Chapter One
Echo dar Aune stood in the shadow of a massive storax tree. Long, slender branches draped the ground and trailed in the water of Mystic Brook. Twilight had deepened the lavender-tinted sky, turning it a shade between purple and gray. Fluffy pink clouds floated toward the horizon as intar larks sang out in the peaceful haze.
Drawing in a deep breath of cool, clear air, Echo savored the solitude. This had been the longest week of her life. It wasn’t every day that Overlord Lyrik’s sister got married, and to add mayhem to complication, Crystal had joined with a Bilarrian dignitary.
Lyrik refused to have the wedding in the City of Tears, claiming the military outpost was far too dreary for such a festive occasion. So relatives and VIPs from all over the star system had descended on Mystic Valley.
Left to deal with the security nightmare, Uncle Trey had insisted they combine the firepower of his special forces with the protection of the Mystic shields. Her father, Head Master Tal, hadn’t seen a reason to object, so he agreed to host the wedding. Only those with Mystic abilities were allowed inside the Conservatory, but the elegant visitor center was large enough for the event.
“Is he here yet?”
Echo smiled at the anticipation in her sister’s tone. “Soon,” she whispered, not bothering to turn around. She could picture E’Lanna’s flushed cheeks and luminous gaze. The dreamy expression had seldom left her face since Zane cet Malaque rotated onto their security contingent. “Do you think they do it intentionally?”
“Does who do what intentionally?”
“Do young, physically attractive men apply to be our bodyguards?”
“They haven’t all been gorgeous like Zane. Think about Leor. He was older than Father, and no one would mistake him for handsome.”
“True, but his partner was Taminish.”
“It doesn’t matter what they look like. They’re sworn to protect, not satisfy, us.” E’Lanna glanced into the distance and clasped her hands in front of her, the epitome of propriety and decorum. Echo wasn’t fooled by the pose. E’Lanna’s nature was every bit as passionate as her own.
“The things I learned from Taminish had nothing to do with safety.” Wistfulness took over her voice as her mind filled with memories. Sensual exploration and youthful exuberance had driven each encounter. What he’d lacked in finesse, he’d made up for with enthusiasm. She would always think of Taminish with a smile.
She turned toward E’Lanna and found her twin staring back at her. The identical purple gowns they’d worn for Crystal’s wedding accented the similarity of their features. On any other day, Echo would have refused to indulge their mother and chosen clothing vastly different from E’Lanna’s. Their golden-brown hair and smoky-violet eyes made them hard to tell apart. Still, the novelty of being mistaken for one another had worn off cycles ago.
“What about Kiel?” E’Lanna’s brow arched in challenge. “He was reassigned two cycles ago. Surely you can tell me now. How far did you allow things to go? I know you didn’t let Taminish do more than play, but what about Kiel?”
“A lady never tells.” Echo hid her guilty smile by motioning over E’Lanna’s shoulder. “Our newest bodyguard approaches.”
They’d planned their escape all evening. Echo waited until the party was in full swing, then sneaked away into the verdant meadow, still within the Mystic shields. Using Echo’s disappearance as an excuse, E’Lanna went to search for her sister. Last, Zane abandoned the festivities to investigate the location of the twins. The ruse wouldn’t keep the other guards away for long. Echo intended to distract them while E’Lanna and Zane enjoyed the romantic setting.
A flicker of light drew her attention across the brook. Her heart lurched then resumed its steady rhythm. She squinted into the setting sun and scanned with her mind as well as her eyes. Had someone else decided to escape the ruckus hall? A line of lush trees marched toward the meditation gardens, which butted up against the practice yard. She saw nothing out of place and sensed no danger. So what had caught her eye?
“Thanks for this.” E’Lanna kissed her cheek then wrapped her arm around Zane’s lean waist. “We only have a few more weeks before Zane is scheduled for reassignment.”
Uncle Trey claimed the rotation kept a balance of experience and fresh perspective on the security team. Echo suspected the practice was also meant to keep the men from developing personal feelings for the women in their charge. As their reminiscence proved, the strategy wasn’t entirely successful.
“Don’t be too long,” she cautioned. “Even I can’t confuse them forever.”
