by Genia Avers
She didn’t reply for several seconds. “Kamber, I’m sorry.”
He shrugged.
“I don’t understand. I know Winsome and Rothart have been married for—”
“Twelve years,” he stated flatly.
“But Tam is only five.”
“Tam is adopted. Winsome’s sister died during childbirth. Rare, but it happens—even to our kind.”
“Bockle, Kamber. I truly am sorry.”
He didn’t want to talk about his painful history. His father had abandoned the legacy of his one true mate and everyone else suffered. “So you see, the maxim holds. Rekita cannot bear my child because there’s no way that witch is…is anything to me.”
“I don’t know. She sounded so…convincing.”
“She’s an accomplished liar.”
“Maybe, but if she wanted to trap you, Kam, there are ways. Nasty, evil ways, but a determined female can bear a child.”
Shit. He’d worried about that very thing.
No. Even if Subena was correct, he’d always taken precautions. Especially with Rekita. “That creature does not carry my seed.” He crossed his arms. Recognizing his defensive posture, he uncrossed them. “Bena, I would know if she carried my baby.”
“How?”
“The same way you knew what had happened to Tam. The same way you know now that he’ll be all right. We’re both empaths. That skill’s very rare.”
She gasped. “How is that possible? You’re Dökkálfar. I’m álfar.”
“I’m not sure. We might sense different things, but we both experience what others feel.”
She sputtered again. “How did you…don’t answer. Even if she isn’t carrying your child, Rekita has motive.”
“What she doesn’t have is enough brains to pull off an assassination attempt.”
“She had enough brains to get your grandmother’s ring.”
“She what?”
“Oh please. Don’t pretend you didn’t give it to her. I saw it. A perfect circle of tiny emeralds?”
He reached for her, holding her upper arms as he turned her to face him. “I swear to you, I didn’t give her the ring.”
She pushed his arms away. “Then how’d she get it?”
“The pub. I…” Dammit all to hell. Was he not allowed a single tantrum without consequences?
“You what?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Never mind. I don’t think I want to know. I still think Rekita’s involved.”
“I agree she’s involved, but someone else is pulling the strings. She’s not smart enough to do this on her own. The bitch would attack you outright.”
Kamber’s mind still struggled, attempting to understand how Rekita had gotten her paws on the ring. He wasn’t sloshed when he first arrived at the pub. He would have seen Rekita. “Who would benefit if the treaty were dissolved?”
“Other than Rekita?” Subena wrinkled her nose. A sure sign anger consumed her. “Creshin and the warlords. Everyone else has more to gain from an alliance between Mydrias and Gatsle.”
“So we’re back where we started.” He watched a myriad of expressions cross her face.
She looked at him, all business. At least she’d shut up about Rekita. “Show me the source of the blood.”
“What?” His wife was master of the unexpected. Why’d he made that foolish promise? Stupid Neanderthal that he was, he was prone to promising anything to make his surly spouse more compliant.
“You promised.”
He studied her face. She wouldn’t relent. “All right. Let’s go.”
He was proud of his work, but something told him Subena wasn’t going to like his source. Not one bit.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Kamber. This isn’t funny.” Subena placed her hands on her hips, so her husband wouldn’t see how much they shook. She wasn’t mad at him so much as herself. Why had she followed him through a long tunnel into the underground structure? What had made her believe he’d share his secret? It was bad enough he couldn’t explain the ring, but to renege on a promise ranked at the top of the maggot scale.
“You’re a technologist. Think like one. This is the source.”
How dare he imply she wasn’t thinking? “You said you’d show me where the blood came from. These are people.”
“Eh, of course they’re people.”
She stared at the female who smiled at her. “Hi. I’m Lecala. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The woman held out her hand. Something about her didn’t seem quite normal.
Subena took a step closer. The outstretched finger had a tiny pinprick. A drop of blood leaked, so small only a person gifted with superior sight could see it.
Subena experienced an overwhelming urge to bite her.
“Bockle.” The lure of the female grew stronger. Subena jerked her hand over her mouth. She backed away, grabbing Kamber’s arm. “Get me out of here.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her down the long corridor, up the steps, and into the light of the Sun-Star. “Take it easy. The urge will pass.”
How could he know that? He hadn’t reacted and he was one who regularly drank blood.
Gads. So did she. Shame tore at her stomach.
Subena sank to the ground, filled with revulsion. “They aren’t… they can’t be…what were they?”
He squatted down beside her. “Human. They have human blood.”
She blinked as she looked at his face, hating him more than she ever had. “You suck the blood from those poor creatures. You’re disgusting.”
“We’re not Vampyr. We don’t suck anything.” He stood up and turned away from her, his body stiff and unyielding. “I knew I shouldn’t have shown you. Idiot that I am, I thought a technologist would understand.”
“Don’t you dare make this about me,” she screeched. “What does being a technologist have to do with abusing those poor humans?”
“They aren’t abused,” he yelled back. “We keep them alive. We keep them safe.”
“Well hooey for you. You keep them caged and you suck their blood. What kind of life is that?”
“Have you suddenly gone deaf? I told you, we don’t suck their blood. And they aren’t caged.”
