"Let go of me, you bastard!" Finding her escape, she viciously pushed him away and bolted for the door. Liam grabbed her wrist, jerking her to a hard stop. Pain coursed through her shoulder to the point of dislocation as he cruelly twisted her arm behind her back. As Liam pulled her close to his body, he pinned her against the railing. With her free hand, she attempted to claw at his eyes, however, he captured her wrist, rendering her helpless.
"You are a little hellcat, Valencia." He effortlessly positioned his legs between her knees and pushed his pelvis against hers. When she felt his arousal begin to throb against her, she ceased her struggles and glared at him. "I'm going to enjoy taming you."
"You are going to regret this," she hissed between clenched teeth.
"All I have to do is give one push and you will be dead, Princess." Liam's evil grin made her shudder. He bent her backwards over the railing and hungrily gawked at her cleavage in her low-cut, sleeveless dress. "I was chosen to be the next Regent, so you'd better get used to being in my arms, Valencia. I plan to thoroughly enjoy taking your lovely body more than once, and I prefer a willing mate." Liam's eyes hungrily swept over her exposed flesh. "Although a little struggle brings spice to the bed too."
"Stop!" She caught her breath as he lowered his head towards her bosom. Shivering in revulsion, she closed her eyes as his hot breath caressed her bare skin. The feel of his saliva on her breasts filled her mouth with bile.
Suddenly Liam's head yanked backward from an unknown force. His eyes bulged, and he gurgled as his fingers clawed at the rope round his neck. Someone pulled him backwards and Valencia realized the rope was actually a braid of hair wrapped tightly around his throat. Alana yanked him further away from her and spun him around. She could not stop the tiny sob of relief upon seeing the Mlinzi and having her help in escaping this monster.
"You heard my Lady," the female Mlinzi growled low in the Torpek's ear before pushing him towards the door. "Now leave her presence."
"Mark my words, Princess, you are mine." Liam stumbled away, holding his neck. They watched him disappear through another door that lead away from the celebration.
"Thank you, Alana." Valencia wrapped her arms around her quivering body. She was ashamed of herself. The Keeper would have beaten her to a pulp if she were still alive. "I can't believe how fast he pinned me. I feel like a fool."
"Predators know how to easily capture the inexperienced." Alana gave her a gentle smile and handed her the red rag she kept on her belt to clean her weapons. "You learned a lesson tonight, Princess. Never let people you don't know get too close."
"He's going to be watching me. We have to leave tonight." Dipping the tip of the rag into the tiny fountain, she washed his filth off her chest. She did not want to stay another night in Kota Emas. The thought of being trapped in the tower with Liam after her gave her the shivers. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and the city as she could.
"All is ready, Princess. Return to the ball and try to leave early. Then get some rest. We will wake you when it's time to go." The Mlinzi took the cloth from her and strolled away. Valencia watched Alana blend into her surroundings until she disappeared from site.
***
"Valencia?"
Valencia woke to the sound of her name and caught her breath in surprise. She was lying naked beside Thane on an enormous pillow in a hazy room. His eyes, darkened by lust were an orange-yellow. The Mlinzi's eyes widened as he looked upon her. His sleek, hard body pressed against hers. As he tucked one leg between her knees, he stroked his thigh against her. Desire stirred deep within her core as she wiggled her hips in rhythm with his leg. His hand rested on her flat belly while he stared deep into her eyes.
"Thane, are you real?" With shaky fingers, she reached out to touch his firm chest and found him solid.
"Valencia, you are here with me." Thane's voice held a hint of uncertainty.
She opened her mouth to reply, but he captured her lips in a possessive kiss. His firm mouth bruised her lips as he claimed ownership. She slid her arms around the Mlinzi's bare shoulders and her skin tingled. As she caressed the rippling muscles under her fingers, Thane's kiss changed from dominance to passion. With a tint of urgency, his kiss was deeply sensual. His hand slid up her stomach gently to knead her soft bosom. A moan of pleasure escaped her lips and she arched her back as he twirled the tiny nub of one nipple between thumb and forefinger until it grew firm and swollen. She gasped in pleasure as Thane released her lips to suckle the sensitive bud. While he worshipped her breast with his tongue and teeth, she slid her hands over his back, reveling in the feeling of his taunt skin under her palms. The Mlinzi raised his head and gave her a slight smile. He took hold of her hand and guided it to his swollen shaft. He moaned with desire as he taught her how to please him. As his moans grew urgent, Valencia became bolder, no longer needing his guidance. She gasped with desire and gingerly spread her quivering limbs as his hand traveled to her thigh to rest between her legs. Thane returned to her mouth for another deep kiss before he peered into her eyes.
