Untamable Lover (Worlds of Lemuria: Earth Colony Book 2) (28 page)

Aramie looked around the room. “Maybe there’s another way out.”

“There isn’t. One of Ram’s minions said they made the room larger, but Ram didn’t want another door.” He glanced at the stairs. “We don’t have a choice.”

He broke their embrace, but his fingers trailed down her arm and clasped her hand in his. Their hands entwined, her sensitive pads lighting up at the contact. He brought her fingers to his lips. With a gentle kiss, his whiskers tickled her skin. “Tough stuff, when we get out of here…”

Shhh.
She placed her fingertip against his lips to quiet him. “We’ll have time to discuss us later.”

His smile was all masculine pride. “Indeed.” 

He headed for the door, pulling her along, but he stopped at the edge of the workbench. Scattered among the broken beakers and old tools was Demir’s knife and throwing stars. He palmed his weapons, reattaching them to his belt. As much as she loved him, a tendril of regret balled in her gut. She didn’t need his protection and didn’t want him to control her. 

He turned to look at her. His brow scrunched. “What’s wrong?” 

This wasn’t the time or place for that conversation, so she shook her head. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

Breaking glass and a Panthera’s muffled scream seeped through the slats in the ceiling. 

Aramie recognized that cat’s cry—Jonue. Bits of dust and dirt rained down on Aramie’s head.

“Seems we’re late to the party.” Demir headed for the stairs, taking two at a time. 

She paused on a stair mid-step. A slight movement caught her attention. A giant house-spider sat in the middle of a web, between two railings. The arachnid spun a fine silk cord, wrapping it around her victim. 

Aramie’s vision narrowed. Her heart rate increased. Sweat seeped from her pores, her scent clogging the air. 

Demir’s warm hand wrapped around her waist. “It’s okay. Breathe.”

She inhaled and her body shook from her fear. 

“Aramie, focus.” His voice seemed distant, far away. He gripped her arm, turning her to face him. “Kill the spider or let it live, but don’t let fear of this small creature rule you.”

Her gaze roamed his face, the trust and faith reflected in his eyes steeled her resolve. She glanced at the spider with its eight legs and numerous eyes. Before she could think better of it, she swiped at the web, forcing the creature to flee over the banister. 

Tension drained from her muscles. A small nervous laugh escaped her lips. She’d handled the spider on her own. Demir winked at her.

Something crashed to the floor in the kitchen. The door splintered and shook in its frame, but didn’t break. Black goo seeped onto the top step.

“You ready?” Demir raised an eyebrow, his eyes turning yellow.

“Absolutely.” She palmed a throwing star, ready for battle.

He yanked on the door. Dark sludge dribbled down the stairs. The empty kitchen bore the ravages of the fight. Three of the overturned table’s four legs stood straight up as if reaching for the ceiling. The fourth leg—missing. A splatter of red blood coated the white fridge. Aramie prayed it wasn’t from a Panthera. 

As they walked into the room, Demir peered over his shoulder. His jaw clenched. He appeared torn.

“Don’t say it. I’m going to fight. You can’t stop me.” She ground her teeth together, her hands clenched at her sides.

“As if I thought I could.” He motioned for her to precede him. “After you.” 

Affection spread warmth through her chest. He’d guard her back. She nodded and headed into the melee.

*****

Aramie launched herself at a nearby Gossum. Demir’s chest clenched, and fear snaked its way under his skin. His need to protect warred with his desire to respect her as a warrior. Deep inside, she was a fighter, always had been, but she was also his mated female. How could he take her need to be a warrior away from her?

A Gossum slithered toward him in it’s Panthera form. The creature was even more grotesque than usual. It snapped its long tongue in his face. He dodged the spiked tip, and pulled his dagger from his belt. The edge of the knife glinted in the soft light. 

The Gossum lunged, scraping a pointy claw over Demir’s leg. Pain radiated up his thigh. Anger built in his chest. The energy fueled his rage. With a firm uppercut, he drove the tip of his knife into the creature’s throat, severing its head from its spine. The Gossum stiffened then slumped to the floor.

