In the Beginning... (50 page)

“He may be my brother, but he had no right
to take you against your will. No man of any species, or Kind,
does.”

“It wasn’t against my will. Not really. Not
at first, I don’t think. I thought…”

Mallory understood the girl’s confusion.
She’d felt nothing but confusion since the moment she’d met Aodhan.
“Go on. You thought?”

Jierra’s cheeks flamed. “I
thought that he was my
Rajni
and because of that he would at least care about
me a little.”

Mallory stopped walking and grabbed the
younger woman’s arm. “Jierra, did Rand force you to have sex with
him?”

“No. I wanted to be with
him. Wanted my first time to be with my
Rajni
. Or…who I thought was my
Rajni
.” Jierra sighed,
then wrapped her arms around herself. “But…it wasn’t very good. Oh,
goddess! I’m sorry! He’s your brother and I just said…”

Mallory laughed, then wrapped an arm around
Jierra’s shoulders as they started walking again. “It’s ok. So…it
wasn’t very good, then? Rand always acts like he’s a damned stud
with women. Very annoying, let me tell you.”

“No. It was too quick, and he acted like I
wasn’t even there.” Jierra’s confusion colored her words.

“Oh.”

“Everyone has said that when
you meet your
Rajni
and you sleep with him for the first time it’s supposed to be
wonderful. That it’s everything you were waiting for. I guess I am
just unlucky. Your brother scares me. He said…he said he would take
my babes away from me if I didn’t go with him when he
leaves.”

Mallory let out a squeak. “Babies?”

“Yes. Mother said that a Lupoiux mating
always results in babes. And she checked. I have two babes growing
inside me now.” Jierra laughed, a slightly wild, terrified sound.
“And that they come early. At twenty-one weeks. But…I know that no
Dardaptoan has ever had twins and lived. If I die, what will happen
to my babes? Out there. Wherever it is he would take them?”

Aodhan’s explanation of Jierra’s past hit
Mallory. If Jierra was pregnant, the other woman would not want her
children raised amongst the Taniss family. That would be a horrible
fear for Jierra. She wrapped her arms around the girl before she
thought. Only a few years separated them in age, but Jierra was one
of those women who brought out others’ protective instincts.
Mallory was no exception. And Jierra possibly carried her first
niece or nephew. That held considerable weight for Mallory.
“Nothing. Nothing will happen to your babies. I promise you this.
They will stay right here, with your mother and uncle. And Mickey
and Josey. We’ll keep them safe. I promise.”

Jierra hugged her back, surprising Mallory.
“I was so frightened. I knew he was a wolf. Just like those who
hurt Josey. I didn’t know he was a Taniss until Rathan came and
said so. But why does he hate me so much?”

“I don’t know.” But she would ask him. “Come
on. Let’s go find Aodhan. I need to see him, and you’ll feel better
seeing Kindara.”

As they walked the rest of the way to the
Green Room, Mallory made a silent vow. Whatever happened in the
next few months, she would not be abandoning Jierra to Rand. Not
when Jierra was so obviously terrified of him.

And if there were
babies
which Mallory seriously
doubted
she would do her best to help
protect them. Even if that meant protecting them from
Rand.

Kindara waited inside with Aodhan and his
sister. She looked up when

Mallory and Jierra entered. “We were
wondering when you would get here. Aodhan was certain you
wouldn’t.”

“We were talking, Mother.
About
him
. And the
babes.”

“I see.” Kindara’s gaze was still judgmental
and Mallory bristled, even though she did like the other woman. Who
was Kindara to look at her that way? “Well, I’ve about finished
here.” She put a bloody needle and piece of gauze on the tray
beside the chair Aodhan sat in.

Mallory lifted her gaze from the blood to
the man. He did look horrible. His shirt was missing and his broad
muscles were exposed for everyone to see. Slash marks, furrows that
were horrific, marred his skin. Similar to what was currently
healing on Josey. His arms were sliced near to ribbons. And he was
pale, so very damned pale. Mallory’s breath caught.

She hadn’t considered the possibility that
Rand had hurt him. Had never even thought it. Aodhan couldn’t be
hurt. It just wasn’t possible. “Are you hurt badly?”

