Rage to Adore

by Cara Lake

  Suddenly the whirling tornado stilled. A ball of black fur suddenly visible. One form limp, torn and bloodied beyond recognition. The other, chest still moving, evidence that its heart continued to hold a steady beat. The breathing form raised its head and used its large jaws to rip the defeated beast’s head from its body.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Duty

  The sounds of battle raging in the distance assaulted the ears of those who had sought shelter in Phenex’s palace. Tani looked around at the frightened citizens cowering in the great hall and directed the shedu who had remained with her, ordering them to ensure the people were kept safe.

  After killing Phenex, she had two choices. Her first instinct had been to follow the sounds of the battle and head to the gate. The citizens who had cheered her victory had other ideas. They and the remaining shedu had carried Tani toward the palace, proclaiming her their new overlord. She couldn’t abandon them. They needed her strength and courage and so she had gone with the flow. She had faith that her Eunomi kin would prevail and that Belial would be pushed back. Her main worry was that Jaro might give in to his self-sacrificing instincts and engage in the battle with little thought for his own preservation.

  Once at the palace, she had little time to dwell on her fears as chaos had taken over. Panic choked the populace and it took all Tani’s calm assurance and swift direction to quell the rising tide of hysteria. Having brought the situation under control, she was just about to issue orders to send reinforcements to the gate when a group of Eunomi warriors arrived, headed by Cassi and Antares. Tani was so pleased to see them alive that it was a few minutes before she realized that they had a woman with them who was in chains. Morana.

  “We have a present for you,” said Antares, pushing Morana forward. Morana shrugged him off, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes. She turned to Tani, raising her eyebrows. “Well, look at you,” she said with a purr, a smile playing on her lips. “I always knew you were destined for great things.”

  “Where is Ziad?” Tani asked, ignoring Morana’s blatant flirtation. Didn’t she know what kind of trouble she was in? Morana shrugged and gave a sigh. “I’ve already told them he is safe. What more do you need to know?”

  “We want him back, Morana, and if you know where he is you need to tell us.”

  “Now why would I do that?”

  Tani stared at Morana, feeling like she was missing something. What possible reason could Morana have for not wanting to reveal Ziad’s whereabouts? Why had she kept him in the first place? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of roars and shouts, the ongoing echoes of battle in the distance zipping through the air and Tani realized that this was not the time or the place. Morana’s interrogation could wait until later. She turned to Cassi and Antares.

  “She can wait. What’s the update?”

  Antares filled her in on the current status and she was heartened to hear that at any moment now a large squadron of Eunomi reinforcements led by Borealis was expected to reach the main gate, having arrived on Ophiuchus through a starportal to the west of the city, thus outflanking Belial’s army. “And Phenex?” asked Cassi. “Where is he?”

  “Dead. By my hand.”

  Cassi raised her eyebrows. “Wow, Tani! Do you know what that means?”

  Tani stared around her at the remaining shedu and citizens, knowing they were her responsibility now. “I think so,” she said. “The shedu in the palace have sworn oaths to me. I don’t think they liked Phenex much.”

  “Not only that, Tani. It means you own all of Phenex’s property now. Everything he had is yours. You are the new overlord of Serpens.”

  Tani’s gut clenched. When Cassi put it that way! The duty she already had was now magnified a thousandfold. Duty to The Balance and now her city and her people. She suddenly felt dizzy with the pressure.

  Shaking off her sudden anxiety, Tani turned back to Cassi and Antares, who were discussing the redeployment of the shedu to pick up Discordant sympathizers who would be a threat to her safety. Just as she was about to put forward her views, a loud rumbling sound froze her and everyone in the great hall in their tracks. They were rendered immobile. The ground beneath them shook but it was the steady pounding of feet rather than the earth fracturing that had caused the vibrations. There was a release of pressure and shouts of fear as the crowd, now able to move, drew back and a contingent of heavily armed rarog led by a warrior clad in obsidian darkness, stalked into the great hall. The silver chain he was holding attached to the wrists of a pale disheveled figure who stumbled behind him, falling on his knees.

