Forest of Demons (23 page)

Aryan grabbed her upper arms, pushing her back slightly. She winced. He froze, slowly uncurling his fingers from her flesh. What he saw underneath brought a red haze of fury to his vision.

“He did this?” He indicated the dark bruises on her skin. “I’m going to kill him!” He pushed her aside, his fists aching to sink into Fen’s face.

Valasea grabbed at him, trying to pull him back. “Aryan, please. You can’t say anything. It’ll make things worse.”

Frack! She was right. He couldn’t act, not without alerting Fen to the affair. He was impotent, useless! He slammed his fist against the rock, relishing the resulting pain.

“Aryan!”

Fen had laid his hands on her, hurt her, and he could do nothing. But she was here now. She belonged to him in every way that mattered. He had her heart, and she had claimed his. She
was
his.

He turned to her, pulling her against him, taking her mouth in a desperate kiss. He pushed her to the ground, tearing at her robe. His vision tunnelling until he saw only her. Her lips, her eyes, her breasts, her nails raking across his skin, there was nothing and no one else, and when his seed erupted inside her, he knew he was home.

“I saw your ama today,” Mia said, handing him a mug of spiced milk.

“How is she? Is she looking forward to our visit tomorrow?”

Mia winced. “Actually she has plans.”

Aryan froze, the mug partway to his lips. “Plans?”

Mia giggled. “Oh my love, if only I had a looking glass at hand so I could show you your face.”

Aryan frowned, returning the mug to the table. “What plans?”

“Well, she seems to have made some new friends among the Transition community, other females such as herself who have lost their life-mates to the eternal flame. They play cards and games, bring food.” She shrugged. “I think it’s sweet.”

“But . . . she hasn’t seen me for weeks!”

Mia frowned. “Well maybe you should make the effort to see her more often.”

How dare she suggest that he was neglecting his ama? He was a good son, he did his best but he had duties, rotation and . . . Valasea. His anger evaporated. Maybe Mia was right. Maybe he had been negligent.

He exhaled softly. “You’re right of course. I’ll go see her before I go to The Tap.”

“Good, and don’t be too late home.”

“Why?”

Mia flinched as if he had struck her. “Well if you can’t think of a reason to come home then I’m obviously not being a very good life-mate.” The words were delivered like a slap.

Aryan stared at her in shock. Mia never snapped. The only time she’d snapped at him was when . . . his face broke into a grin.

Mia glared at him, hands on hips. “What’s so funny?”

“You. Come here.” He held out his arms, and she looked at them warily. “Come on.” He wiggled his fingers. She pouted and capitulated, slipping into his arms and onto his lap.

He cradled her to him and whispered in her ear. “I think I would like a daughter this time.”

Mia tensed and then squealed with delight. “You do? Really?”

He nodded against her hair, turning his head to place his lips to her temple. “I do. I’m sorry for last time.”

She curled against him, her slight frame so different from Valasea’s powerful one, vibrating with happiness. He felt answering warmth spread through his abdomen, and in that moment he was truly happy.

Aryan dropped by to find Ama entertaining friends. She proudly introduced him to the females in her group and even invited him to join them, but he politely declined. She kissed his cheek at the door and held him tight.

“I’m glad you’re all right, Ama,” Aryan said.

Ama smiled sadly. “It passes the time until I can be with your da again.”

“Don’t say that. You have time. Enjoy it. Besides, you’re to be a grandama again soon.”

Ama’s eyes lit up, she clapped her hands together. “Oh, my sweet boy, you have no idea how happy you have made me!”

He left her to spread the news among her friends and made his way to the Tap. Bojan was waiting for him. The warrior had been insistent he not be late.

He found Bojan seated in the darkest corner of the Tap. The blubber lamp had burned low, and he could barely make out the warriors features.

“What are you doing sitting in the dark?” Aryan asked.

“Trying not to be seen.”

Aryan slid onto the bench opposite him. “So what did you want to speak to me about?”

“In a moment. I’m waiting on someone.”

Aryan sat back and crossed his arms. Bojan looked worried, his eyes shifty in the shadows.

“Help yourself to the brew.” Bojan pushed a jug toward him. There was no mug, so Aryan swigged direct from the jug.