“No. Nothing that won’t heal.” He clenched
his hands when Kindara poured an antiseptic on his arm. “Kitten,
promise me something?”

She couldn’t move her eyes
away from the horrible red welts covering his arms and chest. Of
the multiple stitches that held his flesh together. “Oh, Aodhan…I’m
sorry. I don’t even know what happened. Why did
Rand
…
”

“You got between him and his mate, kitten. A
Lupouix has certain instincts. The strongest involve their mates.
You were the threat to what he wanted.”

“That’s crazy! Surely he didn’t think he
could just waltz in and take her from everything that she’s known?
Expect her to go willingly? It’s not reasonable!”

“A Lupoiux in a full-on
rage
especially a rage at a
Dardaptoan
is far from reasonable. We’re
lucky he didn’t hurt you! Aodhan was strong enough to keep him busy
until help arrived. You wouldn’t have been so lucky.” Kindara’s
tone had warmed considerably. Because Mallory had been protecting
her daughter? It made sense to Mallory. “Your brother is a very
strong wolf. Much stronger than the ones that attacked
Josey.”

Jierra paled and shuddered. Her mother
patted her on the shoulder after drying her hands were she’d washed
them. “My daughter witnessed the attack. Someone had locked her on
the balcony to her room. Her room doesn’t have steps to the garden
so she was forced to watch the attack and do nothing to help.”

“I didn’t know. I’m sorry. Rand…Rand
normally protects women. I never thought he’d hurt me before. He
never has. He was the one person I knew would never hurt me. He’s a
good person, I know he is. I’m sorry you all haven’t seen that side
of him.”

“How is it that you were human yet your twin
not?” Kindara asked.

“Apparently he and Uncle Jason were bitten
when I was eight. They were on a camping trip…” Mallory kept her
eyes trained on the still bleeding cut on Aodhan’s chest. It was
the largest. The worst. “He didn’t bite you, did he? You’re not
going to turn into a werewolf, too, are you? Is that even
possible?”

Aodhan held out a hand, and
Mallory took it without thought. He pulled her closer, then wrapped
his arm
despite the fresh stitches
around her waist. “No, he did not bite me, kitten.
You don’t have to worry I’ll start howling any time soon. And it is
possible for a Lupoiux to convert a Dardaptoan. Sometimes. It’s
somewhat rare. Come. Why don’t you escort me back to our suite and
I will answer all the questions you have.”

“Like how long my brother will be kept
prisoner in the basement?”

“Like that. Come. Help me stand.” He grinned
at her, a sloppy, sexy grin. “I don’t seem to be too good at it
right now...”

She looked at Kindara. “What is wrong with
him?”

“He’s lost a lot of blood. It’s made him a
bit loopy. For lack of a better word.” Kindara patted Aodhan on the
head. “It always has. Fortunately, these kinds of injuries for
Aodhan are extremely rare. Still, see that he rests and takes it
easy for a few days. No more battling with werewolves. At least for
a week.”

Mallory nodded, though she wasn’t completely
listening to the other woman.

Her eyes were trained on his. “Does it
hurt?”

She stepped closer to the
couch, then dropped to sit on the coffee table in front of him.
Kindara and Jierra slipped out of the room, but Mallory was barely
aware of them leaving. “What…happened? Why did my
brother
…
”

“It was pure animal instinct, kitten. You
threatened his mate, that was all he could focus on. But your
brother should have had better control. I’m afraid you won’t be
allowed around him until he learns some self-discipline. He is
simply too dangerous to be allowed around Dardaptoan females as he
is.”

Mallory fought the urge to tell him he
couldn’t keep her from her brother, but she thought better of it.
The animal Rand had become when he’d threatened her had not been
the brother she was used to. “Ever?”

His expression softened slightly and he held
out a hand to her. “No. Not forever. Just until he and Jierra
manage to find their way. Once they are properly mated, his
instincts will settle.”

Mallory thought of Jierra’s face just before
she’d been sent out of the room. Terrified didn’t even begin to
describe how frightened the younger woman had seemed. Of Rand. “And
if they never are?”

