Marked

by Lydia Parks

  She leaned down and kissed her aunt’s cheek, then took another deep breath as she started along the path. At the rock face, she looked back and found her aunt watching, and they waved to each other. The older woman turned then and started back down the trail.

  Alicia stepped around the edge of a rock wall that jutted straight up, forming a five-foot-wide opening between it and the cliff. Light came in from thirty or forty feet above her, leaving the path cool and shaded. After a few dozen feet, the opening took a hairpin turn, and she followed it, touching both walls as the pathway narrowed. It started to turn again, but stopped, and she found herself facing an opening in the cliff no more than ten feet by ten feet, and completely dark.

  What she wouldn’t give for a flashlight.

  She stood very still and listened, but heard nothing.

  One thought drew her on: Cole must be on the other side of this passage. If she could find the courage to pass through, he’d be waiting for her.

  At least, she hoped he would.

  Her shoulder tingled suddenly, as if assuring her that he was.

  “Here we go.”

  Two steps into the darkness, she stopped again.

  This time she did hear something—something that curled her toes. She heard a rattlesnake’s warning. The rattle suddenly stopped, and she heard something else. Movement. Quiet movement on the ground all around her.

  “Oh, damn.”

  Resisting the urge to turn and bolt, she held very still, fingering her necklace. What was it Cole had said? That snakes were their friends?

  God, she hoped he’d been right about that.

  Gulping at the knot of fear in her throat, she started forward slowly, sliding her feet cautiously out in front of her with each step. Snakes slithered from her path; she could feel their presence. Her skin crawled but she continued on.

  At first she’d thought the cave was completely dark, but once her eyes adjusted, she realized there was a light ahead. “The light at the end of the tunnel,” she whispered.

  Her whisper bounced back from rock walls.

  As the light grew and she was finally able to see the ground, she felt better. Snakes moved away as she approached, and there weren’t quite as many as she’d imagined. They raised their heads in her direction as if checking her out; none of them appeared interested in biting her.

  Fighting the desire to run the last few feet, she stepped from the passageway and stopped, sucking in a breath of surprise.

  Here it was, exactly as she’d dreamed it. The beautiful greenish-brown valley stretched out below her, surrounded by red rock cliffs. Cottonwoods dotted the center of the valley, outlining water, no doubt. After a moment of studying the ground, she realized mountain lions filled the valley floor, lounging in the sun. Dozens of them. They were only slightly browner than the grasses.

  Cole was right. It had been a memory. She could almost feel her mother’s hand holding hers, and hear her mother crying as they stood looking back.

  Oddly, the emotion that washed over her was one of coming home.

  Her shoulder ached. Cole must be here, somewhere. Would he welcome her, or be upset that she’d followed him?

  One thing for sure, he owed her an explanation for running out on her.

  As she started down the footpath, she realized she should be worried about walking into a valley filled with mountain lions, but she wasn’t. A strange kind of excitement swelled in her chest.

  Had she lost her mind? Reason told her that she’d be torn apart when they noticed her.

  These are your people.

  Alicia smiled at the voice in her head. Maybe her ancestors really were guiding her.

  Absorbed in the beauty of the place, she tripped, sending a spray of small rocks on ahead of her, and several of the lions looked up. She slowed her pace, wondering what she’d do if they charged up the hill toward her, but none of them moved.

  The path curved to the left and then to the right, and she skidded to a stop.

  Ahead, not ten feet away, lay a mountain lion covered with lacerations, its hide red with blood.

  She sucked in a breath of surprise, and the animal opened its eyes, moved its head in the dirt, and speared her with a golden gaze.

  Her heartbeat thundered as she told herself to back away, but her feet wouldn’t move. All she could do was stare into eyes that looked strangely familiar.

  Too familiar.

  As recognition slammed into her, Alicia fell to her knees. “Cole?”

  The giant cat huffed.

  She hadn’t imagined it. This was Cole. And he was badly hurt, maybe dying.

  No! He couldn’t die now.

  On her hands and knees she crawled forward, needing to touch him, needing to let him know that she was with him.

  Hesitantly, careful to avoid the gashes in his hide, she touched his neck where he still wore his necklace.

  A low rumble rose through her hand and filled her heart with unbelievable joy and unimaginable pain.

  His eyes focused on her for a moment, and then he stared at something far away just as she’d seen so many do when they were dying. And then his eyes closed.

  “No! You can’t leave me.” Overcome with grief, she fell forward, burying her face in his matted, sticky coat. “Cole!” Tears like she’d never shed before poured from her, mixing with his warm blood and dripping to the ground.

  As she cried, a strange warmth flowed over her as if someone were covering her with a weightless blanket. The sensation slowed her tears, and she sat up.

  The warmth intensified, rippling across her skin. Heat rolled out from her chest in waves, culminating in sparks crackling at her fingertips. She held up her hands and stared.

  Following some weird instinct, she put one hand on Cole’s shoulder and the other halfway down his side. Heat flowed down her arms, shooting out through her palms, causing a sensation approaching pain. He trembled under her, and his body twitched. Although tears blurred her vision, she watched the lacerations in his hide slowly close.

  Finally, the bleeding stopped.

