The League 3: Paradise City

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Maybe Devyn's parents had managed to nurture their love, but she was of a different type. She didn't know or understand how to love someone else.

  What he offered was more than she could take. She had too much of her father in her for that. No. Devyn needed a woman who had grown up with love, who knew how to give.

  For now, she would take the physical side of love, the side she understood.

  Pulling off his poncho, she ran her free hand over the wide expanse of his shoulders.

  Devyn moaned, leaning his head back.

  She nipped at his throat, her body afire with the heat of her desire. Tomorrow they might be found and terminated, and if this was her last night, she wanted to enjoy it to its fullest.

  Devyn unbuttoned her shirt, then cursed when he realized it wouldn't come off.

  "Want to cut it again?" she teased.

  "Maybe I should bite it off."

  She laughed until he lifted up her T-shirt, dipped his head, and nibbled on her breast. Fire radiated from his lips, dancing down her spine, tightening her stomach and bringing a longing throb. Moaning, she ran her fingers through his hair. Everywhere he touched, she burned.

  She resented her bound hand. She wanted to run her hands down his spine and hug him close.

  He peeled her pants off, then pulled back to stare at her. "You are beautiful in the moonlight," he said, bringing a sudden warmth to her breast.

  "Love me," she whispered.

  He removed his pants and returned to her, his body warming hers. His tongue danced over her neck, her jaw, sending wave after wave of throbbing heat in a hundred directions over her body.

  He ran his hand down her side, caressing her skin and seeking out the aching throb that demanded his touch, him. She moaned from the magic of his fingers and she wanted more.

  Finally, he separated her legs. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Never in her life had anyone made her burn as he did.

  "Love me," she said, reaching up to partake of his warmth, his gentleness.

  When he slid into her, she arched, her body quivering in ecstasy. She rose to meet each of his thrusts, delighting in the feel of raw strength that surrounded her.

  Could she really leave him? The thought tore through her, scalding her soul. Did she have any choice? She didn't want to live in his memory as Onone did, a bitter reminder of someone he shouldn't have involved himself with. If she stayed, he would grow to hate her the same way her parents had hated her and each other. Though she wanted to stay, she knew better. She could never cause him pain.

  Holding him close, she resigned herself to this little bit of time with him and surrendered herself to the love blazing between them. She lifted her hips to draw him in deeper, needing to feel his fullness inside her.

  Suddenly, her body tightened, then burst. Shaking, she gasped in wonderment. Wave after wave of ecstasy tore through her. And with two more thrusts, Devyn joined her release.

  He lay atop her, breathing heavily in her ear. "I need you," he whispered, nibbling the sensitive flesh of her neck.

  She rubbed her cheek against his, adoring his rough whiskers. She closed her eyes and savored the feel of his strength surrounding her, lying atop her. If only they could stay like this forever. If only fate could be her friend.

  Devyn pulled the blanket around them and returned to their comfortable position. She laid her head in the hollow of his shoulder and listened to his heartbeat slow. Caressing his steely muscles, she tried to envision living without him. Pain gripped her heart, squeezing it tight. Tears formed in her eyes and she begged herself to stop. Too late, a tear slid past her control.

  "What's wrong?" Devyn asked, stroking her cheek.

  "I was just wondering if you would regret knowing me," she whispered, hating herself for the trembling fear in her voice.

  He kissed her forehead and chills spread through her. "I could never regret being with you."

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. / bet he'd have said the same thing to Onone when he made love to her.

  "Alix, please don't cry," he begged. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

  "You haven't hurt me. I just feel sorry for myself."

  He rested his cheek on her head and caressed her face. "What can I do?"

  "Hold me."

  His arms tightened around her and she lay for hours just listening to him breathe.

  She stared at him while he slept.

  Images drifted through her mind: images of them together in old age; of Devyn coming home to her and a house full of children; of festive dinners spent with his parents; of a lifetime of nights like this one, nights spent in his arms, listening to his soft, easy breathing.

  And sometime long after the moon had reached high above her head, she, too, finally fell asleep.

  * * *

  Irn glared at the Emir, wanting to tear the man apart. "If you'll allow me—"

  "I have already told you, we don't allow airborne crafts to search here. If you can't respect our customs and laws, you may return to your vessel and wait for us to find the Chaldese on our own."

  Damned zealots. What could he do with them? He'd tried for hours to talk sense into them, but they wouldn't listen. He could have found both Kell and the whore long ago, but if he deviated from the Energumen traditions, the Emir had made it plain what he'd do.

