Claiming Valeria (9 page)

A few minutes later a motorcycle roared up. It was Teresa, returning
from Rising Sun. “You’ll never guess what happened,” she said, and then narrowed
her eyes. “You felt it too?”

When they said they had, she confirmed that those at the ritual
had felt the same burst of healing energy, and then dropped a bombshell.

“Lord Dion mated Queen Cleia.”

Rui blinked. “Dion—and Cleia?”

“That’s right. The energy surge happened when the mate bond clicked
into place. Apparently, we drew energy from the sun through the queen’s bond with
Dion.”

“No shit.” But it fit, even if he’d never heard of anything like
it. “So everyone’s okay?”

“They are—better than okay. And little Xavier—” Teresa’s throat
worked. “He’s fine, Rui. He was the first one Cleia cured. He’s out there dancing
with the other kids right now. You’d never guess how sick he was three days ago.”

He briefly shut his eyes. “Thank
Deus
.”

“There’s something else,” the
tenente
continued. “Adric
is at the midsummer festival. He knows Dion mated Cleia. Only a complete fool
would attack now—and from what I hear, Adric’s no fool. Luis said for you to come,
that the sun fae are throwing a mate ball for Dion and Cleia. Dion would want you
there.”

When Rui didn’t say anything, she added, “Valeria’s there, too,
you know.”

“I know.” Teresa didn’t have to spell it out; he’d seen Valeria
and Merry leave with Okeanos. “
Obrigado
,” he told her. “You go on back now.”

She opened her mouth, but when he just looked at her, she closed
it again, and with a nod to them both, headed back the way she’d come.

Eliana slanted him a look. “You should go, Rui.”

He was tempted to snarl at her—what was with the women today?—but
he reined it in. Still, she must have felt his anger because she dropped her gaze.

“If you want to, that is.”

He blew out a breath. “Maybe I will.” He saw again Valeria and
Okeanos, the Greek fada pressing her against the wall, and that dark aggression
rose up in him, strong and hot. When he spoke, it was his animal talking. “Hell,
why not? Teresa is right—the earth fada would be out of their fucking minds to attack
us now. We’ll stay on high alert just in case, but take it in turns to go to the
party. I’ll send a couple of warriors back to spell you.”

Eliana’s eyes rounded. “You mean it?”

“
Claro
.”

She did a happy little dance, ponytail bouncing. “All
right
.”

* * *

“Oh, Ric.” Marjani took in the scene with her mouth slightly
open. “This is—” She waved a hand without completing her sentence.

Adric followed her gaze to the huge, canopied dance floor and
neighboring dining area. The decorations were understated in a way that screamed
of wealth: enormous flower arrangements in blown-glass vases, delicately sculpted
fountains, unlit fae lights that danced like soap bubbles above the crowd. Through
it all, the sun fae moved like colorful fish in their shimmering clothes and glittering
gems, their hair every bright shade from gold to silver to copper. Threaded among
them were the Rock Run fada, no less beautiful with their dark, vivid coloring and
simple clothing in rich hues of river and ocean and forest.

“Who would’ve thought we’d ever be guests at a fae ball?” he
remarked.

Their eyes met in shared understanding. Marjani and her fellow
lieutenants were the only ones who knew how hard he’d worked to save the clan. And
if he’d been brutal at times, well, the end justified the means.

He crossed his arms and watched the dancers. It was mostly sun
fae until a young river female took the floor with a tall blond fae. She gracefully
followed her partner’s lead, her dress an iridescent blue-green, her wavy black
hair floating around her shoulders. The music changed to a samba and she
grinned up at the sun fae and started to move her slim hips with a provocative innocence
that made Adric’s lungs seize.

For an endless few seconds he simply stared at her, entranced.

Mine
. The knowledge settled in some deep, primitive corner
of his soul.

And she damn well wouldn’t dance with anyone but him. He was
about to stride across the dance floor and take her from the sun fae when Marjani
nudged him.

“Ric? That river fada over there is staring at you.”

He frowned, not caring.

“Ric?” she repeated. “I said—”

“I heard you.” He forced his gaze away from the river girl—because
she was a girl, as much as his body was reacting to her as a woman—and glanced in
the direction his sister had indicated.

