Sarazen's Claim, Book One

by Isabel Wroth

  “Will you teach me to swim?”

  “With great pleasure, my one.”

  They lingered in the water until her skin began to wrinkle, a phenomenon that fascinated her and made Tarek laugh at how she freaked that her skin was melting off. She’d thought his bed aboard his warship had been the most comfortable thing she’d ever lay on, but this bed was even more so. It was like sleeping on a cloud, surrounded by a warm, purring beast. It was heaven.

  She woke up alone, which irked, but a quick look around the suite showed it to be empty. She stretched and took the opportunity to have a few moments to herself, curiously pawing through the things Ne’tare had procured for her. Dresses in varying shades and materials, some thicker than others, some so thin they were almost transparent, some embroidered beautifully and elaborately. Tunics and leggings, boots, flat soled slippers, more clothes and options than she’d ever had in her entire life. She picked a deep purple dress that was made of a material like velvet, shimery and soft to the touch, and it fit perfectly when she stepped into it and settled the skirt, choosing a matching pair of the slippers.

  She’d just stepped into them and had picked up a hairbrush when she heard the door open and shut quietly. A sniff and a peek around the doorway revealed Tarek with a large tray of food and a distinctly displeased expression on his face, “Is it not a good morning?” She asked, and Tarek stopped in the middle of the room, staring at her with a look that made heat pool in all the right places. “Perhaps I will change my mind about our house colors, my one. You look beautiful, in purple.” She smiled at his compliment, though in his way, he said it as a statement of fact and left no room for her to misinterpret his meaning. “It’s very soft, Ne’tare made beautiful choices.” He grunted, not wholly pleased by her words, and promised to take her to the market soon to choose her own clothing. She was pretty sure it was some kind of territorial thing, but let that go for the moment. “You’re upset. What’s wrong?”

  “My brother and the council wish to speak to us, and the other mates this morning.”

  “And this is bad?”

  “It is neither good, nor bad, but I dislike the manner in which the command was given.”

  “Can I help in any way?”

  “I would ask that until we know which was the wind is blowing, that you speak to me through our bond.”

  “Of course. Is this because I made you mate with me before the festival?”

  The tray he’d been in the process of setting down on the table, clattered a little when Tarek jerked in reaction to her question. He blinked at her, snorted angrily and crossed the distance to slide his hands over the curve of her shoulders. His eyes burned when he glared down at her, “Clary, you made me, do nothing. Sarazen females go into heat, just as you did, and the female must be satisfied. If she is not, the result is intense pain. Cramping, muscle spasms, her beast becomes ravenous, and what she desires is either sex or blood. One way or the other, she is satisfied. She can be controlled with sedatives, but only her mate can soothe her need. Believe me when I tell you that there was nothing and no one in the universe save you who could have stopped me. As for the council and my brother, they can say whatever they like, but they know well enough that our beast does not care one way or the other for our laws. And, your kind are unique. There are no laws or standards, or even expectations that can be made to say how your beast will make herself known. There is no blame, do you understand?”

  She nodded, letting him draw her in to stroke his hands down her hair, hugging her tightly to his chest, rocking with her while she thought of something that made her very, very nervous. She didn’t know exactly how long Tarek had served as commander of the Sarazen armada, but long enough for his mated brother to have sired children. That was the reason why Tarek had not gone on to rule when his father stepped down, at the time, he had no mate and no prospect of providing their pride with an heir. But now, he had a mate, his brother had failed in his duty to produce an heir, and if she got pregnant…well, she didn’t know the customs yet here, but every story she’d ever read about human history and their monarchies, the ones with the heirs ruled the roost. “Explain your fear, my one.” She shook her head and nuzzled closer, not sure how he would react to the direction her thoughts took, “Not everyone will feel like you do about me. About Andi and Cassie and Gwen.”

  “They do not have to feel as I do. But they will be very careful of how they make you feel. You have no reason to fear, because no matter what, you are my mate and I will always protect you. Always.”

  She was nervous, but she hid it well. She walked tall and proudly beside him while he led her into the most formal of the citadel meeting rooms. It had been long since he’d seen his brother in person, and the smile he gave when they walked into the room was quick and genuine. But there was an edge to it, and the presence of his mate in all her finery, with the council and his sire present alerted him to what this was really about. He greeted them all with respect, and with his centuries of experience, immediately struck before his adversaries could land the first blow. And for now, they were his adversaries, but depending on their response, they could quickly become his enemies. Not what he wanted, but to protect his mate, he would make that decision with ease. “I am glad all of you are present, it saves me time.” Every one of the twelve people in the room stiffened in anticipation of him claiming what rightfully had always been his. “I decline the promotion to elder council of the second territory. I prefer to liaise for the humans, be their voice among our people as they grow to adapt to our worlds. And as I can see you’re all quite nervous about it, brother, Asho, you’ve ruled us well and I pray you will continue to do so for many years to come. I do not want your place, and frankly I wouldn’t accept even if you asked it of me.”

