“You don’t have to thank me,” he said casually. “I just know of a lot of people in your shoes. It’s not a big deal.”
It felt good to man up and stop goofing around. He felt different with a purpose. The determination and drive was exhilarating. Maybe that was the feeling that kept Clayton going, always thinking of what was best for the whole group. Putting himself last and working toward a greater purpose. He would never be Clayton, and wouldn’t choose to be, but for now he was having a good time.
“Whether I have to thank you or not, I’m grateful. Even if I don’t act like it.”
“It’s nothing.”
They continued on in a comfortable silence, until Kala spoke again.
“You remember your life, don’t you? Can you tell me about it?”
It seemed a simple request, but the thought of describing the torture of his formative years made his chest tighten painfully. He looked away from her, not sure what to do. He wanted to do whatever he could to please her, but his secrets were his own.
When he looked at her to tell her so, he was caught off-guard by the gentle nature of her lilac colored eyes and the pure beauty of her face. She didn’t look like she was capable of harming another living soul. Instead of the prying look he had expected, she seemed only to be curious to know more about him. Maybe she was beginning to trust him.
“Let’s see,” he said, searching his mind for any of the lighter moments of his life. He had a ridiculous urge to protect her from the muddied despair of his past and give her only things to smile and laugh about. If her face looked wounded on his behalf, he felt it would be too much to bear. “I was more or less brought up by the leader of the Kersh clan. He taught me how to fight better than most of the sorry sacks he calls an army.”
“That’s fortunate for me, it seems,” she said with a soft laugh.
He grinned. “It seems that way.”
He had hoped this tidbit of information would be enough to sustain her, but she pressed on.
“What of your parents?” she asked, looking down at the ground. She looked sad. She couldn’t remember anything about where she had come from. Perhaps it was giving her comfort to hear somebody else’s story when she couldn’t remember her own.
He wanted to cry then. To tell her every heart-wrenching detail about the death of his parents, but instead, he pursed his lips in a pained smile. “They died when I was little.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
She seemed horrified, even though he hadn’t told her how they had been killed by the Guardians. He decided not to tell her anything about that though. She deserved to have her peace of mind.
“It’s all right. I was raised well enough.”
He was shocked when Kala laced her arm through his and laid her head against his bare shoulder. It was as if she were agreeing without vocalizing it. Her nearness brought the thudding of his heart to his ears. He had never felt so close to anybody before, and he had half a mind to tell her so. But he was embarrassed by the way he felt. She might misunderstand and think that he was trying to seduce her. Although the thought had crossed his mind more than once, after all, she was strikingly beautiful, he would rather die than make her think he was a dishonorable man. They walked that way for a while until suddenly, Zaden smelled something familiar. His eyes widened and he looked around.
“I know where we are!” he exclaimed, beaming down at her. She seemed surprised, but pleased. “It’s this way!”
He broke off into a sprint, and this time Kala kept up, laughing this time instead of scowling.
Chapter Twelve
Kala stared at the settlement, her eyes wide. She had been expecting something glamorous when Zaden described the Kersh clan. He seemed to really revere his home, and their leader Clayton. But what she found was a dingy collection of underground tunnels that were hidden by entrances made of trees and carefully fashioned turf.
“This is where you live?” she asked, trying not to let the disappointment show through in her voice.
“Yes,” he said, standing in the entrance of one of the tunnels. “Don’t worry, you get used to it.”
She sighed inwardly, not sure that this would be true for her. He turned and began walking through the dark tunnels, and she had to run to follow him lest she lose sight of him in the dark. She was nearly ready to turn on her heel and head back into the open air when something froze her in place. A smell, full, almost musical in its goodness, wafting through the tunnels. Something like what Zaden had cooked for her on her first meal but even more intoxicating.
“What’s that?” she breathed.
“What?” he asked, barely slowing down. He was eager to get her to Clayton.
“The smell!”
“Oh, that. It’s a special recipe,” he said. “It’s made on important days. I forgot the celebration was coming up. We got back just in time.”
Soon, her eyes were shocked by a bright skylight that illuminated a huge underground burrow. There was furniture in the same beautiful, shimmering colors that she had seen in the shooting star. Was it possible that this was her home? Is it where she had come from? But if so, wouldn’t Zaden have recognized her?
“Zaden!” a booming man’s voice exclaimed.
“Clayton!”
The two men exchanged a brief embrace.
“I found someone who needs our help, Clayton.”
“Oh?”
Zaden whispered something into Clayton’s ear and then led the broad man over to where Kala was standing shyly, fingering the fabric of a beautiful sofa. She hadn’t expected to find anything beautiful in the dark, earthy tunnels. Suddenly, Clayton looked at her with intense interest.
“Come my child,” he said, though she was clearly no younger than Zaden. “You have been through quite the ordeal. It is time we get you a proper meal and some rest.”
“Thank you,” she said, feeling shy despite herself. Clayton smiled kindly at her.
“Papa!” a small child said, running toward them and gripping the ends of Clayton’s majestic, flowing robes.
