by Rayna Tyler
“Cara, I’m sorry.” Concern filled Celeste’s dark eyes. “If you hadn’t come with me…”
“Hey, Doyle might want me personally, but that’s not going to stop his men from coming after any one of us. If I hadn’t been with you, things could have gone a whole lot differently, and you know it.” Cara fingered the edge of her glass. “At least this way, we know what he wants and can be prepared for the next time.”
“Cara makes an excellent point. I think it would be unwise for anyone to travel alone.” I held Celeste’s gaze, unable to shake the tightness gripping my chest at the thought of what could have happened to her if she had been alone and the males had somehow managed to subdue her.
“It would kill me, but I can always find another transport,” Laria said. “But you guys can’t be replaced, and I’m glad nothing happened to either of you.”
“On that note, and before you girls get too mushy, I say we move into the other room.” Burke’s comment elicited groans from the females.
“What does mushy mean?” Vurell asked. “I have not heard this human word before.”
Burke got out of his chair and took a stiff step with his injured leg. “Come on, I’ll explain after I refill our glasses.”
“I would be very interested to hear your explanation as well.” Thrayn got to his feet and followed after them.
Now that the meal and discussions were over, many of us, myself included, returned to the main gathering room. I had just finished refilling my glass with ale when Celeste said my name. I turned and found her standing behind me.
“Did you mean it when you said you wanted to help the humans, to bridge the gap between your people and mine?”
She was so close, I couldn’t stop myself from taking a sniff of her alluring scent. A hint of a smile touched her lips, and I had to restrain my tail from swishing or curling around the back of her legs. “I did, yes.”
“Then I want you to know I will work with you, I mean the group, because I believe in what you’re doing. But you and I… It’s probably best if we keep our distance.”
I was glad she would be a part of my team, which would keep her close, yet her words of rejection were a piercing blow to my heart.
“I understand. And, Celeste…” I wrapped my hand gently around her wrist when she started to leave. “Thank you.”
“Sure,” she said, then walked away after I reluctantly released her.
I spent the next hour participating in several conversations, only half listening to what was said. My thoughts and my gaze continually returned to Celeste. It wasn’t long before the room began to empty.
I watched Thrayn interact with the females, worried by his persistence to offer them protection. He had relentlessly pressed, more like pestered, Harper until she finally agreed to let him escort her home.
I was not surprised when Jardun and Laria disappeared, no doubt in search of some time alone. Once again, I envied my friend and the happiness he shared with his ketiorra. Though the war had changed so many things, fighting was not a role a ketaurran female chose. The life of a warrior, mine included, was dangerous and made finding a female to share a lasting relationship with nearly impossible.
Choosing to be a vryndarr meant solitude and the occasional female to warm their bed. With the existence of the human female warriors, those capable of fighting by our sides, the future now held different possibilities. A future I fantasized about sharing with Celeste.
“Little one.” Garyck’s growl drew my attention to the other side of the room. He narrowed his gaze and stuck his hand, palm up, toward Sloane. “My band.”
“What makes you think I have it?” Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned toward the door.
I tipped my head toward Zaedon. “Care to explain what is going on with those two?”
“Sloane has a unique talent for acquiring things. The jeweled band Garyck wears on his forearm seems to be her latest focus.” Zaedon grinned. “Personally, I believe she does it to irritate him; otherwise, according to Celeste, she would not return it and he would never see it again.”
Sloane barely made it two steps before Garyck lashed out his tail and caught her around the ankle. Most people would have lost their balance and fallen to the floor, but Sloane hopped on her other foot and remained standing as if she had been expecting the move.
“Hey, stop accosting me with your tail.”
Garyck quirked a brow. “Would you rather I perform a body search?”
Sloane perused him from top to bottom, then sighed. “Tempting, but no.” She lifted the back of her shirt and unhooked the band from the inside of her belt. After placing the band back on his arm, she leaned to the side and looked behind him. “Well, that’s not good. I think I better take Celeste home before she falls off her chair.”
Sloane strolled across the room and removed the glass from her friend’s hand, then set it on the table. “Celeste, sweetie, how many of these have you had to drink?”
Celeste wiggled her fingers as if she was trying to use them to count. “Six.” She slurred the word, then grinned. “Or maybe it was seven.”
Her consumption had seemed a bit excessive throughout the evening, so I had been keeping a close watch on her movements for the last hour in case she needed assistance. I handed my glass to Zaedon and moved around Sloane. “Allow me.” I carefully lifted Celeste out of the chair, expecting her to put up a fight. Instead, she wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her head on my shoulder.
Sloane grinned. “Okay, then. I guess I’ll meet you at our place.”
I nodded, then shifted Celeste’s weight, pulling her closer to my chest.
“Khyron,” she murmured.
“Yes, zadierra.” I murmured the ketaurran version of treasured one, then sniffed her hair, taking a moment to enjoy her familiar scent before heading for the main door leading out of the building.
She lifted her head and poked my chest. “I am very, very mad at choo.”
