That he could not deny. Had he just left the girl alone months ago, had his arrogance and thirst for a small amount of vengeance against the High King not gotten the best of him, this girl would be safe and secure in her former life. Instead, she was dependent upon him for everything now. He was a monster at times, wasn’t he?
His honor demanded he make his restitution to her directly, the one whom he had most wronged. “Come. We shall get you to your new suite. You can settle in.”
“Why bother? My brothers will be coming for me. And Auri. She won’t rest until she has me back.” Of that, Bronwen was certain. And Auri was now one of the most powerful creatures in any of the realms. “Do you really want to battle against a Laquazzeana? She can strike you dead with just a thought!”
“And she will not dare. To do so would bring her brother-in-law’s kingdom into certain war with mine. And my allies. Which are not inconsiderable. Do you think that is something he would wish? Something this Auri of yours would? Many lives would be lost in exchange for returning you to that drafty wreck of a castle.” Politics and diplomacy irritated him at times, but he understood the necessity for both. And had been trained by his father to use them when needed to achieve his goals.
“You are despicable.” The vitriol in her voice surprised him. Weren’t healers of her Kind supposed to be compassionate and loving in manner, even to their enemies?
That had him frowning. Was that what he was to her, an enemy? He did not wish that, not at all. He tangled one hand in her hair. It was softer than he’d expected. One of the softest things his sword-roughened hand had touched, in his recent memory. He tilted her head back, then ran a finger from his free hand down her thin neck. She shivered and her face showed real surprise. He did it again; her shivering increased.
“Stop.”
He thought about it for a moment. It was just a simple touch. Why had she reacted in such a manner? Koios surprised himself by leaning down and nipping the same small bit of skin. Her breath rushed out.
He felt his lower body harden in a distinctive sexual reaction. It was the first he’d ever reacted to her that way, wasn’t it?
He didn’t see her as a sexual being. How could he? She was too small, too weak and defenseless, too dependent on him for everything for there to be a sexual attraction to her. He far preferred strong warrior females of his own Kind. He’d never been with a creature of another Kind. The entire idea was almost abhorrent for a Beskre warrior such as himself, wasn’t it?
But then again…what had he and Sinrik been told nearly fifteen months ago by a prognosticating Druidic when she had visited their castle in her travels?
That they would have to seek out females of another. Witches and healers and peoples not yet named if they wished to preserve their dying Kind.
Healers and witches.
Why had he not remembered that?
It was why Sinrik had kept captive the first witch to visit their kingdom after that day. Malickus’ young sister had arrived within weeks after that prediction. It hadn’t been much longer before Koios had taken this young healer, as well. Had she been a part of that Druidic foretelling? Why had he not realized?
Because he had not believed that foretelling, that was why.
Beskre warriors were trained early on that their Kind was to be preserved through pure mating.
That was the way of their peoples. The Druidic prediction had directly countered his lifelong teachings, so he had discounted it.
Even though his brother hadn’t, and had impregnated the first witch female to come within range.
But perhaps the Druid had had the way of things?
The Beskre warrior Kind was dying out for one main reason, and Koios was well aware of it. No female had been born of their Kind in nearly one thousand years—until the wee Zephra, his brother’s daughter.
A thousand years, and then a year after the Druidic prediction, the brother who had believed had fathered a daughter.
There had to be great stock in that.
Perhaps that was what he would keep this young healer girl for. A consort, and possible mother to a few of his spawn over the years? Not many, maybe four every couple of hundred years. That was a good number for just a consort, and he would be free to find a Beskre mate when the time came as well. Perhaps two spawn would be better. One every hundred years? Warrior spawn were large and hearty, and she was small and slim and delicate. Could she even carry a warrior spawn safely?
The High Queen had. He had been in the Malickus castle when the High King’s heir was delivered. This girl had assisted the delivery, hadn’t she? So she would know what to expect.
It was far more expedient to lift her into his arms and carry her than to wait for her to follow. Or to even lead her by the hand, her stumbling along behind him. Instead of the suite he’d had prepared in the opposite wing as his, he took her directly to his quarters.
Best start out as he meant to continue, after all. She would needst get used to his much larger body, wouldn’t she? He was probably a bit larger than any she had been with before.
He lowered her to the bed and the instant her back touched the silk blanket she erupted, arms and legs waving wildly as she tried to push him away.
It surprised him. He thought her incapable of such fighting. She hadn’t fought him when he’d taken her from Malickus’ castle before. She’d been so meek, then. “Stop. I do not plan to mate you yet. You will hurt yourself if you continue in this manner. We have much to discuss…”
Other Titles by
Calle J. Brookes
Paranormal
Dardanos, Co.
The Blood King
Awakening the Demon’s Queen
The Seer’s Strength
The Warrior’s Woman
The Healer’s Heart
Once Wolf Bitten
Live or Die
The Wolf’s Redemption
A Warrior’s Quest
Out of the Darkness
Warrior Blind
The Witch
Dardanos, Co: The Adrastos
The Outcast
The Forlorn
Romantic Suspense
PAVAD: FBI Romantic Suspense
Watching
Wanting
Second Chances: A PAVAD Duet
Hunting
Running
Redeeming
Revealing
Stalking
Beginning (A Prequel)
Waiting
Ghosting
PAVAD: FBI CASE FILES
#0001 Knocked Out
#0002 Knocked Down
Captive By Night: A Dardanos, Co. Taken Collection Page 67
