A Star is Born: The Coming Dawn: Book I (26 page)

“Like my blood,” Ky stated wryly.

“Like your blood,” Oella agreed. “I, er…I can make us pillows to sit on.” It was a suggestion that seemed to warrant an entrance.

“That would be nice.”

Oella picked up small pebbles from the floor, and first changed them into glass by pinching them. She then placed each glass marble, one by one, onto the ground in a circle around the fire. They transformed into big, red, fluffy pillows as she set them down.

Ky moved to sit on one. Oella sat beside her, and rubbed her swollen black-and-blue feet. “Your feet,” Ky gasped in horror. Oella shrugged and said it was worth the opportunity.

Huntra came strolling into the room. His belly was full once again. He had black ink all over his white face that made him look Siamese. He was trying to lick it off, by grooming his chops and shaking his head. When he saw the pillows, he went to one and sat on the comfortable bed. He wet his paw and kept trying, unsuccessfully, to lick off the black ink. Instead it smeared onto his paws.

Oella soon fell asleep, and soon Huntra began to snore loudly. Ky stared in the fire for what felt like an hour. Her crystal around her neck was dim, but she had no idea what time it meant…maybe late night, high noon, or daybreak.

“What is she doing in here?” Cobaaron griped when he came back into the room holding a long strip of meat, and a plant that looked like rhubarb.

“She’s sleeping.”

“I don’t want her in here, Ky.
She’s a witch
!” he protested harshly in a strained voice barely over a whisper.

“I know. She made all these pillows with magic. She fashioned all my belongings, too, which we deemed safe.”

“I don’t want her in here. I don’t want you to be alone with her,
ever
,” he demanded, pointing to Oella. “I don’t even want you talking to her. Okay? This is the last time you’re permitted to have her in your presence.”

“But she was my servant back in the City of Sterlings. Why is it different here?”

“It’s no different. I made sure she wasn’t around you once I found out in the city, and now I still want you to stay away from the witch. You can’t be alone with her. She is dangerous.”

“It seems silly to me. All the things she made me were safe,” Ky replied with another shrug. “She’s been nothing but nice to me. Maybe you’re wrong about her. All witches can’t be evil. Any statement with the word
all
is untrue. Everyone knows that.”

“I don’t care how it seems, as long as you stay away from her. I know this world; you don’t. I know what is good for you; obviously, you don’t. Ky, I don’t want you around her
at all
. That is final. End of discussion. Don’t question me anymore.”

“I’m not one of your men you can boss around, Cobaaron.” She glared.

“You’re right. You’re not a warrior I can boss around;
you’re
my wife
or will be. You must listen to me. Out here I’m in charge of you. Mind me!”

Ky was immediately fuming mad. “You promised me to be your equal! It doesn’t sound like I am.” She couldn’t believe his arrogance. She was not below him. “If we’re breaking promises, then…you’re wrong, Cobaaron, I’m not your wife. I’m just a girl who bled all over you.”

“That was really rude.” He stared at her a moment, obviously hoping she would take it back, but when she didn’t he turned his back on her. He placed the meat and the plant onto the fire. Then he proceeded to shake Oella’s shoulder. “
Leave us
!” he growled his command when she was barely awake. “Stay away from Ky!”

“Now
that
was rude. She was exhausted after walking. For being compassionate to all mankind you don’t seem caring at the moment. Or is it just men you’re loyal to?” Ky snapped when Oella left. He didn’t reply. It annoyed her that he was ignoring her.

They were quiet as the meat sizzled loudly, and filled the room with a scent of steak. They both watched in silence. Neither wanted to talk while they were irritated and angry. He cooked the shrub until the branches were black and then flipped the bush over. When the food was done cooking, he placed the meat over the plant. They weren’t looking at each other, and it wasn’t until he started to eat and she had yet to touch the food that he garbled a command, “Eat.”

She ripped a chunk of meat off and then chewed on the juicy steak. It tasted like buttery tenderloin. She couldn’t help but loudly eat with satisfaction.

“Have you thought about what I said? Do you see how you were wrong?” Cobaaron asked her. “Will you mind me now?”

