“Kennera. It’s an older version of Kindara.”
“Said she was cursed by the Lupoiux god to not be altered medically by anything of your world. What if his edict only applies to medications made from ingredients found on your own world?”
Her eyes widened. “It would explain...”
“Why the chemical I have worked when nothing else does. I am not of your world.” Rathan leaned forward, brushed his lips against hers. He paused for a long moment while his words sank in. “I think, my pet, that the next step in your journey to discovery, is to be taken on my world. I think you need to come home with me.”
Chapter Eighteen
Relaklonos was gray. That was Kindara’s first thought, that and the chill of the demon’s home realm was enough to sink into her. Would she ever be warm again?
She pulled her coat around her shoulders, shivering despite the layers she wore. The demon had warned her that his home would be colder than what she was used to.
“Colder than hell?” Aureliana’s tone was wry as she stepped up to Kindara’s side. “What are the odds?”
“No kidding.” Kindara said. Auri hadn’t balked when Kindara had asked her to join the expedition; in fact, the other woman had seemed excited. Aodhan hadn’t been happy to see his sister off, but Kindara had reminded him that it was for the good of their entire species that she have a team she could trust and depend on in this strange land.
Convincing her own brother hadn’t gone as well. Cormac had thrown the biggest fit Kindara could remember. He’d been so adamantly against her going that several people had fled the great hall, afraid of his legendary temper. Kindara had for a moment been frightened. It was only when the king had stepped into the discussion that Cormac had relented. Her brother had pulled Josey from the room, his visage filled with anger. Kindara had momentarily felt sorry for her sister-in-law.
Kindara had gotten the team she wanted—Auri, Belnus, and Bronwen. Theo had been remarkably easy with his young sister joining the expedition, stating only that her inclusion was the will of the gods. That was all the prophesier would say on the subject, but his face had been sad when he’d kissed Bronwen farewell.
Kindara feared what he had seen, but he had pulled her aside and told her the answers she sought were down this path.
Bronwen shivered uncontrollably in the coat that dwarfed her smaller frame. Theo’s sister was remarkably delicate, and always had been. Kindara had assisted at the girl’s birth nearly fifty years ago; and it had been close then. Her mother had been one they had lost. Kindara had felt a responsibility toward the girl ever since. “Bron, pull your coat tighter. You don’t need to catch a chill.”
“I’m fine, Kinney. What are we going to do first?” Bronwen’s excitement was clear in her canary eyes. Her first love was herbs; she often helped Kindara with the experiments to find drugs for their people. So far those experiments had all failed epically.
“We need samples, first,” Kindara said. “Once the demon arrives to get us settled in wherever.”
“I suggest we wait until the morning to start the collecting,” Belnus spoke, his words low and ponderous as usual. He was charged with their safety, and Kindara knew he took the responsibility seriously. “I think the demon said the sun sets early here.”
“He did.” Kindara fought the urge to worry. The demon had opened a portal less than an hour earlier and led their party through to his Relaklonos. He’d promptly abandoned them. He’d given instructions for them to wait for his return and had flashed himself away. “He also said he’d be back as soon as he could. In the meantime, we can take samples of this area. I want everything we can get—soil composition, moisture density, plant samples. Bron, you and I will handle that. Auri and Bel—”
“Perimeter.” Belnus nodded. “We’ve done this before, you know.”
“I know. But hopefully, this time will bring more positive results.” This expedition was just the beginning of her work in the demon lands. She knew that thorough study would take years to complete—finding even one drug that worked would take a considerable amount of time. That they were searching for everything would multiply that time exponentially. And they needed it all—painkillers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories. Coagulants. Even a simple blood replacement other than human blood would work wonders in situations where blood transfusions could save Dardaptoan lives.
Bronwen immediately set to work, taking samples of the gray plants slightly to the north of them. Kindara started on the southwest. Auri kept one hand on her weapon—a sword inlaid with the insignia of her family line—and her eyes trained on the flat and barren area the demon had referred to as ??. Belnus stood with his arms crossed over his chest and watched the area behind them.
