CarnalPromise (34 page)

Exhausted, she leaned into Drakkar, wanting to sleep. Mace
had grabbed some cold-weather first aid and when he looked at her hands, saw
the blackened tips. “Frost bite. She’ll need a med tech.”

“She needs more than that. I think her ribs are broken and
she has a deep cut in her arm. Anya did a number on her and Hamner, as well as
Sasha.” The hitch in Drakkar’s voice was a clear sign.

Jinn’s heart stilled. The wolf had been a stalwart
companion, even when at a distance. She looked in his eyes. “Is she…?” Jinn
couldn’t say the word.

“Maybe.” Drakkar swallowed but couldn’t look back at her.
Instead, Mace finished his ministrations by applying a pain reducer then
Drakkar nestled her under his chin and held her close.

His warm body heated her frozen one. He’d sacrificed himself
and Sasha for her. Guilt mined deeper in Jinn’s soul. “I’m so sorry,” she
whispered. The ice on her lashes had melted and now her tears flowed unabated.
She buried her head against his chest and covered her face with her damaged
hands.
Look what you’ve done now.
She could only berate herself. If she
hadn’t made that one mistake of her lifetime, none of this would have happened.

Drakkar held her tighter and kissed the top of her head but
said nothing. Her shivers lessened as she heard the rest of the men file in.
Glancing through her parted fingers, she watched them stare at her, delivering
looks from resentment to curiosity.

Mace stood between them and looked from the men to Drakkar
and her. “They know most everything. We heard you from below. The winds made
sure of that.”

A few of the men stood. One handed her a warm drink as
Ragnar started more fire globes. She didn’t know what to say. Jinn squeezed her
eyes shut, and bringing her heels onto the seat, curled into a ball. “I’m sorry
for the deception. I know you all must hate me.”

Silence reigned for a long moment then Ragnar cleared his
throat and spoke. “Pix, we don’t hate you, not really. It’s just the war…” He
shook his head. “You’ve worked hard to prove yourself. If anything, you should
be admired for trying. Damn, a Svendian female, no less.” He laughed then eyed
her again. “It took a lot of guts to come to a Vulgarian party.” A few of the
others chuckled with him.

She opened her eyes and stared at Ragnar. “But we’ve been at
this brutal war for eons.”

“But there is a peace now,” Drakkar whispered. “And you are
a major part of that.”

Nodding, she studied his face, knowing her quest had ended.
Neither Drakkar nor her brother would let her find the man who had caused her
such pain.

Then she looked at the others. “My thanks to you all for
saving us. Someday, I’ll repay you. I promise.”

Ragnar huffed. “I’ll hold you to that, Pix.”

She blushed. “My real name is Jinn, Jinn of the house of
Skarptförstånd of Svendia.”

His eyes locked on her. In them, Jinn saw the
disappointment, the confusion, and the pain. “Rurik the Destroyer’s sister.”

“Yes.” She winced, sure that they would hate her forever.

Ragnar glanced down a moment then stared at her from
underneath his raised brows. “Well, it is what it is. From what I’ve heard in
the rumor mill, soon you’ll be a Vulgarian. Besides, you’ll always be Pix to
me. Just like any of my other sisters.” He grimaced in a dramatic way as he
rubbed his chest, indicating what a pain his sisters were. The rest of the men
laughed.

She looked from Drakkar to Mace, who stood with a quirky
grin on his face, nodding, then to the crew of men. All were exhausted but
seemed at ease. “I don’t understand. There’s been so much death. We’ve been at
war for eons.”

“And for reasons none of us can truly remember,” Mace
grumbled, “But you know in war, the blood and tears that are shed by comrades
blend until all become one. It is the faith of our corps and it’s now what you
and these others have done, battling for your survival and helping each other
survive. At this point, you could be from Earth for all they care. You put
forth your best and if you pledge your faithfulness to the corps, we will all
believe in you.”

A subtle agreement came in many ways from the others. Jinn
knew what Mace meant. She would fight to save any of these men. “Peace, then?”
She eyed Drakkar as she asked.

“Peace.” He nodded once and kissed her. Exhausted, she
closed her eyes, oblivious to everyone but Drakkar. Even so, Jinn knew, with
her failure, there would be no peace in her soul.

Thank the ancestors Jinn slept. Drakkar could tell by her
slow, rhythmic breaths. She needed a healer fast. A sizzling sounded in the
cordoned off corner of the room as the trainer Krystal beamed in.

“About damn time,” Mace yelled at her.

