Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (18 page)

Sasha found herself wondering why Jeffery was not married. He had the same golden beauty as his sister. There must be many who would vie for the chance to be his wife.

Mara stood at the desk, going through her father's papers and separating those that David had told her she could take with her. He wanted her to have their father's writings, since she was the only one who could decipher them.

Jeffery looked at his sister and noted her frown as she scanned a sheet of paper with the ancient Egyptian writing on it.

"I have a message to you from Tajarez," he told her.

She looked up from the paper. "What does he say?"

"Only that I should convey his love to you."

"Why does he not tell me himself?"

"I am not privy to his thoughts, but I have a surprise that I think you might like. Tajarez has invited me to accompany you on the journey, although he is not certain his father will allow me to enter the hidden valley once we get there."

Mara's face brightened. "Oh, Jeffery, will you go?"

"Yes, if you would like."

Mara raced across the room and threw herself into Jeffery's outstretched arms. Then he sat down with her on his lap.

"Jeffery, I want you to go with me above all else. This makes me so happy."

Sasha watched. There was much love between the brother and sister. Her own brother would never show such open affection toward her. It was truly beautiful to watch the love this family had for each other. Mara would be good for the prince. She would teach him to laugh and be free with his love. Sasha could not see her proud, noble cousin in that role yet, but he had already changed in many ways.

Mara  leaned  her  head against Jeffery's  shoulder. "What did you and Tajarez do besides hunt today?"

"I have been explaining to him about the wedding ceremony."

"Why?"

"He says he wants it to be perfect for you. He does not want to make any mistakes."

"He is truly wonderful," Mara said, standing up and turning around in a circle, causing the yellow gown she wore to swirl out about her. She felt her happiness was complete. Jeffery would be with her on the long journey, and maybe he could be beside her when she met Tajarez's father.

"You are doing this just for me, aren't you, Jeffery?"

He smiled. "Partly. I want to see you settled in your new home, and selfishly, I want to see this marvelous place that Tajarez talks about, and," he added, looking at Sasha, "there are other reasons, which I keep to myself."

Mara returned to sorting her father's papers, and Sasha sat down on the floor beside her, watching curiously. Sasha looked at one of the papers and reached a trembling hand for it. Mara watched as her eyes widened.

"Are these your written words, Mara?" she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

Mara looked at the paper. "No, these are hieroglyphics, a form of ancient Egyptian writing."

"Do all white men read these writings?"

Mara looked at her, puzzled. "No. With the exception of my father and myself, I know of no one who can read the hieroglyphics."

Sasha looked at her in wonder. "You truly are the Golden One."

"What do you mean?" Jeffery asked, sitting down on the floor beside her and folding his long legs.

"There are writings such as these on the walls of the royal palace, but no one is able to read them. The formula has been lost for a very long time. Even Sagas the Wise cannot decipher them."

Mara pushed the paper in front of Sasha once more, feeling excitement. "Look at it again, Sasha. Are you sure it is the same?"

"There are differences, but it is in the same form."

Mara looked at Jeffery. "Are you thinking what I am?" she asked him excitedly.

"It cannot be," Jeffery said, "and yet it could answer some questions, and bring out many more."

"If only father were alive, Jeffery. He would be so excited. I do not yet know the connection, but once I reach Tajarez's home, maybe I will see if the Lagonda tribe are descendants of the ancient Egyptians. Think, Jeffery, the golden cobra Tajarez wears around his arm— it just has to be connected in some way."

"The possibilities are endless," her brother told her.

"Tell us more about the hidden valley, Sasha," Mara .said.

"The Seven Cities lie in a valley that is surrounded on all sides by mountains. Even in the hottest weather, there is sometimes snow on the highest peaks."

"Tell me what the palace looks like, Sasha," Mara said.

"It is very big, and very beautiful. There are many wide steps leading up to the entrance. The doorway is inlaid with gold and turquoise."

"Tajarez said you do not usually dress in buckskin, as you are now," Jeffery said.

"That is true. When I am at home, I dress in cloth, which is draped about the body."

"The men, how do they dress?" Jeffery asked.

"It is difficult to describe to you. My prince wears a white cloth garment that does not reach his knees, and golden-colored sandals. Of course, when the weather is cold, he wears the deerskin, as all the men do."

Mara and Jeffery exchanged glances as Mara gathered up her father's papers and slipped them into a leather satchel.

"I think I may have need of these, Jeffery," she told him.

"Yes, it seems you will," he replied.

"What is Tajarez's father like, Sasha?" Mara wanted to know.

Sasha's face took on a reverent look. "He is the king, and a great man, well loved by the people. He is wise and very brave, but he can also be very stern. I am told he changed after the queen's death. He does not often smile."

"Will he like me, do you think?" Mara asked, her voice full of apprehension.

"You are the Golden One. He will love you as we all do."

"Why do you call me the 'Golden One'?"

Sasha lowered her head. "It is not for me to say. You must ask the prince. I can tell you though of someone who is most anxious to meet you, Sagas the Wise. He is more than a hundred summers old, and he awaits your arrival into the city with great anticipation."

"I do not understand much that you have told me, Sasha."

"It will all become clear to you once you reach the cities," Sasha said. "You will find the people will welcome you with love."