It hit the spot just right. He sighed in contentment.

“Who are we waiting for?” he asked.

“No one,” Bojan said, “because he’s here.”

A man slipped onto the bench beside Bojan. He looked vaguely familiar.

“This your chief?” he asked Bojan.

“Yes. Tell him what you told me.”

The man nodded. “All right, but you didn’t hear it from me all right?” He fixed his eyes on Aryan and waited.

Aryan frowned, what was he waiting for?

Bojan kicked him under the table.

“What?”

The man leaned in. “Your word as a warrior.”

Oh. “Yes, of course. My word, I didn’t hear anything from you.”

The man nodded, satisfied. “They got the reserves in the tunnels now, working the rock. Word is there is no blue fluid. They’re coming up empty. The black rock’s scarce too. I heard Marduk talking to The Voice the other day when I was managing the tunnel workers.”

“Wait. The Voice was at the tunnels?”

“That’s what I just said. He was there, I heard him. Marduk said it was over. No more fuel. He said The City was living on its last breath. He said that conquest would be the only way to save Borea.”

“That can’t be. How can they keep that from us?”

Bojan held up his hand. “Wait, there’s more.” He nodded at the man, urging him to continue.

“Bojan said you saw the monster . . . in the forest? Well you’re not the only ones. My Hand, we lost two men to that thing a few moons ago and Marduk wouldn’t listen to a word we said. I tell you, this whole thing stinks!”

“We need to keep this between us for now,” Bojan said. “If Marduk finds out we know, who knows what he might do. He’s gone to great lengths to keep this from the citizens.”

And what would happen if they found out? Panic, that’s what. Marduk was infuriating at the best of times, but now Aryan understood his dismissive attitude had been a cover. He already knew about the problem and, was working to overcome them best he could.

“Conquest is the name of the new fleet. Do you know about that?” Aryan asked the man.

He shook his head. “No. Marduk mentioning it was the first I’d heard of it.”

“So we wait. Marduk will have a plan, and when he reveals it we do all we can to help.”

The man bid them farewell and slunk out of The Tap.

Bojan sipped from his mug before turning up the lamp to casting a cheery glow of light around them. “Have you seen Hera today?”

“No. Cadoc said he would check on her and Victor.”

“It’s been days, and we still haven’t been assigned a replacement.”

“If things are as bad as your friend says then maybe we won’t be getting one. Maybe we’ll be shipped off on this Conquest fleet sooner than we think.”

They drank in silence for a while.

“How’s Mia?”

“Good. She’s carrying.”

Bojan perked up. “That’s wonderful news. I’m glad.” He reached out to pat Aryan’s shoulder. “I’m glad our talk helped.”

What was he talking about?

Bojan’s smile faded. “You’re still seeing her aren’t you?”

Frack!

“How can you do this? Bring a child into the world when your heart is divided? It’s wrong!”

Aryan drained his jug. “My personal life is none of your business.” He swung his legs over the bench and made to stand, almost crashing into Fen.

How long had he been standing there?

“You’re leaving? I just got here. Come on, stay for one more.” Fen slapped a hand on his shoulder, pressing him back into his seat.

Aryan caught Bojan’s worried frown before he wiped it.

Fen raised his hand. “Emille! Another jug please!”

Aryan stared at the table, confused. Had Fen heard them talking or not? Rotation today had been strained. Aryan had been unable to wipe the image of Valasea’s bruises from his mind, and his words had been delivered more sharply when aimed at Fen.

Emille slapped another jug and two mugs on the table.

Fen filled the mugs. “You looking forward to your respite day?”

Aryan took the proffered mug. “Yes. You?”

“Very much, now that Valasea and I have resolved our differences. We had a talk.” He gulped his brew, wiping his mouth with back of his hand. “We have an understanding.” He pinned Aryan with his icy blue eyes, and for the first time Aryan saw a grown man staring back at him, a grown man filled with menace and knowledge.

He raised his own mug and took a swig. “Good to hear.” He drained it and set it down. “Well, I promised Mia I would be home early, so enjoy your brew, brothers.” Aryan swung his legs over the bench and stood, stretching to his full height. He looked down his nose at Fen, ignoring Bojan’s warning glare. “Females are such delicate things, their feelings bruise so easily.”

