CarnalPromise (5 page)

“Why? Because
you
were protecting him?” she sneered.

“Yes.” Her mate-wannabe picked up his trousers and put them
on. “And I’m glad I did. I like the man. He’s come a long way. Besides, you
know I made the effort to protect Rurik’s offspring to ensure the peace. I knew
someone was after them but not who. I didn’t want the perpetrator to place the
blame for the death of Rurik’s seed on me. You know they would have tried to
make it look like it was my fault. I want this peace, Jinn.” He settled the
waistband around his sculpted abs.

She gulped, trying not to think of the effect his body had
on hers. “Right. Which is why you want to bond with an old-family Svendian.”
She needed to remind herself. “So that our people would be united and think
twice about who was fighting. But you expected a pampered regal type, didn’t
you? Well, sorry, I’m not her and if you think…”

Her nephew almost made his way to the door.

“Hunter!”
Don’t leave
, she prayed.

He swerved and she noted the irritation on his face. “Aunt
Jinn, I have things to do. Pleasant things. I haven’t had a break since you
left. I need this.” He smirked. “By the way,” he called over his shoulder as he
turned again and sauntered toward the door. “Nice outfit.”

“Rrrrr…” Her frustration bubbled over. “Don’t lance your
Earther attitudes at me.” She grabbed the sheet from the end of the bed and
covered herself. “Traitor.” She glared at her nephew.

He stopped to look at her. With a cutting edge to his tone,
he laughed.
Laughed.
She wished she’d had something to throw at him.

“Whoa,” Khariton schooled, coming up behind her nephew.
“This is one battle you won’t win, Junior. Best we get far away from these two
while we can.”

Hunter huffed. “Fuck, you’re not kidding.”

“Hunter,” Jinn said, prickling, “stop profaning the word.”

“So you’re my mother now?” Hunter shot back, obviously
unwilling to take any rebuke from her.

Drakkar stared at Jinn with something akin to a mentor’s
respect. “Perhaps you will make a good mother after all. As violent as you are,
I have my doubts.” He arched one of his black brows.

“Violent?” She bristled again as he inched closer. “Don’t
even think it.” She shuddered, pointing a finger at him.

As Drakkar approached, Khariton pushed Hunter through the
door. Jinn watched the two men exit. Khariton set the antiquated lock and shut
the door behind him.

“Don’t come any closer.” Jinn backed up, hitting the head
board again. “This was my room first. You can sleep on the floor.”

“I think not.” He sat on the edge of the bed and studied
her. “He won’t help you, you know. Hunter. He’s still pissed about the way you
took him from his Earther buddies. He still doesn’t know what’s happened to
them.”

“They were fine,” she protested.

Drakkar swallowed his humor. “
Then
. You don’t know
what’s happened since. You know that. Besides, you’d probably have more success
with Khariton. He bonded with a woman he hadn’t anticipated. He at least has
some sympathy for your plight.”

She pressed her lips together and tightened the sheet as she
balled herself tighter into a knot, willing herself not to cry.

“Jinn,” he said, sliding closer and brushing his forefinger
along the curve of her cheek, “why are you so adamant about finding your
uncle?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.” Drakkar’s hoarse voice echoed with unexpected
tenderness.

She studied him, wishing she could put her faith in someone
but she could not, especially not with someone as wily as the mate her body had
chosen for her. She shook her head. As much as she would like to share her
fears with someone, Drakkar didn’t trust her with his secrets and she damn well
wouldn’t trust him with hers.

No, if she confided her guilt and shame, the knowledge would
only provide Drakkar with the fodder to do what he wanted, convincing her
brother to go along with the Vulgarian’s backward-thinking plans.

Drakkar eased closer. “Jinn, I can’t help you if you don’t
talk to me.”

“I don’t need your help.”

Yet, she did. She needed someone’s help to defeat Craddock.
She knew that intimately. But she wouldn’t ask for it. The risks were too high.
This battle was hers alone.

