Mine to Take (21 page)

The man’s dark hair was slightly graying at the temples; he was past his incarnations. Gian respected H’riar immensely and often sought his wise council.

He wondered which topic H’riar would bring up first…Jenise or Karpon. Whichever one it was would indicate to Gian which of the two his advisor considered the more urgent.

Gian hoped it was the latter. He was in no mood for an altercation with his
utal.

Especially not after the turbulent night he had spent with Jenise. When he left, she had still been sleeping.

During the night, he had made her give herself to him…in every way. He had mastered her with his sensual skills, but he had no illusion as to what her reaction was going to be to him in the light of day.

His hopes were not to be answered by H’riar. The advisor wasted no time in confronting him. “She is not Familiar,” he stated bluntly.

Gian exhaled deeply. “So have I noticed.”

H’riar raised a brow. “I am serious, Gian.”

Gian sighed. “What would you have me say?”

“The people are concerned…about many things.”

“They need not be concerned about Jenise—she had naught to do with the situation on Ganakari. If it were not for her, I might not be here right now—she aided my escape.”

H’riar was impressed. “I will let it be known. Although a
tajan
who is not Familiar will take some getting used to.”

“They will come to love her.” He faced H’riar. “You will see.”

H’riar accepted his king’s assessment. “Traed has arrived. I have placed him in the third spoke. Already word has spread of what he has done for our Guardian.” He snickered. “I vow he is very uncomfortable with all the praise he is receiving.”

Gian grinned. “No, he would not like it.”

“The people wish to have a mating celebration for you tonight. I have approved the festivities. The heads of the clans, their advisors and families are already journeying here. I am sure the people will wish to honor Traed for his heroic deed as well.”

A muscle worked in Gian’s jaw. Jenise was not going to
be amenable to any marriage celebration. H’riar would not know that, of course. “You should have consulted with me first.”

The advisor was surprised. “I truly did not think it necessary. There is always a celebration when the
taj
takes a mate.”

Gian wiped a hand over his face. What could he say? He did not want anyone, including H’riar, privy to his personal problems. He would just have to think of a way to get Jenise to go along with it. “You are right, of course. My apologies.”

H’riar smiled softly. “I understand—it is the situation on Ganakari that has you worried. What of Dariq, Gian?”

Gian shook his head sadly.

H’riar’s eyes moistened with tears. “This news saddens me greatly. He was a sweet, kind youth and on his first adventure too.”

“I know. He would not have had much of a chance against them, H’riar.” Gian was pained by the young Familiar’s terrible fate.

“I will let his family know.”

Gian nodded in sorrow.

“Tell me what has transpired on Aviara with the Guild.”

“I have told them that Karpon is not alone—he has an accomplice. They seemed very interested in that and asked me to recollect what I had gleaned. As they usually do, they looked into my mind to see if they could learn more than I from the glimpses I had—a black fingernail and part of an orange ring.”

“Could they?”

“No. They were all as baffled as I had ever seen them, including Yaniff. They are still debating what to do about this situation. Yaniff seemed most concerned. He later told me that he wondered if the real danger was not Karpon but this unseen threat.”

H’riar rubbed the back of his neck. “If Yaniff was concerned, then I am truly worried.”

“Yes, I as well.”

“What of the poison? Can they neutralize the drug?”

“No, not unless they obtain a sample of it. None of the High Mystics could get a sense of its essence from me.”

H’riar was concerned. “What will we do, Gian? Our people will be powerless against such a threat.”

Gian took a deep breath. “I have told the Sages to seal the Tunnel.”

H’riar gasped. “But Gian! That will curtail the freedom of the Familiar people! Are all of our activities to be monitored by Aviara now? The second Tunnel was our secret door!”

“Think you I do not know that? I assure you, I have thought on this well,
utal,
there is no other alternative—not if we want to ensure the safety of our children. There is nothing to prevent Karpon from stealing them from us; there is nothing to stop him!”

“Could we not guard the Tunnel against such an attack?”

“There are too many of them and they are well armed. In addition, we know not what friends they have. The potential losses are too great.” His fist slammed down on a tabletop. “I will not lose another Familiar to Ganakari. Dariq was the last! It is bad enough that for years Oberion slavers have hunted us in certain sectors, but now this! I vow I am heartily sick of it! If Karpon should gain entrance to M’yan our very world will be in jeopardy. I know his kind; he will not stop until he can call M’yan his.”

“We could fight him.” H’riar said seriously. “No Ganakari could stand up to a Familiar.”

