Nadiah realized it was up to her to make introductions. “Mamam, Patro,” she said, ignoring her intended. “This is Detective Rast. I mean, Rast,” she said quickly, trying to cover for herself. But it was too late.
“Detective?” Y’dex stepped forward, frowning, his white-blond brows pulled down over his pale, bulging eyes. “Not ‘Commander’ or ‘Warrior’? What kind of Kindred designation is ‘Detective?’”
“It’s not Kindred, it’s human.” Rast stepped forward. “I’m human. Got a problem with that?”
“None at all.” Y’dex grinned. “Without the Kindred compounds in your blood, it should be even easier to best you.” He laughed nastily. “I have to hand it to you, Nadiah, you certainly know how to pick yourself a champion.”
Nadiah lifted her chin. “He’s a better male than you’ll ever be, Y’dex, no matter what type his blood is.”
“Nadiah, please, such insults to your intended are rude and unnecessary.” Her mother frowned disapprovingly.
“No, what’s rude and unnecessary is the way this little bastard has been yanking on the bond between them, putting your daughter through excruciating pain.” Rast fixed both her parents with a glare and then looked at Y’dex. “That stops now by the way. You might have gotten away with it before because I couldn’t reach you. But I’m here now and I give you fair warning—you hurt Nadiah again and you’ll have me to answer to.”
Y’dex’s pale face twisted into a sneer. “Nadiah is my property to do with as I please.”
“Your law may say that, but where I come from we believe that no one has the right to own another person.” Rast frowned. “Understand me on this, buddy—I’m not just threatening to make you sorry if you hurt her. I’m promising.”
“Threaten or promise whatever you like—Nadiah is mine as the challenge will soon prove, weak-blooded human.” Y’dex turned to Nadiah, “This is a joke, my lovely—there’s no way your champion can best me. In fact, why don’t we just call the challenge over and start the first night of our bonding together right now?”
“You won’t be spending tonight or any other night with Nadiah.” Rast stepped in front of Nadiah protectively, his voice a low, menacing growl.
“We’ll see about that, won’t we?” Y’dex smiled coolly.
“That’s enough of this male posturing. Nadiah, come with us.” Her mother made a preemptory gesture with one hand. “Though your father and I don’t approve of what you’re doing, you’ll be staying in our domicile until after this whole unpleasant business is finished.”
Nadiah crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to budge. “Where is Rast going to stay?”
“With me, of course.” Y’dex gave the human detective a nasty smile. “Unless he’d rather take shelter in the public reflection area.” He looked at Rast. “Your choice.”
“You can’t expect him to stay with you!” Nadiah exclaimed. “You’re rivals… enemies.”
“Of course we are but there’s no reason why we can’t be civilized about it, is there?” Y’dex’s smile abruptly turned into an ugly frown. “Besides, female, it’s not your place to say where a male stays or what he does. Now go home with your parents until I see fit to claim you.”
Nadiah lifted her chin. “You don’t tell me what to do. I am not your slave.”
Y’dex spit on the ground at her feet. “You are less than a slave. You’re…what did this human champion of your call you? Oh yes, you are an animal—my pet. And a pet has to be taught to obey.” He closed his hand into a fist and made a twisting motion.
Nadiah’s whole body clenched, getting ready for the burning blade to slide between her ribs. She felt it come and fought not to double over, fought to stand her ground despite the fiery agony…
And then Rast took a step forward and punched Y’dex in the face. There was a crunching sound and the sharp pain beneath her heart ended as abruptly as it had begun.
“Ahh!” Her fiancée staggered backward, his long, beaky nose pouring blood. “You!” He glared balefully at Rast. “You…human. I think you broke my nose!”
“Yup.” Rast wiped his bloody hand casually on the vranna hide coat. “And there’s more where that came from if you do it again. Remember, buddy, a promise is a promise and I always keep mine.”
“Well!” Nadiah’s mother looked incensed and her father was obviously aghast.
“This…this is unacceptable,” he blustered. “Completely unheard of.”