She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to dispel the vision
etched in her brain but the effort proved useless. Instead her lower lip
trembled as the vision of her father marched through her mind—as fresh as the
moment he died.

* * * * *

 “Well?” Craddock paced the damp room. “What news have you
for me? Did you deter her or is she still after us?”

“Your niece is near.” Cassius towered over the former
Svendian headmaster.

He glared at Cassius. “What does she want?”

Cassius held back his contempt. “You killed her father. What
do you think she wants?”

“Shatz!” He picked up a drinking cup and threw it at the
wall. “Damn girl. Why? I always liked her, was good to her and taught her to be
the best tracker on Svendia.” He mumbled to himself a moment then straightened.
His shoulders erect, he turned toward Cassius. A bitter resolve etched his aged
face. “Well,” Craddock rasped, his voice low, grave. “We’ve done everything we
can to put her off.”

Slowly, the twisted leer on his face grew in that wanton way
of his. His eyes turned cold and his voice became a whispered, coarse sound.
“Revenge has its own price to pay, does it not, my friend?” The former headmaster
bent his head in thought, pacing again.

Although soft, Cassius heard the steel undertones in the
man’s voice and shuddered, knowing from unfortunate experience what the
ex-headmaster wanted, what he expected Cassius to do.

“I have other news as well,” Cassius spoke before Craddock
could say more.

“What?” the man growled.

Cassius paused, unsure how much to reveal. If Craddock knew
Cassius held back, Cassius would feel the bite of the man’s displeasure. Who
knew what other warped thing the man would bring upon him to do? Yet it would
be difficult for Craddock to discover more. At least, at the moment. They had
been in hiding a while. Right now Cassius was the ex-patriot Svendian’s basic
link to the outside world. Cassius cleared his throat. “The reason why Drakkar
the Ruthless follows her.”

Craddock stopped his pacing. “Well?”

“Your niece is fertile.”

“What?” The Svendian straightened to his full height once
more.

“The Vulgarian has claimed her, as is his right. Rurik
intends to bond them as soon as they catch her. This will seal the peace.
However, for unknown reasons, they have tried to keep the information quiet.”

A slow, wicked smile edged across what was once a handsome
face. Even though Craddock could still be thought of as appealing to those who
sought such, Cassius believed the years of lies and deceit had marred the
former headmaster, marking him as an evil man.

Inside, Cassius scoffed, knowing he could say the same about
himself.

“Well.” The grin broadened into a cheer, a rare sight in the
Svendian. “That changes things, doesn’t it? And she’s running from him. Perhaps
she’s actually trying to contact me.” Craddock slapped his palms together,
rubbing them. “We need her, Cassius. We can use her. We’ll have the Renegades
befriend her, test her out, see if she’s in line with our thoughts. Inform our
friends.”

“Yes, Master.” Cassius hesitated, wondering how best to deal
with this new development, concerned that he might have revealed too much.

“Well?” Craddock questioned his slowness.

Before the former headmaster could ask more, Cassius turned
on his heel and left to find the head of the Renegade clan who operated on
Telrusia.

Exiting the rundown building, Cassius allowed the brisk wind
to slam into him. He scowled, tired of the depraved men he dealt with, wanting
the purity of the one woman he couldn’t have.
Mercedes
. Rurik’s
daughter. He would never speak her name again for fear of reminding Craddock of
her existence.

Cassius needed to protect her.

Erasing the thought from his mind, he concentrated on the
present as he headed along the ancient cobbled road. The Renegade leader and
his crew would not be hard to find. A gaggle of hell-bent souls, they were. Ones
for which Craddock was much indebted, and from which, one day, he, Cassius,
would also receive his just dues.

Naked except for the sheet, Jinn sat against the headboard,
her golden hair splayed across her shoulders and down her body. She eyed him
with disdain. Yes, his mate despised him but Drakkar could do nothing for it
until he knew more about what troubled her. And he couldn’t do that if she
wouldn’t open up. Her stubbornness irritated him. “Jinn, you’ll be killed if
you persist on this course.”

