A Lost Kitten (23 page)

John frowned. “Go away!” he shouted at the ones behind the loud, annoying noise.

The banging continued. John ignored it. He stretched and turned onto his left side. A sharp object stabbed his waist.

“Ouch!” He searched beneath him and saw broken pieces of wood.

John sat up and looked around. His shirt covered his hips. He was on what was left of the dining table. He checked the time. It was five o’clock in the evening.

“At least I didn’t sleep the entire day away,” he grumbled. The banging grew louder. John scowled at the door. “Be quiet! I’m coming!”

As he put his shirt on, John reached out with his senses, looking for Jasira. He found her in the bedroom. He got to his feet and quickly pulled his pants up from around his knees. The bedroom door opened. He glanced in Jasira’s direction.

“Stay there,” he ordered her. He unlocked the front door and swung it open. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know how to knock?”

Two tall, rugged looking guards glared back at John. One had black hair and a shaggy beard. The other was a clean-shaven redhead.

“We came for Jasira,” said the bearded guard.

“On the king’s orders,” the redhead added.

John stood erect. He did not move from the doorway. “What for?”

“That’s none of your business.”

The bearded guard looked over John’s right shoulder. “Jasira, you are to come with us.” He pushed John, trying to enter the house.

John was ready. He shoved the man several feet away from the house, along with his companion. “Don’t you touch her!” Their aggressive behavior elicited a protectiveness in John that bordered on savagery.

“Get out of our way!” shouted the black-haired guard.

“We’re here under the king’s orders!” repeated the beardless one. “This does not involve you!”

“The hell it doesn’t.” John sensed Jasira moving toward the doorway. “Stay in the house!” he yelled over his shoulder. “What does King Yudit want with her?”

“Get out of our way.” The beardless guard stepped forward. “Jasira, come with us!”

John roared. The redheaded guard froze in place and paled. The bearded man stared at John with his mouth open. Jasira was forgotten.

“Jasira stays where she’s at.” John crouched into a ready stance.

By the wall, several guards overheard the roar. They left their posts to investigate. They arrived at Jasira’s house and saw two of their fellow guards confronting the outlander. They flanked their comrades for support. One removed his weapon from his back and aimed it at John.

Their presence gave the bearded guard courage. He stepped forward. “Jasira, you will come with us if you know what’s good for you.”

“And you will back away if you know what’s good for you,” added the guard with the gun, looking at John.

John ignored him. He did not feel threatened by the eight men or the weapon. His focus was on the bearded man. “Did you just threaten her?” John’s eyes ignited into a fiery brown. “A foolish thing to do.” He slowly extended his claws. “You must have a death wish.”

The armed guard raised his gun. John’s warrior instincts kicked in. He quickly surveyed the situation. He intended to disarm the armed guard first, then rip out the bearded man’s tongue for intimidating his soulmate. He stepped forward and almost walked into Jasira’s energy force.

“I said stay back!” He quickly positioned his bulky form in between Jasira and the guards. He felt Jasira squeeze his forearm twice.

The guard with the gun spoke. “Jasira said she will go to the kasuhl.” He lowered his weapon.

John looked at her. “No.”

“You can go along.” The man looked at his fellow guards. “It’s better than bloodshed.”

The two guards sent to retrieve Jasira unwillingly consented.

“Fine. King Yudit is waiting in his office,” said the redhead.

John viciously growled at the guards. “If any of you go near her, I’ll kill you.” He glared at the one with the gun. “And your pathetic gun won’t save you.”

John gestured to his left, in the direction he wanted Jasira to walk. He sensed her energy floating away. John followed closely beside her. He retracted his claws, but it took him a long time to calm down.

The guards remained several steps behind them all the way to Yudit’s office. John did not wait for them to announce their arrival. He pushed the door open, allowing Jasira to enter first.

Yudit stood from his chair. “Jasira! What were you thinking?” He stormed from around his desk. “Dena’s pairunts were here.”

