Captive By Night: A Dardanos, Co. Taken Collection

by Calle J. Brookes

  Jierra’s cheeks flamed, giving Kindara the answer she needed long before the girl nodded. “Why?”

  “Stay very still a moment,” Kindara said before shutting her eyes and seeking. She took her time, carefully examining her child for the evidence of what she suspected. Less than two minutes later she opened her eyes and looked into her daughter’s. “Do you know anything about their...mating habits?”

  “Not much. Other than the obvious.” A flash of Jierra’s normal humor had her mouth twitching. “And it was just once. And quick, I think. And it made him angry.”

  “Ji, a true Lupoiux mating always results in twins or triplets the first time. Did he say the word mine during...what you did?” Kindara looked at the ceiling, embarrassed. This was her baby! She knew Jierra hadn’t had sex before. They should not be having this conversation now.

  “Yes. Several times.” Jierra’s eyes widened and she jerked to stare at the Lupoiux, who stared back.

  Kindara fought the urge to hiss at him. “Why?” “Because, baby...he’s mated you.”

  Jierra shook her head. “No...”

  “Yes, baby. There are babies. Two of them. I could feel them. Did he not tell you?”

  “No. No. No.” Jierra shook her head and Kindara had no trouble seeing the panic taking hold.

  Jierra was just a baby herself. In that moment, seeing how scared her daughter was, Kindara wanted nothing more than to rip the wolf’s head from his body. She hissed again, this time loud enough to draw the men’s attention.

  ****

  Rathan stepped across the den and dropped to his knees beside his woman and her daughter. Her eyes flashed Dardaptoan orange fury at him and he pulled back. “Pet?”

  It was as if she didn’t even see him, her focus was intent on Rand. Rathan kept his tone soothing, as he reached a hand out to brush her cheek. “How are you feeling? Does your head hurt very badly?”

  “You said he wouldn’t hurt her!”

  “He didn’t.” Rathan was sure of that. Rand might not have treated her as gently as he should have, but he hadn’t hurt the girl.

  “He’s mated her!”

  Rathan rocked back. Rand hadn’t mentioned that. Kindara’s arms were tight around her daughter and she rocked back and forth. But the rage was clear on her face. “I didn’t know that.”

  “No surprise, she didn’t either!”

  Rathan knew the wolf would have had little choice in the matter. If a Lupoiux found his mate and didn’t consummate the match within thirty-six hours, it would be a sterile union. It was an evolutionary element given to the Lupoiux because they’d once been in so much danger that many males didn’t live long enough to father children. So their race was given the urge to procreate immediately upon meeting the females. And it always resulted in a litter of pups—two or three pups in all—after the first mating. After that, a Lupoiux pairing reproduced about every twelve years. “If she’s his mate, that was his right.”

  It wasn’t like his species. Demons were free to choose their consorts. Even hers had some choice in the matter. While they had their destined mates—Rajnis—they could choose to live apart if they found they weren’t compatible. But from what he understood, most Rajni pairs were extremely compatible.

  “To do so without telling her? She’s so young and now there are two babes growing!”

  Rathan considered telling her there were three babes growing, but knew that would increase the rage she was feeling. Rage that could get her hurt. A Dardaptoan—male or female—in full rage, was sometimes enough to trigger a Lupoiux beast to emerge. He needed to calm her down and quickly. “Babes are a natural consequence of the Lupoiux mating. You do know that if he hadn’t...given...her the babes now she never would have had children? It was meant to happen now.”

  “He should have told her, let her make the decision!” Her fangs were visible and she trembled. Had she not held her daughter in her arms, he suspected she would have lunged at the wolf. He couldn’t let that happen.

  “Yes, he should have.” As Rathan should have told her of the spawn growing within her. He pushed away the guilt before continuing. “But now it is done.”

  She continued to hiss, but the orange fury was fading from her eyes. Still, Rathan did not try touching her. “I want him dead, demon.”

  “Do you?” Rathan kept his tone as soothing as he could. “Your daughter’s mate? Your grandchildren’s father?”

