The Tigrens' Glory (42 page)

“It cannot be as easy as that,” Kirk said.

“I didn’t say it was easy,” Glory replied.  “It is, however, far better than being afraid of the unknown.  Might we change the subject now?”

“Of course,” Kirk said.  “There is another matter we’d like to discuss.”

“All right,” she agreed before taking a bite of a waffle.  They really
had
put a bit of everything on the plate.

Kirk glanced at Kyerion, who nodded his head, took a deep breath and turned to face her squarely.  “We understand that you’re upset, maybe even hurt, by our gratitude,” he began.  Glory tensed but did not look up from her plate as she speared a piece of what she thought might be fruit.  “But you misunderstand us, Glory, if you think that is all we feel for you.  We have other feelings as well.  Stronger, more personal feelings.”  Glory frowned, but did not interrupt. 
At least she’s listening
, Kyerion thought.  “The depth and intensity of our other feelings would have drowned out everything else, and we couldn’t allow your courage and sacrifice to go unacknowledged.”

Glory put her fork down and reached for the coffee again.  She took a sip before slowly raising her eyes to his.  “What other feelings?” she asked, reluctance weighing each word.

“Want, need, desire,” Kyerion said, his eyes growing darker and hotter with each word.  “Other feelings that we have yet to find words for.”

“You want me?” she asked, pleased at how calm and cool she sounded to her own ears.

“More than anything, or anyone, ever,” Cade said.  “You’re our Arima, Glory.”

She flinched.  “Why would you say this when you know as well as I that it can’t be true?”

“I say it because it
is
true,” Cade said.  Glory studied his face, but could find no deceit, no sarcasm, no anger.  He meant what he was saying.

“I’m sorry, Cade, but you’ve made a mistake,” she said.  “I’m not your Arima.”

“Why don’t you believe us?” Kyerion asked.

“A couple of reasons,” she said. 

“Which are?”

Glory fixed her eyes on the plate in front of her.  “Even if I have a bit of Tigren in me like you said, I’m still mostly human.  You’re not.  I wasn’t on Jasan for long, but I did learn that there’s a difference between Arimas and human mates.  It’s possible I could be a human mate, in theory, but I am not Jasani, I cannot shift, therefore I’m not an Arima. 

“Also, I’ve seen quite a few Rami with their Arimas, and one thing they all have in common is that they completely adore each other.  Kirk has made it abundantly clear that he neither likes nor trusts me, and I’m not so sure you do, either, Kyerion.  Cade seems to like me, but I’ve done some research on Jasani, and I know that you can’t claim a woman individually.  It’s all of you, or none of you.  Even if I am your Arima, I refuse to spend the rest of my life being treated as I was on Ramouri by one or two of you.”

The silence after Glory finished speaking stretched for so long that, against her will, her gaze shifted to Kyerion.  Her breath caught in her throat at the pain on his face.  She looked at Kirk, then Cade, and saw the same expressions on their faces, though she was at a complete loss as to why they looked so hurt. 

“We’ve made a few mistakes with you, Glory,” Kyerion said.  “Unfortunately, you’ve added them up and reached conclusions that are not correct.  Will you allow us to repair your understanding of us, our motives, and our feelings?”

“There isn’t anything to repair,” Glory said, suddenly feeling tired and sad.  She looked down at the plate of food in front of her and sighed.  Her stomach gave a tiny, regretful rumble as she pushed the plate away, her appetite gone.  

“I understand why you think that I don’t like you, Glory,” Kirk said, surprising her into looking up.  “My behavior toward you has not been what it should be, and for that I apologize.  But it wasn’t because I don’t like you.”  He pushed his chair back and got up to walk around the table.  “Before the Xanti captured us, we’d waited over four hundred years for our Arima.  Such a long wait was unheard of in that time.  We’d come to accept that she who was meant for us had not survived either her birth, or her childhood.  It was a tragic occurrence, but not unheard of.”

Glory felt Kirk’s sadness as he stopped beside her chair and knelt down so that his silver eyes were level with hers.  “Our despair grew with each decade that passed.  We focused on our work, achieving the rank of High Druids far sooner than any male-set before us.  There was no higher rank among Clan Tigren, though Clan Consul was equal to it.  A century later we were honored with that position as well.  We had nothing else to dedicate our lives to save our duties to our people, so we were perfect for both roles. 

