Dark and Light: A Kindred Tales DUET Novel. Contains: Saved by the Drake AND Captured by the Kru'ell One

by Evangeline Anderson

  The Overlord seemed to grow even angrier for a moment. His eyes glowed blood red. But then, to Alli’s surprise, he threw back his head and laughed.

  “I should be angry with you for putting your little concubine out of my reach, but why bother?” He sneered at the warrior. “You fool—you bonded with her and sent her back to her own place, leaving yourself with no sustenance. You’ll starve to death—you’ve signed your own death warrant!”

  “Not before I sign yours!” The warrior sprang forward and as he did, a glittering silver knife appeared in his hand.

  The Overlord saw it and jumped to his feet. Throwing off the fur cloak he wore, he pulled out a knife of his own. He got the blade up just in time to block the warrior’s attack. But the warrior wasn’t done yet.

  “I challenge you,” he growled as the two males started circling each other before the golden throne. “To a fight to the death—for your throne and title and for the honor of our people. I challenge you, Overlord!”

  “No!” Alli screamed, sinking to her knees. She was clutching her head in both hands, squeezing to try and stop the horrible bolts of pain ripping through her temples like jagged shards of lighting. “No, turn it off. Turn it off!”

  “Alli, honey, are you okay?” Sophie knelt beside her, an arm around Alli’s shoulders while Caroline hastened to shut off the PORTAL.

  “No,” Alli was moaning, over and over again. “No, no, no, no…”

  “What’s the matter, was that him?” Caroline asked, kneeling on her other side. “Was one of those men we saw the one who took you?”

  But Alli could only shake her head. Her mind was in turmoil. The little voice kept insisting that she knew those people she’d seen in the other universe—that the warrior with the mirrored eyes was vitally important. But her brain wouldn’t tell her who he was or how he was important.

  The dichotomy between the two sides was ripping her apart and the pain in her head was so bad Alli felt like it was going to explode.

  “Call Liv!” Sophie ordered Caroline. “Get on the Think-me and get her here now!”

  A few eternities later, Sophie’s twin sister, who was also a doctor, was there.

  “…having some kind of attack,” Sophie was telling her. “Seems to have something to do with something she saw on the PORTAL.”

  They tried to talk to Alli but by that time she was curled into the fetal position, her head clutched in both hands, moaning. The headache was like the worst migraine imaginable and it was made worse by the constant voices in her head.

  You know him! No, I don’t! Yes, you do! What’s his name then? You know him…

  Over and over, round and round, until Alli thought she was going crazy.

  “Some kind of mental break,” Liv was saying. “Need to give her a sedative to help her relax.”

  Then something was being injected into Alli’s arm. As the needle bit into her flesh and darkness began to eat her vision, her last thought was,

  It only hurt for a moment when he Stung me. After that it was all pleasure…

  And then everything went black and she knew no more.

  Thirty-Eight

  Kane stood over the body of the Overlord, his knife dripping red, still clutched in one hand.

  I won, he thought, feeling stunned. How did I do that? How did I best the Overlord?

  But he knew the answer—it was the Goddess. The one from the other universe—Allisandra’s universe.

  After a long and vicious fight, the Overlord had overpowered him. His blade had been at Kane’s throat and Kane had been thinking,

  Dead. I’m dead now and I’ll never see Allisandra again…

  And then he had heard the voice. Warm and strong and feminine, it had filled his head.

  “Do not concede, Warrior,” the voice had urged him. “This evil must end. It is the Cruel Father who gives the Overlord his strength. But I will give you mine and you shall overcome!”

  A rush of new energy had suddenly filled him, like electricity galvanizing a piece of metal when it’s struck by lightning. Kane had thrust the other male’s blade aside and fought afresh—fought like a madman, determined to win—to rid the world of the foul beast who poisoned the land.

  Everything had seemed like a blur and then, somehow, the Overlord was at his feet and he was standing there in a pool of blood and stunned silence.

