Out Of The Darkness (17 page)

“I will have her. It is just a matter of when.”

“Bronwen favors the humble. Do not overlook that in your quest.” It was all the interference he would make in their private matters. It was not his place to do more.

But if Theo did not do his duty by his sister, than Nalik would take up the role himself.

He owed it to Erastine to make sure her best friend was happy. He could do at least that much, since he’d never see his sister in her own
Rajni
bond. If she’d even had one.

Had the goddess whispered his sister
’s name, or had she not even bothered? Had she known his sister was destined to die at the age of seventeen?

Was that why Nalik
’s pleas had gone answered thirty years ago?

Chapter 32

Cass took a hot shower and tried not to think of what had happened. But of course that was all she could think about. His claims, his kiss. How her resolve had wavered the minute he
’d left her rooms.

Being with him would offer her much. She
’d be almost immortal and could be with her sister. She’d have a man who treated her the way Rydere treated Emily. She had envied her sister that on several occasions.

She
’d have someone who felt just as out of place as she did with her gifts.

But would it be
love
he felt? Or just obligation because she’d been thrust upon him? Hadn’t he pretty much proven that he didn’t truly want her by ignoring her—and the supposed
Rajni
bond between them—for over a year? When no other Dardaptoan had done that?

What did that say about how he truly felt?

He obviously didn’t want her, not the way it counted. If he had he’d have acted that first night in the gardens. He’d at least have said more than he had to her.

Telling her to get out of his way on a few occasions, or to stop her infernal humming before his nerves grated raw were not exactly loving, romantic, things to say, were they?

So why had he just changed his mind now?

He was crazy if he thought she was going to sign on for him to take control of her life like that.

She would just stay away from him, or go to another realm. She would love to be with Emily.

But then again, Emily was in Levia, living almost side-by-side with goddess now.

The thought of the goddess made Cass nearly nauseated. What if Nalik had been right? What if Kennera really
had
abandoned him? Left him to suffer like that? Would Cass even be able to look at that woman without wanting to vomit?

What if Kennera had really linked him with Cass, knowing that Cass was the granddaughter of the man who
’d hurt him so badly he’d
scarred
?

How could Kennera do that to him? Nalik had said the goddess could see the past and the present. She had to know what Nalik was suffering when it was occurring. And that had happened thirty years ago. Cass was barely twenty-two! Kennera would have to have known what would happen when she
’d whispered Cass’s name and Nalik’s together.

She would have had to. She could have stopped herself—she didn
’t
have
to pair them together.

Cass did feel physically ill then. And she felt a rush of disgust and irritation for the goddess for
not
stopping herself. For not protecting Nalik from future pain that way.

How could the goddess have looked at him and not realized how pairing Nalik with a Taniss would have hurt him? Had the goddess seriously not cared?

It was a good thing Cass wasn’t Dardaptoan—there was no way she could live in respect of that goddess now.

Not after seeing the pain on Nalik
’s face.

And he
’d feared
her
rejection. She’d seen that easily. Did he think she didn’t want him because of something he
had done?

That wasn
’t so. The only reason why she didn’t want him was because she didn’t want to be
anyone’s Rajni
. It wasn’t just him. It was the idea of some goddess that she would never revere interfering in her life that way. It was not the goddess’s place or the right.

Why hadn
’t the goddess paired Nalik with someone more appropriate? Someone who could help him be happy, someone who could appreciate him exactly the way he was?

Someone who wasn
’t half afraid of him?

Cass stared at herself in the mirror as the steam from her shower dissipated. She was a coward, wasn
’t she? A young, wimpy, sniveling coward.

She pictured him in her mind, seeing the strong arms, gold eyes, the scar that made him so coldly terrifying at times. Then she remembered him wrapped around her when that purple portkey had ripped her to
Evelanedea. How he’d held her, carried her, when her foot had been blistered in a world she could never hope to understand. He was a good man, kind and protective, though he was often rude and abrupt.

A man like Nalik deserved someone better than her, didn
’t he?

Why had the goddess done that to him?

It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right. How had Kennera been so cruel?

Chapter 33

The largest assembly hall of the damned demon castle was overcrowded with both demons and Dardaptoans. He thought he saw a few Lupoiux in the mix.

