[Atlantean's Quest 03] Redemption (5 page)

Was this some kind of cruel joke? Seers didn’t have true-mates, everyone knew that.
Is there anyone else there with you?
he asked, hoping his vision woman was there with Ariel.

Not of our people, if that is what you ask.
There was an edge to Ariel’s voice as she spoke, the tenor not nearly as teasing as it had been moments ago.

Coridan’s brows rose. That explained the sudden shift. He snorted and shook his head. For a moment, he’d actually thought she’d been jealous.

The time for reunions is over. I am here with our old friend and enemy the professor.

Coridan tensed, every muscle on alert.
What does he want?

He is seeking our people. I will allow him to kill me before that will happen, but I need your help.

No!
The thought of Ariel dying stabbed at his chest like a blunt sword. He would not allow her to die, could not. Forsaken by his people, Coridan cared not what happened to the Atlanteans, but she was a different matter.

Ariel groaned in pain. You will have to be careful once you near the compound. The professor has his men seeking the tribal members.

The Atlantean people are not my problem. He growled.

Ariel hesitated. I’m not sure how long I can keep them from the transport. Fear rang out in her voice. They must not reach the transport…aahh!

Ariel!
Coridan’s heart skidded to a halt, a second before slamming into his ribs. His hands flew to his chest protectively.
What is he doing to you?

He likes to play with knives. I will heal myself once he returns me to Eros’ hut, until then I must take the pain. He is unaware of our true powers. Remember he’s only witnessed Eros’ rescue of Queen Rachel.

I will kill him.
Coridan’s voice came out ferocious, like a caged animal, inside his head. Rage filled him, tainting his blood.

No! Ariel laughed, but the sound held no humor. I will take care of this slug when the time comes.

Amongst your people, women do not kill. Or have you forgotten, seer?

You claim to have no people, so my actions should not concern you. As for my memory, I have forgotten nothing, including your past deeds, so do not lecture me, warrior. I’m in no mood. Just come.

Coridan gritted his teeth. He didn’t like being commanded. But he could not stay away, even if he’d wished to do so. Reluctantly he responded.
As you wish…

Before she could refuse or break contact with him, Coridan sent her an energy surge along the same path she’d communicated with him on. He knew she’d be surprised he could do so, for the Atlantean people were unaware of his true power. He wished he could see the look on Ariel’s face when she received it. The thought made him smile.

In her weakened state, the energy would temporarily give her enough strength to continue her fight. She could use it to struggle in the name of the people. She could use it to struggle to save herself. He didn’t care how she chose to justify her actions, for he knew the truth. She was doing it…

For them.

He surged into the jungle, racing through the brush, mentally replaying what had been said. Ariel had become defensive when he’d questioned her about her ability to reach him, defiantly hiding behind her title. ‘Twas a pity she didn’t know her title no longer held sway over him.

He was a tribe of one now.

However, the fact remained, she had communicated to him on his private channel, like a true-mate. His mind latched onto that thought, as his imagination took over. For a moment, he pictured their limbs entwined, writhing as they experienced an energy bind. His body tightened in anticipation, his heart hammering in his chest. Coridan pushed himself harder than he’d ever done before.

She may deserve his respect due to her position, but if it turned out she truly was his mate and the female behind the enchanting fragrance that still haunted him, then their conversation was far from over.

In fact, it had just begun.

Chapter Four

Professor Rumsinger leaned over Ariel’s bleeding body. He’d been torturing her for hours. The light in the sky had begun to fade, casting the jungle in deep shadow. “You’d make it so much easier on yourself if you’d just tell me what I want to know.”

“Go to Hades, slug.” She growled out, as she strained against her bonds.

Rumsinger glared, then hauled off and backhanded Ariel across the cheek. Pain exploded in her head, as she fought to keep it from reaching Coridan. He was still too far away to be of assistance. The world tilted as she tried to focus on the red-devil’s face. She could feel her lip starting to swell, taste fresh blood in her mouth. She glared, hoping the bastard would return her to the hut soon. She needed to heal her wounds before she bled to death.

