Primal Encounter

by Rebecca Airies

  Rygar only laughed at his brother’s teasing words. Dari tightened her arms around him for a moment, reluctant to let go but when she felt his arms fall away, she stepped back. Rygar’s arm again curved around her waist as he headed for the door.

  “I’m going to enjoy interrupting your private time when you find a mate,” Rygar warned, his lowered brows and frown not hiding the teasing light in his silver eyes.

  “I’ll have the sense to go somewhere with a lock on the door and use it.” Logan held the door open. A wide smile broke across his face as he waited for them to walk past him.

  “We’ll have to wait and see about that but I think I’m going to have a lot of fun.” Rygar led Dari out into the hallway.

  “What? You’re going to neglect me so you can stalk your brother just to interrupt him? I can think of better things we can do with that time.” She couldn’t resist teasing him.

  “You shouldn’t take his side. I’ll make sure I don’t leave you wanting and give him problems.” Rygar frowned at her but she could see that there was no true anger in his eyes.

  “I’m not on his side. I’m on ours. You should remember he’s the Achan. He’ll get interrupted a lot. Everything goes through him. Problems right after he’s gone to bed at night or before dawn, he’ll find out almost as soon as it happens.” She met Rygar’s eyes and chuckled softly.

  “Just waiting and watching doesn’t have the same satisfaction as arranging an interruption.” He shook his head.

  “Because you’re more impatient than she is obviously.” Logan laughed. “Come on. The other women have been asking about her. You can’t keep her to yourself forever.”

  Rygar grumbled beneath his breath but moved forward, out of the room and into the hallway. She walked easily at his side, enjoying the feel of his warm palm against her back. She liked the feeling of belonging.

  Dari did get a partial tour eventually but there were so many people to meet that it took a while for her to see even part of it. Finally, Rygar brought her to a large hall. She saw a few people she hadn’t met yet but Rygar made no move to stop to meet them. They’d missed one meal while they were making love. Enticing aromas swirled around them. She felt hunger stir, reminding her it had been some time since she’d eaten.

  There was still so much of this Taivain she hadn’t seen. He led her up to one of the tables. He urged her into a seat and took the one beside her. She saw him edge the chair a little closer to her. A little thrill zipped through her as she realized he felt the need to touch her, to be near her just as she did him. She put her hand on his thigh, gently stroking her fingers over the muscular column. His warm palm settled over hers, stopping the motion, but he made no move to remove it. She turned her head to look at him and found him smiling at her.

  The hall filled quickly. She looked around as the people took their seats. Logan came in and beside him walked a man who looked exactly like Rygar. This must be Gaden. His face showed the signs of stress and strain. They strode across the room and took the seats to Rygar’s left.

  “Dari, this is my brother Gaden. Gaden, this is my mate, Dari,” Rygar introduced them.

  Dari leaned forward to get a better look at him. “It’s good to finally meet you, Gaden.”

  Gaden smiled. “I’m glad my brother found you. Welcome to the family.”

  “I wouldn’t say he found me. It was more of a chance meeting,” Dari said and tossed a teasing glance at Rygar. “And I knew he was my mate before he did.”

  “You say that because you’re stubborn and like to have things your way.” Rygar lifted her hand and nipped her fingers.

  “Then she’s a good match for you because you like to do things your way too.” Logan shook his head.

  “Logan told me what happened to you on the journey here. I’m sorry you were hurt by those seeking to hurt me.” Gaden’s quiet tone rang with sincerity.

  “You couldn’t have known about it. You’re not responsible for the actions of others.” Dari shook her head. She’d never blamed him when she found out why she’d been attacked. The blame lay with those who couldn’t accept that their daughter was with a shifter.

  “Have you made any progress on finding your mate?” Rygar asked.

  “She won’t believe that my contact with her is anything more than a dream. When I push she becomes so agitated that she wakes herself.” Gaden ran his fingers through his hair and heaved a long sigh.