Ah…

The man could’ve passed for Lord Dion. He had the same shoulder-length
black hair and strong, hard face, although this man was younger, slimmer, not yet
fully formed. Adric knew exactly who he was: Tiago do Mar, the man who’d given him
Cleia’s location in the Rock Run base. Apparently the Rock Run alpha hadn’t yet
discovered his own brother had betrayed him.

He inclined his head in Tiago’s direction. The other man jerked
his gaze away and took a gulp of beer.

So he didn’t want anyone to know they were acquainted. That suited
Adric just fine. Tiago must be desperate to keep his brother from knowing—and a
desperate man was ripe for blackmail.

Other fae had started to arrive for the festival—walnut-skinned
sun fae from Africa and Australia, ice fae from the far north with their pale skin
and cold light eyes, a trio of dryads with long brown hair and shy smiles, and others
whom Adric couldn’t name, including a group of slim, golden-skinned beings with
translucent wings and the air of being not quite of this earth.

A night fae in dark sunglasses strode by Adric. Power brushed
over his skin, cold and black. He had to force himself not to shudder. But he’d
vowed never again to bow down to anyone—especially a fae.

He looked back at the dancers. The river girl threw back her
head and laughed up at her partner. She glanced toward Adric. Her eyes were a rich
blue, startlingly beautiful against her light olive skin. Their gazes snagged
and she missed a step.

So she felt it too. He smiled at her, slow and dangerous.

She stared back, eyes wide. Then the sun fae spun her around
and she returned her attention to him.

“Who is she?” he asked Marjani. He kept files on the Rock Run
alpha and his top warriors, but he’d never seen the young river shifter before.

Marjani followed his gaze. “Christ, Ric,” she muttered. “You
do like to live on the edge, don’t you?”

He frowned. “Who?” he insisted.

“Rosana do Mar. The alpha’s only sister. His
baby
sister.”

“Ah.” His file needed to be updated. In the file photo she was
young, no more than thirteen turns of the sun, with a stick-straight body and gangly
arms and legs. But he’d been struck by the wide grin she was directing at the camera.

He blew out a breath. She’d certainly grown up in the past few
years.

Marjani elbowed him in the ribs. “Anyone but her, Ric. Lord Dion
won’t let you within ten miles of her.”

“It’s a party. We can at least have a dance. And Dion’s not even
here yet.”

“But his brother is.”

“So?” Adric flicked him a dismissive glance. The younger do Mar
was going to be powerful one day, but at the moment he wasn’t close to a match for
Adric.

“You want to start a war, that’s the way to do it.”

She was right. And while he was willing—no, eager—to engage the
Rock Run clan, this wasn’t the time or place.

Adric turned his back on the pretty little river girl. “Let’s
dance. I think I can still do the damn samba.”

His sister’s lips quirked. “Since you asked so nicely—”

“Shut it,” he muttered.

She chuckled, grabbed his hands and moved into an easy, fluid
salsa. But then, their Jamaican mother had had them both dancing from the time they
were toddlers.

As the dance ended, Cleia appeared with Dion, both of them wearing
shit-eating grins. The two of them were immediately surrounded by people offering
congratulations.

Dion caught sight of Adric and their gazes locked. The two of
them had disliked each other on sight—and now the other alpha knew that Adric had
engineered Cleia’s rescue, had been inside Rock Run with the sun fae.

A beat passed as neither of them would give ground. Tension rocketed
through Adric. Damn, he wanted to challenge Dion. If he won, he’d have the right
to take over the other alpha’s clan—and his territory. But this was a celebration
and the laws governing a gathering of this sort were rigid. Anyone who broke them
with an unprovoked attack would be punished severely.

Adric gritted his teeth and jerked his head. Acknowledging Dion
as the dominant—for now.

Cleia noticed him and smiled. He moved forward to offer his congratulations,
enjoying how Dion’s teeth clenched as she graciously accepted them and thanked him
in turn for the aid he’d rendered the sun fae.

“It was my pleasure.” He shot a carefully expressionless look
at Dion. “I trust you weren’t harmed, Lord Dion?”

Dion’s jaw hardened. The man didn’t like being reminded of the
humiliation of being captured naked—and in the act of taking an equally naked Cleia.
Adric kept his face blank, although inside he was grinning.

Cleia frowned and flicked her fingers as if shooing away an insect.
He blinked as a painful jolt of energy hit him. She gave him a butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-her-mouth
smile and turned to Marjani.