As if reading her thoughts, the professor spoke. “Raoul and Santo, get her bandaged up. I don’t want the bitch bleeding to death before I get the answers I seek.”

The two guards jumped, scurrying off to retrieve what she could only imagine to be supplies for tending her wounds. They returned moments later carrying clean bandages and some kind of bottled elixir. Ariel swallowed hard as they approached her with the unknown liquid, which they’d dabbed onto a piece of cotton.

The second the medicine hit her skin it burned, not quite as bad as the salt, but close. Ariel gasped and fought the urge to struggle, the cure worse than the cause. To their credit, the two men tried to be gentle, attempting not to harm her, only help.

The professor stood in the background overseeing the men’s progress. “That’s good enough.” He pulled Santo away, then shot Raoul a warning glare.

Raoul moved away from Ariel reluctantly, the hand holding the cotton trembling with controlled rage. From the expression on his face, he didn’t like the professor any more than she did.

Perhaps these two men weren’t quite as bad as she’d first suspected. Ariel couldn’t think about it now. She fought the urge to slip into unconsciousness. She needed to remain alert so she could continue confusing the professor’s men who came dangerously near the transport. Just as she thought she’d not make it a moment longer, an energy surge burst through her, revitalizing her senses, fueling her aching muscles.

Coridan…but how?

He didn’t have the power to reach her from this distance, did he? She considered her case of Atlantean heat. Perhaps there was more to the young warrior than first met the eye. The thought both frightened and intrigued Ariel. Could a warrior with such power have existed under her nose the whole time without her sensing any shift in energy? If he did, what did that mean? Could they experience an energy bind without either of them losing any power? Was he stronger than she was? The thought gave her pause.

Ariel didn’t like the possibility that Coridan could somehow be more powerful than herself. She was the seer, after all. She’d never encountered a male, much less a warrior with the ability to send energy or communicate from great distances. Nor one who could heal without effort. She had no doubt the action hadn’t strained him in the least.

Despite her knowledge to the contrary, there was no denying where the energy her drained body had just received had come from. Coridan had sent it to her as he continued to shorten the distance between them. Her gaze flicked to the red-devil before her. He looked weary. With any luck, he’d drop dead.

She sent a thought to his mind, dragging his muscles down, weakening his ability to concentrate. She’d convince him he was too tired to continue. Her gaze darted to Santo and Raoul, their expressions guarded. The professor yawned loudly, drawing her attention back to him.

“I’ve had enough,” he said, scratching his ass. “We’ll pick this up tomorrow. For now, take her back to the hut.” The professor took a step toward her old hut, then stopped. His gaze locked on her would-be guards. “This time make sure I find you at your posts or there won’t be a next time.” The silence that followed the statement spoke volumes.

The men’s expressions dropped, their coloring deepened as the professor’s meaning sank into their heads. They gave Rumsinger a curt nod and then moved to Ariel. Brown hands worked quickly to untie her. Ariel slumped the second they released her limbs. The men caught her, grasping her beneath the arms, dragging her to the lift basket.

Raoul and Santo placed her into the basket, following close behind. They glanced back now and again to ensure the professor had gone into his hut. The basket lifted from the ground, rising into the air, putting distance between her and the red-devil for the first time today. The men who had been searching the jungle were now returning and began to settle around a fire that at this moment was being built in the center of the compound.

Ariel turned her gaze away. It seemed like a lifetime since her people had eaten and danced around the center flame, yet it had only been days. The basket stopped with a jerk and her guards walked her to Eros’ hut. Raoul and Santo immediately gave her water and allowed her to wash up quickly.

Raoul handed her some fresh fruit, then encouraged her without words to eat. Ariel did so, rapidly, wolfing down the mangoes and bananas as if they were her last meal. Perhaps the fruit would be, if the professor had his way. Afterwards she cleaned herself once more, removing the blood soaked bandages as she did so, then walked to the bed of furs. Ariel removed her skirt and laid down before the men asked her to do so, and then spread her limbs wide, giving them enough space to tie her to the bed.