“True; I took down many, but what of the drug,
utal?
It renders us helpless at their feet. We must bide our time
and find out the source of this drug. Until we do, I will protect the Mist.”

“There will be a great sadness amongst the people. To lose one’s freedom—is there a worse thing for a Familiar?” H’riar asked sadly.

Gian looked at him evenly. Never would he forget the effect the insidious drug had had on him. The horror of it. “Yes,
utal,
there is.”

H’riar knew then what Gian had gone through. He wisely acquiesced to his decision. “When will the Sages do it?”

“Tonight.”

“I will inform the people.”

Gian inclined his head. Walking over to a window, he stared out at the incomparable view of the Placid Lagoon. M’yan, his home. So beautiful. So untamed. Like his people. The sealing of the secret Tunnel had been the most difficult decision he had ever been forced to make. Somehow, he suspected it was only the first in a long line to come.

A sudden tremor shook him. A bead of sweat formed on his brow. Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against the window frame.

“Your Incarnation approaches.” H’riar spoke quietly. Even from across the room, he had noted the signs. The man had been through enough of them himself to recognize the symptoms.

“Yes.” Gian tried to regulate his breathing, which suddenly fluctuated erratically before becoming even again.

“Does she know?” H’riar walked over to stand behind him.

“No.” Another body tremor seized him.

H’riar placed a kind hand on his shoulder. “What will you do, my sister’s son?”

“I will tell her soon. It will be her choice.”

“She may not survive it,” H’riar felt compelled to point out. “There never has been a non-Familiar woman who—”

“She
will survive it.” Gian pierced him with a meaningful look.

H’riar sucked in his breath. “You mean to sacrifice yourself?”

“If need be.”

H’riar squeezed his shoulder. “Who will rule us then?” he asked devotedly.

Gian smiled faintly. “There is no reason to think she cannot go through an Incarnation.” Whether she wanted to or not was the essential question, but that doubt he kept to himself.

“That is true. We have nothing to go by—yours will be the first between a male Familiar and a non-Familiar mate. A fitting place to start…with the ruler of us all!” He slapped Gian’s back affectionately, trying to lighten the seriousness of the situation.

Gian appreciated his
utal’s
gesture.

“You will have no Familiar child, though, Gian. Whatever chance existed that a son of yours would be
taj
is forever gone.” It had been a great source of pride to Gian’s family that for many generations the
taj
had come from their direct blood descendants. Such an unusual occurrence denoted the exceptional strain within their house and clan.

Familiar offspring from mixed unions were rare. Only one child had ever been born Familiar from such a union, and that was Rejar.

Gian glanced at his advisor from under veiled eyes as he flexed his shoulders. “She will birth a Familiar babe.”

H’riar grinned. “Oh, what are you now—a Charl mystic? Think you to possess their gift of prophecy?”

Gian threw back his head in a leonine pose. “Of course not! I possess something much better,
utal.”

“And what is that, son of my sister?”

“Familiar arrogance!”

H’riar’s deep laughter echoed through the halls.

Jenise rose from the bed and walked over to the wide window.

The scene before her was one of utter beauty. A lagoon of aqua water surrounded by tropical plants and fronds.

A soft breeze laden with the scent of
krinang
spice ruffled her hair.
Gian.
He was this world. Mysterious and beautiful to look upon. Dangerous and unpredictable to know.

She was furious with him!

He had left her while she slept and she was glad of it. Last night he had ravaged her. Over and over. He had brought her to peak so many times she lost count. And throughout it all he remained steadfastly silent.

He let his body speak for him.

In no uncertain terms, he showed her this other side to his nature. Dominant and conquering.

He
had tricked her as to who he was.

Tricked her in the worst way possible! Although the clues had been there…

The way he had saved them from the
valdt,
the steadfast endurance of the man, his extraordinary abilities, his refusal to give up even in the face of the overwhelming odds against them. All of those attributes pointed to a superior individual.

To a man who was king of all Familiars.

Her mind went back to that first time, in the cell on Ganakari when he had “accepted” her terms. She remembered he had told her then that appearances could be deceiving. How right he was!

At the time, she had not known what he meant. In her conceit, she had thought herself in control of the situation
and the chained captive. Now she knew better. Who could ever control a Familiar?

He had been right about one thing yesterday—she had had no right to propose such a bargain to him.

But desperate situations called for desperate measures. And she had been so very desperate.

He knew that. They both had been desperate. The memory of his breath teasing at her ear weakened her in a way she could not name. He had been so very passionate as he stood behind her, ready to take her.
Ready to snag his unsuspecting prey.