“And is this your sister?”

Adric swallowed. “Yes, my lady.” He introduced Marjani to the
queen and Dion. They exchanged a few words and then melted back into the crowd.

“Let’s go eat,” he muttered to his sister. “It stinks of the
swamp around here.”

Behind him he scented Dion’s spike of anger, and a couple of
nearby river males sent him heated looks, but they were constrained by the same
laws of hospitality that bound him. He flashed them a smug smile and guided Marjani
toward the dining area.

Rui leaned against a tree, arms crossed. The mating ball
was in full swing now. From what he could tell, his entire clan was a little high
from Cleia’s infusion of life-energy. Those who weren’t dancing stood in groups
talking animatedly as they sipped drinks or nibbled treats from tables groaning
with every food imaginable, including a magnificent white mountain of a wedding
cake.

Teens flirted or faked boredom, while the younger kids darted
excitedly through the crowd. Nearby, a group of men burst into a raucous off-key
song, the Rock Run males trying to outshout the sun fae. Rui shook his head.

But it was good to see the clan enjoying themselves. It had been
too long since they’d had something to celebrate.

He strolled along the dance floor. Merry was wearing a new dress
that swirled in a blue-and-white bell around her legs as she danced with a sun fae
girl. When she caught sight of Rui, her face lit up and she raced toward him, her
new friend on her heels.

“Tio Rui! You came!”

“Hello, sweetheart.” He swung her into the air.

She entwined wiry arms around his neck. “Did you see me dancing
with Gracie?”

“Is that her name?” He winked at the little blonde. “
Boa tarde
,
Gracie. I believe I met you when you were this high.” He held up his hand at toddler
height.

She clasped her hands behind her back and smiled shyly up at
him. “Good afternoon, Senhor Rui.” She glanced over her shoulder at her mother,
a cousin of Cleia’s.

He nodded to the woman. “
Boa tarde
, Lady Amelie.” For
the most part, the sun fae had been friendly enough when he’d lived here, although
they’d never let him forget he wasn’t a pureblood—and then there were those animal
genes. But he’d always liked Amelie.

She returned his greeting with a smile. They exchanged a few
words and then she strolled off with Gracie.

He slanted a grin at Merry. “Look at you,
princesa
. Is
that a daisy on your dress?” He held her away to admire the large flower appliqued
on the front.

“Yes.” She beamed and touched a white petal. “Mama’s friend made
it for me. And did you see my hair?” Her wiry black hair had been woven into a single
fat braid and topped with a bright blue bow.

He kissed the top of her head. “
Muito bonita
.”

“
Obrigada
,” she returned with a dignity that had him
smothering a smile.

They surveyed the dancers. “Where’s Mama?” he asked, his tone
deliberately casual.

Merry’s look was very adult. “She’s with Senhor Petros. She said
if I need something, I should ask Tia Sabela.”

“I see.” Something dark and primitive filled Rui’s head.

“Don’t worry.” Merry patted his cheek. “She doesn’t like him
as much as you.”

He grunted something noncommittal. He was
not
going to
stoop to discussing Valeria with her daughter.

“You have to be nicer to her.” Merry cast him a sly look. “Senhor
Petros brings her flowers. She likes flowers. And candy. Chocolate candy. She
loves
chocolate.”

His lips twitched in spite of the darkness. “I’ll keep that in
mind.”

Her mouth turned down. “Don’t you want to be a family with us?”

He swallowed something sharp and raw. “It’s not about what I
want. It’s about what your mama wants.”

“But—”

“That’s enough,
menina
. What your mama and I do is between
us.” He set her back on the grass and gave her a firm pat on the rear. “Now go play
with the others.”

Merry fisted her hands by her sides and frowned up at him. He
lifted a brow. Whatever she saw in his face made her sigh and drop her gaze. “Oh,
all right,” she grumbled and stomped off to join the other children. A minute later
she was laughing again.

He continued to pace along the edge of the dance floor, stopping
to exchange a few words here and there with the sun fae he knew and other members
of Rock Run. The Rock Run people were tentative with him, as if he were recovering
from a long illness. Which he was, he supposed. It made him uncomfortable, though,
so he set his back against another tree, this one further from the celebration.
From time to time someone glanced at him, but for the most part they let him be.
He supposed his set face had something to do with it, but his animal was growing
more and more agitated.

