Hope and Vengeance (Saa Thalarr, book 1): Saa Thalarr, book 1

by Connie Suttle

  "Thank you," I nodded after settling Joey on the bed. Bearcat immediately covered Joey up and fussed about removing his shoes and making him comfortable.

  "Come on," Lion led me out of the bedroom. "You can fret downstairs, and sleep in Kiarra's bed if Pheligar doesn't bring her back before morning."

  "I'm worried he'll harm her."

  "What?" Lion turned on the steps and stared at me.

  "Isn't that possible?" I'd seen the way he'd manipulated her earlier.

  "No." Lion began walking down the stairs again. "You don't know anything about the Larentii, so you can't be blamed for being ignorant. Did you see how fast he came when Dragon called? He already knew she was hurt," Lion said.

  "He came for you, too," I pointed out.

  "You don't know enough about him to realize how angry—and frightened he was. Joey's turning was inevitable. We all knew it. It was just getting her to realize and accept it."

  "Are you calling that show of manipulation tough love?" I grumbled.

  "Pheligar has strange ways. All Larentii do. Don't overlay your ideas and customs onto his race—they won't match. Karzac hasn't minded filling in as Kiarra's healer—when she'll allow someone to touch her. She needs that connection with Joey. Who knew you'd give her the solution we were all seeking—her giving him blood? I thought Pheligar was going to have to shame her into it."

  "Is that where the fiasco was leading?" I asked, blinking in confusion at Lion.

  "Yes, if you want the simple truth. From now on, if Kiarra is hurt enough to need a healer, Joey will feel it. He'll know before the rest of us. Marlianna took my blood, and she knows immediately when I'm injured."

  "This is confusing." I walked toward the glass wall enclosing the kitchen and stared through it to the moonlit ocean beyond.

  "Look, Joey didn't take much blood—it doesn't take more than a cupful to effect the change. She'll be fine in a couple of days. We have to go back, then, and sort this out. Things have been happening, and we need to be there."

  "What do you suggest I do in the meantime?"

  "You have two days. Use them to your advantage, vampire." Lion's hand fell heavy on my shoulder. "She's fragile, now. Pheligar knows that. Now, you do, too. Take care of our girl." He disappeared, leaving me with my thoughts.

  * * *

  "What do I do?" Pheligar held Kiarra in his arms while Nefrigar checked her carefully. Pheligar had gone straight to the Larentii Archives to see his brother.

  "You might have accomplished your goal another way," Nefrigar sighed and pulled away. "Her heart rate is now normal; I slowed it. My suggestion? Tread carefully from now on."

  "I cannot show preferential treatment."

  "You say that to me? Who should you show preferential treatment to? You built this conundrum for yourself, brother. Perhaps you should dismantle it and allow things to go as they will."

  "I cannot." Pheligar shook his head.

  "Then take her back and be done with it. You cannot remain in this position of continuous vacillation. It upsets both of you. You ask my advice? I give it to you. You choose not to heed it."

  "I will consider your words."

  "Do so. It never does harm to treat anyone with consideration, even when they test your patience. Remember that."

  "I will try."

  * * *

  With nothing else to do, I settled onto Kiarra's bed with a book I borrowed from her library. Yes, she has a library, but I had to follow my nose to find it. Ink on paper has a distinctive scent.

  The book was a mystery by a favorite author—Sarah Fox. There was never a photograph on the dust jackets, just a short blurb explaining that the author lived in the Southern U.S.

  "I had to bend time to get that one; it hasn't been released yet," Kiarra walked into the bedroom just as I opened the book.

  "You can travel into the future?" I patted the bed beside me.

  "Only a short way—we're not allowed to go very far in that direction."

  "When did you arrive?" I worried that I'd been buried in her library while she searched for me.

  "Just a few minutes ago. I checked on Joey. Bearcat's keeping an eye on him. Why didn't you tell me what happens with the bite?"

  "I thought you knew everything," I hedged, setting the book aside and watching her carefully.

  "I only know things when I Look for them specifically," she said.

  "Was the experience a good one? Usually it is."

  "I'd prefer it to be from someone else," she muttered, dropping her eyes.