Several of his Pride fought in the enclosed space. Jonue dispatched a beast with her claw, severing its jugular. Leon bit a Gossum on the back of the neck. By all appearances, his Pride had the advantage. The battle was almost over.

Nearby, a Gossum in its altered Panthera state grunted, blood oozing from a scratch on its arm. The beast focused on Aramie, and a loud shriek burst from the injured creature’s throat. 

Demir’s vision pinpointed. His heart pounded. One thought echoed in his mind—protect. He launched himself at the wounded beast. 

Aramie beat him there. She gripped the creature’s injured arm and spun him to face Demir. Her eyes glinted with her conviction. “Take him, he’s yours.” 

Demir plunged his dagger into the Gossum’s chest. The beast stilled, its black orbs staring at the ceiling. With its final breath, the creature morphed into a pile of sludge.

Not a single Gossum remained. Soft moans from the wounded filled the air.

Down the hallway, a door clicked shut. Demir raced into the hall and burst through the door, shoulder first. At the open window, a pair of curtains blew in the breeze. 

In the distance, Jakar loped along the road leading into the mountains. Demir ached to pursue him, but wouldn’t leave his Pride, not while some had injuries which needed medical attention. He clenched his fist and returned to the living room. 

A quick scan revealed the devastation from the fight. The couch sagged in the middle, its back broken in two. Wood from the busted coffee table and shattered glass from the hutch littered the paisley carpet. A DVD of
The Shining
lay on the floor, evil Jack’s grin fitting right into the scene. 

Members of his Pride congregated, attending the wounded. There were as many females as males—some mated. 

“Did we lose anyone?” Demir held his breath.

“No, thanks to the mated females.” Hallan peered at Demir, then placed his arm around Jonue and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “My mate and I had a long talk. We convinced Leon to come as an entire Pride—including mated females—to fight the Gossum. Forgive us for breaking old traditions.”

“I’m glad we found you, Pride leader.” Leon bent his head in submission.

Demir studied the males then glanced at Jonue. The battle would’ve had a different outcome if not for the mated females. Had he been wrong all these years to prevent mated females from fighting? A knot formed in his throat. Apparently so. 

“Everyone fought well tonight,
everyone
.” He made eye contact with each of the mated females in the group, giving his praise and acceptance.

A tense quiet filled the room.

Demir took a step forward, into the middle of the group. “I always boasted myself on my judgment, for doing what I thought best for the entire Pride.” He wiped his hand over his face, and exhaled. “I’ve made mistakes, plenty of them. The biggest one—believing mated females shouldn’t fight. I’m going to rectify that, right now.”

He held out his hand to Aramie. 

She straightened her back and met his gaze. Pride filled him. He felt bigger, taller, stronger than he’d ever been in his life. Strength wasn’t about control or physical toughness. True strength came from within and was about self-confidence, faith and trust in others. 

Realization dawned on him. His father had made mistakes as well, trying to do what he believed was best for his son, teaching him how to fight and defend his Pride. No one was perfect, everyone made mistakes, and everybody deserved a chance at forgiveness. Although he’d been viciously abused by his father, a wave of understanding for the male bubbled up inside. 

Aramie placed her hand in his, her warm skin sending spikes of desire through his body. He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her fingers. “Aramie, my mated female, I’ve wronged
you
most of all. I should’ve trusted your judgment, but instead, my disdain and need for control clouded my decisions.”

Her gaze darted back and forth as she studied him. Love for her welled up inside and Demir’s throat tightened. “Aramie, would you forgive my arrogant, chauvinistic attitude and return as my second in command?”

Her eyes widened, and her grip in his hands tightened. A slight smirk crossed her face. “Demir, my mated male, of course I forgive you. How could I be anything but your second in command?”

He blinked. Laughing, he pulled her into his embrace, her strawberry scent filling his senses. Shouts and claps erupted from the Pride.

As the joyful cheers quieted and he released her, a sense of wholeness enveloped his heart.

Through the gingham curtains, the night sky carried a slight tint of dawn. They needed to return to the Keep. Demir looked at his family, his Pride. “Let’s go home. Who wants to celebrate?”

