Cursed: Brides of the Kindred 13 (32 page)

“Ta’no is correct.” The Joined One’s faces spoke together this time “It would be a pity if he and Nar’sa were forced to take a punishment in order to relearn who they could trust and who is untrustworthy.”

Charlotte put a hand on her hip. “Ya know, for a place that promotes peace and love and togetherness, you’re pretty quick to point the finger and talk about punishing people.”

“We do what we must to ensure the continuation of J’lorgon’s Mind,” the male face said grimly.

“We must run it in a way that inspires unity and love—in a way that J’lorgon himself would have agreed with,” the female face said.

“And if we must punish interlopers or wrongdoers to make that possible, then we will do it, as distasteful or distressing as it may be to us personally,” the male face finished.

To Stavros it didn’t sound like the prospect of punishing people was either distasteful or distressing to the Joined One. In fact, from the look on their faces when Charlotte had been burned, he suspected they might rather
enjoy
it. But he held his tongue and kept that thought to himself—he and Charlotte were on thin ice as it was. Better not to arouse any more suspicion than they had already in the Joined One.

“Well if you feel they are ready for the second circle, then you must also feel you are ready to teach their next class,” the male face said now, speaking to Nar’sa and Ta’no.

“We do feel ready, Joined One,” Nar’sa said bowing again. “It is a simple class—guided meditation and spoken affirmation. I think Ta’no and I can manage it.”

“Indeed.” The female face of the Joined One smiled at her. “You are doing well my dear—we are quite proud of your progress. Soon, I am certain, the cleansing pool will see fit to begin your fusion of two into one.”

“We pray you are right, Joined One,” Ta’no said, bowing also. “It is our highest aspiration to achieve the same kind of union you have mastered.”

From the corner of his eye, Stavros saw Charlotte shiver but she kept her mouth closed. Clearly she was repulsed by the idea of their two counselors becoming one being, like the Joined One in front of them. He had to confess the idea didn’t appeal to him either. No matter how much you might love someone, would you really want to be physically joined to them for life?

“Well then, carry on. We will be checking on your progress with these two periodically,” the Joined One said to Nar’sa and Ta’no.

They both bowed deeply again and murmured, “Yes, Joined One.”

The Joined One turned and moved away down the corridor. Then Nar’sa turned to Stav and Charlotte. “Well, are you prepared to be granted access to the second holy circle? All you have to do is press your palm to the panel.” She tapped what seemed to be a coded sequence on the silver panel with her fingertips. “Now.”

“Um…” Charlotte stepped back, flexing the hand which had been burned by the panel earlier. Stavros could still feel the echo of her pain in his own palm.

“I will go first,” he said, stepping forward. “The Joined One made a point by burning Charlotte earlier. That is why she is reluctant.”

“Oh, I see.” Nar’sa’s eyes widened. “We wondered why the alarm was set off.”

“That’s why,” Stav said shortly. “Should I touch it now?”

“Yes, you have both been granted access,” Ta’no said. He looked at Charlotte. “We are regretful that the Joined One felt it necessary to teach you in such a fashion. We prefer not to use pain in our own lessons.”

“Well maybe that particular Joined One is a sadist,” Charlotte muttered.

“Hush.” Nar’sa looked alarmed. “You must not speak so of Ye’ha’Na’ho.”

“Who?” Stav asked, stepping closer to the panel. “Is that its name?”

“It is.” Ta’no nodded. “Ye’ha’Na’ho is ancient—they were the original disciples of J’lorgan himself. When he was first establishing this resort, they were young and unjoined—at the same stage that Nar’sa and I are now.”

“That was hundreds of cycles ago,” his mate continued for him. “After J’lorgan passed over to the other side of existence, they took over. Their wisdom is vast.”

“If you say so,” Charlotte muttered. “But I still say they’re sadists.” She looked at Stav. “Are you going to touch the panel or do you want me to?”

