Cold Mark (16 page)

Gently, I whispered, "What do these rings do?" He and Pluma Creo had three in their Harem. My stomach twisted as an unfamiliar emotion burned my gut, but I pushed it aside quickly. I wanted answers, and they would give them to me. "Stiller said the rings allow Vaq to feel their women's emotion, but what else do they do?"

Just as quietly, he answered me. Truthful once again. "These rings also allow me to find my Harem. Their exact location. It's a homing device made to protect the women."

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"Can the rings be replaced for the woman?"

"No. Once the mark is given, only those rings will work."

That might be an issue at some point.

Pinching my lips, I continued twirling the ring on his thumb. "How old are you?"

He paused at this question but quickly cleared his throat. "Twenty-seven."

"Pluma Creo?"

Instantly, the left side of my face gleamed as Pluma Creo opened his eyes, also lying on his side, facing me. He responded smoothly, "I'm also twenty-seven."

My fingers stilled in their action. "Your father was busy."

"Yes, he was," Pluma Moir answered when Pluma Creo did not. His tone was hard-edged, indicating the topic was off limits. "Our father, one of the previous Plumas of the east, is not spoken of anymore."

My brows rose, and I ignored the warning. "Ever?"

Instant. "No."

"Is he still alive?"

Pluma Creo did speak then. Harshly. "Fuck no. That bastard died when my mother killed Phila's mother, who was his Soul."

My jaw dropped. I couldn't even ... "Oh ... um ... that sounds complicated." Understatement.

"It was," Pluma Moir grumbled, taking his hand back from mine and resting it under his pillow.

"Hmm." I cleared my throat. "Which one of you is the true heir to—"

"I am," Pluma Moir growled, done with this line of questioning. He leaned up on his arms, placing his face over mine. His white, long hair draped over one of his shoulders, soft as silk as it brushed my face, but it didn't lessen the ferocity in his demeanor. "Enough, Ms. Valorn."

"Okay, okay," I mumbled, sighing heavily. I peered at his forehead. Stared there. It was easier to view than his daunting gaze. I needed to sweeten both of them up a bit. "You can quit calling me Ms. Valorn. My name's Braita. Feel free to use it."

Pluma Moir didn't lower back to the bed. Instead, he continued to stare down at me. Though, his tone did change. It became lighter. More accepting. And definitely more formal. "Thank you, Braita. You may call us Phila and Killeg, as well." Until his lips twitched, and he bent his head down just an inch further ... and teased. "What do you really wish to know, Braita?"

I glanced down once to his mouth, seeing the handsome smirk there, then back up to his forehead. I tried not to scowl too much being caught. "Phila, how old are my Vaq?"

He tilted his head, causing his hair to brush my cheek again. "They are both twenty-five."

My brows slammed together. "Is that like a 'thing'? Vaq being the same age?"

"Yes," Killeg answered, sitting up slightly to crook an elbow and rest the side of his head on a fist. "All Vaq are the same age." He stared pointedly. "As is their Soul."

Turning my head to focus on Killeg, I brushed Phila's hair off my shoulder when it tickled. "That is interesting. Stiller also appears to be about the same age as you two. So it seems that when Humans and Mian are linked, they don't follow that same rule?"

He nodded his head, his white, choppy hair in normal disarray about his head. "It would appear that way." His captivating blue gaze never left mine. "Get to what you really want to ask, Braita. Perhaps then we may get some sleep this day."

Almost there. "What did Malik mean about Vaq who are in an intimate relationship normally waiting to tell their Harem about it?"

Killeg raised a brow, knowing I was still deflecting, but he kindly answered, "A Harem is under a Vaq's protection. If they worry that their Vaq love each other more than they love them, then they fear that their Vaq might one day leave them. It is rare that it happens, but it has. So normally, a Vaq pair will wait to prove they are men of their word before indicating they are sexually involved."

I huffed softly. "That's bullshit."

"Possibly." He didn't argue.

Turning my attention to stare between them, up at the ceiling once more, I asked my true question. The one I
needed
to know. I tried not to sweat. "Are you going to send me back to them?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Phila's lips curve into a slow grin. "About time." My gaze swung to his. I scowled in the wake of his inflated ego. He merely smirked further, but his words were calm, though set in steel, as he dealt out my fate. "We are. They have done nothing legally wrong. We won't start a war over a misunderstanding."

Killeg added steadily, "But we will be going with you. We'll require that we meet at Center, where Mian from the east and the west are both allowed. It's where you first landed here on Triaz." He winked ... and my stomach fluttered. It wasn't nervousness of seeing my Vaq again that had me holding my breath either. He whispered softly, "Even though we won't start a war over a misunderstanding, we aren't entirely sure that we're ready to give you up so easily. Especially if your heart does not belong to them yet."

My eyes widened, and I inhaled harshly. "Oh, that's really not a great idea."

"We think it is," Killeg replied, a mischievous flicker entering his gaze.

I froze when he blurred, and his lips were suddenly on mine.

This ... kiss ... was nothing like when Jax's mouth had brushed mine.

I didn't move.

Not at first.

His plump lips glided over mine. Repeatedly.

And I couldn't stop myself.

I lifted my hands into his chaotic hair and gripped tight. This may not be the Human way, but I sure as hell didn't live on Joyal any longer. His lips were like the candied treats I was occasionally given as a child. I wanted
more
.