Smoldering heat and sensual hunger flowed through Echo’s mind as Zane swept E’Lanna into his arms. Echo hurried along the grassy riverbank, leaving the lovers alone in the dark. The intensity of her sister’s emotions drew Echo deeper into the meld. She saw Zane’s handsome face and his blacker-than-night eyes. Saw the tenderness and desire alight in his smoldering gaze. She felt his hand glide across E’Lanna’s shoulder and dip inside her gown to cup her breast. E’Lanna sighed, pressing into his touch, wanting more than a few stolen kisses.
With concentrated effort, Echo eased out of her sister’s mind and shielded her end of the link. She collided with Lor dar Joon and gasped. His large hands clasped her upper arms, steadying her until she regained her footing.
“Your face is flushed and your expression dreamy.” A knowing smile parted his lips. “Either you were having very naughty thoughts, or E’Lanna is with Zane—again.”
Lor had been her father’s apprentice until he completed his training four cycles ago. Echo had spent half her childhood enamored with him, yet she had come to think of him as a close friend by the time she saw male appreciation in his eyes. Her mother, High Queen Charlotte, would doubtlessly welcome a match between them. The House of Joon had resented the House of Aune for centuries. The hostilities escalated with frustrating regularity, despite Charlotte’s best efforts to establish lasting peace.
“Did Father send you after me?” She smoothed the heavily embroidered material of her bodice against her ribs, her senses still humming. Strolling to a nearby tree, she leaned against the trunk, needing the stability at her back. Her teasing tastes of passion had never produced the sort of emotions E’Lanna enjoyed with Zane.
Lor moved closer, the wind playing through his curly blond hair. “As a matter of fact, he did. You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“I’m not alone.” She glanced up at him and offered her best flirtatious smile. “I have you to protect me.”
He placed his hands on either side of her shoulders, his turquoise gaze searching her face. “What makes you think you’re safe with me?”
“You would never do anything to displease Father.” A note of disappointment bled through in her tone.
“Unlike Zane?” He brushed her cheek with his knuckles then reluctantly stepped back. “Are they out here, or were you entertaining wicked thoughts?”
“I was enjoying the sunset,” she claimed with innocent bravado.
“But you’d rather be enjoying passionate kisses and bold caresses?” A strand of her hair flitted against her check. He tucked it behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin. “Will you stop moping if I kiss you?”
“I am not moping!” She averted her gaze. Lor was handsome and experienced, intelligent and kind. She had often wondered what it would feel like to kiss him. With a deep chuckle, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his mouth over hers. She wrapped her arms around his back and parted her lips, waiting for the first brush of his tongue.
He took his time, nibbling at her lips and tracing her mouth with the tip of his tongue. When he finally delved into her mouth, she was panting and restless. His tongue stroked hers, traced her teeth, then stroked hers some more. She waited for the knee-melting heat, the rush of tingling fire E’Lanna felt each time Zane kissed her. Lor’s mouth was warm, his body strong, but the kiss was no more than pleasant.
Some unseen force slammed Lor forwar
d, knocking Echo against the tree. She yelped. He groaned then sank to his knees. He was jarred sideways and flipped onto his stomach. He went wild, kicking and thrashing as unseen hands restrained him. Echo screamed, reaching out with her mind. Lor bucked and heaved against the ground. Fire erupted around him, triggered by his pyrokinetic gift.
E’Lanna’s mind reflected Echo’s fear. Was the same thing happening to E’Lanna, or was she reacting to Echo’s terror? Lor’s hands were trapped beneath him, while the grass around him sizzled. Did the assailants know he could throw fire?
She was dragged away from the tree, her attackers vague distortions against the coming night. Invisible arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight against a tangible body. They were real. She just couldn’t see them.
E’Lanna’s emotions prevented Echo from reaching farther. She screamed again, but they were far from the visitors’ hall.
Sound swelled, building from a distant buzz to a deafening roar as a transport conduit swallowed her whole. Light blinded her, then oppressive darkness closed in, compressing her chest and weighting her limbs. She trembled in her captor’s arms, lacking the breath to speak, much less fight.
The pressure eased, but the darkness remained. She blinked rapidly, struggling to bring anything into focus. Hands pushed her to her knees, and a gruff voice activated a row of firestones set high in the barren walls.
Light flashed again, and E’Lanna appeared, trapped between two burly men. She was forced to her knees beside Echo. The men took up positions within easy reach of their prisoner.
Are you hurt? Echo sent the question directly to E’Lanna’s mind.
No. Are you? E’Lanna covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking.
Don’t speak out loud, and don’t react to my thoughts.
