Claimed: The Warriors of Nur (27 page)

“Tell him to back off, and I will” his voice cracked.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna work.” Her gaze never left the increasingly agitated male before her.  To her sister and the others, he was all that was contained, but she saw the sharp white points that dropped over his bottom lip, recognized that the deep crimson of his eyes was not his normal color.  The last thing she wanted was for him to phase right there in front of Avi.  Love or not, there’s no way she’d leave Leo in the keeping of someone whom she viewed as a threat, and Erol in full phase was all threat.  No.  If that happened, as unceremoniously as she was dragged here, she’d be dragged away, but this time there’d be blood on the ground.  Erol would kill them all before he’d let that happen.  He’d warned her.  “Put me down, and he’ll back off.”

“He looks ready to kill me.”

“Trust me, it’s not just a look.

“What’s his problem?  We’re bringing you back, for Christ’s sakes!”

“You’re touching her…”  It was that simple, the male was touching what was his.  He needed to
stop
touching what was his.  “Put.  Her.  Down.”

Aramis scanned the area around him.  There was nothing but hard rock and dirt.

“NOW!”

Quickly he bent, dropping her on her rear to the ground in front of him.

“Back.  Away.” 

With quick strides, Erol covered the scant distance to scoop her into his arms.  Her scent wrapped him, his body calming with the soothing balm of her body pressed to him.  His knees wobbled, the extent of his relief inexpressible.  Turning, he barreled into the female planted firmly in his path.

“Ground rules, Tarzan” Avi glared, her neck craning to catch his eyes at such close distance. 

“That’s Avi,” Leo whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. 

She prayed that he’d understand the plea in her voice.  She needed her sister to be okay.  Needed her to know that Erol loved her, but more importantly, would protect and keep her safe.

Erol stared down into eyes that matched those of the female in his arms.  While he could see the similarities, they were to him in no way identical.  While Leo was soft, her strength tempered by an open warmness that always  illuminated her, her sister was none of that. The female before him bore the sharp angles of command.  Of leadership and responsibility.  Here was un-tempered strength.  He nodded, a sign of respect for the female who bore the same sharp angles he did conveyed in that simple motion.  He identified the need to protect and wouldn’t dishonor her by disregarding her right to protect her sister, a right he understood.  “Ground rules.”

“I’ll come visit whenever I choose and whenever she needs me.”  Avi settled, her stance wide, hands folded behind her back.  “You will not blame her for leaving.  It was my fault, and I wouldn’t have given her any choice had she asked.”  Here she hesitated, her gaze moving to meet that of her Med Tech, “…and De’Lhila stays.  At least until I can get back in another month or so…”

De’Lhila gaped, her mouth opening like a fish out of water.  What the hell!  She so didn’t see that one coming.  The last thing she wanted to do was be stuck here babysitting.  Honestly she loved Leo, as much as the rest of them, but babysitting was babysitting, no matter how you twisted it. 

“Fine!” she sighed.  “Guess this is having sisters.  But no more cook duty when I’m back on crew.”

“Deal!”  Avi turned back to the male waiting silently before her.  Leo rested in his arms, her head tucked protectively beneath his chin while he buried his nose in the chocolate curls.

“Last thing, Tarzan”  she braced herself, unsure of his next reaction.  “If she ever wants to leave, you’ll let her go, and if you ever hurt her…I’ll kill you.”

Erol nodded with no hesitation at all.  “Deal.”

EPILOGUE

Three miles beneath the Inġenji Mountains…

Leo shifted, the heavily weighted beads of the ceremonia
l
miġbuda
lightly tapped with each movement.  She felt exposed, the garment no more than an ornate piece of jewelry.  The beads were strung tight, the intricate design woven into a solid mass that draped to cover her breast and upper ribcage before ending in an elaborate swoop just above her belly.  Her back and sides were completely bare, another heavy bead ‘skirt’ resting low in the curve of her rear to just cover the bottom of her cheeks, ending in front at her upper thigh.  Their pearlescent shades reflected the fire in the alcoves set in intervals within the stone walls.  Her hair, woven into dozens of tiny braids, was weighted with small silver pieces and left to swing freely to her waist.  She looked down at the soft furs that wrapped her feet, a gift from her
Mati
.  She still hadn’t gotten used to the cold stone floors.

“Be well my children, and let the Mother Goddess remake what has been unmade…”

“So this ‘sex priestess’ waves her magic voodoo stick and…what?”  De’Lhila shifted, her arms crossed.  “They’re supposed to live happily ever after?  Mind you, I’m not knocking the idea of 'HAPPILY EVER AFTER', I’m just wondering,  you know cultural immersion and all.”

“I don’t think she has a stick…”  Avi glanced at the woman beside her.  Deep bags colored the other woman’s eyes.  “You sure you’re okay, De’?  You look like shit.”

“Ummm…excuse me” De’Lhila whispered, “are you supposed to curse in here…‘Sacred
Tobba
’ mountain and all?” She asked, indicating the space with a wave of her hand.

“Fine,” Avi sighed, “I’ll let you deflect.  For now, but before I leave, you and I are gonna chat.”

“Yeah, yeah…..so the voodoo stick?”

“Oh, yeah…I’m pretty sure it’s not a st—” 

Both gasped when a blinding light pierced the dim illumination until the space was bathed in searing white. 

As the light diminished, three entwined forms solidified on the stone dais at the head of the room.  All three were connected.  The pulsing glow receded until it seemed to originate from just those three. 

“One has been remade of two.  As one goes, so shall the other.  In sorrow and joy, your dušia will call to one another, will heal one another, and will wither as the other does….

Mati has been granted, a state both have entered unto freely.  May the Goddess Mother grant proliferation…go well my children…”

“Would you really let me go if I decide to leave?”

