Freedom (Delroi Prophecy) (15 page)

Roarr grunted, not missing a beat as the fight intensified. He swung, Kaje kicked, neither landed a blow. They were too well matched.

“The last thing I need right now is a bunch of priests and their followers trying to influence my Keep. Not to mention the other clan chiefs.”

Kaje slipped past his guard and his fist glanced off Roarr’s ribs.

“The politics could get very murky,” Kaje pointed. “The southern warrior priests in particular will be displeased.”

“
Are you suggesting I interfere with the Goddess temple?”

Roarr repressed a shudder. Gods forbid he invite that nightmare. There was no way his mother or her priestesses would stand for it.

“No,” Kaje said, uncharacteristically sober and reserved. “I’m simply advising you to be prepared, my lord.”

They fought another thirty minutes, until they were both sweating and breathing hard, before calling the match a draw and retreating to the showers. They met again in the cantina in the main commons of the warrior’s wing over a glass of
gazzi
.

“
You’ve run things well in my absence.”

Kaje shrugged.
“Things were relatively calm. I suspect that is about to change.”

Roarr laughed, short and abrupt.
“Definitely. I want security increased in the Keep and around the temple. Discretely. There’s no need to alarm the woman unnecessarily.”

“
Already done,” Kaje said.

Of course it was. His steward was nothing if not efficient.

“Our world is changing whether we like it or not,” Roarr murmured.

Even if Kareena, Parker, and Zola took no active part in the goddess cult, their presence would be seen as prophecy, especially once word spread who their mates were. They would be the symbol, willing or not, which could put them in a great deal of danger, as evidenced by the attack on the Saber City temple. There were many Delroi males, especially warriors, who would object to their women having more freedom of movement and a greater voice in the world. They would see Earthling women in the Keep, in particular these three, as a threat.

“Sooner rather than later,” Kaje said. “The inns in the city are already booked for the Rebirth Celebration.”

Kaje took out his comm unit and unfolded it to tablet size.
“We also have requests from several clan chiefs for accommodations that week. Including the Overchief and his family.”

Roarr rubbed a hand over his face, hiding a frustrated sigh. He’d forgotten about the damned celebration. It was held every year in the city of the Keep. Traditionally, his family provided rooms for chiefs and their families in his guest wing. But that wouldn’t be possible with the Torfas in residence. Alrik and his mate had an infant son, and Daggar’s mate was pregnant. They would come with their household guard.

“We’ll put the Torfas in my guest wing. The Traces will stay with us. I have enough rooms and a suite that will accommodate Kareena, Parker, and Zola,” he said.

“
Why didn’t you put them there to begin with?”

Was that disapproval he heard in Kaje’s tone? He studied the warrior a moment and decided that it was. Roarr was almost amused. Kaje didn’t understand what he was up against yet.

“They have a lot to adjust to and all three are used to being autonomous. They can stay where they are for now.”

Hopefully, in two weeks time all three would be claimed and mated, and the sleeping arrangements for his impending guests no longer relevant. Kaje, however, was still scowling.

“I don’t like it. The prophecy, the celebration, and the increase in rebel activity. We don’t normally have this much excitement in the Keep. At least we don’t have to worry about threats to our guests from Earth.”

“
No,” Roarr agreed, though he wasn’t as certain.

Earth and the powerful Tel group shouldn’t be able to smuggle assassins to Delroi, but it had happened before. The Delroi were more diligent now, but Roarr knew if Tel tried it again, the spy would likely be inserted into Earth’s diplomatic team or be a talented telepath capable of influencing the minds of anyone who came in contact with him. He finished the last of his drink and stood.

“We’ll deal with any problems as they arise,” he said. “I’m on my comm if something comes up.”

And he sincerely he hoped it didn’t. He had a recalcitrant mate to claim. Somehow he had to convince her they belonged with each other without resorting to seduction. But he knew that might prove impossible.

Roarr checked in with Parker and Zola first to let them know his mother would provide dinner in her private quarters. Zola begged off, claiming exhaustion, and she looked it. He made a mental note to have Jarek check on her later. It turned out Parker had already made plans with Kaje. Roarr was surprised Kaje hadn’t mentioned it, but he approved of his Steward’s determination. After speaking with her about appropriate dinner attire, a conversation he’d never imagined having, he walked up the hall and paused outside Kareena’s door.

Should he knock? Just go in? She was his mate after all even if she’d made the choice to keep things slow. He opted for both, knocking and immediately letting himself in. The apartment was quiet. He checked the rooms before making his way to the balcony. The sight that greeted him made him catch his breath. She was lying on one of the wide loungers, wrapped in a thick white towel that did nothing to hinder his imagination. Her hair was wet and she sipped a glass of
gazzi
. When he stepped outside she looked at him with heavy lidded, drowsy eyes that made him think of slow lazy sex.

“
You look relaxed,” he said, sitting by her hip.

“
Are you planning on ruining it?” she asked, with just a hint of tease in her tone.

“
No,” he whispered, then leaned forward to catch her lips.

It was a languid kiss, a hello after a long trying day. Just his mate and her sweet lips, giving as much as taking, forgetting all the things that seemed to keep them apart. He wanted it to never end. But of course it had to. When she leaned back her expression was thoughtful and worried.

“What happened today? What’s wrong?”

“
Why do you think something’s wrong, angel?”

She gave him a look he could well interpret, but the only person who’d ever dared use it on him was his mother. A look that screamed,
I see you right through you so quit stalling and talk
. He didn’t respond. He didn’t know how to respond. He was supposed to take care of her, not the other way around.