Nalik found he blended in pretty damned well. He studied the groups and House colors of the various Dardaptoans and was surprised to see a good mix of all ten of the Houses. A representation of all, including the House he technically guided, still.

But what about the other dozen tribes of Dardaptoans in the world? Had they relocated somewhere as well? Aodhan’s family in particular was spread out between at least four other tribes.

Adrastos don
’t live together comfortably; warriors the lot of them.

The members of his House nodded at him as he passed, bowing their heads in the traditional
Equan
greeting. He responded, this time less from rote and more from respect.

He was the leader of the Black House, and it was his duty to protect and guide
his people, especially in the absence of the
dhar.

And it wasn
’t as if he thought Rydere had done a bang up job leading their people anyway.

He squared his shoulders and met the eyes of everyone he passed.
He
was the next in line in this land, until the
dhar
was present, the people would turn to him, and then Aodhan, Cormac, and Theo—in that order.

He might have abdicated his role for the last thirty years, but
this
was a new world, a new land. And someone with knowledge and experience in this
world would be called upon to lead their people. The Jareth
Equan
was the only other with nearly as much experience.

And Cormac was not a damned leader in any sense of the word. He had too little patience for it.

The people were waiting for the arrival of the goddess and their excitement was easy to feel. He didn’t have to like it, but his people did worship Kennera.

He never would again.

The hairs on his arms pricked up and he knew without turning that Cassandra had entered the assembly hall. He probably always would know where she was. He turned and watched her as she walked through the crowd.

Most of them did not part for her the way they had for him. Some of them outright glared at her and her two redheaded cousins who flanked her. Animosity toward Tanisses would take a long time to dissipate, if it did at all.

The women had to be aware of it, yet they still walked with beautiful strength and confidence between them. Theo’s female carried her babe strapped to her chest, and the child’s shocking red hair was easy for him to see.

Would he and his
Rajni
be able to create babes between them? Had her grandfather done something to one of them—or both—that would prevent procreation?

That would be something he would need to discuss with the healers of his people. Barlaam, or perhaps Thad. It would mean being up front about what Taniss had done to him. It would be something he would have to prepare for. And he would have to convert his female to Dardaptoan. But how to do that
safely? Would it be possible with her more-Druidic features?

How much of a Druid was the girl?

He had many questions he would needst answer, before he could fully bring her into his world.

She was looking at him, and he stared. How much of a public claim should he make upon her now? Fear was on her face and she shook her head, pleading in her expression.

He let a grin touch his lips. Her eyes widened.

He wanted her so damned much.

She’d dressed in borrowed clothes, and they were too big on her. Both of her cousins were heavier than she, though they were all of similar height. Cormac’s
Rajni
walked up behind the other three, an ethereally beautiful blonde. Something about her had always made him uncomfortable.

He
’d found the file her damned grandfather had kept on the experimentation he’d done on
her
when she was less than six years. When he’d realized the subject in the documents was Taniss’s own grandchild he’d been sickened beyond belief.

The lasting effect for the girl had been deafness, and even conversion to Dardaptoan hadn
’t healed that grievous of a wound. 

They were all beautiful women, not that unusual among Dardaptoan females. But his had that something about her that drew the eye. Her Druidic nature, perhaps?

Just what all could she do, and would it be enhanced by the proper training?
Who
could he speak to about getting her that training?

He knew very few Druids. They tended to stick to themselves, studying either the arts of logic or growing plants. He probably hadn
’t met one—other than those tortured and killed by her grandfather—in over one hundred years. And how much of a Druid was she, compared with human? Would a conversion from an almost-Druid to Dardaptoan even be possible? Had Barlaam studied Cassandra’s blood at all?

Nalik walked to her side as a buzz of excitement went through the air. He glanced over his shoulder to see a blue
portkey mist starting in the center of the room.

His female shuddered, her fear very obvious for anyone to see. It would take many years, perhaps, for her to get comfortable with that mode of travel. How could it not? She
’d been yanked from her own reality and into one she did not understand. It would be hard for any human in that situation.

Still, he could not stand by idly, while his female was frightened. And to be honest, he wasn
’t so certain that portkeys belonged anywhere near his female, after what he’d seen a few days before.

