Tangles and Temptation (23 page)

Aurora laughed in delight. She stretched her body and purred with satisfaction as she whispered boldly, “The scent of sex taints your skin this morning, so I shall surmise the plan to have been a raving success. But forgive my ignorance, I find it rather odd the way the two of you seem to be avoiding each other. Was the sex not as good or rewarding for either of you?”

Kyra bristled. “Not that it is any of your concern, but the mating was splendid. Now concern yourself with matters pertaining to you or cease with your mindless prattle.”

Aurora narrowed her beguiling eyes. Her lips lifted slowly at the corners into a sensuous smile. “Discussions about delicious men and their performance in bed are never mindless prattle. Why, in my daily life, there exists nothing else to converse about.”

Kyra eyed her curiously. “I can think of one other thing you would find pleasure in discussing—yourself. Feel free to enlighten me on the glamour of your life.”

“You, my beautiful Kyra, are much too serious and indubitably too intelligent to fall into the gaping, endless pit called love. Sex is not to be equated with love. The differences between them can fill entire oceans. Who needs love? It is not a materialization of anything specific. It is simply a feeling, abstract within the heart, which renders the body lifeless and the mind foolish.” Aurora leaned in closer and whispered, “I would much rather have the physical aspects of the loving. There is nothing that can compare to the hard thrusting within a woman’s heated center. To feel the touch of a man’s bold caresses, the stroke of his lusting tongue, the pumping of his loins against yours, that is what really matters.”

Kyra tilted her head and eyed Aurora beneath lowered lashes. “Have you never experienced love, then?”

“Foolish girl, one can only reach this state of avoiding tender feelings and appreciating the cold, hard aspects of mating as a direct result of
having
experienced love. Having your heart crushed, your dreams burst as easily as a soap bubble, by the actions and words of a cold-hearted, callous man can change the viewpoint of the most innocent.” Aurora reached out and caressed Kyra’s chin tenderly. “You have the making to become a most prominent figure in a wealthy man’s harem. You possess a whimsical quality that inspires a man’s imagination while a sultry appearance evokes his sense of challenge.”

Kyra shook her head. “I have no intention of becoming a toy, tossed around and fondled by the hands of men simply based on their wealth.”

The striking woman laughed in delight. “Not just wealth, my innocent creature. There is lofty status to consider as well. And let us not forget the strength of his man rod.” Aurora sighed blissfully. “Kyra, learn to love that which you can hold within your hand, rather than lose something your heart fails to hold.”

* * * *

Eris spotted the great walls in the distant horizon. He sighed in relief. At first light, he had quickly vaulted his mount and sped to the forefront, leading the procession. He had kept steadfastly as far away from Kyra as he could manage throughout the day. As much as his body craved her, arousing and clenching at every sight of her, his mind refused to accept her terms. She roused the beast within him, carelessly, thoughtlessly. Yet it was not what she truly wanted. The beast was a part of him, so in essence, she could never accept him completely. The fear in her eyes was all the evidence he needed. He refused to bed a woman who was afraid of him, no matter the attraction she possessed. He turned his attention fully to the wall ahead. At least here there would be sufficient distraction.

Distraction, however, came in a most unexpected form. Loud choruses and vibrant cheers greeted them as they crossed the threshold of the wide gates. Children ran up, shouting and jumping. Men and women cried out in delight, throwing stemmed flowers and brightly colored petals in merry celebration. Eris had been dumbfounded at first, until he spotted the true target of their zealous welcome—
Kyra.
He leaned back in his saddle and clutched the reins fiercely as his horse threatened to buck in protest. Risking a quick glance behind him, he spotted Kyra upon her perch on the cart. Her expression felt like a stab to the center of his heart. Despite the bright smile pasted to her face, she appeared lost. Worse yet was the single word the people continued to chant, the word that fell from the lips of adults, faces alight with wonder, the word was shouted from the lips of enthusiastic young children, dancing and skipping in the path before them. A single word that brought to mind the time he had likened her bearing to that of the queen herself. The word echoed through his head and pounded through his chest. “
Princess.
”

Eris felt a surge of protectiveness for Kyra. If he felt such confusion and awe at this present welcome, he could not even begin to guess at her shattered emotions. She must have questions and uncertainties bumping around in her pretty head. But as much as he felt the urge to go to her, to lend a comforting presence to her dilemma, he hesitated. His reasons were not solely selfish. He needed to ascertain exactly who she was and what dangers she may face before exposing her to it. He could not do that and hold her hand at the same time. He dismounted.

