A Warrior's Quest (12 page)

Kindara nearly grunted. “I don
’t have a clue. He meets the criteria for none of the Kinds described in any of the books that I can find. We will need to speak to Rathan, see if he has any ideas.”

“What did this woman who gave him to you look like?” Mickey asked.

“Old. Wrinkled. Dark skinned and dark eyed, with white hair. Not gray. Grizzled and leathery. I think she made herself that way on purpose so that I would
not
remember her.”

“Weird. And where were you?”

“I don’t really know.” She had yet to explain exactly what had happened to her, had said only that the passage key had taken them to somewhere she could not name yet. She would delve deeper in to what had happened to her on the morrow. Today was for Thas. She sank on to the bed between the two pregnant women. “I don’t think we were actually
in
a realm. I think it was
between.
”

Kindara pulled herself up into a seated position, looking more like a beach ball in her blue and white
vestis
than Aureliana thought her friend would want to know. “Auri, was she a Laquazzean?”

The term was vaguely familiar. “One of those higher than the gods beings?”

“Exactly what they are. There’s a book in Rathan’s library. It was his grandfather’s. It tells of these beings.” Kindara reached for the babe and Mickey passed him gently. Aureliana smiled. The two had been touching him nearly constantly, tiny pats and caresses. Love. He would grow up with love surrounding him, whether she was with him or not. “Do you think he is one of those?”

Aureliana thought about it for a moment. “No. No I do not. The woman said he would be the first of many. A new Kind is what I thought she was implying. I don
’t think
he
is a Laquazzean.”

Thas fussed and she took him from Kindara and snuggled him against her chest. “He must be hungry. But what do I feed him?”

She brushed a hand against his cheek and he turned, searching. He
was
hungry. Intense worry rushed through her stomach. How could she care for this babe when she didn’t even know what he needed to survive?

He bit her finger, hard. He had tiny teeth. Why hadn
’t she seen them before? “He has fangs, Kinney.”

“He may be a bloodsucker, then,” Kindara said. “Is he suckling?”

He was, pulling against her finger, determined. “Yes. I think he is. Goddess, Kinney, what if we’re wrong and blood hurts him?”

“You were chosen for a reason, Auri. I don
’t think the whatever-she-was would have given you this baby if you didn’t have what he needed? I’m new at this, but I don’t think goddesses and gods
or
Laquazzeana work that way. At least not according to legends. And Theo says there are all kinds of rules that higher beings go by. I’m still trying to figure it all out.” Mickey leaned closer to watch the babe. “I do think he’s eating. Nursing. Whatever you want to call it. Kinney, will my baby do that?”

“No. Our Kind nurses like a human babe. They don
’t start needing blood until they are between two or three, and completely weaned from milk.” Kinney was also watching the babe. “There are a few vampiric Kinds in some of the other realms, according to Rathan’s books, that nurse on blood. He could be something similar, I suppose.”

“Whatever he is, he
’s beautiful.” The babe was content now; maybe he
was
a bloodsucker. Maybe feeding him would be that simple? Some of her worry lifted. She kissed his forehead once his feeding slowed. She put him over her shoulder and rubbed the little back until he burped.

“So you
’re going to keep him?” Mickey asked. “Is there anything you have to do legally? Who are his birth parents?” Mickey had been a lawyer in her human life, and Aureliana knew she spent much time at her
Rajni’s
side. Theo was the head of their judicial council.

“The
woman said they were gone, that they were destined to birth him and that was it.” Like she was supposedly destined to raise him. How was that supposed to make her feel? Was it supposed to terrify her?

If so, it was succeeding.

Ren sat in the courtyard the next morning, watching the warrior
girl as she and Cerridwen played. That damned babe was strapped to Aureliana’s chest and Ren felt his ire growing. And his concern. How was he to protect her
and
some spawn-of-whatever given to her by a damned
Laquazzean
?

His task was getting more Herculean. Did
she
know yet that she was destined to save the worlds? If she knew would she still be as reckless?

She scooped Cerridwen up and twirled her gently. The warrior girl still favored her injuries from five days ago. She did not need to be running and playing so roughly yet. She was going to hurt herself—especially the way she was favoring the side the spawn-of-whatever was strapped to.

He stood, and then stomped over to her. Damned girl was going to hurt herself if she continued as she was. Or hurt the spawns. “Give me the boy if you insist on running around so rashly.”

She stared at him. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You cannot play with Cerridwen and hold the spawn. He is sleeping, is he not? Give him here. I shall hold him until you are finished with your foolishness.”

“Playing with a child is never foolishness. It
’s a necessity.”