  "It can't hide from us for long," the Emir said, his voice full of confidence. "Tomorrow we'll bring out the verdogs and they'll track it down. Don't you worry. Our ways may not be in keeping with the advanced ways you're used to, but they've served us well for centuries and they don't offend God." He waved his ringed hand. "Now retire for the evening. We start early in the morning."

  "Yes, Your Excellency," Irn said, making sure to keep his sneer to a minimum.

  Leaving the Emir's tent, he made his way to the edge of the field where his men had erected canvas-covered dwellings for them to rest in overnight. He curled his lips. Not even a woman to ease his needs. How he hated religious people.

  Well, it didn't matter. They would provide him with the grisly death he wanted for Kell. Too bad Alix had to suffer the same fate, but at least she, too, would be punished for her acts, and that was all that truly mattered to him anyway.

  "Sleep well, Kell," he whispered. "Tomorrow I intend to feast on your roasted flesh."

  Chapter Fifteen

  Devyn came awake with a start. He sat up so quickly, he almost jerked both his and Alix's arms out of joint.

  "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice heavy from sleep.

  "I thought I heard something." He stared into the forest, but couldn't see anything stirring, or hear any other noise. "Guess I'm getting paranoid."

  She rose to her feet, taking care to keep the blanket wrapped around her. "Well, I need a bush break. That is unless you want to finish pulling my arm out of its socket."

  Smiling at her surly tone, he stretched. "Be nice, or I'll get you back for your tug last night."

  While she went about her business, Devyn glanced across the nearby river. The soft hiss of the water beckoned him like a lover. "You know, I could really use a bath."

  "So could I," she said, standing up again. "Do you think the water's safe?"

  "It should be. Of course, there could be huge water snakes or overgrown algae that like to feast on humans. Maybe even a water dragon."

  He watched fear flicker across her face, then disappear under a wave of suspicion. "You're not funny."

  "Yes I am, you're just not a morning person."

  She rolled her eyes. "Lead me to the water before I decide to drown you."

  "Ah, I know better. If you killed me, you'd have to drag my rotting corpse around."

  She scanned his naked body, and a blush darkened her cheeks to the loveliest shade of pink he'd ever seen. "How can you walk around naked?"

  "HAWC training. First thing they knock out of you is modesty. Why, does it bother you?"

  A small smile curved her lips. "No, not really."

  "Goo
d," he said, pulling the blanket off her, scooping her up, and tossing her over his shoulder. "'Cause it would be difficult to bathe fully dressed."

  "Wait!" she shouted. "I've still got my shirt on."

  "It'll dry."

  She laughed as he dipped them both into the water.

  Her laughter died as soon as she touched the icy chill. "Oh, it's cold!" she said through chattering teeth.

  "It's not so bad. Good wake-up water."

  She stared at him as if he were mad. "I was awake enough. You didn't have to freeze me."

  Devyn opened his mouth to retaliate, but caught a flash of silver from the bank. Turning his head, he saw a group of men and women step out of the forest and line the bank around them.

  Alix gasped as she, too, caught sight of their scowling faces. Devyn stepped in front of her to shield her from the strangers and their curious stares.

  "Is it the Chaldese?" a woman asked, stepping back, her hands clutching her throat as if to ward off a demon.

  The man who must have been the leader looked at Devyn and Alix, his eyes widening as he saw their gyve. "Notify Gannon we've found them."

  "Devyn?"

  He looked at Alix, a hundred thoughts playing through his mind. Did he have time to scramble up the bank and disarm the man?

  Maybe, but not with Alix gyved to him.

  "We mean you no harm," the leader said, slinging his weapon up over his shoulder. "We've come to help."

  Devyn cocked his brow and narrowed his gaze on the man. Should he trust them? "How can I be sure?"

  The man smiled. "Do you have a choice?"

  Looking at Alix, Devyn's sighed. "I guess if they wanted us dead, they'd have already shot us."

  "I guess, but I still don't like this," she whispered.

  Devyn nodded his agreement, then turned to face the leader. "We're not wearing any clothes. Could you get our things?"

  A woman came forward with their clothes bundled in her arms and placed them on the bank. Almost in unison, the group turned their backs.

  "You must hurry," the leader said. "The Emir's troops are moving closer. We must be back in our commune before they get to this area."

  They left the water and dressed as quickly as they could.

  Devyn straightened and admired the way Alix's wet shirt clung to her hardened nipples. His body stirred and he was grateful he'd already dressed. He didn't need any more embarrassing moments.

  She finished buttoning her pants, then looked up at him, her eyes resigned.

  He gave her an encouraging smile before moving toward the leader. "Why are you helping us?"

  The leader turned around and faced them, his face blank. "We don't believe the same things as the Urbanites. We figured you must be crash survivors who only want to return home, not the Chaldese who wants to eat the souls of our children."