"Are you my woman, Valencia?" His voice was deep, filled with passion and love. Her heart pounded with joy and she her lips trembled when she smiled. As his hand brought her to a height of passion, her hips rocked in rhythm with his fingers.
"Yes, Thane, I am." Valencia's moans changed an octave as he brought her closer to the abyss. She felt him shift his weight as he covered her body with his. She liked the feel of his body against hers and ran her hands up his spine to hold him to her. A loud moan escaped her lips as he rubbed his thickened member against her aroused passage. With a lift of his hips, Thane plunged deep inside her with one firm thrust.
Valencia woke with a startle and bolted upright in bed. She frantically searched the room and realized it was just a dream. With a moan of agony, she plopped back onto the bed. She could have sworn she had been in Thane's arms. Her body still felt the pleasure from his bold caresses and teasing mouth. Bringing her fingers to her lips, she found them bruised and a tint of blood touched her tongue.
"Impossible." Trying to dismiss the torturous longing that pulsed through her body, Valencia flung the covers over her head. "It felt so real."
"Valencia."
She heard her name called but this time it was Gabby's mousy tone. "It is time to leave."
"It's about time," she whispered as she hurried out of bed. She was already dressed in the traveling clothes of the Mlinzi, except for her shoes, and she quickly laced them on her feet. Gabby threw a heavy cloak over her shoulders.
"Where's Donna?" she whispered as they quietly opened the bedroom door.
""She'll be waiting for you at the gate." Gabby placed a timid hand on her arm and guided her to the balcony.
"Where are we going? The elevator is in the outer room." She questioned their route, but did not stop their progress.
"I don't know. They just said to bring you here." Gabby stopped in the center of the porch and waited. Within a few seconds, they heard the beating of wings.
Through the darkened sky, Valencia could barely make out the shapes of the approaching creatures. She pushed Gabby behind her, not sure what to expect. Two huge birdlike humanoids with gigantic wingspans landed a few feet away.
"They must be the Syel Mel," she whispered to Gabby before she gathered her courage and stepped forward to greet the new arrivals. As she drew near them, she was able to make out details of the race before her. Just as Thane had described them, the Apria where half bird, half humanoid, with round heads and beaks for mouths. They had two arms with talons instead of hands and birdlike legs. The two that had landed were males. Their hairless torsos were bare, with expanded chest muscles to accommodate their wings. Their clothing was somewhat like shorts, and different-sized pouches dangled on belts around their waists.
"Matka-Zem, I am Milo and this in my brethren Reid. We are honored to be of service." The Syel Mel who spoke was the taller of the two. His white wing feathers migrated from the middle of his back, u
p over his head, stopping in the middle of his forehead, like a cockatoo. Reid had a reddish cast to his wings and was a good hand span shorter than Milo.
"Thank you, Milo. Thank you, Reid" Valencia smiled at the Syel Mel. Reid's head feathers were in full extension and she assumed the younger male was nervous to be in her presence. "Are you here to get us off this building?"
"More than that, Matka-Zem. We are to take you over the walls and past the cliffs where the Mlinzi will be waiting." Milo approached her in the awkward gait of a bird. "Please hold on around my neck and we will be off."
"Gabby, let Reid take you, and I'll see you on the other side of the wall." When the girl did not respond, Valencia glanced at Gabby with concern.
"I can't go with you, Matka-Zem." Gabby's soft voice held a desperate tone as the young girl backed away from the Syel Mel.
"Why can't you?" She moved toward the distraught girl, "You know what will happen if you stay."
"I can't leave the city. I have Torpek blood and have to stay." Gabby was so close to panic that Valencia grabbed her by the shoulders to prevent the girl from running away.