“You are injured, are you not? Does playing so foolhardily hurt you? Then it is foolish.” He did not wait for further compliance, just unknotted the spawn
’s carrier.

Her hands went to the spawn
’s rump. “He’ll wake hungry.”

“And what is it this little creature eats?” That had his thoughts darkening. What had she brought back with her from wherever? What
if he was a threat to Relaklonos? It would not be the first time a spawn was used for treachery.

“He
’s a bloodsucker.” She held up a finger, where tiny puncture wounds were visible. “Kinney and Bronie are trying to figure out exactly what Kind he is the most like.”

“I have ten fingers he can suckle from if needed. And my demon blood is far stronger than your puny Dardaptoan. The spawn will be quite content with me.”

Her reluctance was quite evident on her pretty face. Did she simply not
trust
him with this spawn of hers?

A spark of hurt had his skin turning red, but he suppressed it. She did not need to know she
’d affected him thus. “Give me your spawn. Then go play with mine.”

She complied. “Just don
’t scare him. He’s in a new place with new faces. And don’t turn purple. You’ll frighten him.”

“I will not
scare
him. Ridiculous female.”

“Auri, Auri! Catch me!” Cerridwen
’s calls had them turning.

“Go.” He nudged the woman with one hand while balancing her spawn with the other. “I have cared for a spawn before, you need not look at me like I am a
big purple monster. Or incompetent.”

He settled on a stone bench, the spawn—still wrapped in his bundling—balanced on his lap. He was a small creature—his fist
smaller than Ren’s thumbnail. Not very threatening. The hair on the spawn’s head was deep black, not unusual for Kinds in his realm. He looked like every other spawn Ren had held. So what was so special about
this
one that a Laquazzean would give it to the warrior girl in such a dramatic manner?

The spawn
’s eyes opened and he blinked a few times. Fussed and rooted around. Ren slipped his finger near the tiny creature’s mouth. The spawn latched on and fed voraciously. Ren watched him closely, looking for any sign of evil in the way the boy moved. Blinked. Nothing, just an innocent spawn in appearance. Why did he still feel trepidation where the boy was concerned?

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Is my new brother awake?” Cerridwen ran up to his side and leaned over the spawn. She kissed his head. “Isn
’t he cute? Hi, Thas, hi!”

“Her new
brother
?”
Ren looked at the warrior girl as she approached much more slowly.

“Apparently the Laquazzean told her she would be
as
his sister in this world. Cerri has taken that literally.” She held her arms out for the spawn and he gave her the boy. She soothed him, looking all soft and maternal. Nothing at all like a warrior girl. Did she realize that? She was far more suited to
female
ways than those of a warrior. Mayhap she
did
need a strong male and a couple of spawn pulling at her tunic?

Mayhap such a life would
keep
her safe and out of trouble...until she could save the worlds?

And she did look entirely natural holding the one
spawn; with
his
spawn dancing around her knees. Perfect and beautiful. Soft and feminine. The way a female not of his Warrior ancestry should look.

Yes…perhaps the warrior girl needed a strong male to keep her. She had turned down his consort offer twice before, but perhaps he could soften her toward him? Make her see that a bond with him would only be advantageous to the both of them. Make her forget any ridiculous notions she may have of finding this so-called destined mate of hers.

She could wait forever for this male, while
he
was right there in front of her.

Yes.

That was what he would do. If he had to seduce her to do accomplish his goal...well, his father had been the
high
Incubus, capable of seducing even the coldest of hearts.

Aureliana Adrastos would not stand a chance at resisting.

He would begin now.

***

Renakletos towered over her and glowered down at her. Aureliana fought the urge to step back. Why? What had changed with him in just an instant? He reached out and pushed the hair off her cheek, tucking it behind her ear.
Her skin burned where his fingers had touched. “The Laquazzean chose well giving the spawn you for his mother. But come, his
sister
needs fed.”

His hand was hot on her back as he
guided
her toward the dining hall. And why was he walking so close? He carried his daughter one-armed, but the other hand he kept on Aureliana. Why? What was he doing? And why was she so suddenly nervous of him in a way she hadn’t been before?

Even after the incident in his bedchamber, she had not felt the little hairs on the back of her arms stand at end when he was near. Not like this.

He leaned closer. “Your little spawn there will need fed quite frequently, and when you find yourself feeling a bit low and in need, feel free to seek me out. I will be happy to provide for you. Whatever you wish…”

He nipped her neck, just below her ear. In the spot that drove female Dardaptoans wild with lust. Did he know that? Or was that something he
’d just figured out drove
her
wild, somehow? She fought a shiver. Him this close…it was too much. Especially with him looking at her just that way…She tried to step away.

