King of Clubs (18 page)

“Shall we kill them now?” One
bakir
said, grabbing Paula by the scruff of her neck and bringing his dagger perilously close to the toddler’s throat.

“You must pretend, Mikaela,” Kalina urged in a whisper Awai barely heard. “Do not let them know what you have seen.”

Awai had managed to get within five feet of the
bakir
threatening Paula. She was ready—at the right moment, she would do whatever she had to do. Would give her life for these children.

Please, please, let Mikaela believe the sorceress…

Mikaela straightened and clenched her whip. “I will kill the first cub myself,” she said with an air of command. Fear leapt again inside Awai, but Mikaela’s eyes were still a clear blue.

She turned to Kalina, her gaze holding a message. “You will die with the rest, sorceress. Join Ty’s woman.”

With purpose to her steps, Mikaela strode up to the children and her
bakirs.
She placed her hands on her hips and gave a ruthless smile. “Long have I waited for this day.”

Awai’s heart dropped. She couldn’t see Mikaela’s eyes. Was she back under the King’s control?

With a snap of her whip, Mikaela caught the
bakir
threatening Paula by the throat and wrenched it so hard the sound of his neck breaking shattered the quiet in the orchard.

Everything next happened in a blur.

Children screamed and ran while Kalina herded them to safety.

The crack of Awai’s whip rang out as she used it to tear a dagger from the hand of one
bakir.

Mikaela transformed into a tiger and attacked her own
bakirs.
She ripped the throat of one man before he could shift.

With quick snaps of her whip, Awai managed to disarm three of the
bakirs.
In the next moment they shifted into tigers and bore down on her and she screamed in terror.

Tremendous roars came from behind Awai and she knew she was going to die. But then at least a dozen tigers and two wolves bounded past her, barreling into the tigers that had been about to attack Awai and into those fighting Mikaela.

Everything happened so fast that Awai didn’t have time to breathe. She cracked her whip as a tiger headed her way, but another tiger rose up on his hind legs. Awai saw the club shape in the fur on his belly and her heart raced with fear as she recognized Ty. He battled the
bakir
, flinging the beast to the ground and breaking its neck with his massive jaws.

Roars and screams filled the orchard as tigers battled, and the grassy clearing became covered in bodies and blood.

“Do not hurt Mikaela!” Kalina shouted but her words were lost in the tremendous noise filling the clearing.

Tigers lay dead around them while others bounded into the cherry grove and were followed by Ty’s guards.

And then everything went silent, save for the wind rustling through the cherry trees.

The largest tiger with the pattern of a heart on his powerful front leg had one tiger pinned to the ground. The last living
bakir
in the clearing—the white tiger.

She was on her back, her throat exposed for Jarronn to rip out by clamping his tremendous jaws around her jugular.

Slay me now,
came Mikaela’s voice, filling Awai’s mind and obviously those around her.
I deserve to die.

Yes, you will die.
Jarronn’s voice rang ominously in their thoughts.
You attempted to kill our children. You have tried to kill our mates.

“You must listen to me and what the cards have said.” Kalina ran forward and touched Jarronn on his back. “Mikaela fought to save the cubs, my King.”

The High King turned his feline gaze on her and narrowed his blue tiger eyes.
She has terrorized our people for decades, has prevented our race from growing and forcing us to near extinction.

Beneath his tremendous paws, Mikaela shifted into a woman. Her expression held no fear, only sorrow. Her scar was a bright slash against her pale features, and her eyes glittered as if she held back tears.

She tipped back her head, fully exposing her throat. “You are right,” she said. “Please do not show me mercy. I could not bear it.”

Ty’s emotions ranged from anger to uncertainty to sadness for the sister he had known and loved. He joined Kalina and said, “Let us hear what Kalina has to say. What the cards have told her.”

The High King backed away and shifted into a man. He rose to a standing position and his face was stern as he looked at his sister.

He turned his dark expression to Kalina. “Speak.”