  Clary squeezed his hand, but still he could sense her unease, and she was not ready yet to identify the source of it. So for now he would do whatever he must, to ensure her safety, and this was the best way he knew how to avoid council games and plots. Cut them down before they had a chance to breed. His brother stood from the seat he’d taken at the table and came towards him, his female following with a neutral expression on her face. He took the hand his brother offered, wrapping his fingers around his forearm and felt his pulse leap against his fingers. “It has been long since anyone spoke so plainly to me. I missed you, brother. Welcome home.” His beast was discontent, not liking this, but in his iron grip could give no protest but what he could hear in his own mind. “It’s been a very long time.” His brother gave his arm a squeeze and looked to Clary, “But worth it,” He murmured, and got his grunt of total agreement. “Clary, my one, this is my brother, T’mai.” She inclined her head and murmured a very respectful, “Asho.”

  T’mai grinned and released him to touch his fingertips to his heart, “Asha’na, it is good to finally meet you. You’ve kept my brother waiting a long time.” Clary’s lips twitched with amusement and he could feel her desire to laugh, “My apologies. The commute was a bit long.” T’mai gave a chuckle and turned to wave his fingers at the female standing at his shoulder and introduced her to Clary. “This is my mate, Niora.” Clary was still smiling and still respectful, using Niora’s official title and while she showed it neither in expression or scent, because of their bond he could feel her instant dislike. He was both surprised and pleased that somehow her cat was protecting her scent by not revealing this to the room, especially as closely as she was being watched.

  He stiffened when he felt Niora, whom he had never liked, allow her beast to rise far enough as to call and intimidate Clary’s. It was a spiteful tactic employed by females who liked to prove to everyone just who the alphas in the room were. The intent was to make their rival’s beast rise to prove her weakness in the face of a stronger female, and as newly changed, if Niora continued to push power at Clary, it could mean her beast could tear out of her and attack in reaction to the threat. He opened his mouth to call the bitch on it, but Clary silently told him to, ‘Take it eas
y,’ and stood patiently, still smiling and gave not so much as a token twitch in reaction to the rudeness his brother’s mate.

  Clary waited, answering his brother’s questions with ease while he noted several council members, and his father, avidly watching her for any signs of changing. He was unsure if his brother was unaware, focused on speaking to Clary like he was, or if he didn’t care that his mate was being that rude and territorial, that insecure in her position as to feel the need to attempt to overpower and embarrass Clary. The need to prove to everyone just who the more powerful female was, and maybe something more sinister. The moment Niora stopped, Clary smiled at her with ease, “If you wanted to see me change, all you had to do was ask nicely.”

  He rolled his lips under when his desire was to bark out a laugh at the blink his brother gave, and the flush of embarrassment that Niora was unable to hide. T’mai’s jaw clenched and he slanted a look at his mate that confused him, but Niora ignored it with the ease that said this was not the first time her mate had been displeased with her. “I want to see you change,” Niora stated rudely, ignoring again, the sound of T’mai’s warning growl. Clary didn’t twitch or look away from Niora, and after a moment, Niora rudely raised her brows expectantly, baring her fangs in a hiss at Clary’s cool, faultlessly polite tone. “I said all you had to do was ask nicely. I don’t know the protocols or how your world works yet, and I hope you’ll forgive my ignorance. I’m new to having an animal inside me providing me with all sorts of scents and information. However, I’m relatively certain that attempting to force that beast out of me is not only rude, but dangerous.”

  The silence in the room was deafening for a moment, and he was shaking with the effort it took not to laugh. He took note of the few council members who found the politely phrased dressing down his mate gave to their Asho’na just as rude as he did, but the amusement was there too, that Clary had dared to publicly call Niora on her actions. He also noted the ones who were disappointed and angry. His father was among those, he could only guess at why, and he was further surprised when Clary continued speaking, not taking her eyes off of Niora’s glaring face. “I can only guess that this was some kind of test, or perhaps an effort to press upon me just who the alpha female of this pride is. Rest assured, I am very aware and have no desire to dispute that fact,”

  Having taking his lead, she was blunt and clear, but what she didn’t understand yet, is that by not reacting to Niora’s attempt at making her change, she had proven herself to be the stronger of the two. Proven it, to the entire ruling body of their world, which was another mark against them in many of their eyes and irrefutable evidence to support the fact that their mating was already stronger than T’mai and Niora’s had ever been. If they produced offspring, the danger to his brother’s rule would be questioned. It was not in their nature as a species to allow weak members to lead the pride. He knew his beast was stronger than his brother’s, and he’d proven that a thousand times over as a warrior. Clary had just proven that her beast was superior to Niora’s.

  I feel like I just did something wrong.