“Well hello, Archer,” Clayton said, beaming down at the boy. He was adorable, and gazed at her with wide eyes.
“Who’s she?”
“Ask her yourself,” Zaden said, a little curtly. Kala studied him for a moment and noticed pain in his eyes. Before she could register it, little Archer was in front of her, peering up with wide, inquisitive eyes.
“Who are you?”
“Kala,” she said, though she wished he hadn’t asked. Her first impulse had been to say that she didn’t know and it reminded her of the terrible feeling her plight had given her.
“Where are you –“
“That’s enough, Archer,” Clayton said, gripping the small boy’s shoulder.
“But –“
“Weren’t you supposed to be doing crafts with Mother for the celebration?”
The boy’s face brightened.
“Oh yeah!” he exclaimed, and ran off down one of the long, dark tunnels.
“Please forgive my son,” Clayton said. There was a small pulse of dark energy from Zaden’s direction, and this time Kala had time to let it sink in. Could he possibly be jealous of Clayton’s biological son? Her heart ached suddenly for the man, who stood with a stony face as Clayton took her by the arm and led her through a different tunnel than the one his son had disappeared into.
Chapter Thirteen
Zaden smiled as he watched Kala eat. Her eyes were wide when Clayton summoned the cooks to serve her in a private chamber, where the three of them sat in comfortable silence as the most traditional and coveted dishes in the entire clan were served. She seemed to especially love the one that she had smelled first upon entering into the Kersh clan’s labyrinths. They were Loni specialties that most people had a hard time stomaching. The mixture of flavors was overwhelming to some, but to Lonis, it was like a symphony.
It was nice to see her enjoying herself in a safe environment. And he also loved that Clayton had immediatel
y taken a liking to her. She was a brazen and beautiful woman, just the kind of person Zaden had always imagined himself settling down with.
But those were the kinds of thoughts that would get him into trouble. There was no way he could settle down with anyone, especially a woman who didn’t even know who she was. He politely excused himself from the table and sighed as he walked to his room. He could still hear Kala laughing with Clayton.
Suddenly, the shrill voice of Clayton’s son wafted toward him and he cringed. He didn’t mean to hate the boy, but he couldn’t help but feel replaced. He wasn’t proud of his feelings, but it was something that he didn’t have any control over. It was best not to think about it too much. Still, if Clayton suspected his true feelings, he was sure that it would put an end to their relationship.
He plopped down on his bed, staring at the dark ceiling. It was Loni magic that kept the place alight, or else none of them would be able to handle the dark. Somehow, the magic had lasted for as long as they resided in the underground burrows, and having more Lonis in the mix kept the place bustling with beauty and animation. They were the true miracle workers of Kaldernon – they could make even a hole look and feel like home.
Zaden suddenly realized just how tired he was. Perhaps laying down had been a mistake. But he had been staying up to keep watch the entire time that he was trying to guide Kala home. He had spoken privately to Clayton for a moment to let him know that the Guardians were after her and to tell him that she couldn’t remember anything. It implied that she had been captured and experimented on. Clayton would know what to do with her from there. Now he was finally free to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
“Your room is this way,” Clayton’s wife Krista said. There was something that Kala had immediately loved about Krista, but she couldn’t place what it was. She seemed familiar somehow. Beautiful and kind, as if she couldn’t hide all the love in her heart and had no intention to. There was something peaceful about that.
Krista led her into a small room, furnished with a bed and an oak nightstand. There was a small shelf with some books leaning on it, and a notebook resting on a tiny table beside it.
“When you want to sleep, you can just clap your hands and the lights will dim. We don’t want them to go out though, or the room will seem too dark. We are underground, and it can take some time to get used to.”
“Thank you,” Kala said, sitting slowly on the edge of the bed.
“I’ll bring you some night clothes,” Krista said with a gentle smile as if reading her mind. “I know it’s all a bit disorienting at first. When I came here the first time it was very difficult to adjust. But don’t worry, you’ll feel at home before you know it.”
Krista left briefly and returned with a soft lilac colored nightgown.
“That should bring out your eyes,” she said with a wink before disappearing into the darkness of the labyrinth. The curtain covering the doorway swished behind her, and Kala slowly changed. The room was uncomfortably small, but it would do until she was able to find out more about where she had come from.
It didn’t take long before she fell into a fitful sleep. She had expected to sleep soundly after having such a wonderful meal, but instead, she was haunted by voices of people she knew but she couldn’t remember and the terrifying images of creatures that seemed impossible. More impossible even than the floppy eared rabbit that Zaden had caught for them to eat.
Her fear came to a head when the man who had tried to capture her in the forest reached out to snatch her up and take her away. The terror woke her right from a dead sleep and her wide, frightened eyes searched the room for the one familiar thing that she had found. The one person who had helped her feel safe in the dangerous and unknown world.
Zaden.
The blackened room suddenly seemed to be closing in on her, and she took off in the dark
k tunnels, running as fast as her feet could carry her. It was late and most of the people of the clan had settled in to sleep for the night. It gave the burrows a hollow, creepy feeling. Her lungs were burning by the time she reached the doorway that she knew was Zaden’s. She wasn’t sure how she knew it was his, but it was certain in her heart.