She wanted to pound Kamber’s head with her fist. The man brought out the worst in her—even in the best of times.
This was not the best of times. “Okay, I’m trying to be calm here.” She was so calm, her hands shook. “Let’s review. You just used a key to get us into a locked facility that has no windows. How’s that not a cage?”
He huffed out a loud breath but he didn’t look at her. “The facility is locked to keep others out. By others, I mean creatures that do suck blood, not Gatslians. Our people would never harm the Givers. They’re part of us. They’re family.”
“Okay. I can see that, but the door’s still locked. Looks like a cage, sounds like a cage, uh…” She paused to raise the palms of her hands. “…must be a cage.”
“God, you’re such a snob.” He kicked at a tuft of weeds. “Every single Giver has a key. They come and go as they please.”
Subena blinked. Was she a snob? Her crystal rationing had led to Alton’s death. Did she really have the right to judge Kamber?
Of course she did. Crystals didn’t come from innocent things.
She swallowed hard. “Couldn’t you at least give them windows?”
“Absolutely not. The Givers are allergic to the Sun-Star’s rays. Too much exposure means death to them. And the exposure is cumulative.”
“Oh, Bockle.” Her stomach knotted. Why was she so quick to judge her spouse? She’d never adhered to any of the commonly held prejudices about Gatslians. Did she want him to be bad so he couldn’t hurt her?
“Look.” Kamber sat down beside her. “I can see how someone with your background might see the consumption of blood as barbaric, but this is how we live.”
“Might see it as barbaric?” She squinted to see if he was joking. He seemed very serious. “Maybe you’re
too close to the situation. I see people who have no options, no freedom.”
He groaned. “Perhaps you’re right about the options, but their lack of options is not our fault. They need our protection, which we freely give. In return, they give us some of their blood.”
“No. The flask…have I been drinking from that poor creature?” Subena gagged.
“Get over yourself. The blood you drank on our wedding night was a gift from Lecala. A gift. And that poor creature has a name.”
Subena kept her hand over her mouth, still not certain she wouldn’t vomit. “That means you…you milk them. No wait, I saw marks on that creature’s arm.”
“The woman’s name is Lecala. She isn’t a creature.” Kamber’s anger assaulted her senses like scalding water. “And you saw syringe marks. The Givers take their own blood with needles and package it for us. We don’t suck it out of them.” He edged away from her. Only an inch, but the separation equated to a canyon.
“Why take their blood? Just to get high? I know I shouldn’t judge, Bockle knows I’ve drank enough rat’s blood. But I would never take blood from a human.”
Kamber rose to kneel on one knee, his body facing forward. “The crystals don’t work for Dökkálfar, Subena. We’re not creatures of light. I told you that. The Givers are from earth—we need an earth type substance to sustain us.”
“Can’t you just use rat blood?”
Kamber shook his head. “No. At least I don’t think so. The humans came to Lanatus with our ancestors. As far back as anyone can remember, they’ve freely given us blood. In return, we inject our antibodies into their systems. The antibodies not only protect them from infections and possible death, they prevent aging.”
Subena closed her eyes, trying to find a calm center. “I need some time to process this.”
“Fair enough.”
She felt her husband’s disappointment, but it was the best she could do. “You called this your work. If the humans have been here since the colonization, what work is required?”
Kamber hurled a rock across the landscape. “No Giver has reproduced in the last fifty years. So you see, we face a survival crisis similar to yours. I’ve been working on genetics.”
“You mean clones?” Subena couldn’t control the jolt of excitement that raced through her scientific psyche.
“Yes. But I’ve also been working on human reproduction methods. The first step is to stop the aging process. If the humans age, they definitely won’t be able to produce offspring.”
“And have you been successful?”
“Somewhat. We’ve used our magic to halt the aging process, but I’m not sure we haven’t done more harm than good. Magic may scar vital reproductive organs, much the same as the crystals destroy álfar essence.”
Subena nodded, for the first time, understanding that their survival was intertwined. Human, álfar, and Dökkálfar would have to work together.
“How many humans are there?” she asked.
“Twelve,” he said, his voice monotone. “Once there were hundreds, now only a dozen remain.”
He stood, his six foot six frame making her feel tiny. “I didn’t have much hope that you’d accept me as a husband, but I did hope you’d use your science and help me save the Givers. I guess not.”
Subena watched him walk away, her head spinning. She did want to help. She had to help. But could she live with a man who drank blood from people?
Bockle. What was she thinking? She’d drunk the blood herself and unlike Kamber, she hadn’t grown-up thinking the practice was acceptable.
She hurried back to the palace, trying control her warring thoughts. She almost bumped into Kelsie; the maid blocked her doorway.
Mother of Bockle. Could her day get any worse? “What do you want?” Her tone sounded sharper than intended. Her bad day wasn’t Kelsie’s fault.
“Ooh,” the maid responded, her voice syrupy. “Did you and the prince have a fight? He’s not a nice man, I hear.”
“He’s a perfectly nice man,” Subena countered. Kamber might be a cad, but damned if she’d let Kelsie deride him. “Can I help you with something?”