  At last, the silence broke as the warriors around him cheered.

  “The new Overlord!” Kane heard one of them shout. “Kane is the new Overlord—long may he live!”

  The other Kru’ell Ones took up the cry but even as their words penetrated his brain, Kane realized that something else had penetrated his flesh.

  Looking down, he saw fresh blood seeping from his side. Putting a hand to the wound, he tried to staunch the flow. But there was so much—too much.

  Kane’s last thought as he sank to his knees was that he had killed the Overlord… but it seemed that maybe the Overlord had killed him too. And if he died, he would surely never see his love again.

  “Allisandra,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry…”

  And then all was blackness.

  Thirty-Nine

  “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Sophie looked at her anxiously.

  “Of course. I’m fine—perfectly fine.” Alli gave a jagged laugh that belied her words. To hide the trembling of her hands, she smoothed down the wedding dress—it had been her mother’s, one of the few things her father had kept in storage for Alli after her mother died.

  “But you only got released from the Med Center this morning,” Sophie protested. “Are you sure you’re up to a big ceremony?”

  “Listen, if I try to postpone the wedding, Douglas will have a heart attack.” Alli tried to make her voice businesslike and strong. “I mean, we’ve been planning this for months and, as he would surely point out, the amount of money he’s expended on the reception is too much to waste.”

  Of course to Douglas, any amount of money was too much to waste. But that wasn’t the point, Alli told herself. The point was to get back to normal after the mini-breakdown she’d suffered the day before while watching the events of that other universe in the PORTAL.

  “I’m fine,” she said again, trying to convince herself as much as Sophie. “But thank you for asking. Now—how do I look?”

  She twirled in front of the mirror, the long white gown with its sweetheart neckline showing off her curves to best advantage. Her mother had been plus-sized too and the dress was cut just right to flatter a fuller figure.

  “You look beautiful,” Sophie said, trying to smile. “I just want to be sure you know what you’re doing.”

  “Of course I know what I’m doing—I’m getting married to Douglas just like I’ve planned to for the past year,” Alli said, more sharply than she intended.

  “But, well…are you sure—” Sophie began.

  “Well, well—is everyone ready for the big day?”

  It was Liv, Sophie’s twin sister, poking her head into the bridal tent which was set up on the side lawn of the Sacred Grove, where the ceremony was to take place. She looked at Alli with barely concealed concern.

  “Just thought I’d check in on my patient one more time before the ceremony,” she said.

  “I’m fine,” Alli said, firmly, trying to make it be true.

  Fine except for the little voice in the back of her head, whispering that she had forgotten something…something terribly important…

  Alli ignored that voice fiercely. Today was her big day, after all. She’d been planning it for months and she was damn well going to have it, she told herself. Nothing was going to stop her from having her ‘happily ever after moment,’ as her wedding planner called it.

  Just then, there was a masculine cough outside the tent.

  “Ladies?” Commander Sylvan’s voice said. “Are you ready? Everyone is assembled and waiting.”

  “It’s show time!” Alli said brightly, trying to drown out the annoying
little voice in her head with good cheer. “Come on, girls—how do I look?”

  “Beautiful,” Liv said sincerely and Sophie nodded. “But are you sure—”

  “Time to get going!” Alli interrupted. She stepped hastily out of the tent before either sister could say anything else and took Commander Sylvan’s arm. Since Alli’s father had died so long ago, he had considerately offered to walk her down the isle—an offer that Alli had accepted with gratitude at the time.

  But now, as they made their way barefoot down the middle of the Sacred Grove (everyone had to remove their shoes since it was holy ground) she couldn’t feel anything but fear and a sense of wrongness that seemed to grow with every step.

  Forgot, you forgot…it’s important, what you forgot, chanted the annoying little voice in the back of her head. It got so loud that Alli could barely hear the music—a lovely string quartet she and Douglas had picked especially for this occasion.

