CarnalPromise (28 page)

He kissed her cheek then whispered in her ear, “Does it have
anything to do with your uncle? The reason why you want to find him so badly?”

Her eyes snapped back to stare at him. A look of shock
briefly grazed over her regal features but then the mask of indifference fell
again.

Too late to keep the truth from him. He had seen her fear.
Now Drakkar knew for certain Jinn’s demon had something more to do with that
bastard, her uncle Craddock, the Deceiver.

By the time Jinn woke, Drakkar was gone. She’d been so
physically drained she didn’t even notice his departure yet she had fallen
asleep like a babe in his arms. What was it about the man that made her feel so
safe? The sensation astonished her. Even though an unknown wanted her dead,
Jinn had not felt this secure in ages.

Amazing
. Was this part of the effects of bonding? She
could hardly remember the sexual education classes that had clarified such
things. She had had no interest in them at the time.

Now, though, she yearned for Drakkar’s warmth, his body, his
fierceness to protect her. Yawning, she ran a hand over her naked breasts then
dropped it to her clit, letting her fingers probe the now empty space inside
her. She missed Drakkar. Too much. How did her feelings for him get in the way
of her mission?

She clenched her nether lips against her fingers. She
couldn’t succumb to whatever these frames of mind meant. Not yet. She had to
rectify her mistake first. She could never live with herself otherwise.

She lifted the edge of the tent to peer outside. A dark blue
ribbon skirted the horizon. The Vulgarian sol would rise soon. She heard some
others stirring in the distance. Today they would be briefed on how to survive
the Ketarian Wilderness. The place was beautiful but like any wild, remote
area, danger lurked in every turn. The challenge wasn’t just the wildlife, the
landscape presented its own concerns—sharp mountain ridges, rushing and falling
waters, bogs with quicksand. Then there would be the trackers, those sent to
find them and bring them back. If that happened, she’d be done. Jinn already
had enough points against her. She had to survive, had to find the meeting
point that would be set. Those that made it there would finish the rest of the
training, even if it was as a specialist.

Rising, she dressed and went to join a few others who had
come out of their nighttime shells. Ragnar and Hamner glanced up and nodded,
each with a nervous excitement in their gaze.

She understood. This, to them, was the pinnacle of their
training, their career. This would make or break them.

And the only equipment they would get would be an
old-fashioned knife.

Nervous herself, Jinn sat with the rest and waited. She was
a Svendian but these men were now her comrades, and a comrade engendered
through the physical strains such as this has been, have a bond that is hard to
break.

Closing her eyes, she said a small prayer to her ancestors
and to her father, wanting them all to make her journey into the wild a test
with vigor and success, wanting to complete the dream her father had worked and
died for—that of peace.

* * * * *

“Where have you been? I have been at my wits’ end looking
for you.” Craddock eyed Cassius with disdain as he hobbled into the rundown
room.

“You’ve been out?” The thought froze Cassius. If Craddock
discovered some of the information that Cassius has been hiding, it could mean
Cassius’s end.

“Only as far as Fenden’s,” Craddock growled but then eyed
Cassius over again. “Sit.” Craddock pointed to the only cushioned chair in the
room.

Cassius limped to the place and dropped into the seat.

“What happened to you?” Craddock’s tone was more measured
now, more worried.

“The heir to Rurik’s domain cornered me and shot me with the
ancient Earther’s weapon.”

“No.” Craddock’s brows knitted. “Why didn’t you kill him?”

Cassius looked down, pretended to be subservient and solemn.
“I didn’t see him. He’d shot me several times before he dropped from the roof
of another building. My mistake, master. My mistake. I must have gone down that
alley too many times.”

“The one to the Nyphosians where you have been gathering
information?”

Cassius nodded. “Yes, master.”

Craddock exhaled a deep sigh. Turning he ran a hand through
his gray-gold locks, more gray since he’d been on the run. “No, my friend. It
is my fault. I should have had you kill those corrupted offspring many solar
cycles ago.” He swerved and his eyes bored into Cassius. “But you can heal
yourself!”

Cassius nodded, slowly this time. “Yes, but there’s
something in the Earther’s bullet that’s interfering with my abilities. I can still
heal but it’s taking time.”

“No wonder you took so long getting here.” He shook his head
as he paced away then swerved abruptly. “The thing is interfering with you?
With your abilities? Is your healing the only one?”