  Orange receded farther and Rathan knew she listened. “He will not touch her again.”

  “Not if she doesn’t wish it.” Rathan knew Rand wouldn’t force himself on a woman and he strongly suspected that had there not been such a pressing time element, he wouldn’t have bedded the girl yet. Rand’s hatred of Dardaptoans was as strong as Kindara’s fear of the Taniss males.

  “Ever. We’re going home, as soon as possible. You think my brother will let him near her? He’ll kill that dog first.”

  “Shh. Now isn’t the time to worry about that. We need to get up the mountain as soon as possible.” Rathan pulled the girl from her mother’s arms, ignoring the protests. He handed her to the other man, not missing the way Kindara’s rage flared. “No, Kindara. Now tell me, how does your head feel? Can you walk? Do you need me to carry you?”

  ****

  It wasn’t her head that pained her the most, but her heart. Jierra’s life had changed so drastically in the last forty-eight hours, and Kindara had been unable to protect her. She’d failed her family. Once more a Taniss was to blame; no matter what the outcome between the Lupoiux and her daughter, she doubted that her anger would ever fade. “Of course I can walk!”

  The demon retreated slightly, but he frowned down at her. The worry in his face had her squirming.

  “Are you sure? The pace will be more intense, now. We have to reach the grounds as quickly as possible, and it’s a day and a half hike away.”

  Why the urgency? “I can walk.”

  His frown deepened. “You’ll walk until I think you can’t. Then I shall carry you. I could carry you the entire way, of course.”

  “Not necessary.” Kindara shook her head, but she took his hand when he offered it. He pulled her to her feet, and she felt her eyes widen when a rush of pain settled behind her eyes. She clutched his hand tighter, not missing the curse that slipped from his lips.

  He scooped her to his chest, touched one finger to his horn then her mouth. She didn’t catch what he muttered as her eyes grew instantly heavy and everything went dark.

  Chapter Seven

  Rathan smiled reassuringly at the girl when she gasped and clutched at her mother. “She’s fine, poppet.”

  “I’ve just made her sleep, is all. Help her head heal.”

  “She’ll be ok, right?”

  Poor child, had Rand done nothing to make her feel safe with him? If he’d mated her, he’d slept with her, yet she was still so fearful of them? “Just sleeping, I promise. She’ll be angry with me when she wakes, but at least she won’t be hurting.” He cuddled his burden closer, then motioned for the girl to precede him out of Rand’s den. “Stay close, ok?”

  She avoided Rand’s hand as he leaned down to help her from the entrance and Rathan caught the other male’s darkening expression. What had happened between the two to make her that skittish? It didn’t bode well for Rand’s future with his mate.

  She stayed at Rathan’s side throughout the morning’s hike, though he suspected it was more to avoid Rand than to stay by her mother.

  Kindara slept deeply, her wrists crossed behind his neck, and her legs tight around his waist. His nose was buried in her hair for most of the journey. He enjoyed every moment of it. It would take much maneuvering on his part to convince her to let him keep her. But keep her, he would.

  They hiked for several hours until Rathan knew the girl couldn’t go much further without resting. “Wolf! Enough. Your mate must rest!”

  He directed the girl to a fallen log, not missing the grateful expression in her eyes as she dropped to l
ean against it. He settled Kindara beside her, then commanded her to wake. Her eyes flickered open and a small fist lashed out, connecting with his chin.

  “Oh!”

  “I told you I don’t like you doing that.”

  “But you were hurting.” And knowing his female hurt superseded everything, including her wishes. “So? It was my choice to stay awake.”

  “Are you hurting now?” Wasn’t that what mattered? He’d done what he needed to do for her. Soon she’d learn that was behind all his actions—concern for her.

  She hesitated, eyes going puzzled. “No. The pain is gone. And it shouldn’t be. Not for at least a few more days.”

  “Because I can secrete a pain-killing agent as well as a sleep aid. No species is immune to it.” Many of his kind could do such things. The sleep aid helped them induce their food sources to sleep so they could feed on their fantasies. He wouldn’t tell her he could release four kinds of aphrodisiacs yet, though. He doubted she’d find that fact helpful.

