No, it won’t! she sent, letting him go and bouncing out of bed to put on her robe. You’ll get used to it! And this time, you will stay and help me move the furniture!
He began to laugh. “I’ll do it with pleasure,” he said. “Now eat! We can’t let the food our friends have brought go to waste, nor their company! You’ve picked at your meals too long, Vanna. I want our daughter to be healthy when she joins us, not some poor, half-starved wraith!”
Vanna picked up a piece of fruit and began eating it as she bounced back onto the bed beside him. “Yes, Garras,” she said meekly.
*
Later that day, the new arrivals filed into the training center to join those already there from the estates. These were the peopleâ fifty in allâ from all over the continent who had the particular genes that would probably lead to them forming a Leska Link. As Vanna began the introductory talk, Garras watched his life-mate with pride. There was a new confidence about her, a glow that she’d not had when she’d carried Marak. He loved his foster son as if he were his own, but this cub, this was his first. She would be the first of several, he hoped. It was what they had both wanted before there had ever been a Brynne Stevens in their lives: to share their cubs with each other.
He looked at the sea of faces, both Human and Sholan, male and female. There was enough work for a lifetime here, helping these young adults learn to live with each other, to accept their Leska partners if Links formed, and to train them to defend themselves and their families. With Vanna and their cubsâ and Brynne’sâ at his side, he could call himself content.
Scanning them not just with his eyes, but with his other senses, he could already pick out the potential troublemakers. There would always be those, but what would life be without a Challenge here and there?
*
T’Chebbi’s wrist comm buzzed. She looked at Carrie and, getting a nod in reply, quietly slipped from the back of the hall. Outside, she took the call. It was Kaid.
“I’ve decided,” he said shortly. “Bring Carrie to the Retreat for the eleventh hour. I’ll have a room set aside for you as we discussed.”
“What I tell her?”
“Tell her you need to visit. Or whatever you like, but bring her. And get her to put her damper on full power.”
*
The Retreat came into view as they crested the rise. “When are you going to tell me why we’ve come here?” asked Kusac, flicking an ear in the building’s direction.
Kaid kept on walking, heading down the slope to the side entrance. He knew Kusac would follow him.
“Kaid!”
He could hear him slithering down the icy snow-dusted trail behind him. The trick was not to walk too fast as the slope was steeper than it appeared. Kusac would either figure it out for himself, or reach the door well ahead of him. The next few seconds should tell him which. There was a muffled curse that included his name, then apart from the odd skidding noise, nothing. Until he reached the door.
“You might have waited,” said Kusac, following him into the Retreat. “Why are we here?”
“I want to visit a shrine,” he said, heading down the left-hand corridor till he came to the only door on his right. Stopping, he looked at Kusac. “So do you.” He slapped his hand on the palm lock.
“I do?” He followed Kaid into the small chapel.
Kaid closed the door behind them. “You asked me to bring you to the Warriors’ Tomb.”
The room was bare save for the ubiquitous glowing brazier and a large rectangular catafalque that stood on raised steps just beyond it.
“This is the tomb.”
Kusac moved closer to the stone monolith, mounting the first shallow step. Reaching out, he ran his fingertips over the carvings on the side. The battle scenes had been worked in deeply cut relief panels. As he studied them, he could see the same two warriors, fighting either side by side or covering each other’s backs, present in each.
“I don’t remember asking you about this,” he murmured, taking the second, higher step as he moved to the longer side.
Kaid watched as he leaned across the lid to see the portraits.
“It’s certainly a work of great beauty. Who were they, these warriors?”
Kaid climbed the steps in front of him, leaning across the corner to see the carved faces. “No one knows. Their names weren’t recorded, but they stand for all swordbrothers.”
He felt Kusac’s start of surprise and when he spoke, the younger male’s voice sounded a little strained.
“It’s good they were buried together. Friends who shared their lives shouldn’t be parted in death.”
“They were more than friends. They were lovers.”