“
Roarr?” she asked and stood, clutching the ends of the towel where it crossed her chest.

The setting sun was at her back, creating a halo of soft amber light around her, and he’d never seen anything so magnificent. Knowing that she was his, and his alone, only made the sight more powerful. She stood and waited until he snapped back to attention.

“Yes?” he responded when he regained control of his tongue.

“
If you really expect this thing between us to go anywhere, don’t blow me off like that. I’m not an idiot. I can see something is wrong.”

No doubt she could, but he doubted she wanted to know she was at the center of his worries. And there was no way he could shield her from them either. He sighed.

“You’ll hear all about it at dinner with my mother and sister. Get dressed and we’ll go over.”

She walked inside and he followed her to the bedroom she’d chosen.
“What about Parker and Zola?”

“
Zola isn’t feeling up to it. She’s turning in early. Parker is having dinner with my Steward and his brothers.”

“
Kaje Stian, right?” she asked, looking over her shoulder as she shifted the belongings in her closet. There was much more than they’d bought in Saber City and he made a note to thank his mother later for filling in the gap.

“
Yes.”

“
And your brother?”

“
He sent a message. He may make it late, but probably not.”

“
What do I wear to dinner here?” she muttered, and he moved up behind her. He trailed his fingers along the maroon.

“
These are my house colors. No one in the Keep or our city, outside of my family, can wear them.”

“
You picked them out,” she said softly.

He leaned down to nibble her neck, in the sensitive spot just under her ear. She jumped at the initial contact, but in a second was leaning back against his chest. He resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her and take her to bed.

“I did. And I hope to see you wearing them soon.”

She turned and looked up at him.
“Can’t wear them now, huh?”

He almost smiled.
“You’d be making a declaration, baby. One I won’t hold back from. Are you ready for that?”

She bit the corner of her lip and stared at him for several seconds before shaking her head.
“No. I can’t yet and I won’t promise I ever will,” she ended defiantly.

But what she said and what his empathy sensed from her were contradictory. Her brain and her heart were at odds, which gave him hope. He was careful to conceal that knowledge, certain she would withdraw if she discovered he was aware of her conflict.

“Are any of these colors neutral?” she asked.

He looked over the selection then nodded.
“Except for that one, they all are.”

“
No red.” She cocked her head to one side. “I’ve always been partial to red.”

“
No one wears red in the Keep,” he said carefully.

“
Your mother does,” she pointed out. “Then again, family, right?”

He really didn’t want to get into the traditions involved with the goddess cult yet, but he knew he couldn’t delay long. There was so much she didn’t know about Delroi.

“Or is it a goddess thing? This is maroon. She was wearing blood red,” she said. He didn’t know if she’d picked it up from his mind or drawn the conclusion herself.

“
Yes. In my clan, we consider red the color of death
and
life. And because only women give life and only priestesses of the goddess mete out death…”

She nodded.
“I get it. I only get to wear true red if I join your mother’s cult.”

The idea of her doing that filled him with dread. It would expose her to danger. The worst part was he couldn’t interfere. It was clan tradition and he even agreed with it. Or had until it included his mate. His Earthling mate. As they would say on her planet, this would bring all the crazies out.

“Yes, but there are complications with that you don’t understand yet,” he said, pulling out a silk Delroi style outfit in black and handing it to her. She accepted it with a look half amused and half exasperated.

“
Gee, babe. Why don’t I understand? Is it my feeble female, Earth brain? Or your communication skills?”

He growled and with a snicker she danced out of the way, pointing an imperious finger towards the door as she did.
“Go. Let me get dressed.”

Gods, the woman would make him insane. She thought he could be tossed out of her bedroom so easily? Fuck that. He took up post in front her door and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’ve seen you undress. I’ve even done it for you, baby. I don’t think there is any need to kick me out so you can put clothes
on
.”

She glared for half a second before dropping the towel.
“Fine,” she said.

He sucked in a breath, forcing himself to stay still when all he wanted to do was push her to bed and bury himself balls deep. He barely registered her jerking her clothes on, and he wasn’t better off when she was dressed. The top was a creamy color, short sleeved, deep bodice, and cut off a couple of inches above her navel leaving a stretch of smooth skin around her waist. The pants clung to her hips, flared a bit at the thighs and fell evenly to the floor. They looked light and feminine. Sexy.

“Guess I’m going barefoot,” she said, looking down at herself.

“
What?” Her statement startled him out of his reverie.

“
All I have is boots,” she pointed out, too calmly, like she was talking to a simpleton. “They don’t exactly fit with these clothes.”

He looked her over. She was right. He was surprised none of the people who’d been involved with getting her local clothes had thought of getting her anything other than boots.

“What about the slippers you had on ship?”

“
I think I left them at your house in Saber City. We left in a rush,” she reminded him. He couldn’t deny that. He’d been anxious to get her out of the city. Someplace safe and easier to defend.

“
You’ll be fine for tonight. We’re just going to the family wing, and we won’t be seen.”

He wondered what she’d think of the hidden passages. They riddled the Keep and city, though access to the family quarters had been curtailed centuries ago. Her current apartment was one of the only points that led into his rooms. The other led outside the Keep. It was a secret long kept in his family, and oddly, he was looking forward to sharing it with Kareena. As a child he’d had a lot of fun finding the passages and secret ways around. He knew his mate had never had a lot of fun. Maybe she would find this intriguing.