  "Do you know how they teach young vampires the bite lesson?" I asked. "Come on, sit here on the bed with me," I coaxed.

  Reluctantly, she walked around the bed and settled on it, leaving two feet of distance between us on the large bed. Her shoes were removed and tossed onto the floor with barely a thought.

  "How do they teach young vampires to bite?" She blinked curious blue eyes in my direction.

  "First, your sire brings another vampire to you. As there are so few females among the vampire race as to be non-existent, the outsider is generally male. Your sire explains that you must place compulsion, and inform your donor that they will not be harmed. The outsider illustrates your sire's instruction, by holding your neck firmly in one hand and placing compulsion. Young vampires are susceptible to an older vampire's compulsion."

  "Right. That explains a lot," she murmured, turning her head away. Her bedroom had no windows, either—all the windows were at the front of her home. I resolved to ask her about that later.

  "It's easier to protect during hurricane season," she said, answering my unspoken question.

  "I see. Now, after compulsion is laid and reassurances made, the young vampire is bitten by the older one. The climax is always given during that initial bite. The one drinking should make the bite as gentle as possible, although I have heard stories from others, telling me that didn't always happen. The climax is supposed to make up for any pain caused."

  "Was it that way for you?"

  "Xavier invited a crusty old bastard named Cecil to his manor. He could have been more courteous during the bite," I grumbled. "After that, you have to prove that the lesson was learned by biting another, experienced vampire. I bit Xavier—he insisted on it. He didn't complain, but he didn't praise, either. He never has."

  "Have you bitten any vampires since then?"

  "No vampires. Only humans, before bagged blood became available."

  "I see."

  "Sweetheart, I don't consider them cattle. Some vampires do—I don't. I recall being human, although Xavier has made considerable attempts to drive it from me. Did Joey hurt you?" I moved closer, reaching out with a hand to touch her throat. No marks were left behind—vampires healed their bites to hide their existence.

  "No. It just—scared me."

  "That's not how it should be," I leaned closer. "It's supposed to be pleasurable. A gift, in exchange for the blood taken."

  "Your donors have always been under compulsion," she pointed out as I attempted to pull her into my arms. "They're not afraid when you bite them. Compulsion doesn't work with me, remember?"

  "I know." Gently, I lowered her head onto the pillow. "I know," I breathed against her mouth. "My girl was scared. Mistreated." I kissed her again.

  "Adam," she struggled against me.

  "Shhh, sweetheart, it's all right." I stroked hair back from her forehead. "You taste like sunlight," I whispered reverently, kissing her again. "I promise I won't hurt you. Let me know if I scare you. We'll take it slow."

  I didn't want to take it slow. I wanted her. Immediately. I couldn't do it that way. Perhaps in the future, when she might want me as badly as I wanted her. This was like soothing a virgin or a frightened mare. I realized she was practically both those things.

  Had I thought to have sex when she returned? We were well on our way. My tongue probed her mouth gently as I ripped through her clothing with a claw barely formed on a finger.

  "These are perfect," I nuzzled and
nipped her breasts before kissing my way to her throat. "All of it, perfect," I declared.

  Yes, I allowed my lust, which I'd kept in check for nearly a hundred years, to surface, and my fangs descended. The words came swiftly, tumbling from her lips as I pierced her throat and drank.

  * * *

  "Aaadam," Joey sang. "Time to wake up. Are you hungry? Lion's cooking steaks."

  "What?" My eyes opened slowly and I blinked to bring Kiarra's bedroom ceiling into focus. "Where's Kiarra?"

  "Walking on the beach. Adam, you dog." Joey slapped my shoulder with a wide grin. "Lion says you should apologize, but you need to come with me, first. It's daylight, and we're both awake!"

  "Is that true?" I flung the quilt back and sat up in bed, still fully clothed. Kiarra's blood had been both sweet and potent, rendering me unconscious in seconds. Just as it had Joey, I reminded myself.

  I hope you intend to honor your commitment to her, Dragon sent as Joey and I walked into the kitchen minutes later. Daylight streamed through the tall windows and I blinked in the brightness of it. I hadn't seen daylight in a very long time.

