HerMatesEmbrace (33 page)

His lips roamed over her shoulder to her neck, leaving a
tingling trail in his wake. She cocked her neck to the side giving him more
access. He rumbled his approval. His hands roamed over her stomach in a slow,
deliberate claiming. She arched into his hands, trying to urge him to move a
little faster.

“You have to be ready for me.” He nipped her shoulder in
slight reprimand.

She exhaled and frowned. As if she’d ever not been ready for
him. Her thoughts focused only on the heat of his body and the hard ridge of
the cock pressing against her buttocks. Simply being close to him seemed to be
enough to excite her now. Desire began to burn within her. It wouldn’t take
much to make it flare out of control again.

She drew in a hissing breath as his fingers brushed over the
sensitive lips of her pussy. She moaned. Her nails scraped against the stone
wall as her fingers flexed. She wanted to touch him. Her hand fell, but even
before it reached her side, he growled. His teeth nipped at her earlobe.

“Put it back.” His voice was little more than a hiss in her
ear, but she heard the steel there. “Obey.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Colm shaking his head.
She groaned, but lifted her hand back to the wall. She didn’t want to push his
control, but he was going so slowly. Need built with every inhalation. Her
inner cat pushed at her, wanting to join with her mate. The last thing he had
to worry about was her not being ready. He should be able to smell it and sense
it just as she did with him.

His fingers pressed between the lips and stroked over her
clit. Her hips rocked into his touch. She licked her lips and her breathing
hitched. It felt so good. His other hand left her, but almost before she
noticed it, she felt his cock nudging into her. Then his hand was back, palming
her breast, squeezing and rolling her nipple. He rocked slowly into her. When
his free hand curled around her waist, she could feel the tension in the muscles.
His palm cupped her pussy and his fingers pressed between to rub her clit.

He pressed kisses along her shoulder. She drew in a hissing
breath as he began to withdraw from her. Her hips pressed back. A low growl
built in her throat. His control frustrated and roused the cat in her. She
wanted to be claimed.

His teeth clasped on her shoulder, not breaking the skin. An
answering growl rumbled against her skin as his arms tightened. His hips
slammed forward against her. She almost purred when he withdrew and drove deep
again. That’s what she needed. She moaned and pushed back, meeting his fierce
strokes. His mouth released, but in the next breath, he struck. His fangs sank
into the strong muscle, holding on as he fucked her.

She gasped, but the pain mixed with the heat and need
boiling inside until it was indistinguishable. She couldn’t hold back a mewling
moan. “More. Linc, please.”

He gave her more. His fingers strummed her clit as his cock
drove deep. She rocked back into the strokes, needing the intensity and the
hunger. His hand plucked at her nipple as the fingers at her pussy worked her
clit. His ferocity fed her own. She bucked back against him, but could feel the
tightening of her approaching climax.

Another low growl rumbling against her shoulder sent her
over the edge. She screamed. Linc stiffened behind her, a groan vibrating
against her skin. His hips drove into her clenching sheath. She felt the hot
spurt of his cum, but he continued to move within her riding the pleasure. His
arms tightened, keeping her tight against his body when she sagged forward a
little bit.

The experience with both men had been more intense than
she’d imagined when she thought of completing the bond. She’d always thought of
it maybe falling into place as if it was a missing piece, easy and smooth.
Gods, the intensity still burned through her in a way. She didn’t want to move
too far away from them. And she knew she’d have to have them again soon. That
was one part of the bonding that she didn’t mind at all.

“We’ll go upstairs as soon as I catch my breath and we all
get dressed. Don’t plan on being out of our reach for at least the rest of the
day.” Linc’s tongue swirled over his mark, laving away the small amount of
blood there.

“You’re not getting out of my sight either.” She leaned her
head to the side to encourage him to explore a little more.

“I think we’ll start with bathing you and then we’ll take
our time tasting you.” Colm walked over and joined them. His hand cupped her
cheek, the fingertips brushing across her lips.