  Devyn gave a half-smile. "Very perceptive."

  The man laughed and extended his arm. "I'm Braw."

  "Devyn Kell," Devyn said, taking his hand and shaking it. "This is Alix Garran."

  Braw frowned. "Your wife doesn't share your name?"

  Devyn started to correct him, then caught himself. Better not offend the man until he found out more about their beliefs.

  "We're newlyweds," Alix said, planting a kiss on Devyn's cheek. "We both keep forgetting."

  Braw smiled. "Welcome, then. We must move."

  He led them toward the northeast and into a secluded valley. Mountains loomed up all around and each footstep echoed down the winding trail. Once the trail ended at the base of the largest mountain, Braw opened a concealed door that led to the interior of the mountain.

  Wooden beams reinforced by steel formed an intricate rib structure to support the hollowed-out corridors. They passed a number of closed doors and several curious passersby who stopped and stared in awe.

  "Ever get the feeling they're leading us to our doom?" Alix whispered to him, grabbing onto his biceps.

  Devyn covered her tight grip with his hand in an effort to reassure her. "I think we'll be all right." He offered her a smile, but she didn't return it.

  Braw stopped outside a door and pressed an intercom. "I have them."

  "Then enter."

  The door slid upward to display a large glass desk and a man no older than Devyn. They stared at each other, measuring, assessing.

  After a moment of scanning the maps and terminals in the room, Devyn realized what was going on. This had to be some sort of military base. The men and women around him were rebels not involved with the people after them.

  The man rose slowly to his feet. "Are you a transplenum?"

  "Yes," Devyn said, remembering the archaic word which meant "from another planet" as he led Alix into the room. He still wasn't sure if these people would help them or not, but at this point, he and Alix had little to lose.

  "Then be welcomed." He moved around the desk and lifted their gyve by the chain that connected the cuffs. A frown lined his brow. "How is it you two are bound?"

  Devyn smiled and looked at Alix. "It's a wedding custom. During the attack that destroyed our ship, I lost the key."

  Gannon laughed and clapped him on the back. "I understand." Looking past Devyn's shoulder, he focused his light stare on Braw. "Find a pair of wire cutters and have

  food—"

  "Gannon, help me, please!" a woman shrieked, rushing into the room from a door located behind the desk.

  Devyn watched panic play across her features. A small child of no more than four years lay cradled in her arms, coughing and sputtering for breath.

  Gannon paled at the sight. "Dearest God, protect him."

  Suddenly, Devyn realized it wasn't normal choking. Something had the child's airway blocked.

  "What's wrong with him?" he asked, pulling Alix forward as he moved to the child.

  The mother looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's a mysterious illness that has stricken our people these past months."

  He had to do something; a few minutes more and the kid was as good as dead.

  Devyn took the child from the mother's arms and laid him on the desk. Handing the backpack to Alix, he said, "There's a piece of clear tubing. Dig it out of the first-aid kit."

  Gannon grabbed his hands. "What are you doing to my son!" he demanded.

  "I'm a doctor," Devyn said, trying to clear the child's air passage with his fingers. "And if this kid isn't helped quickly, he's going to die."

  "Nay, Lord," the mother pleaded to Gannon, "he's the Chaldese. He'll claim our child's soul!"

  Gannon shrugged her away and stared deeply into Devyn's eyes. "Can you help him?"

  "I hope so."

  Gannon released his hands. "Then do it."

  Nodding, Devyn clenched his teeth and tried everything he could think of to open the child's throat, but some form of grayish mucus had it sealed tight.

  The child continued to cough and wheeze until Devyn wanted to shout from frustration. He'd never before seen such a dense covering and he couldn't seem to pry it free from the child's throat.

  "Hand me the scalpel," he said, holding his hand out to Alix.

  Alix just stared at him.

  Groaning, Devyn dug into the pack and found the laser scalpel. It had been a long time since he'd performed surgery, and his right hand twitched. He prayed his hands remained steady, his touch precise.

  Alix sneezed, her body moving. His right hand jerked with her.

  Devyn cursed. There was no way he could make the cut with her tied to him. One sneeze during the procedure and he'd kill the boy.

  He looked up at her and by the fear in her eyes he knew she had already guessed what he wanted. "I need you," he said. "I can't make the incision with our hands joined. You're going to have to use your right hand to do it."

  "Me?" she squeaked.

  The child convulsed, his skin turning blue.

  "He's going to die."

  Alix bit her lip to steady herself and took the scalpel from his hands. She'd nev
er in her life done anything like this and she prayed Devyn knew what he was doing.

  "Cut here and here," he said, showing her an X cut over the child's throat. "I'll mop the blood."