Untouchable Lover (32 page)

“No!” Noeh’s senses became acute. Everything slowed, except the rush of adrenaline that raced through his veins. He sprinted toward the mob, his only thought—to rescue Melissa.

A black panther streaked in front of him, so close that the hair on his arm traveled along with the breeze. The giant cat fell to the ground with a thud. The sound reverberated up Noeh’s legs.
 

As the cat lay still on the wet grass, the animal transformed back into a man—Demir. A dart protruded from his arm.

Noeh glanced along the dart’s trajectory. Ram held a small gun in his hand. His mouth curved into a frown, and he threw the weapon on the ground. Noeh’s skin tingled.
That dart was meant for me.
 

Feet pounded next to him, and soft hands landed on his arm.

“Go,” Aramie said. “I’ve got him.”

Around him, battle cries rang into the night. Swords screamed as they slashed through the air.
 

Noeh’s attention riveted to the last place he’d seen Melissa, the middle of the clearing. Jakar kicked Mauree, sending her flying behind a small boulder several feet away. He pulled Melissa to a standing position and dragged her toward the forest.
 

Noeh’s chest constricted. He roared his own battle cry. The need to protect was all consuming, and his vision narrowed.

“We aren’t done,
Stiyaha
.” Ram’s voice was full of menace.
 

Noeh stilled. His enemy was at his back. The need to protect warred with his need to fight. He wouldn’t get far if he didn’t deal with the immediate threat. With a slow turn, he faced his adversary.
 

“It’s too bad I only had one dart. What a waste.” Ram crouched down, his arms spread wide, his knife-like claws glinting in the moonlight. “We’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way.”

Noeh pulled out his weapon, the metal scraping against the scabbard. “I’ve waited long enough for this victory.”
 

He sliced his weapon at Ram’s head, but his enemy threw up his shield at the last moment. Noeh’s sword bounced off the energy. The impact ricocheted up his arms. Pain filtered into his brain.
 

The jagged tip of Ram’s tongue came within an inch of Noeh’s face. Noeh backed up. He needed to find Ram’s weakness, penetrate that shield.
 

Ram laughed. “What’s the matter? Defeated so soon?”

Noeh’s grip tightened around his weapon. “You wish.”
 

He attacked from below, his sword sweeping upward until the blade connected with the shield. Each shock was more powerful than the last. The spiked barb on the end of Ram’s tongue smacked into Noeh’s gold manacle. An echo, like the crack of a whip, bounced off the trees.

Faster than he anticipated, Ram rushed him. The stinger connected with his right arm. Numbness worked its way under his skin. He switched his sword to his left hand. The weapon vibrated, ready to attack. Noeh brought the blade down. Sword and shield collided, and bright light blinded him.
 

Ram’s claws gouged Noeh’s leg. Blood flowed, the wetness running into his boot. He glared into his enemy’s eyes. His gut rolled as the truth hit him.
Craya
.
I can’t defeat Ram with that shield.

*****

Rin raced into his room and scanned the top of his dresser looking for sunstones. A headache pounded behind his eyes, but he didn’t take the time to rub them.
 

The porte stanen was a mess. The Keep had closed the gateway to prevent the Gossum from entering. As a result, the rocks that fell from the ceiling had damaged some of the sunstones. He’d put as many crystals back into their spots as he could, but he didn’t have enough. How the portal would work again anytime soon, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he had to try.
 

He hurried to his table and pushed the basket and sharpening knives out of the way. Sunstones in various stages lined the surface. He filled his satchel with all the gems he could get his hands on. They glowed brighter at his touch, as if they knew the critical nature of the journey ahead. He gripped the soft leather and hefted the bag into his hand. This wasn’t enough—not nearly enough.
 

As he sat in his chair, the wood creaked in protest. Who else would have some? He covered his mouth with his hand and thought.
Ginnia!
She liked to gather the gems as part of her collection.

He jumped from his chair and placed his hand on a sunstone embedded in the wall. Warmth seeped into his palm. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Images flowed along the sunstones, sending the message through the Keep’s many pathways and corridors.
My lady, my Keep, help me get this message to her in time
.