Chapter Thirty

Colm stalked slowly through the forest. He and Linc had men
watching the river. That was the easiest way to get here without being
detected. While the overland travel had always been possible, slipping into the
area was easiest with a boat. Last night, his men found a two-person craft
hidden among the branches of thick bushes along the riverside.

That discovery set the hunt in motion. Maybe having his
transport destroyed panicked Kynar. His trail had been found heading for the
gate. Colm looked over at Linc. They’d get the man this time. Determination
built with each step.

Cami wouldn’t have to live under the threat from him any
longer. It grated that this had gone on so long. She had been very good about
being confined. Better than he ever would have. Still, she needed to let the
cat run free. That part of her had been denied for almost as long as she’d been
at their
Thent
.

They silently tracked the man through the forest. He
traveled fast and the trail was so light, Colm wondered if he had any supplies
with him. Kynar wasn’t panicked completely by being hunted. The man must think
he had a chance to get away on foot. If he’d been too unnerved, he’d shift and
run. For all Colm knew, this might not be the first time that the man had been
hunted. It would be the last, regardless of Kynar’s choice. If he surrendered,
he’d be taken back to the
Thent
and transport arranged. If he fought,
there was a chance he could die now.

Colm had expected the man to run right after the other false
Ardin, Laed, had been captured. The man had stayed. Colm assumed the man
watched the
Thent
, trying to see if there was a way to get inside
without detection. He didn’t know what the man’s motive was. Had he wanted to
try to rescue his friend, Laed, or to try to get to Cami to get that crystal?

Tracking the man, he focused on getting closer to him. It
took him a little time to catch the subtle change in direction. When he did,
Colm’s eyes widened. He was looping back toward the
Thent
. And Cami.
Colm gritted his teeth and bit back a curse. With a good number of men out in
the forest helping with the search, Kynar might have a chance of getting inside
without being detected.

“Linc.” He looked over at his bond brother, but knew from
the hardening look on his face that he didn’t have to say any more.

“I’ll head straight back to the
Thent
. If he keeps on
the arcing route he’s taking now, I should beat him there.” Linc took a deep
breath and slowly released it, but his hands clenched into fists, revealing the
tension in his body. “I’ll leave most of the men with you. Contact me if his
route changes.”

“With any luck, we can trap him between us, cutting off any
hope of flight.” Colm met Linc’s eyes. “Make sure Cami’s safe while we’re
finishing this.”

“I’ll have her locked up tight. Don’t worry about her.” Linc
smiled and selected a few men before leaving at a fast jog.

Colm focused on the trail and moving as fast as he could to
catch up with the man. Kynar might seem to be going against logic, but Colm
knew he probably had a plan.

Linc pushed the panic surging inside him down. When the
Thent
came into sight, he picked up his pace to get to it and Cami. He needed to see
her, to know that Kynar hadn’t managed to get past the walls as the other
tamaurg
had. The gates opened as he approached them. He went through, pausing only to
yell for a search of the inner courtyard and set the men on the walls to watch
for any sign of the man.

Linc burst into the
Thent
and pushed open doors as he
went, looking for Cami. He sniffed, searching for her scent. He grabbed a
warrior as he searched and brought him along. A trace of her fragrance lingered
on the first floor, but not fresh. He didn’t catch a hint of a strange shifter.
That reassured him a little, but he didn’t stop moving.

As he reached the stairs, he found the trail a little
fresher there. Letting his nose lead, he made his way up to the second level
and toward their wing of rooms. Stationing a man at the entrance to their
section of rooms, he went to find her.

Part of him was relieved. She was already here. Almost
completely safe. He wouldn’t be completely satisfied until he’d searched the
rooms here and had her lock the door. As satisfied as he could be since she
couldn’t go to her haven yet. He hoped that they managed to do that soon. He struggled
to hold onto his control when she was so exposed to danger. She’d be the main
target of their enemies. He wanted to know she had someplace to safe to go.

