Warrior Blind (7 page)

Bronwen was not like that.

She would have known, wouldn’t she?

“It is not something you can argue about. And the rest of them are waiting. You must meet them on an even field, no?” His fingers parted her hair and she felt him braid it.

“I don’t even know what they would want from me. They have to be wrong; they have to.”

“The woman who raised you—think you she would be so wrong? She has been checking on you almost hourly. Rather persistent—and annoying. Eaudne sat with you for a few moment each day, as well. Long enough for me to bathe and eat.” He lifted her off of his lap—thank the Goddess—and she felt his movements as he stood.

His hands pulled the
vestis—
one that fastened easily in the front—from her body and Bron gasped. Tried to grab the cloth and cover herself. “Don’t do that!”

“We are
gamata
. There is no need for modesty between us.”

“We are
not gamata
, whatever that means. And we never will be. In my world you would be arrested for this! The kidnapping, too!”

He moved until his face was right next to hers. “It’s a good thing we are in my world, then, isn’t it not?”

“Leave me alone, Koios. I mean it. I don’t want you around me; I don’t want to be with you.”

“Let me ask you this,
gamata
…how do you plan to stop me?”

Good question. Every time she’d tried to just stay away from him, he’d shown up and flashed her somewhere. Why was he so persistent? “What is it you hope to gain?”

“In what?”

“This persistence. I don’t want you around me, I don’t want to take part in whatever plans you have, and I definitely don’t want you think I’m your
gamata
.” She was familiar with the term—Auri had explained how it was similar to a Dardaptoan Rajni, but it was a matter of mostly choice for warriors. Kindara was Rathan’s, Auri was Ren’s. But there was no way she was going to allow Koios to make her his.

Fifteen months ago, when she’s first met him, first realized that he was her Rajni, she had known immediately who he was. And she had trusted in the knowledge that Rajnis had no choice but to protect and care for their mates, that their souls would ensure that. But it wasn’t the case with this big demon.

He had stolen her from those who loved her, and she’d gone willingly. Then. Because she thought he was the male who would love her forever.

Instead he’d given her over to that monster without a backward glance. How was she supposed to forget that betrayal, just because he suddenly decided he wanted her?

“Why do you want me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why. Do. You. Want. Me?” She surprised herself—and him—by yanking the clean vestis out of his hand when he tried to wrap it around her. She sat there, naked from the waist up until she got the material wrapped around her chest. “Let’s be honest here. You don’t want me. You’re not attracted to me the way a mate should be. You have some other weird reason for harassing me.”

‘I do not view courting my
gamata
as any type of harassment.”

“Well, it is. As long as I see it that way, it is. Why can’t you just leave me with the people who love me, and go about your own life as if nothing ever happened all those months ago? Don’t you understand that I just want to forget all about you?”

His hands pushed hers out of the way and he tied the vestis closed. Then hard fingers wrapped around each of her shoulders. He had really big hands, didn’t he?

He was so much larger than then men she was used to. Her brothers were both tall men, but they weren’t not as tall or as muscled as Koios. She knew just exactly how strong he was, as well.

She waited for the grip to tighten even more. But it didn’t. Instead, he slipped his hands down her back and lifted her up. He kissed her forehead and almost had her in tears. Her emotions were so wild, unstable, around him. She fought to steady herself.

“Koios, what are you doing? Why? I need to understand, please?”

Chapter 12

HOW
was he to answer?

If she were demon, there would be no need for him to explain. To put it into words. He was not one of glib language—his twin was the voice of Lothicano.

She was claimed as
gamata
—to a king, no less; shouldn’t that be enough for her?

Her face was tilted toward him, pale and beautiful.

She definitely resembled no demon Kind he knew. She looked far too fragile to ever be considered one of the thousands of Kinds in his world.

So fragile. And he had come so close to breaking her with his carelessness.

Never again.

He would dedicate the remainder of his life to protecting this female. He set her back on her feet as gently as possible. “You must finish dressing. They are expecting you in the private hall shortly.”

“For what?”

“They did not say, but the tone of that bastard Black was grim.”

“Do not call him that. He is a part of my family. And I care for him greatly.”

There was a snap in her words toward him this day that had never been there before. It showed more spirit from her than he had expected.

“He flashed me into cave and left me there.”

“Why did he do that?”

“Because he could. But as you can s—” He cut himself off. “Never you mind Black. He will not be interfering with us again.”

She smiled and he was taken aback at how perfect the expression was. Had she ever smiled in his presence before?

Koios was stuck by the knowledge that she hadn’t.

Had he truly given her nothing to smile about throughout their association?

“Do you really think you can stop Nal from doing whatever he wants? No one ever has before, that I know of.”

“He is no god.”

“No, he isn’t. He is more though, isn’t he?”

Of course Black was. He was Laquazzean.

And so was she.

Koios mustn’t ever forget that.

KOIOS
wanted to break Black’s damned fingers. The other male had a hand on Bronwen’s small shoulder, using his grip to guide her where he wanted her to go. And she didn’t shrug off the Laquazzean’s touch.

Not like she did Koios’.

“Nal, I am not so sure of this…”

He heard the nerves in her voice and his response to that fear surprised him. He never wanted her to feel fear again.