Another man was with the mate. His animal couldn’t understand
why he was allowing it.

Dion and Cleia took the dance floor. His old friend was sporting
a midnight blue shirt and black slacks that bore the marks of sun-fae tailoring,
but like most of the fada, his feet were bare. Rui’s lips curved. It was clear Dion
wasn’t going to be dazzled by the sun fae and their wealth.

Cleia said something and Dion snagged her for an openly possessive
kiss that had the crowd hooting and calling out ribald suggestions. When he released
her, she gave a rich, happy laugh and spun out of his arms, her bright hair flying
around her shoulders. He caught her hand and reeled her back in, the two of them
playing to the audience.

Rui grinned along with the rest, but he couldn’t help reflecting
that fate was a funny sonofabitch. Dion had set out to stop Cleia whatever it took,
even if it meant imprisoning her for life—or worse—and had ended by mating with
her.

Rui, on the other hand, would slit his wrists before mating with
a fae. He’d had his year with Cleia and the woman was good, but he was glad to be
out of her clutches. She was strong-willed, used to ruling. Dion was going to have
his hands full with that one.

But what did he know? He was the man who’d left his woman just
days before their mating ceremony.

Luis halted by the tree along with his mate, Marina, and little
Xavier. “Tio Rui,” the boy shouted from his perch in his mama’s arms. “I’m all better.
Queen Cleia cured me.”

“I can see that.” Rui ruffled his brown curls and listened to
Marina repeat the story of his miraculous cure.

Xavier was squirming to be put down. “I wanna play with the other
kids,” he whined.

When she hesitated, he gave her a winning smile. “
Por favor
?”

With a roll of her eyes, Marina set him on the grass. He dashed
off to join in a game of soccer. Marina’s gaze followed him, her expression naked
with emotion.

Rui took her by the shoulders. “He’ll be fine,
querida
.
There’s not a trace of sickness in his scent.”

She nodded. “I know it here”—she pointed to her head—“but not
here.” She touched her breast.

“Give it time.” He kissed both her cheeks and released her to
eye Luis. “And you,
primo
. You look like a new man.”

It was true. The fatigue that had lined his cousin’s face was
gone, and he looked as if he’d already regained a couple of pounds.

Marina slanted her mate a smile. “If I didn’t know better, I’d
think the fae switched him for another man.”

“Come here, you,” Luis growled. “I’ll show you which man I am.”
He wrapped his hand around her nape and kissed her.

When he released her, she blinked and then gave him a slow smile.
Rui swallowed a prickly lump of envy. The look the two of them exchanged was so
intimate, so loving.

Marina brushed her fingers down Luis’s cheek and murmured something
Rui didn’t catch. He was turning away to allow them their privacy when she said
in a louder voice, “And Rui, you don’t have to leave. Keep your cousin company while
I see what Xavier is up to.” She slid out of Luis’s arms and headed after her son.

Luis made a rueful face. “She still can’t believe he’s better.
He almost died, you know.”

“
Sim
. Even as drunk as I was, I knew. Forgive me for not
being there.”

“What would you have done? None of the healers could help him.”
Luis’s throat worked. “If Cleia hadn’t figured out what was wrong—”

“But I should’ve been there. Even if all I did was watch over
him when you needed to sleep.” Rui slung an arm around his cousin’s shoulders, wordlessly
offering the comfort he should’ve offered days ago. Luis leaned into him, unashamed
to draw strength from another male. Their animals understood that touch was necessary.

“I hear Dion’s going to live with the sun fae for part of each
month,” Rui remarked.

Luis straightened, but they remained where they were, arms around
each other’s shoulders. “That’s right. And Cleia will live part of the time with
us. As second, you’ll be in charge when Dion’s gone.”

“He’ll only be a few miles away. I’ll just be carrying out his
orders.”

“True. But you’ll be acting as alpha in his stead. You up to
it?”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Only if you blow it.” Luis sent him a sidelong look. “We both
know that when you’re healthy, you can whip my ass. But I’m damned if I’m going
to stand by and let you. Get yourself in shape or expect a challenge.”

“Fair enough.” As if sent by a malicious pixie, a server stopped
to offer them a choice of champagne or mineral water. Rui didn’t allow himself a
look at the sparkling golden wine. “Water, please.”

