The Unforgiven (16 page)

Von swept in from the side. “Remember how much you wanted my knife back on Nekkar?” He growled in a voice thick with venom. “I told you that your nation had made their biggest mistake. Guess what, psycho bitch? This time I’ll gladly give you my knife.”

Pinned to the banister of the spiral staircase, Naami darted her horrorstricken gaze between the three of them, then back to Von. He clutched a handful of hair and severed her head before her next scream. Raef shocked Flame by kicking it across the floor.

“Just in case,” he muttered. “I’m sick of their fucking head games.”

Flame’s mouth dropped open. She simply stared at him with her blade still deep in Naami’s heart. Von reached over and gently pulled her hand back with the bloody dagger.

“She’s dead, sugar, you can withdraw the blade.”

Raef yanked the other one out, letting the lifeless body slump to the steps. He swung the dagger around and presented it to her properly, with the handle facing her. “I told you, I love you.”

Phoebe peeked out from under a coffee table. “Is it safe?”

“Yeah, little miss, you really hung tough there,” Von told her while helping her up. “You didn’t even cry.”

“Warriors don’t cry,” she proudly declared. “I want to be just like my mother.”

Flame swung around. “You do?”

“Hell yeah!” she said, as if she couldn’t believe another reply existed.

“I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t even know for certain until I went through the Flaming Wall.”

“I don’t blame you. I know how the laws worked in our village. You never got to see your mother in life. At least I finally get to know mine and just for the record, she’s pretty damn awesome.”

Flame sheathed her daggers and went to Phoebe. “I’ve waited twenty-one years for this day. Although I envisioned it to take place in a different setting, I suppose this fits, considering what we now know about each other.”

“Yes, we share the same vision and the same desires. What girl wouldn’t want to find out that the toughest warrior alive is her mother? I’ve searched all my life for the one who birthed me. I felt the warrior in my soul. I admired you every time you came into the village. I prayed that if I ever found my real mom, that she’d be you and that she would want to know me some day. Imagine how ecstatic I am to finally have my dreams come true.”

“You are mistaken about one thing,” Flame pointed out with a soft smile.

“What is that?”

“Warriors do cry.” Tears streamed down her face while gazing at her brave and lovely daughter.

Phoebe let out a light laugh. “So do warrior’s daughters.”

They hugged and silently wept.

Von and Raef stood back in silent respect as mother and daughter shared a brief yet tender moment.

Flame wiped her eyes and gave a short laugh. “Wow…I never expected this.” Her gaze went to Von, then to Raef. “And
you
…another surprise.”

“Naami got here just after daybreak, soon after I felt the mind control lift. She told me of her plan, that she’d set the bait and knew you’d come looking. I let her believe I was in on it.” Raef walked over to the wall and retrieved the lone dagger. “But the whore didn’t know about me. She didn’t know that while I protected your Sai way back when Von abducted you, I practiced with them. She didn’t know that the Lioness taught me how to kill an ancient. Naami’s lust was her weakness.” His eyes met hers as he approached. “And they both underestimated my love for you.”

“Pretty steep gamble with Phoebe’s life.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry about that, but I didn’t see any other way. That bitch was hell bent on taking you down. I felt the odds were better with three against one, and we had the element of surprise. I made it clear to Naami that the girl was to go unharmed or I wouldn’t do it.”

“I don’t mind,” Phoebe spoke up, excitement evident in her voice. “My first battle and the good guys won. I love it.”

“She really is her mother’s child.” Von drew Flame to his side with one arm. “No fear.”

Flame gazed up at him. “How did you and Raef sync up so fast?”

“The instant Raef tasted your blood, his thoughts became wide open to me. I simply waited for him to make his move.”

“I am quite aware of the power in your blood,” Raef told her. “The Lioness schooled me well. I was her backup plan, but despite my questionable actions, I have always been loyal to you.”

She shifted her weight, feeling suddenly awkward and at a loss for words. Raef had tapped into her soul and turned the situation around. Yet he’d taken huge risks. She knew what he wanted, but despite his heroic actions, her heart belonged to only one man.

Raef stared down at her with shimmering eyes. He’d never looked more alluring. “Your blood carries quite a kick.”

“I can’t deny your connection to me now. You drank my blood.” She glanced up at Von, who failed to hide the unease in his eyes. His thoughts merged with hers. This was the only ghost he’d feared. She could never give him reason to worry. Turning back to Raef, she tried to let him down easy. “Even so, I gave myself to Von in every way. We are bound and we conceived a child. I love you, Raef, I have always loved you, but we can never be. You’ve made great progress in your new life, but I will never see you as my equal…I’m sorry. I could never love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

“You mean the way you love him,” Raef said with a nod toward Von.