Even when inebriated, she was enchanting. I chuckled as I stepped out into the cool evening air. “I know, and I plan to do everything possible to change it.” I doubted she’d remember this conversation later, but it did not stop me from uttering the words anyway.
I took my time carrying her home, savoring having her in my arms. Sadly, I reached my destination sooner than I wanted to and found Sloane standing in the doorway patiently waiting for me.
“Her room is this way.” She turned and led me inside, then down a hallway to the first room on her right.
“Thank you,” I said after Sloane opened the door and stepped aside.
“Holler if you need any help. Not that I think you will.” She winked and headed farther down the corridor.
Each step, each rub of Celeste’s body against mine, had increased the uncomfortable state of my hardened shaft. By the time I placed her on the bed, my craving to caress every inch of her bare body, a pleasure I had yet to experience, had reached an unbearable level. With the little willpower I had left, I removed her boots and covered her with a blanket.
Celeste’s eyes were closed, yet when I turned to leave, she gripped my wrist and mumbled, “Khyron, don’t leave me.”
I longed to lie next to her, to hold her in my arms, if only for a few short hours, but refused to take advantage of her weakened state. I knew she would not be pleased if she woke and found me in her bed in the morning. I would not risk making things between us worse, so I leaned forward, brushed my thumb across her cheek, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Sleep well, Celeste. I will never go far from you ever again.” It was a promise I meant to keep, or give my life trying.
Chapter Nine
Celeste
When I woke with my mind in a hazy state, it took me a few moments to realize I was in my own bed with no idea how I’d gotten there. Or why I felt as if someone had smacked me in the head, then continued the abuse with a punch to my stomach. It was obviously still morning because sunlight filled the room. If it had been any lat
er in the day, Sloane and Laria would have dragged me out of bed. Thinking about my friends brought vague memories of the meeting at Burke’s, seeing Khyron, and drinking way too much.
Snippets of the previous evening’s conversations and Khyron’s proposed plan for collaboration popped in and out of the haze. Out of all the memories, the most vivid was when his blue eyes brightened with hope when I’d agreed to help him.
I groaned and rolled onto my side, then wished I hadn’t when the throbbing got worse and the room started to spin. I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths before opening them again. This time, the room didn’t move and my vision wasn’t blurry. I also got a better look at the stand by my bed. Sitting next to the dish containing my stones was a small container filled with a fresh bouquet of chirayka blossoms and the blade I’d thrown at Khyron the day before. He’d obviously been in my room while I’d been sleeping. He was the only male I knew who’d be brave enough to give a female back a weapon after she’d thrown it at him.
I wasn’t sure if I should be happy about his thoughtfulness or worried that something else had happened while he’d been here. Had I gotten so drunk at the gathering that I’d invited him home and into my bed? Denying that I wasn’t still attracted to him would be moot, but sharing my body with him after I’d consumed too much alcohol and couldn’t remember the experience was not something I wanted to think about.
Reflexively, I jerked the blanket off my body, relieved to find I was fully dressed. The only things missing were my boots and, after a quick glance around the room, I spotted them sitting out of the way next to the wall.
“From what I hear”—Laria appeared in the doorway holding a mug—“you were on your way to passing out last night when Khyron carried you home. In case you were wondering.”
“You left early with Jardun, so how would you know what I did or didn’t do?” I asked.
If Laria noticed the envy in my sarcastic tone, she ignored it. “Sloane stuck around to make sure you got home okay?”
I loved how I could always count on my friends to look out for me, especially if I did something that might get me into trouble. Though out of the three of us, Sloane was usually the one who excelled at causing problems.
Laria sauntered into the room and sat on the edge of the bed next to me. “You know drinking yourself into oblivion isn’t going to help the situation with Khyron.” She waited for me to finish sitting up, then held out a mug filled with steaming yellow liquid.
I didn’t respond because she wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. I took the cup, gave the contents a sniff, and wrinkled my nose. “What is this?”
“It’s called creevea. Supposedly, it’s a ketaurran version of a caffeinated drink. Only this one does wonders for body aches.” She refused to take the cup when I tried handing it back to her. “I’m sure it will help your hangover too.”
At this point, I’d try anything to get rid of the pounding in my head, and took a sip.
Laria giggled when I made a face. “The taste grows on you, I promise.”
My stomach felt a little better, so I forced down another swallow. Even the throb in my head was now a bearable ache. “I wonder why Nayea hasn’t brewed any of this for us before.”
“Jardun said it’s made from a special plant, but I don’t think it grows around here.”
Even the grogginess in my head was fading, and I felt like my brain was working better. “Did Khyron spend the night?” The assumption made sense since we had two extra bedrooms.
“No.” Sloane peeked around the corner, then walked into the room. “He left right after he tucked you in. I was curious, so I checked.”
I set the mug on the nightstand. “Then where did those come from?” I pointed at the flowers and my blade, bewildered how Khyron knew where to find the delicate flowers. The only place I’d found them growing was near a spring on the other side of Harper’s place. He’d gone to a lot of effort and must have gotten up before sunrise to pick them.
