The Soul Mate (18 page)

“I don’t want to talk about Gerik right now!”
I yelled and rolled away, giving him my back.

“Why me?” He asked, surprising me. “You said
you had never even wanted to kiss a guy until you met Gerik, so why
me? What happened? Why would you give me this?”

When I rolled back over I found his face full
of wonder. He looked young and vulnerable in a way I’d never seen
him before.

“I’m not really sure what happened,” I told
him honestly. “I just wanted you.”

Instead of answering, he pulled me to
him.

“Xan?”

“Mmmhmm?” His teeth grazed my neck.

“Oh,” I said giggling. “What if I told you I
was tired?”

The look he gave me would have made small
children cry.

He covered me with his body and the heavy
hard feel of him instantly stirred me back to life. He wound my
long hair around his hand until my face was flush against his fist
and just when I thought this round was going to be as abrasive as
the first, he captured my lips in a light embrace. The man I
watched lift motorcycles with his bare hands, split logs in single
strokes, began scattering soft kisses down my neck, across my
breasts and over my stomach, then back up again.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and in one
upward thrust I joined us.

“Virgin…” He muttered.

“Not anymore,” I said, grinning.

The sex this time was gentler, rhythmic, and
even slower than the beating of our hearts.

We finished together; his face buried in my
chest as he shook with his release. And it was like that, that we
fell asleep, Xan still deep inside me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The plains of the lower Danube, 1073
A.C.E.

“
There are so many stars in the sky,”
Treime sighed, leaning back on the soft grass. “Stars and stars and
more stars and no Gaje! Can we stay here forever Emilian?”

Emilian emerged from the lake waters, his
long, lean body glistening with sparkling droplets that reflected
brilliantly in the moonlight. He was perfect, Treime thought.
Everything she could have ever hoped for.

He was also completely nude. Treime lowered
her eyes as she caught sight of the most masculine part of him.

He grinned at her, “We can stay here for
awhile, love.”

Taking in Treime’s still clothed body, his
eyes narrowed playfully. “I thought you were going to take a
bath?”

Her face heated. “I changed my mind,” she
mumbled.

Emilian sprawled on the grass next to her,
his arms behind his head. “Treime, you’re going to be my wife in
less than a fortnight, will you not let me see you naked then
either?”

She shrugged. “If I don’t, what will you
do?”

His grin was merciless. “Then, I suppose I’ll
have to find someone else who will.”

Treime leapt to her feet and with her hand
over her heart she cried out in outrage, “Over my dead body!”

Emilian was up and on his feet lifting her
into his arms. “Never that. You are too full of life to ever
die.”

Before she could stop him, they had both
toppled into the water together.

“
Arugh!” She splashed water at Emilian.
“Another dress ruined. Mami will kill you.”

Emilian raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re
going to tell her what we were doing?”

Mortified by that very thought, Treime
splashed more water at him to which Emilian responded by pulling
her flush against him and kissing her hard.

Their bodies responded naturally to each
other and their kisses quickly became heated, frenzied and full of
passion. As Emilian’s hands began to explore the length of Treime’s
body, she froze. She didn’t know whether to be excited or
afraid.

“
You’re safe,” He told her, his breath hot
against her as his teeth tugged on her ear. Treime trembled with
pleasure.

“
I’d never hurt you love, never,” He
whispered.

She squeezed her eyes shut as Emilian untied
her belt and slipped her kirtle and tunic over her head, leaving
her naked and completely exposed to him. She was unable to stop the
whimper of fear that escaped.

“
Look at me, Treime,” He
whispered.

The sound of his voice, hoarse with emotion,
speared right through her soul. Her eyes fluttered open to meet his
and she was delighted in what she found there. Her fear instantly
fled.

“
Now let me in.” He ordered.

Treime wrapped her arms around his neck and
pressed her body against his.

“
I will never love another,” He said
capturing her mouth in another heart stopping kiss.

“
This is forever puţin o.” He lifted her
legs and Treime instinctively wrapped them around his
waist.