With a glance at him, Luis took the water as well.

“You want me to start working out tomorrow?” Rui asked. “With
you?”

“Of course with me. I’ve got a lot of time to make up for. And
no offense, cousin, but you’re out of shape yourself.”

A broad grin split Luis’s face. “You’re on.”

The talk turned to the base’s defenses. Rui explained that he’d
arranged it so everyone could attend the mating celebration, and Luis nodded. “I’ll
take my turn tonight. Marina’s going to want to get Xavier home anyway.”

They covered a few more items. It was an ordinary conversation
between Rock Run’s second and third, of the sort he’d taken part in many times,
but to Rui its very ordinariness was special. It had been a long time since he’d
discussed anything at all with his cousin.

But all the time his eyes were searching the crowd for Valeria.

Luis nudged him. “She’s over there.” He pointed over Rui’s shoulder.

Rui turned and there she was, coming across the meadow.

Alone
, that dark and primitive part of him noted with
satisfaction.

She strolled toward the dance floor, clothed in a simple green
dress that flowed like water over her lush curves. The late afternoon sun touched
her rich brown hair with golden highlights. She’d left it unbound so that it swayed
to and fro over her breasts.

He stared at her, mesmerized, his chest tight. All around the
dance floor, unmated males did the same. Spines straightened and stomachs sucked
in. A dozen hungry gazes ran over her voluptuous body.

Rui rumbled a warning. Those fada close enough to hear shot him
a look, then dropped their eyes. Even the sun fae men glanced around uneasily.

Valeria appeared not to notice. She wound her way through the
crowd, smiling and greeting her friends.

Merry spotted her and sped across the grass, calling her name.

“Hello, baby.” Valeria swung her up for a kiss and then set her
back down. Her eyes met Rui’s over Merry’s head. Her smile faded, but she gave him
a brief nod before turning back to the little girl, who was explaining something
with great passion and much waving of hands, probably about the soccer game.

Rui’s fingers tightened on his glass. He hated that he could
no longer read Valeria. He hated that she acted as if they were mere acquaintances,
as if she’d never lain under him, hot and needy and begging him to take her.

Okeanos appeared, striding across the grass with two other men.
Seeing Valeria, he said goodbye to his friends and fell in beside her and Merry.
They kissed and then stayed where they were to watch the dancers, Okeanos’s hand
on her ass.

Rui took a slow breath. The Greek fada shot him a look and deliberately
drew Valeria closer. She glanced over her shoulder at Rui. Their eyes met and for
a long moment, she stared at him. Then she raised her chin and turned back to Okeanos.

Rui’s whole body went taut. He wanted to tear the other man limb
from limb for daring to touch his woman. He wanted to pull Valeria into his arms
and give her a deep,
claiming
kiss of the sort Dion had given Cleia. And
then he’d take her home and pleasure her long and hard until she admitted she belonged
to Rui—and no one else.

But he didn’t have the right.

Luis dug his elbow into Rui’s ribs. “
Deus
, man, when are
you going to wake up and kick that man’s ass? Isn’t your mate worth fighting for?”

Rui shook his head. “You don’t under—” His voice trailed off
and he stared at his cousin, arrested.

He’d told himself it was better this way. He’d left Valeria and
she’d gone on with her life. But now he wondered when the hell he’d become so gutless.
Sure, he’d returned from the sun fae drained and weak, but he’d had a year to get
his shit together.

“You’re right,” he said. “She is.”

* * *

Valeria felt Rui’s gaze boring between her shoulder blades
from where she stood talking to Petros. Because it was him, of course. He might
have denied their mate bond, refusing to acknowledge or feed it until it was a fragile,
frayed thing, but she still felt
him
—whether she wanted to or not.

She sent him a scowl over her shoulder.

His cousin Luis leaned in to murmur something. Rui stared at
him and then looked back at her.

He’d changed. The energy surge had burned away some of his fat.
He wasn’t back to his old self, but you could see it, there beneath the excess weight:
the powerful frame, the long, strong legs. But it wasn’t simply his body; his face
was more alert too. He’d shaved, exposing a hard jaw and lips that could be either
cruel or sensual. His river-green eyes seared into hers: hot, predatory.

A shiver slid up her spine. Not fear.

No, it was because she remembered too well what that look meant.