Untouchable Lover (33 page)

The chase was on. Noeh ran through the trees, following Ram’s noxious stench. Out of the corner of his eye, Saar’s large presence loomed nearby. His Commander of Arms stopped chasing his fleeing adversary. His eyes rounded in recognition and surprise. Noeh had to hope that Saar wouldn’t bring him down.
 

The river appeared ahead. Ram was almost there. Noeh closed the distance, but not in time. He gasped. Instead of jumping in, his enemy stood at the edge of the bank, trembling.

Ram’s gape flitted from the trees to the rush of the river, before centering on Noeh. “Stay back!”

He took a step, away from the roiling water below. His brow creased. The faint outline of the shield pulsed from his fingertips. A thin bolt of electricity hit Noeh in the chest.
 

Pain blossomed from his ribs, crushing his lungs. The pungent odor of singed hair floated into the air. Noeh howled, the sound so eerie and so foreign, even to his own ears.
 

The time between each pulse of the shield grew shorter and shorter. As the pain eased, Noeh moved forward, preventing Ram from fleeing. He worked in tandem with his beast, and the connection between the two halves of his spirit strengthened.

The shield stopped mid-pulse, catching Noeh off guard. Ram leapt for a nearby fir tree. His outstretched hands reached the bottom branch. He pulled himself into the darkness, but not before Noeh snagged his ankle.

The high-top slipped off Ram’s foot and landed in a mud puddle with a soft plop. The muscles in Noeh’s arm bunched and strained against Ram’s strength, but he held on. The Gossum twisted in the tree and kicked out with his other foot. His heel connected with Noeh’s face, causing Noeh to release his grip.
 

Pain filtered into his brain. He roared, and the sound echoed through the trees.

Ram launched himself into the air and landed on Noeh’s right shoulder. His claws dug through Noeh’s fur into his skin.
 

Pinpoints of pain radiated down Noeh’s arm. Rage consumed him, the burning force racing up from his soul. He grabbed the back of Ram’s neck and threw him to the ground.
 

Ram hit the damp earth. The air exploded from his lungs in a loud rush. He skidded to a halt against a rock at the edge of the river. A soft mewl escaped his lips, his gaze riveted on the water below.

Noeh closed the distance, intent on eliminating this threat to his species.

Ram scrambled to his feet. He glanced at Noeh, his eyes wide, but he had no place to run.
 

Noeh wrapped his fingers around Ram’s neck. His claws scraped along Noeh’s hand and arm, but Noeh wouldn’t let go. This creature’s mission was to destroy his kind, destroy everything and everyone that he cared about. Ram had almost killed his mate. Adrenaline zipped through his veins, and vengeance welled within him.
 

Noeh raised his other hand and rammed his fist into Ram’s chest. The beat of his enemy’s heart pounded against his palm. He squeezed. Arteries and veins ripped. Black blood gushed over Noeh’s hand and arm.
 

Ram’s body went rigid. Noeh took a step back.
 

The soil under his foot gave way. An avalanche of raw materials cascaded down to the creek. He lost his balance as dirt and twigs skittered under his feet. As he fell, he released his hold.

Ram’s body disappeared over the edge of the ravine.

Noeh caught the root of an old oak tree between his fingers. His legs dangled over the side. A rock pressed into his ribs, squeezing his lungs, forcing him to take shallow breaths. Using his preternatural strength, he dragged himself over the massive tree’s roots and onto safer ground.

His breath heaved in and out of his body. He scanned the river below. The water swirled downstream, empty of any sign of Ram. His nemesis was dead.
 

*****

Melissa’s shield encircled Demir, and her chest expanded as hope bloomed. Maybe they had a chance to escape their enemy. At the thought, the shield wavered and went out.
 

Frantic, she peered around the meadow, scanning for any potential danger. Aramie and Jakar fought nearby. Jakar’s astringent smell carried on the breeze, and Melissa gagged. No other Gossum were in the immediate vicinity.
 

She powered up her shield, but the energy burst around her and Demir like a bubble. Melissa huffed. Demir’s weak pulse tripped against her finger
. Stay with us.
 

A strange sensation pulled at her back, and the hair on her arms stood on end. They weren’t alone.
 