“Then you would be free to choose the woman you want instead
of some bitchy female your biology chose for you.” Her eyes flashed like blue
fire.

He grimaced. He’d tried to bond with another woman once, not
because of the need, but because they were both fertile and cared for each
other. At least he had thought so at the time. The affair turned into a
disaster. “Don’t say such things.”

“Why?” she spat. “It’s true.”

“Jinn, I’m forsworn to protect you.”

Her mouth set in a thin grim line. “I don’t
need
your
protection. I can protect myself.” She growled like a she-cat.

“Like you protected yourself back in the alley?” He tried to
tamp down the annoyance in his voice but she was being unreasonable. The end of
his patience neared.

Her eyes flew open.

“Oh, yes, Beloved. Do you really think you would have gotten
away from that monster? That was me and the ones you now see with me who took
the rogue Telrusians out. And that includes your nephew. Thankfully, we arrived
in time.”

“How?” She swallowed. “I should have known.” Her gaze turned
dark. “You bastard. You followed me here, didn’t you? I should be detecting you
now but I can’t. Not really. Not like before. You shouldn’t have been able to
sneak up on me. You are a sly one, Drakkar, to copy my formula to use against
me.”

He smirked. “Perhaps, but you gave me no choice. And I
didn’t exactly copy your formula.” He frowned, the gravity of not being able to
catch her for such long a time weighing on him. “I had friends who researched
the infusion for me. Mine is actually more effective. You didn’t even scent
me.”

She grimaced. “I thought… Back in the alley…” Then she shook
her head.

Her emotions were raw. He could tell that much. He inhaled
to control his anger and sidled closer, hoping logic would prevail. “Jinn,
think about it. You can’t face Craddock alone. It’s suicide.”

She turned from him as if to ignore him.

“Damn it, Jinn, I’ve made the traditional bonding pact. I’ve
promised to die to protect you. I do not intend to do that foolishly.”

“I don’t expect you to die for me at all,” she shouted. “I
don’t want
anyone
to do that. Now let me go.”

“No.” Anger filled him. “I can’t and you know it. You simply
refuse to recognize the need of your body.”

Jinn shook, as if a chill took her, yet Drakkar felt sure it
was her fear of him, of what he had been to her before he claimed her.

“I swore on my father’s life I would make his killer pay.”
Her sea-blue eyes narrowed. “I used to think that was you.”

He remembered. After Ulrich’s death, Rurik had hounded Drakkar,
hoping he’d make a mistake that could be brought before the Galactic Quorum.

Thank the ancestors Drakkar wasn’t morally corrupt. Rurik
could find nothing to pin on him. Drakkar gritted his teeth. “Doesn’t the peace
of the people mean more to you than revenge?”

“You don’t need me for the peace. You and my brother could
do that without all this old-fashioned shatz. Besides, I’ve worked hard to
become what I am. I
like
my warrior status and you want to take it away?
Forget it.”

“Jinn, be reasonable. We’ll be living on Vulgaria. Our
children will be Vulgarian. You’re a Svendian. Hell, even your own laws
prohibit a fertile female from being a warrior.”

“But yours don’t!” She pointed a finger at him like a
dagger.

“You’ve sworn to protect all Svendians!” Drakkar ran a hand
through his hair. His patience was frayed, his control suffered. He hadn’t
wanted a confrontation with her. Not yet. He’d wanted her to accept her need
for him, to feel the depth of their bond. He slid closer and touched her cheek
with the pads of his fingers. “Jinn, let’s not fight. Not now. Morning will be
here soon enough.”

Even with her contempt, he wanted her. Slowly he bent toward
her, hoping she would at least accept his body.

Her chest heaved with deeper breaths. Wary, she pressed her
sweet lips together and sidled against the headboard as far as she could to
stay away from him.

This close, he could scent the muskiness blossom between her
legs.

“Go away,” she whispered, pulling the sheet tighter around
her, her voice a mixture of desperation and want. Tears pooled in her eyes like
gentle waves in the ocean. She blinked and the drops coated the tips of her
lashes like dew. Even in anger and sadness, she was beautiful.