“I will.” Bracing himself for a burn, he pressed his palm cautiously to the panel. At first nothing happened, then his hand was outlined in green light and a small chime sounded from inside the door.

“Good, good.” Nar’sa nodded at Charlotte encouragingly. “Now you, my dear.”

“All right.” Lifting her chin, Charlotte pressed her palm fearlessly to the panel which had burned her earlier. The relief on her face when it lit green and chimed softly instead of delivering another painful burn was evident.

“Good,” Ta’no said approvingly. “And now…” He and Nar’sa both pressed their palms to the panel at the same time and the purple door slid silently open.

“Welcome,” Nar’sa said softly, “To the second circle—the Circle of Discovery.”

Chapter Twenty-two

Charlie wasn’t sure what reaction she was supposed to show. It wasn’t like the sight that greeted their eyes behind the purple door was wild or amazing or wonderful in any way. In fact, as far as she could see the long metal corridor on the other side of the door looked exactly the same as the one they were currently standing in. Except…was the lighting in the other corridor somewhat…pinker? But other than that…nothing.

“Um…wow,” she said, trying to sound enthusiastic. Stavros was more direct.

“I do not see much difference,” he said flatly. “Except that the lighting in the far corridor seems to be tinged with pink.”

“You will
feel
the difference,” Ta’no assured them. “Here, step across the threshold with us.”

He and Nar’sa stepped through the doorway and waited.

Charlie shot a look at the big Kindred. He shrugged.
What have we got to lose?
the gesture seemed to say. Charlie nodded and they stepped through together.

She waited to feel different but still…nothing.

“Uh…” She looked at Nar’sa. “I don’t feel anything at all.”

“It is subtle, my dear. We are still far from the Heart of Love but as we move closer and further into this circle, you will feel yourselves opening to each other—unfolding like flowers to reveal your most cherished secrets.”

“If you say so,” Charlie said dubiously. “So where is our class being held? The guided meditation thing.”

“Here.” Turning off the main corridor, Ta’no took them down a short hallway that ended in a dark pink doorway. It slid aside to reveal a small room with a raised platform on one end. The platform was perfectly round and about the size of a king sized bed. It had a red furry covering on it that looked to Charlie like something an old fashioned Bond villain might have in his evil sex lair.

“What’s
that?”
she asked, stepping into the room.

“The truth-saying couch,” Nar’sa said. “Come, you and your mate must come and sit on it together.”

Charlie looked up at Stavros who shrugged again. Together they walked over and sat on the round, furry circular platform.

“Whoa!” Charlie gasped as it rippled under them. “It’s like sitting on a water bed!”

“It’s very…strange,” Stavros agreed.

“Get settled, one on either side, facing each other,” Ta’no instructed.

Charlie did as he said, trying to arrange her white robes modestly. Not that there could be much modesty with the nearly see-through white fabric but still, she tried. Stavros, who was wearing his Pharaoh-skirt again, did the same.

“Good,” Nar’sa said. “Now look into each other’s eyes.”

Charlie felt a little uncomfortable about this. When she’d heard the class was called “guided meditation” she’d thought it was going to be a piece of cake—probably just closing their eyes and saying “Ommmm” a lot while Nar’sa talked about beautiful meadows and serene mountaintops. But now, right off the bat, they were being asked to make prolonged and intimate eye contact. That was going to be embarrassing, especially considering what had happened between herself and her partner last night.

Stavros also seemed to be made uncomfortable by the order.

“I thought this class was supposed to be about meditation,” he said, not meeting Charlie’s eyes.

“It is…in part. It is guided meditation and spoken affirmation. And what better meditation could you have than to look into the eyes of your lover and soul mate?” Nar’sa said softly. “Come now—do not be worried or ashamed. Simply look into each other’s eyes and let yourselves
be.”

Charlie took a deep breath and looked up at the big Kindred who still wasn’t meeting her eyes.
Okay, it’s still better than being told to touch each other in some awkward, sexual way. We can do this—we
have
to do this.