  Tani heard Cassi suck in a breath. Every Eunomi present recognized the huge warrior, his black armor unmistakable. He was Rampage, the dark warrior, senior commander of the Discordant army and many believed second only to Choronzon himself. What the hell was he doing here and why did he have Ziad in shackles?

  “Cassiopeia.” The warrior’s deep throaty rasp vibrated off the walls, the one word sounding more like a promise than a threat. Tani felt Cassi shiver beside her. Seconds passed and Cassi finally stepped toward him, her stance rigid and unyielding. “What do you want?” He lifted his gloved hand and pointed. “Her.”

  Tani felt Cassi’s shock as they turned toward the object of his interest. Morana. For a moment Cassi seemed at a loss. Tani was hit with a jolt of anger as Cassi recovered her equilibrium and demanded something of him. “You give us Ziad and we will give you her. You will leave here without further bloodshed and not return. If you do not agree, I will kill her.” Cassi dragged Morana up from the floor and pressed a knife to her throat, the steely determination in her voice leaving Tani in no doubt that she meant what she said.

  The dark warrior held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I want nothing but her,” he said, motioning his rarog guards back and Ziad forward. “Send her to me. She is mine.”

  Tani had no hesitation in pulling Morana from Cassi’s arms and pushing her toward the dark warrior. She was no longer useful, merely a means to getting Ziad back. Beside her, Cassi’s body locked tight with tension and emotions Tani couldn’t quite place. Certainly anger but something else as well. She knew Cassi hated the Discordants with a passion and it must be killing her to stand in front of one of their top commanders and do nothing. What surprised her more was Morana’s seeming reluctance to move. Her eyes were on Ziad and flashing with anger. There was so much more going on here than Tani could understand but Ziad looked to be in a bad way. In fact a rarog had picked him up and was carrying him past Morana. In that split second as the two prisoners drew level with each other, Tani saw Morana’s head turn toward him, her eyes softening. The expression was so fleeting that Tani thought she had perhaps imagined it.

  The rarog placed Ziad gently on the floor and immediately the Eunomi warriors were all over him, checking his pulse and calling for blood. When Tani looked up, Morana, the dark warrior and the rarog had vanished as if they never existed. Her eyes met Cassi’s confused ones but then they were both smiling with relief. Ziad was back.

  It was then that Tani realized the sounds of battle had subsided. A sudden wave of silence washed through the palace and then—cheering, wild shouting and cries of happiness and the words that spread joy into the hearts of all Serpens’s citizenry. “Belial is dead!”

  Tani reached out for the threads that connected her to Jaro. They had stretched to the breaking point in the arena but were still there, frayed and worn. She silently thanked Gaia that he was still alive, her heart somersaulting in anticipation of seeing him again.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Fury

  Tyr led the victorious warriors through the city and down alleyways that snaked a path toward the overlord’s palace. He wasn’t sure yet what he would find there. He knew Phenex was dead but not who had defeated him. The Eunomi would need to deal with the new overlord and he prayed to Gaia and Chaos both that they would be reasonable. Serpens in his eyes was liberated now. A foothold on Ophuichus for the Eunomi. He needed it t
o stay that way.

  The citizens had congregated on the streets once news of Belial’s defeat and Phenex’s death had spread, dancing and laughing for the first time in a hundred years. News of the arrival of five thousand Eunomi under Borealis’s command was a source for further joy that spread among the beleaguered slaves and downtrodden workers. Even the nobles who had been enriched under Phenex’s reign seemed to be breathing sighs of relief at his demise. Those who supported the Discordants had already left, apparently swept up by the dark warrior and his rarog. Tyr was extremely pissed off that he’d missed him. He owed that bastard a knife to the gut.

  Entering the great hall to a hero’s welcome, Tyr and his warriors found themselves plied with food and drink as well as hugs and kisses. Tyr shrugged off the numerous women who latched on to him, allowing a kiss on his cheek but no more. His lips were reserved for only one woman with dark curls and eyes of liquid gold. The rest of his men didn’t seem to mind and happily accepted all that they were offered.

