No Light (32 page)

             
Farran tensed, but nodded. " I am aware."

             
They fell silent. The lull in conversation gave him time to ponder the growing pressure in his chest. It was not unpleasant. It made him feel stronger, but something seemed to be missing. A sudden blast of pain from Sarah, nearly sent him to his knees.

             
His head jerked up and he narrowed his eyes toward the king's camp. "My brother has my marked."

             
He saw Tradis stiffen from the corner of his eye. "The king…"

             
Farran did not reply. He shoved his way through the trees at a faster pace. A sick sensation started in his stomach. His brother's words on unmarking bounced around in his head, until they ceased to make sense. He increased his pace. His brother would not try to unmark Sarah. Not after he had made his thoughts so clear on the matter.

             
Another blast of pain from Sarah, and his surety faded. He murmured to her softly, nonsense in his own language, as he stomped through the undergrowth. When he looked up from the ground, the sky just ahead was a deep purple.

             
"The portal is active," Motlin remarked, his tone conspicuously free of emotion.

             
Farran glanced at him, to see his lips pinched in irritation. He nodded. "It would seem the king has been busy." He tried to keep the tension out of his voice, but from the glance his second gave him, he failed.

             
Sarah's pain began to fade in his mind, as more of his Ator returned to him. He froze, stumbling against a tree in his shock. Lonan was unmarking her. The thought screamed through his mind. He did stop to think why the thought was so repulsive to him. He ran.

             
Motlin and Tradis yelled questions at him, but he could think of nothing but reaching Sarah before her marks faded. He was vaguely aware of his men following him. Most of his mind spun frantically. She was more than a human. He was not sure when she had become separate from the rest of humanity, but he felt as if some of her had become a part of him during the marking.

             
He stumbled into a large field full of soldiers. His eyes narrowed. Lonan could not even give him three days to give his answer. He bared his teeth and searched the large space. In the distance, he saw the platform below the portal. One figure paced beside a familiar energy cube.

             
"C'hua t'hal heo tal!" he roared in fury. He saw Lonan's head jerk toward him, as the soldiers leapt away from him.

             
His rage built the closer he came to the platform. Sarah faded from his mind, as he leapt up the stairs. A small part of him was aware of his brother's stare, but he could not look away from the small, crumpled body in the small cell.

             
"Open it," he growled dangerously, refusing to look away from her.

             
"Brother, it had to be-"

             
"You are no brother of mine!" His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He took a deep breath. "Open it." A raw ache filled his chest.

             
"You would deny me for-"

             
Farran finally turned to him, and Lonan's mouth clamped shut. The king gave a quick jerk of his head and the walls of energy dissipated.

             
He moved forward slowly and dropped to his knees beside her. She was deathly still, the flutter of her heartbeat absent. He balled his hands into fists.

             
"It was for the best-" Lonan started, before he sent him a glare of loathing.

             
His eyes scanned her before he finally reached out. He pulled her against his body, gently tracing his fingers over her still face. No breath tickled his fingers. He ducked his head to press his ear to her chest. It was silent as he knew it would be, but for a moment, he felt as if he could not breath.

             
He buried his face in her jacket and inhaled the fading scent. He squeezed his eyes closed.

             
"Why have you done this?" he whispered, holding her tighter.

             
"It is as I said. It is not fitting," Lonan replied. He cleared his throat. "Step away from it and join me in this war."

             
Rage flew through him so fast it almost burned away the pain. His head jerked up and he glared at his brother. "No!"

             
Lonan frowned. "I am asking as your brother."

             
Farran turned away from him. His eyes caressed Sarah's pale face, as he brushed her hair off her forehead. He would not leave her. His eyes drifted away from her to meet the gaze of his second. Tradis nodded. He gave him a humorless smile and turned back to Sarah.

             
"I am telling you to move away from it as your king," Lonan said, voice rising.

             
He ignored him, unzipping Sarah's jacket to slide it down her arms. He reached for her bare skin.

             
"You would remark it? After all her people have done to you?" Lonan demanded.

             
He did not look away from her face, grazing her skin with his fingertips. "She has shown me nothing but strength and courage." As the words left his mouth, he realized how true they were. He clenched his jaw.

             
"She will be a burden to you all the days of your life," Lonan insisted. "I have eliminated your mistake!"

             
Farran could not hold back his growl. "Marking her was never a mistake."

             
"If you do this, I will banish you as father did. I will look upon you no more. Is the human more important than your own?" Lonan's tone took on an air of desperation.

             
Farran turned his head to look down at Sarah. He nodded. "Yes."

             
"I will consider you an enemy, General Farran!"

             
He ignored his brother's angry rant. Lonan's words faded into the background, as he leaned over Sarah. He pressed his fingers into her skin just hard enough to mark her. The ator rushed out of him, snatching his breath away as the bruises immediately faded. Far faster than the first time he marked her.