  “Gods and goddesses, if I could bottle that it would solve my problems.”

  He struggled to catch her mumbled words; when he did it puzzled him even more. “What problems?”

  “Mother has been searching for medicines to help our people. We have no antibiotics, no pain relievers, none of that like other Kinds.” Her daughter was shoulder to shoulder with Kindara and clutched her mother’s hand. “She’s been searching for years.”

  “Too many of our people die from things we should be able to cure.” Kindara’s eyes went bleak and

  Rathan brushed a kiss over her brow. He knew why her people were so cursed. They were the weakest of the Kind, all Dardaptoan females were cursed by the god who’d created the Lupoiux to always be weaker than the other Kind. It was why their menfolk were so fiercely protective. Female Dardaptoans were barely stronger than female humans.

  “I will help you, pet. You can bottle as much of me as you’d like.” He pulled the small grass blanket he’d shrank from his pack and resized it to cover both Dardaptoans. He settled it over them, tucking the edges around Kindara’s left shoulder and her daughter’s right. His to protect, now. They both were. “You two stay here and rest. I’ll return with some food and water for you. Rand will stand guard.”

  “Guarding against what? My brother?” Kindara eyed them both with suspicion.

  “No. We don’t expect your people for a few days, but while you were sleeping Rand did some scouting.” “And?”

  “There’s a rogue pack of Lupoiux in these woods. We don’t want them catching your scent, or your daughter’s. Especially hers.” As a newly bred female, every unmated male Lupoiux would be seeking ways to steal her from Rand. And there were enough of the rogues to prove a problem.

  Kindara nodded her understanding. “Be careful.”

  Her concern for him had him kissing her lightly. “I will, pet. I will always return to you.”

  ****

  “Mother?” Jierra’s whisper had Kindara’s attention shifting from the demon as he left to her daughter.

  “What is he?”

  “Demon.” Kindara sighed. “Incubus.”

  “Oh...” Jierra’s eyes widened. Kindara knew her daughter had a fascination with romance novels featuring Dardaptoans and demons—that was probably all the information Jierra had about demons, what came from those books. “So did he...feed from you?”

  “Ji! That’s not really something you should ask.”

  “So he did.” Jierra scooted closer, laid her head on Kindara’s shoulder. “Was it terribly awful? Him not being your Rajni? I mean, it’s not even that great when it is your Rajni.”

  That told Kindara so much about what happened between her daughter and the wolf. “Oh, honey. It should be great with your Rajni. It starts off great and just gets better over the decades.”

  “Oh.” Jierra was silent for a moment. “So was it good with the demon? He’s kind of hot.”

  Kindara felt heat hit her cheeks. Yes, it had been good. But there was no way she was sharing that with her daughter. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Killjoy.” Jierra yawned. Kindara wrapped her arm around her daughter and snuggled her close.

  “Take a nap; I’ll wake you when it’s time to move again.”

  “What are they planning to do with us?” Fear was clear in the younger girl’s voice.

  “I don’t know, honey. The demon said we’ll get home as soon as possible. Swore an oath.”

  “So it’s true, then? That if a demon swears an oath they have to honor it?”

  “Yes.”

  “So we’re going home soon then.”

  “I think so, yes.” Kindara smoothed the strawberry blonde curls off her daughter’s cheek. “Rest, sweetheart. For you and the babes. We’ll figure out what to do when you wake.”

  ****

  Rathan flashed back to the Taniss vacation compound, making sure to arrive in his rooms. Just in case there were humans around. He hurried to the massive kitchen, not surprised to find it empty. Rand had sent most of the compound’s occupants elsewhere for the week. Only a select few security personnel remained-Lupoiux numbering about a dozen. Still, Rathan didn’t want to have to explain how he’d arrived so quickly when it was common knowledge he and Rand were working on a project elsewhere.

  He grabbed a bag and began filling it with food for his woman and her daughter. He and Rand would have been quite fine roughing it, but two women carrying babes would need more than fish or small game.

