by Tara Gill
“Ow!” she cried out, as his heavy body fell on her.
“What is this? A female?! You attacked Kurt?” He sounded disbelieving.
He sprang up and tugged her up none too gently, turning her so that she faced him. His eyes widened and grew covetous as he studied her half-naked body. She only wore underpants and the upper half of the shift garment. “What a delicious morsel!”
“Let me go!” Mia fought his hold on her arms. At least now his attention was not on drugging Barghurr. She anxiously tried to connect with Barghurr through the mate bond, to intuit if the poison berry juice had had any adverse impact. She could sense him faintly, but before she could try to prod him or reach him deeper, the man spun her around and bound her wrists with a rope. Her eyes teared as the rope tightened painfully on her skin.
“Who are you, kitten?” He sniffed her neck.
“Nobody you know.” As tremors of fright shook her body, Mia wrinkled her nose. Rufus smelled strange, even repellent and his touch made her want to be sick. She tasted bile at the back of her throat and swallowed hard.
A marvelling tone entered his voice. “Why, you’re his mate! I never thought the King would be out gambolling unprotected with his woman, when he could be fucking her indoors.”
Mia flinched and tugged at the binding. It was too tight, and it hurt. “Please use appropriate language in a lady’s presence, sir,” she said coldly.
Rufus gave a surprised bark of laughter and shoved her forward. She stumbled towards the unconscious men. “You speak odd. All in all, it’s a good day’s job. Abid is going to be thrilled. Maybe he’ll kill your mate and keep you. You’re a luscious little thing.” His hand went to her bottom, and he squeezed it. His voice lowered, and he murmured threateningly into her ear, “Or perhaps if Abid doesn’t want you, he’ll give you to me. He always had a soft spot for that Cather.”
Tears choked Mia’s throat as the obnoxious man rubbed his male protrusion against her backside. Never before had she experienced such physical indignity. She was more or less half-naked, so maybe Rufus thought that meant he could enjoy liberties with her body.
A silent tear slid down her cheek. She bit her lip trying not to let a sob escape. She could see Barghurr now; the orb had hit the back of his head and shattered. There was so much blood—her stomach clenched in worry and fear.
Oh Barghurr, I need you.
Craving Barghurr’s strength, she sought again for the mate bond. Finding the faint comforting presence of it in her soul, she seized it, wishing with all her heart that all these men were insentient, tied up in those menacing ropes instead of Barghurr and that her mate was healed and by her side.
Thump.
The grip on her arms vanished. Mia whirled to see Rufus entwined in those ropes and…sleeping?
“Mia?” a rough voice mumbled.
She glanced up and her jaw dropped. A Barghurr who was conscious and well-awake, jumped up to his feet. Rushing to him, she slid an arm around his waist and helped him up. He leaned on her for a moment. His nostrils flared, and he swayed a bit. Puzzled, whiskey-gold eyes studied the chained, unconscious men on the ground and he rubbed his chin with a furry, clawed hand.
“I don’t remember disabling nine men or chaining them. But I do remember being struck from behind,” he muttered in a hoarse voice. Rubbing the back of his head, he examined his bloody fingers. “I bled. But the wound is healed. What Is going on?” His gaze came to her and pierced her to the spot.
Mia opened her mouth, but no words came out.
What can I say? Even I cannot explain what just happened!
He looked her over. Her dress half-torn, face wearing tear marks; leaves and twigs sticking to her hair and skin. She imagined she didn’t look very appealing. Clearing her throat, she wrapped her arms around herself, needing the comfort.
“Never mind. Let me make sure they are locked up first.” He waved both palms at the men. A faint light from the centre of his hands fell on them and the metallic ropes began to glow. The next instant, they vanished from the forest floor.
She gulped. “Erm, what happened to them? Are they dead?”
“I’ve sent them to my basement. It’s a warded chamber and their magic is useless there.” He frowned. “Are you hurt? I smell your blood.” Looking concerned, he ran careful hands all over her.
She displayed him her hand where crescent shaped bitemarks showed against her pale skin. “It was an accident. No one succeeded in harming me.”
