Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (12 page)

you. I’ve received word that Ana has put a mark on me.” She looked at Ana. “That was

a mighty clever idea, did you come up with it by yourself?”

“Escort our visitor to my trailer.” The disgust in Tara’s voice wasn’t missed by

anyone. At the same time she instinctively put out a hand to steady her son as his entire

body tightened.

Lara noticed the action and smiled seductively at Andru as the guards narrowed in

on her.

“Hello, Andru, it’s nice to see you again.” She placed her hand on his broad chest

and leaned into him. “I know Gothman don’t care about how many bastards they create

so I didn’t bother to contact you to tell you the results of our last visit,” she whispered

and then backed away, smiling.

Ana wasn’t sure if anyone else heard Lara’s words but her heart slammed in her

chest. The guards escorted Lara to Tara’s trailer but Ana hesitated a minute before

following. Her eyes froze on Andru as a very ugly emotion oozed through her. Andru

stared after Lara for a moment and then turned to look at Ana. His expression was

stone-cold fury. She felt it more than read it on his face.

“Find us as soon as you’re through talking to her.” He barked his order at Ana then

gestured for Gilroy to follow him. Ana watched the two men walk away for a second

before leaving with her mama to follow the guards to the trailer.

“Why are you here?” Ana asked Lara as soon as she and Tara entered the trailer.

The two guards stood along the wall and Lara stood in the middle of the room

looking around at things. She turned to face Ana and her smile seemed gentle, almost

timid.

“I have family here. I told you I was a Runner but I’ve never lived as a Runner. I’ve

always wanted to meet my family and then I got word that the Blood Circle Clan

wanted me.”

“Who got word to you?” Tara walked over to the round table in the middle of the

living room and sat down. She gestured for the two pregnant women standing in front

of her to have a seat. She noticed the two women seemed to be equally as far along in

their pregnancies. Had Andru been with this woman the same night Gilroy was with

Ana?

Lara pulled her gloves and headscarf off and then sat down across from Tara. Ana

followed suit but she took the chair next to her mama. Lara was indeed beautiful. Her

eyes were large and turquoise-blue and light brown hair fell past her shoulders. She

was older than Ana, maybe Syra’s age. Her beauty would be enough to captivate

anyone if it weren’t for a deeply embedded coldness that reeked from her very being.

“I can’t tell you that. You put a mark on me like I’ve committed some crime. Then

you have me hauled away by your guards. Ana, I’ve been worried about you and

you’re treating me like a criminal.”

“You are a criminal,” Ana sneered at her. “You know it as well as I do.”

“Ana, my sister,” Lara said with a chuckle, as she leaned back and crossed her

arms. “Can you prove anything? Where is your evidence? Any witnesses you find in

the Norther country would have to testify that they saw you and me do everything

together. Pray tell, what crime is it that you are accusing me of doing?”

Tara looked down at her folded hands on the table. Ana kept her gaze firmly on

Lara. “You stole Runner weapons in large quantity and I will prove that.”

“Ah, Ana, you’re going to have to do better than that if you plan on ruling a nation

someday.” Lara stood up and reached for her headscarf and gloves. She nodded to

Tara. “If I may return to my trailer and get settled in?”

Tara nodded but the look on her face let Lara know she better be very careful of her

next move. One look at the leader of all Runner clans and she could tell she was nothing

like her daughter. She relaxed her face and looked away from Tara toward the window

that framed the edge of the forest outside.

“I was born into the Blood Circle Clan. Of course, the clan site wasn’t on this land.”

Her expression looked pained. “Not back then. The Gothman didn’t like Runners much

back then. And you know, I’m a twin just like you. My mama and twin sister died when

I was born. I have a brother and a half-sister here and, of course, their children. My

papa allowed my mama’s family to take me and raise me as one of theirs. I’ve waited a

long time to come here and meet everyone.”

“Who is your family?” Tara studied the young woman as she spoke. There was

something familiar about her—the way she held herself, her saucy way of speaking.

Lara spun around to face her. “I’m so glad you asked.” Her expression had

transformed once again. Her blue eyes were on fire. “You are my family, Tara. My papa

was Patha. I had an older sister but she’s dead now. Balbo is my half-brother.” She

turned her biting gaze to Ana. “You better watch your step, sister, or should I say niece.

I have as much right to lead the Blood Circle Clan and all the Runner clans as you do, if

not more. My parents were married. Your mama is the bastard of Patha.”

Tara cringed at the word and suddenly realized why Lara looked familiar. She was

the spitting image of Tasha at that age. “You have an awful lot to prove. You may go for

now but you may not leave the clan site and you will be guarded.”

