Marked for Danger (20 page)
"Carina,” he whispered. For a moment, he thought his voice had been lost in the wind, lost in the devouring power that consumed her.
But suddenly, her hands clamped on his face, those eerie, unseeing eyes focused on him. The chant changed, and he sensed the bombardment of her magic slam into him. He had no resistance to its force. Like a tornado, it tore through him, weaving in and out, shredding, seeking.
He screamed, his head tipped back, the sound involuntary and high. She was going to kill him as she was killing the others.
Pain. Agony. Fear.
Then something inside him altered, and his wounds closed. Blood stopped oozing from his body. Slowly, every single mark except for the brand on the inside of his thigh disappeared.
It was as if the Brotherhood had never touched him.
Still, she didn't stop. Carina's words flowed all around him, and the incredible power filled the ship. The very structure of the massive machine creaked and groaned. She was going to rip it to shreds, just as she'd destroyed the men in it.
He didn't mind, but he wasn't about to die today. Without another thought, he gripped her hands still clasped to his face and put her arms around his neck. His mouth, hungry for the touch of hers, took possession, effectively stopping the words, halting the continuing destruction.
Yet the intensity of whatever possessed his mate did not recede. It tore through his body, using him as a conduit for...he wasn't sure what.
Carina clung to him, her lips as hungry as his. Passion exploded, and Xandros tried to get closer, closer. He wanted to be a part of her, joined. His mate mark burned, and his hands sought to touch every inch of this woman he loved. Vaguely, he became aware of loud noises, like the roar of an engine.
They were fused, connected in a way Xandros had never experienced, his soul connected to hers, his heart beating in time with hers. The noise around them stopped abruptly, and he lifted his head, finally taking a breath.
Silence surrounded them. There were stars, huge swirls of light and blackness, but nothing to stand on. It was as if they floated in space, alone, silent, free. Yet they weren't moving. Their feet were in the same position as they had been in the chamber on the
Messiah.
The message must be downloaded.
A loud, deep voice echoed around them, reverberating in his ear. Carina remained quiet in his arms, her eyes still that milky white color. Her voice was normal, however, when she said, “I understand."
A band of light and stars flickered and shifted nearer to Carina. Xandros held her tightly, afraid of this strange invasion. When the stars passed in front of him and Carina opened her mouth, he didn't have a chance to stop them as they rushed into the body of his mate.
She jerked in his arms and clutched his biceps. Light streamed from her eyes, nose, and mouth. The words flowed from her, in her voice, but louder and stronger.
"Peace shall come to this galaxy, paid for in blood. The Brotherhood shall fail. Those who follow the light will live. Those who follow the Brothers of Darkness shall die. Pay heed to the Stars.
"Those who dishonor the Stars shall be devoured in their own fire.
"Placidians, accept the power given to you and your fellow humans on Nylar. Joined, you will be at peace. Alone, you are prey to those who seek your death.
"Four shall join, marked by the knife. The destruction of the Brotherhood by them is the key to mankind's survival.
"One shall give his arm.
"One shall give his life.
"One shall give his heart.
"One shall give her soul.
"The knife shall cut across the universe to lance the boil and kill the Blueshift Brotherhood. If they fail, the universe will fall. The stars cannot save those who will not listen. Heed and survive."
Carina collapsed, and Xandros instinctively caught her. When he hefted her into his arms, they were back in the chamber aboard the
Messiah
, and Shaun stood in front of him.
"Father Pestori escaped,” Shaun said as Carina painfully opened her eyes. She was in a med bay, every muscle hurting, but alive. Blissfully alive. “But every Brotherhood priest on that ship is dead. When I saw we couldn't get through that barrier, I sent your men back through the portal before it closed. Carina and the two of us are the only survivors."
"What happened to all the boys you rounded up?” Xandros asked.
Shaun grinned. “The princess paid them, and they disappeared."
Xandros snorted. “Typical.” But Carina could tell he'd been touched by their loyalty.
"Leo?” she croaked out. Immediately, Xandros's warm, familiar hands were on her face, and his worried expression made her heart clench.
