Crystal Fire (11 page)

''Marissa. Sweet femina. What is it?"

"I-I can't," she wept. "Please . . . don't m-make me."

He cradled her face in his two large hands, smoothing away the tears with gentle swipes of his thumbs. "Hush, femina," he soothed. "I won't make you. You know that. I'd never do anything to hurt you."

Brace pulled Marissa to him, gathering her up to carry her to the bed. Tenderly he laid her down and lowered himself beside her, cradling Marissa's tremor-wracked form next to his, fiercely quenching the fires that still raged within his own body. Fires that burned for her, stirring needs that, for a time more, must remain unrequited. As the nocte crept on, through starlit blackness to graying sol rise, Brace remained with her, soothing away her tears, softly murmuring her name.

Marissa opened her tear-swollen eyes to gaze upon a glorious sol. Sun streamed in through the window to puddle in golden brilliance on the floor. An awareness of the city, already awake and bustling, grew with each staccato burst of sound. She moved, arching like some feline in a languorous stretchand felt a body next to hers. Marissa froze.

Memories of last nocte, of hot desire and fevered caresses, rose to mingle and then clash with the shameful recollection of her tears. She'd never allowed herself such an indulgence since that sol of her banishment. Not even all the times she'd suffered deprivation or injury, not even when she'd learned of Candra's abduction. Yet, last nocte, in the arms of a male no less, they'd flowed with the most disconcerting ease.

Had it happened because she'd pent them up so tightly all these cycles? Or was the cause more insidious, and due to the seductive powers of a male over a female?

Marissa turned toward Brace, determined to confront him and conquer at last the debilitating doubts. He slept on, relaxed and unguarded in his slumber. In spite of her resolve to remain indifferent, Marissa's heart softened.

She lifted a hand to his face and, with a gentle fingertip, examined him. The bruises had all but faded. The swelling had disappeared. His features were once again etched in sharp, striking relief.

There was an arrogant jut to his finely chiseled chin and jaw. His well-shaped lips were full and sensual. A hard, ruthless face to be sure, aggressively virile and, Marissa admitted with a small shiver, outrageously handsome as well.

Why hadn't she noticed that before? Had she been too engrossed with the demands of her quest, or had she managed to deny the disturbing realization until now?

Yet another memory insinuated itself into her mind. Brace, holding her last nocte in the strong embrace of his arms. The warmth of his powerful body, the soothing sound of his voice as he endlessly murmured her name. She'd felt so safe, so comfortedso very wanted.

Fear shuddered through Marissa. Brace Ardane's growing effect upon her was more than she'd ever bargained for, an effect that would surely only increase with time and close contact. After last nocte, she'd be blind as well as stupid not to realize that.

And now there was the added burden of forcing him to come along on the quest. There was no other recourse. When her tears had ended their lovemaking, she had failed to pay his price.

Well, she could always sedate him into submission, Marissa consoled herself. She'd search out those drugs this very morn. In the meanwhile, she would shield her heart against himuntil the sol she led him to his doom.

Hot tears once again filled her eyes. Angrily Marissa wiped them away. No more. No more! She rolled off the bed and strode to the window.

The narrow, winding streets and alleyways of the ancient city of Tutela spread out before her, crowded with throngs of people going about their business. Below her, shops, filled to overflowing with exotic wares from all over the Imperium, burst with colorful variety. The trading at each was fierce and heavy.

Tutela, Marissa mused, remembering a girlhood lesson on the video tutor, was one of the Imperium's major crossroad cities with its famous trade center and large transport station. A transport station she must soon use, once she'd ascertained Ferox's whereabouts.

Again Marissa turned inward, opening herself to any sound, any stirringand called to Candra. As before, there was no reply.

Frustration welled within. How, by all that was sacred, was she to track her sister's abductor if Candra refused to help? Did Candra think to protect
her
, by preventing Marissa from finding Ferox? If so, her sister was a fool.

With a sigh, Marissa walked to the bed and shook Brace awake. He cocked open one sleepy eye.

"Get up," she ordered. "We've work to do and the sol's half gone."

Marissa turned and went to pack their bag of supplies. Behind her, she heard Brace rise from the bed and move toward her. She tensed.

"Marissa," he rasped in a sleep-thickened voice, his hands clasping her shoulders. "About last nocte."