  Her arms began to shake and the heat intensified. She felt her own strength flowing out with it, and her thoughts began to swirl as if she were drugged.

  Enough, the voice in her head said.

  She lifted her hands from Cole’s hide, and the heat faded. His eyes remained closed. She watched his side rise and fall with his labored breathing. He wasn’t bleeding anymore. But had she been too late to save him?

  “You’re the one, aren’t you?”

  Startled, yet too drained to jump, Alicia looked up at a woman who stood beside her, blocking out the sun. When the woman knelt, Alicia saw tears running down her face and neck. She was beautiful, with hazel eyes and long, brown hair graying at the temples. She wore a strange wrap that left her arms and legs bare. The shape of her nose and mouth reminded Alicia of Cole.

  The woman stroked the mountain lion’s face and leaned close to him. “Cole? Son, can you hear me?”

  Cole’s eyes opened slowly, but he didn’t seem to be looking at anything. His pupils were pinpoints.

  Several other people scrambled up the hillside, both men and women, all naked except for their necklaces, several with fresh scratches and bite marks. As they gathered around Cole, Alicia scooted back. Without speaking, the group lifted him and started down the trail carrying him. The end of his tail dragged the ground.

  “Come with me,” Cole’s mother said, gently pulling Alicia’s arm to help her up. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”

  Walking on shaky legs and unable to clear her head, she let the woman lead her across the valley.

  Chapter Five

  “I appreciate what you did for my son.” Elena placed a steaming bowl in front of Alicia.

  The stew smelled so good, it opened her drooping eyes. Using more effort than she should have had to, Alicia picked up a spoon and began to eat.

  She glanced up to find Elena wiping tears from her cheeks again. Neither of them mentioned th
e fact that Cole hadn’t yet regained consciousness.

  After half the bowl of stew, a measure of strength returned. Alicia wiped her mouth and looked up at the woman, who was even more beautiful than she’d first appeared. “I don’t understand what happened. Cole was hurt, and I felt this strange heat in my hands.” She held up her hands and studied them. Then she dropped them to her lap. “You’re telling me I can heal people?”

  Elena nodded. “Your father was the last of the healers. I believe all Kimosh had that ability at one time. Over the centuries, it was lost, bred out, I suppose. Because of our small numbers, we’ve had to take mates from the outside.” The woman smiled through her tears. “Lorne was a great healer. It looks like you have inherited that.”

  Frowning at the strange thought, Alicia finished her stew.

  Elena carried the empty bowl to the wash pan.

  “What happened? Why was Cole hurt?”

  The woman spoke with her back to Alicia. “He was being punished.”

  “For what?”

  “For returning without you.”

  Her stomach knotted. “I don’t get it.”

  Elena turned to face her and smiled. “My son was ordered to bring you back to be our leader’s mate.”

  “What? Why?”

  “If the Kimosh can’t heal, the pueblo isn’t obligated to keep our secret. We will most likely be exposed. And without a healer, disease could easily wipe us out. We’ve never had any form of medicine. You are the last hope for our people.”

  The knot in her stomach grew. “But, why would I have to be the, uh, mate of someone I don’t even know?”

  “Sloan’s parents were both Kimosh. The hope was that if you carried your father’s abilities, your children would also carry them. Especially if they were three-quarters Kimosh.”

  Her head began to swim, and she pressed her fingers to her temples. “I don’t feel too good.”

  Elena hurried around the edge of the table and held Alicia’s arm. “You need rest. You may have my bed.”

  Her shoulder throbbed and she shook her head. “I need to see Cole. Please.”

  Alicia awoke with a start and sat up.

  Where the hell was she?

  Lamplight flickered off stone walls, leaving shadows in the corners of the room.

  As her thoughts caught up with her, she turned to find Cole looking very human again, sleeping on his back beside her with only his head visible above the heavy blanket.

  Icy air drew her back down to the bed, and she pulled the blanket up to her chin. By lying still, she could see the cover rise and fall very slightly. If not for that movement, she wouldn’t have been sure Cole was still alive.

  It couldn’t have been later than two in the afternoon when Elena had led her to his room. He’d changed back into a man and had been washed, but remained impossibly still.

  “Is he…?” Terror had stolen Alicia’s voice. She’d automatically reached for the pulse in his neck, which had been slow and weak but steady.

  “Sleeping,” Elena said.

  Without prompting, Elena helped Alicia into bed beside Cole, covered her, and tenderly kissed her forehead.

  Before she’d even left the room, Alicia had fallen asleep.

  Somehow, the whole afternoon had passed unnoticed. She should be wide-awake by now, but couldn’t shake off another wave of drowsiness as it washed over her. Rolling onto her side where she could watch Cole, and placing her hand on his arm, she gave in.

  The second time she woke, the room was dark.

  Something large and darker than the night loomed over her.

  Alicia lay very still, wondering if she was really awake.

  The air around her began to vibrate, and then she heard a deep, gruff voice. “Who are you?”

  “Cole?”

  The vibration grew into a growl.

  “Cole, it’s me, Alicia.”