She frowned. “We had to break into the room. Someone sealed
the portal. When we got in we found the techno-shield mechanism sabotaged.” She
stared at Mace then Drakkar. “Karl is missing. When he heard Pixie was stuck on
the mountain he made some lame excuse to the admin staff and left with his
admin assistant, Tarla.” She grimaced. “We broke into his private computer
cloud. I’m afraid he’s been the leak with the Purists and for a long time now.
One of the techs found a bevy of data incriminating him. And Tarla, seems like
she was the one that sabotaged the ray. She’s a distant cousin of Anya’s you
know. There’s worse.” The woman’s shoulders sagged then she shook her head and
stared at Drakkar. “The tech went back a long ways. He’s still examining the
info but it looks like both had a hand in Ulrich the Bold’s death. We haven’t
found them yet but I thought I should let you know.” She eyed Mace again. “We
found Hamner. He’ll be okay but Sasha…” She studied Drakkar again. “We’re still
searching. Her tracking mechanism isn’t signaling but we won’t stop until we
find her.”

Drakkar nodded. He felt the grim line his mouth had become.
He rubbed his worried brow. “We need a healer stat.” Krystal looked at Jinn
then eyed Drakkar harder. “Neither of you look too good.”

Drakkar nodded then smirked when he gazed at Jinn, still
asleep upon his chest. “Your assessment would be correct.”

Krystal called for a healer as Drakkar softly picked Jinn up
and carried her to the transport area. She groaned a moment but in nanotime,
they transported to the med tech area, grateful the trainer had gotten things
working when she did. Even so, as the beams activated, he shed a tear for his
beloved Sasha.

Groggy, Jinn tried to open her eyes but her tiredness
prevented her. In the distance, she heard voices. Then someone pressed a soft
kiss on her forehead.

“Hello, darling.”

Mother?

Moaning, Jinn made the effort to bat her eyelashes open. She
noted Andromeda’s extended tummy then looked around. She lay in Drakkar’s room.
“You shouldn’t be here. The babe…”

Her mother brushed the hair from Jinn’s face and cradled
Jinn’s cheek in her hand. “Nothing could stop me from coming. Not even Alaric.”
She wore her sweet but small smile, the one that held a tiny underpinning of
mischief.

Jinn smiled back and kissed her mother’s palm. “Mother…”
Then a tear leaked from her eye as she remembered.

Andromeda shook her head. “We all know. Drakkar told us,
Alaric and me. My ‘husband’, in your favorite Earther terms, wouldn’t let me
come alone but don’t worry, we’re protected. Drakkar and his mother have been
gracious hosts and the
Punisher
is circling the planet, just in case.
Your brother will be here soon. He flies on a diplomatic flagship now.” Her
mother scrunched the features of her face, her way of sweetly mocking the
formality of Rurik’s new position.

Jinn wanted to laugh but her ribs still pained her. She
lifted her hand and saw that it was contained by the almost weightless bubble
healing device.

Her mother glanced at that then brushed her cheek again.
“Your hands needed more work. The Vulgarian healer did a wonderful job. Alaric
is making sure you’ll be good as new soon.” Her mother’s warm gaze changed. Her
brows arched and the lines around her mouth deepened. “Jinn, will you bond now?
Are you ready? If not, I will find some way to stop this.”

“No, Mother.” Jinn rubbed her aching head with the back of
her wrist to ease the pain, wishing she could do the same with her heart. “I
promised. I failed the test. It was our agreement. Yet Drakkar saved me. I
would have died on that mountain if he hadn’t been there. If anything, I owe
him this much. He risked his life for me and I think his cherished pet, Sasha,
was killed because of me.” Jinn choked back the moisture in her throat as she
spoke. “Besides, Drakkar is a good man and our worlds do need peace. It is what
father wanted, what he died for. I have to make good for him.”

“I understand,” her mother sighed. “Darling daughter, none
of this was your fault. No one blames you, especially not Rurik. But he can
tell you that himself when he arrives. Now, I’ll be back. I think your
bondsmate wants to speak to you.” Her mother rose and left the room.

Jinn buried her face in the pillow. Would her brother
forgive her? Would Drakkar?
He must hate me now. All these years of fighting
and strife, the losses…

A hurried step sounded in the hallway. Jinn glanced up and
saw Drakkar in the doorway. He looked worried.

And scared.

The thought was so absurd Jinn laughed.
Definitely a
strange life.

He smiled then and eased into the room, sitting on the bed
next to her. “Jinn.” He closed his eyes as he lifted her arm and took a deep
breath of her skin. Then he placed a soft but passionate kiss near her elbow.

The sensation fired her in new ways. “Drakkar.” Her eyes
watered again. “I’m so sorry.” Filled with such grief, she choked on her words.

He eased her into his arms and kissed her temple. “It isn’t
your fault. Anya.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment then opened them and
gazed at Jinn. “That was my mistake. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t think she
had such vengeance in her.”

Jinn tried to smile. “We all make mistakes.” She looked away
and frowned. “Especially me.”