One of the villains materialized in front of E’Lanna. Tall and lean, with rawboned features and fierce eyes, he took E’Lanna’s chin and forced her to raise her face. “Which one are you?”
Don’t answer him!
His dark head whipped around, and his gaze collided with Echo’s. Pitch-black, his pupils and irises were separated by an intense blue ring. Blue strands threaded through his long black hair. Rodyte! They’d been kidnapped by the Rodytes.
“I can sense telepathic communication.” He strolled toward her, his expression insolent. “If you have something to say, say it out loud.”
She raised her chin and looked away, her lips pressed into a mutinous line.
Warm and unexpected, his deep, rumbling laughter rolled across her senses. He curved his fingers around her chin and turned her head until she looked into his eyes.
“Hello, Echo. Silence can’t disguise that fiery temper.” He motioned toward E’Lanna without taking his gaze from Echo’s face. “Take that one to my room.”
“No!” The word burst from Echo before she could stop the impulse.
He arched one dark brow and pulled her to her feet. “Are you volunteering to take her place? I hadn’t expected you to be so eager.”
Echo, don’t. At least I know what to expect. I won’t let this beast be your first.
Before she could correct E’Lanna’s misconception, their captor spoke again. With his hands still encircling Echo’s upper arms, he looked at E’Lanna. “If we hadn’t arrived when we did, some blond Mystic would have been her first. She was all but begging him to take her when we found them in the moonlight.”
Echo gasped. He couldn’t just sense telepathic communication, he could hear every word.
“This one was with a man as well,” one of E’Lanna’s captors volunteered. “From the way they were going at it, I don’t think it was her first time.”
The fierce-eyed man nodded. “Then take E’Lanna to a holding cell. She can’t be mounted until after she bleeds again. Pass the word. No one is to touch her.”
Echo felt the blood drain from her face. They wanted to make sure E’Lanna wasn’t pregnant before they “mounted” her? That meant they intended to keep them for weeks, perhaps longer. Echo couldn’t succumb to the terror surging through her mind. She had to think, strategize. Where were they? Why had they been taken? The last question sent a shudder down her spine. Why was pretty damn obvious—they were here to be “mounted”.
E’Lanna was dragged from the room by two of the men who had abducted her. Could all of them create invisibility shields?
“Let’s go.” The leader nodded toward the doorway.
Echo laughed. Let’s not. It was irrational to think she was going to stroll off to his bedchamber to be raped. He didn’t react to her laughter or the accompanying thought. Apparently it was only telepathic transmissions he could intercept.
“You’re going to be a lot more trouble than your sister, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.”
Varrik carried Echo to his bedchamber, slung over his shoulder. She kicked and squirmed, arched and pounded on his back. He found the hem of her gown and pushed his hand up under her skirt, smacking her pampered ass as hard as the position allowed. She yelped then went perfectly still. The stunned silence only lasted a moment, then her fight renewed with increased vigor. She might be all fight and fire, but she was still a spoiled brat.
“Where are we?” Despite her breathless tone, she managed to make it sound like a demand.
“You could have looked around if you had behaved.”
Her exasperated cry turned heads in the sparring area. He just smiled and kept on walking. All this bluster would blow itself out soon enough. She threw herself sideways so forcefully he lost his footing and they landed in a heap of tangled limbs and billowy skirts.
She swung at him. He caught her wrist and growled in warning. Laughter erupted all around them, but he kept his gaze on her. Couldn’t she have waited until they were in his room before she pitched her fit? He shook his head. This was going to be interesting.
“Mounting a virgin is an occasion to be shared according to the Customs.” He spoke in a quiet, menacing tone. “If I choose to follow the Customs, you will be stripped naked and bound between two poles, with everyone looking on. I’ll select three of my trusted friends to verify your virginity. Think about it, Princess. How would they do that?”
“It wouldn’t be any different than what you have planned.” She tugged against his hand, but a bit of the fire had left her eyes.
“They will touch you and taste you, see if they can put their fingers inside you, all while the others watch.”
“Go to hell.” Her gaze darted around the room, her breasts quivering with each ragged breath.
“After all three have finished fingering you, I’ll let them touch your breasts. They’ll stroke you and suck on your nipples while I make damn sure you’re good and wet.”
“You’re wasting your time. I’m not listening.” She stared past him into nothingness.