  Tyr’s eyes found Tani’s where she stood on the dais and he realized that all were looking to her for commands. She smiled and drew her sword in greeting. Cassi and Antares were there too, all grinning like idiots, drunk on euphoria and victory. They had won. They had beaten the Discordants in a full-on battle for the first time in eight hundred years. This was a major victory.

  Before he could process that thought, silence fell. The padding of four clawed feet behind him and the stench of dried blood filling the air. A barghesti was in their midst and the crowd were in awe.

  Tyr knew that Jaro had to be hurting but he hadn’t changed back into his human form in order to heal. His fur was matted and coated with sweat and blood, his skin shredded with wounds. One ear was particularly ragged and Tyr wondered momentarily if it would stay that way when Jaro shifted. He watched Tani’s eyes grow wide as she took in the state of the barghesti next to him and registered that her expression was more than just shock for his battered state. Sudden realization that Jaro might mean more to her than just the brother of her Esseni partner had Tyr frowning with concern. He owed Jaro big time for what he had done to defend the city and also to save his life—again. But could he trust him?

  Jaro seethed with barely contained fury, his gut twisting in anger as he realized that Tani was the one who had vanquished Phenex. Vicious fury sparked through every cell in his body and he didn’t really understand why. He should be happy that Phenex was dead and she was alive. The problem was he was angry at her for protecting Phenex when he would have killed him and then she had killed him herself! He still couldn’t grasp that fact as truth and he also still didn’t know to what extent she had been involved in Lorcan’s death. Griman had told him that his mother had been arrested for murder. But Red had been there. She had probably slept with his brother and even if that had been meaningless to her—it somehow made it worse than if she had cared for Lorcan above Jaro. Had she been playing games all the time? He didn’t know what to believe anymore. He still trusted the Eunomi as little as he trusted the Discordants.

  He felt betrayed. Even though he consciously knew she hadn’t really betrayed him. There had been nothing to betray. She had been Lorcan’s—she had said so. Even so he felt betrayed with every fiber of his being. The thought that she had lied to him like so many women before, his mother, the young mistress and now her, shredded his already torn flesh. Broken what was left of his shattered bones. Clawed gouges out of his already bleeding heart. He couldn’t bear to look at her. Couldn’t bear to give in to the insane hope that perhaps he was wrong. Because she had lied. Had pretended. And he couldn’t take it. She should have told him the truth whatever the truth was. He would have understood. Maybe.

  But now…he couldn’t trust her. Trust was such a fragile thing and even though he knew—knew that really she was honest, courageous and honorable, those moments when he had believed she was with Lorcan and Phenex ate into his gut. And she had let him believe that. How could he trust her ever? He would forever be expecting her to turn the other way. Away from him. It was a chance he couldn’t take.

  He realized that Bellor was speaking to her, congratulating her on her victory. “Tanith, you realize you own all of Phenex’s property now,” he was saying. “All of Phenex’s slaves.” She appeared shocked by that and then it hit him straight in the gut. She now owned him. She was his new mistress. He belonged to Red.

  “I’m going to release them,” he heard her say and for a moment hope flared in his heart.

  Then the blonde warrior Cassi spoke quickly but so quietly that others wouldn’t hear, forgetting that Jaro’s barghesti ears were incredibly sensitive. “Tani, truthfully now—is Jaro definitely your Esseni partner?” Tani nodded. “Then you can’t release him. You need to keep him within your control. If you own him he can never kill you or betray you to the Discordants. If you want to release the others, so be it—but don’t set Jaro free.”

  Bellor looked uncomfortable at that. “He defended the gate, killed Belial. Without him we would not have won. He deserves his freedom.”

  Cassi shook her head. “Do you trust him implicitly, Tyr? Do you think he wouldn’t sell Tani out?”

  Bellor was quiet for a moment. “He’s saved my life twice now. I trust that.”

  Something settled in Jaro’s heart at that moment as he realized Tyr believed in him. If only… His ears pricked. Red was speaking.

