Claiming Valeria (26 page)

But anger was an indulgence he couldn’t afford. If Jorge was
willing to force Okeanos into a fair fight, that was good enough for him.

“Yes,” he replied. “This is a mate-duel.”

“I’ll be his second,” Tiago stated loudly.

Another voice rang out. The new man. “And me.”

He stepped forward, and Rui grunted in surprise; it was Merry’s
uncle Jace.

Rui focused back on his opponent. It was hard as hell to speak
and maintain the pressure on Okeanos, but he was determined to do this by the book.
“I…Rui do Mar…challenge you…to a mate-duel for Valeria da Costa.”

“I accept,” Okeanos replied. “With one condition.”

First, though, he flicked his fingers. The constriction around
Rui’s chest disappeared as if it had never been. He put his hands on his thighs
and took several deep breaths.

“Thank
Deus
.” Valeria dropped her head against his thigh,
still holding one of his legs. Her own breath was choppy with pain.

Rui gently disentangled her grip and crouched down beside her.
He wanted desperately to pull her into her arms, but he recalled what Okeanos had
said about the aphrodisiac.

He settled for gently stroking her hair but even that made
her wince. He scowled up at Okeanos. “What the hell did you do to her?” he
demanded.

“Just teaching her a lesson.” The Greek fada nudged Valeria with
his toe. “Hurts like the devil, doesn’t it,
glika
?
Touch me again
and it will be worse.”

Rui made a harsh sound low in his throat. At that moment he would’ve
sold his soul to rip off the other man’s head. But he was bound by the rules of
the mate-duel.

He rose back to his feet. “State your condition.”

Okeanos crossed his arms. “Valeria has to accept the winner.
If I fight you, she forfeits the right of refusal. The winner takes her—whether
she wills it or not.”

“No.” Rui shook his head. “You can’t ask that—”

“I accept the terms,” Valeria interrupted. She pushed herself
to her feet and stood there, wobbling a little.

“No,
meu amor
.” Rui put an arm around her waist to steady
her. She flinched, and he cursed and loosened his grip. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.
Is this better?”

“
Sim
,” she whispered.

He brushed a damp curl back from her face, noting her wide, drugged
eyes, her cut lip, the bruises marring her soft olive skin. A rapid pulse beat at
the base of her throat, and her breath was still coming in shallow pants.

His gut knotted. It was his fault that it had come to this. If
he hadn’t rejected her so completely, she’d never have turned to Okeanos. She’d
have been his mate already, with no other man having the right to claim her.

He silently vowed that if—no, when—they got out of this, he’d
spend the rest of his life making it up to her.

“Are you all right?” he asked. “You understand what he’s asking?”

Her lower lip trembled. “He made me drink something. Everything
feels—strange. It made me—”

“An aphrodisiac,” Okeanos said dismissively. “My father’s
own recipe. He used it often.”

Rui’s jaw clenched so tight it hurt. The Rock Run clan had never
sunk so low as to employ aphrodisiacs, drugs designed to increase sensation to a
nearly unbearable pitch, but he’d heard the rumors. No wonder Valeria had been driven
nearly mad by the pain. He could kill Okeanos for that alone.

He ignored the other man to speak to Valeria. “It will pass,
querida
.”

She didn’t seem to hear him. Instead, she frowned at Jace Jones.

“Valeria?” Rui said.

She passed a shaky hand over her face, still looking at the earth
shifter. “Wh—where’s Merry?”

Rui froze. “She’s not here?” He glanced around. He’d been so
focused on Valeria and Okeanos that he hadn’t realized Merry wasn’t in the cavern.

“No. Petros gave her to him.” She indicated Jones.

Everyone looked at the tall, black-haired man. He stared back
proudly, seemingly unconcerned that he was the sole earth shifter in a roomful of
hostile river and sea fada.

“I left her with Hunter,” he told Valeria. “I wasn’t sure what
I’d find down here.”

“Oh. That’s okay then. Isn’t it?” she asked Rui.

He narrowed his eyes at Jones. “What’s your game?” If all he’d
wanted was Merry, the two of them could’ve been miles away by now. So what was he
doing here?