She jerked free of his hold and whirled about. "II don't want to talk about last nocte. You said you were leaving me, and that's that!"

Brace shook his head. "No, it isn't. I learned some disturbing things last noctenot only down in the tavern, but up here as well. Before I make any final decisions regarding your quest, we need to take a short detour to Aranea." "Aranea?" Marissa's eyes narrowed. "Why this sudden change of heart? Surely our brief interlude last nocte wasn't enough to satisfy you. And it certainly won't ever happen again!"

His gaze dipped to the rounded fullness of her breasts, jutting softly against her sleep-rumpled tunic, then back to her face. Gods, for a fleeting moment when he'd wakened he'd thought last nocte but a dreamsweet, hot, and oh, so thrilling. Thrilling, in the surprising ardor of Marissa's response.

She had stirred him as no other woman had done, with her vulnerability, her courage, her fire. And, as he held Marissa last nocte, Brace had known, with a piercingly sweet insight, that he had to have her.

"Are you so certain of that, femina?" he asked softly. "Do you deny your response to me?"

His heated glance ignited a river of molten excitement that coursed through Marissa's body. Hot color flushed her cheeks.

"No, I don't deny it," she gritted out the admission, "but I meant what I said. It won't happen again!"

"What are you so afraid of, sweet femina? I meant you no harm, only pleasurefor the both of us." Brace took a step toward her." Let me show you, finish what we began last nocte."

"No!"

Marissa backed away. The fight ebbed from her in one debilitating rush. If he should press his advantage just now . . .

"No. I can't bear any more. Please, just let it be."

Brace studied her for a long, impassive moment, then sighed. "Have it your wayfor the time being. But mark my words, Marissa. This is not settled between us."

"Fine," she agreed nervously. "But, for the time being, there are matters of greater import to deal with. And I ask you again. What made you change your mind?"

"It appears my brother is alive and somehow involved in the recent rescue, then second theft, of the Knowing Crystal. And it seems Ferox is involved as well. That's why we must journey to Aranea to learn more."

"Aranea, the spider planet?" Marissa's brow wrinkled in puzzlement. "Is Ferox to be found there?"

"I don't know. But my brother is, and I must first seek him out."

She shook her head. "Later. There's no time for side trips while my sister's life hangs in the balance."

"And I say we must first seek out Teran. He's sure to have knowledge of Ferox. Listen to reason, Marissa. I do not ask this lightly."

"You do nothing lightly, do you," she stormed, "except when it comes to giving your word? How do I know this isn't just another one of your tricks? Curse you, Brace Ardane, I'm sick of your games!" "And what are my games compared to yours, Marissa?" he countered, a dark, dangerous glint in his eyes. "Part of that game, though you've yet to share it, includes me, doesn't it? Do you think me so stupid I haven't figured that out yet?

"That's exactly why you'll come with me to Aranea, isn't it?" Brace ground out in sudden, triumphant realization. "Because you need meand only mefor this precious quest of yours!"

He pulled her to him. "It's true, isn't it, Marissa?"

"You're mad!" she snapped. "I told you before. It's your warrior's skills"

"Little liar," he cut her off huskily. "You're not very good at lying, either."

Brace motioned toward the bag she'd laid aside. "Get on with your packing. We leave for Aranea within the hora."

She glowered at him for a long moment, then walked back to her bag. She had no choice. If Aranea was where Brace wanted to go, she must follow. But if he asked for one more thing . . .

"And what of your friend Rodac?" Marissa shot over her shoulder. "Where is he?"

Brace grinned in sudden remembrance. "Still sleeping off his Moracan ale in some tree, I'd wager. I'll fetch him while you finish packing. Meet us at the transport station in a half hora." "We'd do better to leave him behind. I fear your trust in that alien is sadly misplaced."

Brace chuckled. "As yours is in me, sweet femina?"

Marissa quashed the momentary surge of exasperationand guilt. "Yes, most assuredly, Brace Ardane. Most assuredly."

The transport technician pocketed the transport fee and shoved the power lever forward on the control panel. Multicolored lights flashed on the console. A buzzing pervaded the room as Marissa, Brace, and Rodac faded slowly from view.

The last sight Marissa had was of Brace, one corner of his mouth twisted in a devilish smile. He was baiting her again, she thought, but this time she sensed it was to take her mind off the transport process. Wanly Marissa returned his smile, but it was already too late. Brace was gone.