"He's fine, machinka. He and Princess Sera are just outside."
At the sound of the endearment she thought she'd never hear again, tears gathered in her lashes. Stars, her throat hurt. “Where are we?” The last thing she remembered was the sight of Xandros bleeding, dying. She closed her eyes, the memory too close. She'd almost lost him.
"We're aboard the
Seeker
. Your message was broadcast across every network, every array, every vid stream. How did you do it?” Shaun asked.
"What message?” She had no idea what the fuck he was talking about.
Xandros left her side for a moment and turned on a vid by her bed. Carina stared, unsure how to handle the sight of herself on screen with light beaming from her and strange words coming from her mouth.
Stars! What the hell happened?
"I think the princess may have an answer,” Xandros answered her unspoken question.
But when he started to head for the door, she grabbed his arm. “Stay. Please."
Shaun gazed at her and shook his head.
She blinked as he extricated his arm from her grip. “What is it, Shaun?"
For a moment, whatever roiled inside him seemed about to break loose. But he shook his head again. “Nothing. I'll get the princess."
When Shaun left the room, she reached with her other hand to touch Xandros, to make sure he was real. She'd thought he was dead or close to it.
"I should kill you myself,” she said even as her hands clutched at him.
Xandros crawled onto the gurney beside her even though there was barely enough room for her. “Later. Kill me later. Right now, I just want to feel you."
He enveloped her in his arms and pressed her face into his neck. She inhaled his scent and drank in his warmth. Never again. She wouldn't let him out of her sight.
Quietly, he stroked her back in slow movements, and she relaxed in his arms. With her guard down, she let herself feel the things that lay buried beneath her anger, and tears burst from her. She cried so hard, her whole body shook. The fear of losing him, the loss of control in the midst of the crisis; the whole fucking thing flattened her, and she let it take her.
Xandros didn't whisper that everything would be okay or tell her to stop crying. He didn't say anything. He held her gently, his hands continuing their soothing circles on her back. He didn't seem surprised or worried by her outburst.
Soon the storm passed, and she felt like a limp dishrag. But when Xandros kissed her forehead and then tipped her chin to kiss her lips, she didn't feel like one anymore. He made her feel special, beautiful, cherished. Who knew her pirate had a sensitive side?
"No one has seen me cry as much as you have,” she murmured against his chest.
"Not just anyone has seen me get fucked up the ass,” Xandros told her.
"I'm not a crier,” she protested.
One side of his mouth lifted. “I'm not into getting fucked up the ass. So what? That's what love is, right? The good, the bad, the ugly, the weird is just part of who we are. And I love all of you.” He brushed her lips with his and tightened his hold.
"I don't know what happened. I don't know if it will happen again,” she said in a rush. “What if—"
He covered her mouth with his, and she forgot what they were talking about.
When he lifted his head, his gaze was fierce and bright. “We aren't going to worry about what might happen. We'll deal with right now."
She shifted and got a nice feel for what he wanted “right now.” “How about we take care of your little problem right now?"
He leaned back and frowned. “What do you mean by ‘little'?"
"Well, it's big enough, but I don't want to make a mountain out of a mouse turd.” She pressed her lips together to keep from giggling.
She gasped when he smacked her ass with his hand. “Are you calling my dick a turd?"
"I see you've recovered,” an amused female voice announced.
Xandros didn't move, and Carina glanced at the princess. “Yes.” She couldn't help it. She grinned.
Leo, standing behind the princess, stared at Carina like he'd never seen her before. “What?” she said impatiently. What in the hell was Leo's problem?
He shook his head. “I don't think I've ever seen a smile like that on your face."
To her frustration, Carina flushed. Xandros chuckled and stroked her hair. “I'll take that as a compliment."
She glared at Xandros and tried to pull away, but he held on tight. She sighed and relaxed. It felt better to let Xandros hold her, worth all the embarrassment she might feel. They still had a long way to go. He hadn't trusted her, hadn't told her everything.
But for now, she was too tired and too glad to be able to touch him to argue with him.
"Shaun says you don't remember anything.” Princess Sera sat down in a chair next to them.
