“What?” Cass hopped up from the floor and hurried to the window. She had no difficulty seeing what Aureliana had meant. Nalik was in the center of the other men, surrounded.
He and Cormac were brawling, fists flying and curses ringing out. She could hear them through the window. Aodhan lay on the grass beside them, cheering. Rydere was trying to pull the two men apart. Nalik reached out and clubbed her brother-in-law across one ear.
Then it was two against one. Theo stood over them, arms crossed, almost waiting patiently.
Idiots every last one of them.
Aodhan reached a hand in and shoved Nalik down, giving Rydere and Cormac an advantage—that they didn’t deserve.
Cass turned and stormed out of the room, more angry than she’d been in a long time. Why were they fighting like that, and why did they think it was ok to be three against one?
She was only vaguely aware of her sister and the others following her.
She had to push her way through the Dardaptoan crowd now surrounding the fight, but that changed when Aureliana whistled. That woman could apparently move thousands with just a word, or something.
Cass stepped up to the edge of where they were fighting. “Stop it!”
They either didn’t hear her or just chose to ignore her. The way Aodhan was laughing made her think it was the second.
She dealt with the clown first. It was so easy to have vines growing around Aodhan’s hips and arms, binding him quickly. She stuck a rose—thornless—in his mouth for good measure. Mal could untangle him later—the rose was for her. It was her favorite flower.
Next she dealt with her brother-in-law. He was easiest to grab, when Nalik shoved him back with some invisible type of force.
She grew tall weeds around Rydere, eight feet high at least, and tangled the tops over him. He could move and breathe, but he wasn’t going anywhere.
Next…Cormac and Nalik. She somehow doubted he was entirely innocent in this fight.
He was enjoying himself just far too much. Was he actually grinning?
***
Nalik had sparred with Cormac enough to know exactly what his strengths and weaknesses were. And once Rydere was out of the way—however that had happened—he devoted all of his attention toward Cormac.
The fucker had broken Nalik’s nose again. It would heal by the end of the night—another of Taniss’s little gifts—but it still hurt like the three hells. He retaliated by knocking Cormac to the ground and jamming his knee into the other male’s spine. It wouldn’t hurt the bastard, too badly, but it could keep him down.
He was purposefully not using the power he now held; it wouldn’t be sporting.
“Nice trick with the plants, there, old boy. How long you been able to do that?” Cormac pulled grass out of his mouth and spit. Nalik gave him a moment to catch his breath.
“I didn’t.” But he suspected who had. And that had him backing away from her cousin-by-marriage.
“Seriously. Who did?” Cormac rolled to his back and stayed there, glaring up at Nalik.
“She did.” He nodded toward the females stalking toward them. Aureliana was laughing, her babe clutched in her arms. The dahn had a look of total shock on her face as she stared at her younger sister. Had no one in her family realized what she was capable of? Had she not shared her unique gifts with those closest to her at all?
He crossed his arms over his chest, strongly suspecting he was about to get the first of many lectures from the female he had been given.
She was definitely angry and that was turned directly on him. “What were you doing?”
“Having a talk with the dhar.” He looked down at her as she stalked right up to him. “A minor discussion.”
“Why were you guys fighting? What happened? You didn’t tell them, did you?”
“I’ve not told them anything other than the fact that your grandfather changed me in several ways. They threw the first punch. Punches. Yet I am the only one still standing.”
“And that makes you proud?”
“Yes. It does. And it relaxed me. They’ve had it coming for a long time.” He bowed to her.
“What was he not supposed to tell us, Cass?” Rydere asked. His wife was fussing over him and shooting glares at Nalik as she tried to free Rydere from the tall grasses surrounding him. Somehow they kept growing back to keep him contained. And Cassandra wasn’t even looking at her brother-in-law while she grew the grasses.
The Adrastos and Sebastos females had joined their mates, and Cormac’s was rushing toward them all now. Aureliana was cutting at the vines surrounding her brother with a bit more luck than Rydere’s mate was having.
None of the females looked the least bit happy. Except Aureliana. She was laughing while she worked. Snickering at her brother’s plight.
Nalik had always admired Auri’s sense of humor.
“Nothing. You are all idiots.”
“No one had ever said differently.” The dahn was getting more than frustrated trying to free her mate, and Aodhan’s female was having little luck cutting back the vines on hers; she and Aureliana were hacking with knives to get the fool free. Aodhan kept laughing.
He’d always had an odd sense of humor, too.
“Nalik! Let him free!” Kindara was the one to give the order this time, as she tried to help Rydere. As more vines wound toward Cormac—who was getting smacked upside the head by his own female. Wonder what she was saying to him?
He looked at his female, and saw the determination on her face. The anger. For some reason, she was having a good old time messing with her cousins-by-marriage. And they all thought he was doing it. No matter what they did, some vegetation sprung up to replace what they removed. They could be here all day at this rate. He leaned down next to her, close enough to whisper in her ear. “You want me to share the truth? It is nothing for you to be ashamed of, and is damned awesome to see.”