  Speaking of Douglas, there he was, standing at the end of the aisle in front of the Priestess who was to perform the ceremony. He was smiling, apparently oblivious to the turmoil churning within Alli, though she was certain it must show on her face. He even raised his eyebrows and tapped his watch as if to say, Hurry up, you’re running late!

  Douglas was always so punctual, she thought distractedly. He had probably brought some paperwork up to the Mother Ship and he wanted to get through with the ceremony and reception in time to get some of it done. That would be like him and of course she couldn’t complain—both of them had agreed when they got together that their jobs would always come first and the relationship would be second.

  There was someone else who put you first, the little voice in Alli’s brain informed her. He loved you, cared for you, spent hours pleasuring you…

  Shut up! Alli told it fiercely. I don’t know what you’re talking about—there was nobody like that!

  To distract herself, she looked around at the guests—various friends and family from work and from the Mother Ship. There was Dr. Lambert with her handsome Kindred husband who had apparently come through the PORTAL from another universe…

  No, don’t think about that! Don’t think about other universes! Alli told herself. Quickly, she looked around for other familiar faces. Liv and Sophie were sitting on the bride’s side. Right beside them was Imani, the sweet young attorney that Alli had mentored before she came to work for the Kindred.

  Imani had lovely, creamy brown skin like dark chocolate and big, dark, almond-shaped eyes. Doe eyes, Alli had always thought. She was a tiny little slip of a thing—short but solid, as she liked to say. But her diminutive stature and shy smile belied a fiery spirit. She was working as a civil rights attorney, fighting mainly for those who had been wrongly imprisoned. Alli had been proud to see her grow from a timid intern to a self-confident Councilor.

  “You look beautiful!” her protégée mouthed.

  “Thank you!” Alli mouthed back.

  And then she was past the row where Imani sat and there was nothing to do but join Douglas in front of the priestess.

  “There you are, darling—I was worried for a moment,” he murmured, taking her hand with a condescending smile. “Always late—even to your own wedding.”

  Alli had to fight to keep from yanking her hand out of his. His touch on her skin felt awful—like sandpaper and slime combined—how was that even possible?

  “Sorry.” She smiled at him, hoping the expression looked more sincere than it felt. Right at that moment her smile felt so brittle she thought it might fall off her face and shatter into a million pieces in the grass beneath their feet. But again, Douglas didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.

  “My Children,” the Priestess began, addressing the assembly. She was an older woman with the green streaks in her hair and the green-within-green eyes that most priestesses of the Mother of All Life had. “We are here today to Join these two souls in the sight of the Goddess.” She smiled at Alli and Douglas. “Allisandra and Douglas have chosen to write their own vows and they will speak them now.”

  This was Alli’s cue to start, but suddenly her mind was a total blank. She had some lovely vows she’d written out and memorized ages ago—back when she and Douglas had first planned the wedding and decided to have it aboard the Mother Ship. But now not a single word would come to Alli’s mind—there was nothing in her head but the little voice chanting,

  Mistake, mistake, you’re making a mistake. Forgot, forgot, there’s something you forgot…

  Over and over again until Alli thought she might go crazy.

  “Darling?” Douglas frowned at her.

  Alli shook her head.

  “I…I…you go first,” she said.

  He shrugged and nodded.

  “All right. Ahem…Allisandra,” he began loudly, speaking for the benefit of the assembled guests as well as for her. “When I first met you, I was struck by your practicality. I said to myself—this is a woman who knows how to prioritize. A woman who will let me get on with my life while she lives hers to the fullest as well. A woman I can coexist with peacefully with minimal friction for the rest of my days.” He gave Alli a small, self-deprecating smile. “I know that might not be considered romantic by some, but that’s one thing I like about you, darling—you don’t demand any grand romantic gestures. I guess what I’m trying to say is, will you be mine?”

  Mine! growled a voice in Alli’s head. A new voice—not the nagging little one but a deep, rough, gravelly tone that was clearly masculine. You’re mine now, baby! Mine forever!