“You’re going to hear a lot more of it if tall, pale, and nasty over there doesn’t mind his P’s and Q’s.” Rast gestured at Y’dex and then frowned at her parents. “You know, I shouldn’t have to do this. You two should be the ones protecting Nadiah—you should never have given that weak, pasty little bastard so much power over her. She’s your daughter for God’s sake.”
“As our daughter she is bound to obey our parental orders,” Nadiah’s father said, frowning. “We hand picked Y’dex for her. If she would be more obedient he would not feel the need to punish her.”
“Let me tell you something about your hand-picked son-in-law.” Rast took a step forward and her father fell back, dithering nervously. “He’s the kind of guy who’s always going to want to hurt or punish whether he has reason to or not. I know—I’ve seen his kind in my line of work more times than I can count.”
“In your human employment, you mean, off-worlder?” Nadiah’s mother raised an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, that’s right. But unfortunately this behavior isn’t limited to Earth.” Rast pointed at Y’dex. “He’s a coward and a bully and he’s going to be a wife-beater if you give him the chance. I think maybe you two should ask yourselves if a little social status is worth seeing your only daughter black and blue every damn day of her miserable married life.”
“Well, really!” Nadiah’s father drew himself up, throwing out his thin chest in anger. “I cannot allow you to talk to myself and my mate in such a fashion!”
“I don’t really see how you can stop me.” Rast gave them both a lazy grin. “And by the way, Nadiah stays with me.”
Nadiah’s heart leapt at his words but regretfully, she had to shake her head. “I can’t Rast—it will cause too much talk.”
“Why?” He frowned. “Anyone who looks at you can see your eyes are the same color they’ve always been.”
Her parents and Y’dex all gasped simultaneously. “Young man! That is not polite conversation!” her mother protested, turning red. “And my daughter must stay in our domicile with us or the challenge will be considered void and Y’dex will win her by default.”
Rast frowned and looked at Nadiah. “Is that true?”
Reluctantly, she nodded. “Any female challenged for must be a female of virtue. If I stay with you—even if nothing happens between us—I could be considered unvirtuous.”
“Unvirtuous, huh?” He nodded and looked at her parents. “All right, she stays with you. But I want to see her during the day so I can ask if you’re treating her right and be sure idiot boy over there isn’t messing around with the bond.” He nodded at Y’dex, who was still cupping his wounded nose, his pale face painted with bloody red streaks.
“I don’t think—” Nadiah’s father began.
“I’ll bring you your meals,” Nadiah interjected quickly. “That will give us a chance to talk.”
Rast nodded. “Sounds good to me.” He looked at Y’dex. “Well let’s go home, buddy. I assume your offer still stands?” His smile was friendly enough but his truegreen eyes were as hard and flat as emeralds. Her fiancée must have seen the danger in those eyes because he recoiled and shook his head.
“I rescind my invitation. By law I am not required to offer hospitality to anyone who has done me violence.”
Rast cracked his bloody knuckles. “What a shame. Guess I’ll be camping out in the public reflection area then.” He nodded at Nadiah. “Lead the way, it looks like I’ll be roughing it.”
“This way.” Not caring what anyone said, she took his ha
nd and pulled him down the long underground corridor that led to the main grotto. Behind her she could hear her parents and Y’dex muttering in outrage and disapproval but she no longer cared. Nor did she care about the many curious eyes of her fellow Prime citizens as she led Rast into the vast, arching cave and down into the quiet meditation area with its grove of snowflower trees and the large, steaming purple-blue lake.
“Here we are,” she said at last, spying a small cloth lean-to someone had built in the shelter of one of the supporting pillars. In it were a rolled up sleeping mat and a thin pillow.
“Hmm.” Rast nodded his approval. “Looks like they weren’t expecting me to stay with your boyfriend after all.”
“Very funny,” Nadiah said dryly. But inside she was feeling cautiously hopeful again. She liked the way Rast had stepped in and taken charge of the situation, refusing to let her parents and fiancée dictate to him. Of course, there was more to winning the challenges than just being stubborn but Rast’s irascible, indomitable attitude was certainly a good start.
