Midland Refugee (Ultimate Passage Book 3) (8 page)

B
arz
was
trying
to bait her. He did not want to admit to it, not to her, not even to himself. Why was he doing that?

Above her head, behind her, Corzine’s gaze penetrated Barz’s soul.

Corzine would know the struggles that Barz was facing. Wanting another woman when he’d sworn away from the pain and loss of love. But Corzine was no help. He was too entrenched in his own pain. And he’d carried his own burden—different than Barz’s—but in some ways more direct, and more acute.

And now they were going to the place where it all began. Where it all went downhill. The place where the Kormic would be more hostile to Corzine than the environment. But they could not be as harsh as Barz had been in the years since Alina died. Barz had been the harshest.

Barz looked at his brother. Corzine was willing to risk it all and to face so much, just to help this Asazi woman find her friend. Did that mean he had feelings for? Feelings deep enough to act upon?

Barz turned his attention back to the stunning redhead, beautiful even when she was in his sister’s uniform, though it was much snugger in the right areas. Beautiful, when she was angry, red hair a flaming backdrop for her ire, blue eyes flashing her annoyance, lips begging to be kissed, hips to be held in the midst of thrusts.

In his leggings, Barz’s cock stirred. He pushed her out of his mind. He would not egg her on. He would let the subject rest. He would try to get her out of his system.

Maybe there would be a willing Kormic widow or two who were in between husbands and would like to service him—to help him push her out of his mind with curves and wanton ways.

“I apologize.” He said gruffly. “Let us go follow them to their village.”

She licked her lower lip, bit down on it. He looked away, unable to watch her without thinking sexual thoughts.

“How are they going to help us find Cinia when we are heading away?”

“We do not want to be in the Farlands in darkness. We will stay with them every night. Each dawn we will depart to find your friend. I hope we find her soon.”

Taya nodded. “I hope so too.” Her skin was a deep blue, replacing the orange that had been there. From years with Norn, he knew this was sadness. He fought the urge to embrace her. To comfort her. Instead, he turned away, studying the horizon and the departing Kormic. Let Corzine be her solace. That would make things simpler. And he knew that Corzine felt something for her.

Something. He bit back a growl. He was not supposed to be upset with his brother for feeling an attraction to a woman. This was natural. This was the Kormic way. And yet. . .

He gripped the spear with a ferocity. His knuckles turning white from his grasp. He let a breath out and took the first step toward the village without looking back to see if Taya or Corzine followed.

J
ust when Taya
was considering laying down on the hard ground of the Flatlands and crying like a baby because she was too tired to walk any further, they reached the top of a rocky outcrop and below she saw a settlement teeming with Kormic. A bustling group waited in the middle of a fortress made of large rocks that were taller than two Kormic men. The area enclosed by the rocks was large, a good-sized town more, than a village.

Around the perimeter of the fortress, more rocks surrounded a circle that enclosed the entire fortress. As if enclosing a moat, but there was no water. This area was full of Gostracks. The creatures roamed freely, grazing, pecking, and scuffling with each other. As soon their heads appeared over the top of the rise, the Gostracks froze, then they began to beat their oversized wings, and caw raucous warnings of Taya and her companions’ approach.

She halted. The scene was intimidating, the creatures loud and scary. She could only imagine what it would be like if anyone tried to invade this group. Right now the Kormic, assembled in loose clusters, looked over at them casually. If they were a threat, she imagined they’d be facing their Kormic spears and mounted warriors. Taya swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Time to go in.” Corzine said. His voice had more concern in it that made her comfortable to hear.

When they were but a few paces away from the sandy colored boulders, one of the large rocks shifted, creating an entrance for the trio. An entrance that also created a barrier for the Gostracks, which were sticking their heads up, and around little gaps in the rock, seeking to get at the trio.

Taya stayed tight between Barz and Corzine, not sure that the animals wouldn’t think that she was prey.

As soon as they were in, the boulder closed behind them, and another opened in front, allowing them into the area where the Kormic were originally milling about. Now, there was a line of Kormic on each side, compose of all ages and genders. It was almost a gauntlet of Kormic.

What waited at the end of the line? The glances and glares coming from the Kormic ranged from hostility to curiosity. Taya kept her head down, her eyes glued to the ground. She did not have long to wait to find out what waited at the end of the line. Barz and Corzine drew to a stop. She looked up, the gauntlet behind her.