John quickly shielded his soulmate with his towering frame, not liking the way Yudit charged in her direction. He sensed Jasira trying to walk around him. “No! Stay behind me.” He glowered at Yudit. “And you stay right there.”

Yudit viewed John’s fighting stance. He made no comment on it. Instead, he switched his attention to Jasira. “What possessed you to attack Dena?”

Jasira explained what happened.

Yudit looked at John. “Is this true?”

John scowled. “I’m not a Surrealan, remember? I can’t hear her.”

“She said Dena assaulted you.”

“Dena and I dated for a short time,” John explained. “I broke it off. She started to follow me around, harassing me every time I was alone. She did so again today outside the school. Jasira saw her and got her off me.”

“Jasira did more than that.” Yudit turned around. He walked to his desk. “Dena’s nose is broken.” He faced the couple. “Her face is swollen with cuts and bruises. Her neck is badly bruised from you choking her!”

“Jasira didn’t mean to lose her temper.” John glanced at the spot he sensed Jasira stood. “She’s sorry. Right, Jasira?” He was unsure if she agreed with him.

“Sorry is not good enough,” the king said, his voice clipped.

“I’ll pay for Dena’s medical bills,” offered John. “Just make sure Dena understands never to come near us again.”

“You have no muhnee.”

“I’ll have it once I return to the empire. I’ll send it back immediately.”

Yudit glared at him. “Woomuhn seem to love assaulting you.”

John gritted his teeth.

“I will pay the dokter. You will pay me.”

John dipped his head once.

Yudit switched his attention to Jasira. “I will dismiss the charges. Dena knows the law. I will make certain she does not break it again.”

As Yudit’s gaze remained on Jasira, John saw the angry gleam in his eyes intensify. What was Jasira saying to him?

“Jasira?” he said.

“What did you expect?” Yudit angrily spoke. “I gave them an order.”

John figured Jasira was talking about the guards. Did she have to bring them up? He had just killed the issue with Dena.

Yudit’s lips pulled back in anger. “You forget I’m your king, Jasira. Watch how you speak to me.” His icy glare landed on John. “John should not have gotten in the way.”

John stood taller. He looked at the energy spot. “Jasira, that’s enough.”

He did not want Jasira to start an issue between him and the king. Nor did he want to spend his remaining days on Surreal in a freezing cell.

Yudit’s eyes turned deadly. “I understand you are upset, but I will not—”

“Jasira, I said enough!” John yelled. “Be quiet!” He addressed Yudit calmly. “I apologize for any harsh words. The misunderstanding is over. I will repay you for Dena’s medical bills. And Jasira,” he speared her with an angry scowl, “from now on will behave herself.”

Yudit was slow in responding. His hard stare was fixed on Jasira. “I’m sure she will. However, for her disrespect she will be suspended for two months without pay.” His sights landed back on John. “You will make sure she stays out of trouble.”

John nodded.

“I will make sure no other woomuhn assaults you during your stay on Surreal. Once you leave, you are on your own.” He went around his desk and sat back in his chair, dismissing them.

“You’ve got yourself a deal.” John faced Jasira. “Let’s go.” He waited for her to move. When she did not, he barked, “Now!”

That got her moving. John closed the doors behind him, grateful to be leaving the castle. He practically ran all the way back to Jasira’s warm home. Once he defrosted, he took the broken dining table outside and piled the pieces in the backyard. Its next life would be as firewood.

John examined the two halves of the tabletop, smiling. It had served its mistress well. He spotted something. He knelt on one knee for a closer look. His fingers traced the claw marks left behind. He felt a twinge in his chest.

It was the same each time they made love. It would continue to happen until his soul fused with its mate. John swallowed. That would never happen. She was dead, and he was amongst the living.

John took a deep breath, stood, and reentered the house. He would have to make the best of what he had.