"That's nonsense, Gabby. Whoever told you that was full of shit!" She dragged the girl to the waiting Syel Mel. "I am the Matka-Zem and I order you to accompany me. I need you to continue your duties as my personal maid." Not that she needed assistance. She was quite capable of caring for her own needs, but the thought of the young girl staying behind turned her stomach upside down. She gently pushed the nervous girl toward the younger Apria, who firmly took her in his arms.
"Take care of her," she said to Reid as she patted Gabby's arm in reassurance. "I'll see you on the other side, Gabby." As she watched, Reid beat his huge wings and lifted off the ground. She heard Gabby gasp in fright. Then, with a tiny squeak, Gabby tightened her hold and buried her head in the Apria's chest.
"That girl really needs to find her courage." Valencia chuckled quietly as the pair flew out of site. As she was about to turn to the older Syel Mel, she felt a slight scratch on her ankle and peered down to see the Krysa on its hind legs, staring up at her.
"Hello again, Majesty." She squatted by the creature and felt a smile fill her face. "Do you want to join me too?"
In answer, the tiny animal scurried up her arm and perched on her shoulder, then hid inside her hair.
"You have changed, Princess." Milo bobbed his head in approval as he came to her side.
"Have we met before?" She felt a stab of apprehension at his words.
"Yes, when you were very young." Milo smiled at her stressful expression. "You were a very mean little girl. The exile did you good." The Syel Mel extended his arm to her. "Now come, let us be away."
As the Syel Mel's talon hands firmly grasped her waist, Valencia wrapped her arms around Milo's neck. With two strong beats of his mighty wings, they rose into the air. She always wondered what it would be like to fly like a bird, but the early morning hours made it too dark to see the ground below.
"I'm sorry for being a rotten kid," she said softly to the Apria as they silently soared towards the wall. "I am finding that I have a lot of apologizing to do for my past behavior."
Milo glanced into her eyes and gave her a smile. "Apology accepted, Matka-Zem." He fell silent as they cleared the wall.
In the darkness, she could barely make out two guards walking the battlement and she was thankful they did not bother to look up.
Once out of hearing range, Milo continued their conversation. "You were just a child raised in an undisciplined environment. The fault lays with the Regent and the Torpek, not you."
It did not take long for them to reach the bottom of the cliffs and she found Alana waiting for them with a round craft that floated just off the ground. Similar to the one she had ridden the first day, the vehicle looked out of place outside the golden city.
"Will this thing work out here?" As Valencia approached the craft, she found Gabby huddled in the back.
"Once we leave the cliffs," said Alana, "the land is basically flat. It will carry us further, and faster than anything else we have at our disposal." Alana followed a few steps behind her.
"What did you do to her?" Valencia spied the girl crying softly and peered at the Mlinzi.
"She tried to run back to the city and I had to . . ." Alana gave her an ornery grin, "persuade the girl to get in the craft."
"Thank you for your help, Milo." She faced the Syel Mel and gave him a slight bow. "I hope we will meet again."
"I'm sure we will, Matka-Zem." Milo returned her bow with one of his own. When he raised his head, his expression was solemn. "Be wary, Princess. Once the Torpek realize you have gone, they will try to find you."
"I will protect the Matka-Zem with my life, Milo," Alana said as she placed a hand on Valencia's arm. "We need to leave now, Princess." She guided her towards the craft before turning back to the Apria. "Will you watch the skies for us, Syel Mel?"
"I will." He raised a clawed hand in farewell and jumped into the air.
As Valencia sat next to Gabby, Alana stood at the controls of the hovercraft and guided them down the path. Valencia did not say anything to Gabby, only held her hand. She allowed a tiny stream of power to course through the girl who, in turn, gave a small gasp. She willed the girl to be calm and received a shaky smile from Gabby. Valencia smiled back, not just because of the girl's reaction, but also because she was pleased at how she controlled her Gift. Until Seth had shown her, she'd had no idea she could send energy into another person, much less control their feelings—at least to a certain extent.
"Where's Donna? I thought she would be here." Her human friend was never very far from her thoughts. Gabby had informed her that Donna had gone on ahead, but she expected her to be waiting for her once she left the city.