In front of her were an old Kormic couple. One male, one female, in red cloaks. The male’s eyes were narrowed, his scowl on Corzine. The female held on to a cane, leaning onto it as though she needed the support. A large disturbance to the right caught Taya’s attention.

She turned to look just in time to catch a younger female Kormic striding in their direction, with fury in her eyes. Taya shrank back from the antagonism, and was relieved the female was not centered on her. She walked right past Taya, stopped in front of Corzine, raised her hand, and slapped him a resounding strike to the face.

Taya gasped.

Corzine did not flinch. Nor did he defend himself. She raised her other hand and offered the same to his other cheek.

Taya wondered if she should defend him, then realized she was in a Kormic settlement. What could she do against this display? She moved forward. She had to find out. She couldn’t just let this happen.

Barz put a hand on her arm. She looked at him, wondering why in curse’s name Barz did nothing to help his brother. Barz shook his head, no.

She pulled her arm back. “If you will not help him—”

“Do not interfere. This does not concern you.”

She opened her mouth to argue.

“He is right.” Corzine’s voice was low. “This is between us.”

She stepped back between Corzine and Barz.

The young female’s face crumpled. Orange tears formed in her eyes. She crossed her arms over her heaving chest, clearly fighting sobs. The two older Kormic in red put their arms around her and escorted, half-way supporting her, to one of the clay and rock buildings to the side.

The remaining Kormic, once a gauntlet, now formed a circle around the trio. Taya’s eyes went from face to face, trying to determine if there were any friendly amongst this group, or if they were all foe.

“I thought you said we were invited,” she hissed at Barz.

“We have been. But that does not mean it will be an easy situation.”

“Why do I get the feeling that you have a history here, and that it is not necessarily good?” she asked Corzine.

“It did not end well.” Barz intercepted Corzine’s response.

“Now what?”

One of the Kormic came to Barz, spat a few words at him. Barz made a
tsk
sound and flipped his hand in the gesture that Taya had come to recognize meant no.

No . . . no what
, she wondered.

The conversation continued and she dared not interrupt as Barz’s tone became more firm and his assertions became more heated. She did not even want to interrupt to ask Corzine to translate.

Corzine stood there mute, letting his brother do all the talking. Two Kormic gestured, flailing hands at Corzine and at her, as if taking issue with them both. Barz
tsk
ed again. This time he flipped his hand and put his foot forward.

The first Kormic backed down, evidently either persuaded or afraid of Barz, and Taya believed it was the latter.

The second Kormic crossed his arms over his chest, cocked his head to the side, nodded yes. Then he turned and faced the other way.

Barz indicated for Taya and Corzine to follow.

The Kormic led them to one of the buildings, stood aside while the three walked in.

M
arissa frowned
. They’d decided she should not give birth in a camp. And as if she had no choice in the manner, they’d packed everything up.

Two days later, Kormic from the settlement formed after Raiza left her old one for Norn came to the camp to help them move. They’d made a travois to take Marissa to the settlement. And now here she was, on this travois, being hoisted by Kormic, going to a place with people she did not know, with people she weren’t even sure would be friendly toward a human.

Sure they’d accepted Norn into their midst. But that was after he’d been with Raiza. He’d proved himself. She was nothing but a human, a race with which Kormic had never interacted. The knot in the pit of her stomach was more than the baby. It was worry. And on top of this all, she’d not said a word to Saraz about it. She didn’t know if he knew and followed or not. She didn’t want him to, but she knew he wanted to be there for the birth. She shifted in the uncomfortable travois.

Walking next to her, Finn looked concerned. “You are okay?”

“As much as can be expected.”

“But something worries you.” He frowned. “And don’t tell me it doesn’t. I can see it.”

“Oh really? Like I have Asazi skin now?”

He attempted a smile at her lame joke. “No, but you do not have a poker face, Marissa Sanchez.”

“You’re right. I am worried.” Did she want to tell him that it concerned her that Saraz would not be aware of her location? That he wouldn’t know where she was when she gave birth? And maybe paranoia was setting in, but she wondered if he would accuse her of switching babies. He could. She worried her lower lip between her teeth.

“Do you not want to tell me?” Finn stopped the progress of the travois with a quick word, then took her hand in his.

“Not sure it isn’t just silliness on my part. Probably is.” She blew him a kiss. “Let’s just go forward. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
I hope.