             
She settled into his mind, prickling slightly while the ator swirled under her skin. When it faded and she did not draw a breath, his hands cupped her face. He scanned her, sensing her in his mind and hearing her heartbeat. She slowly stirred.

             
Her eyes blinked open and locked on him. Confusion filled her gaze, and she tried to turn her head. He heard the clash of weapons nearby, as her eyes went wide. Her hands rose to his chest.

             
"Farran?" she whispered, as if afraid she were imagining him.

             
He swallowed hard, unable to look away from her. "I thought…" he trailed off when his voice broke. He pulled her to him.

             
"I was-" she started to mumble into his chest. She stopped. "You're here."

             
He pulled back at her amazement. "Of course." He froze when her hand lightly touched his face.

             
Her eyes seemed to search his. "But, the king said-"

             
"The king was wrong," he cut her off. His eyes dropped to her lips and she licked them nervously.

             
"You were free of me. Why would you…" she leaned forward, placing more of her weight against his chest.

             
He closed the gap between them to give her a fierce kiss. Her lips were soft and warm beneath his, the scent of her surrounding him and easing the pain that filled his chest. She let out a soft moan, and he suddenly remembered the danger that surrounded them. He regretfully pulled away and rose to his feet.

             
The king's guard surrounded the platform, engaged in battle with his men. He noticed the other soldiers did not get involved in the altercation. He smirked. His eyes found Tradis in the fray and he jerked his head toward the city. His second nodded his understanding.

             
He turned back to Sarah and held out his hand. She did not hesitate to take it, her tiny hand slipping into his. He lifted her into his arms.

             
"Are we safe?" she whispered against his neck.

             
He nodded. "You are." He inhaled against her hair, feeling his control approach the breaking point. He jerked his head up and descended the steps.

             
She was a comforting weight in his arms, her breath tickling his neck. He let out a shuddery breath and held her against him. She let out a soft sigh. His men surrounded them, as he plunged into the battle. Sarah tensed each time one of the king's guards came within striking distance.

             
"Do not look at them," he whispered in her ear. He felt her nod and bury her head in his shoulder. His lips curved.

             
She relaxed when they entered the forest. Her arms loosened their death grip on his neck and she let out a soft hum. He stumbled over a fallen limb at the first brush of her lips on his neck. His arms tightened around her.

             
"Sarah," he murmured, his eyes closing for a moment.

             
She placed a small kiss against his pulse point. He wondered if she could feel how fast his heart was pounding. He increased his pace.

             
"Why did you save me?" she whispered.

             
He almost growled at her shy words. "You are worth saving." He felt her nod her understanding. The feel of her lips against his neck as she spoke, made his hands ball into fists.

             
"That's why you marked me, again?"

             
He tried to make out the emotion in her tone. Sadness and disappointment, he thought.

             
He stiffened. "No. That is why I chose to save your life, but…" He trailed off as the city came into view.

             
She pulled away from him far enough to look at his face. He avoided her gaze.

             
"But?"

             
He kept a tight rein on his control, even as her proximity was almost painful. "I wanted-" He broke off when she shifted and his hand touched the bare skin of her back. He felt her shiver.

             
"What did you want?" she asked, her breath ghosting across his jaw.

             
He swallowed hard, scanning their surroundings. They were nearly to the city square, he noticed with surprise. She shifted again, and pulled his attention back to her.

             
"Farran?" she called softly.

             
He looked down at her, despite his better judgment. His gaze fastened on her lips and a low growl rumbled up from his chest. Her eyes widened. He looked away from her. The hotel was mere feet away. He could leave her there with Private Eitad or Private Ambrac or anyone.

             
He shoved open the doors to the hotel lobby and felt her shudder at the sudden warmth. He tried not to think about it. He shook his head at himself, trying to focus. She looked at him when he did not immediately set her down. He took a deep steadying breath and carried her up the stairs to the second floor.

             
He would set her down outside her room, he told himself. She tilted her head to the side to watch him, as if she found him fascinating.

             
"Your room," he announced unnecessarily. He let out a breath when her gaze left him to fasten on her door.

             
"Thank you."

             
He gave her a curt nod. "Of course." He tried to release her, but only succeeded in shifting her in his arms until she faced him. She slid down until her feet hit the floor.

             
"Farran?"

             
He blinked. "Sarah."

             
She looked down at her hands where they pressed against his chest. He watched her nibble her bottom lip. "Why did you mark me again?" When she looked up her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

             
He let out a groan of defeat, and shoved her door open. She backed through the doorway, letting out a soft gasp as he ducked to press his lips to hers. He kicked the door shut, unable to pull away from her.

             
"Do you-" she started to ask, before he kissed her again. She threw her arms around his neck. "I-"