His nostrils flared, and he looked furious. “But they dared touch you, caused you distress. Don’t deny it! I can smell it on you. The Rogues have gone too far; they must pay.”
Chapter 12
When they appeared in the domed hall of the Harem, there were squeals of horror at Barghurr’s disarray. “Blood! Oh divinity, there’s blood on the King. And it’s his own,” one of the women squeaked out and fled, Mia assumed, to fetch the healer. She glanced around. The Harem’s space resembled the aftermath of a party. Wine bottles, goblets, trays of fruit, meat, decorations and general disarray indicated a celebration that had lasted quite late the previous night.
As Cather came rushing out along with Faheme, two other men followed them. Clean-cut and firmly built, they reminded Mia of soldiers.
“My King, what…who dared hurt you?” The first male’s expression turned furious. His fists clenched and unclenched, and his jaw tightened. The second one seemed on the verge of going furry.
Barghurr held up a calming hand, back in his human form. “I’m fine, Alex. My mate insisted that Faheme look at me even though I’m healed. If I could have a change of clothes and a wash, I’d be grateful.”
Alex glanced at Mia. “I can smell the Rogues on you, My King. They bloodied you,” he bit out. The other man nodded, his expression tight with anger.
“I was careless, and they managed to catch me unawares. However, Mia managed to save me and herself.”
Everyone turned to Mia, surprised. She shrank closer to Barghurr who squeezed her waist comfortingly.
“I am not surprised,” said Faheme. “When you said Lady Mia could see your lion, I knew then that your bond would be strong.”
Cather and the men looked impressed. Mia was surprised when the men bowed to her, not seeming to notice her barely clothed state. “We are honoured to meet you, Queen Mia. We wish your mating every happiness.”
“Erm, thank you,” she breathed through pale lips.
Faheme scrutinised Mia through concerned eyes. “Perhaps Queen Mia could do with a reviving drink? She’s had a shock. What exactly happened, Barghurr?”
“Abid and his men attacked us when I was showing Mia around the Whispering Woods,” Barghurr said flatly.
The women gasped, and the men looked grim. “How dared they!” Cather looked furious.
“I think the mating pheromones drove them beyond sanity. Otherwise, they might not have dared something so risky.”
“The poor devils. This time the pheromones were so strong that we’ve been celebrating all night. I imagine it would have run them ragged. Abid tried to kill you then?” asked Alex.
“They certainly succeeded in capturing me and knocked me out. But they didn’t reckon on my mate. Using pure instinct, Mia detected her bond with me and was able to pull on my magic to disable them. I bound them and transported them to my basement, where Mahdi is keeping an eye on them for me.”
The man with Alex immediately said, “I’ll lend Mahdi a hand.” He gave Faheme a firm kiss and vanished the next second.
Mia’s lips parted in surprise. It was the first time someone had done that in front of her, and it was disorientating to watch.
“Come with me, My King.” Alex indicated for Barghurr to accompany him.
Barghurr pressed a soft kiss to Mia’s forehead. She clutched at him, but he said reassuringly, “Please, go with Faheme. I know you are uninjured, but you have had a shock and she will make sure you are fine.”
Mia realised that this was the true reason
that Barghurr had agreed to come here. He was fine, but he knew she was in shock and wanted her to be around familiar faces to give her strength. Yet between worry and fear, she couldn’t bring herself to let Barghurr go, and her hands clutched at him. With another kiss to her hair, Barghurr pulled away from her and walked with Alex.
A mental nudge along their mating bond urged her to follow Faheme, and before Mia had the time to feel abandoned, Faheme was pulling her along. Faheme led her to a lovely white-marbled bedroom done up in turquoise blue and gold accents. “Barghurr knows that seeing him bloodied has upset you. Let him take care of himself. Here.” A woman handed Faheme a goblet which she gave Mia to drink. The drink seemed much like water, tasteless and mildly refreshing but soon Mia began to feel more like herself.