That purple mist
had
deliberately chosen Cassandra, and the reason for that had yet to be found. He had not forgotten. He would not stop until it had. He started across the room toward her.

Nalik would not reveal their bond, but he would make for damned sure that she was safe from whatever was coming.

Nalik did not touch her, but he stood at her side. His hand rested on his sword—they had no guarantee
who
was about to arrive. That fact was one that should not ever be ignored, not even in these times. Especially in these times.

Yet the people around him were celebratory. Not the demons; they were more seasoned fighters, they
’d been trained to expect the enemy and rejoice when the ally arrived. And every male who was bonded stood by his mate. Those who were warriors were sword-ready, as well.

But the Dardaptoans—they were civilians. Many were young, and only old enough to have experienced the fringes of the human wars that had been fought in the last three or four hundred years. They were not trained for fighting, for defense against war.

How were he and the other
Equan
to keep them safe? This demon land was just as dangerous as Gaia—he’d heard of the battles that had changed Aureliana and those that had threatened Kindara. Everyone had heard of the tales. And demons were warring creatures by nature.

The trouble with these battles were that they were not legends—they were precursors. And everything in his soul
told him that the war was to hit this world, hard and early.

He put a hand on Cassandra
’s shoulder. She didn’t pull away. Jushua stepped up beside Nalik.

“Always this much fanfare when your people arrive?”

“The
dhar, dahn,
and their precious goddess come.” He looked at the other male. “There is always ridiculous fanfare.”

“You seem to feel it unwarranted. Not care for your own goddess?”

“I do not think she is as all powerful as legend makes out. She is not as infallible as she wishes her people to believe. I have seen the evidence of her failing with mine own eyes.”

“Pity. Goddesses should be revered.” Eaudne stepped closer to Cassandra, and Nalik allowed her to pass between them. Eaudne had to sense the fear that was gripping Cassandra. He appreciated the woman
’s kind heart where his
Rajni
was concerned.

“Reverence comes with respect. My people have suffered too greatly without
the aid of our goddess for me to offer respect too easily.”

“Wise words, my friend.” Jushua watched the portkey grow larger. “The first are coming through.”

Nalik watched as two of Rydere’s best guardsmen entered the portkey first. Barlaam, Rydere’s only living sibling, entered next, along with his Taniss female. This one looked very much like Cassandra; only the long curling hair was almost white blonde on her, compared to Cassandra’s earth brown. She scanned the crowd and grinned—an expression very much like Cassandra’s—when she saw her sister and cousins.

She hugged her sister first, then Cassandra. They were very close, these two. He
’d known that the first time he saw them together.

This blonde was another one of her grandfather
’s experiments. He’d heard the rumors months ago that the girl could sense when someone around them was different.

She stared at him over her cousin
’s shoulder. Her green eyes weighed him. He looked directly at her, waiting for her to say something.

This girl would grow in whatever powers she possessed the older she became. Barlaam had his hands full with this one.

Nalik nodded, acknowledging who he knew to be his
Rajni
’s best friend. She would be a part of their life for centuries to come. Good thing he respected her mate.

The
dhar
and his mate were the next ones through the portkey, the ether parting for the couple easily. More people followed until the last were through.

The damned goddess and her Wolf protector.

He instinctively tensed. Like he always did when the goddess showed up, seeking accolades from the people.

This deity would never have his respect again.

Nalik turned away. He had no wish to see the goddess. Had
his Rajni
not still stood among the crowd, he would have returned to the rooms the demon had assigned him—clear across the castle from his
Rajni
, which would not do—and wait for the celebrations to end. He had much to think about.

A small hand slipped into his and he turned back, shocked to his core. Cassandra looked over at him, compassion in her pretty eyes. “We can leave, if you want.”

And leave her sister? Did she even realized what she offered? “Stay. Greet your sister; she has noticed you now.”

She turned back toward the new arrivals. Her sister squealed and ran toward Cassandra. The crowd parted, surprised. Dardaptoans did not act thusly. The sisters embraced and rocked each other. Finally it was Cassandra who pulled away. “I am fine, Em. I promise. No scars—barely any bruises. Thanks to Nalik.”

He found his arms full of small female—a sobbing, gushing small female.