Untamable Lover (Worlds of Lemuria: Earth Colony Book 2) (24 page)

Aramie squeezed her entire body through the bars and lunged at Mauree, knocking her down. The chair flew through the air, hit the wall, and broke apart. Mauree kicked out, landing a foot on Aramie’s shoulder. 

Aramie batted at Mauree, careful to keep her claws retracted. As much as she didn’t like the female, she didn’t want to hurt her, just get the necessary information. Mauree gripped her shoulder and even through the fur, her nails dug into her skin. The slight pinch was more of an irritation than anything else. 

 Aramie pushed forward, pinning the larger Stiyaha under her. She clamped her jaw around Mauree’s throat, but didn’t bite. 

Mauree stilled beneath her.

Grrrrrrr.

“Kill me and you won’t get the information you seek,” Mauree hissed.

Aramie tightened her jaw, pinching the irritating female’s skin between her teeth. Blood trickled over Mauree’s neck. The Stiyaha female kicked and punched, but Aramie had her pinned tight. Mauree stopped her attack, her body tense.

Grrrrrr.
The guttural sound reverberated in Aramie’s throat.

Mauree swallowed. Her shallow breaths sounded loud in the enclosed space. “Let me go.” 

Aramie held her ground.

Several seconds ticked by, the two locked together, neither giving way. Finally, Mauree relaxed. “Fine. I don’t know his exact location, but I overheard Jakar mention a farmhouse he was interested in…somewhere off Shadybrook Road. It’s on the east side of Mt. Hood, near the outskirts of Tygh Valley. The place is white, with a picket fence.”

Aramie released Mauree and squeezed through the bars before the deranged female could come after her. With the needed information, she raced down the corridor.
I’m coming, Demir.

Chapter Forty-One

Tanen adjusted his collar, straightening the folds to perfection. As he walked into the Grand Hall, he scanned the crowd in line for the evening repast. These were the early birds, the ones who liked to get in and get out before the masses really filled up the place. Not that there were many Stiyaha left anymore, not since the great scourge, but with the addition of the Panthera and Dren, mealtime was a bit crowded most evenings.

 The scent of fresh basil and garlic bread filled the air. His mouth watered in anticipation. He snagged a plate and stood in line.
I shouldn’t be here.
A bite of regret landed in the pit of his stomach. Avoiding his responsibility was so unlike him, but he couldn’t bring himself to visit Mauree and relay her death sentence. Not that he cared about her, per se, but the idea of having a hand in her death didn’t sit well with him. Mealtime was a valid excuse.

He raised his chin, pinning his shoulders back. He was Noeh’s council leader and had the right to enforce and dictate the law in his own manner. She’d have to wait until after he’d eaten. 

He dumped a spoonful of peas onto his plate and a few raced to the edge. An image of Mauree’s head rolling across the floor flashed through his mind. To think of her execution made the ball in his gut harden, flaring his heartburn. 

His appetite deserted him. 

He left the plate on the table and turned to leave.

“Tanen!” 

The muscles in his shoulders tensed. Gaetan hobbled toward him, his deformed leg bulging out to the side with each step. His cane tapped along the stone floor, the rapping sound working its way into Tanen’s brain like a pick.

Tanen put on his best smile. “Gaetan, what can I do for you?”

The haelen placed his hand on Tanen’s shoulder. “I…I need a favor.”

Interesting.
Gaetan never asked for a favor.
Tanen leaned toward the old male. “How can I be of service to you?”

“I left my healing bag in Noeh’s Throne room.” Gaetan winced and rubbed his knee. “I’d go back for it, but I’m not having one of my better evenings.” 

 “Worry not. I’ll retrieve your satchel.” He studied the old male. For Gaetan to forget his medicines was unusual, to say the least. “Shall I bring it here…or?”

Gaetan rubbed his brow. “Leave it in the infirmary, on the counter next to the elixirs.” His attention focused on Tanen. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Perhaps you should sit.” Tanen pulled a chair out from a nearby table. “Here, please.”

“Thanks.” Gaetan plopped more than sat in the wooden chair. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face. He exhaled. “Ah, much better.”  

Tanen scrutinized him. “Maybe some rest—” 

Gaetan raised his hand. “I’m fine.” His eyes narrowed and a glint of tension raced across his features.