He would have stepped back then, but Kaid reached out swiftly, clamping his hand over the other’s arm, anchoring him to the tomb.
Kusac raised his face to Kaid’s. “Surely not all swordbrothers are lovers.”
“Some are, some aren’t, but those who are were lovers before they swore the oath. When death runs close behind you, Kusac, the need to know you’re alive can be overwhelming. If your swordbrother had risked everything for you, and needed that reassurance, what would you do?” He locked eyes with the younger male.
Kusac hesitated before answering. “I don’t know, Kaid. I’d offer what I could,” he said quietly.
Kaid nodded slowly. “It’s enough. You had to consider it, Kusac. You needed to know your limits within our relationship. No one knows what can happen after the heat of battle. So swear the swordbrother’s oath with me, in the name of Vartra the God, over this tomb.”
The arm within his grip moved as Kusac now tried to pull free. His ears were beginning to fold back and his pupils were dilating. Caught on the edge like this, he was unprepared, and Kaid couldn’t help but be aware of his thoughts. He felt trapped and once more vulnerable at the hands of this male he felt hardly knew despite their weeks of living together.
“Will you swear it with me?” Kaid demanded, tightening his grip till his claws began to penetrate. Would Kusac swear, or would he break and run?
The movements stopped. “I will,” Kusac said, his voice tense.
“Then swear that from this day onward, my fight will be your fight, in battle you’ll never be more than a sword’s reach from my side, and that my honor you’ll hold as dear as your own.”
As he repeated the oath, Kusac’s voice grew firmer.
“Swear also that if I’m killed, you’ll not risk your lives in seeking revenge.” Kaid watched a look of puzzlement cross Kusac’s face. “Swear it!”
“I swear!”
“Swear it in Vartra’s name!” Kaid said, pulling him closer till their faces were only inches apart.
“I swear it in Vartra’s name, dammit!” There was anger creeping into Kusac’s voice now, and Kaid saw his free hand begin to clench into a fist. “What will you swear in return, Kaid? What do you offer me?”
At last he’d understood that it must be an equal relationship. “I swear the same, and give myself,” he said simply, opening his mind and reaching out to him with it.
The contact was immediate and totally overwhelming. Kaid realized immediately he’d made a mistake, but it was too late to pull back. As Kusac’s mind merged with his, so, too, did Carrie’s. Surrounded and absorbed by them both, Kaid tried to pull free.
*
Taken totally unaware not only by Kaid, but by his Leska’s sudden presence, Kusac wasn’t prepared for their Link to explode within their conjoined minds. It surged through all three of them, awakening sexual responses identical to those he and Carrie experienced on their Link days. Then images and memories began to flash through his mind at such speed he’d no chance to make sense of them. They slowed, ceasing abruptly, leaving both him and Kaid focused on Carrie. Because of the heightened sensuality, he/Kaid ached to touch her, to hold her; she felt so close that they knew they could touch her! The need was so strong that he/Kaid reached out for her. Moments later, the gestalt flared into be
ing, magnifying their Talents more than threefold. Before there was time to react, Carrie had instinctively grasped control, but the energies were too much for herâ and her control begin to slip.
*
In the small staff dining room at the Retreat, Carrie gave a cry of shock as she was suddenly swept into the Link between Kusac and Kaid. Her physical senses dulled, she staggered and would have fallen had T’Chebbi not caught her. Clinging to the female as though she was a lifeline, she couldn’t move as the images from Kaid flashed through her mind, images she already had. The strength left her body and shuddering, she sagged against the Sholan female.
T’Chebbi swung Carrie up into her arms and strode over to the small settee, placing her down on it. As she tried to stand, the arms round her neck tightened, holding her there.
“Carrie,” T’Chebbi said anxiously, kneeling on the floor beside her. She touched her face.
Carrie gasped at the touch, one hand instantly reaching for T’Chebbi’s to remove it. “We’re Linked,” she moaned. “All three of us together! Oh, Gods, no!” She shuddered again. “They both want me!”