The earth shifter moved a shoulder. “Merry asked me to help her
mama.”

“And you agreed? Just like that?”

“Just like that.” The reply was just this side of insolence.
Then he expelled a breath. “Look, it was obvious your woman hadn’t gone willingly
with Okeanos. I couldn’t just leave without trying to help. We’re not all bastards,
you know.”

Rui gave an ostentatious sniff. Damn if the man didn’t have the
sharp, clean scent of truth. Still, since when would a Baltimore shifter go out
of his way to help a Rock Run woman?

“Thank you,” he said, “but you’re out of your fucking mind if
you think you’re going to take Merry. I’ll kill you myself if I have to. Still,
I agree this is no place for a child. You say she’s safe with your man?”

“Yes. Hunter’s one of our best. And the only threat I see is
down here with you water shifters.” He glanced at Okeanos and the other four men.

Rui ignored the dig to turn back to Valeria. Her whole body was
trembling now. He gently guided her to a cushion against the wall and then crouched
on his haunches before her. “You don’t have to do this,
querida
. I don’t
care what Okeanos says.
Tradição
holds the woman has to agree to the mating.”

And to the fada,
tradição
—
tradition—had
the force of law.

She focused on him with an obvious effort. When she spoke, her
words were slow but clear. “I know what I’m doing, Rui.”

“He can’t make you do this,” he repeated firmly.

“Unless the woman forfeits the right of refusal,” Okeanos inserted.
“It’s Valeria’s choice. If not, I’ll bind you again and leave you in the caves to
die.” He glanced at Tiago and Jace. “All three of you.”

“Like hell,” Rui muttered in a subvocal voice. “Even if Benny
and Jorge go along with him, there’s three of us and only five of them. He’s drained
from using his Gift. He won’t take us easily.”

She reached out a shaking hand to him. When he took it, she clasped
it in both of hers and brought it to her lips. He could feel her mouth quivering
against his skin, but she kissed him and then met his gaze with solemn dark eyes.

He feathered his fingers down her cheek before rising to face
Okeanos.

“Well?” the other man demanded.

“She doesn’t accept—”

“But I do,” Valeria interrupted. “I accept your terms, Petros
Okeanos. I, Valeria Lizete da Costa, willingly accept the winner of the mate-duel
between you and Rui do Mar.”

Rui’s gaze snapped to her. She was back on her feet, one hand
on the wall to support herself, but her chin was raised and she clearly knew what
she was doing. Everyone in the cave felt the jolt as the speaking of her true-name
bound her to her word.

He growled. “No, damn it.”

Valeria gazed at him, head high and shoulders back, holding herself
so straight, so calm, that he suspected only he saw the wild flicker in her eyes.

“This is the only way,” she returned. “It’s not just about me
anymore—it’s about Merry, too. You’ll just have to win, won’t you?”

He felt a wave of pride in her, even as he cursed Okeanos for
a wily bastard. That was Valeria—proud, courageous and stubborn to the core.

Rui had no choice but to accept Okeanos’s challenge. He saw now
what Valeria had seen: if it came to a fight, Tiago and Jace might die with him—and
that meant Merry would be lost to the Baltimore shifters forever. He’d simply have
to win, because he’d do anything, say anything, break every rule in the book to
save Merry from losing a parent yet again—and prevent Okeanos from taking Valeria
for his sick games.

The Greek fada’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “So be it.”

“So be it,” Rui echoed.

Valeria gave him an I-know-you’ll-win smile. “
Boa sorte
,”
she mouthed.
Good luck.

“
Eu te amo
,” he mouthed back.
I love you.

Her smile broadened. He felt an echo of warmth in his heart and
even though she didn’t speak, knew she’d thought it:
Love you too.
He unconsciously
pressed the heel of his hand to his breastbone, sending her a crooked smile in return
before turning to face Okeanos.

The other men stepped back to form a circle with Rui and
Okeanos at the center.

Jorge raised a hand, assuming the role of referee. “There is
only one rule in a mate-duel. The two of you fight until one of you surrenders—or
dies.”