“Perhaps you might like to wash.” Faheme placed a set of clothes on the dressing table. “This should fit, this is from the wardrobe of one of the younger women, who is small-framed like you. The washroom is through that door.” She pointed it out to Mia.
Mia bit her lip. “Thank you. I think I will wash, I’m rather dirty.”
Bits of Barghurr’s blood and other dirt was on her but more than that Mia wanted to wash away the memory of the man who’d touched her, rubbed on her. It made her queasy to remember him. After Faheme left, Mia pulled off her clothes with jerky movements and stepped into the flow of the deliciously hot water.
Once she felt scrubbed and clean, she dressed in the silver outfit with the lavender underthings which fit her perfectly. As she stood at the dressing table, brushing her damp hair, the sounds of children’s laughter outside caught her attention. But what made her walk to the window was the sound of Barghurr’s deep voice joining those joyous, high-pitched, childish tones.
Outside, in the gorgeous, strikingly colourful Harem gardens, little children were playing with Barghurr. They mock-roared and pounced on him, trying to replay his attack, and he pretended to fall down unconscious, when they all jumped on him and started tickling him with innocent giggles. His rich laughter broke the silence of the evening and curled around Mia’s heart, automatically making her smile.
Cather knocked and entered the room. “Queen Mia, may I help you do your hair?” She joined Mia at the window. “That’s my son,” she said, indicating a giggling little tousle-headed boy who Barghurr was now tossing up into the air. “The babies always adore Barghurr. The King will make a wonderful father.”
“You think so?” Mia hoped that was true. Her fingers lightly traced over her waist. Maybe she was already carrying a baby….
“I do. But you still have time,” Cather said gently, observing Mia’s gesture. “Barghurr would have sensed it if you are with child. The men always do.”
A touch of disappointment hit her heart like a tiny blow, but Mia pushed it away. “Something to do with the magic I assume.”
Cather shrugged, and made Mia sit down. Taking a gorgeous jewelled brush with bristles so soft that Mia could barely feel them, she started brushing Mia’s hair. “Maybe. Possibly. Mates are always the first to sense it when their woman carries a child.”
Mia closed her eyes and sighed, enjoying the rhythmic brushing as it removed the tangles in her hair without pain. “That man with you earlier, Alex— he is your mate?”
Cather shook her head, her deft fingers now arranging her locks. “Mated women don’t live at the Harem.”
Mia was a little discomfited. “Oh, then he is the father of your child?”
“Oh no. My son’s father is happily mated—to someone else—and lives on a homestead a few miles away. On occasion, my son spends time with them.”
Mia was wide-eyed. “Wouldn’t he marry—I mean mate with you?”
Cather pulled out pearled hairpins from a pouch in her waist belt and pinned up a section of Mia’s hair. “Sarin and I weren’t mates, and we always knew that. One can’t force mate-bonding, you know. Mating is the truth of the soul. Magical. Sarin is a wonderful man, and we were companions for a while. But I was glad for him when he found his mate. He had been alone for over two centuries you see, and it can be hard at times—the waiting.”
“I…see.” Mia didn’t see at all.
Cathar smiled softly. “You will get used to it. Believe me Queen Mia, you’ve had a lucky escape. Mating is magical. Imagine marrying some barely suitable human when you know so much more is possible.”
“I suppose that is true,” Mia said slowly. “Is that why you rejected Abid, because you knew he wasn’t your mate?”
Cather’s eyes flared, and her cheeks reddened with anger. “Men like Abid or the Rogues—they aren’t civilised. They’re murdering scum and rapists. Abid tried to kill my baby when I refused to have him. If it weren’t for the King, he’d have succeeded. The next time I see Abid, he’ll have my knife through his heart. I’ve sworn this.” Cather breathed deep, attempting to calm down and then tried to smile at Mia. “Excuse me, My Queen. Old wounds pinch me. Your hair is done. Please let me know if you need anything else.”
With a bow, Cathar exited the room before Mia could apologise for upsetting her or try to comfort her.