He waited as the crowds parted. A hushed silence fell over the rejoicing people. Eris spared another glance at Kyra. Still no glimmer of recognition lit her features. He turned his face forward. He expected only the leader of this place to command such respect. The sight that greeted him made him blink. A tall, sturdily built female with such a pale shade of blonde hair it bordered on white, stepped forward. There was only one word he could use to describe her—
striking.
Eyes of crystal-blue sapphires blazed into his. Her lips lifted at one corner. “You were expecting a man. Alas, they are away on manly warfare and have left the duties to this lowly woman.”

Eris could find no response. She had guessed his thoughts precisely. He introduced himself instead. “I am Eris of the House of Andromeda, hailing from Argos.”

The woman’s gaze swept over him slowly. Intelligent eyes wandered patiently over him, assessing every feature from the top of his rumpled hair to his dusty, sandal-clad toes. Her next statement left him equally dumbstruck and bewildered. “Ah. Eris, meaning the one who is strife, how apt. And you speak with the accompaniment of the snake’s fork-tongued lisp. So she has managed to find you.”

As she made to move past him and rush to Kyra, he daringly halted her with a hand to her elbow. “Please. There are matters that need discussing before you approached Kyra.”

The tall woman stared at his constraining hand until he removed it. “Why would I wish to dither in my welcoming greetings? It has been an age since I have seen Kyra.”

“You will find no recognition in her eyes.” Eris opted for the most direct explanation. This female did not have the appearance of one that could be unduly obstructed or easily redirected. His heated, dangling testicles clenched and withdrew, seeking protection behind the flaccid length of his shaft. Her stare was icy cold. Fortunately for his painful sacs, it lasted no longer than a heartbeat.

Eris followed quickly as she turned suddenly and strode back up the stairs. She issued just a simple statement, and the merriment continued. “Welcome.”

Eris glanced back. He winced as he noticed the people flood and pounce upon unsuspecting Kyra. Her eyes were wide with surprise and confusion, yet she appeared to be in no immediate danger. He forged on after the quickly retreating figure. He caught up with her as she entered the palace doors. Before he could utter a single word, she turned abruptly and demanded, “Why is she so unlike herself?”

Eris blinked. “Kyra?”

The woman hissed in impatience, “Yes, my
sister
. You come here as her escort. How is it you seem ignorant?”

Eris drew back at her direct speech, clearly holding insulting undertones. His voice was brittle with barely restrained anger. “She has lost all sense of her memory. We appear ignorant as we are just that—
ignorant.
Now either you establish some modicum of hospitality and emulate some sense of decorum or I shall take her and leave this arrogant place.”

The woman laughed in true mirth. Her voice held pure amusement. “It is good. You possess character.
Come
. There is a lot that requires explaining.” She spun on her heels once again and called for a slave. “Bring Aikaterina to me immediately.”

Eris followed her, admiring the huge palace as he went. They continued until they reached what must be a grand counseling chamber. Huge figurines and extravagant statures stood tall and erect between impressive, sturdy pillars. An exotic fountain was built just outside the doorway leading to the courtyard. It filled the chamber with the echoes of delicately flowing water, trickling and gurgling. The surroundings held his attention only long enough for him to glimpse the occupants. He had missed this basic element before, or perhaps he had disregarded it, but the people of this land were truly beautiful. What alarmed him though was that this rare, fragile beauty was not restricted to the females only. The men were equally pale skinned, smooth, and porcelain like, with ruby-red, plush lips and wonderfully colored, thickly lashed eyes. The males were tall yet slender in build. Eris frowned. He had envisioned many things in his life, but never before had he envisioned a city filled with
beautiful men
.