The realistic part of himself knew that was something he would never be able to fully accomplish. But that did not mean that he wanted another male comforting his
gamata
. He dislodged Black’s hand and wrapped his own around her shoulder.

She immediately tensed. “What are you doing?”

“He has his own female, he has no need to touch mine.”

“I’m not your female, Koios. You need to remember that.”

“In time, you will realize that I am your
gamata
. We will grow from there. In the meantime, consider me your champion. It is my duty to ensure you are well guarded, protected, in this coming time.”

“I did not ask for your protection.”

“But you have my oath, and my sword. Such that it is.” He still had the one he had taken off a fallen Midreno demon two days earlier. Midreno were similar in size to Beskre warriors, having come from a common ancestor. But Midreno were more animalistic, more killing machines. Evolution had taken from the Midreno their ability to experience softer emotions, while evolution had enabled the Beskre to grow a little stronger and a lot faster than the Midreno. Still, the Midreno were known for their artistry with swords. “Since Black is responsible for the loss of my own ancient blade.”

“Your foolishness is responsible for whatever loss you experienced.” Black smirked at him, and Koios wanted to smash a fist into the male’s face. He would not forget the shit Black had pulled three days ago. If it had not been for Phaenna, Koios would most likely still be in that damned hole. He would not let that slight go too much longer.

Had his
gamata
’s safety not been in jeopardy he would have already addressed the affront. He would have his day with Black, and soon.

The male looked at him. “Sure you will. You are a flea upon a dog when compared to a Laquazzean.”

“And arrogance has failed many a warrior.”

“So says the king of arrogance.”

“Yes, I am a king. You would be best to remember that. And I command an army of eight thousand demon warriors.”

Black said nothing as they made their way down the white stone hall. He stopped at a black door. His eyes met Koios’ again. “And those numbers will most likely be needed.
That
is one of the only reasons you are not locked out of this meeting. You are supercilious. Bronwen is not.”

“Nalik, I—”

Black closed the door instead of pushing it the rest of the way open. He turned Bronwen toward him. “Listen to me, Bronwen. I would not bring this upon you if I could protect you, any more than I would have wished it upon my own sister—or that I wish it on Cassandra. You know that. I was there with your brothers on the day you were born, I comforted you when you scratched a knee and when you broke your arm. I love you. I would not
ever
wish this for you, yet I also
know
you. And I know what you are capable of. I know what you have in you. But the question is…do you?”

“I think we both know the answer to that, Nal. I’m not that capable of anything anymore.”

Bronwen’s whispered response stabbed right through Koios. Had she always been so self-doubting or was that something else that could be laid directly at his own feet?

He reached over her shoulder and opened the door. They had much to talk about and that could only happen after this meeting.

He knew it. Did she?

***

She bumped her way toward a chair, following Nalik’s guiding hand. It wasn’t exactly a chair, but a stone bench with room for one other. It did not surprise her when Koios took that spot.

Someone reached out and tapped her shoulder, laid their head against Bronwen’s. From the familiar scent she recognized the closest person to a mother she had ever had. “Auri…what are we doing here today?”

“We are making decisions that will shape a war.” It was Ren, and his voice came from the other side of Auri. “Welcome to our special party, little healer.”

“I do not know why I am here.”

“Oh, sweetie, I think you do.” Auri hugged her. “I saw it that day, in the courtyard. Your future was set long ago; it only waits for you to live it.”

“But what is that future?” She knew she wouldn’t get a true answer. Her brother Theo had the gift of foresight, and he firmly believed it was better not to know and perhaps ruin that future than to know it ahead. She’d always understood it in theory. But when it pertained to her? She didn’t appreciate it so much.

Eaudne must have heard her. “To heal, child.”

“Be that so,” Nalik said. “It cannot be done
here.
Thrun is not structurally set up to support mass healing. Auri and I have shorn it up as best we can, but it is a demon city and built over a mass of caves far weaker than any limestone of the Gaian world. Daily power surges and instability even from a fraction of healers here would weaken the city. Thrun would not be able to withstand another battle like we faced recently.”

Bron shivered. “Do you think there will be another one?”

Nalik answered. “Yes. I believe there will, possibly many. Thrun is vulnerable, still. Even with us to protect it. Auri and I cannot be everywhere. And even our strengths and skills cannot protect the entire city.
Yet.
”

Auri’s
Rajni
agreed. “What my
gamata
and her cousin cannot, I have eight thousand warriors, mostly
Beskre, Phrymos,
and
Morcpe,
to shore up this city. And another four thousand remain with my King in Relaklonos’ capitol.”

Koios shifted on the stone beside her. “Do you feel such numbers necessary? What do we know of this war? Who? Why? Where, even? Vague predictions and threats will not convince others a war is to come.”

Another voice answered, and it wasn’t one Bronwen recognized. Phaenna? She had only met her once or twice, and never had they spoken to one another. “This has not ever been revealed to us. Twelve thousand be so few, but it may be far too many. We have no way of knowing. We are only
beings,
for all of our gifts. Some of us have the ability to see what
could
be. Some like Nalik and Aureliana have gifts that allow them to lead, to protect. Still others like Cass, and yourself Bronwen Sebastos, the gift of restoration, of regrowth, birth, and healing. Those are not to be taken lightly.”