He inhaled deeply, treasuring her scent, the sight of her
vulnerability. “Your body betrays you, Beloved.” He inched closer. Reached her.
Touched his lips to hers in gentle persuasion.

She moaned. Her sweet, breathy exhalations brushed his face.

“I need you, Jinn,” he murmured against her warm skin.

Her eyes fluttered shut. “Yes.” Her palms rested on his
naked chest, her tender touch heightened his inflamed libido, stirring
something primal within him. He wanted to protect her, make all the bad things
go away but he wouldn’t broach the subject, not when she softened like this. He
wanted her. Needed her with the depth of his being. How could she reject him
so?

He grimaced before he took her lips again, trying not to
take it personally. She still feared him and Drakkar suspected this was much of
the reason she tried to run away. She’d only known him as the enemy, a very
cunning one. One who captured her for his own purpose. But his reasons were
sound. They were goals that would benefit both their people. How could he get
this through to her? Make her see things the way he did?

He slid his arms around her and pulled her close, nestling
her against his chest. Then he covered her mouth with his and nibbled on her
soft lips, tonguing the flesh he held between his teeth.

Her unsteady breathing deepened. He delved his tongue within
her parted mouth, tasting her, exploring the sensations she gave him.

She met him, intertwined her tongue with his, tentative at
first, like a spring slowly uncoiling. Soon, though, she unwound, and returned
his kiss full-fold. At least in this he knew he had gained a small victory.

He prayed it would not be the last.

She muttered his name. The airy delicate sound made him
shudder with passion. God’s teeth, how he wanted her.

But not yet. She had to see how badly she needed him first.
Even if it took all night.

She groaned with desire, spread her fingers against his
shoulders and kneading them. Their bond took root in her. The need to mate.
Drakkar could sense it.

But she held a piece of her inner self back. He never wanted
her afraid yet her fear consumed every moment they shared until the need to
mate took over within her. Could he ever conquer this? He didn’t know and
remained at a loss how to remedy her trepidation of him. He wanted her to come
willingly to their bed, not hesitant with enmity.

“Drakkar, hold me.” Slight tremors shook her frame. Salty
wetness coated his skin.

“I am here, Beloved.” He tightened his arms around her,
letting her know in the only way he could that he would let no harm come to
her.

Sadness racked her body. She had seen firsthand the
destruction of this war.

Hell
. He wished she’d never been a part of the
brutish conflict. Drakkar could only surmise that his vicious forays against
the Svendians had served to intensify her wariness of him. But they were no
more severe than those her brother had rained down against his people.

Still, Drakkar had also had his share of victories, battles
that had saved many Vulgarians. That had been his first priority and always
will be. His people. Yet now, in this more personal battle, his fame and success
only served against him. Jinn didn’t know his true self and if she remained on
the run, she never would. Perhaps when they had spent more time satisfying the
needs of their bodies, they could delve into each other as beings, even learn
to like, or at least respect each other. He had his hopes. But they needed time
to do that.

That necessity was something he would ensure happened when
Rurik came on the morrow. If he could only put her in touch with this basic
drive first, get her to stop focusing on other miscellaneous things like being
a warrior.

She sniffled in his arms. He brushed his lips against her
temple. “I am not a violent man, Jinn, not to those that are mine. And you are
that now. A part of me as I am a part of you. I will never let anything happen
to you. I swear.”

She whimpered as if in pain and wrapped her arms around the
nape of his neck, holding him.

He swallowed and wished he knew what she was thinking,
hoping it wasn’t her loss of warrior status with the Svendians.
Shatz
.
If he’d had his way, he would never let any female in a fight. In the past, the
Vulgarians had allowed fertile women from necessity and there were females who
wanted it, would not give their status up once given the choice.

He grimaced. Unfortunately his mate was one of those.

Damnation
.