Kindara wasn’t concerned; she doubted the demon would leave her in an area that he didn’t feel was entirely safe…Although…hadn’t he left her before? When the Lupoiux had attacked her? She pulled the small knife she carried from her pocket, keeping it close in her left hand. It never hurt to be prepared, and they were in a realm—a world—they knew nothing about.
“So, Kinney, what’s up with you and this demon guy anyway?” Auri asked, though her attention never broke from the landscape. “Ji said he’s an incubus.”
“He is. King of. And of all Demonkin apparently.” Kindara slipped her knife into the thick leaf in front of her, pulling a strange lavender substance from its veins. “Just my luck, he’s also relentless.”
“So is it true?” Auri looked over her shoulder at Kindara. “About Incubi?”
“Is what true?” Bronwen asked.
“That they can make a woman do anything…gladly?” Auri’s eyes sparked with lust and humor. “He’s one hot piece of demon, Kin. Tell me nothing happened.”
“Let’s just focus on why we’re here.” Kindara felt the heat hitting her face as she thought of the things the demon had done to her—and she to him. “That’s what’s important. Not this thing between the demon and I.”
“So there is something between you?” Auri asked, swinging her sword expertly. Kindara knew the woman spent countless hours practicing with the sword that had been her great-uncle’s. The Dardaptoan had died with no issue and had left the sword to Auri. “Was it good? And was it hot?”
“Auri! I’m sure this is not something Belnus wants to hear about!”
“No. Keep going. I’m always interested in hearing about…other creatures’ habits.” Belnus’s dry humor had Kindara’s own lips twitching. Until she noticed the blush on Bronwen’s face. The child was kept closely sheltered in her brother’s hall, and if she’d had even a simple date in the last twenty years, Kindara doubted it. Teasing about sex, even just implied sex, apparently upset the girl.
“Auri, knock it off and let’s get back to work.” Kindara nodded toward Bronwen, who’d turned back to the plants in front of her. Auri got the message and nodded. But the wicked spark in her friend’s eyes told Kindara that the discussion wasn’t over. Auri would want all the details, everything that had happened between the demon and her. Kindara just had to decide how much of those details she’d be sharing.
Soon, one significant detail would be made clear to all of her people. Kindara knew her body would show the signs of the ripening child within her. How was she to tell her people? Her brother? Her friends?
Jierra?
Leaving her daughter behind at this crucially vulnerable time had been horrible for Kindara, but only the knowledge that Theo had promised her the answers she needed were here had separated Kindara from her child.
These drugs could very well be used to help her daughter safely through pregnancy. Dardaptoan women rarely, if ever, had twins, at least not successfully. Kindara would do everything in her power—even travel to other realms—in search of ways to ensure her daughter’s safe delivery. And the safety of her daughter’s children. And her babe. Dear goddess, if she could ensure the babe’s safety she would.
“Kinney? Did we lose you there for a moment?” Auri drew her attention back
in her direction. “You kind of went away for a while. Anything you want to share?”
“Not at the moment—” Kindara broke off as the sound of a familiar snap sounded beside her. She turned, expecting to see the demon.
It wasn’t him. Standing in his place was a warrior even taller than Rathan, taller than Cormac.
In his hand was a sword nearly as tall as Kindara. He raised it over his head as she screamed.
“Down, Kinney!” Auri and Belnus yelled together, charging toward the creature. Auri’s sword clanked against his, she battled him back desperately. Kindara grabbed Bronwen and dragged the girl away from the fight as Belnus—who’d been farther away from Kindara, tried striking the creature from behind.
Kindara pulled Bronwen down into a crevice between two large rocks situated where they could watch the battle; knowing that was what Auri and Belnus would expect. She had been through attacks before—as a healer, someone was always trying to take her. Auri would look for her once the battle was over.
And Auri had never lost a battle. Bronwen was shaking, staring at the fighting. “Should we help them?”