The woman settled into a great chair and gestured for him to do likewise. “I am sister to Kyra. And as she is named ‘like the sun,’ I am named in a similar fashion, ‘shining or bright.’ Call me Aleka.”

Eris slid gratefully onto the wide tripod stool and nodded politely. “I am pleased to meet you, Aleka. You mentioned Kyra had come seeking me. Why was that?”

Aleka settled back. “She left abruptly one morning sprouting nonsense about a vision she had had during the course of the night. Apparently, she had to find a certain member of the House of Andromeda. She was not very forthcoming with information, but she made it abundantly clear that this mission involved a certain message she wished to relay. As I recall it was something about the coming of a devious demon.”

Eris frowned. “If she had not specified which member of the House of Andromeda she wished to warn, how you can be certain it was me? She lost her memory before alighting on our shores.”

Aleka shrugged. “I suppose I drew that conclusion seeing as you have escorted her here and you mentioned you were from the House of Andromeda. Of course, now that you mention it, we cannot be certain the warning was meant for you at all.”

Eris pondered the disturbing news. Kyra had had an attraction for both him and his brother. Was it possible she had come seeking Sappho instead? The thought unsettled him. Furthermore, why would she seek to warn them of a danger they were already expecting? The coming of the creature from the bowels of the underworld was common knowledge and needed no advanced notice. He chose to ignore the nagging doubts and inquired instead, “How is it she came to lose her memory? Do you have any idea?”

Aleka smiled thinly. “Kyra was in great haste and refused to take a proper entourage as escort. She set out with a single young sprite, who incidentally fancied himself in love with her.”

Eris smiled broadly. “I do believe I have had the pleasure of meeting this young sap. He is, at present, at my home, recuperating from his daring feats.” He gestured for her to continue.

“According to word sent back by him, she simply disappeared one night as they camped. He awoke the next morning and found her gone. There were no telltale clues left behind. The lad raced back with the distressing news. Fortunately a messenger arrived within days from your home enquiring whether we were missing Kyra. But unfortunately, my father, together with our armies, were all called out on duty and could not aid in her returning to us. The boy volunteered to undertake the errand. He pleaded responsibility for her disappearance. We have had no word of him, until now.”

Eris pondered her explanation. There was not much revealed. Nothing could be explained about her mysterious disappearance and her sudden appearance on their shores. Before he could question further, a young girl ran into the room. She bounced joyfully and leapt into the awaiting arms of Aleka. Eris studied the little sprite. She was a bubbling ball of boundless energy. Her hair bobbed, delightful blonde curls, and her eyes flashed with intelligence and curiosity. Her cheeks were rosy, and her mouth puckered as she watched him. With the direct inquisitiveness of a child, she blurted out, “Who are you?”

“I am Eris, and who are you?”

Aleka answered for her. “This bundle of delight is Aikaterina.”

Eris nodded to the girl who wriggled free, clearly displeased with her inactive state, and wandered away to splash water in the fountain. Eris watched her closely. “She has a striking resemblance to you. Is she your daughter?”

Aleka laughed. “While Kyra and I are twins, I do not believe we have a great deal in common appearance wise.”

Eris frowned. “Twins?”

“Yes. We were birthed at the same time, but of different mothers. Apparently my father was as randy back in his days of youth as he is now.” She studied the child fondly. “But I would prefer it if Kyra’s appearance remains a secret from Aikaterina. It would break her tender little heart should Kyra not remember her.”

Eris nodded in understanding. A little child would be devastated not to be recalled by a loved one. He agreed readily, “The child will hear nothing from me. I am sure, although she may not recall it at present, Kyra must have loved the child much.”

Aleka’s next statement stabbed his heart straight through the center. He had come seeking knowledge about Kyra, specifically seeking her eligibility for his own wish to pair with her. Aleka’s words cut through any further plans he could possibly hope for with Kyra. The words were simple yet so destructive. “As should she, as Aikaterina is her daughter.”