With a trembling hand, she pulled the curtain back and walked into the room. It was much larger than the one where she had been sleeping, and the lights were still bright enough to see. She looked down at Zaden on the bed, snoring heavily as he navigated what seemed to be a very action-packed dream. Just seeing him helped to reassure her, but she was desperate to interact with him.
“Zaden,” she whispered, touching his shoulder. He had showered and dressed in a comfortable black ensemble before dinner with Clayton, at the same time she’d showered and changed into a fresh gown similar to the one she’d been wearing. She hadn’t been able to take her eyes off him throughout dinner, though she didn’t like to admit that, even to herself. He mumbled incoherently before looking at her through small slits in his tired eyes.
“Kala, what’s wrong?”
She climbed into the bed with him, needing to be close to the man who had saved her life, who could help to save her still.
“I had a bad dream,” she said quietly, trying to avoid his gaze. She rolled over so she didn’t have to face him. He wrapped his strong arms around her, no questions asked, and held her close against his body. She gasped softly at the warmth of it pressed against her. It was unfamiliar, and it startled her to realize that the sensuality of the act was exactly what she had been hoping for.
“You’re safe here,” Zaden whispered in her ear. The rumble of his voice caused her to close her eyes in bliss. She hadn’t expected to be taken in by the comforting, spicy scent of his bed. His strong hands caressed her body soothingly, and she pressed herself against him, her backside pressed firmly into his groin and his broad chest hard and comforting against her back.
She knew she was safe with him. She had never felt safer than she did with him holding her. Still, somehow she wanted more, and she found herself pressing more firmly against him. The friction of their bodies made Zaden groan softly, and she felt the length of him grow hard against her buttocks. A surge of intense longing coursed through Kala’s body, and she turned to Zaden.
“Kiss me,” she said quietly.
Zaden was quiet for a moment, contemplative. She almost thought he wouldn’t, but he surprised her by obliging. His lips engulfed hers and she gasped as their warmth seemed to surge through her body, awakening desire she had never known possible. Soon, he had climbed on top of her and was showering her body with hot, fervent kisses. She closed her eyes to take in the sensation, overwhelmed by how good it felt to finally succumb to her desires. He seemed to know exactly what to do, and only paused once.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. “If I start I don’t think I would be able to stop.”
“I’m sure,” she said with a soft laugh. He grinned at her, his sea-green eyes dancing in the strange lighting of his room. She pushed his shirt off and let her hands roam his impressive muscles, sighing as he lifted the lilac-colored gown over her head. Her eyes had grown dark with desire, and he growled softly in her ear as he pushed himself out of his pants. She moaned when she felt his bare flesh against her.
He dragged his shaft up and down her middle slowly, sending waves of pleasure throughout her body as the sensitive nerve endings were stimulated by his body. Suddenly, her nipple was covered by the heat of his mouth, and she moaned quietly as a wave of heat ignited in her loins. The stubble on his cheeks felt surprisingly good against her sensitive flesh, and before she knew what was happening, he plunged himself wholly inside of her, testing the limits of her body and submerging her in an ocean of pleasure she wasn’t ready for.
“Shh,” he laughed into her ear. She put her hand over her mouth, and he gently removed it, placing his thumb there instead. She clamped down as she was taken up and down a rollercoaster of unimaginable pleasure.
He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the fe
eling of being enveloped in the heat of her body. He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted her until he knew it was possible, and unleashed the full power of his body on her. She moaned into his hand as he carried her high into the realms of ecstasy.
Kala was surprised when her body began to quake, and she gripped his shoulders as she contracted tightly around Zaden’s member. He moaned deeply as the beginnings of her orgasm began to squeeze him, massaging him intimately with her body and stirring the beginnings of his own powerful climax. He held out as long as he could, but soon was unable to keep himself from the earth-shattering eruption. He pulled out of her quickly, hoping that he had been able to stop himself in time. She seemed disappointed that he had left her body, and he collapsed beside her, panting.
“You can sleep here tonight,” he said softly. And then he was asleep.
Chapter Fifteen
When Zaden awoke, Kala was already gone. He sat up quickly and fell back on his pillows with a heavy sigh. What on Earth had he done? He had taken advantage of a woman who didn’t even know who she was. She had come to him, frightened, and somehow he had managed to do the one thing that might make her think that he was dishonorable – it was the one thing he couldn’t stand to do. How was he going to live with himself?
He leapt from his bed and began to pace around the room, tapping his chin thoughtfully. He had disgraced everything that might have been her life before. How could he have been so careless? There was no way that they would be able to end up together, especially not after he had done something so disgraceful. What would Clayton say to him about this? And he couldn’t expect her to change her whole life once she had her memories back. If she had a husband or boyfriend before she met him, she should be with him. He would have to remove himself entirely. And even if she didn’t, how could they love each other when she didn’t even know who she was?
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