His heated, soulful murmurs came back to her. Hot, sensual phrases, which at the time she believed to be words of passion. How wrong she had been.

With her new knowledge of the Familiar tongue, she recalled a few of the arcane phrases he had uttered…

Ei mahana ne Tuan,
I discard all others…

A
jhan vri re Tuan,
For me there is no other…

Jenise bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes.
Why had he done such a thing?
He had told her that Familiars could sense their mates. If that was so—and from everything she had seen of the Familiars, she had no reason to doubt it—why had he not let her make her own choice?

Why had he not waited?

His purring voice came back to her anew. His powerful hand had been wrapped securely around her hair and his silken lips were at her throat. “I
ask you to wait…tell me to stop…”

She had told him he must not stop. And so he’d done as she had demanded of him.

But she had not known!

If you had,
a voice inside her said,
would it have made a difference?
She had been desperate to escape Karpon and had been ready to do, indeed
had done,
anything to accomplish it.

It was a complicated, tangled mess. And it all centered, as everything had in her life, on power.

Perhaps Gian had no choice initially. Perhaps since he realized what she could be to him, he was bound to do what he did. But after? All those days they had traveled together—he could have told her.

But then he was a predator. His purpose was to ensnare her.

Her nostrils flared. It would not do. He must release her now.

A tear found its way down her face. She staunchly wiped it away.

As far as she was concerned it must be over between them.

If in the future she had a longing for
krinang
spice and ached for the feel of smooth, dark golden hair with singular black strands, she would just have to remember what price is demanded of those who embrace the source of power.

Resolved, she waited patiently for his return.

Despite her morose mood, Jenise gazed up in amazement at the twisting trunk of the gnarled tree that grew through a hole in the flooring and on through the roof above. It was midmorn and she was still waiting for Gian to appear.

Small trills sang happily in the leafy branches.
Inside the room.

She had never seen a tree growing inside an abode before but decided she liked the effect of it. It was a rather peaceful addition which conveyed a nice feeling to the room.

There was a rock-lined pool in the chamber as well, its source continually refreshed by a small fountain which trickled forth streams of warmed water. The gentle, bubbling sound of the fountain soothed her frayed nerves somewhat as she relaxed in the scented water.

Someone had placed flower blossoms in the pool. The exotic white blooms had pale pink centers and were really lovely. Jenise picked one up in her cupped palms to sniff at it. The sultry fragrance teased her, evoking images of warm tropical nights and even warmer passion.
Sparkling green and gold eyes dilated with lambent hunger…
She shivered at the memory.

A rich, purring voice brought her out of her reverie.

“The
tasmin
flower is believed by some to be a sexual stimulant.” Gian stood in the doorway intently watching her.

Jenise looked away from him, blushing as she recalled
the things the Familiar had done to her in the middle of the night. With his lips and tongue and teeth. He had licked her from head to foot and back again.

He bit her the same way too. Gian liked to bite.

She shivered anew.

As angry as she was at him for his subterfuge, she could not deny the way she had responded to him physically. Towards dawn, she had actually turned it about and taken
him.
Something she had enjoyed tremendously. As had he.

She almost moaned aloud as she recalled the way Gian had looked as he lay, sprawled beneath her, watching her with a slumberous expression as he urged her to continue by whispering a multitude of naughty things he expected her to do to him.

Her initial shock and hurt had abated somewhat with her understanding of his nature, but her resolve concerning their future would not.

Since the early morn, Jenise had given a lot of thought to her present situation. Gian was reasonable. She would just have to make him understand that as far as she was concerned, this mating of his was impossible.

It was not as if she did not
want
him. That she would never be foolish enough to deny.

In truth, she was quite taken with him. But this had nothing to do with her desires. She simply had a need to be free of any entanglements.

Once the Familiar listened to her—really listened to her—she knew he would see her side of it.

“Is it?” she asked. “A sexual stimulant, I mean.”

He strolled over to the pool, kneeling at its edge. “I will tell you a secret about such things,
taja.”

My
queen.

From what she had learned of him, there wasn’t a doubt
in her mind that he purposely called her by that particular endearment. The implication irked her.

She glared up at him, crystal droplets of water sparkling on her gold-tipped lashes. “And what is that secret, Gian?”

Before answering, he snapped off a petal of the flower she was holding and brushed its velvety surface tantalizingly across the surface of her lips. “Almost anything can be a sexual stimulant in the proper hands.”