“It seems to be,” Cassius replied.

Craddock lifted a brow. “How interesting.”

Cassius didn’t like the sound of that. ”I’m sorry I failed
you, master.”

Craddock waved him off with his hand. “No matter. This too
will be dealt with. In the meantime, I will have you looked at.”

“There is one more thing.” Cassius cleared his throat.
“Something I overheard the boy say before he took off.”

“Yes?” Craddock’s irritation peaked.

“Jinn. Someone tried to kill her while in training. Set up a
ray that would destroy instead of one that would stun. A slow-burning ray.”

Craddock’s eye’s narrowed. “Why would he tell you that?”

“He didn’t. Not really.” Cassius cleared his throat,
thinking the change in his story would work better, not letting Craddock know
that he had been on the Svendian ship. He didn’t want Craddock to even suspect
that the controlling chip in his head had been removed. “I had lost a lot of
blood. I believe he thought I was dead. He’d felt for my pulse, which was nil
at the time and simply said “That’s what you deserve for trying to kill Jinn
with a slow-burning ray.” That was all. I suppose his attack was to get
revenge.”

“Shatz. The fools!” Craddock’s eyes glazed with insanity.
“Well, at least the boy has some Svendian traits. Who tried to kill her? Do you
know?”

Cassius shook his head. “No, but the Vulgarians think it’s
you. I believe that is why the boy was sent after me.”

“Me? Stupid bastards. They have no idea what they are
doing.” He paced with fury this time. “We need to save her before it’s too
late.” He swerved again. “Is she still in the training?”

Cassius shrugged. “As far as I can tell.”

“We need to know for certain. I know you are hurt but can
you find out more?”

Cassius nodded. “I will do my best.”

“Good. As soon as you find her, we need to set her rescue in
motion.”

“Yes, master.” With that, Cassius rose and stumbled to the
door.

“Cassius.” Craddock lowered his voice as he called after
him. The older man took a deep breath. “Be careful.”

“Yes, master.” With a brisk nod, Cassius opened the door and
fled as fast as his damaged body would allow.

* * * * *

“Damandar has been able to unravel the transmission but the
source was so scrambled the program cannot find the person or persons who
initiated it. Now the signals are too dated to trace anything.” Drakkar’s
mother crossed her arms, her look one of worry.

Drakkar felt the same. It had been seven sleep cycles since
the candidates took off into the wilderness. No tracking, no signals of any
kind—except the one he had on Sasha. The candidates had to survive on their
own. Could Jinn make it?

Drakkar suppressed the shiver he felt inside. Without
knowing who wanted his mate dead, even as untamed as the Ketarian Wilderness
was, Jinn would be safer there, especially with the wolf watching over her. The
Ketarian Wilderness was Sasha’s milieu. She would know what to do.

Jinn has to live.
The thought haunted Drakkar. It was
his duty, his honor, to die for her, yet here he was at a loss as to how best
to protect her. He eyed his mother. “You say Craddock did not have a hand in
this. That he wants to save Jinn from the rest of us. How do you know this?”

Ástrid glanced around at the others. “I trust my source.”

“Which is?” Karl, the camp commandant, looked as irritated
as Drakkar felt.

Ástrid crossed her arms. “That’s all I can tell you.”

“I don’t believe it,” Mace growled. “Who else would want her
dead? You told us she almost had Craddock. The bastard must have known that.”

“I believe he did,” Ástrid said, “although I think he now
believes she wanted to join him.”

“Are you serious?” Drakkar asked.

“Dead serious.” Ástrid’s gaze drilled into his.

Drakkar released a slow breath through his barely parted
lips. “I had wanted to pull her out but she insisted I keep to the agreement.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense. She would be safer with
those of us you trust to protect her,” Mace argued.

Drakkar shook his head. “No, she may be right. The
wilderness will hide her. She’s good at evading others. Trust me, this I know
about her. I’ve experienced it myself. It’s the reason we took so long to find
her.”

“What about your place in the Selesian Woods?” Karl asked.
“I thought that was the most protected home on the planet?”

“It can be. It’s a fortress but with enough firepower
against it, it wouldn’t last and you know that.” Drakkar paced again. “No,
Jinn’s resourceful. She’ll do this and like I said, I promised her I wouldn’t
interfere with the training. Besides, I have Sasha following her, just in
case.”

