PrimalDemand (5 page)

Arron’s teeth scraped over her shoulder. The tickling
sensation curled down her body. His hips slammed against hers and his mouth
clamped down on the muscle where her neck and shoulder met. Sharp pain flared
at her shoulder as Arron’s muffled shout vibrated against her skin.

Even as the sharp sting flared, stunning pleasure rushed
over her as his seed pumped into her. She drew in a sharp breath and her back
arched as an orgasm ripped through her. Her entire body trembled and she held
onto Arron as she savored his weight and solid muscle.

The pleasure still rolling over her body blunted the stinging
sensation. Her mind refused to worry about what had caused it while locked in
the sweet bliss. With every breath, she drew in his scent. It left her wanting
more and to get as close as she could.

Leah stroked her hands over his back and was astonished as
the hunger began to rise once again. She swallowed hard as once again reality
intervened with the fact that this sudden, rising hunger wasn’t normal. That
climax hadn’t been natural either. Her desire had been rising, but it wasn’t
close to intense enough for that powerful explosion of bliss.

He lifted his head and her eyes locked on the blood on his
lower lip. He’d bitten her and drew blood. Another sobering revelation hit her.
Unless he’d gotten carried away, Arron might be far more than a warrior.

“What are you, Arron?” She looked at him in all seriousness.

She didn’t know all that much about shifters and the other
beings who were more than human. That he was more than human made sense. The
bite and the wildness she sensed within him for a start. On top of that there
was that unexpected climax. She wondered what had caused it, but hesitated to
ask.

Her mountain village Parit didn’t have much contact with the
outside world. The warriors in the area were constantly feuding and it didn’t
involve anyone outside of their little valley. Most of their problems came from
the clans of warriors in her home village and the other villages in the
isolated area.

“Your mate, but that’s not what you mean is it?” He tilted
his head, but made no move to withdraw from her.

She shook her head. The look in his eyes was different from
any she’d seen from him before. A little harder and more focused. She had a
feeling that she hadn’t seen the real Arron yet. It made sense. He was still
regaining memories.

“I’m Zarain. Well, Shadatai Zarain, but Shadatai just
indicates that I’m more than a normal Zarain.” His eyes never left hers as if
he were waiting to measure her reaction.

She stared at him blankly. She had no idea what that was.
“What is a Zarain? I think I’ve mentioned that the area where I come from is
very isolated. I know of shifters and some of the other beings like the Dain,
but other than that and rumors, nothing.”

His hand combed through the hair at the side of her face. It
seemed like all of her senses focused on the soft stroking. She forced herself
to concentrate. She didn’t want to miss anything important.

“A Zarain is a shifter.” He unhooked her legs from around
his waist before rolling onto his back.

He kept her clamped against him as he moved. She sprawled
across his chest. With her hands braced on his chest, she rose to look down at
him. So many questions swirled through her mind.

“What do you change into though?” She’d always wondered
that. Were they able to shift into anything they wanted or was it only one
specific thing?

“I change into a Zarain. It’s…” His voice trailed off and he
frowned. “You wouldn’t recognize it. I haven’t ever seen anything close to it
in the wild. I’ll change sometime so you’ll be able to recognize me.”

She bit her lip. That “so you’ll be able to recognize me”
gave her some pause. It sounded like he planned on more than just a few days
traveling with her. She didn’t confront him with it though.

Something held her back. She didn’t know if she hesitated
because she worried about how he’d react or because if he confirmed that he
planned more than the journey to the next city, she’d have to do something
about it.

Maybe it was a little cowardly, but she didn’t want to
confront that part of her worries. At least not when he had his arms around
her. She ignored the unexplainable trust she felt. It made no sense. She didn’t
know him or what he might do in any situation. In spite of that, she felt
strongly that he wouldn’t hurt her.

“The others you were traveling with, are they like you?” She
tilted her head. He could be part of a troop of mercenary warriors looking for
those monks. She knew those groups acquired men looking to be paid for their
skill.

Okay, she’d avoided the important questions, but there were
other things she needed to know. She consoled herself with the thought that
they still had a day’s travel to pass. There was time. She’d have time to work
around to asking that difficult question and any others that came to mind.