“I’ll kneel down and drape your legs over my shoulders while they support your back. I’ll lick your pussy and drink your cream. I’ll use my tongue, my lips and my teeth until you scream in pleasure. I’ll keep at it until you come, no matter how long it takes.”
“Stop it.”
“Then I’ll work two fingers into your tight little hole and carefully stretch you, make you ready for my—”
“Shut up!” Jerking her arm out of his grasp, she tried to scurry away, but he was sitting on her skirt.
“When your cream covers my face and runs down your thighs, then I’ll pick you up and wrap those long legs around my waist.”
“Do it, Commander!” someone called out.
“Is she really a virgin?” asked another.
“It’s not the most comfortable position for a virgin, but my men will sure as hell enjoy the show.”
“You bastard,” she whispered.
He stared into her eyes and asked, “Shall we go to my room now, or would you like to explore the Customs?” She refused his help as she stood. He forced himself not to smile. Fearing him would serve her better in the long run. Shoulders
squared, head held high, she walked beside him the rest of the way.
Her assessing gaze swept their surroundings. She paused at each corner and took in as much of the maze as she could. “Where are the holding cells?”
“I might take you there in a day or two, if you follow my directives.”
She didn’t respond to the offer. “Is the entire complex underground?”
He didn’t respond to her question. “Next door on your right.” Pushing the door open, he motioned her inside.
After looking up and down the corridor, she stepped into the room. “Are your women kept separate from your men?”
“In a way.” He locked the door and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest.
Was there a faster way to determine pregnancy? The other sister would doubtlessly be easier to control. But that would subject Echo to the lottery. Most of his men understood that seduction was more beneficial than force, especially when the woman would be around for a cycle or longer. Still, many didn’t have the patience for Echo’s temper.
Which left her to him.
“Take down your hair.”
“I’d rather not. Thanks for the suggestion.”
She was going to have to be restrained. There was no way around it.
He pushed away from the door and crossed the room. Thick-lashed and expressive, her eyes swirled gently, attesting to her Ontarian heritage. Her gown matched her eyes, a smoky mixture of purple and gray. The rich material hugged her torso, leaving her shoulders and the upper curve of her breasts bare. The ornate embroidery didn’t distract from the generous fullness of her breasts or the contrasting dip of her waist. Who had she been kissing when they penetrated the Mystic shield? Their interaction had seemed playful, as if the man had never touched her before.
She’s a virgin, you ass. No one has ever touched her before.
He brushed her cheek with his knuckles, mimicking the man’s gentle touch. She stared back at him, her lips trembling. Could he kiss her senseless, channel her emotional intensity into blazing desire?
Circling around behind her, he found the pins securing her golden-brown hair and began to take it down. She stood perfectly still—debating her options, no doubt, or searching the room for weapons.
“Why are you doing this?” The uncertainty in her voice stirred a place deep inside his heart. He could withstand her anger and ignore her contrary outbursts, but this tremulous vulnerability called to a part of him he didn’t recognize. This was how they did it, how women cast their spell. He must guard his feelings carefully or he’d follow his brother to an early grave.
“I want to spread your hair across my pillow as I thrust between your thighs.” She slapped his hand away and spun to face him.
“Where are your women?” Her breasts swelled into view with each deep breath. “The only reason you would want to make sure E’Lanna isn’t pregnant is if… This isn’t about ransom, is it?”
Echo knew she was breathing too fast. She pressed her hand over her chest and looked away from her captor. She couldn’t think with his piercing gaze focused on her. His hair had come loose during their tussle in the exercise room. The wavy strands softened his angular features, made him almost handsome.
The things he’d described still played through her mind. She pictured herself bound and naked while he aroused her until she screamed. Despite his misconception, she wasn’t a virgin. Her experience was limited, but his erotic threat had sent her senses reeling. Only once had a lover touched her intimately with his mouth. The brief, hurried caress had distracted her, teased her, and made her long for more.
What is wrong with me?
He wanted to mount her, cover her, like a stallion covers a mare. Breeding. This had nothing to do with ransom. She was here to be bred.
Her eyes widened, and she staggered back a step. Icy realization clarified her mind. Stories from her childhood, whispered horrors she’d nearly forgotten, came back in terrifying waves. “We’re in the Shadow Maze.” She held up her hand, as if the feeble gesture could ward him off. “You’re a Shadow Assassin.”