“What are you doing? I told you, I
’m not going to
consort
with you. I’m Dardaptoan, we don’t consort.”

“Unless you are Kindara? But what is good enough for your friend, is good enough for you. You will change your mind soon. No female can resist the prince of Incubi for too long.”

Dear goddess, what
was
he planning? Why? “Leave me alone, Renakletos. I don’t
want
you.” A damned lie, but she would never, ever let her
Rajni
know. That way would only lay heartache. What if the Laquazzean had meant that she’d only have Thas for a little while, that she was still meant to die soon? Wouldn’t it be best to continue hiding their destined bond from him?

Would he even believe in that destiny if she told him? His Kind didn
’t mate for life, not unless they were in the deepest of
gamata,
his Warrior Demonkin’s sacred mating bond.

And there was no guarantee that Renakletos would
ever
want that kind of bond with her. Probably unlikely, from what she knew about him and his Kinds. Didn’t demons—especially Incubi—have sex frequently and oft times indiscriminately? Would anything between them even mean anything to him, if they were to...?

She shook that thought off. Renakletos could only bring trouble, and she
’d do well to remember that. She stepped away from him. “I don’t consort, especially with males who have no hope of ever being my
Rajni
. Don’t ask me, again. It will never happen.”

“A word of caution, pet. Don
’t challenge a prince of Incubi in such a manner. It only makes him more determined.” He grabbed her, though gently, and turned her around to face him. He leaned down until their lips were almost touching. It was as if the two children in their arms didn’t exist in that moment. “And Aureliana, forget this
Rajni
of yours. I have decided. You are
mine
, now. And nothing will stop me from having what I want.”

A sudden babe required sudden change—Aureliana learned that quickly over the next few days. She spent most of her time tending to Thas and keeping Kindara company as the castle prepared for the Healers’ arrivals. Kindara hadn’t gotten her Summit as early as she’d intended, but it had just been two weeks since Aureliana arrived in Relaklonos. How short that seemed, for everything that had happened to her. Still, she was glad the Summit was upon them. Helping Kindara kept her busy.

And kept her avoiding Renakletos.

“The demon is determined.” Kindara rocked Thas in the chair by the window. Aureliana sat trying to piece together Rathan’s notes about which Kind of demons were allies and which were foes. Such political minefields would have to be carefully maneuvered during the Healer’s Summit.

“Yes. And stupidly arrogant if he thinks a little attention will be enough to sway me.” She
’d confessed Ren’s threat to Kindara, but kept the knowledge that the big purple demon was her
Rajni
to herself. Kindara would only worry needlessly.

Renakletos had stalked her for two days, following her and Thas and making his claim on her known to
everyone
who saw them together.

He was driving her crazy. Him being
loving
and actually solicitous of her welfare was something she was not used to from him. He reminded her of Rathan’s determined pursuit of Kindara all those months ago.

Hopefully he wouldn
’t prove quite as determined as Rathan, but she feared he would. Feared he wouldn’t stop until he had her beneath him, claiming her as his damned consort.

His
consort
not his mate.

That made her feel a bit...dirty. Second best in a way she hadn
’t expected. Did he even understand what a consort bond was asking of her? A consort bond worked for Kindara and Rathan—Kindara loved the demon king but he was not her
Rajni
; Rathan was her second chance. They were
building
a solid relationship, a deeper love, between them than was common for demon consort bonds.
They
were the exceptions in this realm.

She
was the exception. In all things, apparently. Never had a demon and a Dardaptoan been mated, fated, whatever you wanted to call it. What was she supposed to do here? He wanted a short-term affair, he’d made that clear with his sly looks and the way he’d touch her when she’d let her guard down.

He
’d made seducing
her
his foremost priority. And now everyone knew it.

“Oh, Kinney, what am I supposed to
do
?”

“You could have a flaming hot affair with him.”
Aureliana stared at her friend. Kindara was serious.

“Don’t look at me like that. When was the last time you slept with a man? When you were three hundred? That’s an awful long time, Auri. I don’t think anyone would fault you for having a bit of fun.”

Who was this woman now occupying her friend
’s body? “Are you serious?”

“I am bonded with the king of Incubi. They think a great deal about sex, especially when they can
’t have it. Who better to have an affair with than an Incubi prince?”

Who better? Yeah, right. Not exactly how Aureliana would have put the question.

***

Thas was finally sleeping, snuggled in the hand-carved cradle that Renakletos had brought to her suite two nights ago. It was one of the many gifts he
’d given her and the babe, and was one of the few she had truly appreciated. Ren was everywhere, surrounding her.