  He rubbed his thumb up and down the fine bones in her wrist, promising to speak to her later of it, reassuring her that everything was just fine. T’mai gritted his teeth and looked away from his mate, inclining his head to Clary with the utmost respect. “You are not wrong, little sister. What my mate has attempted was exceedingly rude, and very dangerous for you. Luckily, she failed. You have my word it will not happen again.” Niora hissed softly, and before the entire council, took her to task and dismissed her from the room harshly. Something was not right with their mating, and simply by their presence, he and Clary had revealed that weakness. He would have to speak to his brother at a later date. For now, his warriors and their mates were called in to be introduced to the council and his brother.

  Tarek and his brother arranged to share a meal that night, while her cat seethed inside her with dissatisfaction that she had not been allowed to emerge and shred Niora to ribbons. The cat understood the danger, Clary’s fears, and it hadn’t been a struggle between them to remain calm, but she could feel the angry beast pacing back and forth inside her, fur on end from the blatant disrespect and an unmatched challenge. She had allowed Clary to do it her way, protecting her the only way she could, by keeping their scent controlled and her temper in check. But the tension had yet to leave her body. Her first face to face experience with a Sarazen female had not gone well, at all.

  Niora was a strangely beautiful creature, short spiky black hair, the stripe wider than the males, but still a Mohawk down the center of her skull to display the blood red markings that swirled intricately over the bare sides of her head and disappeared down into the matching blood red gown, heavily embroidered to make a bold statement. Her almond shaped eyes were black, with a ring of amber around her pupils, otherwise all that blackness would have completely obscured that pupil and made those oily black eyes even creepier than they already were. Her face was lovely, truly, a work of art and beautiful to look on. Or it would have been, if not for the pinched look of superiority on her features. She’d stood there and poured every ounce of power she had with laser like precision at her, and she’d immediately felt her cat perk up and almost laugh at the attempt. She’d wanted to retaliate, her cat having provided the information in vivid pictures what would happen if she turned her own power on the other woman. Niora would have been on the floor, writhing in agony as her body forced a change she would not have been able to make, because her beast was blatantly inferior to hers.

  She was aware of the eyes on her, the speculation, the disappointment that she had not reacted the way they anticipated. She was aware of the eyes on her people, on Gwen and Andi and Cassie, on Tara and the others who had the potential to become more. Become stronger. Become more of a threat. Her cat identified the ones who feared her, the ones who were curious about her, the ones who looked at her the way that Ne’tare and Te’sha looked at her. With kindness and relief. The kindness was welcome, but she didn’t understand the relief, and when she silently asked Tarek, he looked at her and squeezed her hand.

  Later, my one. We will speak of this only between ourselves, and not with so many eyes upon us.

  I made a big mistake, didn’t I?

  No, you did not. You did what was natural, and right.

  He was agitated, she could feel it while he stood in the common room in his wing of the citadel, giving Brennaugh orders to stay with the humans and protect them while he, Ga’rae, Ohlen and Falken took them out for a much needed run. Something was wrong, and she had a feeling that despite what he said, she’d done something that was going to change the course of their lives. And likely not for the better. If Brennaugh knew what those consequences were, he did not speak them aloud, but he looked at her with those kind eyes, the eyes of a warrior, and he lowered them when she continued to stare. Her cat purred with happiness, with affection. The sort she imagined she would feel for a sibling, the sort she could trust.

  Tara came to her and kept her voice low, but her cat recognized the strength in her, the potential for so much more strength. The sort of strength she would want beside her when whatever came to pass, passed. “What’s going on? You and the others came back from the meeting and I can practically see the tension rolling off the men.” She didn’t have a complete answer, and she wasn’t ready to confess to Tara that she feared something horrible had just happened. “I honestly don’t know how to explain it. I met his brother, the Queen, their version of a council and a few other people. Some of them looked at me with fear, some with kindness, others with uncertainty and disappointment.” Tara was astute, quick, her mind analytical, and in a flash she drug in a deep breath and nodded, “Not so different from us then, after all. Fearing what they don’t understand.”

  She thought on Tara’s astute assesment while she walked beside Tarek, with Gwen and Ga’rae, Cassie and Falken, Ohlen and Andi. Down the same curved stone stairs to the same transport that waited, and Ohlen aga
in flew them out of the small hangar and back out above the citadel. Out through the forest that now smelled of the night air and white flowers that bloomed in the long grass, the petals shimmering in the moonlight. Tarek bent his head and touched a kiss to her shoulder, “They only bloom at night, I forgot how beautiful they are. The shimmer reminds me of your claws, my one.” He took her hand and rubbed his thumb over the tendons on the back of her hand, wordlessly urging her to let her claws slip from beneath her nails.

  It was a small hurt, the way they passed through her skin, but he was right. The white color of her claws did shimmer like the flowers in the field, sparkling in the moonlight. He showed her his own, black and matte, his hand so much bigger than hers, so gentle, “What did I do?” She asked, knowing he heard her even though the wind was rushing around them, tearing her words away. “Despite my truth that I do not now or later wish to rule the Sarazen pride, it is well known that I am stronger than the Asho. You proved yourself to be stronger than the Asho’na, and together, doing nothing more than standing together, we have made it plain that the ruling pair, is weak.”