Leo shifted, her body resting fully while she lazed on his chest, her knees straddling his waist, her hands pillowing her head.  She couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever been so contented.  Erol stroked her, his hands shifting through the silky mass that draped them.  They were both naked, the light breeze cooling them in the sun.

“No.” 

There was no hesitation to his answer.  No debate.  No room for negotiation.  The answer was unequivocally, ‘NO’.

“But you—”

“I lied.”  He sighed, “ I said what I needed to, to give your sister peace.  I know what it is to wear the responsibility that she has.  It would have damaged her soul to think that she’d put you in a place of danger, displeasure, or unhappiness.  To damage her…is to damage you.  It’s something that I would never allow.”

“I love—”  Her eyes filled.  It was such an understatement.  How could she put into words what was inexpressible?

“I know
Duša
,” he lifted her face, his lips lowering to meet hers, tasting the salty drops that ran freely, “…I know.”

What’s Up With De’Lhila?

You’ll find out in

BOUND

The next book in the

Warriors of Nur Series

Coming

2013

READ ON FOR AN EXCERPT

Due to the lack of appetite and sleep, she was losing time.  Her mind-in rebellion against its state of forced wakefulness- had begun to wonder.  Several times, within the last few days, she’d found herself in places she couldn’t remember going. 

Couldn’t remember even
wanting
to go. 

Just this morning she’d found herself posted-up outside Neron’s chamber entrance.  She’d been naked except for a soft
fenek
skin wrapped around her.  The last thing she remembered was stepping into the- waterfall-esque- shower and closing her eyes while the naturally heated water pounded into the tense muscles of her head and neck.  She’d come to awareness, with water dripping to puddle at her feet and her back pressed to the wall directly across from the entrance to his room.

“There’s nothing for you
to
do, Squirt.” 

“If you don’t
let
me help you,” Leo glared.  “I’ll
make
you let me.”

De’Lhila grinned, her face stretching into a full smile for the first time in the last three weeks.  “Excuse me?”

“I said…”  Leo re-crossed her arms, “I’ll
make
you.”

“You’ll make me.”

“Yes.” her chin lifted.  “You heard me.”

De’Lhila laughed.  She couldn’t help it.  Of all the people in their small family circle, Leo’Nya was the least intimidating.  It wasn’t her size.  De’Lhila was the last person to underestimate the danger of an opponent just because they were small.  In fact, it was the small ones who were usually the most dangerous because they anticipated that others would take their small size as a weakness.  No, that wasn’t it at all.  Leo was the same size as her sister, and Avi’Nyla was one of the most intimidatingly dangerous women she’d even know.  What made Leo such a non-threat was her caring, compassionate nature.  Leo hated to fight.  She knew
how
to- thanks to De’Lhila’s expert training- but she avoided it whenever possible. 

“So.”  Cocking her hip, she crossed her arms.  “How exactly are you going to do that?”

De’Lhila had trained her.  Knew all her moves.  Knew which ones she did well, and which ones not so well. 

There was nothing that Leo could throw at her that she couldn’t counter.  Unless she pulled out a weapon, there was no way she’d win in a fight.

“The same way I got TK to see the neurologist last year after he swore he wouldn’t”

De’Lhila frowned.  “That’s not gonna work, Squirt.  Avi’s not here to order me to do it.”

In fact, if she
was
there, they wouldn’t be having this argument.  As soon as Avi returned with the
Lost & Found
, De’Lhila was outta there. 

Leo frowned.  “What are you talking about?  Avi didn’t order TK to see the neurologist.  She didn’t even know he had a concussion.” 

That was one of the reasons that Leo had needed to resort to what she had.

Stupidly she’d promised not to tell Avi that he was ill as long as he’d promised to get checked out.  Unfortunately, before she’d agreed, she hadn’t thought to get him to promise
when
he would see a doctor.  Typical male, he’d kept delaying until right before they were scheduled to deploy.

“TK said Avi would have listed him NMR (non-mission ready) if he didn’t go”

“Well that’s true.”  Leo confirmed, “But I didn’t tell Avi.  I called Lilith.”

“You called Lilith?”  Her mouth dropped open. 

That explained it.  TK had gone from stoutly refusing to, anxious to go almost instantly.

She shook her head, new respect blossoming,

“That was so wrong Leo.  Just….wrong.”

“Well if he hadn’t been such a stubborn ass, I wouldn’t have had to!”  Leo yelled defensively.  “If he hadn’t gone, he’d have had brain damage.  Remember.”

“Yeah, I remember.”  De’Lhila reluctantly agreed.

“The only thing that scares TK more than Avi is Lilith.  I couldn’t tell Avi so…”

“Wow Leo.  Lilith…”

Lilith Pierce was a 5’4” Asian/Mexican mix.  Soft spoken in nature, she was one of the most unassuming, gentle natured women you’d ever meet.  She was also the mother of one Kingston Pierce, or TK to the crew of the
Lost & Found
. 

A schoolteacher by profession, she didn’t even need to raise her voice to get her erstwhile son to fall in line.  All she needed to do was look at you, and you felt horrible for all the bad things you’d ever done or even
thought
about doing. 

As big and bad as Tk was, he was no match when it came to the softly inspired guilt that ate him when he upset his mother.  It wasn’t that she railed, or scream, or even commanded.  If she did any of those things, one might have a chance at resisting.  All Lilith did was ask,
‘Baby, promise me you’ll take care of yourself.’
  TK was at the neurologist’s the next day.

“Well sorry for you Squirt, but I’m adopted.”

“Oh.  I don’t need a Lilith for you De’…”

Leo walked forward until she stood directly in front of the taller women.  Tilting her head back, she looked into dull amber eyes.

“I just need to find someone to help me make you.”