T’Chebbi froze. Carrie’s breath was warm on her face as the Human turned her head, laying her cheek against hers.
“You smell different, feel softer,” Carrie said, her voice a whisper as she began to caress T’Chebbi’s fingertips and palm. “Your hand’s smaller than theirs.”
At her neck, Carrie’s own hand was now moving slowly and sensually among the tiny braids. Drawn into the fringes of their Link, T’Chebbi could sense a little of what was happening. Kaid had been right to anticipate trouble. The normal light mental rapport that he’d said was the most the Brothers and Sisters of Vartra could achieve, had become far moreâ it was a total three-way Link.
*
They’d talked about the swordbrother’s oath the last time she’d seen Kaid, discussed what she should do if anything went wrong. Her mind, though, was blank: She could remember nothing. Then she felt Carrie touch her scruff.
Hurriedly she reached up, removing her hand, trapping it firmly within her own. “Not there, Carrie,” she said gently.
“T’Chebbiâ I can feel them touching me,” she moaned. “As if I were there with them!”
What in the names of all the devils had he said? Then she remembered. If a Link forms, and it shouldn’t, bring her to us at the shrine of the Warriors’ Tomb. But neither of them had anticipated this.
She gathered Carrie closer, holding her like a child as the Human female tried to reach her face. “Hush. It’s all right, Carrie. It’ll pass. Try to relax, don’t fight it.” She began to stand up.
“I can’t! Both of them inside my mind… It’s too much, T’Chebbi!” Suddenly Carrie’s body stiffened and with a cry of pain, she passed out.
Hastily T’Chebbi laid her down, checking her pulse. Out cold. Leaving the room at a run, she headed for the shrine. She stopped briefly at the door. When Carrie had passed out, her awareness of the two males had gone. Now she was unsure what she’d find, uncertain whether she should disturb them. Taking a breath, she activated the palm lock.
They lay unmoving, several feet apart, at the foot of the catafalque steps. She checked Kusac first, then Kaid. Same as Carrie, unconscious, both of them. Taking Kaid by the shoulders, she shook him. Nothing. Pulling her arm back, she slapped his face hard.
He stirred then, moaning as he put his hand to his cheek. She helped him sit up, noticing as she did that he flinched when her hand touched his uncovered pelt.
“Carrie joined the Link,” she said. “Like you, she passed out.”
He tried to stand and she moved back, offering him her arm to lean on. He accepted but once again let her go when he was upright.
“You all right?”
“I will be,” he said, staggering over to Kusac. “Help me move him into the other room.”
“What room?” She was puzzled. She’d never heard of a room within the shrine.
“Room for those who take their oath as lovers,” he said, crouching down by Kusac’s prone form. “He’ll need her.” He began to turn him over onto his back, straightening his limbs, wincing when his hands touched the other’s pelt.
“What happened?”
He ignored her, carefully checking Kusac’s eyes. “We’ve time. Help me lift him.”
She reached out to touch his hand. He flinched away and glanced briefly up at her. “Sorry. I’m still tuned in to them.” He was angry with himself. He should have realized this could happen. “I want to get them together before either of them comes around.”
Between them, they got Kusac to his feet and across to the concealed door at the far end.
“Go and get Carrie,” he said, activating the door. “I can manage the rest.”
When she returned, Kusac was already lying on the bed. Kaid had stripped his robe from him and was putting it on the chair that stood against one wall.
“I’ll take her,” he said.
Silently T’Chebbi let him take the unconscious female from her arms, watching how the strain left his face as he did.
He placed her next to Kusac, turning her slightly till he was sure their bodies were touching. Pulling the cover over them, he turned away and began walking back toward her.
She watched him wince slightly as, from the corner of her eye, she saw Kusac’s arm curl instinctively over Carrie. Was he that closely Linked to them?