“They’re like me. In most cases, Zarain and other shifters
stay in groups of their own kind.” He leaned down and inhaled deeply. “You
don’t want to know something different?”

Yes, she certainly did want to know other things and he knew
it judging by that knowing smirk. “I’m just trying to learn here. I have lots
of questions. So many that you’ll probably beg me to shut up. I really don’t
know where to begin.”

“You’re avoiding the questions you really want to ask.” His
arm tightened around her. “Waiting and delaying them aren’t going to change the
answers. You already suspect the truth. I know you feel the beginning of the
mating between us.”

He was right, but she wasn’t saying that to him. Arguing
with him while he still had his arms around her didn’t seem like such a great
idea. He was too strong to take a chance.

“I’m taking it slowly. It’s a lot to take in. How can you be
sure you know what you’re saying is right? Your memory isn’t completely
returned.” She hoped to divert him and maybe make him think about what he was
saying.

“My senses don’t lie. I knew that I wasn’t walking away from
you the moment I drew in your sweet scent.” His fingers threaded in her hair
and pulled her down to brush his cheek against hers. “I don’t need my memory
for this. It’s instinct.”

He sounded so certain. In a way, she envied him that. There
were a few other questions she could ask though that didn’t have anything to do
with his belief that this was more than temporary.

“What happened at the end?” She blushed trying to find the
words to make the question clear. “When I suddenly had another orgasm?”

He smiled. “You’re lucky I remember that part already. It’s
called the
re’kai
. It’s normal for even a regular Zarain, although
stronger in a Shadatai. There’s a sensory exchange between a Zarain and his
woman. When I came, the sensations flowed to your mind and triggered another
orgasm for you. And just as added inducement, I’ll tell you that it will happen
every time.”

She felt a little stunned and confused as she tried to sort
through what he’d just told her. An exchange he’d said. It left her with more
questions. Did he feel what she did? Was there more than feelings going to him?
Could he read her mind?

The thought left her a little shaken. She knew she’d have to
ask him about all of that, but she wanted to let it settle in her mind first.
Maybe it wouldn’t seem so scary or maybe she’d find the answers on her own if
she gave it some time.

“All right, there’s a lot to digest in that. So what about
the marks on your side? They feel different than the other marks. When I
touched them, you seemed to really enjoy it.” She was tempted to touch them.
She loved his reaction to it.

“The
malkit
. They’re marks specific to the Shadatai
Zarain. Yes, they’re sensitive. You’ll see that yourself soon.” His eyes
lowered to her chest.

She took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to ask about how
she’d learn that. His smile was wicked and anticipatory. He anticipated more
questions about what he was and what the differences were. She wasn’t going to
let him have his way on this.

There were some questions that she did want to ask though.
The similarities between him and her sister’s man had been obvious from the
first. She wondered if they had more in common than simply having a wild aura
and confident attitude.

“Do other shifters have markings? Different types of
markings?” She licked her lips.

She didn’t know what to think if the man who’d stolen her
sister’s heart with his thoughtfulness and sweet gestures was a shifter. It
didn’t change that he treated her sister as if she were the rarest treasure and
that counted more than almost anything else. Even if he was a shifter, it
didn’t matter much. He didn’t know that Fae was missing, much less where to
find her.

He tilted his head and studied her. “Yes, some shifters have
different types of marks. Some can be seen when they’re walking down the
street, others you’d have to see them without clothing. Why?”

“A man had been courting my sister for while off and on. He
wasn’t from the valley. He and a few other men would camp on the mountain and
he’d bring her presents. When I first saw you, your attitude and bearing
reminded me of him. He and the other men have marks on their face.” She licked
her lips.

“Spots along their jawline?” His finger traced along his
jawline as if to show her exactly where.

“Yes.” She nodded.

“They’re probably Santir, a type of shifter. If they are, he
won’t give up on finding her.” Arron slipped his arm around her and began to
stroke her back, but his eyes burned with intensity as he looked at her.

Was he trying to tell her something? Maybe that he wouldn’t
give up on looking for her. Suddenly, she felt tired and overwhelmed.

“Can you give me a little time to get to all the questions?
This isn’t easy. I’d thought this would be simple. We’d travel together and
then separate when we get to the city. Now everything’s changed.” She eyed him
through her lashes.

