PrimalDemand (2 page)

Making sure that no one was close again, she opened the
first book and turned the pages. She found the page she needed and began
copying down the names of the cities and planets where the large monasteries
were located. It was hard to read the names in the dim light back here, but she
was thankful for the shadows. She finished the short list available in that
book and looked around nervously.

She didn’t hear any footsteps. The anxiety didn’t lessen
though. She moved the next book in front of her. Her stomach churned with
anxiety as she wrote down the information. It seemed to take so long to find
and copy the locations. With every moment, her muscles tightened and she
expected to feel a hand on her shoulder.

Taking a deep breath to calm her pounding heart, she
finished the list. She stood and looked down at the books. She could leave them
there and try to rush out of the library so no one would connect her to them.
If anyone saw her hurrying away and the books on the table, it would be just as
bad.

Torn and a little scared, she decided to put them back. If
she could do it quickly, she could leave and they’d never know the books were
touched. She stuffed the parchment in her bag along with the stylus and ink.
She stacked the books and carefully eased out of the shadowy little spot.

Leah peeked around the shelf. No one was in the aisle and
she couldn’t hear any footsteps nearby. She hurried down the row and slipped
the two books from that shelf into the empty slots. They were the right books,
but she wasn’t sure she’d put them back in the right order. She was too nervous
to take any more time. She moved back to the end of the row of shelves and
peeked around it. Glancing left and right, she eased out into the open and
glanced around the edge of the shelf. She spotted a shadow at the end of the
row of bookshelves, but it disappeared. She exhaled as she realized someone had
gone down another of the aisles. She hurried to the spot where she’d taken the
one of the books and stuffed it back into the shelves without paying too much
attention. The last book rested heavily in her hands.

Not wanting to be seen on the aisle in case she’d put the
thick tomes back wrong, she hurried back to the end to go to another of the
rows of books. She stepped out and strode down the darkened path formed by the
ends of the shelves. A flash of black-and-white robe caught her eyes and she
ducked into the nearest row. The monk’s presence startled and scared her. The
book in her hand felt heavy. She couldn’t be seen with this.

Her breath caught in her throat and her heart slammed in her
chest as she saw a big form in the middle of the aisle. She hesitated and it
took a moment to realize that it wasn’t one of the monks as she’d feared.

It was a warrior. The large, black-haired man seemed out of
place in the aisle. She’d seen warriors before, but he was different, something
more. He was tall, broad and so muscular she wanted to reach out and touch him,
simply to see if he was real. The strength and male beauty in him drew her, but
she had no idea what he was doing here. He didn’t seem to be looking at the
books.

Other than the size, he didn’t look too different from other
men in this city. He was dressed in a light-blue shirt and black pants. He had
a sword on a belt at his hip, but other men in the city wore those. It was his
attitude and bearing that separated him from the others to her. His stance
screamed confidence.

She forced her eyes away from him and strode past him.
Spotting a gap in the books, she stuffed the last book in it regardless of if
it went there or not. As she left the row, she made her way over a couple
aisles. She wanted to rush out of the library, but she forced herself to slow
down and make her way through the shelves slowly. Her path took her around the
room to approach the entrance from the left corner. She walked to end of the
shelves and hesitated a moment, a little afraid they’d jump out at her.

A thud drew her eyes to the shelves in the back. She frowned
and eased back into the shadows of the shelves around her. She glanced behind
her, half afraid that she’d find one of the monks sneaking up on her. Her
muscles relaxed a little when she saw that she was still alone.

Looking back, she saw two of the black-and-white-robed
monks. Then she noticed they weren’t alone. Leah watched in horror as the monks
carried the large warrior from the library. He hadn’t been looking at a shelf
as she passed him.
Why had they targeted him?

A sick feeling churned in her stomach. She’d walked by the
man not too long ago.
Could this be my fault?
She frowned as she
wondered if one of the monks had noticed one of the books out of order or
slightly sticking out on the shelf.

She bit her lip as the last monk left the library following
those hauling the man through the streets. She knew some of the texts she’d
used were important to them. It wouldn’t have taken much and the suspicion
would be enough.

The man hadn’t even had a book in his hand when she passed
him. In fact, he’d looked a little lost. That could have been because he seemed
so out of place here. The muscled, tattooed warrior seemed odd in this setting.

She just didn’t know and her conscience pulled at her. He
could have already been targeted by the monks before she encountered him. It
was always a possibility. They took single warriors at times and dosed them
with the drug that blocked their memory. Without any memory, the warriors
became loyal to those who’d “rescued” them. It was how they held and protected
their cities and outposts.

But she had passed him after she’d slipped the books
hurriedly back into the shelves. The monk had no idea she’d even been there,
she’d glimpsed him as he was walking away from her and hurried to get away from
the area. She knew the monks were dangerous, but hadn’t thought anyone else
would be in danger while she was searching for what she needed.

Her mind and conscience pulled her in different directions.
She needed to move and get to the closest of those monasteries, but guilt
gnawed at her. It could be her fault. As much as she needed to find her sister,
she couldn’t let another person go through that mind-destroying drug on account
of her actions. She grimaced and left the library.