The maid drew in her shoulders. “No. I’ll go. I thought you might need help.”
Blast it. Subena instantly felt contrite. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m sorry.”
“So I can stay?” The maid’s face went from somber to glowing in the blink of an eye. Subena wished she had Kelsie’s childlike exuberance.
But she didn’t and that was that. She was a technologist and as much as she hated it, she knew she’d stay and help Kamber find a solution for the Givers. The blood business made her sick, but she couldn’t let the humans die.
“For a little while,” she replied to Kelsie. “What do you know about the Givers?”
“Givers? Is that a game?”
A little while might be an eternity.
* * * *
“Let me guess. You’ve decided to leave the land of the bloodsuckers.” Kamber recognized his hateful words for what they were. Defensive. He didn’t want his new wife to leave.
“My,” Subena scoffed. “When you speak with such refinement and culture, I wonder how I ever confused you with a dick-weed Neanderthal.”
He grimaced to hide a grin. He’d miss her sarcasm most of all. “I’ll take that as a yes. You’re going back to Mydrias. Otherwise, you wouldn’t dare cross the gulf between our rooms and enter my chambers.”
“That would be a no.”
“No?” Kamber barely suppressed the urge to lift her and spin her around.
He felt immediately ashamed. She’d be safer in Mydrias.
“No. I’m here to talk to you about a decoy.”
“A decoy?” Kamber replayed her word in his mind, but he had no idea what she meant. “You must be aware that I’m not very smart, even by Neanderthal standards. Are you saying we need a decoy for the Givers?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “One problem at a time. We’ll have a serious discussion about the Givers once we find out who’s trying to kill us. Call me selfish, but I want to take care of that first.”
His lips twitched. “For once, we’re in complete and total agreement. Please, tell me about the decoy.”
“What if we let everyone believe I’ve agreed to go back to Mydrias? And we make sure my departure is very public? A single coach would be an easy target.”
“Agreed, but how will that help us find the person behind the attacks?”
“We’ll have a patrol watch my carriage, from a distance. Maybe even have soldiers hidden in the carriage, ready to counterattack.”
He liked the way she said “we,” but he wasn’t too keen on her plan. “Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
“If this is about the treaty, it will be equally dangerous for me if I go to Mydrias. Do you really think they won’t try to kill me there?”
“I can’t use you as a decoy.”
“I think it’s my decision to make.” Gads, but she could be obstinate. “We might be married, Kamber, but I don’t belong to you and you can’t order me around. If you wanted a marionette, you should have settled for Rekita.”
“But I don’t want to lose you.” Shit. Shit, shit, shit. He shouldn’t have said that.
Subena’s mouth gaped.
“Close your mouth.” He put a finger under her chin and pushed her lips together. His comment had obviously surprised her, too. “I think your plan’s terrific, but I won’t let you risk your pretty little neck. I have other plans for it. We’ll use a real decoy.” His fingers moved on their own volition to stroke her cheek.
She pushed his hand away, but her movement lacked its normal venom. “I won’t let others risk their lives.”
“We’ll use a soldier, one we trust. I doubt I can get any of my soldiers to wear a dress though. If we had to do that, a certain duke comes to mind.”
Subena swatted him with her shawl. “Ha, ha.” Her voice echoed with sarcasm but her smile seemed genuine.
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“Actually, Bena, we can’t tell Taslin about this. I know you think he’s Lord Wonderful, but if this plan is to work, we can only inform the people who absolutely have to know. For now, that’s just Remmy. The guards we send, both in the carriage and as escorts, must think that you’re actually inside.”
“Agreed.”
“Could you repeat that? I could have sworn you said you agreed with me. I must be hearing things.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Subena sat in the carriage, rubbing her hands. In between clasping and reclasping, she reached for the knife hidden inside her skirt pocket.
Four guards had been posted with the carriage, but Kamber’s concern affected her. Distrust bloomed inside her body and grew until she suspected everyone.
She patted her little blade, slightly reassured as she peered outside. “What’s keeping him?” she asked in a hushed tone. The upcoming carriage ride with her husband scared her almost as much as meeting the would-be assassin. Maybe more.
The coach was too reminiscent of their ride from Mydrias. Her body tingled with anticipation and Kamber wasn’t even nearby. God help her when his masculine presence permeated the enclosed space, she might not be able to remain aloof.
Had she truly fallen for a bloodsucking Neanderthal? Okay, so he wasn’t really a bloodsucker, but the slur had a nice ring.
Worse, she feared her aloofness might not matter. The previous evening puzzled her. She’d enjoyed plotting with Kamber, but when they crawled into the secret hallway, he hadn’t attempted to touch her. He’d reacted perfectly when she’d freaked about the dark passageway—too perfectly. He’d held her hand chastely and real concern flickered in the depths of his jade eyes. But he’d been too polite.
Maybe he’s not interested anymore.
She jumped when the carriage door opened. “Bockle. You scared me, Kam.”
He tapped on the carriage window to signal the driver. Then he leaned forward, pulling her toward him. His unexpected kiss made her glad she’d been sitting. The exhilaration the contact generated made her knees weak.