Tanen leaned back. “Ok, well, I’m on my way out.” He nodded in respect and left the old male to deal with his own issues.

A slight breeze ruffled his hair, and he smoothed the stray strands back into place. His soft-soled shoes squeaked against the stone, but the familiar sound didn’t ease his tension. He still needed to deliver the news to Mauree. His jaw clenched along with his fist. He didn’t want to think too hard about why that bothered him, so he concentrated on Gaetan’s request.

Good thing the king’s Throne room was close by. He stopped outside the massive double doors and rapped his knuckles against the hard wood. 

Silence. 

He knocked again. 

Nothing.

With an impatient huff, he crossed his arms. No one was allowed in the king’s Throne room without specific authority from Noeh. He could always come back later, but that would be out of his way. With a quick whip of his head, he peered down the hallway, first to the left, then the right. Empty, except for him. 

He raised his chin and inhaled. Certainly, as council leader, the king wouldn’t mind if he entered to retrieve Gaetan’s satchel. Convinced with that rationale, he pulled on the heavy doors. 

As if in protest, the doors creaked at the intrusion. He entered the room, and the sunstones lining the walls brightened. The chamber contained a trace of pine and sage, Noeh’s scent, and the only sound was Tanen’s own breaths. Feeling like an intruder in his king’s sacred room, his muscles bunched beneath his tunic.
Maybe I should leave.

Glancing around, he focused on Noeh’s desk. On the edge of the massive piece of furniture sat a small, brown leather bag—Gaetan’s satchel. The tension in Tanen’s shoulders relaxed. 

He hurried across the room, his shoes swishing along the stone floor. With a quick swipe, he grabbed the soft leather bag and stowed it in the pocket of his overcoat. His gaze followed a path across the top of the desk, riveting to the spot where he’d seen the blue sunstone. 

His back stiffened, and his fingers smoothed the material around his neck, straightening his collar. He cleared his throat, the sound loud in the empty room. Riveted in place by the memory of the magnificent blue sunstone, he couldn’t move.

The sunstones lining the Keep’s walls brightened, and a wave of heat filled the room. Sweat formed under his armpits. The old, familiar tingling started in his fingers. He cracked his knuckles, trying to ease the itch. 

One peek, that’s all. I want to see the crystal.
The old wooden owl hovering in the corner seemed to watch his every move. His fingers trembled as he reached for the knob. Cold metal against his skin fed his need. The tingling in his fingers moved up his arms until his whole body vibrated with anticipation. 

He yanked open the drawer. The blue sunstone of legend sparkled against the drab background of the dark wood. His vision narrowed. Focused solely on the object of his desire, the rest of the room seemed to disappear.

His brain fogged, white dots forming before his eyes. He held his breath, and his body shook.

Don’t touch it. Don’t touch it.
But of course, he couldn’t resist. 

With a gentle caress, he stroked the edge of the crystal. The nerves along his fingertips tingled, sending tendrils of electricity up his arm. He cradled the stone and brought the crystal closer for further inspection.

Twirling the stone in his hand, blue rays landed on the desk, the walls, the ceiling. The light shone with an eerie glow and mesmerized him. He couldn’t put the precious gem down, not now, maybe not ever. Endorphins flooded his bloodstream, and his inner beast roared, eager to break free.

Before he could think better of it, he put the sunstone in his pocket next to Gaetan’s satchel. A strange warmth emanated from the cloth, warming his thigh through his trousers.

A sense of urgency raced through his veins. The last thing he needed was to get caught. He shut Noeh’s drawer and headed for the exit. Closing the doors behind him, he had the sense to realize he’d started along the dark path once again. A part of him didn’t care.

Chapter Forty-Two

The hallways of the Keep looked all the same to Aramie. Still learning to read the sunstones that lined the walls, she headed along a corridor she thought led to the Portal Navigation Center. If she could get out of here without anyone knowing, all the better. The last thing she wanted was to run into anyone from her Pride. They’d see her bite mark and know she was Demir’s mate.

She passed a female Stiyaha headed in the opposite direction. The tall female nodded. Her eyebrow arched and an inquisitive look formed in her eyes, but she didn’t stop to ask questions. Aramie’s pulse pounded.