He studied Fen’s face as he spoke, expecting to see a flash of guilt, some sign of awareness, but the male didn’t even flinch.

Aryan snorted. Shaking his head, he turned to leave.

“May we meet again.” Fen called after him.

He entered his home to the smell of freshly baked bread. His irritation with Fen, and his longing for Valasea instantly melted. This was the scent of home.

In the family room he smiled at the neatly set table—two plates and two mugs, and a jug of what looked suspiciously like Red Brew.

“Mia?” he wandered into the bedchamber and lost his smile in a frown. It was empty. Where was she?

The door slammed. He hurried back into the family room. “Mia?”

She was standing, arms braced on the table, head hanging between her shoulders. At the sound of her name she raised her head to look at him with red-rimmed eyes.

“Mia? What’s happened?” He took a stride bringing him to her side.

She shivered under his touch, turning into him, clutching at him with desperate fingers.

He was suddenly afraid. “Mia, please talk to me.” He pushed at her shoulders forcing her away, forcing her to look at him. The devastation in her eyes tore at his chest.

She spoke through trembling lips. “Take off your furs.”

“What?”

“Just . . . just take them off, please Aryan.”

Aryan blinked in confusion, but moved to do as she had asked. He shrugged out of his furs holding them at his side.

“Now, turn around.”

“Turn around? Why?”

Her eyes warned of a storm.

He showed her his back, and it was at the exact moment that she cried out in anguish that he remembered Valasea raking his back in a fit of passion, but how had Mia known? How . . . Valasea!

He slipped back into his furs and turned to face his life-mate, watched the storm breaking across her face. Watched her fall to the floor, hands clutching her heart as if to try and piece it back together.

“I’m sorry.”

He left her there, sobbing over her broken heart, and went to confront the woman who had helped break it.

She was waiting for him at the baths, her usual neatly styled hair a dishevelled mess, her eyes frantic. She was pacing when he entered and flew at him clutching at his furs.

“I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”

He grasped her hands, pushing her away in disgust. “An accident? So, explain to me how you accidentally revealed to my wife that I was fucking you?”

Valasea reared back as if he had struck her. Her sharp cheeks flushing red. “We met at the mill, I was picking up groceries, and she was in the queue. She approached me, and started to talk to me. She spoke of how in love you both were, and how happy you were. Then she told me . . . she told me that she was carrying again.” Valasea’s eyes filled with tears, her chin quivered. “How could you Aryan. How could you give her a child when she already has you? I should be the one carrying that child, not her!”

“So you told her?”

Valasea averted her eyes. “I was angry, furious, I didn’t think.”

“What did you say?”

“I told her that if things were so perfect then her life-mate would not be sporting another female’s mark on his back.”

He experienced a wave of anger on Mia’s behalf. It pulsed steadily at the base of his throat. He couldn’t imagine how Valasea’s words must have stung.

Valasea rushed toward him again, her hands held out imploringly. “I’m sorry. Please, you have to believe me.”

Aryan pushed her away, his lip curling. “This should never have gone this far.”

The air went still. Her face crumpled and Aryan’s softened. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then what did you mean?” She pulled aside her robe exposing fresh bruises. “This is what I have been dealing with. Fen knows, he knows, and he punishes me every day for it. I can’t take it anymore, please Aryan, you say you love me then prove it. Let’s go, let’s run away.”

Run away? He couldn’t run away. He had Mia and his child to think of, he had to fix things with Mia, and in that moment, he realized that love had never factored into what he had with Valasea. He loved Mia. He had wounded his life-mate, but he would spend the rest of his days earning her forgiveness and trust.

Valasea was staring at him expectantly. He realized that he would need to tread carefully. Valasea had nothing to lose. She didn’t love Fen, and there was no doubt in his mind that she had deliberately exposed their secret to Mia. She had him bound as tight as a spider in its web. He would have to extricate himself cautiously.

“There is nowhere to run, Valasea. The outside is cruel and barren. We would not survive for long.”

“Then let’s take the ship. Let’s steal the ship and go!”