Chapter Forty-Nine

Tanen walked down the hallway, the weight in his pocket messing with his mind. He passed a Jixie with a nearly empty tray. Only a few crumbs of the garlic bread remained. She glanced at him and nodded a greeting. He grunted a reply. Words were so not an option right now.

He’d have to come around soon though. He needed to tell Mauree about her fate. The long corridor went on for miles, passageways branching off in all directions, but he stayed focused on his task. Others passed by, but he didn’t pay attention to them other than a casual “hi” or “hello.” 

The old thrill of getting away with the theft made him feel in control once again. He hadn’t felt this good about himself in a very long time. His inner beast savored the theft, vying to break free. 

While his mind fed on visions of the stone, his feet kept up their pace. He turned at all the appropriate intersections. The number of others roaming the corridors diminished. As he moved deeper into the Keep, a cool dampness permeated his skin.

He rounded the corner into the stronghold sector and stopped. With tentative care, he pulled the decree out of his coat. A need to touch the crystal raced over his fingers, and before he could stop himself, he thrust his hand deep into his pocket. The rough edges of the stone were a sweet potion, and a shiver of delight ran up his arm. Pulling on his strength of will, he returned his focus to his task and let go of his treasure. Unfolding the paper, he reread the summons written in Noeh’s cuneiform handwriting. 

For treason against the Stiyaha, Mauree, daughter of Wrinton and Sade, you shall be beheaded on the morrow at nightfall. 

King Noeh  

Short and to the point, how like His Majesty. 

Tanen folded the paper and put it back in his pocket. A coil of dread formed inside, sending a wave of nausea up his throat.
Damn heartburn.

In the distance, an object lay on the ground—something right outside Mauree’s cell. Unease rippled over his shoulders. Water trickled over stones, the sound loud in the quiet corridor. 

He bolted down the hall. The tail of his shirt lifted from his pants. Wisps of hair tickled his forehead, his perfect strands falling around his ears. 

As he approached her cell, the object on the ground became discernible. A padlock. His heartbeat increased, pounding in his ears. 

“Mauree!” His yell went unanswered.

He slowed as he approached. The bars on her door were slightly ajar. He didn’t need to look inside to know she was gone, but he couldn’t stop himself. The empty space was a mockery to him. As council leader, he was responsible for her escape. 

A shudder ran over his back. Sweat broke out on his skin. His collar bit into his neck. He wrestled with the button, breaking it off in his attempt to free himself from its confinement.

A moan escaped his lips. The sound echoed along the corridor, amplified again and again, beating on his psyche. His cheeks burned from his shame. She’d escaped on his watch. He’d never live this down.

He wiped his hand over his face. A loud exhale left his lungs. Now what? And wasn’t that the question of the hour. 

Once Noeh heard Mauree had escaped, he’d be angry. Tanen gripped his collar, scrunching the material tight around his throat. He wouldn’t be able to handle the look of disappointment in the king’s eyes. Tanen shook his head.
Oh, craya, no. 

A small breeze blew from the gloomy end of the corridor. The faint scent of roses filled his senses.
Mauree.
Without a second thought, he ran down the hallway in hot pursuit.

Chapter Fifty

After a good shower, Demir had stopped off at the party. The meat sandwiches and spiced ale had been exceptional, but he’d been too preoccupied with Aramie to imbibe much. She’d smelled of her own recent shower and fidgeting with frustration, he’d encouraged her to leave with him. That wasn’t hard to do. She’d been eyeing him as well.

As they approached his quarters, he couldn’t wait to get Aramie alone. Her strawberry scent made him wild, frenzied. The doorknob shook in his hand, putting up a fight, stalling him. He gripped the metal, twisting harder than was necessary. The door opened with a squeak, and he rushed her across the entrance.

Slamming the door with his heel, he pushed her against the wood. Caged between his arms, her warm breath tickled his cheek. She growled, and the sound reverberated from her chest to his, inflaming his desire. 

“Demir…” Her lips parted, her canines extending from her mouth. 

Her blatant display of need made his heart race. He answered her, his own growl low and demanding.

Grasping her head in his palms, he captured her lips in a lingering kiss. Her sweet taste wove into his senses and was now forever engrained in his mind. Their frantic kisses ignited the passion between them, escalating their combined need.