The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] (53 page)

“Yes, once I was leader.”

Tara looked at Kuro in disbelief. “And so you devised the plan for me to be drugged?” Rage ran through her body. She looked at him coldly, her fists clenched. “How did you convince the Neurians to put me to sleep for six cycles?”

Kuro made another attempt at a chuckle, and his hand reached for his bandaged side. “Six cycles? Gowsky was supposed to keep you under a full winter. It just goes to show what kind of effect you have on men, sweetheart. I knew he wouldn’t be able to do it. It made him crazy not to go help you in that burning building. I knew that.”

He looked at her, smiling. “I told them if I ruled the clans we could negotiate a contract to buy their oil. I told them it would never work with the current leaders of the Runners and Gothman. They trusted me. But they trust that Crator-god of theirs more,” he said these last words with disgust.

Tara pulled her laser and aimed it. “Your lack of faith in Crator has resulted in your own demise.”

“You are so beautiful when you’re angry.”

Once she would have melted in his arms if he’d smiled as he was now.

“You won’t shoot me. I know you still love me. I can see it in your eyes.”

Tara aimed her weapon straight at his face.

The laser streamed through the air. Kuro died instantly.

Tara gasped in surprise. She hadn’t shot him! Who had? She turned quickly and watched as Darius lowered his laser and returned it to his pocket.

Instead of looking at her, he turned and disappeared.

She looked back at Kuro, lowered her head and stood quietly for a long moment. Then, slowly, she walked out of the makeshift room and left the large tent.

The snow and wind had stopped. A heavy, gray sky showed patches of deep, rich black where the clouds had pulled away.

Most of the party had disappeared into the Runners’ trailers when the snow had resumed falling. The lights from them lit her path as she followed Darius, who walked several yards before her, heading for their bikes.

“I would have killed him,” she said as she straddled her bike.

“I felt I deserved the honor.” He looked over.

Tara looked up at the sky. The moon appeared through a black tear in thick gray clouds, although the clouds threatened to obscure it at any moment. She studied it for a minute, remembering the lady in the burning building who had talked about the Lunians colonizing the moon.

“Do you think there are people living up there?” She turned and looked at the rugged features of Darius’ strong face.

“I don’t know.”

“I was told there’s a colony living up there.”

Darius looked surprised. He stared at the moon for a moment. “I’m sure if there are people up there, you’d see to it that they follow you unconditionally, you would.”

He started his bike and slowly took off on the packed snow toward the house.

Tara took one last look at the moon and followed him.

About the author

All my life, I’ve wondered at how people fall into the routines of life. The paths we travel seemed to be well-trodden by society. We go to school, fall in love, find a line of work (and hope and pray it is one we like), have children and do our best to mold them into good people who will travel the same path. This is the path so commonly referred to as the “real world”.

The characters in my books are destined to stray down a different path other than the one society suggests. Each story leads the reader into a world altered slightly from the one they know. For me, this is what good fiction is about, an opportunity to escape from the daily grind and wander down someone else’s path.

Lorie O’Clare lives in Kansas with her three sons.

Lorie welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310-3502.

Also by Lorie O’Clare

If you are interested in a spicier read, check out her erotic romances at Ellora’s Cave Publishing (www.ellorascave.com).

Cariboo Lunewulf 1: Taming Heather

Fallen Gods: Jaded Prey

Fallen Gods: Lotus Blooming

Fallen Gods: Tainted Purity

Full Moon Rising

Lunewulf 1: Pack Law

Lunewulf 2: In Her Blood

Lunewulf 3: In Her Dreams

Lunewulf 4: In Her Nature

Lunewulf 5: In Her Soul

Sex Slaves 1: Sex Traders

Sex Slaves 2: Waiting For Yesterday

Sex Slaves 3: Waiting For Dawn

The First Time

Things That Go Bump in the Night 2004 anthology

Torrid Love: Caught!

Cerridwen, the Celtic goddess of wisdom, was the muse who brought inspiration to storytellers and those in the creative arts. Cerridwen Press encompasses the best and most innovative stories in all genres of today’s fiction. Visit our site and discover the newest titles by talented authors who still get inspired—much like the ancient storytellers did,
once upon a time
.

www.cerridwenpress.com