This couldn’t be real! She flung herself toward the privacy panel. His arm banded her waist, bringing her up short. She struggled against his hold, kicking back at him and clawing his arm. She had to escape! Learn everything she could about this place and… No one ever escaped the Shadow Maze.
He wouldn’t just mount her; he’d take her over and over until she got pregnant. Then he’d keep her here until she delivered the child. If the child was male, she’d be released, but the child would stay with him. If the child was female, he might release them both, or he might try again. Either way her mind would be scrambled. Every woman released from the Shadow Maze had only fragmented bits of memory. Some welcomed the oblivion. Others mourned for the child wrested from their arms.
The warlords had been searching for this place for decades to no avail. How could she hope to escape?
“I can’t do this,” she sobbed. “Please don’t make me do this.” Fear dissolved her anger, and her knees buckled. He swept her into his arms and crossed the room, sitting her on one of the chairs arranged against the wall. She wept, her face buried in her hands.
“The situation is only as unpleasant as you’re determined to make it.”
That brought up her head. “What is that supposed to mean?” She wiped her tears on the back of her hand and glared at him.
“I heard enough of your conversation with the blond man to know you’re curious about sex.” His tone was even, yet under the calm she sensed determination. “Unlike most men, we are trained in the art of pleasure. We have only one mate, and she is always reluctant. So, we learn what will please her most. I know techniques that would make an experienced woman tremble. I will assuage your curiosity as no man in the world above can.”
He’d seen her with Lor, heard their teasing banter. Lor had been kissing her when they attacked. He might believe she was a virgin, but he knew she wasn’t afraid. He stood just out of reach, his hands clasped behind his back. “I’m not that curious.”
His lips twitched, and he shook his head, then surrendered to the smile. She crossed her arms over her breasts, her heart fluttering madly. His eyes sparkled when he smiled and distinct brackets framed his mouth. Lowering her gaze to the center of his chest, she gave herself a mental shake. He was ruthless. She couldn’t afford to be drawn in by a charming smile.
“This is going to happen,” he said in the same calm tone. “The only question is when and in what manner.”
“How comforting.”
In an effort to avoid looking at her captor, Echo glanced around her cage. Firestones were inset at regular intervals high on the stone walls. As well as providing light and warmth, the shimmering crimson stones detracted from the endless gray. A rustic table with four chairs occupied one corner, while a massive bed dominated the opposite end of the oblong room.
There had to be something she could do to stop this, something she could offer him—other than her body. She was not without resources. One of the men in the training room had referred to him as commander. He was obviously no ordinary soldier.
Preparing herself for the most important negotiation of her life, she met his gaze. “Any woman can give you a son. Why squander this opportunity on such a paltry outcome? My father is Head Master over all the Mystics, and my mother is High Queen. Surely you can think of something—”
He struck like a coiled serpent, fast and accurate. His fingers tangled in her hair as he leaned down and brought his face close to hers. “My son will descend from the two most powerful Mystics on this wretched planet. What could be more important than that?”
“If you’re bent on this demented course, then you don’t need my sister.” She grabbed his wrist, but he wasn’t really hurting her, just exerting enough pressure to keep her still. “Let E’Lanna go, and I’ll—”
“You’re in no position to negotiate. You will bear my son, and your sister’s master will be chosen as soo
n as we are certain she isn’t already pregnant.”
He pulled her to her feet and spun her around, unfastening the gown with shocking ease. She reached for E’Lanna, scanning without specific communication. E’Lanna sensed her and expanded the link, allowing Echo to see through her eyes. The holding cell was a stone cube with a bunk, a stool, and basic utilities.
I reached Father, but I didn’t know what to tell him. I don’t know where we are. The thought whispered in her mind, accompanied by a ripple of frustration.
Echo waited for her captor to react. His hand stroked from the small of her back to the nape of her neck, but he said nothing. Had E’Lanna figured out who held them and why?
Is he still with you?
Echo answered with a wave of anxiety, unwilling to push her luck. He spread the back panels and the bodice slid downward. She clutched the front to her breasts as his fingers explored her back and shoulders.
I’m so sorry, E’Lanna whispered.
How was she supposed to respond to that? He pulled the rest of the pins from her hair and raked his fingers through the long strands, unwinding the curls and freeing the braids.
Do you want me to stay with you?
Echo shuddered at the thought. No. There’s nothing you can do.
Royal Obsession (Shadow Assassins 1) Page 2