Strong hands grabbed her from behind and hauled her to her feet. An arm encircled her throat, cutting off the air. Adrenaline spiked into her veins. She struggled against this new threat.
 

“He was mine. He still would be, if not for you.” Mauree’s staccato voice was loud in the night air.
 

Melissa grabbed Mauree’s arm and tried to pull away, but her grip was too strong.
 

“I’ve been watching you from the trees, waiting for my opportunity.” Mauree laughed.

Melissa twisted in Mauree’s grasp, trying to find some purchase, anything to help her break free.

“You ruined my life, you fool. For that, you must pay with your own.” Mauree’s hot breath cascaded over Melissa’s shoulders.

Melissa couldn’t breathe. Stars appeared in front of her eyes. She tried to power her shield, but couldn’t concentrate as whiteness descended. Payback was a bitch, and Mauree was her name.

*****

Rin rushed into the Portal Navigation Center and skidded to a stop. Ginnia wasn’t here.
Craya! Where are you?
He couldn’t waste time waiting for her, he needed to start now.
 

The sunstones glittered in his hands, and he spread them along the grooves in the porte stanen.
I pray these are smooth enough
. His gnarled fingers struggled to pick up a stone. He cursed under his breath.
 

“Why did you have ’ta recalibrate all the openings, huh?” He stared at the ceiling, as if the Keep would give him an answer.
 

“I don’t know if I can fix this in time.”
 

He leaned over the porte stanen, and his shoulders slumped forward. The air warmed. Sweat dotted his arms and the back of his neck.
 

The delicate scent of pineapple filled the room. Rin stiffened, hope soaring through him like water through a sieve.
 

“Ginnia?”
 

“Hi, Rin. I got the stones.” She carried a burlap bag over one shoulder, the ends gripped tight in her hands. In the crook of one arm rested an old, ragged book. She shook under the weight and dropped the bag, the book tumbling from its perch.
 

She snatched up the ancient tome, cradling the text close to her chest. “Why did you want so many stones?”
 

“I’m so glad to see ya, honey-pie.” He grabbed her shoulders and gave them a soft squeeze. “We need to recalibrate the stones. Didn’t ’cha feel the Keep move?”

“Of course, silly Rin. The Keep was sure mad, wasn’t she?” Ginnia giggled and placed her hand over her mouth. “So, are we going to play a game?”

“Hmm—yes, let’s play a game. It’s called ‘how fast can ya put the stones back in place.’ ”

Ginnia squinted, and she pointed her finger at Rin. “I’ve never heard of that game before. Are you making this up?”
 

“Na, it’s a new game. You’ll be the first ’ta play. Want ’ta give it a try?”
 

“I’ll be the first one! Sure!” She placed the book on his workbench with great care, caressing the cover with her fingertips.

“Why’d ya bring the book, honey-pie? I didn’t ask for one.”

“Oh, that’s for later. I’m ready. When do I start?” Her eyes gleamed with childlike excitement.
 

He grabbed the burlap bag and placed it on the rim of the porte stanen. “How ’bout now?”

“Time me.” She shook her head and dived in. Her quick hands moved over the surface. The sunstones went into place one by one. Tiny water droplets splashed onto her arms and hands, but she didn’t seem to care.
 

The flutter in Rin’s stomach kept him on his toes. “C’mon, honey-pie, you can do it.”

One by one, the stones started to take shape within the concentric circles. Hope swelled within him as she worked. He massaged his sore fingers, the pain keeping him grounded.

The pile of stones dwindled. His heartbeat sped up. The central stone was twice as large as all the others and it, too, had been damaged during the Keep’s tirade. There wasn’t a crystal large enough in the remaining heap. The portal wouldn’t open without the central stone.
 

A moan escaped his throat, and he shook his head in disbelief.
 

Ginnia placed the last of her stones into the circle. “Aw, there’s one missing.” Her bottom lip stuck out, and she frowned. “Don’t you have any more?”

“No, honey-pie, I’m all out.” He placed his hand on the wall and bent his head in defeat.

Chapter Forty-Eight

After the encounter with Ram, Noeh changed into his human form. He sent out a mental vibration, calling to his weapon.
Screeeee
. The sentient sword levitated through the air, twisting back and forth between the trees, following the energy connection to its partner. Warrior and weapon reunited, he headed to the clearing to search for Melissa.