“No. We stay put. We’d only get in the way.”
“What do you think he wants?”
“Us. Healers are prized, Bron. Worth our weight and then some in gold.” Kindara held the girl tight to her side as Auri and Belnus battled the large male. “Remember your aunt Adelais?”
“Theo has spoken of her.”
“She was your mother’s sister. Actually delivered you. She disappeared a week later.” Another of Kindara’s friends gone. Prized more for her skills than herself. No one knew what had happened to Adelais, though speculation was that a band of Lupoiux took her.
“I don’t think I want to leave the lab again.”
Kindara nodded, her eyes still trained on Auri and Belnus. The creature faced off against Belnus, who presented the most obvious threat. Auri was only six feet tall, at least a foot shorter and one hundred pounds lighter than the creature. But she fought hard. She darted around the creature, slashing at him with the blade she carried. It was less than three feet in length—half of what the creature’s blade measured, at least. He countered her move with a backhanded blow across Auri’s face that sent her to the ground. His reach was long and he used it. He didn’t even look at her as he turned and struck out at Belnus.
Belnus hit the ground hard, and didn’t rise. There was blood beneath his head. Kindara fought the instinctive urge to run to his side. If it had just been her instead of her and Bron she would have. But Bronwen would be such an easy target for a male like this.
The creature faced off against Auri. “Where is she, woman?”
“Who?” Auri asked, dodging a blow from the creature’s blade.
“Come on! She can’t handle him herself!” Kindara pulled Bronwen from their hiding place. She scooped rocks into her hand and threw them at the creature. Bronwen did the same, though her aim was far poorer than Kindara’s.
Auri slid in the mud, went down hard on one knee, as the creature jabbed with his blade. Blood splirted over the white of Auri’s coat and her blade dropped to the ground. Her hands covered the blood as she fell to the ground, a look of fear, surprise, and terror on her face.
“No!” Kindara screamed, grabbing a larger rock and heaving it at him. “No! Leave her alone! Gods! What do you want?”
She threw more rocks, pelting him with everything she could. Bronwen dropped to the ground beside Auri, suddenly fearless when someone was in need of healing.
“She’s bleeding so badly, Kinney!” Bronwen’s fear was clear for everyone to hear.
“Stop throwing those rocks, or you’ll join your friend, woman!” The creature pulled his sword back, though he kept it at the ready as he stared down at Bronwen.
It was obvious why—neither she nor Bronwen were warriors, neither carried weapons. Both wore the blue band around their arms that denoted they were of the healing caste. None in any world except that of humans would healers be harmed—not with them worth so much to each Kind.
Kindara ignored his orders. “Just leave us alone! We have nothing for you!”
“You can tell me why you are in my lands, violating the edict! And tell me what you’ve done with my daughter!”
“We know nothing of your daughter, and this is where we were told to stay!” Kindara dropped to the ground beside Belnus. She checked him for a pulse and found it strong and steady beneath her fingers. Just knocked out, then. She jerked toward Auri. Belnus would live—but Auri could bleed to death so easily. The creature stood watching, surprise and suspicion on his features.
“Bronwen, you’ll have to give her blood. I cannot, it’s not safe. I’ll work on stopping the bleeding in her side.”
“Kinney, take Bronwen and call for the demon. I know you can.” Auri’s words were faint. “I don’t think you’ll be able to stop this—or that it will even matter. Get away from here before he takes you and Bron.”
“Shut up, Auri. I am not explaining to Aod that I lost his sister in demon land.” Kindara touched the ring the demon had given her. She closed her eyes and whispered his name. “I need you now.”
With a pop, he appeared before her. “Pet?”
Chapter Nineteen
Rathan had been in the middle of speaking with Phelius, after ordering the maids to prepare chambers for his woman and her friends. He’d spent the last hour being reassured that it was safe to bring his woman to his home. When he’d heard her call his name through the ring’s connection, he’d answered immediately.
His stubborn woman would not call him unless she truly needed him.