Rui inclined his head. He was well aware that a mate-duel was
a raw, no-holds-barred fight. “Surrender,” he agreed, “or die.”

Okeanos repeated the words. Jorge brought his hand down and Okeanos
sprang, his fingers clawing at Rui’s eyes.

But Rui was expecting something like that. He raised an arm to
deflect him, at the same time driving his fist into the other man’s stomach. Okeanos
grunted but retained his balance. Without allowing him time to regroup, Rui grabbed
him and tried to get him in a headlock. But the other man was slippery as the eel
that was his other half—and more sly. He slammed his knee toward Rui’s balls.

Rui cursed and turned aside so that the blow glanced off his
thigh. Lightning fast, Okeanos twisted away. With a growl, Rui dropped into a fighting
crouch and eyed the other man, looking for an opening.

Rather than charging again, Okeanos dropped into a crouch as
well, mirroring Rui. They circled each other, their harsh breathing the only sound
in the large, low-ceilinged cavern. Around them the other men shifted to give them
space, but Rui barely noticed as he scrutinized his foe, searching for an opening.

Okeanos curled his lip. “I’ll enjoy teaching your woman who her
master is.”

Rui just looked at him. Rather than enraging him, the jibe made
it clear what was at stake. He settled in to fight coldly, dispassionately.

Okeanos feinted to the right and then came in with a hard left
to Rui’s jaw, but Rui had seen the weight shift and was ready for him. He ducked
under the punch and slammed his fist into Okeanos’s stomach. The other man grunted
and bent double. Rui closed in and rained blows on him—head, neck, kidneys.

Okeanos fought well, getting in a few good blows, but Rui was
younger and stronger. In a few short minutes, he had the other man in a headlock.

Desperate, Okeanos tried to use his dark magic again, but Rui
resisted long enough to jerk his head to the side. Okeanos’s neck broke with a dull
snap and the invisible net that had wound itself around Rui dissolved as the
man slid to the floor, dead.

Rui’s chest heaved. He placed his hands on his thighs, sucking
in oxygen, his gaze on the lifeless man sprawled before him. He regretted having
to kill someone so much older than himself, but the sea fada’s soul had become
dark, twisted. If Rui hadn’t stopped him today, he’d have continued to seek out
other women—willing or not—for his perverted rites.

Still, Rui muttered a blessing, that the man wouldn’t pass to
the next world unsanctified.

Valeria watched him from her place against the wall. Swiping
the sweat from his face, he turned and eyed her warily. She’d just accepted the
mate bond again and now he’d had to kill a man right in front of her very eyes.
Would she understand that it had been necessary?

Their gazes locked and everyone else in the cave seemed to fade
away.

Her lips curved in a shaky smile. “Rui? Are you all right?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, forcing the words through the sandpaper
that seemed to be coating his throat. “That I had to kill him.”

“Oh, Rui—” She shook her head, eyes moist. “Don’t apologize for
that. You did what you had to do.”

Relief flooded Rui. She understood. He hated like hell having
had to kill Okeanos in front of her. But this was part of who he was—and if she
couldn’t accept that, the bond would never take.

He drew a deep breath and took the greatest gamble of his life.
“You don’t owe me anything,” he told her. “I release you from your promise, Valeria
da Costa. We all know it was forced from you. The choice to accept the mate bond
is yours.”

Her smile trembled. “Rui, I—” Then she looked past him, eyes
wide. “
Merry
.”

Several things happened at once: Jace cursed, Merry in her jaguar
form bounded across the floor to Valeria, and the air shimmered and Dion and Cleia
appeared in the cave.

Rui ignored everything to go to his two females. Valeria was
on her knees hugging Merry, laughing and crying at the same time, while Merry gave
excited yips.

Rui helped Valeria to a cushion. Now that the excitement was
over, he could tell she was hurting again.

“Careful,” he warned Merry. “Mama doesn’t feel good. You have
to be gentle with her.”

The cub nodded and settled next to Valeria. She gave a shudder
and Valeria stroked a hand down her knobby little spine. “I’m better now that you’re
here.”

