Untouchable Lover (17 page)

Saar returned and held up a dried Gossum skin. The thin membrane crumbled under his clenched fist. A bitter tang wafted into the air. “They came back. Stupid Gossum.” He threw the foul husk to the ground. He stiffened, his muscles bulging beneath his tunic. “Listen. I hear movement, somewhere on the second floor.”
 

Noeh strained to hear any sound from the old building. He focused his attention on the upper level. In the distance, the soft sound of running feet crept into his ear. “Send a couple of warriors around back to block any retreat. The rest of us will enter from the front.”
 

Saar pointed to two males. “Caleb, Jade, head out.” Caleb, an old fighter with haunted eyes, wore a silver necklace around his throat in tribute to his lost qithan, the female he would’ve bonded to had she survived the scourge. Jade, angry and full of himself, had short auburn hair tied back with a gray bandana. He had already drawn his sword, his eager, battle-ready gaze focused on the asylum. They left without a sound.

Noeh searched the nearby shrubs, looking for Demir and his pride of Panthera. His stomach knotted. He already regretted his decision to let them come along.
 

“I’m here, Stiyaha. Ready whenever you are.” Demir crouched among the ferns, a tic pulsing in his jaw.

“We attack once my warriors are in place.” Noeh swallowed, the taste of bile bitter on his tongue.

Demir stood. He glanced from one Pride member to another. “We can’t wait any longer. Let’s go.” He jumped to his feet and shifted, mid-air, into his panther. His sleek fur glistened in the light from the waning crescent moon.
 

“Wait!” Noeh wasn’t fast enough to stop them.

Demir landed on the ground and ran toward the asylum. Aramie and the other Panthera emerged from the bushes in hot pursuit.
 

“
Craya!
Gods be damned.” Noeh raised his sword. “Attack!” Adrenaline rushed through his body like a gale force wind, fueled by his anger.
 

A large band of Gossum rounded the corner of the building. Ram led the pack, a triumphant cry erupting from his throat. He raised his arm and something glinted in his hand.
 

 
Noeh focused on the objects in Ram’s grasp—Caleb’s silver necklace and Jade’s gray bandana. A scream burst from his throat. He ran toward his enemy, driven by the rage that engulfed him.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Melissa peeked into the Grand Hall. No sign of Noeh. Good. She’d learned many things during her time with the Panthera, including the fine art of breaking and entering. She didn’t use the skills often, but knowing how was valuable.
 

After Noeh installed the lock on her door, she’d had a fitful sleep. Waiting until she heard his door shut and his feet shuffle down the hallway, she’d set to work. He’d be mad when he found her gone. She shrugged.
 

The warm aroma of baked bread, eggs, and bacon from the evening repast wafted past her nose. Her stomach rumbled. As she headed for the end of the line, the hair on the back of her neck rose in warning.
 

Warriors, council members, and males from the merchant population stared in her direction. Some sat at tables lined up in rows, eating their first meal of the night. Others stood by the wall, where the food—arranged in a magnificent display—took center stage. A few scattered females perched among them. It looked like most of them had already finished their meal, the food picked over, the tables almost empty.

She swallowed, grimacing at the taste of bile raw in her throat. It was happening, again. The males wanted to possess her, own her. A part of her wished she was barren, just like the other females.

“Carry on with your business.” Gaetan’s voice boomed across the room.

Melissa caught his look. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t get up from his seat or say another word. She relaxed her shoulders, aware of how tense she’d become.

Someone coughed. A strained laugh filtered through the air. The sound of forks on plates and renewed conversations picked the noise level up to a reasonable decibel. The tension dissipated.
 

When Melissa had moved up in the line, she grabbed two slices of bread, along with a pad of butter and some honey. Next up; scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon, and an apple. Her full plate sent her salivary glands into overdrive.
 

An empty table in the corner beckoned, so she took the lone spot. The fresh eggs and toast tasted good and filled her stomach. She relaxed to enjoy the moment, but a bite of the apple brought back memories of what had happened in the kitchen between her and Noeh.
 