The sorceress kept her head high and her gaze level with Jarronn’s. “The cards have always told me there was a threat to the south and that Mikaela kept our people from conceiving.” Jarronn scowled, and Kalina hurried to continue, “But what they didn’t tell me until recently was that Mikaela has been under King Malachad’s control all these many years. Even before she wed him he used his own power and the power of his
bakirs
to influence her. She is by far the most talented of all the royalty in Tarok as well as in the Kingdom of Malachad. Balin recognized that and used her.”

“This is true?” The High King said, his expression unreadable. “The cards have made this clear?”

“Yes, Milord.” Kalina bowed her head. “I am sorry I could not interpret this until now. Until it was almost too late.”

“It does not matter,” came Mikaela’s soft voice as she pushed herself up so that she was on her knees. “My crimes are unforgivable. And I do not know that I can keep him out of my mind, keep him from controlling me again. What if I hurt one of you or your people, or one of the children?” Tears were rolling down her cheeks and her voice trembled. “You must kill me now to ensure you are all safe.”

King Jarronn hesitated, his face reflecting a mixture of rage and horror. After a long, tense moment, he held out his hand to Mikaela. She hesitated then allowed him to pull her to a standing position. She stood before him, her head held high and a world of pain in her eyes.

“I can feel him trying to force himself back into my head, Jarronn.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough to fight him off much longer.”

Jarronn reached out and brought his sister roughly into his arms and pressed her head to his shoulder as he hugged her. “We will help you. We are family.”

“I do not know that I can be saved.” Mikaela gently pushed at his chest so that they were slightly parted. “It has been far too long.”

Karn shoved his way in between the two, and Jarronn backed away. Karn’s expression was one of sadness as he traced his finger along Mikaela’s scar, a soft touch that made her visibly shudder. “On that dark stormy night, before you fell, I told you that we love you and that we know there is good in you. Together we can keep you safe. We can be family again.”

“I love you all.” Another tear eased over Mikaela’s cheek. “But do you not understand? I am dangerous.”

This time it was Darronn who forced his way into standing before Mikaela. “I have ached for you. Have felt betrayed because I thought you and I were so close. But then you turned on us. Or so I thought you did.” Darronn took her hands in his. “I cannot tell you the joy this brings me. To know that my sister was not of herself and that she is still here for us to love.”

“It is too late for my soul,” she whispered.

Ty made his way to his sister and Darronn stepped away. Ty’s heart sang as he looked down at his little sister. “You are ours again.” He crushed her against his chest. “We are family again.”

“I love you all,” she said as she pushed away from Ty. Tears rolled freely now and her expression was one of anguish. “That is why I must leave.”

And with that she turned, shifting into a tiger. She bounded into the cherry trees and vanished into the grove. For a moment everyone stared with stunned expressions at where she had disappeared.

The men started after her, but Kalina shouted, “Wait!” She turned to the four Kings and gave a reverent bow. “Long I have served you and with the joining of Ty and Awai I will be freed of my services.”

Ty felt deep sorrow at Kalina’s words, and he was sure his brothers felt the same. She had been friend, lover, and advisor to them all. “You will always have a home with us,” Ty said.

“Nevertheless, it is time to find my own way, my own life.” She raised her head, nodding to each of the Kings. “It has been my pleasure.”

In the next instant Kalina shifted into a tiger, turning away from everyone gathered around her. She paused and looked over her shoulder.
I will follow Mikaela and together we will make our way. One day we shall meet again.

And with that she bounded through the cherry trees and out of their lives.

The two wolves who had helped slay the
bakirs
shifted into Lord Kir and Rafe.

Rafe approached the High King. “I will see that they both remain safe.” He gave a slight bow and transformed into a wolf. At a casual lope he scented the trail and followed the weretigresses.

Chapter Fifteen

Awai sat beside the pond behind the palace, her legs drawn up and her chin resting on her knees. So much had happened in the last several weeks of her life that she could barely fathom all the changes.