Merry crept closer and carefully set her furry head on Valeria’s
knee. “Oh, sweetheart.” Valeria placed a hand on her head. “Mama’s so glad to see
you.” The little jaguar purred and butted her head against Valeria’s palm.

Cleia knelt down next to Rui. “I can help them now,” she said.

He glanced at Valeria, who nodded. He lightly touched her cheek
and rose to face Dion, who was scowling down at Okeanos.

With a shake of his head, he turned to Rui, taking in his bruises.
He quirked a brow. “Eliana told me you were in trouble, but it appears you’re
handling it.”

“Okeanos forced me into a mate-duel. But I would’ve killed him
anyway—the bastard drugged Valeria. He had some kind of dark-magic Gift that allowed
him to bind people.”

“Then you did all of us a favor,” his friend replied.

Other Rock Run warriors were pouring into the cavern by now with
Davi at their head. At a nod from Dion, they ranged themselves around the four surviving
members of Okeanos’s den.

Dion zeroed in on Jorge. “What the fuck is going on? Why are
you and Benny in Rock Run territory without checking in with me—and setting up your
own den from the looks of it?” he added with a glance around the cavern.

The former
tenente
’s lip curled. “Why should we check
in with you? As far as we’re concerned, you’re no longer our alpha. Okeanos was
right. Rock Run gets more like the humans every day—weak, easily led. Nothing but
pets for the fae. You’re a prime example.” He cut his eyes at Cleia.

“Maybe so, but I offered Okeanos the hospitality of the clan,
and he repaid me by kidnapping one of our own women—and her daughter. If that’s
what the old ways are like, I say the hell with them. Okeanos broke
tradição
,
the S.O.B. If Rui hadn’t killed him, I would’ve. As for you four, you’re dead.”

Jorge made a move toward Dion, but Davi had a knife pressed to
his throat before he could take one step. Jorge stilled.

“
Sim
,” Dion said, his smile cold. “We could end your lives
right now. But I have something even better in mind. My mate is queen over all the
seven sun fae clans—and the clan in Sudan could use some laborers.”

One of the sea fada blanched. “But that’s in the Sahara.”

“That’s right. And to make sure you stay, I’ll have your vow—or
you die right here. Swear it, all four of you. I want your oath that you’ll work
for the Sudanese sun fae for the rest of your lives.”

They stared back, breathing hard. No one spoke.

Rui almost felt sorry for them. If they gave their oaths, they’d
be bound to live out their lives in one of the hottest, driest places in the world—hell
on Earth for a water fada. Better a quick death than the long, drawn-out decline
from dehydration. But frankly, Dion was being merciful. If it were up to him, he’d
execute them right here.

The silence stretched until Dion jerked his chin at Davi. “Kill
them.”

“No,” Jorge burst out. He looked at the others. “We’ll take the
vow. But damn you to Hades, Dion.”

He went first. The other men reluctantly added their promise
to his, saying their true-names at Dion’s demand: Jorge Teles, Benny Escobar, Mys
Papadakis, Orius Nikolaidis.

Dion looked at Davi. “Get these scum out of here.”

“Where?”

“Take them to the boats and wait there. Cleia will send for someone
to get them.”

Cleia was already talking into a translucent golden bubble, explaining
the situation to her cousin, Lady Olivia. “Olivia will be there in ten minutes,”
she reported.

The warriors sprang into action, binding the four men’s hands
behind their backs and urging them roughly up the stairs. In a few minutes everyone
was gone save for Tiago and Jace—and the dryad, who had apparently entered the cave
behind Merry and was pressed against a wall, looking as if she’d like to burrow
into it.

Jace edged toward the stairs, but Dion stopped him with a look.
“You’re not going anywhere, earth shifter. We’re going to settle this today.”

Dion glanced at Cleia. “You’ll take care of this?” He indicated
Okeanos’s body.

When she said yes, he turned to Tiago.

Tiago nodded at him, a queer smile on his lips. “Hello.”

Dion stared back, his expression unreadable.