“Nothing about me scares him. I can be myself with him. There is so much that you don’t know about me and about my dark desires, things that you’d have trouble accepting. Von embraces the fury in my soul…he completes me. My heart, my body, everything I am, now belongs to him.”

“Where does that leave me?” he asked in a calm yet seeking voice.

“You are welcome to live in the village. I’m changing the laws and allowing ordained males to coexist. Our women need to see that there are a few good men in the world. I have no doubt that you will be well received,” she said with a knowing grin. “You are easy on the eyes.”

“Tossing me out to the lionesses, huh?” he said with a teasing wink.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be gentle.”

Raef looked at Von. “You are one lucky bastard.”

“Yeah,” was all Von said in return. He placed a loving kiss on the top of her head.

“We need to go back before chaos erupts in the village. If the women think they have no leaders, panic will spread fast.”

“You go ahead,” Raef said. “I’ll clean up this mess, lock up, and be there by dusk. I know the way in.”

Flame offered him a grateful smile, deeply relieved that he’d accepted her choice with class. “I’m sure Phoebe will enjoy helping you settle in before she begins her training.”

Phoebe was absolutely glowing with enthusiasm. “I’d love to. Can I keep him?”

“He’s twice your age, young lady.” Flame couldn’t withhold a grin. ”You are the next prodigy. I am sure there is a perfect mate your age waiting out there somewhere.”

Phoebe’s expression fell. “May I at least stay behind and help Raef clean up, then travel home with him?”

“It’s okay with me, if Raef doesn’t mind.” Flame shot Raef a concerned look.

“Nah, I don’t mind. She’s sweet. Don’t worry, I’ll protect her.”

“I know you will.”

Raef smiled at Phoebe. “Your mother is right. I’ve been around the block way too many times. You deserve better. Wait and see…the ideal mate will come along just when you’re not looking.” He sighed and shifted his focus back on Flame. “Besides…I’m still in love with someone else, a woman that owns my heart whether she likes it or not.”

Phoebe looked at Raef, then at her and sighed. “I understand.”

“It’ll be okay,” Flame said, touching her daughter’s cheek. “Your emotions are running wild right now. You have a long road ahead of you and serious training to complete. You’ll understand more as your goals come within reach.”

Phoebe offered her a grateful smile and an accepting nod. “I trust you.”

They hugged again. Flame gave her an encouraging smile. “I will always look out for you.”

Flame led the way from the house, leaving Phoebe and Raef behind for now. She never expected Phoebe to show interest in a much older man. Then again, the younger women in her village had seen very few men and Flame understood how the young warrior could become infatuated with a man like Raef. Either way, her daughter and former lover were not destined to be. Phoebe’s true calling would unveil itself in due time and she deserved a mate with no baggage, a man who would love her and only her.

Flame stood on the patio with Von, snuggled in his strong arms, preparing to travel.

“I’m impressed with how you handled that.” His eyes shone with pride.

“Were you worried?”

“Me?” He gave her a wink. “Maybe just a little.”

“Now you know.”

“Know what?”

“If by some crazy turn of events, Raef showed up today, what I’d do.” She winked back at him. “I will always choose you, baby, always.”

He stared at her, sending an ache to her core with just a glance as only he could do, before pulling her into a breathtaking kiss. Minutes later, they eased apart with her gazing dreamily at him, her hotter-than-hell rebel sheathed in black leather. Already the arousal mounted inside—hunger for another blood-bond and a long day of his lovemaking deluged her.

“Both realms set out to use us as tools to win their own personal war,” she said in almost a whisper. “We found a loophole they never saw coming.”

“Love,” he murmured, completing her thought with a brush of his lips over hers, followed by a playfully promising bite to her neck.

Their eyes met again, making her burn for his intimate touch. “I used to think it made me weak, as we were trained to believe, when in fact it was love that saved us.” Flame paused to bask in the moment. “You and I were pitted against each other by two power-hungry rulers with separate agendas. They didn’t expect us to fall in love.”

Von held her face between tender hands. An inviting smile curved those sensual lips poised so close to hers. “And they really didn’t expect us to win.”

Storm is a multi-published author with various pen names in many different genres with Extasy Books and Divine Destinies Books. She dreams big and continues working toward her goals. Her non-erotic books can be found under the names Austina Love and Susan Zoe Bella.

Storm has been building her own worlds since grade school. Always the dreamer, never the realist, she takes life one day at a time while battling the daily challenge of Meniere’s Disease.

As an animal activist, Animal Guardian and Ambassador for the ASPCA, she relates better to animals than people. She never looked back after leaving the farm and prefers indoor activities, especially dancing.

The love of her life was a Bichon named Austin and she believes his spirit is lighting her way. His story and those of several other very special animal friends are featured in her novel,
Rainbows Hearts and Puppy Tales
.

Her wish for you, the reader, is that she can sweep you away from reality for just a while and that you enjoy the experience she has created for you.