T
he Kormic village
was in the shadow of a large mountain range. The mountains put the village in the shade, subtracting a few degrees of temperature. Marissa shivered as Finn helped her out of the travois. Her legs and back were cramped from being in the same position for several hours. Even with breaks, she still felt grumpy, yucky, cramped.

A friendly group of Kormic helped them unpack and escorted Marissa and Finn to their own little dwelling, right next to Norn and Raiza’s.

“What about when Taya and Raiza’s brothers return and find us gone?”

“My father said he left them a message.” Finn brushed her hair back, rubbing her shoulders. “Do not be so worried about everything. All you need to be concerned with is my son.”

“Ha! And you are so sure that it is a boy.” She touched his cheek, green, stubbled, handsome.

He shrugged, a grin on his face.

‘Marissa.’

Marissa grabbed her head as the roar sounded in her mind. Piercing, alarming, scaring her.

Saraz. And he was angry.
‘You moved.’
His tone was accusatory, reaching her though she’d traveled hours in a travois.
‘What trickery is this?’

Finn took her hands off of her head. “What’s wrong? Do you need me to get Raiza? Is it the baby?”

She shook her head to Finn’s question while she responded to Saraz in her mind.
‘No trickery. I promise. There was concern about the baby’s well-being. About my needing assistance in the birth.’

‘Raiza is more than adequate for handling a birth,’
was Saraz’s response.

She’d had a bellyful of hearing about Raiza. “Raiza, Raiza. Is she everyone’s answer to a problem?”

Finn recoiled and she realized she said it out loud. And on top of that, that she sounded peevishly bitchy.

“I’m sorry.” She apologized, hoping that would tide the issue over with Finn, while she talked to Saraz.
‘Not if Raiza needs a set of knowledgeable hands. This is for the health of the baby. Be reasonable.’

Looking perplexed, Finn grabbed an armful of bags and went into the building that was designated for them.

She wouldn’t lie, she was relieved, because now she could have a conversation with one person, instead of trying to juggle two simultaneous conversations with two different people.

Saraz continued, ‘
I must be there when it is born. You will send me notice. Understood?’

‘I am in a Kormic settlement.’
She didn’t want to say what she said next but she didn’t know what else to say.
‘You will not be welcome here.’

‘I will wreak havoc on the population if I am not called and welcomed when Bearer is born.’

‘Fine. I will find a way.’
Damn. Now what?

Finn came back out. “He was
talking
to you.” His face was in a sneer.

Shit. Finn knew.

T
he Kormic dwelling
had one bedroom. That was it. No kitchen. No restroom or relief facilities.

Taya made a slow circle, revolving, assessing. No other exits, no other rooms. And the bedroom had one bed. She would deal with this, but first she had to be caught up. Immediately.

She turned to face the brothers, hands on her hips. “I want answers. You both have some explaining to do.”

Barz set his spear against the wall by the door, sat on the bed, and stretched long legs out.

Corzine leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.

Neither said a word. This was not going to work.

“Look. I said I want answers.”

“What is your question?” Barz raised a brow, emphasizing his spikes. The corner of his lip curled upward, but not in a smile.

Fine. She could do it this way. “Who was the girl, the Kormic girl out there? The one who struck Corzine?”

“Marni.” Barz said.

Pulling teeth.
Taya tipped her head and looked at Corzine, maybe he would be more forthcoming. “Who is Marni?”

“She is Alina’s sister,” Corzine said.

This was getting old. She wanted more than once sentence answers. “Who is Alina?”

“Alina was our mate.” Barz’s voice was gruff.

Ours?
Did she hear him correctly? Ours? How did that work? “What do you mean,
ours?
”

Corzine cleared his throat, as if he were uncomfortable. “Mine and Barz’s.”

Surely they didn’t mean at the same time. Or did they? She took a deep breath, looked from one brother to the other. “You were both mated—married—in a union with her?” She backed up slowly and sat at a stone bench against the other wall. “But not at the same time, right?” She wondered which of the brothers was married to this Alina first.

“No.” Barz rubbed under his bottom lip. “At the same time.”

She was confused. She had to be. What? Did he just deny it? Did he say no? Or did he say
no, not at the same time
? She scrubbed at her face. The day had clearly been too long.

Corzine took a step closer to her. “It is different with twins. Barz and I.”