Noeh’s heart pounded. Where was she? Was she safe? Ice-cold fingers of dread cascaded down his back. He crashed through some small rhododendron bushes at the edge of the clearing. Inhaling a deep breath, he searched for her scent. His mind blanked. He couldn’t find her unique fragrance.
 

The battle raged around him. Time slowed. The smallest details came into focus. Saar sliced through a Gossum. Its thick head fell to the ground, black blood covering the blades of grass. Aramie, in her panther form, battled Jakar. A cut above Jakar’s eye gaped, dark against the pale reflection of his bald head. Stiyaha, Panthera, and Gossum fought around him, all with various degrees of injuries.

His chest heaved at the sight. Was Melissa alive? Numerous possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant. He narrowed his eyes and looked through the melee, between the figures locked in battle. At the edge of the clearing, Mauree had her arm wrapped around Melissa’s throat.

“Noooooooo!” His voice turned into a howl and his heartbeat pounded through his veins.

He bounded into the meadow, running faster than he imagined possible. Racing past warriors and Gossum alike, his one thought—
Save Melissa.
 

Melissa went limp in Mauree’s arms. A satisfied smile crossed Mauree’s mouth. She let Melissa fall to the ground. Grabbing a nearby rock, she raised the small boulder above her head.
 

Noeh gained ground, but he wouldn’t make it there in time to stop the rock’s trajectory. Visions of his father dabbing his mother’s mouth as she coughed up blood ran through his mind. He’d become like his father, destined to watch his female die, unable to save her. His chest constricted, and his vision narrowed to a pinpoint. Anguish fueled his desire for retribution. He pulled his sword from its sheath. The familiar sound of metal on metal was his only salve.

Mauree aimed the rock at Melissa’s hips, where his young son grew. She brought the stone down with a loud cry. The boulder stopped mere inches from Melissa’s body. Mauree jerked and blinked several times. She pushed against the rock, but the stone just bobbed in place, as if held there by an invisible force. Mauree released her hold and scrambled back. The stone levitated, rocking from side to side, and fell into the moist earth.
 

Noeh couldn’t breathe. He slowed to a stop a few feet away.
Could that be…my son?
Shock at the realization that his child had saved his mother almost brought him to his knees.
 

Melissa stirred. She moaned and pushed herself to her elbows.

A sense of relief flooded through his system. The muscles in Noeh’s arms shook, and he almost dropped his sword. She was alive.
 

Mauree took another step back, and the movement caught Noeh’s attention. His focus on Melissa, he’d forgotten she was there.
 

“Don’t move.” His low words were a firm command.

Her muscles tensed. She glanced over her shoulder and bolted for the forest.
 

He pursued her.
 

A burst of energy engulfed him. Warmth, like heat from the sunstones caressed his skin. A shimmery current extended beyond and enveloped Mauree. Stopped in her tracks, she pushed against the barrier but couldn’t get away.

Noeh grabbed Mauree by the arm and yanked her toward him. “I should kill you, here and now, for what you’ve done.” His marking for justice pulsed above his eye.

“Noeh, please, not another death. Let her pay for her crime.”
 

Melissa’s soft voice broke through his anger. He couldn’t deny his kitten anything. He released his grip on Mauree. Wrapped in Melissa’s shield she couldn’t escape. He turned to face the one who had changed him, the one who made him whole.

Melissa’s fiery red hair stoked his desire. Like the first time he’d seen her, she captured his attention, and he couldn’t look away. Trailing his fingers through the silken strands, his gaze traveled over her face. She moistened her lips. Drawing her into his arms, he gave her a bruising kiss.
I want her. I need her. I love her.
He pulled back and held her head in his hands. With their foreheads pressed against each other, he stared into her eyes.
 

“We have much to discuss.” He kissed her again, savoring her delicate flavor.
 

“I hate you.” Mauree’s voice was full of menace.

Noeh swiveled his head in her direction. The pain and torment in her eyes sent a stab through his chest. He didn’t recognize the feeling at first—pity. His marking for compassion pulsed under his eye. Breathless, he touched the thin line. The mark was thicker, fuller than before. Melissa had done this to him. He’d changed, grown because of her.