She nodded to the guards and they moved to the doors and then waited for Lara. “I

know Gothman don’t care about bastards but obviously Runners hold them in a higher

esteem. It won’t be hard to prove paternity on your son. He’ll tell you there were other

men but he was the only one I had sex with. Your doctor can prove that if your son is

willing to submit. I guess that makes my child heir to both nations.” She smiled

triumphantly and walked out the door in between the two guards.

Tara sat motionless for a second after the door closed and then reached for her

comm. She looked at her daughter as she spoke into it.

“Darius,” she paused. “We need a meeting immediately. I need Andru and you to

meet me in the conference room.”

She stood up and grabbed her coat. “Come on, Ana.”

Ana called Gilroy the second she was in her glider. “I’m scared,” she said when his

baritone voice sounded in her ear. “She has a claim to the Runner nations. I’m afraid

she’s going to challenge my right to rule.”

Gilroy couldn’t think of anything he’d like more than to be able to keep his claim

home and not have her running around trying to learn how to run a nation. But there

was no way Lara would be allowed to rule a nation like the Runners.

“Your right to rule is legitimate, Ana. Don’t worry. Meet with your family and it

will all be figured out,” he reassured her and then made her promise to stay at the

house and rest after the meeting. But he was worried when he put away his comm.

“That bitch is going to cause trouble, Andru,” he said to his friend once he’d

finished talking to Ana.

“I know. I just got a call to meet with my parents at the house. Lara claims to be the

legitimate daughter of Patha and rightful heir to the Runners. She also claims to carry

my child and will argue that a bastard has certain rights under Runner law because

Mama is a bastard.” Andru blew out a breath and stroked his chin.

“It would be easy to simply eliminate her, my friend,” Gilroy said quietly.

Andru smiled. “That might be our only option but I will hear what my parents have

to say.”

“See to it that Ana goes to her rooms after the meeting. She doesn’t need this stress

right now and she sounded pretty upset when I just talked to her.” Gilroy noticed

Andru suddenly looked very concerned.

“That right there is enough reason to see that this matter is settled immediately.”

With that, Andru climbed onto his glider and took off.

Gilroy watched him fly off and quenched the small amount of jealousy that rose

like bile. He paid a high price to be commander of the Gothman army and have Ana as

his claim. But there were consequences. He would never be able to stand between

Andru and his sister and he knew it. He would take what was given him and live with

the fact that he could never have all of it. He wanted Ana unconditionally, though, and

he wondered if he would ever see that wish granted.

* * * * *

“What do you know about Reesa?” Darius leaned against the windowsill in the

conference room. Ana sat at the table, looking too pale, he thought. Andru leaned

against the opposite wall, staring intently at his sister. She didn’t look good at the

moment and Darius wished he could just send her to her room. But her right to rule

was in question and as much as he felt that she wasn’t the best candidate to rule the

Runners, Tara seemed intent that she would. Sending her away right now would only

add fuel to the fire—and his claim was livid.

“She raised me for the first fourteen winters of my life,” Tara answered as she

paced the length of the room. “I helped her deliver those twins. The cord was wrapped

around one of the twin’s neck and she didn’t make it. Reesa died hours later and there

was just the baby girl. I’ve contacted Balbo and asked him to contact her family. They’re

Freelanders. He’ll ask them about Lara.”

“If her story is valid, she not only outranks Ana to rule, she could challenge you on

legitimacy of marriage. I know Patha appointed you but he’s dead.” Darius barely had

the words out when Tara spun around to face him.

“I know that,” she hissed. “That little bitch came here armed and ready to fire.”

She stopped pacing and turned her attention to her son. “Could you be the papa of

her child?”

“I could be.” His tone was flat and his expression blank. Ana looked up at him and

when he saw the pain on her face, his expression melted. More than anything, he

wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her.

“Under Runner law she has a right to make you help support her child.” Tara

matched his flat tone.

“I don’t fall under Runner law.” Andru grew weary of this. He ignored his mama’s

condescending look and returned his gaze to Ana. “She doesn’t need this stress,” he

said, moving to his sister. “Let Balbo do his research. Send Lara to Dr. Digo for a

paternity test. I’ll submit willingly. Have the doctor give her something that will cause

her to miscarry.”

Tara didn’t respond immediately, giving his suggestion some thought. Andru

helped Ana to her feet and walked her toward the door.

“Andru, have you ever heard of a Bachula?” Ana asked, before they reached the

door.