The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] (48 page)

Darius wanted to grab Tara and run. His instincts had him ready to do anything to prevent her from moving an inch. Don’t go away, he wanted to say.
Whatever you do, don’t leave my sight again.
But he couldn’t. The Lord of Gothman didn’t behave like a babbling idiot. He did not take his eyes from hers for a second.

She returned the gaze.

Rolko grunted and gestured to the trailer. “Be quick about it, we have a clan to get settled.”

Darius held out his hand for her to lead the way, and she obliged. He entered the trailer behind her and shut the door.

“There is no Leetha of the Blood Circle Clan. Who are you?” His growl was low as he watched the Runner walk slowly into the trailer.

She walked farther into the room and glanced up at him again once she’d reached the landlink.

He watched her every move, waiting for her to speak again.

Was
this
Tara? Damn! He wanted this to be
her
body,
her
voice. She was in full Runner uniform wearing the emblem for the Blood Circle Clan. What was she doing here, after all this time? And why was she entering the Test of Wills? “I asked you a question, Runner.”

She put her gloved hands into the pockets of her leather jacket. “Do you have Andru and Ana?” She looked up.

This time it was Darius’ turn not to answer. He moved quickly towards her and ripped off the headscarf. Her light brown hair fell past her shoulders and over her face.

She reached up and shoved the hair from her eyes.

His face softened the second he saw her. “Yes, I have them.” His voice cracked with emotion, and he touched her face with his fingertips. He pulled his mouthpiece out of his pocket and wrapped it around his ear. Sliding his hand down it, he reached for the switch to activate it.

“No, don’t.” She grabbed his hand quickly. “You can’t.”

“What do you mean, I can’t?” He took her hand in his before she could pull it away, put her fingers up to his mouth, and kissed them. “I have to tell Patha.”

She pulled away her hand after a second. “You can’t. It will ruin everything. If I announce I’m back, the Test of Wills will be cancelled. That would cause an uproar among the clans that can’t be allowed to happen right now.”

“Tara, there’s no need for it. You’re Patha’s heir, you are. It’s your nation, my Lady. You’re not going to give that up.”

“I have no intention of giving up my right to rule the clans.” She looked at him defiantly. “I’ve entered the contest and shall win.”

Darius laughed and reached out to her again.

* * * * *

He’d obviously put their past behind him, but she still felt they had unfinished business and stiffened. He ignored her hesitation and pulled her to him aggressively.

In spite of her intention to remain aloof, his presence in front of her was too overwhelming and arousing. She finally allowed him to literally pull her off her feet and into his arms. He held her with one powerful arm and lifted her face to his with his other hand. Without pause, he covered her mouth with his and kissed her passionately. The warmth of his body smashing hers softened all her defenses and she melted.

Finally, he moved his mouth away from hers and smiled at her again. Passions that had been asleep for many cycles soared to life. Tara felt intoxicated from all the emotions twirling inside her. She wanted to rip this man’s clothes from his body and make love to him, forgetting the rest of the world existed. She wanted him to hold her, and talk to her for hours and hours, until they both knew each other’s hearts again. But Tara also wanted to hear Darius swear unconditional loyalty—to her and their family. Tara wanted him to know that he would have to prove his love through his actions, and not his words. Although her heart needed to hear the words, too.

All of this, as important as it was, needed to remain on hold for the time being. A political agenda existed, and it must be handled first.

“So, my Lady, you plan on defeating all the other warriors, do you?”

She fought against his grasp now. He continued to hold her with one strong arm, and struggle as she would, she couldn’t release herself until he let her go. She backed up and faced him as if he’d just challenged her.

“My Lady, do you know how strong some of the entries are?” Darius’ gaze dropped as he looked her over.

“I will be triumphant. There’s no doubt about that. Now, what you need to do is tell Rolko that I am Leetha, and you’ve agreed to let me take my argument to Patha when we reach the Blood Circle Clan.”

“And why is it that I need to be telling Patha a lie?” Darius grabbed the side of her head, wrapping her hair around his fingers, and pulled her to him.

Tara pushed against Darius’ chest so that her face was less than a foot from his. “You can’t create more of a scene than you already have. These people are primed for the Test of Wills. I’ve heard the stories around the campfire of their predictions of victory. If I announce my presence, there will be much adrenaline, and nothing to do with it. It will cause a stir and create unrest among the Runners. A true warrior prepares for battle and then must fight. The Test of Wills can’t be reversed once the process has started. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Something cold and brutal melted in those gray eyes. Darius’ expression softened considerably. “So you’ll put your life on the line to keep peace, will you?”

“I will live through this, Darius,” she whispered, as she searched his face, and her hands went from his chest up to his shoulders.

“You’ll be an outstanding leader, Tara. Your point is taken, and I’ll inform Rolko, yes.”

“You should do that now,” Tara said, although she didn’t want to leave his embrace.

“I’ll not lose you again,” he whispered, but there was a snarl in his voice, almost animalistic, definitely possessive.

“I assume you’ve learned some manners.” Her whisper was just as harsh, and she hoped the fire in her eyes brought his blood to a boil.

“If anyone can teach me manners, it would be you.” He kissed her again.

This time, she pulled back and tore away. “There are cold Runners out there.” She ripped her scarf out of his hand and wrapped it around her head. Then she opened the door and walked out.

Chapter Twenty-One

The Blood Circle Clan was alive with festivities. The snow had ceased, and its insulation on the ground made the night air crisp but tolerable.

