A Star is Born: The Coming Dawn: Book I (5 page)

“Two hundred years, huh?”

“Just don’t get attached.
And
remember this; I won’t stay in your presence one minute longer than my duty demands. I don’t care if it means you’ll die. I’ve killed before, and you being a Star makes no difference. Warriors are wired to never fear death and kill without thought. I won’t have remorse and stay if you develop feelings. I think of two things…”

“Yes, I got it. Sex and War,” Ky said sarcastically. “Let’s go. This conversation is pointless. I’m eighteen, need I say more?”

“
Not sex and war, my mission and my men
.
I’m not a stud! I’m the chief!
” he corrected her forcefully. She shrugged, not caring. Her indifference irritated him. He opened his mouth to argue, but then turned and strolled to the edge of the cliff. “Let’s go, Princess. We can be in the city in less than a few short hours if we hurry.” He motioned for her to approach. He took her hand, gathered her close to his chest, and then wrapped his arm around her waist.

She wanted him to be equally as energetic while taking her body. She didn’t want him to ask, but lay her on the ground and make love to her.

He squeezed her tightly to him. She liked the strength that enfolded her. Then he stepped off the edge of the cliff and grasped a chunk of solid stone that snapped with effort, and jabbed it into the side of the rock wall to slow their decent. While he held her, he watched her as if he was curious about her. The tough stone broke the brittle rock, chipping at the cliff as they fell. They slid to the bottom floor of the cave, effortlessly. They touched the ground with a heavy thump.

Ky was impressed by their descent that he made look so easy. Not once did sharp protrusions scrape them. He had complete control. She stared up at the cave amazed how high they had been.

Then a subtle scent of spicy cologne became increasingly stronger. A moment later she realized
she
had made him smell like that. Instantly, she wished she hadn’t changed him to make him smell sexually enticing, and as if her thoughts willed the scent to dissipate, it was gone. Cobaaron abruptly let go of her, and without a word took a few long strides from her for distance between them.

After that, they walked in silence. He navigated the tunnels, which became increasingly smaller with every passage. Every once in awhile, he would stop to listen for sounds that she never heard or he would sniff the air. His careful actions troubled her. She kept close to him hoping he had excellent hearing and sense of smell. Her life depended on it. Ky didn’t think her body would survive another round with a troll, or worse, other creatures he was so keen to not divulge to her.

They walked for so long her feet felt like she was striding on a surface of sharp tacks. Refusing to ask for rest, she hastily hobbled behind him, cringing from the pain.

When she thought it was time to finally plead for rest, they headed into another cave. Cobaaron immediately stopped her, by holding out an arm. “Close your eyes, warriors,” he barked out his command. Cobaaron then clutched her arm, and hurried her passed the two standing guard at an entrance of the tunnel, and pinching their eyes tightly shut.

Ky observed the warriors as they walked by. Like Cobaaron, they were tall and beefy, except for not as massive with muscle. They too wore the same attire of a scale skirt and laced boots with armbands. Evidently, it was the official warrior gear.

He continued to lead her along the winding tunnel, until once again they turned down another passageway. They followed it for at least a mile. He obviously knew exactly how to get to the city, because he brought her through a complex maze of channels, which eventually had torches burning for light. The fire lit an array of colored gems that were embedded into the neatly chiseled rock making the walls glisten beautifully.

When he sensed that she lagged behind, he let her observe the sparkling gems in the firelight as he explained why the walls twinkled. “This is Gem City, because of all the rare stones that naturally formed in the mountain around here. It’s the only thing beautiful in this city. Now, hurry up. We’re almost there.” He no sooner spoke when he held out an arm stopping her again. “Someone is coming. Hide behind me.”

Ky did as she was told, but peered around his broad arm. A moment later two women walked around the corner, one was holding a bundle of cloth that swaddled a baby, and the other was holding a large pitcher of water. They froze and then smiled at Cobaaron with unmistakable longing. They giggled, as they flirted without words. Ky couldn’t believe the way they blatantly ogled him as if the only purpose for his bulging muscles was for the women to gape. She expected them to freely run a hand up and down his hard abs.

Watching the women feast on his masculine beauty annoyed the daylights out of Ky. Possessively, she seized his thick arm without thinking. Her body once again reacted. She felt a desire to make love. Visions of kissing him deeply while he cupped her breasts were so vivid it felt real. She was overwhelmed with the need to touch him.