Drakkar bent to her and kissed her check. “Jinn, what
happened to your father wasn’t your fault either. You couldn’t have known your
uncle was the culprit. I just wish you would have told me sooner. I could have
helped.”

She shook her head, rubbing her forehead against his chest.
“It was my burden. I didn’t want to put anyone else at risk. Now I have lost.”
She covered her face with her bubble-wrapped hands and cried as she buried her
head against him. “Now that you know my secret, I know you won’t let me go
after him. There is no one else who will find him though, not unless he dies of
old age or kills himself but by then, he’ll have damaged so much more.”

“Shhh,” he whispered as he held her tight and stroked her
hair. “You can’t believe that. We fight as a team now, the Svendians and
Vulgarians. We’ll succeed, especially with your brother focused on this.” He
lifted her chin with the crook of his finger and gently kissed her mouth. “And
you haven’t lost, either. You chose life and for that I will be eternally
grateful. Besides,” he whispered against her lips, “I’m sure it’s what your
father would have wanted.”

“You don’t…” She hiccupped as she lifted her head to stare
into his lush evergreen eyes. “You don’t hate me?”

His brows arched as his hand cradled her face. He brushed
his thumb over her brow. “What would make you think that?”

She winced. “What I did. It extended the war. Then there’s
Sasha…”

He caressed her face with his fingers. “I miss Sasha, that’s
true but she died to save you and for that I will be forever in her debt.”

“Have you found her body?”

He bowed his head. “No, not yet. She probably crawled off to
a hidden place to breathe her last but with the full force of the winter winds
coming it wouldn’t be smart to search for her much longer.”

Jinn wanted to swallow but her throat closed on her.
“Drakkar, I’m so sorry.”

He pressed his forefinger against her mouth. “It wasn’t your
fault.” He held her face in his hands. “I…” He paused, gazing at her and for
the first time that she could remember, he stood at a loss for words.

She leaned into his chest and kissed him. When she pulled
away, he smiled a long sad smile.

“I love you,” he croaked. “I have for some time. I need you
to know that. And whether you love me or not, I will do my damndest to prove it
to you the rest of our lives. I won’t lose you, Jinn. Ever. I will die before
that happens, whether you want me to or not.” His lips touched hers with a
depth she had never felt.

“Oh, Drakkar.” She released a deep long sigh. “Oh, Drakkar, I
love you too. I just couldn’t tell you because I didn’t…” Her voice choked and
she couldn’t speak.

“Because you didn’t want me hurt.”

Her eyes locked with his and in his gaze she read the love
and caring that he had shown so often. “Yes.”

He touched his forehead to hers. “Don’t worry, Beloved. I’m
a big boy and I can take care of both of us. Although—” He lifted his head. “You
are an amazing woman. After everything we’ve been though, I do trust you can
take care of yourself.” He grimaced. “Unless, of course, it’s only because
you’ve got some super-secret mission that you’ve given yourself and you won’t
tell me or anyone else about it.” He looked at her with mock criticism and a
lifted brow. “I think we’re going to have an interesting union.”

She threw her arms around him. “Oh, Drakkar.”

A female voice “ahemed” at the door. “Er, I hate to
interrupt my children while they are, er…” Ástrid shrugged as Jinn’s mother
giggled behind her. Ástrid pointed her chin to Drakkar, “your brother-in-law
just arrived. He would like to speak to you. In the meantime, Andromeda and I
will dress Jinn and get her ready. It’s been decided that you’ll bond on
Nyphosia. Sophos has been such a major force on this. I hope the two of you don’t
mind.”

“I don’t care,” Drakkar whispered and kissed the inside of
Jinn’s wrist near the med bubble. “I just want you.”

Jinn’s heart filled with longing, for Drakkar, for a good
life with him, for peace. She caressed his lips with her tongue and then pressed
her mouth against his. As he drew her closer, she parted her mouth and
murmured, “That’s all I want too.”

At the entrance to the home, greetings were heard. Jinn
listened to Rurik’s deep rumble.

Drakkar glanced passed his mother and grimaced. “My high-powered
guest awaits.” The other two women laughed. Drakkar sighed and kissed Jinn’s
cheek before he strode out the door.

Drakkar took a deep breath before he stepped into the room.
Rurik, the Headmaster of Svendia, stood in the entrance speaking with Alaric,
his friend. To the headmaster’s left stood his bondsmate, Trista. She glowed
with some inner peace that Drakkar wished, even now, he could find. He worried
about Jinn, his heart broke over Sasha and then he had to wonder if Anya would
live, if Craddock’s biodroid would kill her and if Craddock would still try to
steal Jinn away.

Won’t let that happen. Can’t let that happen.