Chapter Forty-Six

Melissa fought Jakar’s grip, but he pinned her hands tight behind her back. She stumbled, blackberry brambles snagging her pants and poking her skin. The pain in her shoulders intensified as he lifted her arms higher. She stomped on his foot, but that just got her a knee in the buttocks for her effort.
 

He stopped behind a large fir just inside the tree line. The battle raged in the clearing. Noeh’s sword bounced off Ram’s shield. Ram sliced open Noeh’s leg. Blood gushed down his boot.
 

“No!” Melissa screamed.

Behind her, Jakar laughed and grunted. Anger swelled within her. The tide built to a fevered pitch and a faint version of her shield blinked around her. The smell of burnt flesh wafted into the air. Jakar yelled and let go.
 

Hope fueled her like nothing else could. She head-butted him, the back of her skull connecting with his face. He staggered away, his hands held out in front of him. Part of the skin around his fingers slid to the ground.
 

Pulling on her energy, she tried to power her shield. The current fizzled. “Damn it!”
 

Taking advantage of Jakar’s distraction, she used her experience learned in ballet to whip her leg around. Her foot connected with his chin and sent him flying. He landed against the trunk of a nearby tree. His body slipped to the ground, and his head lolled to the side.
 

She almost lost her balance but steadied herself before she fell over. Careful of the precious life that grew inside her, she rubbed her waist. Looking into the clearing, she didn’t see Noeh. Bile rose in her throat as a sense of dread permeated her heart. She raced into the meadow and ran toward the last place she’d seen him.
 

“Melissa!”
 

She whirled around to see who had called her name. Not far away, Aramie stood over Demir. He lay on the moist earth near a large boulder, motionless. A Gossum circled them. Aramie lashed out with her small dagger. Melissa’s chest constricted at the turmoil in her mind. She’d spent so much of her Dren life helping the wounded, but her need to find Noeh ran through her veins. Indecision grounded her for several seconds.
 

She glanced toward the meadow once again. There was no sign of Noeh. Turning back toward Demir and Aramie, she steeled herself for what she must do. Her triage training kicked in, and she raced to help.
 

The Gossum saw her approach and must’ve decided she was a better prize. He ran straight for her. She pulled on her energy. The shield wavered, but didn’t hold.
 

Whizzzzzz
. Aramie’s throwing star sliced across the creature’s neck. His head fell to the ground, the thump like a ripe melon on the wet grass. His body slumped to the side and turned into a mound of black ink.

Aramie motioned for Melissa to hurry. Melissa ran to Demir’s side. Her breath caught in her throat. The waxen hue on his features wasn’t a good sign. The dart lay in the grass a few inches away.
 

“He must still be alive or he’d be dust,” Melissa said.

“I’m not dead, yet.” Demir groaned.
 

Melissa gasped. “Well, I guess not.”

“That stupid Stiyaha, now we’re even.” Demir tried to laugh, but only succeeded in a coughing fit.

Aramie gave a curt nod. “Help him. I’ll stand guard.”

Melissa bent over Demir and placed her hand on his chest. His cool skin and weak pulse sent a spike of dread into her heart. Combined with his labored breathing and dilated eyes, he was in bad shape. What was in that dart?
She didn’t know and wasn’t sure how to help him, but she’d keep him comfortable until they could get him back to the Keep.

“Melissa.” He brushed his hand next to hers. She took his hand and squeezed.
“I’m here, Demir.”

“You were right.”

“Shhh, don’t talk. We’ll get you back to the Keep in no time.” She ripped the sleeve off her shirt and wiped his brow with the soft material.

“No, you must hear this.” His breathing stilled.
 

Melissa’s heart rate picked up. “Demir!” She shook him. “Stay with me.”

He opened his eyes. A small smile graced his mouth. “You love him, I know.”

Melissa bit her bottom lip. “Demir—”

“I was obsessed with you and too proud to see what was real. I’m sorry.”
 

Tears welled in her eyes at Demir’s confession, and Melissa swallowed hard.
 

“I fought my obsession for a long time, but then it consumed me.” He tried to raise his hand.
 

She brought his palm to her face.
 

“Whatever was in that dart…cleared my mind.”
 