  "What are you talking about?" I focused on Dragon, who sat at the island, polishing one of his blades.

  "We're allowed to form a blood-bond, but only with those who are our mates, healers or have made a great sacrifice in our defense. Our blood-bonded must be above reproach and fully committed to us in some way. Our blood makes them immortal, if they aren't already. Blood bonds are generally for mates and healers only. Griffin received a great deal of assistance from Merrill in the past; therefore, Griffin has a blood bond with him."

  "What he's saying," Lion thumped a plate of steaks on the island, "is that you better be ready to stay with Kiarra—as a mate. Otherwise, both of you are in trouble. You for taking her blood without permission first, and her for giving you permission during the act. Got that?"

  "How does she feel about this?" I asked.

  "At least he knew to ask about her first, instead of looking to protect his own ass," Lion turned to Dragon. The blade Dragon wiped carefully gleamed in the afternoon light as he examined it with a practiced eye. I swallowed nervously, only realizing then that I could perform that simple act. These two sought to protect Kiarra. I was an outsider, and may have gotten her in trouble.

  "Lunch," Lion indicated the plate of steaks. "Bearcat's bringing the vegetables. Grab a plate and sit down. You'll be able to eat this, now."

  "I've done nothing but eat since I woke up," Joey whispered beside me. "Come on, Adam, it's like heaven."

  I'll admit—the food did smell good for the first time since I'd been turned vampire. I sat down, Lion placed a thick steak on my plate, Bearcat added a baked potato and asparagus and I dug in.

  "I could serve this in my restaurants," I muttered, swallowing a half-chewed chunk of steak.

  "That's just because you haven't eaten real food in a while," Lion said, cutting into his steak and brandishing the fork in my direction. "I figure your chefs can do better than this."

  "I don't care. This is the best food I can remember," I said, cutting off another bite.

  "Appreciates food—I like that," Lion nodded to Dragon.

  "He's decent in a fight," Dragon agreed, laying his blade aside and cutting into his steak. Joey sat beside me, his mouth continuously too full to speak. Bearcat smiled at him often and shook his head while eating.

  The thought hit me like a thunderbolt, then, and I dropped my fork. "Will I," I began.

  "You still have your claws, fangs and red eyes, in addition to the vampire speed," Kiarra sighed. She'd appeared near Lion. Not me—Lion. "The biggest difference is that you can obviously eat," she didn't look at me, "and sit in daylight while doing it."

  "Kee, your plate is on the barbecue," Bearcat said. "I'll get it."

  "No, I will." She sat beside Lion, who shrugged away my pointed glance and made the plate appear in front of her.

  "It's called Pulling," Joey explained." Bearcat taught me how to do it, too."

  "Here," Lion did the same, Pulling in an unopened protein drink. "You need this," he pushed the drink toward Kiarra.

  With a sigh, she opened it and drank.

  * * *

  "Pheligar is bad enough. Thorsten will be worse if he shows up."

  Kiarra still hadn't allowed me to touch her. We stood on the deck outside the kitchen, not far from the barbecue where Lion had cooked steaks. She leaned against the heavy, wood railing, staring at the ocean beyond.

  "I want to stay with you. I'm sorry, sweetheart, but ever since I saw you the first time, I haven't been completely rational," I admitted. "So that's nearly a century of irrational behavior."

  "What?" She whirled toward me.

  "I saw you, Lynx and another woman in the 1920s," I said. "I fell in love with you, then. Haven't been with a woman since."

  "What?" Her pretty bottom lip was gripped tightly in her teeth.

  "I saw you. I barely remember Louis Armstrong, that night. All I could do was stare at you the whole time."

  "But what about—all right, I guess it doesn't matter." She turned away from me again.

  "What about Anna Kay, you mean?" I asked, moving toward her carefully. "That was never Anna Kay. That was always you. Admit that, at least." My arms went around her. She shivered; I tightened my embrace.

  "Kee," Lion poked his head out the door leading to the kitchen. "Thorsten's here."

  "Fuck," she sighed, moving away from my embrace. "Adam, stay here. I'll handle this."

  I felt lost as she walked away from me. Lost and guilty.