She wanted him, badly. She rarely had interest in men, but her feelings for him were absurdly intense for meeting him so recently. The blood they shared and their morphing changes were undeniably luring her. With each touch, she wanted him more and more. Ky let go of his arm, and the need to feel his caresses lessened. Cobaaron was right; she needed to stay away from him—far away from him. No wonder he didn’t want to come in contact with her and refused to touch her. He knew how powerful bonds were, while she hadn’t.

“Take me to your councilmen,” Cobaaron commanded.

“You don’t know the way?” Ky asked. The two women then noticed her. Their eyes widened, and the woman with the small child gasped at the sight of Ky. Her presence surprised them. Ky now had glowing skin, while the other two women were creamy white. Clearly in this world, shining wasn’t normal.

Cobaaron didn’t answer Ky. Instead, he exhaled a throaty exasperated groan as the women continued to admire him. “Well, get out of the way then, if you’re going to be this useless,” Cobaaron scolded with annoyance.

“No, I’ll take you,” the woman who was holding the water spoke up. She motioned for them to follow. The three followed tunnels until they came to a tall wooden double door that had an elaborately carved tree with gems for leaves. The woman bowed when Cobaaron excused her, and scurried away in the direction they had come.

“It would be nice,” Cobaaron whispered softly, “if you didn’t mention that we shared blood. They don’t need to know that right now.” Ky nodded, positive hinting they were married wouldn’t bode well. She didn’t like the idea of marriage either. Being forced to marry in a strange land, to someone she just met, was the last thing she wanted. He smiled looking relieved, and added, “Stay behind me. You can’t be seen with so few clothes. You’re considered pure.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Cobaaron thrust open the double doors. There were several men and women sitting around a huge stone circular table. They were eating a large feast, laden with heaps of exotic foods Ky had never seen. The air was thick with the smell of spicy meats. Though she was sure that one of the dishes was a mound of pickled potatoes, nothing else looked familiar or appetizing. However, they all shared white meat from a fat lobster tail that had a face of a pug.

The room fell to a deathly quiet when they entered. The few women gasped when they saw Ky, and the men covered their eyes to keep her from their sight.

“A Star,” a woman inhaled in disbelief. The council immediately stood.

“Someone offer her a robe, and cover her quickly,” another woman hissed. A councilman hurriedly shucked off an enormous velvet cloak and threw it toward Ky. Because he wasn’t looking, his aim was a bit off, but Cobaaron caught the cloak then draped it over her.

“Someone needs to fetch Airia,” another man proclaimed.

“I’ll go,” the man who gave up the cloak volunteered and hurried from the room. While he was gone, they all stared at Ky. No one dared to speak to her, but they all murmured under their breath to one another. Cobaaron groaned and moaned every once in awhile, but said nothing.

The doors swung open, and the man ushered in another woman who was glowing. Her skin was pale, almost white, with blue snowflake-like designs. She was covered in jewelry and gems from the city. She had more tattooing, which covered almost all her white skin, even on her cheekbone next to her right eye. She glided gracefully passed Cobaaron and Ky, as her eyes locked onto Ky.

When she reached the council in the depth of the room, the woman who gleamed white said, “I’m Airia. Like you, I’m a Star. I’ve been here nearly three hundred years but I’m still young. I’ve never seen another Star. So forgive me if I stare.” Airia blinked, obviously trying to divert her eyes, but couldn’t. “I’ll share all I have with you, including the reign as queen.” She expressed genuine pleasure to see her with a radiant smile. “And the minute we’re out of the councilors’ chamber I’ll answer any questions you might have. You must have many; I know I had several.” Airia waved a hand, while asking everyone to sit, except Cobaaron and Ky.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Airia addressed Ky. “Do you remember being a shooting Star? Do you remember your descent? Anything you can tell us will help the council understand your state of being when you fell. It will help our committee gather information about shooting Stars and how we can prepare for future births. When Stars aren’t born in the city, it’s of particular interest to us.”

Everyone focused on Ky when Airia finished speaking. Cobaaron moved so that she was no longer partially hidden behind his broad shoulder. “I did fall. Yes,” Ky began, but she didn’t know what information they needed. She certainly wasn’t a
shooting Star
. Ky was a girl from Dallas, Texas who fell through a trapdoor. The idea she was anything to the contrary was laughable.