“Why does it matter anymore?” She looked up at him, so much uncertainty suddenly in her eyes.
Aodhan started whistling a tune—one that all the males understood. It was a song that males had been singing to their newly found—newly claimed—Rajnis for millennia. “It doesn’t. The people here will love you no matter what. And will respect you for what you can do, as well.”
“Then you can tell them. About the plants—not that other thing we won’t talk about again.”
“Sweetheart…they have already figured that out.”
And Rydere looked more than a bit pissed.
Guess he wasn’t too happy with the idea of Nalik as a brother-in-law. But it was going to happen. Nalik would far prefer it be sooner than later.
“How? Did you tell them?”
“No. You did. When you protected me.” He wanted to laugh; first because not only did Cormac still look green while getting an obvious—if silent—lecture from his female and second, because the idea of this small female protecting him was both touching…and ridiculous.
But mostly because it gave him hope.
She’d be his, it was just a matter of time.
Chapter 37
Cass looked at the people surrounding them—mostly her family or those close to them. They were watching her and Nalik—other than those trying to cut the vines off Aodhan and the grass around Rydere enough that the two men could get free.
Maybe she had overreacted a bit? Still, it had looked so wrong to her to see him being ganged up on by the others.
Although he certainly looked like he’d won the fight. “What were you fighting over?”
“We weren’t, really. Cormac just wanted a damned demonstration of my new…abilities.”
The alterations her grandfather had caused; she got that. And Cormac had asked him to demonstrate? Like he was a freak in a circus? How could he do that, knowing what her grandfather had done to Josey? “What did you do to him?”
“Tossed him like a dog toy. It seemed fitting.” Nalik smiled at her when he said it, making her understand why Josey had smacked Cormac
. “Rydere had to interfere just because it was obvious Cormac was losing.”
“It was a game to you, too. Wasn’t it?” Cass would always hate violence and she never understood those who enjoyed it. But, he was a fighter, wasn’t he? He’d been that way for centuries, apparently.
“In a way. We’ve fought this way many-a-time before. There was no real harm done today. I can promise you that. You’d best free your brother-in-law before his Rajni uses that penknife to eviscerate me.”
Cass looked at Emily—her sister was very angry, no doubt about that. But was it because Rydere was still trapped in the grasses or because of what Cass had told her about Nalik?
Cass had a feeling it was the latter. Emily had told her once that she was grateful none of the Dardaptoan men had chosen her to be his mate.
But then again, they weren’t chosen, were they? They were given. Or forced, however way she wanted to look at it.
She held up her hands and had the plants receding enough to allow Rydere and Aodhan free. “You can tell them. Tell them that I think you are all nuts for fighting this way.”
She turned away and almost ran back into the castle, toward the room that Rathan had said was hers for as long as she was in his world.
***
Nalik watched her go, understanding more about how she felt than she probably knew. A Druid abhorred violence—one reason why they had been so easy for her grandfather to catch and experiment on thirty years ago—and to see men engaged in such as only sport would be bothersome to her.
Her sister tried to scurry after her, but Nalik held out a hand. “Let her go. She needs quiet.”
“I think I understand my sister a bit better than you do. I did help raise her.”
“But she never told you of how different she was, did she?” It hurt him, to think of her keeping such a secret to herself as a child. Why wouldn’t she have shared her gifts, at least with her older sister? “Your sister is mostly Druidic, thanks to your dear old grandpa. They don’t function like a human—or like a Dardaptoan. She needs time to think.”
“Why did she tell you and not the rest of us?” Aodhan’s female asked. “Cass should know she could tell us anything.”
“She is Druid. They are secretive by nature.”
He left them staring at him and headed for his own rooms. He would go there first, and gather what things he had been loaned by the demon king. Then he would be putting himself between his female and any who would question her. Or threaten her.
Some sought to destroy what they did not understand, and he’d seen many Dardaptoans eying her askance as she’d stormed through them.
He didn’t know why, but something was telling him she would need his protection again. And soon.
Chapter 38
Cass faced the woman blocking her from her room, not wanting this at all. “Nalik has been hurt so much in the past.”
“Yes. And I deeply regret that.” The goddess had met Cass outside her rooms and asked to be allowed to speak freely to Cass.
How could she deny a goddess, even if she didn’t believe in this woman at all? Of course, how could she not believe, when Kennera stood directly in front of her?
It was all so confusing. She couldn’t handle this, not now. Especially when the first questions the goddess had asked had involved Nalik. “I need to be alone…I’m sorry. I can’t answer your questions.”
“And you won’t have to.” Nalik’s voice was harsh, angry, and for a moment she wandered if he was angry with her. She glanced at him.
He was glaring at the goddess, fierce and mean. She could see in that moment why so many of his own Kind had grown to fear him.
It was a bit overwhelming to have that intensity turned in her direction.
“Goddess, any questions you have of me, you direct toward me. I’m sure you understand that.”
“Nalik…” He shouldn’t be rude; what would the goddess do to him? Or the Wolf god?