She had been taken from the world she knew and fallen in love with the mysterious realm of Tarok. More than that, she had fallen in love with a dominant, beautiful weretiger. She had learned to submit, learned the truth of her own strength and power. She had even helped fight a sorcerer and his minions to defend the lives of her now large and growing family.

And now, it was time to lay it all on the line, to decide now and forever where she would live, who she would be—and who she would be with.

Ty had scheduled the joining ceremony for a week after the
bakirs
attack, and the day had finally arrived.

Today, if she decided it was the right thing to do, Awai would wed Ty.

She rocked slightly as she watched the vividly colored fish in the pool. Thoughts of the last time she had sat here came to her mind and she smiled at the memory. She and Ty had ended up going to the village to buy gifts for every member of their family.

Her smile faded as she reached down and plucked a white starflower from beside her. She twirled the bloom between her thumb and forefinger, her mind lost in the past, the present, and the future.

She held the bloom in her palm and the breeze caught it up and lazily brought it to the surface of the pond where it twirled and eased across the clear surface.

As much as she loved her nieces and nephews, and as much as she loved Ty, it was still hard for her to imagine having children. Ty deserved to be a father—he would be such a good one. But she couldn’t begin to picture herself as a mother, and didn’t know if she really wanted to. Ty had explained how she could only conceive if he released his seed when they both reach simultaneous climax, and that was only if she was in heat. He had said it would be her choice when the time came.

Awai braced her hands to either side of her, closed her eyes, and tilted her face to the sky. Sunshine warmed her face, caressing her with gentle rays of hope and love.

A mere fraction of a moment before his lips met hers, Awai sensed Ty’s presence. His lips were firm yet gentle, his taste and smell seeping into her blood, into her being.

How could she refuse him anything?

How could she leave him?

Ty drew back and Awai opened her eyes to see his serious expression. “What is wrong, my tigress? For days I have seen something haunting your eyes. I thought perhaps it was what happened when the
bakirs
attacked, but I sense it is more.”

“Hold me,” Awai whispered, needing the comfort of his embrace. Ty wrapped his powerful arm around her shoulders and drew her to his bare chest. He smelled of sun and wind, and his own elemental scent.

“What is it, love?” he asked as he stroked dark hair from her eyes.

She swallowed and took a deep breath. “I don’t think I can marry you, join with you.”

For a single moment Ty’s heart ceased to beat. “What are you saying, Awai?”

“It really scared me when the children were in danger.” She pulled away from him to meet his gaze and he saw her eyes glistening with tears. “The life of a child is so fragile, and I don’t know if I can be a mother. I know it’s important to you—you make a wonderful uncle and I know you’d be the perfect father. But as for me…I’m not sure I can do it.”

Ty gave her a gentle smile. He enjoyed his nephews and nieces, and if he and Awai did not have children of their own he would always have his brothers’ children to love and shower with affection. What was more important to him was Awai’s love and her happiness.

“The choice will be yours.” He squeezed her tight to him.

She gave a shuddering sigh and shook her head. “You are so wonderful with the kids. You deserve children of your own.”

“I do not need children to feel complete.” He caught her chin in his large palm and brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “You complete me, Awai.”

Awai searched Ty’s eyes. They held nothing but the truth of his heart and his love for her. He had never lied to her, had never held anything back from her. Always he had been truthful and had done what he thought was right.

Her face went serious and she asked, “What about an heir for your Kingdom?”

“Lance will likely inherit the Kingdom of Hearts,” he said with a thoughtful look. “As second oldest, I think that Lexi should inherit the Kingdom of Clubs if we do not produce an heir.”

Awai gave an impish grin. “What about Johanna? She’s destined to be a leader among men and women. Just look at the way she wields that whip.”

Ty laughed and shook his head. “Perhaps, tigress. Perhaps.”

“You are a wonderful man.” Awai hugged him tight. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“I am the one who is thankful to the stars for you, tigress,” he murmured as he kissed her hair. “I am the one who is blessed.”