Dawn’s one arm, snaking up to her shoulder and disappearing under her back only to swirl down her other arm and then along Storm’s markings. Derechos felt their energies align as if they were all sharing the same emotions. There was a fascinated curiosity at what was happening under the intense burning emotion that tied them together. But under it all was a dark stain, a thread of doubt, fear, and sadness.

  He met his brother’s gaze and then both looked down at Dawn, knowing that the thread came from her. “What’s bothering you, Dawn?” he asked.

  “Nothing, I’m blissfully happy. Why?”

  “Because I can feel what you’re feeling right now.”

  Dawn pulled her arms off theirs, breaking the intimate connection. He didn’t like her retreat but needed to know what she was hiding from them.

  “There is sadness, as if you were disappointed or feeling resentment.” Storm skimmed his hand down her arm. “Tell us, Atan. Let us help.”

  She blinked up in surprise at them both, shaking her head. “This has been the most intense day in my entire life and I’ll admit that I’m feeling a bit torn. That might be what you were feeling. I have responsibilities, people who count on me. Do I have any right to lie here as if nothing is wrong when I know that there is a mountain of things I need to do at home.”

  “This is your home, Dawn.” Storm lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips.

  “No, this is your home and I’m a visitor here.” Derechos wouldn’t deny the feeling of failure that shot through him. He’d wanted her to love their world more than her own and want to stay with them. “I want you to feel like you belong here, Dawn, and you do. You’re our Atan and that makes you as much of a part of this world as we are.”

  “I appreciate you saying that but you don’t understand. I love my ranch. It’s a big part of me and the woman that I’ve become. I’d end up like my sister if I let it fail and I can’t disappoint my grandfather by walking away from his dream like that.”

  “You haven’t spoken much about your sister, Dawn. Tell us about her.” Derechos figured he should get to know everything he could about the Atan he shared with his warrior brother. Then maybe he could figure out a way to convince her she would be happier here. If that meant bringing her entire family to Lu’um, he’d do it.

  “She’s a shallow, materialistic narcissist.” Dawn rubbed her arms as if she was cold and he and Storm instantly moved closer to her to keep her warm.

  “Why do you think you could ever be like her?” Storm ran his fingers through the hair that framed Dawn’s face. “You’re nothing like that.”

  “Maybe not now but I was when I was younger. Sometimes I feel bad because I taught Sammy to be that way. There is almost six years between us. When I was acting like a self-absorbed princess she was a little girl watching her big sister. If it wasn’t for my grandfather I never would have met you two. I’d be off somewhere wasting my life on excess.”

  He and Storm lightly stroked Dawn’s arms and hair as she spoke. He couldn’t believe for a moment that she ever was how she described herself. Perhaps she thought that but deep down it wasn’t true.

  “My grandfather was the one to come and get me after I had been charged with drinking and driving on my twenty-first birthday. I sat in a jail cell all night feeling sorry for myself and thinking of what I could have done to not get caught and if Daddy’s lawyer could get me off this. When I was bailed out in the morning it was my grandfather who picked me up. My dad had called him because he was too busy to get me. You know he didn’t call me for three weeks to ask me if I was all right.”

  Storm was listening to Dawn’s story with rapt attention. The shock in his expression mirrored Derechos’s own feelings. How could a father ignore their child like that? Yes, Dawn had done something wrong but pretending it didn’t happen wouldn’t help her any.

  “What did your grandfather do?” Storm’s question helped to snap Dawn out of the quiet moment of reflection. Her face brightened as she spoke of a man she obviously felt a lot of respect for.

  “He was so angry at me. He didn’t speak to me for the entire ride back to the ranch. When we got there he told me to hand over my phone and bank cards. Then he handed me a shovel and told me to go clean out one of the stalls.” Her nose crinkled up at the memory. “It was disgusting and I was so hungover. He wouldn’t let me change. So there I was in a five-hundred-dollar outfit with my new Prada boots covered in horse shit and gagging every other minute as I shoveled. It was a horrible experience I’ve never forgotten. But it wasn’t the ruined clothes or the miserable way I felt that made the deepest impression on me. It was the look on my grandfather’s face. He was so disappointed in me I swore I’d never to that to him again.”

  Chapter Six

  A trio of children giggled and danced around Derechos as he walked back from the market, juggling three muchich in his hands. The sweet red fruit was a favorite with the children here as strawberries were with children on Earth. He’d gotten them for the youngsters but they’d insisted on him creating aerial acrobatics with the oversized berries before eating them. He had a large lolyich tucked into his pocket to share with his beautiful Atan. The market woman had given him a large grin when he purchased it with the red fruit and asked him to pass her greetings and eternal thanks on to Dawn. It was then he recognized the villager as the mother of the small girl that had hidden behind his Atan when the Kimil had raided the village.