He looked at her long and hard. Finally, he nodded. “We will
talk about it though. You can’t hide from the truth. This doesn’t end when we
get to the city.”

She nodded, holding back her rebuttal. He seemed to be
forgetting the very reason she’d been in that city. She couldn’t stop or stay
with him. She had to find her sister and get her away from those monks. After
that, she didn’t know what they’d do. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. There
was so much to get through first.

“Go to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” His
hand swept down her back in a long stroke before settling at the base of her
spine.

Leah closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest. She
didn’t think she’d be able to sleep sprawled on top of him, but planned to wait
until he was asleep and move to the side. She didn’t want the argument.

He was right. They did have a hard day of traveling ahead of
them tomorrow. Even thinking about it made her tired. She nuzzled her cheek
against his chest. Just a little while longer and then she’d move.

Leah blinked and stared at the grassy plain in front of her.
In the distance, she saw long pale-gray walls rising high above the flat land.
This had to be a dream, although lately hers had been closer to nightmares than
something this peaceful.

She’d never been to a place like this and it definitely
wasn’t the forest where she’d fallen asleep. Still, it felt strangely real. The
warm rays of the sun flowed over her, warming her even as a slightly chilly
wind sent her hair whipping across her face.

“This is my home. At least, I think it is. My memory is
still a little patchy.” Arron’s voice came from behind her.

She turned to find him leaning against a large tree. “What
am I doing here?”

Dressed in black, he seemed strong and almost a part of the
landscape. His long black hair whipped in the breeze. His shirt flowed in the
wind and his pants were so tight that she could see the ridge of his cock
pressing against the fabric. He looked a little unsure and she wanted to go
over and put her arms around him. She shook her head at the thought. He’d get
his memory back soon and the arrogant warrior that he probably was wouldn’t
want to be comforted.

She didn’t even know if she could since this was a dream,
even if it didn’t feel like it. It felt disconnected somehow. She’d always been
able to control at least a little of her dreams and yet she couldn’t even stop
the wind from sending her hair flying across her face.

“I wanted to show you and talk with you.” He came away from
the tree and began gliding over to her. “I also wanted to strengthen the bond
between us a little.”

“This is really your dream?” She bit her lip. How could he
do that?

“A shared dream, but yes, I formed it.” He nodded.

“What did you want to talk about?” She nervously turned to
fully face him, her hands clenched together.

“Mostly about what you’re afraid of. I can scent your fear
and even feel it as the connection grows between us.” Arron walked over and
slipped an arm around her waist.

She drew in a sharp breath. “As if the monks aren’t enough
to fear. I thought if anyone would know what they could do, it would be you.
You’ve experienced the drug and were trying to find people they had taken.”

He tilted his head as if studying her. “It’s more than that.
You fear something else, probably something to do with your search for your
sister. How can I keep you safe if you won’t tell me the danger you face?”

She shook her head. She couldn’t tell him. Sex was one
thing, but as great as that was and as drawn to him as she was, she couldn’t
trust him. She didn’t know him.

“Why won’t you trust me?” His hand lifted and lightly
brushed her cheek.

“You’re a warrior.” The words escaped before she could hold
them back. It was true enough, but she hadn’t intended to say it. Every warrior
she’d seen sided with other warriors if it was a dispute between them. Up until
she’d met him, she’d believed they were all alike. She still had doubts that he
was different.

“I’m going to show you that above all you’re what’s
important to me.” He pulled her into a tight hug. “You’re my mate. I will keep
you safe.”

* * * * *

Arron scrubbed his face and hands at the river’s edge. Leah
was probably getting dressed and preparing to leave. She’d said that she’d
return to camp after she finished her wash. He hadn’t wanted to leave her, but
she’d needed to see to her own needs and they’d gone separate directions
because she’d refused to do the necessities in front of him.

His eyes swept the sky above the treetops across the river.
Although the gray clouds gathered, he could see the dark black of night begin
to give way to the bright dawn. The clouds gave him a moment’s pause. They
might get rained on today. He hoped they made it to the point she mentioned
before that happened. He didn’t want to delay the journey. For her safety. She
was hiding something from him.