  * * *

  "Thorsten. One of The Powers That Be. He supervises the Liaison and the Saa Thalarr," Lion said, pouring me a drink from the bottle he'd purchased at a bar.

  "What exactly is that—The Powers That Be?"

  "We can't say what they really are, but to you, they'd be a demi-god or something similar."

  "How much trouble did I cause?" I tossed back the glass of whiskey. I tasted it, too; felt the burn as I swallowed that I'd almost forgotten from my early, human life.

  "Enough." Lion drank his whiskey and poured more. I held out my glass and he obliged my silent request, the liquid smooth and quiet as it slid into my glass.

  "I haven't been drunk in a very long time," I said.

  "This is a good time for it," Lion said.

  "This is good whiskey," I countered.

  "They serve good whiskey on Wyyld," Lion agreed.

  "Wild?"

  "Wyyld."

  "Got it."

  "No, you don't. W-y-y-l-d. That's how it's spelled—in English."

  "I am English," I covered a half-drunk burp.

  "I could never tell by the accent," Lion muttered.

  "Is that sas-casm? Sar-casm?" I corrected myself.

  "Most assuredly." Lion spoke in a British accent. I blinked at him in confusion.

  "We have to fit in, wherever we go. That means languages, dialects and accents. If we stand out, we die."

  "But what about," I waved a hand in the air, searching for words to describe the events on Earth.

  "Completely out of the ordinary." He poured more whiskey for both of us. "In fact, we usually go in alone or accompanied by our healers. This one, well, this one is really strange. It's strange, too, that so many of us were available to go at the same time. Usually, we're scattered across the universe."

  "How many?" I drank this glass slower than the others.

  "Seven, plus our healers. We're the smallest race—in numbers—in existence."

  "Bugger me," I sighed after emptying my glass.

  "No, thanks."

  I laughed.

  * * *

  I did appreciate the food and daylight portion of my new existence. I didn't appreciate the hangover I had.

  "It's your own fault," Karzac chided as he held my head in his hands. In seconds, there was blessed relief.

  "Partly Lion's fault," I said automatically.

  "And that's why I'm here
, instead of leaving you to suffer."

  "How's Joey?"

  "Learning quickly. Appears to have a talent for healing."

  "Where's Kiarra?" That's the question I really wanted to be answered.

  "Running on the beach. Come with me—it's time you saw."

  "Saw what?" I blinked at Karzac in confusion.

  "Come."

  I still hadn't grasped the concept of folding space, although I appreciated it greatly. Karzac folded me to the beach below Kiarra's home. I must have gaped, because Karzac asked me to close my mouth. He may have added something about letting insects in if I didn't, but I ignored him.

  "This is her fighting animal. You've only seen the smaller version before."

  Nine feet tall at the withers. I couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. Blindingly white, she glowed in the sunlight, her reflection as she ran echoed in the water washing onto the shore. That's not what drew my attention, however.

  "If that touches evil, the evil dies," Karzac sounded smug.

  Three feet in length and wickedly sharp, her horn would skewer almost anything. "Why couldn't I see it before?" I breathed.

  "You're lucky to be seeing it now. Do you understand how close you came to dying?" Karzac turned to offer me a scowl. "If she hadn't done as she did, you'd be nothing more than a pile of ash and a memory."

  "I made a mistake," I admitted. "Do all of you take pleasure in punishing me for it? She won't talk to me, and the rest of you keep telling me how fortunate I am to be alive."

  "We cannot lie. Do you wish us to?"

  "Hell, no. Why would I want that?" Before he could answer, I began to run. Yes, I can run very fast as a vampire. I ran after Kiarra.

  * * *

  "We've been assigned a test," Kiarra said as we sat in the kitchen later, having juice and a sandwich. Mine was roast-beef; hers was cheese. "But I have to take you somewhere, first."

  "Where is that? What's the test?" I bit into the sandwich, which was quite excellent. I appreciated the crunch of the lettuce and the texture of the meat and cheese as I chewed.

  "I can't tell you. You'll know it when you see it," she sighed. "If you'd just waited until I could present all the pros and cons, giving you the option of making an informed decision, we wouldn't be in this uncomfortable spot."