“They will be. Just as you and I will be.
The Goddess chose your brother for Jierra and the most basic,
instinctive part of him recognizes that. They will work things out
for themselves eventually. Hopefully within the next four months,
though.”

“Why? Is there a time limit?”

He hesitated. “There is something you need
to know about Lupoiux mating, kitten. The first moment they meet,
something is triggered in both of them. And they can’t keep their
hands off one another. And babes always result. Usually twins,
sometimes triplets.”

“Always? Are you telling me that my brother
fathered twins with Jierra, and she couldn’t stop him? She
mentioned it, but I didn’t believe her.” Barbaric. Disgusting. Poor
Jierra.

He shook his head. “Not even
if she wanted to. And for her to be his mate, he’d have to be
her
Rajni
.”

“That’s...that’s horrible!” Mallory stood
again. She slipped his less injured arm around her shoulder and
helped him stand. “She has no choice, no rights. Just like...”

“Just like when I took you. When the others
took your sister and cousins. I know. It isn’t right, or even fair
by your human standards. But it works for our peoples, and it has
for centuries. Longer.”

He staggered and she wrapped
her arms around him tighter. If he fell, they would both go down,
and he couldn’t afford to rip out the stitches holding him
together. It took them forever to get back to his suite. Her arms
ached from supporting so much of his weight and she was relieved
when he stumbled to the couch. He stretched his long legs out on
the cushions and watched her with a slightly doped look. “Goddess,
kitten, you are a beautiful woman. Did
you
know that? I’m glad you’re mine.”

She struggled not to laugh at the grin he
gave. “I’m not yours.” She knew it was a lie. She was his. He had
her right where he wanted her. All that was left for her to do was
give in. “Lift your leg.”

He did obediently, and she slipped his boot
off his foot. Then the other. She tried to ignore the blood that
stained his turquoise trousers. His or Rand’s? She didn’t want to
think of it.

“Are you going to stop with just my boots,
kitten?”

“Even if I didn’t, you couldn’t do anything
about it.”

He gave a semi-drugged/semi-sexy leer. “I
bet I could.”

“What did Kindara give you? I thought drugs
didn’t work on your people?”

“Demon blood. We’re doing an experiment. She
thinks demon blood may work as a painkiller. So far it has. No side
effects, though. I was so hoping.”

Mallory shook her head at him. Sometimes, he
really confused her! “Why would you want side effects?”

“Because the demon is an Incubus, you know?
A sex demon. Thought it would be fun...” His leer this time burned
her, and Mal shivered. Even hurt and loopy, he somehow managed to
make her hormones take notice.

“Sleep. You couldn’t do
anything even if I let you.” His injuries were too bad, too
numerous to allow for sex.
And that did
nothing but make her feel guilty. She hadn’t meant to get him hurt.
Did others blame her for the whole thing, the same way Cormac
probably still did?

“Oh, I think I could.”

“Are you sleeping here tonight?”

“I do not plan to spend even
a single night away from my
Rajni
. No. I will join you.” He pulled
himself to his feet and staggered a bit. “Female. I may need some
assistance, though. Pity. I so wanted to take advantage of Incubus
blood...”

With that, he fell straight forward, landing
on the carpet. Mal dove to her knees beside him, panic and fear
having her heart racing. Had he hurt himself? Worse?

He released a soft snore, and air finally
filled her lungs again. Just passed out. From blood loss? Or from
the demon blood?

Mal considered calling for help, but had
second thoughts. He was just sleeping, what good would calling a
healer do? Just reassure her? Did she honestly need that? He pulled
his hands up and pillowed his head on his crossed arms, the same
position he slept in most every night. His breathing was soft and
even. Sleeping, and peacefully. What more could a healer do for
him?

She stood, then pulled a blanket off the
back of the couch. He’d be so cold there on the floor. She spread
it over him carefully, ensuring the blanket covered as much of him
as possible. It wasn’t easy; he was such a large man. Strong.

Yet Rand had managed to do so much damage to
him. What if Rand had gotten a hold of her? Even with her defense
skills, Rand would have seriously injured her. Probably worse than
Josey had been injured. Aodhan had protected her.