By way of demonstration, the tip of his talented tongue lapped languorously over the same petal. The handsome Familiar viewed her from beneath lowered lids as he did so. The effect was highly provocative to say the least.

Jenise drew in a quivery breath. Last eve, he had done much the same to her. With his tongue.
Back and forth…

“I can taste your essence. It is combined with the essence of the
tasmin
flower. As rich as the
tasmin
flower is, Creamcat, your taste is still richer.”

The tips of her ears turned pink.

“Sometimes,” he continued in a husky voice, “our senses let us ‘see’ taste as colors.”

The idea fascinated her. “Do you see color now?”

“Yes.” He purred low.

“What—what color do you see?”

He smiled slowly. “Red with a hint of purple beneath a cool wash of white.”

Jenise fumed. She was sure he was provoking her. “And what does that mean?”

“It means,” he drawled sexily, “that you are both very angry at me and very aroused
for
me beneath that cool exterior you are showing.”

Jenise crossed her arms over her pointed breasts and immediately showed him her back.

He chuckled, low. “Also an enticing view.”

Her shoulders hunched; she ducked lower in the water.
She did not want Gian enticed! She wanted him to listen to her!

“I can also sense many variations in your flavor that I cannot describe to you in words.”

“And do you like this flavor?” she asked quietly.

“I crave it.” His sexy voice rolled in his throat.

A shiver washed down her back. She glanced at him over her shoulder and spoke the truth. “As I crave your flavor.”

“Jenise,” he breathed on a purr. He was deeply moved by her admission. Another strong tremor raced through him.

She turned away from him again. “But Gian, you must see that this notion you have of us being mated is not realistic.”

He was silent for a few moments. Completely silent. She wondered what he was thinking. Unable to take the suspense any longer, she peeked over her shoulder at him once more.

He had folded his arms across his chest and his brow was arched. Apparently he did not agree with her assessment.

“I mean it, Gian. We are not suited. And I have no desire—”

He snorted.

She ignored him. “No desire to be mated. Please do not take this personally.”

A dimple popped into his cheek. “Of course not. Why would I?”

“I wish to explore, as I have explained to you. Like the Frensi. I need to be free, Gian. If it were not for that…perhaps…that is, you…”

Green and gold eyes flashed with amusement. He wasn’t supposed to be enjoying this! He was supposed to be agreeing with her! She cupped some water in her palms and splashed him with it.

He laughed as he stepped back out of harm’s way. It was that rich, rolling laugh of his that always tingled down her spine.

“I am serious!”

Grinning, he held out his hand to her. “I would like to show you our home.”

He was definitely not listening to her. “It is your home, not mine.”

“Come.” Smiling, he motioned with his outstretched hand, compelling her to take it.

Gingerly, she did.

She would convince him…it would just take a little time. After all, he was a Familiar, used to ensnaring what he desired. This tour would be an excellent opportunity to enlighten him. She couldn’t expect the man to have her elevated sense of reason—he lived by instinct. It was up to her to point that out to him. Loudly.

Gian lifted her easily out of the water. Her wet body, glistening with water droplets, brushed against him.

Once again she noticed that a tremor shook him.

“Here, use this.” He handed her a large, soft cloth to dry herself. She was surprised that he did not do the drying himself, taking advantage of the opportunity to caress her curves.

Instead, he was looking at the wall, away from her. This was unlike him. Curiously, she observed him. A slight sheen of sweat dotted his upper lip.

“On my instructions, several
krilli
caftans, imported from the
sacri
on Aviara, have been delivered for your pleasure. They are in the next room awaiting your choice. I will await you at the bottom of the stairs.”

Jenise gave him an odd look. It was also unlike him to leave like this…especially if he thought he could watch her as she dressed. In the past, she had noted that the small task seemed to give him immense enjoyment.

But then Familiars were so unpredictable; who could fathom what they would do next?

“During our jaunt, you may
try
to convince me of your need to wander unguarded through dangerous worlds filled with all manner of unscrupulous beings.” He gave her a very male look that said, “not in this millennium” just before he slipped through the door.

He knew what she was about! The entire time, he had simply been playing with her! The boot she threw at his arrogant head bounced off the door frame.

“I
am
leaving, Gian!” she yelled through the closed partition.

“Of course. I will see you downstairs, Creamcat.” His voice trailed off as he left.

Jenise muttered to herself as she grabbed the first caftan she found, putting it on without looking at it. Familiars could be so infuriating!