Tuesday, the 24th of August

As a couple, John and Jasira had decided to stay in Jasira’s house instead of returning to Bogdan’s home. John wanted to be alone with his new wife. Sadly, Jasira being a ghost kept placing a damper on his happiness. John was getting a taste of how it would be once they returned to the empire. It would not be easy.

The one-way conversations, the sensing of Jasira’s presence but not being able to see her, and the inability to touch her was taking its toll. He did not wish to leave Jasira, but he wanted them to be like a normal married couple.

John knew that was impossible. What he did not know was how long he could endure it before his sorrow and longings weakened his will to live. It has been eight months since their first encounter, and he was already close to losing his mind.

As they were preparing to go to bed, there was an urgent knock on the front door. John put his shirt back on and went to see who was at the door.

It was an excited Andros. “John, Mira is in labor. She refuses to have strangers near her neonates. But she said Jasira can come since she’s Bogdan’s nonage freond, and she works with the local midwif in delivering neonates.”

John did not have his translator on, but he understood enough to know that Mira needed Jasira’s help. “Right. Wait here.” He quickly reentered the bedroom. “Jasira, Mira’s in labor. She needs your help.” He sensed Jasira’s energy force moving away from the bed and rushing toward the bedroom door. He snatched his jacket off the trunk and followed close behind her. “We’re ready,” he said to Andros, putting on his jacket. They exited the house.

“I told Rau to have Fluffy ready,” informed Andros as he led John to the stable.

“Thanks.”

John felt it was foolish and a waste of time that Rau also had a ladder ready for Jasira to use to climb onto Fluffy’s back. All she had to do was float upward. Instead, her energy force inched its way up the ladder, stopping behind him.

He felt Jasira’s arms slip around his waist. “Are you ready?” he asked her. She tapped his left shoulder once. He looked at Andros. “Are you ready?”

Andros nodded. He flicked his reins once and his white shaggy horse took off.

“Giddyap, Fluffy.” John flicked his ropes and Fluffy bolted from his spot.

They arrived at Bogdan’s estate by four in the morning. Sirius was pacing the deck, waiting for them. Seeing John and Andros, he rushed down the stairs to greet them.

He grabbed the reins to his brother’s horse. “It’s about time you got here.”

Andros jumped off his horse. He paused to look up at the house. Mira’s screams could be heard from outside.

John glanced up at the house, also. “Boy, she’s in a lot of pain.”

Sirius reached for Fluffy’s reins. “Jasira, hurry!” he urged.

John’s preternatural senses automatically followed Jasira’s aura as she immediately slid down Fluffy’s back and rushed into the house. John landed on his feet.

“I’ll take the horses. You two can go inside.” Sirius escorted both Fluffy and his brother’s horse to the barn.

John hooked his translator around his ear and followed Andros into the house. They remained with the rest of the men in the great room.

It took eighteen excruciating hours to deliver the twins. After mother and infants were cleaned up, Audra placed a baby in each of Mira’s arms. Mira’s mother, Ilsa, exited the room and gave everyone who waited in the great room the news. Bogdan bolted from his seat and raced up the stairs to his new family.

On Mira’s request, the rest of the family entered her room and greeted her babies. Jasira heard Mira ask Bogdan to bring John to view the twins. When he asked why the change of heart, Mira stated she liked John. She had sensed he was special and would understand a Medlothian child.

Jasira understood that Mira meant the special gifts Medlothians were born with. She wondered if Asher had detected John’s gifts and had spoken about it to the family. Bogdan kissed his wife on the forehead and went to retrieve John, who had remained downstairs in the great room.

Jasira pressed her trembling hands to her stomach. Growing up, she had always dreamt of having her own family. Being an only child, she wanted to have her home filled with children—the more the merrier. She loved children so much that her first job was aiding the midwife in delivery babies.

When she had heard that Yudit was searching for a new headmistress for the school, she immediately applied for the position. Unwilling to give up her first job, Jasira continued to aid the midwife several nights during the week and on the weekends. She was also present at every delivery.