His eyes took in the tableau in front of him. His woman on her knees with blood on her hands, the Dardaptoan who’d been charged with protecting her was prostrate on the ground. The warrior woman lay bleeding beneath his woman’s hands.
Renakletos stood watching it all, confusion and anger on the face so much like Rathan’s father’s.
Rathan’s hand clenched the sword he’d taken up the moment he had walked into what used to be his father’s castle. He had not blooded it in more than one hundred years.
If his woman was hurt he would run it through his younger brother without a breath of regret.
Rathan raised the sword. “Explain yourself, Renakletos Malickus!”
“My daughter is missing!”
“That does not mean we took her, you bastard!” Kindara snarled the words, her eyes flashing Dardaptoan fire. She slashed at her friend’s clothing with a small knife, pulling the blood-soaked material back. “Do you kill first and ask questions later? She may well die because of you!”
Rathan dropped to the warrior woman’s side, though he kept attention on his brother. Renakletos’s loyalty had long been questioned, and he was not about to drop his guard where his woman’s safety was questioned. “Can I help, pet?”
“She’s in so much pain, Rathan. Can you do something. Just...make it easier on her.” Kindara’s fear was plain in her face and Rathan’s heart hurt for her. Aureliana was a particular friend to her. All could see that. He touched his horns, then brushed the warrior woman’s lips once. He whispered a soft command. She slid into oblivion.
“How badly is she hurt?”
“I don’t truly know. We need to get her coat off, check the damage. I can’t give her blood. I don’t have enough...and Bronwen is too small herself to help someone Auri’s size and need.”
“I can give her mine, pet. It is not the same as Dardaptoan, and can be slightly addictive. But it may help heal her some.”
“Please.” Kindara went to work removing the ruined white coat, while Bronwen pulled back from where she had been giving blood.
Rathan sliced his wrist with his teeth, ignoring the slight pain it brought and held it to the woman’s mouth. He slipped into her mind, past the red cloud of pain and fear coating her thoughts and commanded her to drink. She obeyed, a need to survive strong in her. A need to protect. Images of Kindara and Bronwen were
centered in her mind. As was her love for the two.
This woman would easily die to protect them. That earned her a place of honor in Rathan’s mind and a loyalty he would always keep.
“The bleeding is slowing.” Kindara spoke with a hope that Rathan wanted to meet. “We need to get her to shelter and proper medical care. It’s too dirty out here. And Gods knows what was on the blade of that bastard’s sword.”
“We will. It’s an hour walk from here.” Rathan motioned toward his father’s castle. His castle now. He thought a moment. “I will flash the male there, then come back for you.”
“Can you not flash them all?” Ren watched, a curious look on his face. “Would take far less time.”
“I cannot flash a wounded female, nor my own. It is not safe. You know that. Some of us are concerned with the well-being of others!” Rathan could not begin to describe the anger that his brother’s actions had caused him.
They had once been close. But someone was responsible for their father’s disappearance and the upheaval in Charleston, 1900. Ren was the most likely one. Yet Rathan had not been able to prove that, in more than one hundred years. And he had tried, spending over a hundred years in the human realm of Gaia. He had never found the proof he needed.
Now it was time to put that aside and focus on moving his realm forward. If that meant annihilating his own brother, so be it.
“Your own? You’ve mated.” Renakletos’s tone held jubilance that had Rathan’s attention narrowing to only his brother. “It is about damned time, brother. You have neglected our kingdom long enough.”
“Shouldn’t you be gone? Looking for your missing child?” Kindara’s words had Rathan turning toward her. “Instead of distracting us from what we are needing to do?”
“Oh, I will find the ones responsible for taking Cerridwen. And I will slice them into pieces. But first, I will carry your friend. If I harmed her in error, I beg your pardon.” His tone was contrite, but the arrogance that characterized his brother was still there. Renakletos was the son of a warrior woman, making him a warrior demon. Unlike most other crosses, children born of warrior parents were often more warrior than anything else. This was extremely true for Renakletos.
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