She knew where they’d take him, downriver to the more secure
city near the monastery. The drug they used would probably last that long. When
he woke, the monks would force the Tares potion down his throat and then leave.
Sometime later, he’d be freed by warriors under the guise of rescuing him.

She had to get to him before they did that. Once they’d
placed him among the other soldiers under their control, it would be almost
impossible to get to him.

Arron, focus. I need you to stay calm and listen to me.
Tell me where you are. What’s happened to you?

Arron blinked, tilting his head. The calm voice eased a
little of the panic rushing through him. He knew the words didn’t come from
anyone around him. The only person close to him was a woman in a similar
position.

Anxiety still rolled through him. Manacles encircled his
wrists, securing his hands above his head. His back pressed against the thick
pole to which the manacles were secured. He couldn’t reach the hook where the
chain connecting the cuffs hung even when he stretched to his full height.

Midday sun beat down on him. People walked by him and the
woman as if nothing were strange about two people being almost hung by their
wrists. The area around him was open but cobbled, and he saw buildings on at
least three sides of the square. He didn’t see any armed guards, but someone
had to be watching them.

He knew almost nothing. What memories he had seemed to be
fading with every breath. Why was he here? Had he done something wrong? What
had happened and what was wrong with his mind?

Arron! Answer me.
The voice sharpened, slicing
through the exhaustion and confusion.

The deep, male voice rumbled in his head. He should know
that voice. He felt a recognition that seemed to be instinctual. Whenever he
tried to think of who that was, memories seemed to slip away from him as if
they were leaves pulled down a river by a strong current. A deep lassitude
swept through him making it even harder to think. He drifted, letting his eyes
close.

How? How am I supposed to answer a voice?
Arron
didn’t even know where the voice was coming from, much less who was talking to
him.

Like that Arron. Just focus on me
, the voice
responded.
Where are you?

A city, chained to a pole.
Arron couldn’t remember
why he’d be chained to anything. He couldn’t even remember how he came to be
here. He’d simply woken chained with memories fading away. He wasn’t even sure
his name was Arron. Only this voice gave him that reference.

Do you know which city?
The deep male voice sounded
urgent.

No.
Arron frowned and tried to remember, but met with
nothing. Fleeting images flickered through his mind. He couldn’t connect them
with anything he knew. Almost as soon as the images appeared though, they were
gone and he couldn’t draw them back.

Arron, we know where you last were. We’ll find you.
Remember my name. I’m Raven and I’ll be coming to get you.
The voice seemed
urgent.

I’ll remember. You’re coming to get me.
Arron felt
his consciousness fading again as the exhaustion swept over him in a wave.

* * * * *

Arron’s heart slammed in his chest as he felt hands on his
arm. He jerked in surprise. His foot lashed out, but was jerked short of
hitting anything by the chain attached to the manacles at his feet.

Confusion and nervousness swept through him. Darkness
surrounded him, but he wasn’t alone any longer. He wasn’t sure that was a good
thing.

“He had to be a giant.” The female voice was soft, but
carried more than a hint of annoyance.

A soft, feminine body pressed against his side. He felt only
her curves, no weapons. Her body stretched against his and soft fingers touched
his arm. The manacle at his wrist turned a little. Smooth skin brushed his hand
and he heard a light scratching before the metal bracelet fell from his wrist,
freeing it.

He wanted to know who this was, but saw only a blurry
shadow. His eyes burned and he squinted and blinked trying to get rid of the
gritty, stinging feeling. The irritation faded slowly.

He looked down and saw a woman with dark hair. In the light
from the moon, he couldn’t tell what shade it was. Did he know her? He frowned
and resisted the urge to shake his head. The question probably should be the
other way around. He wouldn’t recognize her now. He couldn’t even remember
yesterday.

She moved around him and began to work on the other manacle.

“Who…” He kept his voice low.

Her scent drifted up to him as she moved on to the metal
enclosing his ankles. He tensed as a wave of lust slammed through his body. He
wanted to grab her, strip those pants down her legs and take her against the
nearest wall.

She was his. The urge to fuck her pulled at him, but this
wasn’t a safe place. Some deeply protective part of him quickly negated the
idea. He wasn’t sure who did this, why or where they were. There could be
guards close or watching. She could get hurt.

Lust pounded through his body, hardening his cock, but there
was more. A confusing mix of thoughts and feelings ran through his mind. He
needed to keep her safe and knew that she should probably be anywhere but close
to him. At the same time, he couldn’t think of her being anywhere but with him.
He couldn’t lose her. Part of him wanted to grab her and haul her close.

“Shh… We can’t talk here.” She pressed close. Her voice was
the barest whisper. “Come with me.”

He looked around the area. The female who’d been chained to
the other pole was gone. Had the woman already freed her? Why was this person
freeing him? The questions seemed never ending and he had no way to answer them
at the moment.

The woman took his hand. She urged him away from the pole
and down the street. Moving down the middle of the street, she walked in the
flickering glow of the lights from the occasional lantern. He pulled her to the
darkest side, keeping them in shadow as much as possible.