“The wolf?” Karl raised a brow.

Drakkar stopped and faced the camp commandant. “She’ll
protect Jinn. If there’s trouble, I’ll know. Besides, I’m going back out there
to follow along with Sasha.”

“I see,” Karl rubbed his chin. “Then I suppose there’s
nothing to worry about.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Mace grumbled under his
breath.

“What was that?” Karl asked, too far away to hear Mace
clearly.

Mace smirked as he eyed at the commandant. “I said I’m sure
she’ll be fine—if she can survive.”

“Humph.” Karl sneered. “Yes. That’s the real challenge.”

Drakkar glanced between the two men he had known for most of
his life, the unease seeping deeper into his heart. If his mother was right,
the question still remained—who wanted Jinn dead?

* * * * *

Who wanted the royal dead?
Cassius had yet to
discover the truth. Even Sophos did not know, had no clue at all. Perhaps they
looked in the wrong places. He headed to the Renegade lair, hoping they’d heard
something more from their Vulgarian contacts.

He studied the seedy alley that led to the hideout. A band
of trollops and their admirers strolled through a crossroad that ran beside the
place. Cassius smirked at the Renegades’ strategy, admiring that much about
them. The thieves liked their mobility, appreciated the various choices they
could make to escape if needed. On Telrusia, though, this avenue was rarely
required, especially with the political upheavals that interfered with
upholding the laws. The planet’s turmoil kept the rogues safe from others who
were more preoccupied with greater issues. The Renegades just stayed out of the
way of those who would seize power from whoever had it at the time, selling
their goods to anyone who would be willing to pay their price.

The wind changed direction, blowing toward Cassius. The
sensors in his nose were more numerous than the average human’s. He sniffed the
air. Finding nothing that would impede him, he sprinted to the entrance and
pounded a rapid three beats on the door.

The portal swung open. Anya stood in front of him in full
battle armor. “What do you want?” she growled.

“I need to speak to Fenden.”

“He isn’t here.” She moved to slam the door but he was too
quick for her.

He shoved the portal open. “I’ll wait.” He forced his entry,
pushing her aside as she stood to block him.

Unsuccessful at her attempt, she rushed to the opened side
room she occupied. Cassius heard her shut down her communication link. After a
few moments, she reentered the main room, sauntering as if to lure him into her
clutches again. “So, what great thing do we owe that would bring your exalted
body to our domain?”

He sneered. “I apologize if I interrupted another of your
exotic sexual encounters.”

She huffed. “Doubtful.” Her frown turned into a false smile,
one he knew she used on potential sexual partners. “I told you Fenden wasn’t
here.” She etched her long painted nail up his arm. “However, I could entertain
you until he gets back.”

“When will he return?” Cassius lowered his gaze to look at
her, wanting nothing from this woman.

“I don’t know.” She ambled around him, running her nail
across the back of his shoulders then down his other arm as she completed the
circle. “But since you have to wait, you might as well let me treat you.”

“How generous,” he clipped, settling his palms on his hips.

Her hand traveled down the front of him and grabbed his limp
cock. “Used to be I could stir you with one touch. Now, though, you don’t seem
interested. Can’t believe your testosterone has dropped.” She tilted her head
to the side, looking up to watch his face as she continued to rub his penis
through his clothes. “Could it be that you’ve found your mate?”

He snorted but his eyes narrowed a brief moment as well.
Cassius hoped the hermaphrodite did not detect that. She would use any
information she could get to her advantage and Cassius’s one fear was letting
anyone know his feelings for Mercedes. “I’m a machine. I have no drive to
mate.”

“Pffffff.” She emitted a light laugh then strolled away.
“Tell that to everyone else. I know you better.” She swerved and dropped open
the flap that covered her sex. She rubbed the miniscule penis as she fingered
her vagina. Her lascivious gaze drilled into him as her sexual tension
increased. “Fuck me, Cassius. You might not want me but I’d bet you could use
the release.”

He could but he only wanted one woman for that, one he could
never have.

Still stroking herself, she meandered to him. When she stood
in front, she pulled her breast shields down and exposed her over-large mammary
glands. Rubbing her nipples against his chest, she stood on her toes and blew
against his ear. “You can pretend I’m Mercedes if you want,” she whispered.