“The years continued to pass and, despite our love for our work, our loneliness continued to grow.  In spite of our best efforts to stave off despair, we were quite close to giving up.  I’ve no doubt that we would have, in time.  Now that we know how long the Jasani waited to find just one Arima, it shames me to admit we were ready to give up after four hundred years, but I’ll not lie to you.” 

Kirk reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his movements heartbreakingly gentle.  “I didn’t remember all of those details in the beginning, but I still felt the anger and despair that I’d lived with for so long it had become a part of my being.  It was that which colored my behavior toward you.  I promise, it had nothing to do with
you
at all. 

“When you told us that we’d been prisoners of the Xanti for seven thousand years, I was beyond horrified.  I don’t think there’s a word in any language that could accurately express how I felt at that news.  We are
Druids,
Glory. 
High
Druids.  We’d always lived in harmony with those around us, be they fellow Klanaren, the Narrastia of our sister world, or lesser beasts of the sky, earth, or sea.  I could not help but wonder why the Creators would punish us in such a horrific manner.  Had we not lived honorable lives?  Had we committed some crime against our fellow creatures, or nature herself, that we were ignorant of?  What had we done to deserve being locked away for so long that, when we were finally freed, it was only to discover that all we once knew, all we loved and held dear, was less than dust?”

Glory tried, but she couldn’t prevent the tears that fell from her eyes.  Kirk’s pain was a lump lodged in her throat that she could barely breathe around.  When he brushed away her tears and smiled at her, she shook her head in confusion.  After what he’d just told her, what could he possibly be smiling about?

“I understand now,” he said.  “We weren’t being punished at all.  In truth, we are the luckiest of all Clan Tigren because we were chosen to survive.  We were chosen to make sure Clan Tigren lived on, to prevent the extinction of our clan.  And, most importantly, we were chosen to be Rami to you, Glory.  Hibernation was the only way we could remain alive until you were born into the universe.  I see this so clearly now,
Zeta
, and I no longer regret a single moment we spent in those tanks. 

“You are precious to us, Glory, more precious than you can realize.  You are the one woman created specifically for us.  There has never been another, will never be another.  We waited nearly 7500 years for you, and now that we’ve found you, we will do anything you ask of us if you will only agree to allow us to remain at your side.”

Glory searched Kirk’s eyes carefully, and found only truth.  She looked at Kyerion, then Cade, and found the same resolve, the same emotion.  Then she spent a moment searching her own feelings.  She didn’t rush it.  This was an important moment for all of them and she didn’t want to make any mistakes.  But, try as she might to use her head, to be logical and reasonable, her heart and body already had their answers, and they weren’t budging.

“What of the fact that I’m not Klanaren?”

“We’ve learned a few things since awaking in this century, one of which is that it doesn’t matter in terms of you being our Arima,” Kyerion said.  “Whether or not we can convert you is uncertain but again, that doesn’t change the fact that you are meant to be ours.”

“Convert?” Glory asked in surprise.

“We’ll explain everything,” Kirk said.  “There’s no rush, and we won’t do anything without your full understanding and consent.”

Glory nodded, uncertain what to say, how to tell them that yes, she wanted to be with them.  More than anything.  She opened her mouth, still not sure what words to use, but knowing she had to say something.  Before she got a sound out, Cade held up one hand.

“Before you decide,” he said, “we have a confession to make.”  Kirk and Kyerion frowned at Cade uncertainly.  “Dreams,” he said cryptically.  

“Yes, you are correct,” Kyerion said.

One corner of Kirk’s mouth kicked up as he faced Glory again.  “When we were children our mother warned us that eavesdroppers are always punished by hearing things they wish they hadn’t.  Even after all these years, I must concede that she was right.”

“Eavesdroppers?” Glory asked, confused.  

“We thought to learn more about you by taking a peek into your dreams,” Kyerion said.  “We saw things that we should not have seen.”

Glory knew instantly what dreams they meant.  Her face got so hot she thought she’d burst into flames.  “Those were from stories I read,” she said before Kirk placed a finger at her lips.

“We know,” he said.  “Besides, we peeked where we shouldn’t have.  We don’t deserve an explanation.”