“I meant no offense, Equan Black. Just wanted to make sure you had all that you need.” The goddess radiated calm understanding; Cass could understand why that would anger Nalik so much. His resentment was so strong; strong enough for anyone to pick up.
“I have all that I need; your…interest…is noted.”
The goddess smiled at him. “But not wanted or needed. I can understand. I shall leave you now. My babes await.”
She was gone in an instant.
Cass looked at him, suddenly aware of how alone they were. She pushed up the door to her suite, knowing he would be following her inside.
What would she say to him? Her mind hadn’t changed in the last few hours—not by any means. But…if she was his Rajni, wouldn’t that mean something to both of them?
Her sister was very happy with Rydere, and Josey and Cormac were nearly inseparable. And Mickey and Theo were wonderful to watch when they were together. Even Mallory and Aodhan fit each other perfectly. And then Jade and Barlaam, Becca and Matthuin, Rand and Jierra—they were all mates or pairs of some sort. And all seemed extremely happy.
Why would she and Nalik have to be any different?
Maybe it was because she’d never pictured herself getting married? She’d thought about it, of course, but it had always seemed such a distant thing. She certainly wasn’t the type to have already picked out her wedding dress, or anything like that.
And Dardaptoans didn’t actually get married, anyway, did they?
No, they bonded for their considerably long lives. Was that something she could do with this man?
She didn’t even know him.
He wrapped his hands around her arms and pulled her right off her feet. Again. Why did he like to do that? Was it a control thing, or something more?
He lifted her until she was eye level with him. His eyes were so beautiful—Cass lifted a hand and touched his face. Right next to the scar that had come so dangerously close to one of those beautiful eyes.
Why did she get the feeling that the knife used to hurt him had been wielded by her grandfather? How could he even bear to look at her or her cousins?
Had he really looked past who she was related to, once he realized she was supposed to be with him?
How much of that supposed did she really believe in? Why was it ok to believe in it for her sister and cousins but not for herself?
What did it all mean?
Her words were barely audible to her own ears, but she knew he heard her. “I need time.”
“We have it.” It was a promise, and she knew it.
“I am scared.”
“I know. Can’t say that I’m not, either.” He carried her into her suite and closed the door behind him. “I’m not exactly mate of the year material. I’m pretty fucked up, in almost every way that counts.”
“No, you’re not.” Did he really hate himself that much? Why? “Are you even a Dardaptoan, anymore?”
“I don’t think so. But that’s where my loyalty lies. My duty and responsibilities. As my female you’ll have the same. Unless you want me to step down. I can do that, if you wish.”
Why was he talking like it was already a done deal? “How do I know if we can be happy?”
“Because I’d cut off my right arm, my left—both—to guarantee that. It’s what a true Rajni will do for his mate. Do not forget that. If you are not happy, then I cannot be.”
That seemed like a pretty big responsibility to her. “But what about whether or not you are happy?”
He held out a hand to her. “Come here.”
Cass went. He wrapped his fingers around hers and pulled her over to the window. She looked down at the courtyard below.
Cormac and Josey were still down there. Aureliana and her big demon were there, too. Mickey sat snuggled on Theo, where he rested against a tree. Her baby was in her arms. They looked so beautiful together.
Aodhan and Mallory were sparring, or something, near them.
They looked all peaceful and happy. All of them, beautiful together.
Whe
n they really shouldn’t be; not when she stopped to think of how they had met. And they had all told her about it freely. And it had scared the crap out of her; how could it not? They’d all pretty much died to get to where they were. But they’d all pretty much died to be together. Was it worth it?
She’d been so thankful none of the Dardaptoan men she’d met at first had decided she was their mate.
Of course they hadn’t—Nalik had. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? It’s been a year; if you wanted me so badly, why wait?”
He hesitated. “Because in that world, I’m no good for you. But with what is coming—and you have heard the rumors—you need me more than ever. And I realized in Evelanedea the truth.”
“What is that?” He thought she was helpless—that was it, wasn’t it?
“That no matter what world we’re in, I simply can’t stay away from you. You’re like a magnet pulling me, and goddess help me, I can’t resist—even if I wanted to. And dammit, Cassandra, I do not want to. Not anymore. I cannot breathe unless you are in my sight. You need to know that, no matter what it is you decide.”
What had it cost him to say that? He was such a strong man, wasn’t he? Exposing himself like that made him vulnerable. To her.
“Ok.” Why hadn’t she considered that before? What else was she supposed to say? “I…don’t know. I need time to think.”
“I can respect that. But know this—I will be near, if you need me. And as soon as you make your decision.” He pulled her in front of him, still at the window, and she rested her back against his chest. He held her much like Theo was holding Mickey. Why did that thought stick in her head?
She’d envied Mickey for a while; she knew that. Her cousin and Theo were almost made for each other. Everyone had been able to see that from the very beginning.
Had she and Nalik been made for each other? How could she tell? “I’m human, not Dardaptoan. At least, I think I’m human.”
Out Of The Darkness Page 15