  “You have to make her see that you’re real, that she’s tied to you. She can’t hide from the truth forever,” Logan’s fingers drummed on the table.

  “I can’t get through to her. She doesn’t even remember meeting me. Sometimes I think something I’ve said has sparked a memory but then she closes down.” Gaden’s hand thumped against the table.

  “Stop trying to make her remember. Why don’t you just let her think it’s a dream and see if you can find out where she is? If thinking that you might be real agitates her let her be calm enough to give you all the information she can. Use the time with her to strengthen your bond because you’re going to need it when you find her.” Dari bit her lip. She really didn’t know if he’d want to listen to her opinion but it seemed like he was making things harder for himself.

  “I promised her I wouldn’t lie to her. Her family did and she hated it.” Gaden looked over at her and she could see the frustration in her eyes.

  That explained why he was trying to make her believe him when he probably wanted to use any tactic that worked to get his mate back with him. Dari grimaced. She knew he wouldn’t break his promise but there had to be some way around it. Some way to tell her that wouldn’t immediately put her on the defensive.

  “Have you tried simply telling her it’s not a dream at the beginning and letting the subject drop? You’d keep your word not to lie to her.” Dari looked over at Gaden and she saw that some the last seats on the table had been taken. “If I’m annoying you and you’ve tried everything, just tell me to back off. I don’t really know much about it but I want to help if I can.”

  “I know you want to help. No, I haven’t tried just telling her once, because she usually starts yelling and arguing. Most of the time before I know it I’m just as angry as she is, because she’s denying all connection to me,” Gaden admitted.

  “Try thinking of it from her view. She doesn’t remember anything of her past. She only knows what she’s told by those she’s with and she has no reason not to trust them. Then you…” She squeezed Rygar’s hand as she let her voice trail off. She didn’t know what he did other than try to convince her she was his. They still had problems but she was suddenly glad that this hadn’t happened to them.

  “Then I come to her in her dreams. She doesn’t know me and I start saying that she belongs to me.” Gaden heaved a tired sigh.

  “You’ll find her but first she’s got to start talking. To get to that you’re going to have to take away some of the pressure. Part of her just might recognize you as her mate but those feelings would probably only cause more confusion,” she said slowly. She could only imagine being on a strange world and not even knowing her name much less her past. The woman had to wonder every day about the dreams and why they felt so different from her other dreams.

  Dari couldn’t get the thoughts out of her head. All through the meal, she wondered about who would do that to someone they loved. Living like that would almost be a kind of torture. Without knowing who they really were, a person would have a hard time trusting anyone.

  * * * * *

  Rygar stopped in the doorway. Dari stood at one of the tables with Rona and Eina. Dari was slowly making friends among the other women. She laughed with the two women as they set the tables with plates and mugs. He was tempted to go over there and kiss her, especially since he wouldn’t be here for the meal.

  He turned and left without saying a word to her. One kiss wouldn’t be enough, not when the feel of her body against his immediately sent thoughts of taking her to a secluded room through his head. He
took the steps out of the Taivain and headed toward the gates where Sian and Marin waited. There had been signs of someone in the area. Logan had told him to find the man. Rygar, Sian and Marin would go on foot and hunt the man. He’d eluded previous searchers. Rygar was determined to find him this time.

  Heading into the forest, they moved silently toward the last place sign had been found and began tracking. The idea of an unknown person lurking near the Taivain wasn’t reassuring. The sign could be that of a simple traveler who’d stopped to rest but Rygar didn’t think so. A simple traveler wouldn’t hide his presence and move from place to place with little to mark his passing. Whoever had been roaming the area wanted to hide his presence. Whatever his aim, it probably wasn’t friendly. Rygar paused to examine the slightly broken branch of a low bush and a partial boot print. The man was good but had stayed around too long.

  Rygar and the two men with him kept at their task, finally getting close enough to pick up the intruder’s scent. Rygar felt a thrill of satisfaction. He knew he’d find the man today.