“Well, I guess this is me.” Rast shrugged and looked around the grove. “Nice place you got here. The outside part of it, anyway.”
Nadiah felt a surge of shame for her family’s poor hospitality. “I’m so sorry we have no guest house or zotel to put you in like you have on Earth.”
“Zotel?” Rast grinned. “You mean hotel or motel?”
“Whatever.” Nadiah waved a hand. “I’m sorry you have to stay out here instead of in someone’s domicile.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He looked up. “At least I don’t have to worry about being rained on, right?”
“It’s not right.” Nadiah sighed fretfully. “The more I examine it, the more I realize there are a lot of things that aren’t right with my home world—with my culture.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Rast squeezed her hand comfortingly. “As soon as this is over you can leave and go wherever you want, sweetheart.”
I want to go with you, Nadiah thought longingly. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. But Rast had made it clear that even if he won the challenge and broke her blood bond, he wasn’t interested in taking things any farther between them. So she just bit her lip and nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He nodded.
“I mean it,” Nadiah hugged him impulsively. “Really, thank you—for everything. For coming here in the first place. For fighting for me.”
He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head. “You’re worth fighting for, sweetheart.”
He’s being so sweet and kind, even after the way I treated him! Nadiah felt suddenly ashamed of herself. “I’m sorry I was cold to you earlier, Rast,” she murmured.
“It’s all right, honey.” He stroked her hair. “You were just scared and I don’t blame you—this is a hell of a scary situation we’re in here.” He pulled back to look in her eyes, a much softer expression on his granite-hard features. “The thing to remember is that we’re in it together. And I swear to you, I’ll see it through to the end and make sure you get free of that little bastard.”
“I know you will.” Nadiah’s heart swelled and suddenly she felt sure that Kindred blood or no Kindred blood, Rast would be able to keep his word. “And I know I told you not to interfere if Y’dex hurt me through the blood bond but, well, thanks for doing it anyway.”
“Any time,” he murmured, looking into her eyes. “Any time at all, sweetheart.”
“Rast…” she whispered and then couldn’t think of anything to say. She was lost, drowning in his dark green eyes, unable to look away.
“Nadiah,” Rast said softly. He cupped her cheek and leaned down, his eyes still locked with hers. Nadiah could feel his warm breath on her lips and her heart leapt crazily in her chest. For a moment the entire world around them seemed to disappear and there was nothing but the two of them standing so close she could almost feel his pulse in her veins.
But just before their lips met, a hard hand grabbed the crook of her elbow and dragged her away.
“What is wrong with you, young lady?” her mother demanded in a shrill, outraged voice. “How dare you make such a display of affection with a strange off-worlder male in the middle of the public reflection area?”
“Maybe because you didn’t give me any place private to stay,” Rast said mildly, but his eyes flashed dangerously as he took in the way Nadiah’s mother was pinching her arm. “I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but you’d better treat her right.”
“Our daughter’s welfare is not your concern,” Nadiah’s father told him stiffly. “And it won’t be until the very unlikely event you win the blood challenge.”
“You’re wrong about that.” Rast took a step forward and pointed at Nadiah’s parents and Y’dex, who was hovering in the background, glowering. “Nadiah is under my protection and anyone—I mean anyone—who hurts her will answer to me. Understand?”
Nadiah’s parents nodded stiffly but Y’dex just glared. “Strong words are well and good off-worlder. We’ll see if you can back them up tomorrow in the challenge grotto.” He nodded at her father. “Let’s go.”
As she was dragged off by her parents, Nadiah cast a last look over her shoulder. Rast was standing there quietly, looking at her, a steadfast look in his eyes. Stay strong, those eyes seemed to say. I’ll fight for you. I swear it.
Nadiah’s eyes filled with tears and she blinked them back rapidly. “I love you.” It was just a whisper, barely a breath but she said it even though she knew he wouldn’t hear it. Said it because it was true.