"She is waiting at the rendezvous point." Alana did not take her concentration from the path. "We will travel in this craft has long as the energy lasts, then hike the rest of the way."
"How long will that take?" Valencia stifled a yawn with the palm of her hand. She'd left the ball as soon as she could without arousing suspicion, which was still quite late in the evening. Together with the vivid dream of Thane making love to her, she hadn't gotten much sleep.
"The suns will raise in a few hours, so get some rest, Matka-Zem." Alana glanced over her shoulder and caught her yawning. With a sheepish smile, Valencia wrapped her warm cloak around her tired body and curled into a ball, like a sleepy kitten, next to Gabby.
***
Kifo was not a normal city with businesses and homes scattered around a central market or castle. No, Kifo was no mundane city. The home of the Mlinzi was gorged out of a monolith of black granite that soared four-thousand feet from the ground. The gigantic stone face was slick as glass, with faint swirls of gold interlaced throughout its ebony structure. Lost from memory, no one knew how the city came into existence. Throughout the city, no tool marks marred its smooth surface. Some said the first Matka-Zem used the Gift to carve the city for her guardians.
There were no shops or family dwellings within the city. No children played in its dark streets. In the center of the slick cliff sat a mammoth cave called the Dewan Besar, where the Mlinzi ate, relaxed and preformed menial tasks such as mending their clothes, braiding and waxing their hair and sharpening their weapons, while socializing with others of their kind. Deeper still within the cave were the kitchens, armory, and dungeons. Sleeping pods only large enough to hold a small bed and a carved trunk snaked up the western side of the stone fortress, each assigned to a Mlinzi. Below the pods were meditation areas, devoid of light and sound. On the eastern side of the cavern, was the Hall of Astraea, where the Mlinzi Council resided. Surrounding the magnificent cliff were huge black walls, formed in a semicircle, a hundred feet in height and eighty feet in width. The courtyard was a constant training ground, where the Mlinzi trained, practiced, and performed any disciplinary actions. Not a second passed without the ringing of steel, the rustle of feet, and the echoes of pain
from injuries.
As he crossed the yard, a faint smell of blood filled Thane's sinuses, and the taste of iron tingled upon his tongue. A smile touched his lips as he watched a pair of young Tyros sparring with dulled swords. A few yards behind the pair were three older Tyros, hanging by their ankles, each trying to escape, while their trainers instructed them on technique. A crack of a whip turned Thane's head and he witnessed a red welt swell upon a young man's cheek.
Expecting to have a long wait to gain audience with the council, Thane was surprised to receive instructions to enter as soon as he arrived at the Astraea. He entered the hall with his head held high and stared straight at the Mlinzi council. They consisted of five elders who had survived past their prime. Behind their dark cowls, they peered down at him from their high desks. With his unique vision, he could see their features hidden inside the cowls, but he respectfully avoided staring directly at them.
"What do you want, brother?" The deep, rich sound of the central female counselor echoed around the room.
"I seek your approval to complete the Kleben with the Matka-Zem!" His voice echoed throughout the chamber. Silence grew, as the elders absorbed his words. As they leaned close to discuss his statement among themselves, he saw their shocked expressions. As still as a hunting snake, he waited for their response.
"Your minds have bonded?" As the Council separated, the woman spoke in a monotone. He peered into each darkened cowl but their expressions returned to stone. As he'd expected, they didn't wear their feelings on their sleeves. "Explain how this came to be, brother."
"Yes, our minds have touched, but we have not fully bonded." Thane explained how the princess started the Kleben in her attempt to heal him, and how he, in his weakened state, accepted her bond. After he finished his tale, the council conversed again. Even with his acute hearing, he was only able to make out a word or two. To his surprise, one member actually chuckled. He had the feeling something was not quite right. He had expected a different reaction than the council's subdued resignation. They did not act surprised, nor angry at his story. In fact, they seemed relieved, as if a great weight had just lifted from their shoulders. Thane had expected to argue his case and possibly fight his way out of Kifo. However, the council's questions put him off guard.
Return of the Matka-Zem (The Sorain Chronicles) Page 24