She quivered in his grasp. Her silent tears deluged his
soul. “Drakkar, I want peace too. You don’t know how much but I must finish
what I started. My uncle…”

“Shhh.” H stroked her hair like a child.
Craddock
.
That bastard. How many more had died because of her uncle’s blasphemy? “It
isn’t your fault, what your uncle did to prolong this war. Nor his role in your
father’s death.”

She eyed him, studied him with a depth he’d not seen in her
before. “You just don’t know.” Her breath feathered against his mouth.

Drakkar watched her and swallowed, not wanting to say the
wrong thing. Instead, he brushed his lips against the strands of her hair and
held her, wishing he knew what to do to ease her torment.

But there was nothing. No one could bring back the dead.

Jinn released a ragged sigh and allowed herself the comfort
of Drakkar’s body. Her soul needed the tenderness right now, needed him so she
could make it through the night. With the war nearing its end, her nightmares
had worsened. The specter? Her gravest mistake. The one that allowed her father
to die.

I can’t lose you, my priceless daughter. I will die for
you. Craddock…

Ulrich’s last words echoed in her mind. That Craddock was
the traitor was part of what she’d seen in his eyes, what he’d meant when he
uttered her uncle’s name. If Ulrich had lived, he would have stopped this war
and punished the real perpetrator but her mistake cost his life instead. And
the lives of so many others. It was her fault that the war raged. Her fault so
many died.

It was her responsibility, her burden to see her uncle was
dealt justice.

She squeezed her eyes shut to ease the raw pain that now
surfaced. Inhaling, Drakkar’s scent came to her, stirred her. She tried to
clear her mind of torment so she could think rationally.

I will never let anything happen to you.

She moaned as Drakkar’s words sunk through to her. He had
meant them but he was too late. Things
had
happened to her. Things she
would forever regret. Yet she wouldn’t tell him that. Saying it would only stir
more questions from him and he was too cunning by far at getting information
from her. What scared her most was that in a moment of weakness, she would
divulge her biggest resolution, the one that would cause him to keep her locked
down.

The one where she pledged that she would never let anyone
die for her again.

She rubbed her forehead against Drakkar’s chest to dispel
the thought, at least for a short while. She needed to rest in order to think
clearly, to set up a strategy to escape Drakkar and locate Craddock. It was
clear she would get no help from anyone in this quarter and her present
weariness dulled her senses. Which was probably why Drakkar had caught her off
guard.

“Jinn, it will be all right.” The husky tones of his voice
honed the sensation of him against her. She wished his words could ring true.

But they couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she defeated the man
who had caused her nightmares.

Still, Drakkar was here. And he willingly provided comfort.
At one time she would have thought that impossible, as brutal a warrior as he
had proven to be. Yet, here and now, he held her with caring, if not affection.
She savored it. Tender moments such as these were hard to come by, were almost
impossible during the war—and were totally nonexistent while she tailed
Craddock.

And she would be on his trail again. Soon. She would make
sure of it.

Drakkar placed a few soft pecks against her temple then
brushed her cheek with his lips. “We’ll make it work, Jinn. We have to.”

A drop of moisture ran down her cheek, sadness for what she
had lost and would be losing now. “How?” she croaked, “When you don’t want me
to be who I am?”

His brow knitted, yet the censure in the movement only
highlighted his handsome visage.

Yes, Drakkar was a handsome man. Well built, powerful. And
now she found him tender in times such as these. A normal woman could come to
care for him.

But she couldn’t afford that luxury.

He swallowed. She watched his Adam’s apple move. The
intimacy of that one thing made her yearn for the closeness that a bonding
would bring, no matter how ill-deserved or overpowering.

“Jinn…”

She held a finger to his lips. “No, don’t say a thing.” This
close, she could smell his provocative essence, the one that fired her senses
and bonded him to her. Her pulse beat harder. “You’re right,” she rasped.
“Morning will be here soon enough.” She licked her lips as his scent thickened.
“Let’s have our own truce tonight…Beloved.” She hesitated in saying the
endearment, not wanting the word to be a lie.