While the structures were run down, they were clean. “The Outlanders have pride,” she added. “I see people determined to stick to their principles.” She stopped to watch the children running barefoot in the dirt, chasing a ball made of rags and string. “How can they be judged and sentenced to live like this?”
Urkiza joined them. “They’re judged by society, Hannah. This sentence is of their own choosing.” She sniffed and looked down her nose at the children.
“What about them frightens you so?” Hannah asked.
The ambassador gave Hannah a sharp look. “They’re lawless, rejecting the principles holding our society together. Based on your time with Mikolaus, I would expect a little more support from you for the triad structure.”
Hannah shrugged. “I admire quite a bit about the triad structure, but I had the benefit of an education under the Earthen Diaspora Alliance—the inhabitants of E2 tend to think our social structure is best, but we know ours isn’t the only one. So I wonder if you fear the Outlanders—or merely the changes they herald.”
“There can be no change on Lurra,” Urkiza declared. She turned on Hannah, her voice ringing with vehemence. “The people of Lurra almost disappeared. An entire race, gone, were it not for the triad system. If we were speaking of your race … if the people of E2 kissed extinction, you, too would cling to the system that saved you.”
“Other civilizations have survived change and prospered,” Hannah said, her tone less challenging than her words. She gazed at the children. “What gives you the right to decide what will make these children happy? They’re innocent, Ambassador.”
Urkiza frowned and pursed her lips as though she’d swallowed something distasteful. “We’ll see who is innocent,” she returned. “And who is not.” She abandoned Hannah, striding off and looking into each home and every building without a word.
“What’s she looking for?” Ambassador Gray asked.
Hannah watched Urkiza stalk her way through the camp. “An excuse.”
A bell rang and Kazen’s voice called out. Hannah and Gray strolled toward the table the Outlanders had set up with baskets of meal cakes and sweating pitchers surrounded by clay cups. “Please,” Kazen announced, smiling. “We invite you, our guests from Lurra and from E2, to join us.”
Ambassador Urkiza returned from her inspection, scowling.
“You should sit with her,” Hannah murmured to Gray. “She looks ready to run back to Galicia.” He nodded and moved toward the other ambassador.
They sat at the small round table, all squeezing together and sitting on various crates and buckets and blocks of wood instead of chairs. Hannah took a place between Luken and Domiku.
Kazen poured the cool beverage into the cups and passed them around. Indicating the baskets, he announced, “Meal cakes. You’ll find no better on Lurra.”
Hannah watched the Outlanders. Benin and Osana, the two she’d met during her earlier visit to the Outlands, cheerfully served. To have so little, Hannah thought, yet to live on their own terms regardless of the conditions because of their convictions—such strength and moral certitude amazed her.
And yet they offer their best to those who scorn them.
She glanced around the table. Gray was engaged in conversation with Kazen, while Urkiza continued to grimace. Hannah wondered what fueled the ambassador’s conviction these people were worth throwing away.
Kazen stood and raised his cup. “You have seen how we live. We are weavers, and smiths, and bakers, and teachers. We would enrich Lurran society—”
“And what about your criminals?” Urkiza challenged.
Kazen shot a glance at Benin. “We have no criminals. What you see is all there is.” He raised his eyebrows in question.
“And your slaves? Where are the women you steal from Galicia, and New Biscayne and Navarre?” Urkiza slapped the table, rattling the clay cups, and stood, leaning on the table as she glared at Kazen and the other Outlanders.
Silence swallowed the encampment. No child cried, no bird pecked, no horse stomped a hoof.
At the mention of New Biscayne, Luken and Mikolaus glanced at Domiku. Hannah followed their gazes to find Domiku gripping his clay cup, the muscles in his forearm bulging.
That cup’s going to break, Hannah thought.
Kazen’s face slowly turned red as his mouth tightened. He rose to face Urkiza. “We do not steal women, nor do we hold slaves. You refer—”
Urkiza crossed her arms with a defiant stance, one eyebrow hiked.