Those blue eyes, swirling with bits of amber, haunted her. The skin on her neck and face heated.
I need to walk this off, maybe that will cool me down.

She left the Grand Hall, not caring where she went. The corridors blended together, numerous doorways and tunnels leading to uncharted places. She passed them all, her only focus: to move her feet and burn off some of her frustration.
 

There was no other Panthera Pride out there, nowhere else she could run. The Keep, whether she liked it or not, was her new home. She’d have to find a mate by the next new moon. The realization made her stomach churn. Thoughts of her attraction to Noeh competed with her guilt over William, driving a wedge into her heart. One was off-limits, the other already gone. Then, there was Demir and his relentless pursuit. She longed to make a friend, someone she could talk to about her problems. A sob built in her chest, and she clamped her lips tight, refusing to let it out.
 

The chatter of voices and rakes hitting dirt emanated from around the next bend. She followed the noise, eager for company.

A large cave came into view, by far the largest one she’d seen in the Keep. Rows and rows of plants and vegetables lined the cavern floor. The smell of fresh earth filled her senses. Thousands of sunstones lined the ceiling, lighting the room and providing energy for the plants. The room was so bright she had to shield her eyes with her hand.

“This place is beautiful, isn’t it?”
 

She turned at the sound of a female’s soft, soothing voice.
 

Bet stood a few feet away, holding a basket filled with carrots, their green tops hanging over the edge. Her plaid dress had brown stains from top to bottom, evidence of her labor in the field. She put the bushel on the ground and motioned for Melissa to join her. “Let me show you around the garden.”
 

“This place is magnificent. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
 

“Of course you haven’t, sweetie, the garden only exists here in the Keep. We grow all our own vegetables and even have some pigs and goats on the far side.”
 

Melissa scanned the immense cavern. Rows of tomatoes, beans, and corn lined this end of the cave. A female Jixie wearing a full skirt and a frilly white blouse hurried by with a basket of green beans balanced on her head. One hand held on to the wicker lip while the other moved back and forth in stride with her fast gait. Other Jixes skittered past Melissa, intent on their own tasks.

“This place is so…big,” Melissa said.

Bet laughed and walked down an aisle filled with blueberry plants. She picked a few round, plump berries and handed them to Melissa. “Here, for you.”
 

 
“Thank you.” The berries smelled fresh and sweet. She popped the small fruit into her mouth, and her taste buds erupted with flavor. “Wow, amazing.”
 

Bet nodded, a sly smile threatening to break free. “Tell me, what brings you here?”
 

Melissa didn’t know where to begin, but maybe she could talk to Bet. Her chest lightened as hope welled inside her. They walked between the rows of berries. Taking a chance, she decided to tell Bet the truth.

“The males—they stare at me with such longing in their eyes. I-I can’t take it.” Her bottom lip quaked. She fought hard to bring her emotions under control. “The gods want me to take a mate, but it’s too soon since William and my baby Seth died.”

“How long ago did they pass away?”
 

“Almost a year.”

“Who’s to say whether that’s long enough? Only
your
heart knows.” Bet grasped Melissa’s hands and squeezed them gently. “I doubt the gods would require you to find a mate if they didn’t think you were ready.”
 

“Yes, but…I…” Melissa struggled, her words tangling together as confusion and fear roiled within her.
 

“Put the past behind you, for your future is here with us.” Bet reached up and touched Melissa’s shoulder, a stretch for her short stature. “You will find a mate, one who will love you deeply.”

 
“How can you be so sure?” A single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
 

“I have faith in the gods, don’t you?”

“I do, but…” She stared into Bet’s eyes. The little Jixie’s words reminded her of her personal commitment.
Things will work out, they always do. Trust in the gods.
She grabbed on to those words and held them close to her heart.

Bet returned to holding Melissa’s hands, and her knowing eyes twinkled. “Tell me, is there anyone you find attractive? Anyone who makes you feel alive?”
 

