Homecoming (5 page)

She laughed and knelt down to hug her dog, fondling her ears affectionately.

“Good girl, Lemming! You found me, didn’t you?” Then she looked up at her friend, and her eyes glittered with tears as she stood up. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” she murmured, and embraced her in a crushing hug. “I thought you’d never get here.”

The girl pulled back and gave her a wobbly grin. “Blame it on your map. You forgot to mention that last curve in the road.” Her smile faded as she glanced at Jayems and Keilor. “What’s going on, Wiley?”

“It’s …” Rihlia broke off and looked at them. Jayems stood with his arms crossed, making no attempt to appear friendly. Already he could smell the insidious pheromone, and it was trying to scramble his thinking. He’d expected to feel the surge of arousal, but hadn’t expected the pheromone to make him feel favorably inclined toward the girl.

Protective, even. It made him scowl harder and think dark thoughts.

Keilor perched on his desk, feet crossed at the ankles, his expression cool. He must have been similarly affected, but was hiding it well.

“I don’t suppose we could have some privacy?” Rihlia asked coldly. Jayems inclined his head, indicating that he had heard her, but he didn’t move. He wasn’t about to let them make plans in secret.

She muttered something under her breath and led their guest to the far end of the room, sitting down with her on a couch. Lemming came up and nudged Rihlia’s hand, and she absently stroked her while she explained.

“We’re on another world,” she began slowly.

Her friend glanced at the triple moons visible through the huge window and looked back at the door. She nodded slowly in agreement. Oddly enough, she looked more thoughtful than rattled.

Rihlia watched her carefully. “I was born here.”

“It explains a few things. Go on.”

The men exchanged glances. Her calm acceptance was light years beyond Rihlia’s wild panic.

Rihlia took a breath. “The guy who brought you here is my cousin, Keilor.”

Jasmine’s eyes darted in surprise to Keilor, who watched her with wary distaste.

He raised a dark brow at her in mocking acknowledgment of the introduction.

“You have my sympathy,” she snapped.

Jayems hid a reluctant smile. It was refreshing to see a woman repulsed by his handsome cousin. In other circumstances he’d love to tease Keilor about it.

Rihlia smiled wryly. She didn’t even look at Jayems, just jerked her head slightly in his direction. “The other guy is called Jayems.” They were both quiet for a moment. At last Wiley said stiffly, “They won’t let me go home, and they want you to go back right away and forget you ever saw me.”

Jasmine sat back. Her expression was cold, but a dangerous smile turned up one side of her mouth. “Two words, my friend.” She said something in a foreign tongue.

Wiley laughed and looked relieved.

Jasmine smiled slyly back at her, squeezed her hand and then stood up. “It’s been real, Wiley, and I’m glad to see that you’re all right.” She turned to Keilor. “I’m ready to

go home now.”

Keilor was looking back at her with a knowing expression. He turned to Jayems and made a few signs with his hands.
“The girl is planning to bring back help.”

Jayems glanced at her darkly and signed back.
“I see it.”
This was not how they’d planned this. The girl was supposed to be scared out of her mind, begging to go back home. Just look how Rihlia had behaved, and she was one of them. Keilor was supposed to have terrified her. Hadn’t he tried?

“I could take care of her,”
Keilor offered. His face was carefully blank. He’d never harmed a woman before, but both of them knew the stakes.

“I swore not to harm her.”
He didn’t want to admit it, but his options had just narrowed to one.
“Take her to the room down the hall and place guards at her door.

Legend has it that the
change
protects us from the pheromone. We’ll screen who comes in contact with her until we figure out what to do with her.”

“Right.”
Keilor signed back. He moved towards the girl. “Why so hasty? You just got here. Perhaps it would be best if you waited to return until morning after all.” He watched her closely, ready for her to run.

Panic flashed across her face, and then disappeared. In a carefully modulated tone, she said, “I thought you were in a hurry to get rid of me. Not that I mind staying to talk to a friend or anything, but this place gives me the creeps.”

She was an awful liar, and it was the final straw. Jayems straightened from the desk and prowled toward her until both he and Keilor towered over her. She wouldn’t look at him.

“Friends,” he mussed. “That’s not what Rihlia called you. Sister of her heart, she said. Closer than blood. Odd that such a one would desert her so quickly.” He grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. “Would you be planning trouble, little sister?”

She met his eyes with difficulty. “Who would believe my story?”

He studied her for a moment and then softly snorted. They would never have trouble reading this one. They’d better pray that she was all that Rihlia thought, though. It was difficult to make sane decisions with her scent in his nose.

Releasing her, he said aloud, “Find her a room down the hall and see that she’s comfortable, would you, cousin? And post guards at her door.” His smile was less than pleasant. “We wouldn’t want anything to happen to Rihlia’s loyal little sister.”

She stiffened as Keilor’s hand closed around her arm and he started to drag her off.

Rihlia got in his way. He canted his head to the side slightly and paused to acknowledge her effort. “Cousin.”

Alarmed, Rihlia looked around him to rail at Jayems. “What are you doing?”

His eyes narrowed. “Sending her away before I break her neck for lying to me.”

He glanced at the wide eyed Jasmine grudgingly. “Though I suppose she can be forgiven, as she does it out of loyalty to you. There is a limit to what I will forgive those who try to deceive me, though.”