“Tiago was the one who told me Valeria was in trouble.” Rui spoke
quickly, before Dion did something he’d regret. “Okeanos kidnapped Valeria and Merry,
him and his so-called den. They gave Merry to the earth shifters and then brought
Valeria here. If not for Tiago, I wouldn’t have known they had her.
Deus
knows what they’d have done to her.” He dragged a hand over his face and realized
it was shaking.

“Is that so?” Dion was still gazing at his brother. “I’ll take
that into consideration. Meanwhile, Tiago can come with me while Cleia sees what
she can do for you and Valeria. I want to make sure those four are off my territory.”

Tiago ducked his head submissively and followed him up the stairs,
leaving Rui, Valeria, Jace and Merry in the cavern with Cleia and the dryad.

With a resigned shrug, Jace lowered himself onto a cushion across
the room.

Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, Rui’s injuries were
making themselves felt. The dark net had bruised his ribs, maybe even re-cracked
a couple of them, and the battle with Okeanos hadn’t helped. His jaw was swollen,
his lip split and he was having trouble putting weight on one of his knees.

Trying not to show how much he was hurting, he lowered himself
to the stone floor next to Valeria and Merry. He ruffled Merry’s fur but refrained
from touching Valeria for fear of making things worse. It was enough that he was
sitting next to her, close enough to feel the warmth of her body along his side.
Both animal and man needed this. To lend her his strength—and take back comfort
for himself.

Carefully, he stretched out his legs and leaned against the hard
stone. He ached in every bone of his body, but he’d heal. He wasn’t so sure about
Valeria. The back of her head rested against the wall and her eyes were closed,
her chest shuddering with each inhale and exhale as if even breathing were painful.

He sent the sun fae queen a pleading look. “She’s hurting, Cleia.
Can’t you do something? The S.O.B. drugged her.”

“Poor thing.” Cleia sent Valeria a compassionate look. “Give
me a minute and I’ll see what I can do.”

Kneeling down next to Okeanos, the queen set her hands on his
back. There was a white flash and Rui blinked, temporarily blinded. When he could
see again, the only thing left of the dead man were ashes sifting through the air
to rest on the stone floor. The queen spoke a blessing and then flicked her fingers
and even the ashes were gone.

“Back to the Mediterranean with you,” she murmured.

Rui watched with a grudging approval. All water fada, no matter
what their clan, desired a return to their own waters when they died. Let Okeanos’s
mortal remains mingle with the salty blue water of his native sea. It was up to
his maker to judge his soul.

Cleia was speaking to Valeria. “Oh, my dear. What did he do to
you?”

Valeria shook her head. “Not me—Merry.”

“She’s fine.” Cleia stroked a gentle hand down the cub’s knobby
little spine. “Aren’t you, sweetheart?”

Merry rumbled.

“You’re safe now,” Cleia told her. “No one will hurt you or take
you away from your mama ever again. Understand?”

Merry nodded.

Valeria’s gaze was on Cleia. “You…swear?”

“Absolutely.” The queen touched three fingers to her heart.
“Merry’s under my protection now. I’ll make certain everyone knows.”

“Thank you,” Valeria whispered. “I—”

“It’s the least I can do.” The two women looked at each other
for another moment and then Cleia gave a brisk nod. “Now let’s have a look at you.”

“Okeanos gave her an aphrodisiac,” Rui explained. “To increase
sensation. Careful—even the slightest touch is magnified. Pleasure
and
pain.”

“Stars.” Cleia shook her head in disgust. “It’s going to have
to work its way out of her system, but I can relieve some of the symptoms.”

She set her hands lightly on Valeria. Valeria shuddered, then
went still, enduring it. Rui flinched along with her. He suspected the drug was
at full strength now. He could only guess how it felt, streaming through her blood,
ratcheting up her pulse, stimulating her tiniest nerve endings so that even a touch
was painful.

She started to tremble, and he couldn’t bear it anymore. He put
his hand out, palm up. Valeria set her hand on top of his. He intertwined his fingers
with hers, offering what comfort he could. On the other side, Merry nuzzled Valeria’s
leg.