Jeffery watched Sasha, Her skin was a light bronze. She was delicate, with a fragile kind of beauty. She was softspoken, with a kind of childlike innocence. She did not flirt or play coy, as the women of his acquaintance did. Her dark hair hung loosely about her shoulders; her lovely body was outlined by the soft buckskin. There could be danger in the way his mind was working. He must remember that she was Tajarez's cousin, and a princess of her tribe.

*                                          *                                          *

The days passed quickly. Mara had so many things to attend to. There were many friends she wished to say good-bye to, but there seemed to be little time to make social calls, and none of her friends called on her, knowing that David and Linda were newly married.

Tajarez did not come to see her, and each day she would wait for some word from him, but her wait was in vain, for he sent her no message.

Sometimes she would catch sight of Palomas, but it was always at a distance. Sasha had become very dear to her, and Mara was grateful to Tajarez for allowing her to stay with her. More often than not, Jeffery was at the camp with Tajarez, although he did spend his evenings with Mara and Sasha. David and Linda had now begun to spend as much time with Mara as possible. Mara knew, as the time grew near for her wedding, that David was having a hard time dealing with her leaving. She would see him watching her with the saddest expression on his face. She tried to reassure him and tell him that being Tajarez's wife was what she wanted most in life.

The day before the wedding, a cloud of gloom descended over the Golden home. Mara's belongings had all been packed and sent to Tajarez's camp. Tess walked around with a sad expression on her face, and when anyone mentioned the wedding to her, she would break into tears.

That night, the family all gathered in the sitting room, but there seemed to be long gaps in the conversation, and everyone, including Mara, was glad to go to his or her room. It was a sad time—the last night she would sleep in the room that had been hers for so long.

The air inside the house was stifling. Mara stood before her open window, but could find little relief from the heat. Everything was quiet. Everyone else must be asleep,  she  thought.   Pulling a  thin   robe  over  her nightgown, she made her way quietly down the stairs. She wanted to walk in her mother's garden one last time before she left it forever.

As she walked down the pathway to her mother's rose garden, panic set in.

This was all so familiar to her. She was leaving her home to travel to a far place, to be with a man she did not really know, and what went on between a husband and wife she had not the slightest idea. She should ask Linda, but it was not the kind of thing she and Linda had ever discussed. She supposed if her mother were alive she would have told her all she needed to know.

Breathing in the fragrance of the roses, she tried to envision what her life would be like with Tajarez.

The garden was so still; there was not a leaf stirring on the trees. The moon was bright, and there was not a cloud in the sky. This would be the last time she would walk in her mother's garden. It was all so sad, somehow. She would miss her home, and David and Tess most of all.

"I hoped you might come here tonight," the voice she loved so well said to her from out of the darkness.

Mara drew in her breath as Tajarez emerged from the shadows.

"You came," was all she could manage to say.

"Yes, I came."

"Why did you not come sooner?" she said, her voice plainly showing she had felt neglected by him.

He stood in front of her, his eyes drinking in her loveliness.

"I had much to prepare for. I wanted to be assured you would have every comfort on the journey home."

"I would rather have seen you."

"It was hard to stay away, but I had to. Can you understand?"

"No. Hold me, Tajarez. Tell me that everything will be all right."

He groaned. "I am not allowed to touch you. Palomas would not allow it."

"Hold me," she pleaded.

A spasm of pain crossed his face, and he swallowed hard.

"Palomas, come to me," he called.

Palomas seemed to materialize out of nowhere, and Tajarez spoke to him rapidly in their language. "Allow me to hold her in my arms. You can stand beside me to see that nothing happens."

"I will permit it. I will even turn my back to you, and since I cannot understand what you say, you will feel you are alone."

"Not quite, Palomas, but you are wise not to leave me alone with her."

Tajarez reached for Mara's hand as Palomas walked a few paces away and turned his back.

"Your hand trembles, Mara. Are you afraid? Or are you disturbed by my nearness, as I am by yours?"

His hands slid around her waist as he pulled her into his arms.

"I love you, Tajarez."

"You cannot know the torture I have been through, Mara. I want to be near you. I want to hold you." He lowered his head and said against her lips, "I want to kiss you. Once a man has tasted the sweetness of your lips, beloved, he could be in agony for another taste."

Softly, his lips covered hers, and Mara stood on her tiptoes, trying to be closer to him. The old familiar weakness began to flicker to life within her, and her heart swelled with love. She felt his grip tighten about her waist. His hands roamed at will over her back and hips, .bringing her ever closer to him. The feel of her softness underneath the silken robe drove him to the brink of his self-control.

Mara could feel the hard outline of his body through her thin robe. His lips became hard and insistent. She wished he would never stop kissing her.

He tore his lips away from hers and stared at her with desire burning in his dark eyes.

"Mara, I love you so deeply. I am in agony to possess you.

The love shone brightly in her eyes as she looked into his fiery eyes, grateful that she had the ability to move this beautiful, powerful man.

"Tomorrow I will belong to you, Tajarez."

"No, beloved, not in the eyes of my people."

"Does this mean we must remain apart?"

"Yes, although I wish it were otherwise."

"But according to the law of God and man, I will be your wife."

"By your laws, Mara. I am governed only by the laws of my people."

"Tajarez, David told me that you worship God."

"Yes, Mara, the god who created the earth and made you. I thank that god every night for giving you to me."

"That is a beautiful thing to say, Tajarez. I have never had a man say anything half so dear to me before."

His face darkened, and his eyes narrowed. "How many men have whispered love words to you, Mara?"