Uncaring that I didn't completely understand what I was doing in the art of kissing, I hungered for his embrace. He grinned as I moaned loudly and pressed my lips harder against his, stroking his mouth just as demanding as he was mine. Killeg's tongue slipped inside my mouth, massaging against mine, and I shuddered as heat unfurled between my thighs.

Though I grunted in surprise when Phila gripped my dark hair and yanked my face away from Killeg's. In my lust filled haze, I blinked. "What—"

Phila stopped my words as he bit my lower lip.

Oh, Mother Joyal.

I moaned as he laved over the sting lip with his slick tongue ... before his mouth devoured mine.

I had to be in some kind of paradise, not a demented alien planet. Nothing was supposed to feel this good. It really wasn't. There was no way ... and it was. I arched up against Phila and ran my fingers through his long silken hair.

More
. I needed more of them.

Then they were gone. Literally. Both gone from the bed. Only a breeze left to indicate they had been there in the first place.

I shook my head rapidly. It was so damn hard to focus. But I spotted them across the room by the door leading out of their quarters.
Huh?

Phila ran a hand through his long hair, his chest still heaving. His tone was the glorified growl of a man left wanting. "Not yet, Braita. You haven't decided about your Vaq."

With that, Killeg opened the door. He wasn't in any better shape, his cheeks flushed with color as his eyes bore into mine. "We'll sleep on the couch today."

They exited the room.

Leaving me more confused than I had ever been.

'Awkward' didn't even begin to explain how I felt leaving their room the next evening for breakfast. My palms were damp, and my cheeks burned fiercely. Everyone was in the kitchen while Jax cooked us breakfast, and the only person I even dared to glance at was Stiller.

That was the wrong move. Too late I had forgotten the Mian had supreme hearing. By the way he was silently evaluating me and his Plumas, he had heard everything. By a small blessing, he said nothing to me as he sipped on his water, just continuing to watch me silently.

Jax hadn't even peered at me yet. He pointed absently with a spatula toward the far white cabinet. "Braita, can you get two plates. Our eggs are almost done."

Moving on auto-pilot, I did as he asked. Though I was surprised when I walked behind him, he slipped a small piece of paper into my left hand. Keeping my head down, I didn't alter my course to where the utensils were. Discreetly, as I opened the small drawer, I tucked the paper into Killeg's sweatpants I was wearing.

Jax and I finished serving up our breakfast and sat at the counter while the Plumas sipped on coffee, completely ignoring me, as they started up a conversation with Stiller. I had no sooner breathed a small sigh of relief when Phila glanced in our direction and asked evenly, "Braita, would you like to stop by the Lavano's lair where you hid your rings before we depart for Center?"

I choked on the large mouthful of eggs. Coughing, I grabbed Stiller's water bottle off the counter and started chugging it. Eyes wide, my gaze caught on Phila's. "How did you know?" It came out a garbled sputter, but he understood.

He snorted softly, no indication in his gaze of what had happened the day before between us. There was only a steady calculation in his regard as he watched me wipe my mouth off with my sleeve. "As Stiller has stated twice already, you are a dreadful liar." His head teetered in thought. "Plus, you reeked of a Lavano when we first captured you."

Killeg chuckled softly, but he kept quiet. Just ... watching me.

I found the willpower to glare. "No, I don't want to stop before we go to Center." I was not about to allow just anyone to have rings that could indicate my emotions and track me down like an animal. "When will we be going to Center?"

Killeg answered calmly, "With no stops, we will land there near midnight."

Instantly irritated, I raised one brow. "Then my Vaq know you're bringing me to them?"

"Yes, we contacted them an hour ago."

"Lovely," I growled. I was no longer nervous. Instead, I was just irritated at the Plumas staring at me with unwavering perseverance. "This is
not
what I want."

Killeg shrugged one shoulder. Took another sip of his coffee. "The three of you need to figure your shit out."

Ah ... and there was the look I had feared. Possessiveness creeping beneath his lashes.

"I'm not hungry anymore," I mumbled quickly. Tossing my fork down, I stood and headed straight for their bedroom. "No one come in here, please. I'll be taking a shower."

Swiftly shutting the door, I exhaled heavily. A few times. Shoving myself even farther away from the Plumas, who had lit a fire within me that I didn't even know existed, I stalked into the bathroom. Towel in hand, I started the shower. It was when I was undressing that the note Jax had given me fluttered to the white tiling. Feeling guilty for forgetting about it, I quickly picked it up and viewed its contents.

It read: I wasn't sent to Triaz for the reasons you think. If you wish to escape, be ready.

I stared as I froze in place.

I read it again. And again.

I had no clue what he meant ... but I knew that, yes, I would be ready.

Half-naked in preparation for a shower, I held Jax's note in a white-knuckled grip.

I read it again. And
again
. I skimmed the contents too many times to count.

Escape. I wanted my own life so badly I could cry.

A person doesn't know how blessed they are until their freedom is taken away.

I may not be behind laser blocks in a Mian prison, but Triaz was my own personal jail cell.

With too many unanswered questions trapping my thoughts, I prayed with all my might for patience before I scrutinized the bathroom for a place to dispose of the note—without it being found. My eventual grimace was warranted. The safest hiding spot would be if I ate the piece of paper. Many waste receptacles—including toilets—sounded an alarm if an item was placed inside it that shouldn't be there.