“C’mon, Stav,” she said, under her breath. “Look at me. We don’t want to get demoted back to the first circle, right?”

“I suppose not,” he growled. “All right.” Slowly, he raised his eyes to look into hers.

Just pretend it’s some kind of scientific exercise,
Charlie told herself.
Analyze the exact shade of blue of his eyes. Count the flecks of silver and look at the pattern around the edge of the iris. Look at his eyelashes—they’re so long for a man. An auburn so dark it’s almost black. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that shade before…

But though she tried to stare at Stavros as though he was nothing more than a scientific specimen, she couldn’t stop the feelings that came over her as she looked into his eyes—couldn’t keep herself detached. Looking at him like this, into those deep indigo eyes, she could feel her heartbeat quicken and her pulse begin to race. He was looking at her so
intensely
, as though he could see into her soul and she could smell that warm, spicy fragrance that seemed to be his natural scent rising between them. Suddenly, with no thought or planning on her part, she began to talk.

“God, your eyes are so beautiful,” she heard herself saying. “I’ve never seen a shade of blue like that—it reminds me of the color of the sky when the sun is going down and its almost completely dark but not quite. It’s—” She clapped a hand over her mouth and looked at Nar’sa. “What’s going on? I didn’t mean to say all that!”

“Your thoughts and feelings are coming to the surface—good, good.” Nar’sa nodded approvingly and Ta’no echoed her gesture. “Go on.”

“Go on?” Charlie exclaimed. “But I didn’t
mean
to say any of that in the first place? I—”

“Charlotte…” Stavros’s deep voice sounded strained, as though he was speaking against his will. “I find you…most beautiful. In fact, you are the most desirable female I have ever seen.”

“What? Really?” Charlie couldn’t help asking. “Or are you just saying that?”

“He is speaking only the truth from the bottom of his heart,” Nar’sa assured her. “He cannot help it.”

“But
why
can’t he help it?” Charlie demanded, looking at Stavros. At once she started speaking to him again. “I love how broad your shoulders are,” she heard herself saying. “And you hair is amazing—I love the way it feels between my fingers when I brush it. Not to mention your
ass
. Oh my God!” She turned back to Nar’sa. “Make it stop!”

“There is not stopping once you are seated together on the truth-saying couch,” Ta’no said. “You are compelled to speak the truth and tell your innermost feelings and thoughts.”

“The hell I will!” Charlie snarled. She turned back to her partner. “Stavros, we have to…have to…” She struggled with her mouth, her brain wanting to form certain words while her tongue seemed intent on saying something else entirely. “Rubbing against you last night was the most erotic experience of my life,” she said, unable to stop herself. “It was seriously the best sex I’ve had in years—the
only
sex I’ve had in years. I haven’t been with anyone for a long time. I don’t trust men—especially not Kindred men. Not after what happened to my…my…”

She turned away from him quickly, barely managing to stop. The blood was rushing to her cheeks and her heart was galloping.
Oh my God, this is mortifying! I have to make this stop! But how? I—

“Charlotte,” he said in a low voice, drawing her eyes back to him. “I think we should…Just looking at you makes my cock hard and my fangs ache. The fact that you were willing to take blood from me and to bite me here, where my mark is most visible…” He touched the already mostly-healed bite mark on the side of his neck. “Makes me feel weak inside with need for you. I cannot…I cannot…” He tore his eyes away. “I should
not
be
saying
these things!” he growled.

“Yes, you should,” Nar’sa urged gently. “It is good to tell your mate what you truly feel for them. In fact, now it is time to move on to the spoken affirmation part of our class.”

“
What
?” Charlie demanded. “What have we been doing if not ‘spoken affirmation?’ I mean, what else would you call me telling Stav that I think his ass is hot?” She motioned at him, feeling her cheeks get warm at the embarrassing confession.