“Yes, but, did you want to fall where you did? Did you find the area you landed interesting? Did it have any significance to the world you remember? Did it remind you of home?” a man asked her gently.

“No, it was very foreign, but the eels and water interested me,” Ky said. “But I didn’t choose to fall or choose where I landed.”

“She means rockfish,” Cobaaron corrected Ky so the council understood. He then explained farther by adding, “She fell into the Orchard Marsh.”

“Did the rockfish sting you?” a man asked. “Did you instinctively know you shouldn’t let them touch you, and keep moving so they couldn’t see you?”

“Um, I’m not sure. I might have known not to let them touch me. I’m certain I didn’t want them near me. Their appearance is a bit creepy.”

“So how did you fall?” a woman asked.

Ky chuckled at the absurdity of the question, but stifled it when no one else thought it ridiculous. “I fell hard. I fell from the trapdoor on stage and the next thing I knew I was sitting waist deep in glowing water. I’ve never seen anything like it. When I stood, I began seeking a way out. That was when my skin began to transform. I saw a blinding light, which emitted from inside my body.” She touched her chest, the source where the pain initially began. “I screamed feeling as if I’d die from the pain. I remember trying to find a way out of the cave, but then a troll snatched me. That was when Cobaaron found me.”

“A troll captured you?” a woman asked, fury in her voice. “I knew those beasts should be destroyed. She could have died! I motion for those nasty things to be purged of the caves to ensure survival of future Stars.”

“Those beasts have a purpose,” Cobaaron bellowed. “They preoccupy the more fearsome creatures that wander the inner cavities of this mountain. You’re lucky to have them.”

“And who are you young warrior?” a man spat out. “How dare you speak to the council with such insolence! Cobaaron would have you killed for less.”

“
I am Cobaaron!
”

The room fell silent. Everyone diverted their gaze from Ky to Cobaaron then back to Ky. “But why do you look different?” Airia asked and folded her arms.

Cobaaron shifted, refusing to answer.

“It must be what she was wearing,” another man surmised. “Airia, she was nearly bare when she came in, until she was given that cloak. He must have seen her uncovered.” He then asked Ky with a careful tone, as a father would speak to a young daughter, “Tell me child, did his eyes fix upon you while…bare?”

“Of course not. The caves are dark,” Cobaaron growled.

“She glows, Cobaaron,” Airia said.

“I didn’t look,” Cobaaron stressed.

“Then why is she wearing some of the scales to your skirt under that robe?” a woman asked which convinced everyone in the room that Cobaaron certainly saw Ky’s naked body.

“Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t binding unions have the ability to shape shift their partners until the union has been fulfilled? It seems to me they have been united. Whether he saw her or not, they’re clearly
bound together
.” Airia’s skin shone brighter; she lit the room with the intensified glimmer. Her face contorted with anger. “Tell me, Cobaaron, did you consummate the bond only to leave her to die? Because you clearly don’t want to admit this union occurred.”

“Remember who you’re talking to, Airia!” Cobaaron bellowed with murder in his voice.

There was uproar among the council; their shouts were near hysteria. “No one is accusing anyone of anything. We’re simply trying to find out the best course of action,” a woman gently implored, trying to calm everyone down.

“You don’t think I can hear you? I’m a warrior. I have hearing like a dog. You have all whispered it. Why not ask her if I touched her.” Cobaaron gritted his teeth.

Airia smiled at Ky, “Did he? You will have no harm done to you for telling the truth. There is no need to be afraid. You’re a queen. Any command, any desire, or wish will be granted. This man is
just
a warrior whose sole purpose in life is to protect
you
. There is no need to be afraid or lie for a chief who is beneath you.”

Cobaaron shook his head with fury. He looked as if he would pounce on Airia any moment. Slowly, Ky began to realize why Cobaaron felt he had to puff up his position and tell her cities existed because of his work. With a grandfather who fought in WWII, she had great respect for the military. And because she cared how he felt, she quickly defended him. “No, he saved me in the cave. He protected me, led me here unharmed, and not once did he do anything inappropriate. He was a gentleman.” She glanced over to him. Her fist tightened, determined to conceal her palm that had his name on it.