“He left them when he came back early this morning to check on you,” Sloane said.
“Is he still here?” I straightened and glanced at the hall outside my doorway.
“He left with Jardun,” Laria said.
I should’ve been glad to hear that he’d gone, that he was respecting my wishes and keeping his distance. Instead, I was disappointed and miserable.
Laria placed a comforting hand on my arm. “I know you’ve never wanted to share the details about what happened between Khyron and you, but maybe it would help if you talked about it with us now?”
“There’s not much more to tell,” I said.
Laria crossed her arms and gave me one of her disbelieving looks. Sloane climbed on the opposite side of the bed, then sprawled on her stomach with her upper body braced on her elbows and stared at me expectantly.
I knew they weren’t going to leave until I told them what they wanted to hear. “Okay, fine.” I smacked my thighs and gave them the abbreviated version of my relationship with Khyron during the war. I included the part where he’d neglected to tell me he was the drezdarr’s son and how he promised to return and never did.
When I was finished, Laria said, “Honestly, he seems too honorable to have abandoned you, and he did come all the way out here to find you.”
“Not to mention he was willing to track you down on his own after we arrived, even after Laria and I both warned him there was a good chance you’d try to take off his head.”
“Are you sure he didn’t come after me because I refused to obey one of his directives?” The excuse sounded weak even to me.
“No way. You should have seen the way he reacted when he heard you’d left. He never said anything to us about punishing you, only that he needed to see you,” Sloane said.
“In case you’ve forgotten, someone poisoned him, and, according to Jardun, it wasn’t the first attempt on his life. Yet, he was willing to put himself in danger and travel all the way out here to find you,” Laria said.
“Kind of says a lot about the guy, don’t you think?” Sloane added.
It did and was one more thing in his favor, which didn’t help my confused emotional state. The fact that, no matter how much I wanted to hate him, I couldn’t deny after all this time I was still in love with him.
“Do you think it’s possible something happened to him when he left?” Laria asked.
“Like what?”
“Oh, I don’t know, something that kept him from coming back for you.” Laria tapped her chin. “Maybe something to do with the war, or maybe his father.”
“You know, there are always two sides to every story.” Sloane rolled into a sitting position with her legs crossed in front of her. “Maybe you should give him a chance to tell you his.”
Before I could give their advice much thought, footsteps echoed in the hallway outside my room. A few seconds later, Cara appeared in the doorway. “Morning, everyone.” She aimed her smirk directly at me. “I heard somebody had too much to drink and got an escort home by one very hot ketaurran male.”
The bad thing about living in a place this size was how quickly information traveled. Nothing about anyone’s personal life stayed a secret. I groaned, wishing I could crawl back into bed and forget about the night before. “I suppose everyone in the settlement has already heard about it.”
“Nah, just us.” Cara grinned. “And, of course, the handful of people who were still hanging around.”
That didn’t make me feel any better. If any of Burke’s guys had been there, I could expect a lot of teasing over the next few days.
“Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I’ll be heading out to my grandparents’ place in a few days. I still need to visit the trader’s market and see if I can find some backup parts for Trixie. If it’s okay with you”—she spoke to Laria—“I’d like to take her with me and work on her in my shop out there. Hopefully, if I don’t run into any problems with the repairs, it shouldn’t take me more than a week to get her u
p and running again.”
“After what Burke told us last night, are you sure you should be leaving at all?” A lot of strategic planning for the safety of the inhabitants had gone into the selection of the settlement’s location as well as its layout. Burke’s men did a great job of making sure everyone stayed protected. Even the outlying farming areas implemented precautions to keep the people who lived there safe. But those areas were spread out and harder to protect. If Doyle really wanted to get to Cara, her grandparents’ farm would be the best place to do it.
“I’ve been gone too long and need to check in, make sure they’re okay.” Cara crossed her arms. “Besides, you know me. I’m not big on hiding out. If Doyle really wants me, it doesn’t matter where I’m staying. At least if I’m out there, I can make sure my grandparents are safe.”
It wasn’t her family I was worried about, it was her. I understood Cara’s concern for her only living relatives. If any members of my family were still alive, nothing would stop me from wanting to protect them.
“Before I head out, I thought you all might be interested in doing a little reconnaissance with me,” Cara said.
“What kind of reconnaissance?” Laria asked. “Does it require leaving the settlement?”
There was no way Laria would leave without letting Jardun know first.
“No, I thought we might go check out the inside of the solarveyor we took when we escaped from Doyle.”
“Why?” The last time I’d been in the vehicle was when we were fleeing across the Quaddrien. I didn’t remember seeing anything inside that shouldn’t have been there.
“Remember when Rick and Neil forced us to stop, then asked us to turn over what we stole from Doyle?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“It just seemed odd and has been bothering me ever since.” Cara’s gaze turned speculative. “Why not just tell us they wanted the toxins back?”
I hadn’t given it much thought. “Now that you mention it… You think there’s something hidden in the transport, something they didn’t want us to find, don’t you?”