  “Cassi, it’s my decision,” she said, biting her lip uncertainly. “Give me time to think.”

  Jaro snarled. She needed time to think! That showed how little she trusted him. His body began to shift, fury sparking the transformation back to a man. He uncurled his body when the shift was done. Naked and raw, his skin coated with blood and jagged slashes of torn flesh, he stood before them. The hall was silent as the onlookers stared at his ravaged body. He only had eyes for her.

  Tani’s gaze raked over him and he felt her blanket of care sweeping a caress across his skin. He wanted no part of it. He shirked it off and watched her flinch. Good. Let her taste his rejection. Then her eyes flashed with determination and she stepped forward announcing to the crowd. “I am Tanith Laska, warrior of the Eunomi. As your new overlord I order that all bloodoaths be null and void and hereby release all those slaves sworn to bloodoath by Phenex the slayer, all except that one.” She pointed at Jaro. “He’s mine. Bring him to my quarters.”

  Murmurings of shock rippled through the assembly as both slaves and aristocracy realized what their new overlord had done. Tani turned from the crowd, whispering to Tyr who grabbed Jaro by the arm and proceeded to follow her into the private suite at the back of the hall.

  Damn her to Chaos! It was a bittersweet torture. Did she really hate him that much; trust him so little that she would keep him enslaved? Jaro raged at fate for allowing her to cross his path. His body suddenly felt weak and he almost collapsed but Bellor held him up, taking his weight. “You’ve lost a lot of blood,” he said, concern in his voice.

  “So what?” Jaro snarled bitterly. He didn’t need Bellor’s pity. “I’m just a slave.” He turned to see Tyr shaking his head, black eyes flashing with respect.

  “You’re much more than that, Jaro, and she knows it.” He nodded toward Tani. “Let her take care of you.”

  Jaro couldn’t breathe. That’s just what he didn’t want.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Tenderness

  Tani turned as Tyr led Jaro in. Her heart was breaking as she took in the savage effects of battle layered across his skin. Tyr left quickly, leaving Jaro standing in the center of the room, the familiar proud stance she knew so well. Her eyes drank him in but she hesitated by the door even as her heart raged at her to go to him, wrap him in her arms and ease his pain. Mercury silver eyes flashed molten liquid, indigo-blue rings flaring with dark emotion. He was angry. As he had every right to be.

  She hesitated suddenly nervous. “Are you hurt?” she faltered, the words sounding lame even to her own ears. Of course he was hurt, h
e was bleeding. There was so much more she wanted to say to him.

  His lips drew back in a snarl. “I have been better, but I suppose I should thank you for killing Phenex.”

  “I don’t want your gratitude, Jaro.”

  He closed the distance between them his harsh, gorgeous face clouding her vision. The ache in her chest threatened to burst as the need to touch, to soothe grew stronger.

  “Then what do you want?” he growled. “My obedience, my life? I’m your slave now—you can do with me as you will.” She stared up at him, unsure how to cut through his anger. “You’ll never be my slave.”

  Rough hands cupped her cheek as his eyes searched hers, his expression tortured, furious. “No?” he questioned. “So what do you want—me in your bed, is that it?” He dragged her over and threw her down roughly onto the large bed in the center of the room. Tani’s heart pounded frantically, adrenaline racing, her throat dry.

  “Just tell me to stop or continue. Do what you will, I’m yours to command.” His words were bitter. He leaned over her, his lithe body prowling up the length of hers. “Just remember it’s me this time, not Lorcan.”

  Her heart stuttered. Did he think… “I’ve never been with Lorcan,” she whispered. “Why would you think that?”

  “Because I saw you!” he shouted. “The night he died!” Her heart broke because he didn’t know the whole truth of it and it would hurt more when he did. “I was drugged, Jaro…and…” It was so hard to say the words. “It was meant to be you, your mother…”

  He didn’t let her finish but rolled back onto the bed in defeat. “She hates me that much and now my brother is dead.” His voice was barely audible and then he winced as she moved, sitting up to look down at him. “You’re hurt, let me help you.”