“Captain,” Rurik smiled and approached him, offering his
hand in the way of the Svendians and Vulgarians. They grasped each other’s
wrists and shook. “How’s my sister?” The older man’s eye gravitated to the
still open bedroom door then back to Drakkar.

“Physically, she’ll be well in no time but as I’m sure the
healer informed you, it’s her emotions that scare me. She blames herself for
your father’s death.”

Rurik nodded solemnly. “So Alaric said. Let me speak to her.
I think I can make everything right.”

Drakkar stepped aside as Rurik passed their mothers and
stepped into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

Jinn looked up and saw the worried frown on her brother’s
face. “Are you all right?” he asked as he came and sat next to her on the bed.

“I am now. Rurik…”

He held up his hand then took her wrapped one in his. “No,
Jinn, I should have known better. I should have fought you harder to find what
was wrong. I knew…”

“Brother,” Jinn whispered, “we both thought it was Drakkar.
When I found that it wasn’t, well, the guilt hit me harder than I ever
imagined. I’m so sorry.”

He shook his blond head. “There is nothing for you to be sorry
about. You were an innocent. There was no way for you to know.”

“Our father,” she said, tears streaming down her face, “my
fault.”

Rurik embraced her, holding her in that same way he had as a
child. “There is no fault in you, dearest sister. If anything, I hold the
blame. I should have figured this out much sooner.”

Jinn didn’t want him condemning himself. She pulled away,
looking at him intently so that he would understand. “You were busy fighting
the war. How would you know?”

“Precisely.” The corner of his mouth curved upward in a
quirky smile. “So how would you have known?”

The truth struck Jinn. She had been an inexperienced youth
and her uncle had been a mentor. There was no wonder she hadn’t been able to
recognize Craddock’s deceit.

Rurik nodded. “Forgive yourself, Jinn. It wasn’t your doing.
I know Father would have never held Craddock’s actions against you. He loved
all of us, you know. Father.” Rurik’s voice croaked. “Now we have the chance to
complete what he envisioned.” He paused a moment. “Jinn, I might be wrong but I
think Drakkar has deep feelings for you. He’s sacrificed much to see you safe.”

“I know.” She closed her eyes, the thought of a life with
Drakkar somehow easing her soul. “He loves me, Rurik. And I’m sure I love him.
Such a strange life…” She looked downward and sighed.

“Then you won’t fight the bonding?”

She giggled in a somber way. “That was never my intent. I
just needed to find our uncle first and make sure he wouldn’t hurt anyone else
ever again. Rurik, you have to convince Drakkar to let me track him.”

Rurik stood. “That won’t be necessary.”

She knitted her brows. “What do you mean? Did you find him?”

He smirked. “Put on your regular dress and come out. I have
a lot to say to the small gathering we have here and I think it’s something
you’d like to hear.”

When Rurik walked out and closed the door, Jinn rushed to
change. What had happened that she didn’t know about?

Rurik found Drakkar on the deck overlooking the Selesian
Forest. He strode to the railing and stood next to his new brother-in-law,
quiet at first, overlooking the raw beauty of the planet. The rays of the
setting sun glittered on the frosted trees. The chilled air invigorated his
senses. “I can see why you like your home in the wilderness. There’s nothing
quite like this, is there?”

Drakkar nodded, still looking on the horizon. “It reminds me
of Earth to some extent. At this elevation, in another thirty or so sleep
cycles, the deep cold will hit. It already has on the highest mountain tops.”
Drakkar sucked in a draught of air. “Everything will be frozen then. I had
hoped to have Jinn enjoy this before that happened but again my desires will
have to wait.”

Rurik leaned against the rail. “The time will come when you
won’t have to wait any longer, yet perhaps, the waiting will make it that much
better.”

Drakkar cut a glance to him. “You’ve heard that Karl was
involved in your father’s death. I’m sorry about that.”

Rurik nodded. “As are we all. Both our people have been
deceived. Now is the time to mend that and ferret out the real enemies.”

Drakkar nodded in return.

“I have news,” Rurik said. “I’d like us all to gather inside
your home. But before that, I want you to know.” He cleared his throat and
stood, looking at his once-upon-a-time enemy.

Drakkar studied him in return, his eyes questioning what
Rurik would say next.

“You’re a good man, Drakkar. I thank you for keeping Jinn
safe. I know it wasn’t an easy task. I am in your debt for that, and for
finding out what has haunted her all these years. I know we’ve been at war but
beyond that…” He cleared his throat again. “I just want you to know I consider
you not just a brother-in-law but a true friend.”

Drakkar’s looked changed from wary to surprised. “I’m
honored.”

Rurik waved his hand. “No, the honor is mine if you accept
this. On the Svendian side, I welcome you to the family and know that if you or
yours ever need something that I can help with, I will.”