  Alli put a hand to her temple, which was throbbing. What was wrong with her?

  “I said, will you be mine?” Douglas repeated, frowning at her. Clearly he was irritated that she was messing up the ceremony.

  “Oh, uh, yes. Yes, of course,” Alli mumbled, trying to smile through the blinding pain building in her temples. Was she going to have another fainting fit right here in the middle of her own wedding? She couldn’t do that! She had to make it through somehow. Had to ignore the crazy voices and just get finished with the ceremony so she could go lie down in a cool dark room with a wet cloth over her eyes. Then she would feel better…wouldn’t she?

  “And now Allisandra will say her vows,” the priestess said, giving her a pointed look.

  “Oh, uh…” Alli searched her memory frantically, but the vows she had written were still gone.

  Gone, whispered the little voice. Gone and forgotten, gone and forgotten…

  “Douglas,” she said desperately, realizing that everyone was staring at her. “I, um, guess we’re here to get married today. So…” She cleared her throat. “So let’s do it. Let’s get married. Okay?”

  Douglas shot her a disapproving look. Clearly this was not what he had been expecting. But then, it wasn’t as though his own vows had been that romantic, Alli thought resentfully. What with him talking about how practical she was. And what could he or anyone else expect of her when she was hearing voices and trying not to go crazy in the middle of her own wedding?

  “Very…er…very nice,” the priestess said doubtfully. “Well, my children—will you please each give me a hand so that I may Join you together in the sight of the Goddess?”

  Douglas held out his right hand and the priestess took it with a serene smile. Alli held out her left but when she slipped it into the waiting hand of the priestess, the other woman gasped.

  “Oh, my daughter!” she exclaimed, looking at Alli, her strange, green-within-green eyes wide with surprise. “I cannot Join you to this man!”

  “What?” Douglas demanded, frowning. “Why not?”

  “Because…” The priestess dropped his hand to cup Alli’s in both of hers. “Because this female is already bonded to another male.”

  Forty

  Chaos ensued.

  The music came to a jangling halt. Alli could hear everyone whispering behind them, and Douglas was blustering about how they could have chosen to have their wedding ceremony anywhere but they had settled
on the Sacred Grove and he was going to sue the priestess and the entire Mother Ship for breach of contract!

  But Alli barely heard any of it. She was looking into the priestess’s eyes, the green-within-green eyes which seemed almost to glow…

  “What do you mean?” she whispered. “Please tell me—I feel like I’m going crazy. Please help me remember whatever it was I forgot.”

  The priestess’s eyes glowed even brighter and when she spoke again, her voice was not her own. It was a rich, feminine tone which was somehow familiar to Alli. And as she spoke, the entire Sacred Grove filled with a beautiful presence and a sweet scent.

  “My child,” she said, holding Alli’s hands in hers. “Remember.”

  Suddenly, everything came rushing back. Kane in the Hall of Shadows…the look in his silver-black eyes when he bonded her to him…his deep rough voice claiming her, saying, “Mine. You’re mine.”

  “Kane!” Alli gasped, her hand flying to her face. “Oh my God, how could I forget him?”

  “Your mate repressed your memory to protect you,” the Goddess said—for Alli was certain now it was she who was speaking through the priestess. “But now he is the one in grave danger. You must go quickly if you are to save him.”

  “Yes! Yes, of course!” Alli turned and scanned the crowd until she spotted Caroline Lambert, who looked as confused as everyone else. She was about to run to her when Douglas stopped her with a hand on her arm.

  “Now, wait just a minute, Alli,” he said frowning. “What’s all this about? You need to settle down so we can get on with the ceremony.”

  “I’m sorry, Douglas.” Alli shook his hand off impatiently. “But I can’t marry you.”

  He frowned. “You want to postpone the wedding? You don’t want to get married today?”

  Alli shook her head.