As the door shut behind them, Kaid leaned against the wall for a moment, closing his eyes.
“Still Linked, aren’t you?” she asked, taking hold of the covered part of his arm. “Come. We’ll go to the room Carrie and I used.”
He nodded and let himself be guided there.
The small dining room boasted a couple of settees and a drinks dispenser as well as a table and chairs. It was for the larger settee he headed. Sitting down, he leaned his elbows on his knees, rubbing his hands tiredly over his face.
“I should sleep,” he mumbled. “It’ll help isolate me from their Link.”
T’Chebbi squatted in front of him, taking his hands away from his face. “Not their Link, Kaid. Belongs to all three of you. What happened?”
He pulled his hands free, leaning against the back of the settee. “I miscalculated,” he said. “Their gestalt happened. I think Carrie triggered it with her fear.” He glanced up at her, a puzzled look on his face. “It was the damnedest thing, T’Chebbiâ a three-way Leska Link! Or what I’d imagine one would be,” he amended. “When Carrie’s mind joined us, she was our natural focus, we both turned to her. How did she react?” he asked cautiously, watching her through half-closed eyes.
“Said she felt you both touching her.” A small silence, then, “She initiated love play with me. It distressed her.”
“Damn,” he said, closing his eyes briefly. “I keep forgetting that because of their age and sheltered upbringing, they’re not as sophisticated as the rest of us. Particularly Carrie. What did you do?”
“I tried to bring her to you, but she passed out. What she did was nothing, no problem for me. Been down that trail before, Kaid, but only when training at Consortia House. Is problem for Carrie, though. She’s where I was till not so long ago.”
He tilted his head questioningly at her, finding himself intrigued.
“Afraid of appropriateness of her pleasure in the touch of others. Noticed it when we showered first time. Have been working on it with her. Should be no guilt in enjoying closeness with friends, male or female.”
He nodded. “Sensual means sexual to her. That would fit in with what I know of Human attitudes. They’re so much more insular than us. However,” he added with a wry smile, “being a telepath adds its own restrictions, I’ve discovered. I understand now why I’ve always kept people at a distance. It’s worse now that my sense of touch is so much more heightened than it was before.”
T’Chebbi stood up and began unbuckling her weapons belt. “Then since you allow me close, must be attracted to me,” she
purred, letting it drop to the ground with a thud. She began unfastening her robe.
Kaid frowned. “What’re you doing?”
“Only on edges of your Link, but left me unsatisfied. Since they’re together now, must be worse for you,” she said, letting her robe fall. Leaning forward, she rested one knee on the settee, her hand going to his shoulder to steady herself. “Don’t intend to stay like this. Do you?” Her mouth touched his before moving to his cheek where she fastened her teeth into him, giving him a sharp nip.
He hissed at the momentary pain even as he reached for her. “The door,” he said a few minutes later as they lay entangled on his robe.
“Put privacy lock on when we came in,” she said, hoping that whatever had awakened the wildness in him stayed.
“Were you really afraid of your sensuality? I thought that was part of your training.”
“Was. Something precious, to be enjoyed,” she murmured as he nibbled and licked at her ear. “Pack time destroyed that. You gave it back.”
He could sense a terrible darkness hovering within her mind and immediately began to distract her. “Forget those times,” he said. “You’re here with me now, that’s what counts.”
“You use my words against me,” she said, her voice trailing off.
*
Their lovemaking had been equally wild, but with its fulfillment came their mental release. Lying in Carrie’s arms, Kusac began to talk.
“It wasn’t Kaid’s fault, Carrie. You mustn’t blame him. He had no way of knowing what would happen. Even I couldn’t have predicted it.”
“I’m not blaming him,” she said, laying her head against his shoulder. “It was just too much, Kusac! To have both of you wanting me like that… He must have guessed something like this might happen, though. Why else have T’Chebbi bring me here?”
“Thank the Gods he did!”
“But why? Why Link with you at all?”
razorsedge Page 49