She led the way out of the city and into the forest. He was
wondering if she knew where she was going when she stopped in a grouping of
trees. A pack and a large pouch rested against a tree. She knelt beside the
pack and drew a bottle from it as well as a small metal cup. She poured some
liquid into the cup before turning to him.

“Please drink this.” She held it out to him.

He stared at the cup.
What is that?
“Why?”

“It will help you. Please, we have to go soon.” She held the
cup closer to him.

What is what?
The male voice, Raven’s voice, came to
him again.

Arron remembered Raven’s voice and name from earlier. It was
almost the only thing that he did know.

Something in a cup. A woman is offering me something in a
cup. She freed me and got me out of the city. Now she’s holding out a cup.
He didn’t know why he trusted the male voice, but he did.

She freed you? Why? Has she said?
Raven asked.

We just got out of the city. I’ll ask.
He locked eyes
with the woman. “Why did you help me?”

She grimaced and looked down at her feet for a moment before
meeting his eyes again. “I think I’m the reason you were taken and dosed with
the drug that took your memory. I passed you in the library in Osput, the city
you were taken from. I’d just put back some of the books, but I saw some of the
Tareshi monks nearby.”

“The monks.” He frowned as he heard a little fear in her
voice. He tried to think of why he’d be in a library and what she’d have to
fear from monks.

Well? What did she say?
Raven asked.

Arron really wanted to know more about the man who seemed to
be connected to his mind. The first thing was how that came to be. He got the
sense that the man expected an answer. Maybe he was the leader.

She said that she thinks she’s the reason I was drugged
and taken from the city. I haven’t gotten the complete answer yet, but we were
in the same library. She saw me and then some monks. I think she’s afraid of
the monks.
Arron took a deep breath. Her scent filled him. Every inhale
heightened the urge to protect her and take her away from the danger. He didn’t
know where it was or who had chained him to the pole.

The monks are the reason you were there. You were
checking the city because we’d traced rumors of disappearances to that planet.
The monks are behind the disappearances and what happened to your memory,
Raven explained.

That did make her fear a little easier to understand. “You
were afraid the monks would see you with the books?”

“One of the books. I might not have put it back right. Since
we were both in the same area, they might have thought you did it.” She bit her
lip. “Please drink this. It will help you get back what you lost.”

He looked at the cup in her hand. Part of him saw no reason not
to trust her. That same deep, primal part that insisted he keep her with him,
that he stay with her. But he hesitated as caution held him back. He didn’t
know her. His mind was almost completely blank. He remembered only what Raven
had told him.

“I’m Arron. What’s your name?” He wanted to know as much as
possible about her, but her name was a start.

“Leah Charmea. I didn’t get you free only to poison you.
Here. Does this reassure you?” She took a drink from the cup.

“It will help with my memory?” He reached for the cup. He’d
like to remember what he was doing, who he was, and why he trusted Raven so
much.

“Yes, it will take time, but for the short time you were
under the potion’s effects, it should only take one dose to release them.” She
smiled as he took the cup from her.

He took a sip from it. Although he couldn’t see what it
looked like, it smelled tangy with herbs and had the distinct bite of alcohol.
He took another sip.

“You need to drink it all. Then we need to get going. You’ll
sleep soon and while you’re asleep, some of your memories will return.” She
waited as he drank the mix in the cup. “We’ll travel downriver together and
when your memory returns, you can go your own way.”

“What were you doing there?” He waited as she pulled the
pack onto her shoulders. She had no weapon that he could see. Not even a knife.

“Looking for a few specific books so that I can find the
locations of their main monasteries and then find my sister.” She led the way.

“The monks took your sister?” He understood now why she’d
been there.

He’d want to find his sister or brother if they were taken.
He frowned.
Do I have a brother or sister?
He wondered if Raven would
hear that question, but no answer was forthcoming.

“Nothing that simple. We’re almost there.” She kept walking.

Even he realized that she didn’t want to talk about what
happened with her sister. Slowly, a wave of exhaustion crept over him. He
couldn’t focus on what he needed to ask her and she was resistant. Not that
he’d let that be the end of the discussion. He was pulled to her too strongly.

Without a doubt, he wasn’t walking away from her. Whatever
she was involved in, he’d be involved in as well. He was going to know exactly
what she planned and what happened to send her on this journey. If there was
danger following her, he wanted to know about it before it found her.

She stopped near the edge of the river and pulled some leafy
branches away, revealing a long, thin boat. A few packs rested in the bottom of
the vessel as well as two paddles. He shook his head. She’d left her things
there for anyone to take or find.

“You’d better get in the boat before you go to sleep
standing up.” She gestured to one of the seats at the end and tossed the bag
she carried in as well.

“I’ll want to know more about why they’d do this to me over
a book.” He took a seat in the boat.

She nodded and smiled at him. As she pushed the boat away
from the riverbank, she stepped into the boat and picked up one of the paddles.
Just as he was thinking he should get up and help her paddle, the lassitude hit
hard and he slumped backward, sliding into the bottom of the boat.