No matter what Adam Rast might think of her, Nadiah had given him her heart and there was no taking it back now.
* * * * *
“How dare she? How dare she?” Y’dex Licklow paced back and forth, his vranna hide boots thumping on the solid stone floor with rage. “How dare she bring such an inferior off-worlder male here to challenge me?”
“We’re very sorry, Y’dex.” Nadiah’s mother and father looked besides themselves and Y’dex’s own parents had looks of steely disapproval on their faces.
“It’s unheard of—ridiculous!” he sputtered. “Really, Father, can he get away with hitting me? Can’t we put him out on the surface to freeze for daring to perform violence on a citizen of the grotto?”
“That rule only applies during the challenge itself, unfortunately.” Magistrate Licklow frowned. “But I wouldn’t worry, son. If he’s not even Kindred, you’ll win the challenges easily. What did you say he was again? Hooman? Is that the word?”
“Something like that.” Y’dex waved one hand in the air dismissively. “But he’s a Goddess damned big human, father. He may not have true Kindred blood in him but he’s certainly as massive as one of them.” He touched his throbbing nose gently with the tips of his fingers. “Strong, too.”
“Y’dex, I’m certain you’ll do fine.” Nadiah’s mother spoke in a fawning tone. “You’re as tall as he is and with his inferior blood lines…”
“I think we’re all overlooking something quite important, here.” Lady Licklow, who had been silent through most of the exchange, spoke up.
“Oh?” Y’dex’s father looked at her respectfully. “And what is that, my love?”
“Why that you are the magistrate who will be presiding over the three challenges.” Lady Licklow put a hand on her husband’s shoulder and smiled, an expression which didn’t reach her pale blue-grey eyes. “You are the one who will be inspecting and qualifying all the equipment. You are the one who will judge each match.”
“The goldurs for the challenge of strength,” Nadiah’s mother looked excited. “If one of them was off balance…”
“And the magistrate judging the match failed to notice it,” Nadiah’s father chimed in.
“Or the mud worms for the test of wills,” Nadiah’s mother said. “They don’t have to be of exactly equal potency, now do they?”
“Exactly.” Lady Licklow nodded, her smile widening. “I see you’re all beginnin
g to take my point.”
“But…but my love…” Magistrate Licklow looked ill at ease. “Judging a blood challenge is a sacred duty. I really don’t think—”
“That we should leave anything to chance. Isn’t that what you were thinking, my dear? Oh, thank you, Lydiah,” she added, as her daughter came through the assembled guests quietly, refilling drinks from a black stone pitcher. “That’s most refreshing.”
Lydiah nodded and went to refill Y’dex’s mug but he put her off with a frown. “Get out of here, sister. Can’t you see we’re discussing important matters?”
“I see.” Lydiah bowed her head quietly and backed away. “I’m sorry, brother.”
“As well you should be,” he sneered. “Now go on, run away and leave us.”
“You heard your brother, Lydiah.” Lady Licklow nodded at her sharply, her good humor entirely gone. “Scamper away now and don’t bother us again.”
“As you wish.” Lydiah bowed again and left the room swiftly. She ducked into the food prep area just long enough to put down the stone jug and then slipped quietly out of the domicile.
Nadiah was one of her best friends and she wanted to tell her that her off-worlder champion wasn’t going to be playing on a level field.
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you ready for this? Truly ready?”
The deep, commanding voice made Lauren shiver with mingled fear and anticipation as she knelt in the middle of the bedroom floor. “Yes,” she whispered, bowing her head submissively.
“Yes, what?” the voice rapped out.
“Yes…Master.” God, she still got hot calling him that. Then again, she and Xairn hadn’t been together sexually that long and they were still feeling their way through this new and exciting aspect of their relationship.
Xairn had been taking things slowly, very slowly, because he was still a little afraid he might hurt her. His Scourge urges to dominate and possess were as strong as ever but little by little, Lauren was proving to him that there was nothing to fear. That she could take whatever he could dish out.
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