Last night’s discussion had gone better than he’d hoped.
He’d half expected her to try to run off in the middle of the night. She
wouldn’t be the first mate to try. As he went to sleep, he’d been determined to
make it difficult for her. He’d wrapped her in his arms and held her close
through the night.

A noise caught his attention bringing his thoughts back to
the present. He tensed and cocked his head to the side listening intently. No
noise followed, but he rose to his feet and began moving back toward camp. It
could have been Leah, but something told him it wasn’t.

He glided silently through the forest. As he approached the
spot where they’d slept, he saw movement in the clearing. Just from the shape
of the form, he knew it wasn’t Leah. Too big and bulky. The scent of a male
human drifted to him.

“Get up. We’re leaving.” The man bent, reaching for
something.

Arron crept closer and saw Leah roll away from the man with
deep-brown hair. As she did, he caught a glimpse of a dark-red mark on her
face. The bastard had hit her. That must have been the noise that had caught
his attention.

“No, Alon, I’m not going anywhere with you.” She got to her
feet and backed even farther away from him.

“You’re coming back and you’re going to do what we tell you
to do. There will be no more of this foolishness.” The man took a step toward
her. His voice hardened and one of his fists bunched.

Arron had heard enough. He wasn’t going to let this Alon hit
her again. He’d seen the sword at the man’s side, but the sight of it didn’t
give him any qualms. He didn’t plan to let the man draw it. If he did, he’d
disarm him.

With luck, he wouldn’t have to take that chance. He had the
advantage of surprise on his side. The man was fully focused on Leah. She was
so intent on the stranger that even though she was facing him, she hadn’t seen
him.

Arron crept as close as he could before sprinting forward.
Alon was so focused on Leah that he didn’t notice Arron. Arron grabbed the man
by the shoulder and swung him into the tree near the spot where he and Leah had
slept. Breath exploded from the man’s chest. Before he could get it back, Arron
grabbed the back of his head and slammed it against the hard trunk of the tree.
Spinning the man around, Arron punched him. His knuckles collided with the side
of the man’s jaw. Alon sagged. Arron’s fist bunched in his shirt was the only
thing keeping the human upright.

“Stop, Arron. He won’t be alone. We have to go.” Leah’s hand
clutched at his arm.

As much as he wanted to keep hitting the man, Arron knew she
was right. The bastard deserved more for touching her. He deliberately released
him, letting him drop to the ground. They had to leave. That didn’t mean he
wasn’t going to get some answers from her though. She knew this man.

“Get the bags ready. I’m going to tie up your friend here
and take his weapons.” He rolled the man onto his back. He used leather ties
the man was carrying on his belt to secure him.

“He’s my brother, but definitely not a friend,” Leah said as
she turned and hurried to do his bidding.

Arron raised his brows, but finished the task of securing
him. He stripped off the man’s weapon belt and searched him to make sure he
wasn’t concealing any weapons that could help free him. What was behind the
animosity she obviously felt for her brother? He’d seen it in the way she
looked at him and heard it in her voice.

By the time he’d secured her brother to a tree, Leah stood
with the bags at her feet waiting. He nodded and buckled the sword belt around
his waist. Now that he knew someone was following her, he needed the weapons to
protect her.

“Let’s go.” Arron lifted one of the bags and urged her ahead
of him.

“He said he got rid of my boat.” Leah glanced up at him.

She looked cautious and wary. Probably wondering when he was
going to start asking questions. It was the other possibility that kept him
silent. She could be afraid of him after seeing him take on her brother. He
didn’t want to see real fear in her eyes. He hoped she realized that he’d never
raise his hand to her as her brother had done.

“If he did, we’ll walk.” Arron rested his hand on her
shoulder and squeezed slightly. “While we’re traveling, we’ll talk. We have a
lot to discuss.”

She remained silent, but he saw the beat of the pulse at her
neck increase. They walked through the forest until they reached the spot where
they’d left the boat. Arron didn’t bother to check where he’d hidden it. He
could see it in the middle of the river.

It listed to one side. He could see a gash in the side and
one at the back of it. It would take too long to fix it. They couldn’t stay in
this area, not when her brother’s friends could come to help at any time.

“We’ll cross the river now and walk. I want to put as much
distance as possible between us and him.” Arron glanced over at her. She was
staring at the canoe as it slowly sank.