The door closed, and Mia was left to her thoughts. Upset, she gazed at her reflection. Cather had put half her hair up and left the rest down. It looked lovely. She touched her hair and bit her lip. She felt for Cather and hoped she was all right. After today, she could understand why Cather wanted revenge on Abid. Maybe she could find a way to be friends with her.
Restless, she walked again to the window, but now the children played by themselves and there was no sign of Barghurr.
A rough hand circled her nape and a familiar fragrance made her whirl around. Mia threw herself into Barghurr’s arms. He enclosed her in his hold and murmured, “Shh, I know. It is all right, you’re safe.”
She felt choked up, unable to express her myriad feelings after the eventful day, so she stayed in his hold. She needed to be held in his arms. As she listened to his heartbeat, her body relaxed, and her heart slowed to match his.
He pressed a kiss to her ear. “What is it, love? I sense so many emotions pent-up inside you.”
“I was so worried,” she burst out with the emotion that was most at the surface.
“About the Rogues? They are now in custody. There is no need to be concerned. They will receive a punishment that will take care of them once and for all.” He sounded grim.
She shook her head and said in a muffled voice against his chest, “You don’t understand.”
He pulled her head back and examined her moist, vulnerable eyes that were filled with anxiety. A semi-incredulous expression on his face, he asked, “You were worried about me?”
Mia’s eyebrows scrunched. It seemed that Barghurr wasn’t used to people worrying about him. Maybe she was ridiculous for worrying for such a formidable man? Then she remembered the image of him powerless on the ground while they’d tried to feed him poisoned berries.
Maybe it is all right that someone cares about this man, worries for him, even though he is a powerful King…
In her own life, she’d had little choice but to be strong. She’d had to care because no one else had cared for her.
However, she’d come to realise that her strength was increased manifold times when she had someone who cared in her corner, someone who knew her vulnerabilities and yet believed in her. It was only a few days, but Mia found herself believing that maybe Barghurr was that man for her.
And perhaps I can be that woman for him?
“I was. Not that I thought that you couldn’t handle yourself,” she hurried to clarify, worried that she had hurt his ego.
But Barghurr only chuckled. “I was helpless as a babe. The Rogues could have killed me for all I know. You saved us.”
Mia’s brows furrowed. “Yes. I know what you told me, but I can’t explain it. How does that work?”
“The mating bite. Even mates with no innate magic can access it through their bond with their lion mates.” Barghurr looked pleased. “The process can
take years. The fact that you were able to access it so early on in our mating, that you were able to see my lion from the beginning, speaks of a powerful bond to come. And now everyone knows it.”
Mia’s body jolted, and her eyes widened, “I have magic?”
“Yes, what you can pull from me. Don’t worry, I will teach you how to control and channel it.”
“Oh, thank you.” She said nothing more. Her head spun at the thought that she could now utilise magic and had in fact used it to save her mate. So strange. She’d been terrified for Barghurr. It felt like her heart was outside her body and those men had wounded it every time they’d hurt him. This extent of caring for a man she knew only for a few days should be alien to her. But it didn’t feel wrong even though Mia’s cautious nature questioned it and struggled to catch up.
Trying to divert herself, she asked a question that had been puzzling her. “Something I noticed today: you smell wonderful to me but…the other lions smelled peculiar. I…didn’t like them touching me,” she murmured hesitantly.
“Mated couples find the touch of other members of the opposite gender repulsive. It is part of the bond. I am sorry that those vagrants dared to touch you. They will pay for that.” He tightened his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck.
“I see.” Mia digested that. “And do you have any idea why I could smell your pheromones in the streets of London?” she asked something she’d been wanting to ask for a while.
She slid her arms around him, wanting, needing to be closer.
He stiffened for a moment, then spoke, looking sheepish. “When Mistress Philomena informed me that you were my mate, and we met, our meeting convinced me of that truth. Even though our betrothal was all but arranged however, my lion didn’t want to leave you. He wanted me to carry you off, as he was convinced you were deeply unhappy in your home.”
“I was,” Mia’s small voice sounded muffled as she spoke into his chest.