“Excuse me?” She glared. If his remark wasn’t enough to infuriate her, all her frustrations from the past few days came to a head. “Are you
so
controlling
that I can only have
you
as a friend? I have
no one
here besides you and
a cat
. I’m sure because of it I have an unhealthy fixation on you. People are social by nature, and I always had at least five good friends or more. Your company, at times, isn’t pleasant either!” She mocked him in a low voice saying, “Just do what you say, don’t ask questions. Keep to myself...don’t shine, don’t move, don’t talk, and don’t breathe heavily. Can I do anything? Am I your slave? Am I really entering into bondage?”

“Really? You’re not even going to try to see that I’m right,” he scoffed under his breath and shook his head. “You are really showing your age right now; you’re definitely eighteen.” Her blood boiled at being called immature.

“What is that supposed to mean? I’m definitely eighteen. I have every reason to be upset. You expect me to be nothing but subservient when I’m my own person.”

“I should be able to expect you to comply with my instructions. I told you this is something I need. We may not be married
yet
, but you will be my wife. I won’t have my partner disobeying me in front of my men. You need to trust I know better than you in this world. And I tell you my reasons I need you to do something. I’ve never told you that you couldn’t have friends.
Just not the witch
. See the logic in what I’m saying; I know you can, but you simply don’t want to. This argument is childish. You’re young, Ky, but I need you to grow up. I need you to understand I must be overbearing to keep you safe.”

“If I’m so immature, then why do you stay with me?”

“Because for some reason I’m crazy about you, Ky.” He stood, took a large chunk of meat, and left.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The fire was nothing more than glowing embers. The coals still emitted heat and a faint glow that reflected on the walls as dancing light. She was still perturbed by their conversation. Now, hours later, he was still gone, and most likely angry. She cleared her mind wanting to read his thoughts. Knowing one way or another was better than sitting and brooding over their argument.

He was in the bathhouse. His thoughts were on her. He was still mad at her, but he had calmed down quite a lot, though he was equally as resolute about not letting her befriend the witch. Ky shook his thoughts from her head. At least she knew what he felt, and where he was. It was best to stay away, so the fight wasn’t rekindled.

Ky increasingly grew bored of sitting on the same pillow for so long. She decided to get up for a stroll. The large cavern was full of sleeping warriors and women. As Cobaaron told her there would be, several women bathed in the fountain of Lu Lush. One of the women she saw was Oella. She was touching the statue’s big belly, clearly devastated over not having children. The sadness on her face was heart wrenching. Ky could grasp the fullness of her pain, which almost brought Ky to tears. If the other women felt as Oella did, it was clear all the women carried a heavy burden.

Seeing how devoted women were to bearing children, she wondered if they were putting too much pressure on themselves, and because of it, they were having a hard time conceiving. To
worship
pregnancy must be taxing.

It was odd she had seen only one child since her arrival. Where were all the infants? Were children
that
rare? Surely the human population was dwindling if so few children were being born, while warriors died. Even if they aged slowly and lived lives that were several times beyond what she knew normal, there had to be more to the story.

Ky walked away. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but she didn’t want to be seen watching the women. Surely, they didn’t go to the fountain to be seen if they were sneaking off as everyone slept.

She found herself wandering toward the bathhouse. Knowing Cobaaron was there she hesitated going in. Then she decided she could simply relax far from him while giving him space. She hadn’t bathed in over a day, and soaking in water with privacy was a good idea.

There were a few wide steps leading to the water. The pool was colder than she thought it would be. It gave her chills, and she tiptoed in, hiking up her dress. From what she could tell the large room was deserted. Thin tunnels splintered out in various directions. The water was shallow, and she waded out until her dress was hiked up to her waist. There were protruding rocks where few warriors and women hung their garments before hiding in the tunnels. Ky wasn’t going to undress. She pressed her back against a jagged wall, thinking the spot where she stood was good enough. The longer she stood in one spot, the warmer the water became.