  Rathan knew Dardaptoans existed mostly on fruits, vegetables, and grains when not needing blood.

  Would she—they—need blood anytime soon?

  Demons didn’t possess oxygenated red blood in the manner that other beings of any origin did, but what he did possess in his veins would provide powerful strength and abilities to his spawn—and hopefully healing agents to his child’s mother.

  Yes, even if she balked, he would insist on feeding her. He’d meet her every need until she was totally dependent upon him. Then she’d never want to go back to her people.

  When he flashed back to the camp, he found Rand sitting a few yards away from the females, watching them as they slept.

  Rathan sighed, setting the bag of fruits and rolls aside. “We’ve exhausted them.”

  “Yes. I didn’t realize they’d be so...”

  “Weak? Delicate? Frail?” Rathan settled beside his woman, pulling her to lean against him. She snuggled her face into his neck and he shivered. She was not the only one who’d be fed this day. “They are Dardaptoan, after all. And add in the pups and spawn—”

  “Spawn?”

  “Yes. There is a spawn growing.” Rathan was torn between embarrassment and pride. She carried his spawn. The future king of all Demonkin.

  “Purposefully?”

  “No, it was an accident, but I am not unhappy about it.” It was time he started a family; as king of his people shouldn’t he lead by example?

  “She will be.”

  “Yes. But that matters little. She’ll adjust.”

  “So you don’t intend to let her go.”

  “No. I intend to convince her that staying with me is what she wants to do.” He placed a tiny kiss on her forehead before shaking her awake. He kept his touch as gentle as possible while whispering her name.

  Her eyes slid open, momentarily clouded with confusion. Then they cleared. “Demon. You’re back already.”

  “It didn’t take me long to flash home, pet. I’ve brought you something.” He pulled an orange from the bag and handed it to her, followed by a small loaf of banana bread. “I want you to eat it all while Rand catches us a fish to go with it. I’ve brought some for your daughter, as well.”

  She took the offering, muttering about solicitous kidnappers and the irony involved. Then she thanked him before taking her daughter’s share and shaking the girl awake.

  It was much harder to wake the girl than Rathan would have expected. He didn’t miss the concern on Kinda
ra’s face as she let the girl sleep a little longer. She could eat as they walked, but the rest seemed more necessary.

  “Is she well?” Rand stiffened at Rathan’s question though he didn’t turn around from where he stood by the small creek. Rathan knew the wolf listened closely.

  “Kindara?”

  “She’s exhausted, frightened, and newly pregnant. And she’ll need blood soon. At least twice as often as she did before. Pregnancy is hard on Dardaptoan women—one reason why our birthrates are so low. Tramping through the woods is not doing her any good.”

  Rathan’s eyes narrowed. Kindara was concerned for her daughter, yet she was just as vulnerable. Should he tell her about the spawn? Or just protect her the best he could and wait until she looked upon him more favorably? Until she was in agreement to stay with him? “The wolf can carry her.”

  Kindara started to protest, then looked at her sleeping daughter. The girl had curled up against the log and looked so pale in the afternoon sun. “That would be best.”

  Rathan pulled Kindara to her feet shortly after she finished eating, then tucked the blanket tighter around the girl. Rand shouldered him aside and scooped his female up, tucking her against his chest. “Let’s move.”

  Rathan kept Kindara at his side and kept his attention on their surroundings. While the Lupoiux would be after her daughter for the pups, Kindara was just as great a prize as a healer. He would not lose her to a pack of dogs.

  “How much further?” Kindara stumbled several hours later and he caught her, pulling her against him. Her daughter had awakened an hour earlier and walked on Kindara’s other side. No one had spoken much, but Rathan knew the women were still exhausted and probably overwhelmed.

  “We’ll be there shortly before sunset.” Rathan didn’t give her a choice before swinging her up into his arms. He guided her legs around his hips and then her arms around his neck. Every step he took over the rough terrain sent her bouncing against his groin. He tightened his arms as hunger filled him. A few more hours and he’d have her in his bed, where she belonged.