His magic burst outward as he thrust into her
body, causing ripples in the water. Again he thrust and stars burst
from the heavens, the fragments rained down upon the entangled
couple like glitter. Soon the entire lake was illuminated in tiny
shards of light. The closer they became the more the surrounding
valley bloomed with life. The trees exploded in varying shades of
greens. Flowers grew fuller and higher than ever before, fat on the
love Treime and Emilian were creating. All around them Nature’s
scents had peppered the air with a thick honey sweetness like no
other.

Treime gasped as she realized what was
happening. Emilian wasn’t just inside of her, he had become a part
of her. His magic had become a part of her. Power crackled wildly
around them and within them.

“
My love is eternal,” he said harshly, his
breathing ragged and uneven.

Sunlight exploded through Treime, a white hot
fire that smelled of summer and felt like what she’d imagined
heaven would. All past hurts fled and were replaced with love. Love
and Emilian.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Xan and I had slept through dinner the night
I’d woken up in Drina’s RV. That was several days ago and still he
wouldn’t let me leave. He’d practically confined me to the bed with
a myriad of excuses, ranging from him complaining that I still had
yet to fully heal to simply not allowing me my clothing.

He’d actually tied my foot to the bed with my
torn t-shirt when, at one point, I tried to make a run for some
fresh air.

Why Drina hadn’t come and kicked us out I did
not know.

“So,” I said through a mouthful of raw
carrot. “What excuse are we going to give for missing today’s
chores?

Sitting in bed next to me, stark naked,
leaning back against the wall in a very inelegant slouch was my…
Xan? My boyfriend? Bed buddy? Captor? I made a mental note to ask
him later.

“You don’t exactly need an excuse, you almost
ended up as someone’s dinner.”

“Actually, I almost ended up as someone’s
girlfriend.” I shuddered remembering the details of my near
demise.

I closed my eyes as a ceramic water jug flew
across the room and shattered in a corner.

“Hey!” I snapped. “That was like the last
thing in here that you hadn’t broke!”

“Are you stupid Trinity?” He bellowed. “How
did you end up outside the wards anyway? If you tell me you tripped
over those dishes I found I will strangle you!”

My mouth dropped open. He thought I was
clumsy? Angry, I began fumbling for clothing. Finding only my
shredded t-shirt, I screeched in frustration and grabbed his.

Tackling me, he tore the shirt from my hands
and pinned me down on the floor. “Tell me what happened,” He
demanded.

“I’ll tell you what happened. Onyx pushed me
out of the stupid wards! I’m not some invalid who trips over dishes
you stupid… Xan?”

Xan was hopping out the door with only one
leg in his jeans, cursing as he tried to get the other foot in. I
scrambled for my own jeans, it took me several long minutes to find
them, several more to find and throw on Xan’s shirt, and run out
the door after him.

By the time I’d gotten outside he’d
completely disappeared.

Later that night, I wasn’t surprised when
Gerik sought me out; I was only surprised it had taken this long.
Knowing how word traveled around camp, my “accident” had no doubt
made its rounds several dozen times by now and had warped into
something completely outrageous.

Gerik appeared from behind the grouping of
trees that grew near the creek.

“Did she do it?” He asked, looking
emotionally battered.

I sighed. What the hell was Xan doing?

“Where’s Xan?” I asked him, ignoring his
question.

“Is there anyway you could have misunderstood
what happened?”

“How do you misunderstand someone pushing you
through the wards, waving goodbye as she declared her undying
devotion for the man she loves?” I demanded.

He continued on as if I hadn’t said a thing.
“Do you realize what Xan is doing right now?” He raised his voice
several octaves. “He called ‘Kris’ against Onyx, forcing Jericho to
hold court, and is right NOW presenting a case against her in your
stead because you are not clan.”

Oh my Gods. I would have wept at the
sweetness of it all if at this very moment I wasn’t faced with an
angry Viking.

“And you know all this how?” I asked. “Did
they seriously allow you as part of the court?” I scoffed. “How
biased can you really be when it comes to her?”

Still ignoring me, he asked, “How is it that
Xan just happened to realize you were missing only minutes
afterwards?”