  He moved closer and she felt his hot breath on her neck and the side of her face. He huffed as if taking in her scent. “Alicia,” he said, his gravelly voice barely above a whisper.

  She swallowed hard. “Yes.” In truth, she wasn’t even sure it was him. Or that he wasn’t a mountain lion again, except that he was speaking. Maybe he could speak in his altered state. Who knew?

  She trembled as he continued to sniff, and then he nuzzled the side of her neck with his warm face, and she knew he was human. His stubble scratched her cheek.

  “Alicia,” he said again, his voice a little better. And then he kissed her cheek, and her neck. Pulling the covers up, he moved next to her, drew her partially under him and wrapped his arms around her. “Yes,” he whispered. “Alicia. My mate.”

  His words, spoken near her ear, sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine, and she suddenly realized she was exactly where she needed to be. Needed with all her heart.

  She held him close, running her hands down his muscular back where an amazing amount of heat rose from his skin. He must be feverish, but at least he was conscious. She nearly laughed with overflowing joy.

  “Mine,” he whispered again. He began to pull at her clothes, popping buttons and ripping fabric.

  “Wait,” she said, trying to push him back. He was completely unmovable. “Cole, please, let me undress.”

  With a growl, he rolled away from her and waited. She peeled off her clothes and tossed them to the floor.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  His growl softened to a groan as he stretched out on top of her, and she realized then that he was naked. His skin felt glorious against hers.

  He kissed her neck and face, working his way up to her mouth, which he took greedily, swirling his tongue around hers, consuming her.

  Fire crawled up from her belly, igniting every nerve.

  “Cole,” she whispered, pushing her fingers into his hair.

  He drew her up close, his moves rough and urgent, and she expected him to take her immediately, but he didn’t. With every muscle tight, he held her, groaning into her ear.

  His mouth closed on her left shoulder, directly over the mark that tingled already, and she gasped. Once the connection was started, all she could think about was completing it, and she wrapped her legs around his hips.

  He nudged against her, hard and hot. Noises of need rose from her throat, noises that he matched.

  She shook, hungry for him now, desperate.

  He entered her slowly, a little at a time, slick from her juices, and she moaned with each thrust.

  Finally he stilled, and she savored the feel of him buried in her, claiming her and offering himself.

  The universe stopped.

  Then he moved inside her, starting the rhythm, slow and steady.

  She reacted immediately, swelling, tightening, aching for more. And he reached deeper with each deliberate stroke, filling her body as he filled her heart.

  The darkness sang as she lost track of the division between them. Need swept her thoughts away, leaving only instinct.

  She held him, her mouth open on his shoulder. Desire rose, heated, pumping through her veins.

  She curled her hands into fists against his back.

  The climax blasted through her.

  Waves crested and fell, lifting and releasing her. He met each sensation.

  On and on it went, as if she’d broken free of humanity. Wind cooled her face, primitive and pure. Her muscles stretched and tightened, and the ground flew past beneath her.

  She felt the night, the freedom, and Cole’s presence. Together, they raced through the cold air, running at impossible speeds.

  As her senses returned, she held him tighter, gasping against his heated skin.

  He gripped her thigh, pulling it up to his hip, and moved his mouth back to her ear. “Mine forever,” he said, his voice thick.

  He thrust deeper, harder, reaching for her soul, and groaned as he released his seed.

  At last he stilled, panting against her neck, and she felt more than the sweet pleasure of afterglow. She felt as if she�
��d discovered her place in the world, the spot where she fit perfectly.

  Holding him with trembling arms, she closed her eyes and hot tears slid down the sides of her face.

  Cole nuzzled her hair. Tenderly, he kissed her neck.

  Their hearts pounded to the same beat as they lay together.

  After a few minutes, he eased away, and she felt a desperate moment of abandonment.

  But he rolled to his back, pulling her with him, and drew her head to his shoulder. With his arms wrapped around her, she closed her eyes, snuggled against his side and enjoyed his warm scent.

  He took a deep breath and sighed it out.

  Stars twinkled in the small window that opened out to The Valley. Alicia watched them until she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer.

  Cole stood as still as he could, facing the elders. His legs threatened to buckle under his own weight, but he refused to show weakness. This was the moment where he truly needed his strength. He had to get Alicia safely away before their secret was discovered.

  Once again, Sloan watched with cold, heartless eyes.

  How could he have expected Cole to deliver Alicia to him? Not that it mattered now.

  “You were banished,” Devin said.

  Cole met his gaze evenly. “Yes.”

  “But the heir is here,” his mother said. “You can’t banish him now.”

  “Mother, please.” He drew her close and whispered, “You know she can’t stay.”

  His mother looked up at him, stricken, and his heart broke all over again.

  Vanora leaned forward. “Lorne’s heir is leaving?”

  Cole nodded. “Yes.”

  “I understand she healed you. She has her father’s powers.”

  “She doesn’t wish to stay,” Cole continued. “She’s not bound—“

  The elders’ gazes moved to a disturbance at the doorway, and he glanced over his shoulder.

  Some of the Kimosh who had been planning to leave entered as a group with Alicia leading the way.

  Cole’s heart leaped into his throat. He went to face her, grabbing her arm. “You need to leave here, right now.”