It took Ky a moment to realize warm water was drifting out of the tunnels mixing with the cold where she stood. She stretched her hand out toward the warmer water, feeling the comfortable heat from down a tunnel. She decided to walk into the tunnel, and then stopped, because if she hiked up her dress anymore, she would expose her body more than she wished; her new world thought nothing of undergarments.

“Just keep coming,” Cobaaron’s voice spoke in her head. “It’s warmer back here.”

She squinted, looking down the tunnel, but saw nothing. She hesitated, surprised he wanted her company, but then began to walk. As she waded, the water became increasingly hotter. Then she saw him. He was moving toward her. They met in the middle. He smiled at her. “So you’re not mad?” he asked her.

“No more than you,” she said, smiling.

“I know. I was wondering if we’re okay. Can we give each other time to adjust? Maybe you’ll make a new friend, and this will all work itself out. I want you happy.”

“I’m done talking about it,” she said honestly. “I’ll mull it over later. But thank you for validating my feelings. I’ll think about what you said later. I don’t want to fight.”

“I’m done talking about it, too.”

He smiled, and then clutched her dress. “You bathe clothed?” He grinned, and then slowly lifted her gown over her head. Ky swallowed when he stopped to look at her exposed body. His smile softened.

He tossed her dress over to the jagged rock, and then gently drew her toward him, embracing her. She felt their magical bond urge her to kiss and make love to him, but she was still upset. She wrapped her arms and legs around him. He carried her to deeper water. He stopped when they were chest deep.

She put her head on his shoulder not being able to stop the union’s urges to let go and feel his secure arms. When she breathed in, she smelled his warm, clean skin. The scent was comforting. As if the union knew to make her feel at ease, the argument slowly drifted from her. She no longer cared about anything but him. She loved him.

In his arms and alone together, was exactly what she needed and wanted. She felt at peace and there was no other place she wanted to be. Never had she loved him more; the union stirred an even greater rush of devotion. She took a deep breath, relaxing. She was incredibly thankful he belonged to her. He too let out a long exhale that made Ky smile. She had a strong desire to tell him how she felt, no matter what the consequences were. “I love you,” she whispered, not needing to be loud, because she rested close to his ear.

He lifted her chin with a tender touch, and kissed her with such emotion that expressed his feelings. There was no doubt he returned her love.

The warmth of their lips changed the mood. What was indescribable love one moment, shifted as the union made their bodies burn with passion and raging desire. She knew Cobaaron felt it too because he suddenly became zealous. His caressing tongue seemed to possess hormones because his fevered kiss excited her, driving her wild. She instantly throbbed between her legs, craving him. There was no holding back. He was irresistible. Every cell in her body was attuned to his presence, and every part of her wanted to be touched by him. Cobaaron immediately pushed her off.

“Why are you fighting the union?” Ky heard herself ask.

“I can’t take you before I can change you if I need to. I need to fight this if you won’t.” He put more space between them. “
This union is not stronger than me!
”

Ky slowly moved toward him, swaying as she walked. She carefully flipped her hair away from her breasts, as they emerged from the water. Then she suppressed a pleased smile when his eyes swept over her. From where he stood, he breathed in her scent and she knew she had him. He teetered in his spot, struggling between his desires and logic. The union was pulling her to close the gap between them until she pressed her breasts against him. Then she stood on her tip toes, purposefully sliding her nipples up him, before whispering close to his skin, “I’m yours for the taking.”

He held her at bay, taking a few more steps back. “Love, I can’t. I have to go to the cold part of the pool, and shake this off.” He began to walk away, but shook his head and turned back around to add, “I didn’t mean that literally.”

“I’ll help you.” She seductively licked and then bit her bottom lip, bringing his attention to them, as her body moved on its own accord toward him. She had no control over her body, but she didn’t want control. She knew the union was taking over her mind and motions, but she was convinced it was for the best and she didn’t care. He was much stronger than her if he could fight it, and for once she didn’t like his strength. “I don’t want you to refuse me,” Ky said, but again the words were not her own free will. Her union was even changing him to be weaker in his resistance toward her, and she could see it as he drifted toward her while shaking to maintain his freewill.