  Things might not have gone completely as planned during the celebration four days ago but he wasn’t about to complain. Dawn had made a large impression on the villagers by standing with Hope and Destiny and protecting the children they’d found instead of running for safety with Blade and Thunder. Dawn’s actions didn’t surprise him, considering she’d ridden out into her own fields in the middle of the night to check on the animals she cared about. A small kernel of guilt gnawed at Derechos’s subconscious. He and Storm continued to do everything possible to ensure that she fell in love with their world. They’d taken her for walks through the forests and worshiped her body under the stars. But when she spoke about her ranch and her grandfather it was easy to hear the love in her voice. They understood more and more her devotion to the land that helped her stay connected to the man who helped shape her into the phenomenal woman she was today. Is it fair for us to expect her to give up everything she loves?

  He flipped the fruit under his arm and caught it midair before tossing one of the oversized berries to each of the children. “Dyos bo’otik, Derechos,” the three of them shouted in chorus. He pa
tted each of them on the shoulder, acknowledging their thanks, before they scampered off back toward the market.

  When the path curved around a large thick tree, he almost ran into Eddie Santiago running from the other direction. The older man almost slammed right into him but the look of relief when he saw him worried Derechos. “What’s wrong, Eddie?”

  “There is a big problem out at Dawn’s ranch. The Kimil we’ve been watching in that area have been systematically attacking her herd.”

  “Are you sure it’s all Kimil attacks and there isn’t any local wildlife or humans who are causing a problem?” Derechos felt sick at the possibility of Dawn’s animals being killed. She’d been so upset by the one they’d seen. “How many?”

  “Fifteen at last count.” Eddie turned and started walking with Derechos as they headed back toward the temple. “The entire town is talking about it. No one knows where she is and some are saying that she’d been killed and her body dragged out into the desert.”

  “That’s not a bad cover for her disappearance.” Derechos almost winced at the disgusted look that Eddie had on his face after that comment. “She might not want to go back.”

  “You might not care but that woman has no idea what is going on at her ranch. From what I hear, her sister is already trying to have her officially declared dead so she can sell it off. It’s much too soon for that but what a vulture for even thinking of such a thing.” Eddie’s tone spoke volumes, and he obviously felt that Derechos wasn’t much better than Dawn’s sister.

  His Atan had spoken about her selfish, narrow-minded sibling and Derechos didn’t like being lumped in the same group. He knew Dawn would be devastated at the news and insist on going home. But he was more concerned that she would be a shining beacon for the Kimil who would no doubt bypass her cattle and come straight for her. To hold back information would be worse than if he lied, which he would never be able to bring himself to do.

  “You need to tell her.” Eddie patted Derechos on the shoulder. “It’s not something I envy you but you can’t hide this from her. Trust me, the anger and betrayal she’d feel later would destroy her faith in you, Storm, and everything the two of you stand for.”

  Derechos nodded, knowing he had no other choice. “I’ll tell her immediately and I imagine she is going to want to cross over through the portal before the suns drop behind the temple.”

  “There’s more.”

  “How could this get any worse?”

  “Puma and Bear were fighting a band of Kimil the other night and they said it’s becoming apparent that the Kimil’s intelligence is growing exponentially. Puma thinks it might be because of the portal itself. The more it’s used the more it attracts those nasty bastards and perhaps that’s causing a reaction with some of their latent genetics. Either way he and Bear both recommend that travel through the portal be limited to emergencies only.”

  “And if any more potential Atans are drawn to the area as well, we should simply let them wander off?”

  Eddie shrugged his skinny shoulders. “Don’t have an answer for that nor do I want to be the one to make it.”

  Derechos tossed the lolyich from palm to palm as he tried to come up with a plan that would solve all their problems but nothing came to him. All he knew was their time had run out. Dawn wouldn’t want to stay and it was too dangerous for them to let her go. He and Eddie walked in silence the rest of the way to their living quarters inside the temple.

  “Have either Bear or Puma come across to discuss this with Rock or Jag?”

  Eddie shook his head. “Nah, that’s why I came across. If the portal is being closed I want to be on this side. Don’t give a damn what stories they make up for my disappearance. I’ll go and talk to the boys and see what they think of the whole enchilada. They might come up with some sorta answer.”

  Derechos nodded and clasped arms with Eddie, wrapping his hand around the older man’s bicep just above his elbow. “I appreciate the advance notice, Eddie.”

  “Wish the news was better.”

  They parted ways, then Derechos headed to the entrance that would lead him to his rooms. Eddie headed around the temple to the front where Rock and Jag lived in the Nochil rooms with their Atan, Destiny. They didn’t like being called Nochil nor did they ever sit at the raised dais during meals but their living space was in a different part of the building.

  Derechos tossed the lolyich up in the air but before it fell, he felt the energy above him tremble. He wasn’t surprised when a bolt whistled through the air, piercing the fruit and impaling it against the tree he’d just passed.