A passageway on the right didn’t look familiar, and Aramie slowed down. Heat escaped from the entrance, warmed by the sunstones that glowed from a large pit in the center of the room. Several Jixies wore protective headgear and goggles, apparent protection from the heat. Swords in various stages of creation lined the walls.
A forge
. 

A sense of wonder crept along her nerves. On a table, not far away, a pair of throwing stars glinted in the light. Her chest expanded, and she touched her favorite weapons lining her belt. She’d lost two in the encounter with Ram at Blue Pool, leaving two remaining. After moving into the Keep, her supply of stars had dwindled away. 

“Hey there, you need somthin’?” A stout Jixie removed his headgear and approached her. With bright red hair and a long beard, he reminded her of the human stories of elves. He wiped his hands on a cloth already blackened with grime. A broad smile crossed his face and set her at ease. “You lookin’ for somethin’ in particular?” 

“Actually, I was looking for the Portal Navigation Center.” Somewhere along the way, she’d made a wrong turn, and the diversion was not what she needed. She didn’t want to be rude to the little male, but she needed to get to her destination.

“That’s two levels up. Take the third right and you’ll be fine.” 

“Thanks.” She glanced at the throwing stars one last time and turned to leave.

The male touched her on the elbow. “Hey. You’re a warrior, right?” 

She stilled, afraid he’d try to stop her, prevent her from searching out Ram as any Panthera male would. She peered at him. 

His smile and inquisitive eyes made her breath catch. He didn’t hold her back and try to control her. On the contrary, he seemed willing to help.

“Y-yes.” 

“I saw ya eyein’ them throwing stars. You want ’em?” His eyes twinkled and a shy smile graced his face.

The stars caught her attention once again. She’d love to have them, but she wasn’t sure she should. “Really? They’re not made for someone?” 

He shook his head. “Naw, we make extras of different types of weapons. I saw several of you Panthera had ’em. Thought I’d give it a try. Here,” he headed over to the table and picked them up, “you let me know how they turn out.” 

She accepted his gift, grateful for the finely crafted weapons. The light metal and etched edges were perfectly crafted. “These are exquisite. You’ve done a fabulous job.”

He beamed at her compliment. “Thank you. Please, take them.” 

She hid them under the lining of her belt, underneath her old ones. Her gaze focused on the exit before returning to him. “Thank you for the directions as well.”

He nodded and headed back to his work.

She ran down the hallway and took the third right. It wasn’t long before the walls and the sunstones started to look familiar. She passed a few Stiyaha, some warriors, some merchants, all in a hurry going somewhere. Rounding the last corner, she bumped into Leon.

His presence filled the corridor, his scent of jasmine and spice sending warning spikes along her nerves. He glanced at her throat, recognition reflecting in his eyes. 

“You’re a mated female now. How…convenient.” He looked behind him then returned his attention to her. “Where are you going? As if I don’t already know.” 

“Demir and I aren’t fully mated. I didn’t submit to him. Where I’m going is none—”

Jonue strode alongside him, her short, dark hair pushed behind her ears. She wore her battle gear, the long pants and black shirt effective camouflage in the dark forest. “Be careful, Aramie. He’s taken over the Pride.”

Aramie’s heart skipped a beat. “What? Demir is Pride leader.”

“Rin spread the word about what happened…with you and Demir.” Jonue’s gaze flicked to Aramie’s neck for a brief moment. “He almost killed you and went to the enemy.”

Leon’s eyes narrowed. “If Demir is aligned with the Gossum, then he’s lost to us. Someone had to take over the Pride, so I did. Now,
you
will obey
me
.” 

“Ram is controlling Demir through the effects of the blue sunstone. We have to help him.” Adrenaline surged through her body, her need to get to Demir burning in her chest.

Leon puffed out his chest, and the hair on the back of his neck visibly raised. “You will remain here at the Keep.” 

There was no way she’d stay here. She’d find Demir, even if she had to fight every male in the Keep first to prove her dominance.

“I don’t have time for this. I know Ram’s hideout. It’s in a white farmhouse with a picket fence, east of the human town of Tygh Valley, near the river. I
will
save Demir.” Her nostrils flared, and she had to resist the urge to bare her fangs. She didn’t want a fight on her hands, not when she needed to save her energy for the Gossum.