  Mercenary or assassin, Rygar didn’t care. His only concern was finding the man.

  Moving silently, Rygar, Sian and Marin closed the distance between them and the intruder. Stopping, Rygar signaled to Marin and Sian to fan out and flank the man. He didn’t want the man to even think he had a chance to outrun them.

  Rygar caught the flash of movement through the bushes. He crept forward, wanting to get a better look at the man. Pushing the branches to the side, he cautiously peered through the gap. His breath burst from his body as something slammed into his back. He clenched his teeth together and didn’t make a sound. Spinning, he raised his hands defensively. The next blow hit his forearm and slid off. Pain lanced through his arm where the metal rod had struck. Rygar lunged forward, grabbing for the bar. Where had this man come from? He didn’t waste any more time thinking about it.

  The man stumbled back, his arm flailing and pulling the rod out of reach. Rygar kept moving forward, intent on stopping the man before he managed another blow. His opponent didn’t stay defensive for long. The man swung the bar as he danced to the side. Rygar moved in counterpoint, his eyes tracking the swing of the weapon.

  The man lunged forward, the bar swinging high. Rygar was forced to jerk back to avoid the blow aimed at his head. Rygar growled, his lips pulling back from his teeth. Frustration and determination roared through him. He wouldn’t be defeated by a black-haired cur who attacked him from behind. His muscles coiled and he waited for an opportunity. He saw the man’s hand pull back and raise. As the black-haired man’s arm moved in a vicious blow for his head, Rygar jumped forward, his hand clasping around the man’s wrist. His other hand grasped the man’s shirt. He hefted the man off his feet and threw him to the ground before his opponent had a chance to do more than pull in a gasping breath. Before he hit, Rygar pounced.

  Once his back touched the ground, the dark-haired man exploded. His hand swung, his body bucked as he kicked and yelled. Rygar drove his fist upward in a short, savage arc, slamming into his opponent’s chin. The man went limp, his eyes rolling up into his head. Rygar flipped the man onto his stomach and bound the man’s hands tightly behind his back and secured his feet. He didn’t want the man wandering if he woke while they dealt with the other man.

  Rygar looked out to the spot where he’d seen movement. He saw Sian binding the other man as Marin went through the pack the man had been carrying. Marin pulled a pouch out of the stuffed pack. Opening the thin flat packet, he withdrew folded sheets of parchment. A soft whistle sounded as Marin looked at them.

  “What have you found?” Rygar walked out of the bushes.

  “Some fairly good likenesses of Gaden and the Achan.” Marin waved the papers gently.

  Which explained why the man had attacked him. He wouldn’t have known Gaden had a twin.

  “Let’s get them back to the Taivain. Maybe they’ll tell us a bit about the people who sent them.” Rygar looked over his shoulder and saw the man he’d fought wriggling.

  “You know who it is and so does Gaden.” Sian’s voice drew Rygar’s attention.

  “I’m not expecting any surprises but I would like to know the specifics. Which one of her family is behind these attacks? So far we haven’t found anyone who actually met the people who hired them. They’d been sent, part of a merc group, and ordered by their leader.”

  “Are you hurt?” Marin asked. “I saw that metal bar hit you.”

  Rygar felt a bit of pain across his back but he knew it was just bruises and soreness. Nothing had been broken. “Nothing to go see the physic about.”

  Rygar walked over and released the feet of the man who’d attacked him. He absolutely refused to carry the man back to the Taivain. Anger pulsed through him. The attacks on him and Dari did infuriate him but the fact that the people were still attacking after they’d taken Nina showed only hate for the one they blamed. They seemed to care nothing for Nina’s happiness.

  They marched the two men back to the Taivain. As they passed through the gates, he heard the murmur of voices but no one approached them. He did see one man run ahead and knew that Logan would meet them before they reached the guardhouse at the left corner of the far wall. Prisoners were housed there because there were always warriors there.

