AFamiliarFace (12 page)

She watched them leave. To her surprise, a huge weight lifted off her chest.

“I could explain things if you think it would help,” Rattler murmured. He watched her closely.

“Not necessary.” She sighed. “They’ve always been snobs and always will be. I never fit in there anyway.”

Rattler studied her with an intensity that made her uncomfortably aware Core considered him a deity.

“So are you really a god or what?”

He laughed. “Me? The slave master? What do you think?”

She looked into his eyes, really looked. The deep black of his gaze seemed fathomless, but in their depths she was startled to see what looked like galaxies and worlds beyond worlds. Waves of power emanated from his being, and a hiss of warning escaped the glittering snake tattooed on the back of his neck.

“I think maybe I don’t want to know,” she croaked and took a healthy step back. “Where did Core go?”

He nodded upstairs. “Your friend looked a little tired. And it’s a funny thing, but he looks a lot like me.” Rattler preened. “I look good with hair, don’t I?”

She rolled her eyes, pleased the boss she knew had returned. “Yeah, you do. But the piercings. I don’t know.”

He frowned. “I’ll have you know these are holy signs, symbols of absolutes and promises rendered.” Cupping her chin in his palm, he stared. “You really do love him, don’t you, Mallory?”

“I really do.”

“Good. He’s a fine warrior and the first truly decent leader the Talians have had in ages. I could think of no other upon whom to bestow our greatest hope.” He gave her a knowing look when she would have asked what hope he referred to.

“Hope? I thought I was a treasure,” she joked and tried to ignore her blush.

“You are.” He kissed her softly on the lips, and she jolted at the sheer sexual voltage packed into that simple peck. “A treasure, a hope, and a messenger with great tidings. You possess the power to back up your convictions.”

She had so much to ask him, so much she wanted to know. Then he smiled, and he looked so much like Core she could only stare.

“Are you sure you and Core aren’t really related?”

“But Mallory, if I’m a god, wouldn’t that make Core a god? And if he’s a god, why didn’t he simply kill all those Phrellians with a glare?”

She opened her mouth but closed it as quickly, not sure if he wanted her to answer or not. “Do you have to answer a question with a question?”  

“But doesn’t not knowing make everything more exciting, more mysterious?”

“That was a question. And god or not, you’re becoming a huge pain in my ass.” She scowled at his laughter, starting to miss him already. “I’m not going to see you again, am I?”

He shrugged. “You never know. If it’s allowed, maybe one day I’ll be able to find the black door as easily as you did.” He gave her another huge hug, stepped back, and slapped a heavy knapsack into her hands.

“Where did that come from?”

He didn’t answer. “Take this gift. Call it a wedding present. A ton of spells and charms you can use in the future, as well as an unending supply of wax. It’ll do you a world of good.” He smiled, his teeth suddenly razor sharp, his pupils long and narrow. “Tell Core never to stop believing, and that he passed his last test.”

She frowned. “Test? What does that mean?”

“That only the worthy may live and love on the god’s grounds.”

“This is so weird.”

“He really loves you, Mallory.” Rattler chuckled and shoved her toward the guarded stairway. “Take the farthest door on the right, and hurry up before it disappears. I don’t know if you’ll have another opportunity to find him again in this lifetime.”

She waved over her shoulder and ran like lightning, more terrified of losing Core than of leaving her world. After reaching the top of the stairs, she hurried to the third black door, alarmed when her vision began to haze.

Mal shoved the door open and leaped through before it could disappear. To her relief, Core sat on the bed. She dropped her sack and sat next to him.

“Core? What’s wrong?”

He started. “Where did you come from?”

She looked behind her only to see a blank wall. “Rattler.” She shook her head. “What’s wrong with you? Oh my God. Are you crying?”

In answer, he crushed her to him.
“Mallory.”
He kissed her full on the lips. “You’re really here?” Tears leaked from his beautiful gray-green eyes. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”

She grimaced at reminders of Rattler’s parting words. “What did he say to you? Some final test, hmm? That jerk.” When he told her what Rattler had said, she shook her head. “Of course I’ll die there, Core. I’m not immortal, you know. If I don’t die there, it’s pretty much a guarantee I’ll die somewhere else. Pretty sneaky of my conniving boss, that--”

“
Kina
, hush.” Core kissed her long and hard, his tongue convincing her to let bygones be bygones. “You are my heart, my soul.” He laughed when she purred, and his answering rumble made her grin as well. “My own little familiar.” He stroked her hair. “As soft as that feline fur but far more beautiful.” He trailed kisses over her cheek, her throat, the pulse in her neck. “This is my dream. To see your black hair, dark as night, spread over these sheets while you wear nothing but me. Let me gift you with sincere appreciation.”  

Mallory laughed, on a journey to her future, finally at home. “I love you, Core.”

“And I you, my treasure.” The war leader removed her clothing with skill.

“Someday you’ll tell me how you’re so smart about women’s clothing.”

He chuckled and kissed his way into her good graces. “Praise to Ratlaharan, and all the sons and daughters we will give him.”

Other Futuristic and Fantasy Romance by Marie Harte

Tempting Traditions
The Perfect Creation
Creation’s Control
Creating Chemistry

Caging the Beast

Lurin’s Surrender

The Thief of Mardu
Engaging Gren

Seriana Found
A Scorching Seduction
Storm Lords 1: The Fire Within

Storm Lords 2: Below the Surface

Storm Lords 3: Gale Season

Storm Lords 4: Aftershocks

Storm Lords 5: Guardian’s Redemption
Talson’s Wait
Talson’s Test

Talson’s Net

Talson’s Match
Namesake

Kate Undone

And for paranormal and contemporary romance by Marie, visit her website, where she has more than sixty titles to choose from.
www.marieharte.com

About the Author

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things romantic. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with happy endings and knew writing was her calling. Over twenty years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, and children, her dream has finally come true. Marie lives in Oregon with her family and loves hearing from readers.

To read more about Marie, visit
http://www.marieharte.com