Benin stepped up and placed a hand on Kazen’s shoulder. “We stay as far away as we can from those rogues,” he said. “The Lupa are the ones who steal your women.”
Gray asked, “Lupa? Who are they?”
Ambassador Urkiza continued her tirade. “Animals who steal women from Galicia and our other cities. They keep the women as slaves, use them until they are discarded.”
The cup in Domiku’s hand snapped with a loud crack as pieces broke away and the liquid spilled out. He pushed back from the table, knocking over the crate he sat on. Without a word, he stormed away from the table.
Mikolaus started to follow him, but Luken’s hand shot out, stopping his brother.
Hannah evaluated the look Luken gave her, then rose, saying, “Pardon me.” She took off after Domiku and found him standing with the horses, stroking the muzzle of his mount.
Domiku glanced up at her soft approach, and to her surprise, he didn’t scowl.
“They’re beautiful creatures,” she said. She stopped and joined Domiku, stroking the horse. “I’d never seen anything like it before. I find that happening a lot on Lurra.”
“Hm,” Domiku grunted, but he also smiled. Stepping back, he drew a small knife from a leather pocket at his waist. He touched the animal and spoke softly, saying, “Up,” while his hand ran down the length of the animal’s lower leg; he tugged until the horse lifted the foot. Domiku dug out the compacted dirt on the bottom of the foot and trimmed away a sharp flap.
“Will you check my horse, too?” Hannah asked.
He gave her a long, steady look, measuring, she thought, more than her request. But he nodded and stepped aside, motioning for her to lead.
She stood with her horse and pointed, “This foot.”
He picked up the animal’s foot. His knife dug in, cleaning around the edge when his knife popped out a stone.
“Hm,” Hannah grunted, imitating Domiku, earning her a sharp look from him. “I think that’s been in there awhile and has been hurting.” She turned to him, meeting his gaze directly, and said, “That stone needed to come out.”
Without a word from him she could see he was questioning everything about her.
Am I right for his triad? Is he right for me?
She had her own question.
Do you want me?
She stepped close and put one hand on his arm for balance as she went on her tip toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. She pulled back, looking at his lips. They were sensual, inviting, and she wanted him to kiss her.
But not unless he’s ready.
Loud voices interrupted the moment. Ambassador Urkiza, in a heated argument with Gray, approached the barn. “You ask too much, Ambassador, expecting us to throw out our heritage for a future with the EDA.” She stopped and glared at him. “We’re Lurrans. We don’t want to be like you.”
She mounted her horse and rode to the edge of the fence, obviously waiting for the others to follow.
Hannah flicked her gaze at Gray. He mounted his horse, his face as dark and forbidding as Urkiza’s. Mikolaus came running around the corner, his lips compressed into a tight line of disapproval, stopping at the sight of Urkiza and Gray. “I guess we’re leaving. I’ll get Luken.”
He turned back the way he came, shaking his head. Hannah ran to catch up with him. “What happened?”
Mikolaus snorted with disgust. “The ambassadors got into another argument. What a mess.” He motioned to Luken. “Come on,” he called, waving.
&nb
sp; Luken came with Kazen in tow—the Outlander followed them all the way out to the horses. Mikolaus helped Hannah up and she watched as he mounted, Luken and Kazen following.
As she glanced at Luken, a mischievous grin spread across his face.
Oh, Luken, Hannah wondered, what have you done?
As they all joined Urkiza, the ambassador glanced at Kazen. “What’s he doing?”
Luken pulled up, smiling at his brothers and the ambassadors. Urkiza glared at Kazen, venom in her look.
Hannah held her breath.
“Kazen’s coming back to Galicia with us,” Luken announced. “I invited him to join us tomorrow; he’s going to stay tonight at the triad house.”
Luken paused as he glanced around at the circle of surprised faces. His brows shot up in mock alarm. “Oh,” he said with a grin. “Did you all forget we have a competition tomorrow?”
Chapter 4
The ride back to Galicia was a failure of diplomacy. The ambassadors refused to ride near each other. Mikolaus avoided Luken, and Domiku stayed away from Hannah.