Carina turned, her back plastered against Xandros's chest, needing that solid reassurance that he was with her. She studied Leo's mate. After Shanie had died, Carina had been set adrift, lost in the weight of her grief. For Leo, it had been worse. Marked and mated, Leo and Shanie had seemed to Carina like the perfect happy couple.
But studying the princess and the way Leo glanced at the woman, the way his whole being seemed to focus on her, Carina wasn't sure her sister had been right for him. Of course, when she'd heard about Leo's fascination with Sera Placido, she'd had conflicted emotions. Fear that Leo might be put in danger because of the princess. Concern that the princess might hurt him since she'd seemed like a cavalier lover with no thought for the feelings of others. And anger that Leo would replace Shanie. Ever.
Princess Sera had been right. If Carina had thought the only way to take down the Brotherhood was the death of the Placidian princess, she'd have done it in a heartbeat. She closed her eyes, but the truth couldn't be shut out.
When she opened them again, the princess stared at Carina with compassion in her gaze and a soft twist of her mouth. “I think I mentioned we may have more in common than you think, Carina."
Carina licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry. “I think so. It was...incredible. I was enraged to see Xandros's blood, to see him hurt and dying.” The memory was sharp, and she groped for his hands to hold them tightly in hers. “I remember wishing I could do what I did on Nariad.” She pressed her lips together. “And then, it happened. A rush of power and a glimpse of bright stars, and then nothing. I don't remember doing those things. Just like I didn't remember killing those soldiers on Nariad."
Princess Sera nodded. “I believe this is the same power that rules my planet. Xandros told us there was a moment when you both seemed to be in space."
The memory swamped her. Even though there was a huge gap in time, she vaguely remembered Xandros's touch, his mouth on hers, his love in every stroke. A huge band of stars cut a swath across the expanse of black space. She nodded. “I kind of remember it."
"You've been given a great gift,” the princess said, and then she smiled. “Though it may not feel like it."
Carina closed her eyes. “It makes no sense to me at all. Why me? Why not a Placidian?"
"You heard the message,” the princess pointed out. “The Placidians and the Nyrals are bound by destiny.” She shrugged. “Perhaps they always have been. It's clear the power we thought was exclusively a Placido phenomenon is more widespread."
That thought disconcerted Carina. “You mean the power that is on Placido might be on Nylar?"
"I think it may be connected to the people, not the planet.” The princess rose and touched Carina's cheek. “I think your part in this is over,” she said gently. “You've sacrificed enough."
"What about that power? How do I know it won't spring up when I least expect it?"
"I don't know. The power rises and falls according to need.” Princess Sera smiled. “I spent most of my life thinking of it as a burden. It will not fail you when you need it."
"What now?"
The princess's smile faded. “Now we strengthen what we have.” Her expression grew sad, and her lips trembled. “Shaun has left us."
Every cell in Carina's body ached. Of course he had. Shaun wanted revenge, the death of Father Pestori. And the man had escaped. Then there was Challah Pestori. Shaun's conflicted feelings for the daughter of the monster who had killed his sister might be his downfall. “He's gone after Father Pestori."
"I couldn't stop him,” Leo said.
Carina sighed. “No one could have stopped him.” She glanced at Princess Sera. “I know. I was wrong about you."
The other woman raised her hand, an imperious gesture that made Leo smile. “Please. No apologies. I was never in any danger from you, Carina Tao. I believe if you truly wanted me dead, I'd be dead.” She smiled. “Perhaps before you knew he was my mate, you could have killed me. But after Leo marked me? Part of you knew killing me would be killing Leo."
Carina tightened her grip on her silent mate. “When Xandros marked me, I realized—” To her embarrassment her voice broke. “I realized the connection between you and Leo went beyond sex, beyond anything.” Her gaze met Sera's. “I couldn't take that away from him."
Sera nodded. “I know I'm not Shanie, but I hope you'll think of me as family, another sister if you wish."
"I already do,” Carina admitted and smiled when Princess Sera Ellysa Placido widened her eyes in shock.
"Thank you,” Sera said.