“Why does it matter? He saved my life!”

Gerik snorted. “From what? A rabid
squirrel?”

“No Gerik, from a rabid human… There are Skin
Eaters outside camp. Remember?”

“Skin Eaters? Not only are you smoking but
you’re talking like him too? You do realize what an idiot he sounds
like, yeah?”

Without thinking, I slapped him across the
face as hard as I could, cursing as sharp needles of pain prickled
across my hand.

Eyes blazing white Gerik reached out and
snatched my fingers crushing them until they were grinding
painfully against each other.

“Let go of me!” I screamed trying to shake
free of his hold.

He went statue still, his expression one of
equal shock and horror.

“Gerik!” I yelled, “Let me go!” I continued
to beat against his chest with my free hand, trying to get him to
release me.

In a blindingly fast move, he gripped my face
and captured my lips with his own. He was relentless and
unforgiving, leaving me no choice but to open to him or be unable
to breathe. Knowing a losing battle I stopped struggling but still
refused to kiss him back.

My Daddy always said that sometimes I’m a
little late to dinner but I usually arrive before the food gets
cold. He said it was typical of left brainers.

Xan and I had not only made it possible for
us to be intimate with each other but our joining appeared to have
stripped the bond between Gerik and I. Normally I would have
rejoiced at this revelation but I doubted very much Gerik was in
the mood for rejoicing unless it was going to be in a pool of my
blood.

“What have you done?” He roared, grabbing my
neck.

“Nothing,” I squeaked. His hand tightened on
my throat.

“Shit, Trinity.” His chest heaved angrily.
“Fucking shit.”

I knew I smelled Drina’s herbs on you…” His
nostrils flared. “I can still scent you, but it’s faint now and
you…you smell like cigarettes and sweat and …” Gerik’s hand
clenched, causing me to cough.

For the first time ever I too could smell
Gerik. The thick, sweet scents were still there but no longer
muddling my senses. A few days worth of sweat and lingering smoke
from the bonfires clung to his clothing. The proximity of him even
allowed me to taste the salt of his skin.

This was just me and Gerik. Nothing magical
here. And apparently neither of us liked the other very much. Soul
mates who didn’t like each other. How ironic.

“What I don’t understand…” He seethed. “Is
how you managed it?”

The ground beneath us started to shake when I
wouldn’t answer him.

“How?” He roared.

I shook my head. I was not going to tell him
a damn thing; it was none of Gerik’s business what or who I
did.

“Tell me!” He yelled again.

“Let go of me!” I screamed back.

“Does it really matter?” I asked him, backing
away after he’d let go. “It’s done. It’s over.”

The incredulous look he gave me was full of
murderous rage.

“Does it matter?” He repeated. “You fuck Xan
and actually have the nerve to ask me if it matters!” He started
laughing, a horrible, maniacal sound.

“Do you know what you’ve done to me?

I had an idea. But I could honestly say I
didn’t care, especially after how he’d just treated me. If Gerik
wanted a storage facility for his excess power he could find
another, or explode, whatever, it wasn’t my problem.

“Do you know what you have done?” He roared.
I nearly jumped out of my skin as a blast of lightening struck a
nearby tree causing it to split down the middle. The charred
braches and leaves lit up in flames.

I held my hands up out in front of me.
“Gerik, please, stop. You’re going to hurt someone."

“I’m going to hurt someone? Oh that’s
precious Trinity. It’s great to know that you actually care about
others, when you have destroyed me!

Do you have any Greek mythology for this? Any
words of wisdom to share about a stupid, selfish bitch that has
damned someone to a life of madness?”

I did actually, but I didn’t think Gerik
would appreciate me telling him about it.

The sky suddenly begun to darken, storm
clouds were rapidly rolling in and heavy raindrops started to fall.
Gerik’s hands were fisted, his eyes blazing white. There was no
doubt that it was Gerik causing the storm. Every shudder that tore
through his large body was followed by a booming blast of
thunder.

“I could take you anyway, yeah? Maybe it will
still work. Maybe you haven’t ruined every-