As soon as she was dressed she stormed after him. She had no intention on letting up on him. Gian was waiting for her exactly where he’d said—at the bottom of the stairs.

Gian watched her stomp towards him, amusement highlighting his features as he took in the caftan she had donned. Jenise glanced down at herself, shocked to discover that the beautiful, rare
krilli
cloth was in tones of red and purple shot through with strands of white. According to him, the exact colors of her present taste!

“It was an accident,” she gritted out.

“Mmmm-hmmm,”
he drawled.

“You are impossible!”

He smiled in an altogether feline way.

“I do not understand how you can even think a woman could possibly tame you!”

“What makes you even think I would wish such a thing?” he whispered back in challenge.

“Well, you speak of mating and such!” she sputtered.

“Mating has naught to do with taming. Or other things you have confused it with.” His spellbinding eyes glittered with secrets. “Familiars cannot be tamed, Jenise.”

“What does mating have to do with, then?” she flung back at him, exasperated with his feline ways. “According to you?”

“I will let you discover that. Now come.”

M’yan was a world of delights.

Everywhere she looked there was something new and fascinating to see.

The royal abode, she quickly learned, was a structure of impossible angles, levels, convoluted halls, and hidden nooks. It appeared to her as if a tradesman-builder had gone mad.

Gian explained to her that to a Familiar it was a place of great interest, for there were endless intricacies to explore.

“But it is so…so odd.”

His well-shaped lips twitched. “We enjoy such oddities. This being the royal ruling house, you might say it is by far the oddest.” He smiled boyishly at her.

She gave him a suspicious look.

“Our people always long to come here; invitations are coveted.” He blinked playfully. “Truly.”

She could see why. Despite its unpredictable layout and decor, it was a beautiful place. Familiars had an eye for detail and it was evident in the silken fabrics and furnishings, which were rich in both color and design.

There were all kinds of pleasing places to lose oneself. Hidden alcoves. Secret stairways. Winding halls and mysterious stairwells.

As Gian continued the tour of the house, Jenise also noted that the chambers were sumptuously appointed without being overbearing or stately. The focus seemed to
be on comfort. Beds and furnishings were low and sprawling, with an overabundance of cushions.

Familiars appeared to be enamored of textures as well; in one chamber she counted twenty-five different fabrics! All of them exquisitely blended. On Ganakari, even the ruling house did not have such wealth, for these fabrics were highly costly, not to mention extremely rare. She had never seen such vibrant colors! They flooded her senses, instantly elevating her mood.

“It is so unusual, Gian!” An exclamation of delight escaped her lips upon discovering a window garden complete with thick, soft cushions and fragrant spice plants.

“I will come back to this spot”—she grinned—“if I can find it!” The house, designed for Familiars, who never got lost, relied on their innate tracking ability rather than any logical layout. After the numerous twists and turns they had taken, she truly doubted she could find the spot again.

Gian chuckled. “We adore such complexity, as I said; but you will eventually learn your way about. And if you should become lost, you need not worry; I will always find you.”

That was what worried her.

“What if I do not wish to be found?” she murmured pointedly.

He raised his eyebrow. “Tell me, in what way do you believe that will affect my actions?”

Her face flushed in irritation. “Gian, we need to talk about—”

He interrupted her by pointing out the window to a small child who had fallen asleep in the garden below. Surrounding her in slumber were eight little kittens. He chuckled. “It appears they got tired from their play.”

Jenise could not help smiling as she gazed on the endearing scene. During their tour, Jenise’s mouth had fallen open as scores of cats scampered about everywhere. She
had never seen so many cats. They walked and played among the people, doing as they pleased, some causing great mischief.

She had observed that they all had two different-colored eyes. They were Familiars, of course.

“Do the children get into much trouble?” She glanced at two of the kittens, who had woken up and were now hissing at each other in playful sport. One suddenly pounced on the other and the two balls of fur rolled down an incline tangled up together.

“Yes.” He laughed as he watched them. “They get into much trouble.”

“But surely you discipline them?”

He shrugged. “Not too much. We like them to get into trouble. Such mischief-making is part of our attractive nature, is it not, Jenise?” He gave her a beguiling look.

She scoffed.

He took her hand and led her to yet another wing of delights. Here she caught the smell of food cooking nearby. Her stomach growled.

He chuckled. “I thought you might be getting hungry. You will find our food is as varied as everything else here and just as tempting.” He led her out onto a balcony, motioning for her to sit at a small, low table. A trellis of flowering vines secluded the choice spot. A light breeze ruffled her hair.