“All right.” She nodded slowly and her voice sounded a
little dull. “The fork we need to take is on that side.”

Arron pulled her close in a quick hug wanting to comfort
her, but knowing they had to move. “I’ll protect you, Leah. We do need to talk
though.”

She took in a deep breath. She hung one of her bags across
her shoulder and put her hand over it. “As soon as we get away from here, you
can ask your questions.”

The situation had changed. He needed to get back in touch
with Raven, but those answers came first. He’d need them when he told his
Achan
what had happened. He had no doubt that the leader of the pack of Shadatai
Zarain would find them on his own, but with the threat to Leah, Arron wasn’t
willing to chance it. He was simply glad that he did belong to the Shadatai
breed of Zarain and could communicate with those he knew even over vast distances.

She stepped into the water just ahead of him. He glanced at
her and the pack at her side concerned him. He didn’t want it to weigh her
down. From the weight of the bag he had, he’d guess it was clothing and the
bedding was hooked onto that one. Just as he was going to ask her if she wanted
to take it, he saw the bag bob on the surface of the water.

He wondered what she had in there. From the way it hung, it
looked heavy, but now it skimmed along the top of the water. He shook his head
and caught up with her. Since it floated, he didn’t have to worry about the
weight affecting her swimming. She reached the opposite bank first and waited
for him. After he took the last few steps out of the water, he took the time to
hide their trail on the bank. With the litter along the forest floor, it would
be difficult for the people to track them. Especially since they were dealing
with humans. A shifter would simply follow their scent.

He led her through the forest, paralleling the river, but
staying out of sight of the water. The scent of the water drifted to him,
allowing him to remain near it without seeing the water. He’d stay close to it,
but he didn’t want anyone searching for them to easily spot them. After hiking
a while, he decided they needed to get the facts out in the open.

“You said that was your brother and that your brothers
wouldn’t help you get your sister. There’s more to the story isn’t there?” He
looked over at her as they walked through the trees.

“Much more, but I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you
before. I thought we’d get to the city. You’d go on your way and I’d continue
with my hunt. I knew they’d try to follow me, but I didn’t expect them so
soon.” She grimaced and her eyes fell to the ground.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning? Why did they send
your sister away and go from there?” Arron put a hand on her shoulder, let it
fall and then tangled his fingers with hers. He held her hand.

“It goes back to even before my sister. I told you about the
warrior clans in my region. Ever since my ancestor discovered the secret to
regaining memories, those clans have been trying to claim it. It’s always been
kept in a language that very few speak or read any longer. No one other than my
sister and I know it in our region as far as I know.” Leah squeezed his hand.

“Your father didn’t teach it to your brothers?” Arron asked.
It seemed strange. Healing and other training most often passed from father to
son. He did understand why the clans would want to acquire that secret. It
would give them a weapon against the other clans.

“No, my mother got them involved in the warrior training
before they were taught that. My family has always believed that any warrior
clan acquiring that secret would cause more bloodshed. Now any group can come
to us if they recover someone under the Tarespotion. That wouldn’t
happen if one clan held it,” she said softly.

“They would war for control of it.” Arron closed his eyes.
Her family had been right. Those clans would destroy each other if one held the
secret. “What happened with your sister?”

“Fae’s a little older than me. They decided that she should
marry one of the warriors in their clan. She said no. A couple of weeks later,
they gave her to the monks.” Her expression hardened with anger. “I’m sure
their next attempt would have been with me, but I didn’t stay around to see.”

“We’ll get her back. And they’re not going to force you to
do anything. I’ll protect you. As soon as we get to that city you spoke of
we’ll have more help.” Arron tugged her close. He wished they could stop and he
could comfort her more than being close to her. However, he knew her brother
and those with him wouldn’t stop coming after her until they’d been shown that
they’d lose if they tried to take her.

“The really sad thing is I think Fae was falling for that
man I told you about.” She shook her head.

“This city we’re headed for, does it have a travel-gate?”
Arron hoped so. If not, they’d keep traveling until they got to one even if it
took them out of the way of the route she’d planned. Her safety came first and
she wouldn’t be safe until they were with the men of his pack.