  Logan met them as they were crossing the empty training field. He looked over the two men and silently nodded. He walked with them to the guardhouse. Delivering the men into the hands of two guards, Rygar stood and watched as the two men were led down the stairs to the cells below.

  “Not bad. I send you after one man and you bring me two.” Logan leaned a shoulder against the wall and looked at the two drawings.

  “Well, they didn’t hide from us, left a trail right to them. That dark-haired man did try a bit of a sneak attack.” Rygar rolled his shoulders. He could feel the stiffness and a bit of pain setting into the muscles.

  Logan’s eyes followed the slow movement and Rygar’s grimace. “Are you hurt?”

  “Just some sore muscles. A long soak and a good massage will take care of the aches,” Rygar said. The thought of Dari’s hands moving over his back sent his thoughts to more than a massage. His body hardened with arousal.

  Logan laughed. “Why don’t you go see if you can get some sympathy from Dari? I’ll take care of questioning these two men and talk to you later.”

  Rygar did want to be there when the men were questioned but he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to be with Dari. He nodded, accepting the dismissal and turned to leave. An eager smile curved his lips and his step lightened. He headed for the nearest door, determined to find Dari.

  He found her in the dining hall, sitting and talking with some of the other women. She laughed softly at something one of the women said. That husky sound sent a rush of heat slamming through him. He strode over to her.

  She looked up, spotting him as he neared. A wide smile curved her lips. The other women noticed him and must have seen something in his face because they all left a moment later with only a few words of farewell.

  “You scared away my friends,” Dari teased.

  “They apparently know a man in need when they see one. Come with me. I need your help.” He took her hand and drew her to her feet.

  She tilted her head, looking at him as if trying to decide if he was teasing or serious. Her eyes roved over his face. “Is something wrong?”

  “I need you to come with me. While I was out hunting, a man…” He curled an arm around her waist but didn’t get a chance to finish.

  “Are you hurt? Do you need to see the physic?” Her hand pressed against his chest and she ran her fingers across the muscled expanse, searching for a wound.

  “I don’t need to see the physic. I just need a little tender care from my mate. Do you think you can handle that?” he asked. He felt his smile widen. Her reaction thrilled him.

  “I can handle it. If you need help, I’ll give it to you.” Her arms slipped around his waist. “Now would
you like me to help you here or should I take you some place a little more private?”

  “We need to find some place private.” He held her close and then stepped back but held her hand, wanting the contact between them.

  She stepped forward, tugging him along with her. “Well, come on. I want to see what that man did to you.”

  His eyebrows flew up. Her tone had firmed and her expression had turned fierce. He’d never seen her look so intensely protective. At that moment, he had no doubt that she’d do whatever it took to protect him. He let her pull him out of the room and up the hallway to the stairs. It took only moments to get to their rooms.

  She shut the door behind them and crossed her arms over her chest. “Undress. I want to see what that man did to you.”

  Rygar just stripped off his shirt without arguing. He liked the assertive, fierce woman in front of him. He wanted to see just how intense she could get. And what she would do with the power.

  She walked around him slowly. Her breath drew in sharply as she disappeared behind him. Her fingers touched his back, tracing a diagonal line. He guessed the rod had left a red mark or it was already bruising.

  “What did he hit you with? You have a red line across your back. You need to get this seen by the physic.” She didn’t give him any time to answer her question. Moving around him, a growl rumbled from her as she saw the mark on his arm.

  “I don’t need the physic, just a nice massage from you. Do you think you can work all of the stiffness and soreness out of my back?” Rygar pulled her in front of him when she started to move away from him. He loved her concern but he didn’t want her to go for the physic when all he really needed was standing right there in front of him.

  “I can work the stiffness out of the muscles but you’re going to bruise there. It’s going to hurt regardless of what I do.” She looked up at him, a worried frown on her face.

  “It won’t hurt that much. I need the feel of your hands on me, caring for me.” His lips brushed over her forehead. He needed to feel her moving beneath him or over him, her body on fire with desire.