Hannah rode with Kazen and Luken, one on each side. She noted both men acted as if nothing was amiss. She chuckled under her breath. “You realize this is all your doing, don’t you?” she said to Luken.
Kazen snorted.
Luken grinned. “There are many forces at work here, Hannah. You honor me laying it all at my feet, but I fear you’ve missed a few of the finer points.”
She pursed her lips, working to match his tone—some mix of playful and uncaring. “Oh, please do enlighten me. Are you not disrupting your triad by bringing Kazen to the games?” Without waiting for Luken to answer, she glanced at Kazen. “How is your participation in the games going to further your cause?” Turning back to Luken, she added, “And what is behind Domiku breaking his cup?”
Insouciant, she thought. That’s the word for his attitude.
“Kazen will prove himself at the games, won’t you?” Luken said, leaning forward to speak to Kazen.
“As a winner in the games,” Kazen began.
Luken leaned forward again, interrupting. “Being declared a winner at the games will bring favor to Kazen with Urkiza. She’ll be forced to recognize him and the Outlanders.”
Kazen finished, “As I was saying, I will be given opportunity to speak to the people.”
Hannah was getting whiplash going back and forth between the two. “Keep talking.” She eyed Luken. He might be the youngest of his triad, but she was beginning to suspect he was the most politically savvy of the group.
A master diplomat as well as a master seducer.
She challenged him. “You don’t feel you are destroying the social structure of Lurra with your conniving?”
“Lurra must change,” Luken said. “The fact that a portion of the population is dismissed straight out is not sustainable.”
“Every year more people arrive in the Outlands,” Kazen said. “Our community is one small settlement among many. The cities are bleeding and the Outlands are overcrowded. Something has to change.”
“Or more to the point, someone,” Luken said.
“Ambassador Urkiza,” Hannah guessed.
“Our President and her triad will listen to Urkiza,” Luken said. “The ambassador is the one to influence.”
“But after the games,” Kazen said, “the people will listen to me.”
“Mikolaus won’t like this,” Hannah warned.
“Miko,” Luken said, “will put on a show to satisfy Urkiza, but he has only one thing on his mind right now. You.”
Hannah raised her eyebrows. “Me? Why me?”
“Because you, dear Hannah, will save our triad.”
“But Domiku …”
“Well.” Luken rolled his eyes. “Domiku is definitely a problem.”
Hannah waited, expecting more from him, but Luken simply smiled. His depths continued to surprise her, increasing the appeal of the triad.
Miko the charmer. Luken the diplomat. Domi the mystery.
She couldn’t decide which of the three intrigued her more.
Lucky for me Lurran men come in threes.
At the station on the outskirts of Galicia, Hannah dismounted, grateful to be off the moving animal. Ambassador Gray struggled before grasping his horse’s saddle for support. He rubbed his behind and shook out his legs. Hannah suggested, “A hot bath, Ambassador.”
Urkiza dismounted and stood waiting. “As we have been reminded,” she said, shooting a stern look at Luken, “tomorrow we have the gladiator games. And we have a guest competitor.”
Hannah looked down to hide her chuckle. Luken certainly liked to keep things stirred up.
“I trust you will enjoy the rest of your day,” Urkiza said with little sincerity. “I will see you all tomorrow. The games begin at noon.” She scanned the group until her gaze came to rest on Hannah, then on Ambassador Gray. “If the two of you would join me for the games. Until then.” She bowed and exited.
Hannah whistled, long and low. “That woman is not happy.”
Ambassador Gray nodded his agreement—but he didn’t seem bothered by the other official’s irritation.
While Mikolaus and Domiku spoke in low tones, Luken and Kazen approached Hannah. “I’m escorting you and Ambassador Gray back to the headquarters,” Luken said with a slight bow to the ambassador. “Kazen is going with Mikolaus and Domiku to the arena to familiarize himself with the field and tomorrow’s weapons.”
Luken lead the way, weaving through streets that Hannah was coming to recognize. Gray ambled along mostly silently, his occasional musings seeming to require no response. When they reached the headquarters, he said, “Thank you, Luken, for your help today. I will see you,” he pointed to Hannah, “tomorrow. Do not leave me alone with that woman.”