She followed quickly, her mind whirling chaotically through the dark, sharp coldness of space. Marissa felt splintered, her soul torn from her body. The buzzing softened to an undulating hum, then rose in volume until the pulsations reverberated through her skull. By the Crystal Fires, the pain!

A moment later it was over. They materialized in a transport chamber in the Aranean capital, and quickly departed the station. It was twilight in Araneum. Swathed in dark cloaks, the hoods pulled low to hide their faces, Brace, Marissa, and Rodac made their stealthy way toward the royal palace where the Queen and, hopefully, Teran, would be found.

The palace was huge. Combined with the extreme care required to evade the guardbots prowling the halls, it was several horas before they discovered the sleeping chambers. They crept into each one until, by process of elimination, they found the Queen's. Two ladies-in-waiting snored loudly in the antechamber. In the cacophony, it was an easy task to slip past them.

Queen Alia slept alone in a huge bed, her breathing the deep slumber of drugs. Her auburn hair was a riotous tumble about her, her beautiful features pale and marred by an ugly bruise on one side of her face. A slender forearm peeked from beneath the covers, a bandage covering the limb from wrist to elbow.

Standing over her, Brace frowned. Where was Teran, her reported lover, and what exactly had happened to injure the Queen? An uneasy presentiment snaked about his heart. Things were fast becoming too complex.

He stifled an impulse to waken the sleeping woman and ask where Teran was. The possibility that this was all some elaborate plot to recapture him must still be considered. Brace signaled his companions out of the room and into the shadowed corridor.

Marissa drew close. "What next? Must we search every closet and corner in this cursed palace before you're finally satisfied? Your brother isn't here!"

"Yes,
every
closet and corner, if that's what it takes," he whispered back. "I know he's here. I can feel it."

"So, now you're psychic as well," Marissa grumbled, but allowed Brace to take her arm and lead her down the hall.

The nocte had pinkened to sol rise before they finally found Teran, in a book-lined library, slumped over an open volume and sound asleep. Brace stood for the longest time gazing down at his brother.

At the loving expression on his face, tears once again stung Marissa's eyes. She quickly blinked them back. The visible manifestation of the depth of Brace's love moved her as no realization of his terrible sacrifice the past two cycles ever had. And at that moment she knew, though he uttered not a word, that Brace felt it had all been worth it.

Would she feel the same once Candra was safe again? Would the terrible price she'd ultimately pay be found worth it at that moment of their reunion? It had to. It just had to.

Brace moved to his brother's side and hesitantly touched his shoulder. "Teran," he rasped. "Wake up."

Teran mumbled something unintelligible, then lifted his head to slowly take in the trio standing there. They gazed back silently.

Joy flared in Teran's gray eyes. A broad smile spread across his handsome, bearded facea face several cycles older than Brace's but so reassuringly similar. Marissa couldn't help but smile in return.

''Brace," Teran whispered, his gaze riveted on the tall man standing beside him. "Is it really you, little brother?"

"Yes, Teran. It is I."

With a low cry, Teran was out of his chair and clasping Brace to him. "Thank the Crystal you're well! I tried to find you, but they said you'd escaped. I didn't know where to look after that."

"Well, I dared not advertise my whereabouts," Brace muttered dryly. "Uncle Falkan had half of Bellator out looking for me."

"That's all over, Brace. You're a free man."

Brace gave a bitter laugh. "Somehow even that doesn't make things right. I don't know if I can ever forgive him for what he did to us." He paused. "And Vates. How is Vates?"

A bleak look flared in Teran's eyes. "Our old teacher died on Carcer."

"By the five moons!" Scorching anger emanated from every pore of Brace's body. "Yet another evil deed to thank the King for! Curse his narrow-minded, righteous old hide!"

"The loss of the Knowing Crystal has twisted us all, in one way or another."

"Not
all
of us," Brace snapped savagely. "There was no wiser, nor kinder, nor gentler man than Vates. He was our friend and fatherthe only one we ever truly knew. He didn't deserve to die on Carcer!" Teran sighed. "No, he didn't and I mourn him still. But he felt the sacrifice was worth it, in this battle to regain the hearts and minds of all the people. And that battle is now ours."