He pushed open doors as he passed, checking inside for any
sign of an intruder and looking for Cami. He’d do a more thorough search once
he found her, but if possible, he didn’t want to let anyone slip in behind him.
He didn’t find anyone until he came to the room next to theirs. Cami sat on the
bed there, sewing quietly. She looked up as he entered. Her mouth dropped open
and she gasped. She was plainly surprised to see him. A smile spread across her
face. He had no idea what she was doing sewing in this room and now he didn’t
care. She was within reach and she was still safe.

He stalked over to her and gripped her arm, but was careful
not to hurt her. “Come with me.”

He kept his hand near his weapon as he began slowly,
methodically searching every room along their hallway. Her feet dragged a
little. He knew she was confused, but she didn’t say anything until he pushed
open the second door.

“What’s wrong? Has something happened? What are you looking
for?” She didn’t pull back from him, but she hissed the question at him.

Linc put his finger to his lips to signal for quiet and
continued the search. She followed along, but the glare she slanted at him
indicated he’d hear about it as soon as he finished. He cleared each room
slowly, his senses alert to any sound or movement. When he cleared the last
room, he released her in the hall near the large metal door.

“What was that about?” Her hand landed on her hip and the
index finger of her other hand dug into his chest.

“Kynar’s trail began leading toward the
Thent
. I have
men beginning a search within the walls, but I wanted to make sure that he
hadn’t gotten into the building and come after you.” Linc hugged her and simply
reveled in the feel of her solid and safe in his arms for a moment in spite of
the stiffness of her body.

“He wouldn’t come after me first. It doesn’t make sense.
Yeah, he might be after the crystal still, but he’d know that getting to me
would be difficult and forcing me to tell him where it was almost impossible
before he was discovered. If he’s coming here, he’s coming after Laed.” She
looked up at him and shook her head. “Although I’d never have credited him with
that kind of loyalty, even to Laed.”

“A lot of what they’ve done doesn’t make sense. Now I’m
going to stand outside this door until I hear it lock. I want you to close it
and secure it. Don’t open it to anyone other than Colm or me.” Linc drew her to
the end of the hall and the metal door and waited until the man he’d brought
with him stepped out of the corridor. “Since the haven is still out of the
question, this is as secure as we can get for now.”

She frowned. “What’s the haven?”

“It’s a place you’ll be safe and provided for no matter
what. We’ll give that another go after we get back and you’ll see for
yourself.” Linc cupped her cheek and brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “Now
close the door.”

She grabbed his shirt and rose on tiptoe to kiss him. Her
teeth nipped at his lips as she drew back. “I’ll want a better explanation than
that when you get back. Don’t get hurt while you’re taking out that last
tamaurg
.
I’ll want you in good shape to enjoy this haven with me.”

“I definitely will enjoy it with you and so will Colm. Close
the door. We’ll be back as soon as possible.” Linc stepped back and waited. “As
for Kynar, he has no real chance against Colm and me.”

She grabbed the door and pushed it closed. Linc waited and
listened. He heard the top bolt slide into place and then the bottom bolt.
Nodding, he spun on his heel and headed to round up a few more men. He wanted
the building searched from top to bottom before they began looking outside the
walls.

They found nothing on the search, but he hadn’t wanted to
chance letting the man take a hostage to get to Cami or try to free Laed. Once
the
Thent
was cleared, he left the walls. Some men were mounted and
ready to chase if Kynar came into the cleared areas, but if the chase was in
the trees, men on foot would fare better.

We’re getting close to the Thent. His path doesn’t seem
to be curving to it anymore. I think he might mean to go parallel and head for
the main gate. He might think to slip through to leave the planet.
Colm’s
voice sounded in Linc’s head, bringing him to a stop.

Now that made more sense to Linc.
We’ll try to intercept.
Give me a better idea of where you think he’ll be as you approach.

Linc divided the men into two groups, sending them into the
forest to help box the rogue in. He worked with Colm through their bond and was
in position with the men, waiting. In spite of the contact with Colm, they were
a little off in position. They had to move quickly to stop him from running
right by them. The men surrounded Kynar, forming a wide circle around the man,
but gave him no opportunity to get through any gaps. Colm and the other men
arrived only a few moments later, taking up positions in the gaps in the
circle.