“Yes, sir,” Hannah answered. He turned and walked away, limping slightly. Hannah added, “A hot bath, sir, will really help.” When he was out of their sight, Hannah shook her head. “Poor Ambassador Gray. Things are not going well for him.”
Luken stepped close and put an arm around Hannah. She glanced up and a light flickered through his eyes. “What?” she asked, grinning. He always made her want to smile. “What are you up to?”
“How about up to our necks in hot water?” he teased.
Hannah laughed. “I think we’re there already.”
His hand stroked her arm and he bent his head down, his lips whispering along the shell of her ear, close enough to make Hannah’s heart beat faster. He peeked through his lashes at her suggestively.
Suddenly, the idea of hot water seemed very interesting. She started towards her room, pulling him along. “Last one in is—”
“—a rotten frog,” Luken finished, eyes sparkling with laughter.
“Not frog, silly,” Hannah laughed aloud. “Egg.” They all but sprinted down the last hallway.
“Here’s my room,” she said, fetching up at the door, breathless. “Carmine.”
“Like you,” Luken said.
When she opened the door, he pulled her into the room, then pushed her back against the door. Hannah’s heart pounded with excitement, with expectation, with desire.
Luken inspired a different kind of passion than Mikolaus—one of reckless abandon. “Kiss me, please,” she begged.
His lips came down and at the moment of contact, a wave of melting desire flowed through her and she moaned into his mouth. Her hand cupped his face, breathing in his scent, stroking his cheeks, feeling his desire for her pressing close.
Luken broke the kiss, to Hannah’s dismay—but his words fanned another fire. “Goddess,” he said, his speech slow and heavy, enticing and provocative. “I am at your command.”
Hannah unzipped her suit and shimmied out of it, kicking it away, along with her shoes. Luken stripped out of his pants and boots. A short sleeveless tunic came up over his head.
Hannah gasped at the sight of his naked body. “You are so beautiful.” She ran her fingers across his deeply sculpted ch
est, marveling at the perfection.
“You’re the beauty,” Luken answered. His hard chest pressed against her breasts, sending shivers shooting through her nipples and down her arms.
“I want you,” she whispered. “Fuck me.”
He lowered his head to suck and fondle her breasts. His lips were as magical on her nipples as they were when kissing her.
“You are so sweet.” She reached down and grasped the hard length of him, one hand reaching behind to stroke his back. His cock was so inviting, she dropped to her knees and drew him into her mouth.
She cupped his balls while stroking his shaft. Up and down, her lips loved him, licking, sucking and swirling her tongue around his head, the salty sweetness of him calling her to pull him deeper and deeper.
“Stop,” he cried softly. “I don’t want to come without you.”
Hannah pulled him from her mouth. “Promise me more,” she said.
He helped her up, his eyes gentle and beseeching. “Is a lifetime promise enough?”
Luken’s voice was husky, sending chills up Hannah’s arms. She drew his face down for another kiss. His effect on her was seductive and intoxicating; all she wanted was his cock deep inside her. He abandoned the kiss and picked her up in his arms. “Don’t make me wait any more,” she rasped against his shoulder.
Her body trembled, the quiver coming from deep within her. She was frantic to feel him inside. He covered her with kisses as his fingers gently probed her. “You’re so wet,” he whispered into her ear before kissing her again.
Hannah knew she was wet. She throbbed with a passion sweeter than anything she’d ever felt before. His eyes were now open, the kiss briefly over, and she watched him hovering over her, his gaze locked with hers.
His cock rested against her inner thigh, and she felt herself dampening even more, the need to have him inside her swelling until it whited out every other thought.
Luken positioned himself at her opening; Hannah cocked her hips to receive him. She bit into his shoulder as he slowly sank into her.
She panted. Her orgasm was so close, she was afraid to move. Her breath was heavy against him and she gasped to gain control. When her edge backed away, she began moving her hips.
Luken (Seduced by the Gladiators Book 2) Page 3