A tear slid down her cheek and ran between his fingers.
 

“I free you,” he whispered.

“What?” Melissa’s vision blurred.
 

“I love you enough to let you go.” His fingers tracked one of the tears as the wetness raced down her face.

A hitch caught in her throat, and she couldn’t speak.

“I was wrong to enslave the Dren. You are all free.”

Melissa didn’t know what to say. “I—”

His lip curled at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes closed.

“Demir, stay awake.” She shook his shoulder.

He didn’t respond. Panic welled inside her.
 

“You’re not going to die. I won’t let you.” She placed her finger on his carotid artery. His weak pulse beat against her fingertips. She closed her eyes, and her body shook with relief.
 

 
“For his sake, I’m glad he’s done with you.” Aramie stood guard, prepared to defend them. “Can you help him?”

Melissa scanned the battlefield. The war raged around them, but somehow, they’d escaped much of the enemy’s attention. She thanked the gods for that.
 

“Without knowing what was in that dart, there isn’t much I can do out here. My shield is coming back. I’ll help you protect him until we can get back to the Keep.”

Aramie’s gaze flitted to Demir’s face. The small lines around her lips deepened as she pursed her lips. “I heard what he said to you. He freed you and all the slaves.”
 

Melissa looked down at the male who’d made her life so miserable. “Somewhere inside Demir is a good male. I hope to see him that way, someday.”
 

A loud guttural cry rose in the air.
 

Melissa glanced over her shoulder. “Great, we have company.”

Jakar bolted across the meadow straight for them. Sharp claws extended from his now skinless fingers. The war cry he emitted made the hair on Melissa’s arms stand on end. He leapt into the air, right for her.

Aramie met Jakar mid-air. The collision of Panthera and Gossum rebounded off the trees at the edge of the meadow. Snarls and grunts mingled as the two fought. Melissa summoned her shield. A thin strand of energy pulsed to life, but wouldn’t hold for long.
 

Chapter Forty-Seven

Noeh kept Ram in view while the battle raged around him. His soldiers warred with the Gossum in the small clearing, swords and claws engaged in the melee. Neither side seemed to have an advantage.
 

His leg stung where Ram’s claws had punctured his skin. The pungent smell of his own blood filtered through his nose as the wetness flowed into and over his boot. His leg ached from the tear. If he didn’t stop the bleeding soon, he’d lose strength and that would be disastrous.

Ram’s shield encircled him in its protective energy. A low snigger emanated from his chest. “How’s the leg?”
 

“Your concern is touching.” Noeh would never give in. He’d use his last ounce of strength to protect his kind.

A fleeting memory of Melissa flashed through his mind. She’d looked at him, determination in her penetrating eyes.
It’s amazing what you can do if you try.
 

 
An idea percolated in his head—a dangerous one. He didn’t hesitate, his decision swift and easy. The weapon he’d fought with since he was a youth slipped from his hand. He opened his consciousness and searched for the energy, the threads connecting him to his beast.
 

Eager to come to the surface, his beast responded. Tendrils of energy in his brain reconnected. Long hair grew over his skin. Clothing disappeared under the fur. Tusks protruded from his mouth. In beast form, his rough hide sealed the wound on his leg. A shot of adrenaline accompanied the change, and his beast roared with the freedom.
 

A sound, like a whip, caught Noeh’s attention. Ram’s tongue extended from his mouth. Noeh dodged just in time to prevent a direct hit on the face. Instead, the stinger struck him in the shoulder. The blow made him flinch, but his thick fur kept the sharp tip from penetrating the skin.
 

A low growl erupted from his throat.
 

At just over nine feet tall, he towered over Ram. His enemy took a step back, mouth open, eyes wide.
He fears me, as he should
.
 

The glow from Ram’s shield wavered. A fleeting twinge of hope built in Noeh’s stomach.

“No, not now!” Ram took one glance at Noeh and fled toward the river.

Melissa
. The need to find and protect her pulled on Noeh’s soul. In his heart, she was his mate, and the beast turned to hunt her down. He stopped. Ram posed a threat not only to him and his female, but also to the entire Keep. As much as he wanted to go after his little kitten, he couldn’t let Ram escape.