“You know about the stories?” she asked.  “But, how?”

“We made complete fools of ourselves by going to the Dracons this morning and demanding to be told the identity of the man, or men, attempting to take you from us,” Kyerion replied sheepishly.  “I think we’re very lucky that Princess Lariah was unable to shift into her alter-form, else there would be little left of us but bone and ash.  She is small in body, but fierce in heart, and a worthy Princess for our people.  She is also a good friend to you.”

Glory smiled, proud that she could call Lariah her friend.  Then she drew her brows down in a mock frown.  “You are Clan Tigren and High Druids.  I’d have expected you to know better than to anger a woman who can shift into an enormous fire breathing dracon with claws, fangs, and the ability to fly.”

“Our only excuse is that our hormones have reduced our ability to think clearly,” Kyerion said, smiling.  “Perhaps if you answer our question, it will give us the incentive to hang onto what little sense we have left.”

“Will you forgive us, and allow us to remain at your side, Glory?” Kirk asked.  “Will you allow us to love you, and cherish you, and hold you close to our hearts for all time?”

Glory stared into Kirk’s silver eyes as he spoke.  She tried to respond, but couldn’t find her voice.  Kirk must have seen her answer in her eyes because his eyes flared with heat just before he leaned forward and captured her mouth with his own.  Her arms went around his neck as he grasped her waist and pulled her close, but she barely noticed as she gave herself up to the heat of his lips and tongue and teeth.

When he pulled back they both gasped for air, but she barely had a chance to fill her lungs before Cade lifted her from Kirk’s arms, spun her around, pulled her body hard against his and slanted his mouth down on hers in a kiss even more demanding that Kirk’s had been.  His tongue pushed into her mouth, stroking, tasting, and claiming.  She melted into him, her body going boneless, letting him take what he wanted, and accepting all that he gave back.  He broke the kiss only so they could breathe, then passed her carefully into Kyerion’s arms.

Kirk’s kiss had been demanding, which hadn’t surprised her, Cade’s had claimed, which had.  But Kyerion’s kiss was pure seduction.  Hot, slow, and gentle, he coaxed, teased, and tempted until her entire body shook and shivered with an intensity she’d only read about. 

“We want you, Glory,” Kyerion said when they’d both had a moment to catch their breath.  Kirk and Cade moved in close, pressing their bodies against her.  Instead of feeling trapped with all three of them pressing close around her, she relaxed.  It felt
right
.  Just like in that dream she’d had.  Which reminded her.

“The dream?” she asked, unable to form a more complex sentence.

“Yes, that was really us by the river,” Kyerion said with a growl.  “If it helps, we’ve gone nearly insane with need for you ever since.”

Glory’s lips curved in a small, feminine smile of satisfaction.  “It helps,” she said. 

“Please let us have you, Glory,” Cade said, leaning in to run his tongue from her shoulder up her neck, then to her ear before nipping her earlobe.  “We need you so much.”

She was surprised by the husky moan that slipped out of her own mouth, which helped her mind to clear a little.  “If I say yes, I’ll have as little honor as you accused me of in that dream,” she said reluctantly. 

She wanted them.  More than wanted.  She n
eeded,
just as much as they needed.  But, if they walked away from her in a day or two or three, she’d have only herself to blame.  She could live without the Tigren so long as she knew they were alive and well somewhere in the Thousand Worlds.  It would be difficult, and painful, but she was a survivor.  She’d live.  But she didn’t think she could live without her honor.

“Glory, do you trust us?  Do you trust me?” Cade asked, his copper eyes boring into her. 

She returned his gaze for a long moment before smiling at him.  “Yes, I trust you.  I trust all three of you.”

“Then believe me when I say, again, that you are our Arima,” he said.  “That means many things, one of which is that we are physically incapable of responding sexually to any female other than you.”

Glory frowned.  “I don’t think I understand.”

“We’ve learned a bit about humans over the past few days, and discovered that there are many differences between us, love,” Kirk said.  “We haven’t responded sexually to a female since we reached maturity, over three hundred years before we ended up in the Xanti’s trophy case.  The
only
woman capable of arousing us is you, our Arima.  For the remainder of our lives, there can never be another.  Should you walk away from us, we will
never
have another woman.  It isn’t possible, nor would we want it to be.”