Rihlia stiffened and said plaintively, “You said that she could go home.”

His face hardened. “Keilor.”

Without another word, Keilor gently moved the resisting Rihlia aside and continued toward the door.

“You be nice to her!” Rihlia shouted as the door shut behind them. She turned on

Jayems. “I can’t believe you did that! Why can’t you just let her leave?”

“Are you willing to swear that she won’t be back with reinforcements? Keep in mind that your word is your only coin here.”

Her hands curled into fists. “Why shouldn’t she be? You’re breaking the law! You should be arrested for this.”

“You’re welcome to complain to the council. I’ll walk you down there myself.”

“Hah! You wouldn’t offer unless you had them in your pocket.” She kicked her hem out of the way and began to pace.

“To hear you tell it, I’m actually doing her a favor. After all, without you she’s all alone in her world.”

She shot him a killing look.

He raised his brows. “You’d feel better if you
changed
. I spoke with the medics today. They said for someone with your history of self-denial, it would be best if you spent
at least
five minutes a day in Haunt. I told them I would see to it.”

That stopped her. “Oh you would, would you? How do you plan to do that?” The sneer on her face was pure provocation.

He stalked her. “Given your dislike of me, I thought I’d start with a promise. If you don’t shift, I promise to kiss you until you see stars.”

“What!” She backed up, giving him a look of horror.

His pride was pricked, so he deflated hers as well. “Not that it sounds especially appealing, given your waspish attitude and the lengths you go to be unpleasant. I will do it, however.” His smile was pure evil. “I’m responsible for your health.”

“You don’t--stay back!” They rounded the couch once, and this time she jumped it, tangling her legs in her skirts in panic. Cursing, she bounced off the cushions and tumbled to the floor, ripping her skirts in her haste to get to her feet.

He didn’t even have to hurry to catch her. Taking her wrists, he leaned toward her. “
Change
or be kissed,” he warned her.

She did, faster than he expected. One minute he was the captor, the next he was grappling with a she Haunt every bit as strong as he was. Fortunately, he was experienced in warfare and she was not. In one fast move he spun her from him and released her, the momentum carrying her a few steps away.

She looked at her arms and stiffened with fright. In seconds she was back to human form, her face paper white.

“Scared yourself, did you? You’ll get used to it. It’s been under a minute, however.” He moved toward her.

She cursed him and dashed for her door.

He got there first and slammed it shut, backing her against the panel. “
Change
or be kissed,” he warned her again.

“No!” she tried to kick him. Blocked, she squirmed and tried to rip loose, but she was firmly caught. “Please …”

He ignored her anguish and kissed her ruthlessly, thoroughly. She ripped her mouth free and gasped for air, but he captured it again, showing her he meant business.

This wasn’t about seduction, and they both knew it.

But a funny thing happened. She began to shake in his arms, and her mouth softened. His automatically became gentler to match, and his hand loosened on her hair, cupping the back of her head. A heat started to rise--then she tore away with a roar and

shoved him back, shifting once again to Haunt.

They stood there panting for long moments. She was trembling, but she didn’t move or try to shift back. When he’d judged five minutes had passed, she turned back to human form.

Shooting him a look of pure venom, she hissed, “Don’t do that again!” She ripped open her door and darted inside, slamming it with brutal force.

She still hadn’t forgiven him the next day.

Jayems stood up from the dining table when Rihlia left her room, her dog at her heels. “Ready for breakfast?” he asked politely. He had no intention of fighting about what he intended to make a nightly ritual. Not that he expected to kiss her again--after last night he doubted it would be necessary.

“I want to eat with Jasmine,” she said coldly.

“As you wish. What about your pet? What does she eat?” Any neutral subject had to be better than frozen silence.

She looked at her dog with a small frown. “Dog food, but I doubt you have a grocery store that sells kibble. I guess now’s a good time to put her on that raw food diet I heard about.”

“What is in that?”

“Raw meat, bones and a little cooked veggies. I’m not sure about the portions, though.”

He nodded. “I’ll speak with the cook. You might also consult our animal doctor--

she’ll likely have an idea how to look after her.”

Gratitude flashed in her face; then it was tempered by wariness. “Thank you,” she said grudgingly. She headed for the door, hesitating as she put her hand on the knob.

He’d never allowed her out by herself before, and he could see her wondering if he would let her go.

He would, though not unaccompanied. He had an escort waiting, having anticipated her desire to see her friend. Between his man Knighten and the maids who’d be conveniently cleaning, the room would be full of ears. Later, he’d hear the reports.

He had other business to see to.

Keilor arrived for their breakfast appointment. “I’m hungry,” he said as he took his chair and filled his plate. “Training those stripling recruits is hard work.”

“Maybe you’d like to try wife-taming instead?”

Keilor shuddered. “How goes that?”

“She’s dining with her friend. I’m not a favorite right now.” With a ready excuse just down the hall, Jaymes expected Rihlia would stay away from him as much as possible, but even she couldn’t spend every waking moment with the Sylph. “How old is that girl, anyway? She doesn’t look of an age to be such fast friends with Rihlia.”

“Older than she looks,” Keilor guessed. “She’s very small. It might protect her some, her youth.”