“You’re twins?” She never would have put that together. How could she have? They were so unalike. “And when you say it is different. What is different?” Even to herself, she sounded like she had no mind of her own, like she was merely able to repeat simple phrases. In truth, she was in a bit of a shock. All this time she’d been attracted to Barz, and—

She did not want to think of that right now, she wanted to hear more. “Keep talking.”

“Kormic custom is that twins marry one person. Because they are born at the same time, it is said that they must share and be inseparable for life. So they marry one—just one. It has to be one that they both agree on.”

Now her head was reeling. She was attracted to Barz, and she could not force herself to feel the same for Corzine. She’d tried. She wanted to be enamored with the one who was kinder, gentler, and nicer. But she wasn’t. And clearly it wasn’t up to her. It was completely out of her control. And now, she was hearing this. And she wondered—

No. She was not going to wonder anything. She was too confused, too tired.

“You were married to the same woman. Marni’s sister, then right? So where is she?”

“I killed her.” Corzine answered, his spiky head in his hands, defeat evident in his posture.

No. She didn’t believe that. Corzine was not the murdering type. It would have been easier to believe that Barz, with his dark, foreboding looks, his suppressed anger. She shook her head, rose from the bench, and as tired as her legs were, she began to pace the room.

This was one shock after another. She hadn’t even fully processed that they were married to the same woman. Or mated to her, or whatever the Kormic called it. And now she had to process that Corzine killed her?

“So that was why she was so angry, that Marni woman. Because you killed her sister.” She looked at Barz. “And that is why you hate your brother. That is why you treat him the way you do, because he killed your mate.”

Corzine sucked in air, a ragged audible breath.

Barz rose to his feet, towering over her. He put a hand on her arm, stopping her from the incessant, dizzying pacing. “No. Corzine is not being accurate.” His tone was soft, very different from the Barz she’d known for weeks. Different from the man she’d started to fall for, though she did not want to admit it. She’d seen his gentle side. She saw it every time he interacted with Raiza and Norn’s little boy, but otherwise, Barz never showed a subtle side.

Corzine pushed off the wall.

Taya was not sure where this was going but it seemed like it was headed toward a direction of violence. She stepped between the two men, making sure she was a barrier.

“What is not accurate, Barz?” she asked.

Barz shook his head. Defeat now made his shoulders, earlier so wide and strong, now appeared done, finished, defeated. “He did not kill her. I have blamed him all of this time, but any of us could have made the same mistake. If I had been honest with myself, and if I hadn’t let my grief blind me . . .” He inhaled, his eyes tormented, his lips a thin line. He turned toward Corzine, addressing him instead of Taya. “I have not been fair with you, brother. Not fair at all.”

Corzine’s face was forlorn. “It is understandable. I have not forgiven myself.”

“It was an accident. And she went without you, when she knew she should not have. She knew better. If anyone were to blame . . .”

“I do not like to think of blaming her for her own death. I do not want to think carelessness did this to her.” Corzine turned to Taya to explain. “A jungle cat was in our area, patrolling, marking. We hunted, but could not kill it. No one was to go outside the perimeter unaccompanied. Barz was away from the village. I was home. I was to escort her if she wanted to go. I fell asleep. I can only assume she did not want to wake me.”

Taya’s heart ached for what Corzine must have felt. And for what Barz must have gone through. “You both loved her deeply.”

Corzine nodded. “She was my soul mate. I have never felt the same for another. Except one.”

“The same goes for me. Except one,” Barz added.

Taya’s heart broke. She’d developed feelings for a man and now she’d learned he was unavailable in more ways than one. He was a blood-sworn enemy of her people, why would he ever be interested in her? And he was from a culture that demanded he and his brother marry the same woman. She looked at Corzine. Then at Barz. Then back at Corzine. As attracted as she was to Barz, she couldn’t envision Corzine as anything but a good friend. And she was not of a culture that did this ‘two-men-one-woman’ situation. She couldn’t fathom a case where she would be comfortable with it.

And now they both confessed to having feelings for someone—for another. An acute sadness pierced her heart. The one and only time she had feelings for a man, he was not available. Not that she thought he had the same feelings for her. But he felt something, of that she was sure. Maybe it was lust. Like the lust Saraz exhibited with all of the women. So many women. Of course, that was all Barz felt for her.

She pushed her emotions aside. She had more important things to worry about. Finding Cinia. And forgetting Barz. That meant staying as far away from him as possible.