Therian Prisoner: 3 (Therian Heat) (23 page)

“Her spirit was broken that night and her powers were nearly neutralized.” He stared past her, his expression tormented. Faint pulses of grief and guilt echoed through her mind and she realized they were coming across their link. “I searched everywhere and used every ability I possessed, but Audelon was powerful and determined. He stayed a step ahead of me long enough to get her with child. He had forced a mating bond, so by law I was not allowed to interfere.”

“But it’s your job to protect the Omni Prime.”

“Times were different back then. No female needed protection from her mate. As soon as their bond was formed, any action on my part became forbidden.”

“You killed him, didn’t you?” It wasn’t much of a leap. It was what she would have done.

He waited until she looked at him to say, “I did and I was outcast because of it. I knew what I was doing was against the Charter and I killed him anyway.”

“He deserved to die.”

“Perhaps.”

The story seemed incomplete, but she didn’t want to pressure him. He’d already revealed something personal and painful. She moved to the chair beside his and reached for his hand. He stared straight ahead, allowing her touch yet not responding.

“Herbert, Audelon’s son, pledged to complete what his father had started.”

“But Esmah was already defined and pregnant. What more was there?”

“Audelon had crippled the current Omni Prime. Herbert vowed to destroy them for all time.”

“And he must have succeeded because I believed it was a legend until a few days ago.” She shook her head, wanting more information, yet hesitant to ask questions.

“Four months after Esmah gave birth, she ‘jumped’ from the castle tower. Herbert insisted that she had gone mad and that her bloodline was now tainted. A few days later, Herbert claimed to have had a vision. He said Khonish could not allow madwomen to wield such power, so he was going to choose another bloodline for the next Omni Prime.”

“How convenient.”

“Many didn’t believe him, but what could they do? He controlled the Prime Council and the Omni Prime was no longer a threat.”

“What happened to Esmah’s child? Did she have a son or daughter?”

“A daughter, and she was defined with a single animal nature by one of Herbert’s servants. Then the Prime Council passed new laws designed to ‘protect’ Therian females.”

“Oh my gods, are you about to say what I think you’re about to say? Did they insist that females choose their animal nature by the time they’re twenty-one and choose their mate by twenty-five?”

“The ages have been adjusted, down through the years, as sensibilities evolved. According to the original statute, a female had to choose her animal nature one month after her first show of blood and name her mate within the following year.”

“I had no idea that ridiculous law had anything to do with the Omni Prime.”

“It was designed to curtail female power across the board, not just prevent the Omni Prime from resurfacing.”

“Then how did Maggie end up with all her powers?” Devon had been raised on stories of Maggie, the modern Omni Prime. Had there been no one else between Esmah and Maggie?

He sighed and drained his beer. “There is so much to tell. Decades, no, centuries, of struggle.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He nodded, his expression growing distant again. “I was devastated after Esmah’s death. As long as she was alive there was hope, but my failure was cemented with her death. If it weren’t for Daralis I’m not sure I would have found the strength to go on.”

“Who was Daralis?” She stroked his hand as the flares of emotion began again.

“Your ancestor. She was Historian at the time and we were both tortured by guilt. But she was able to see beyond the pain and realize it was our responsibility to protect the legend until the reality could resurface.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Herbert saw Daralis as the threat she was and put a hefty price on her head. I had failed to protect the Omni Prime, but I refused to fail Daralis. We gathered the sacred artifacts and journals and disappeared. Herbert was too powerful to take on directly, so we worked in secret. We trained teachers who made sure Therian history included the Omni Prime. The harder he tried to eradicate all memory of the Omni Prime, the harder we worked to preserve those memories.”

“It’s so strange to think of you in a medieval setting. You said this was late in the eleventh century?”

“It was about 1110 by the time Herbert was in control. He searched obsessively for Daralis, but we’d developed allies by then, people who hid us and gave us supplies.”

“Why didn’t you go all dragon on this bastard and reclaim Esmah’s child?”

He laughed and the tension across his shoulders eased. “You know me too well. I’d had enough of hiding and decided to attack, but Herbert was smarter than his father. He anticipated my move and that’s when he had his servant define the girl. Then he hid her with a family who had no idea what she was. Of course I learned all this months after it happened. Sacking a castle is time-consuming even with a dragon on your side.”

“So Esmah’s daughter was raised believing she was an ordinary Therian.”

“Yes.”

“And none of her daughters or their daughters were extraordinary?”

“We all thought Herbert had won. The power of the Omni Prime was suppressed until Maggie came along.”

“How did Maggie realize she was an Omni Prime?”

“She didn’t. Not really. Everyone presumed Maggie’s power came from her unusual definition.”

Devon chuckled. “Even among Therians having three mates is unusual.”

“It was not just that she had three mates. All three of her mates participated in her definition. She instinctively reenacted the Omni Prime ritual without realizing what she was doing.”

“She also caused a lot of confusion,” Devon mused. “People began to associate definition with the mating bond and they are two separate things.”

“Very true.”

“Who first suspected that Maggie was an Omni Prime?”

“Your grandmother. Though the Omni Prime was lost back in the dark ages, the Historian’s line remained unbroken. She had studied the journals and recognized the signs.”

“She only had access to the journals because you protected the legend of the Omni Prime.”

“Too little, too late, but I suppose you’re right.”

She touched his face, drawing his gaze to hers. “And now the story has come full circle. If I’m not mistaken you participated in the definition of our new Omni Prime.”

His smile was still tinged with sadness. “I’m glad that the Omni Prime has been restored, but that doesn’t keep me from mourning Esmah.”