Tara heard music and singing as she drove slowly through the camp. Nostalgia crept through her. Several huge bonfires sent streaks of fire shooting up into the cold gray sky. She could hear loud drunken stories and laughter coming from the fires as mugs were passed and ale poured. She smiled broadly to herself as she noticed so many familiar faces going about their business, unaware of her presence. So many newcomers arrived at the location that no one bothered to look up as she drove by.

She knew there was no way she could slip into one of the circles around the fires this evening. She’d be recognized the second she spoke. She had to maintain a low profile tonight, and she knew exactly how she would do it.

The land was so familiar to her it was as if she’d never left it. But she had, and there were two people she had to see immediately, her children. Darius said he had them, so she knew they would be in their bedroom, probably asleep. She wouldn’t wake them but she had to see them, to touch their soft skin. Her heart ached as she slowly drove through the thick trees around the town and toward the large house on the hill.

* * * * *

It would take a skillful eye to track Tara as she moved through the woods. She knew how to stay invisible. It was just that skillful eye watching her now.

Darius sat motionless on the side of the road and observed her every move, following her as she passed among the trees and the large rocks jacked up out of the earth. He had known it was Tara as soon as the sound of her bike reached him. His landlink matched the code from the panel that had been installed onto her bike. Not that he needed confirmation.

Now she was moving at almost a dangerous speed, considering the limited visibility from the night and the snow. It suddenly occurred to him where she was going. He left the roadside and sped so quickly through the town to his house, more than one head turned and more than one body jumped out of the way.

Darius slid to a stop in front of the house and ordered the guard to put his bike in the shed as he ran inside.

Reena and Hilda looked up astonished as he bolted in the front door.

“Do not come upstairs.” He barked the order and leapt up the staircase, taking three at a time.

* * * * *

The excitement in the community had proven to be an excellent distraction. Tara found herself behind the old familiar house before she knew it. She parked the bike in the seclusion of the trees and bushes and slowly moved toward the structure.

The best place to enter, she decided, was through her old upstairs bedroom. She easily climbed the trellis, free of ivy from the cold of winter. She lifted her body up onto the walls of the balcony and hopped nimbly onto the floor outside the closed door.

The room was vacant and dark, and the warmth from the house radiated toward her body. As she opened the door an inch to peek into the hallway, she heard voices coming from rooms below. The upstairs appeared to be quiet, and she moved slowly down the hallway to the nursery at the other end.

She was surprised to hear a low, quiet voice coming from behind the partially closed nursery door. It was Darius, and she was very much surprised to hear him softly singing a Gothman folk song. She couldn’t see him through the half-closed door, but from where she stood, she could see Andru sitting in his crib watching his papa.

Tara froze at the sight of her son. He was so big! So grown up! Had she only been gone six cycles? He didn’t look like a baby. His blond curls fell loosely around his head, and his eyes were big and a deep gray. She watched him move his small hands and wiggle the toes that were sticking out from under his blanket. He was pudgy but not fat, very cuddly looking.

She felt tears well in her eyes, and her vision blurred. It was a physical effort not to run into the room and scoop the small child up into her arms. She wanted to bury her face in him and whisper how sorry she was that he was taken from her. She wondered what kind of adjustment he and his sister must have gone through. How traumatized had it made them?

After several minutes of staring at her son in the dark hallway, laughter from downstairs brought her back to the reality of her situation. She stepped away and entered the bedroom she’d shared with Darius. The door adjoining the room to the nursery was closed, and all Tara could do was stand and listen to the song Darius was singing. He ended the song; several minutes of silence followed. She pressed her ear to the closed door and listened, trying to determine what Darius was doing. She heard nothing.

Suddenly, the door to the nursery flung open, causing her to jump backwards. She struggled to regain her balance in the dark room and not trip over furniture. Before she had her bearings, a large hand wrapped around her neck. Instantly she was lifted off the ground.

“What is it that you plan to do, m’lady?” Darius’ whisper was more like a snarl.

She wrapped her fingers around his hand and struggled to no avail.

He threw her back.

She slid across the floor, skidding to a stop before she hit the wall. Tara flipped her legs around and looked like a cat ready to pounce as he came at her again.

“You are not taking these children anywhere!” This time the snarl was more apparent than the whisper. He lunged toward her.

She rolled out of his way and sprang to her feet. “Darius, all I wanted to do was see them.” She stood there ready for him this time. “If I wanted my children to leave this house, I wouldn’t have crept down the hallway while you sat in the nursery obviously waiting.”

“Why should I believe you?” He reached out to grab her.

Tara dodged his hand and punched him squarely in the stomach.

He didn’t flinch but instead, reached for her a second time.

She tried to turn away, but he locked her in his arms until her back smashed against his body.

“I guess you’ll just have to trust me,” she said, relaxing her body in his arms. With that comment, he released her. She looked toward the nursery door and then back at Darius. His expression remained wary, and the anger was still there. His gray eyes appeared almost black.

“Please, Darius, my children…our children…I need to see them.” Her voice cracked and his gray eyes completely softened. Tara took off her headscarf and draped it over a chair. “Please, I need to hold them. I need to see if they remember me.”

Darius walked over to her and wiped a tear from her eye. “Don’t let them see you crying. I know they’ll remember you.” He took her by the hand and led her into the nursery.

The two children lay sleeping in their matching beds, and Tara cried all over again as she stroked their hair and squeezed their tiny hands. Ana pulled Tara’s hand up to her face, and Tara felt the small child breathing gently against her skin. She knelt down and stared, stroking her beautiful baby girl’s hair with her free hand.

Darius was behind her when she stood, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. “They’re absolutely beautiful children, my lady,” he whispered into her ear. Then he gently kissed her neck. “You’ll be amazed at how smart they are and how they chatter all day long.”