Kynar drew a knife, but Linc wasn’t letting him force them
to kill him. The people he’d harmed deserved to see him face justice as they
would Laed. His eyes met Colm’s. They both stepped into the circle. Linc wasn’t
going to face him one on one. They’d end this quickly so that they could get
the two men off the planet and on the way to
Scali Thent
. Linc drew his
sword, but tossed it out of the circle. He didn’t want to give the man any more
weapons once he managed to get hold of him.

Linc and Colm circled the man slowly, letting him feel the
rush of panic from being cornered and helpless. Kynar’s knife slashed toward
Linc’s midsection. Linc jumped back, but Colm stepped in, wrenching the knife
from Kynar’s grip and tossing it to the dirt near the edge of the circle of
men. Kynar edged around a tree.

Linc narrowed his eyes. He knew what the man was trying to
do. Kynar wouldn’t find it so easy to slip away from them or divide them. He
and Colm kept circling, pushing him back to the center of the circle.

“You’re not going to die so easily. You have crimes to
answer for.” Colm growled.
I’ll stay back and just keep him where we want
him. I want to rip him apart. I’m not sure I could hold back.

Linc grimaced. Colm wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
The
tiron
within him raged and ripped at him, ready to burst free. It
wanted to sink its fangs and claws deep into the man in front of him. The man
who’d hurt his mate. Linc held the urge at bay.

The people of
Scali Thent
deserved a chance to see
that Laed and Kynar truly had been caught and stopped. He knew if he’d been in
that position, he’d wonder. That didn’t mean he was simply going to take the
man down and secure him, although it was possible. Cami deserved justice as
well. Laed had been taken down almost without a fight after Cami pulled the
hostage away from him. The others would get their justice, but so would Cami.

Linc continued to circle, but each gliding step brought him
a little closer to Kynar. The other man seemed to realize that the dance was
almost over. Kynar swung, but Linc was barely within reach and leaned back to
avoid it. Linc didn’t rush to respond. He wanted the man to feel the panic and
the pain.

“I’ll escape before I ever return there to be killed before
those fools.” Kynar snarled, his lips pulling back and baring his fangs. His
face flushed red with anger and his breath burst from him in harsh rasps.

“Maybe if you were dealing with men from your old
Thent
,
but not with us. Every man here knows real magic, not the corrupted form that
you practiced. You’ll get there and in good physical condition.” Linc laughed
and swung his fist for the other man’s jaw.

Kynar ducked and rushed at Linc. Linc’s feet glided out and
back, taking him out of the path of the man’s ramming shoulder. He slapped a
palm into the middle of Kynar’s back as he barreled past him.

Kynar screamed in rage. “I’ll make you kill me.”

Not going to happen, especially now that Linc knew how much
the man wanted it. As Kynar wheeled around to face him, Linc took a step
forward and drove his fist into the man’s face. Kynar stumbled back. He
regained his footing and lunged forward. Linc didn’t have time to sidestep this
time. Kynar’s arms pinned Linc’s.

Momentum toppled Linc and Kynar. Kynar landed heavily on top
of Linc. Linc struggled to regain breath. As he grabbed the man to heave him
off, a fist slammed into the side of Linc’s face. Light exploded across his
eyes and a numb sensation flared over his jaw followed by a slash of pain. Linc
shoved at the man just as the next blow landed. Kynar toppled over onto the
dirt before rolling to his feet a short distance away.

Linc rolled away from him and stumbled as he managed to get
to his feet. He shook his head, trying to clear some of the haze away as well
as the rush of anger from the
tiron
. The animal inside him wanted to end
this quickly and permanently. Taking a deep breath, he fought to control that
part of him. He couldn’t let Kynar get what he wanted. That would be a victory
for him. Linc wouldn’t give him that.

Kynar circled and Linc countered. Panic and fear drove the
man as well as a desire to escape. Linc could tell just by looking at him.
Claws tipped his fingertips where normally there would be fingernails. He
wasn’t far from shifting to attack or make a run for it. Even before Colm
caught his eye, Linc knew that drawing this out could be dangerous.