“Was she the first woman you ever loved?”

“No.” He nipped the heel of her hand then stood up. “She was just the last.”

Devon felt as if he’d punched her. He hadn’t allowed himself to love since… Did that mean he didn’t love her? They hadn’t spoken of love, but she’d felt the intensity of his feelings when they were in bed together.

“Don’t look so devastated.” He caught her wrist and pulled her to her feet. “I should have said she was the last woman I loved
until now
.”

She eased her hand out of his and started clearing the table. A profession of love didn’t count when it was prompted by a devastated expression. “You don’t have to—”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her back against him. “You’ve been able to sense my feelings ever since I anchored the link. Do you need to hear the words?”

“Every woman needs to hear the words, but I don’t want you to say them because you hurt my feelings.” Another fact pushed through her disappointment and she twisted so she could see him. “If you participated in Carissa’s definition, will she be able to shift into a dragon?”

Ian laughed. He was glad for the distraction, but he wanted to fix his blunder. He’d known he loved Devon the first time he kissed her, but he hadn’t wanted to pressure her. Now she was obviously ready for a stronger commitment and he shoved his foot in his mouth.

“It doesn’t usually work that way,” he explained. “Females aren’t strong enough to manifest a dragon.”

“But she’s an Omni Prime.”

“Which is why I said usually.”

“Are all Therian raptors dragon-shifters?”

“No. That’s part of being Guardian of the Ancients. My bloodline was chosen, just like yours.”

“Does anyone you define inherit your abilities?” She sounded way too hopeful.

“Now that Dr. Garran has given you a clean bill of health, you have several options.”

“And they are?”

He smiled. He should have known she wouldn’t let it slide without a full explanation. “You could be defined with my blood, which would make you a Therian raptor. A few of my Guardian abilities might be transmitted, but there is no chance you would manifest a dragon.”

“And if I wanted to manifest a dragon?” She was clearly fascinated by the possibility.

“It takes dragon blood to create a dragon-shifter. Guardians aren’t born, they’re created.”

“All right. Now I’m completely confused.” She set the dishes in the sink then offered him her undivided attention.

“I was born a Therian raptor with a common set of raptor abilities. When I was eighteen I underwent a ritual not unlike female definition. A few drops of the
ancient
blood was used to empower me with my Guardian abilities.”

“Ancient
dragon
’s blood?”

“Yes.”

“That’s why you’ve lived so long.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a bottle of dragon’s blood stashed away somewhere?”

He just smiled at her.

“You do. That’s why you locked the cabin even though it’s in the middle of nowhere.” Her expression was so animated that it made him smile. “And no one knows about this, not even my mother?”

“The secret can only be shared with one other and I chose Payne long before I knew your mother.”

She silently processed the facts for a second before she asked her next question. “Are you breaking the rules by telling me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

The shimmer in her gaze told him she’d already figured it out, but apparently, she needed to hear the words. “Because you’re my mate.”

* * * * *

Zophiel screamed in pleasure as Roberto pounded away between her thighs. Each time she took him, he grew more savage and more demanding, which only heightened her pleasure. He snarled and she spotted his fangs. Damn. She didn’t have much longer with this one. She used demonic energy to form slave bonds and the longer the link was in place, the more demonic her slaves became. She’d hoped Roberto would last longer than this. He’d showed so much promise.

Her distraction robbed her of her final orgasm, but Roberto’s entire body shook as he came. She waited until he stopped convulsing then shoved him over onto his back.

“Which formula did you give the wolf cub?” She infused the question with compulsion, forcing his mind to provide accurate information.

He blinked then rubbed his eyes and groaned. “Three. Gen three.”

“But gen three is specifically formulated for undefined females. Why give it to a male?”

“Wanted to make sure it wouldn’t kill his sister.” He sat up and reached for her breast.

She slapped his hand away and sat as well. “What sister? Why was she targeted?”

“Heather Fitzroy. Like the Lashtons, the Fitzroys have been alphas for generations. Very strong bloodline.”

A yellowish green light burst within his gaze and he growled low in his throat. He reached for her again, so she shoved him over and said, “Go to sleep.” Immediately he obeyed.

She needed to think, needed to determine her next step. Roberto was burning out faster than she’d expected. Even the backers had noticed his odd behavior and put a tail on him. She’d snapped the shadow’s neck and tossed the body in a dumpster, knowing the backers would eventually hear about it.

Roberto moaned, drawing her wandering mind back to the present. Devon had seen Roberto. He’d escorted her to the Wyoming lab. If Zophiel used him as a mask, the Therians would blame her actions on the backers. Which would give her time to plan her next attack. But could she control him well enough to pull off one last mission?

It was worth the risk. She’d been spinning her wheels long enough.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood looking around for her bathrobe.

Nehema had been sullen all day. Zophiel wasn’t sure if guilt had rushed in on the heels of Nehema’s fury or if she was quietly searching for another avenue for her anger. Hopefully it was the latter. Vicious Nehema was much more fun than the worn-out old woman she’d become these past few weeks.

After slipping into her bathrobe, Zophiel walked down the hall and tapped on her sister’s door. It was barely nine o’clock. Surely she hadn’t gone to bed already.

“Come in,” Nehema called.

Zophiel glanced around the overtly feminine room and wrinkled her nose. Nehema hadn’t chosen the decor, but she’d selected the room. The house was a furnished rental. Like so many others, the owners had opted for leasing the property when they’d been unable to sell it. Knowing her sister wasn’t responsible for the hideously pink ensemble did little to soothe Zophiel’s restlessness.