  “Woo-hoo! Direct hit! I can’t believe he didn’t flinch.”

  He looked up and saw Storm and Dawn sitting on top of one of the many staggered blocks that made up the outside of the building. Storm still held his bow as Dawn clapped madly, the smug grin on his lips melting when he met Derechos’s gaze. Even Dawn’s clapping slowed as she looked down at him. “What’s wrong?” she called out.

  “I had plans for that…” Derechos walked back to the tree and jumped up to pull the bolt from the tree. These arrows weren’t the same ones that Storm used on Earth. This particular one pierced the fruit but molded to the tree when it hit, preventing any permanent damage to the bark. “And now you ruined my surprise.” He smiled as he turned and tried not to let his concerns color his expression.

  Dawn clung to Storm’s back and he reached back to anchor her as he nimbly jumped from block to block until they reached the ground. Derechos handed the arrow with impaled fruit to Storm and plucked Dawn from his back.

  “Seriously though, what’s wrong?” She ran her fingers over his forehead. “You’re frowning and look like you just found out the world is going to end.”

  Because my world is about to end. “Dawn, we need to talk to you about something important.”

  “Now you’re freaking me out. Are you breaking up with me or ending whatever it is we’ve got going here?”

  “No,” Storm snapped, drawing both their attention. “Whatever Derechos has to share, that is never going to be something we are willing to do.”

  She smacked at Derechos’s shoulder. “Put me down. I need to be on my two feet for this.”

  Derechos tightened his grip on her as she wriggled in his grasp. “I don’t want to let you go.”

  “Then tell me what is going on, Derechos. When you left a little while ago you were smiling and laughing about some fruit idea the two of you had. Now you look like you got the worst news in the world. The other men are all still here so it’s not another attack. What is it?”

  “There have been some problems at your home.”

  Derechos hated the wave of stomach-cramping guilt and fear that rolled off the woman in his arms. Storm stepped closer to her and rubbed her shoulders, obviously feeling her distress as well.

  “Define problems.” The strength in her tone defied what he could feel emanating from her.

  “The Earth-bound Kimil have been attacking the animals on your ranch. I don’t know if it’s in retaliation for what happened the night we took you or they are being territorial.” He paused, letting her take the information in, and hoped she wouldn’t ask any more questions.

  “What else aren’t you telling me?”

  “Why do you think there’s anything else?” He glanced behind her and met Storm’s troubled gaze. His brother understood, and Derechos toyed with the idea of claiming her before telling her any more.

  “You can’t lie for shit, that’s how.”

  “I haven’t lied.” He’d never heard Dawn say any of the curses they often heard from Destiny.

  “But you aren’t telling me everything.” She pushed hard against his chest with both her hands. “Put me down and give the rest of it to me.”

  He missed the feel of her the moment he put her feet on the ground and his instincts howled in defiance when she stomped a couple steps away from them. Storm moved after her but Derechos put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. If they chased her
she’d run. He knew that much. She was reacting with anger at the moment and he hoped a bit of space would give her an optimistic view of the situation.

  “There’re rumors that you were dragged out into the desert by wild animals and killed.” She hugged herself and stared out into the trees behind them as he spoke. “Your sister is trying to convince the authorities to allow her to take over the care of your ranch.”

  “You mean to tell me that my narcissistic, greedy bitch of a sister is trying to have me declared dead so she can sell off my land and pocket the money?” Dawn rubbed her temples and paced back and forth in front of them. “I’ve only been gone few days.”

  “Remember our days here in Lu’um are longer so it’s been closer to two weeks on.” Storm smacked him in the shoulder.

  “I’d forgotten that.” She glared at them both. “Still, it hasn’t been long enough for her to get away with that, but she’s too stupid to realize it and selfish enough to try it anyways.” Dawn started pacing again, mumbling to herself. “If I’d only gone to the lawyers before now.”

  “Is it really all that bad, Atan?” Dawn paused in her pacing when Storm spoke. She looked over at them but Derechos wasn’t entirely certain what she was thinking at the moment. Her emotions were a seething tumble of energy. Her feelings morphed from one to another faster than he could track. If she was in his arms again, he’d have a much easier time sorting through it all.

  “There is no reason for you to go back,” Storm continued. “You said yourself how much you love it here. Both Derechos and I want you here. You’re our Atan. We’ll make certain you have everything you want the moment you want it and you won’t have to do a thing.”

  She hadn’t said a word and Derechos hoped that she was considering what Storm was telling her. He also knew that she cared for her workmen. She had too soft of a heart to put them in a position where they couldn’t take care of their families. “You don’t need to spend your days looking after an old ranch that’s falling apart around you. Let your sister get rid of it. We’ll make certain the people who work for you are compensated and taken care of. Your memories of your grandfather and childhood will be safe in your heart no matter where you live.”