The men grabbed vines and had her bound within moments. She was tired and in no mood to entertain the two natives tonight, no matter how much kindness they’d shown her today. Not that she need worry. The professor had put the fear of the Goddess into them only moments ago. As soon as the men finished their task, they gave her one last look of longing before slipping out of the hut and allowing the flap to drop behind them.

Alone at last…Ariel sent an energy burst through her body. Every place the professor had sliced started to tingle and then burn as the healing began. Ariel relaxed into the growing warmth, her mind at ease. She was no longer alone. Coridan was alive and with him, a growing hope. It didn’t change her apprehension about the young warrior, but there was every possibility he would get her out of this predicament and then they could be on their way.

Ariel settled into the furs, her thoughts turning to Coridan. His muscled form rippled beneath her eyelids, teasing her, taunting, his golden skin slick with sweat as he raced toward his destiny. Ariel opened her eyes, squelching the feelings threatening to rise.

She could not afford to feel anything toward Coridan other than respect and gratitude. She could not lie with the warrior and perform the energy bind. There was no sense leading him to believe otherwise.

He’d been foolish in his actions against Ares. The jealousy Coridan had felt wounded not only himself, but her, too. His pride kept him from seeing the way of his folly. Coridan was arrogant, and his arrogance had gotten him banished from the tribe. He needed her guidance and nothing more, whether he realized it or not and as his seer, she would give it to him.

Her pussy clenched, demanding release. The woman in her railed against her decision. Now that she’d healed herself, the Atlantean heat was back with a vengeance. How would she ever survive this ordeal? Between the professor and Coridan, she wasn’t sure which one would kill her first.

* * * * *

Night fell upon the jungle. Muscles quaking, Coridan stumbled further, falling only to rise again. His vision blurred and the trail before him all but disappeared. He knew he’d have to rest. He staked out a soft spot on the ground and then lay down. A new vision was upon him the second he closed his eyes.

His body flexed as his cock slid in and out of the tight cunt gripping him. The woman beneath him moaned as her orgasm rocked her body, pulsing and throbbing, milking his cock of his life-giving fluids. Coridan had taken her from behind as before, her face shielded from his seeking gaze.

Her soft moans reached his ears, her body undulating as she coaxed him back to life. This time he wanted to see her face, taste her nipples, suck her tongue into his mouth as his cock impaled her. He had to know for sure. Coridan rose until his weight no longer pinned her in place. He reached down and carefully turned her body, allowing her enough time to lift her leg over him, until she was laying flat on her back.

The head of his cock rested just inside her entrance, because he couldn’t bear the loss of contact. Her blonde curls hid her face. With trembling fingers, he reached for her hair and brushed it aside, his heart pounding with anticipation.

The second the hair parted, Ariel’s lust-filled aqua blue eyes stared at him. Coridan’s breath caught in his throat and he couldn’t seem to swallow. It was true, but how could this be? The seer couldn’t mate, could she? And if not, why was she here now, lying beneath him, spreading her thighs, allowing a warrior such as himself entrance into her scorching cunt?

Coridan didn’t know all the answers, but he trusted what his body told him. Her eyes widened as he slid inside her slowly, inch by inch, impaling her again on his rigid cock. Once he’d seated himself, he made no move to thrust. His gaze stayed locked on her face, taking in her expression, gauging her need. Ariel shifted restlessly beneath him as her body expanded to accommodate his massive size. Her hips bucked in encouragement.

Seer, I do not understand how this can be.

She did not answer, instead she reached up, looping her arms around his neck and pulling his head down to her breasts. Coridan couldn’t think, only react. His mouth opened, closing over one turgid peak. He suckled the fevered flesh, flicking his tongue back and forth, worrying it with his teeth. She moaned, her fingers lacing through his hair. His free hand slipped between their bodies, seeking her engorged clit. He circled it with his thumb, all the while laving her flesh.

Ariel quivered, her body tightening for another release.

Coridan followed her every nuance. Felt the second she moved to the brink of the abyss. He released one nipple and then attacked the other. His thumb continued its teasing circles, guiding her on, winding her up. Ariel’s body began to move in time with the draw of his mouth. It wouldn’t be long now.