Melissa bit her lip and pulled away from the kind female. “There are so many males, but I’ve had little time to get to know any of them. Their stares make me uncomfortable.”
 

“I can’t blame the males for looking at you with longing in their eyes. You give them hope.”

“Why me?”
 

“You gave birth. Children are always hope for the future. It would mean so much if you took one of the males as your mate.”

“I need to, I know, but…I’m not ready.”

“The time will come when you’ll have to move on. You’ll make the right choice, I know you will.”

They walked in silence for a few minutes. The notion of taking a mate made Melissa’s heart ache. She didn’t know if should could move on.
The heat from the sunstones warmed her skin. She wished she could go out in the sun and return to her life as a human, far away from here. But alas, never again.
 

“You ok?” Bet asked.

Melissa sighed and stared into Bet’s soft brown eyes. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, what is it?”

“Why do you think Alora told Noeh to watch over me?”

“Well, I thought it was because you lost your shield power. That’s not what you are really asking, though, is it?”
 

Melissa shook her head and took a deep breath. “I’m asking about Noeh. Why him?”

“Let me tell you something about Noeh,” Bet said. “He’s a great king, one who’s kept our kind together over the last few centuries, ever since the great scourge. The loss of so many females took a toll on many of our males. Fights broke out over the remaining females. Several males died. Noeh, through his strong will and firm rule, brought our kind back together. He forced us to keep our priorities straight, to care for each other, and to fight the Gossum.”

“Noeh is loved and respected, I can see that, but I’m still not sure what this has to do with me.”

Bet patted Melissa’s hand and led her toward the crest of a nearby hill. “Life hasn’t been easy for Noeh. He’s tried so hard to keep everyone going, to give them something to hope for, to keep living. For a long time, his faith kept him on track. He believed the gods would always be there for us. He prayed to Alora and Veromé, but they never heard him or chose not to help. As a result, he lost much of his faith and compassion. His marking faded as a result.”

“That’s terrible.” Melissa’s heart swelled. He cared so much for his kind.
 

“If you ask me, I think Alora wanted him to watch over you to gain back some compassion and faith.”

“You think I can do that?” A flutter beat in her stomach.
 

“Well, yes. Not only do you bring hope for one of the males, you also bring hope to all of us.”

“So, this is about my fertility.” Melissa’s cheeks reddened, but she clamped down on her anger. She’d hoped it was about more than that.

“Partially, yes, but you have a spark within you. I think you’re here to do something important.”
 

Melissa chewed on her bottom lip, unsure how to take this last bit of info. “Something important? Me? I’m just a slave.”
 

Bet pursed her lips. “We’re all equal here.”
 

No, they weren’t, but Melissa wouldn’t press the point. As long as Demir kept the Dren as slaves, she’d never be equal.

They stood at the top of the hill, and the valley spread out below them. A sense of calm washed over her. The Keep was so beautiful—like Noeh.
He ruled this land, and he was king. She couldn’t imagine anyone better for the job or more suited for a mate. The thought of being with him sent sparks of desire through her body. She cursed her traitorous reaction, for she could never be his queen.
 

Melissa pulled Bet into an embrace, the small female’s body engulfed in her arms. “Thank you, Bet, you’ve given me something to think about.”
 

She just wanted to live up to expectations. For the first time in a long time, she had hope for the future, but what that would be she didn’t know.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ram’s elation pumped adrenaline into his body, and he let loose a loud whoop. He thrust his hand into the air. The necklace and gray bandana he’d ripped off the dead Stiyaha were the best kind of trophies. The pure hatred reflected in Noeh’s eyes was just the kind of juice Ram needed.
Awesome!
Noeh would have to wait, though. A group of large black cats were first on the agenda.

His soldiers met the panthers near the small fountain that graced the entrance to the asylum. In its glory years, the spring had provided a soothing touch to mask the atrocities, pain, and anguish that had lived in the building. Now, the idle spout was a great place to stake a claim.