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  Bodies intertwined, they rolled in mental and sexual frenzy on the bloodied sand. Their joining would be complete this very hour—must be completed in order to cement the link as a true bonded pair, not just mind-linked as Vadyn had been with Elizabeth.

  Away! He retained enough awareness to know that he had to lead Cayla away from the brutal carnage of her parents’ deaths, so he controlled their rolling momentum with her clutched tightly to his chest. He cradled and protected her as he smoothed a path down the clinging soil. And the soft dune gave way in a gentle slide. At the bottom, they came to a halt, panting and disheveled near the edge of the cooling pool of clear oasis water. The sweet smell of blooming liestra filled the air, at odds with the tragedy above.

  Vadyn gently drew Cayla closer. He couldn’t think past her nearness, his head filled with her scent, all his senses attuned with awareness only of her. The Slytreen were far from his thoughts. Her frantic heart pounded against the savage echo of his. Still grieving, they rested near the water, alive, so alive among so much death. He smoothed her hair gently from her brow.

  Is this what you truly want, little one? Are you sure? He spoke to her for the first time through their mind-link. This will be for a lifetime. Say you want this. He gave her one last chance to sever the tie that would bind them together. The link throbbed in demand for a completion; it needed the physical linking.

  Oh, I am very sure. I have been for a long time. Her eyes filled with shimmering moisture, and she brushed his lips in the barest of chaste kisses. He responded, claiming her mouth in fierce possession, even knowing that she was inexperienced and that he should go slowly. Filled with passion, he could only take a deep breath and make sure his fangs no longer extended for battle. With their blunt edges, he nipped the corners of her lips playfully, teasing her mouth with his and loving the shiver that went through her. He planted kisses down her neck, reining back the urge to bite her shoulder and claim her as he might a Kasar mate. Gradually, her fear subsided, fell away into raving desire. She was not just responding, she was claiming him.

  But she demanded more than soft kisses. After so long a wait, she would claim all of him. The memory of brutal death lingered too close. Mortality was too frightening. They needed to hide behind love and life. Cayla bit his neck sharply then arched, offering her breasts. He accepted the invitation and closed his mouth over a nipple. Another shiver trembled over her. Hurry, she cried. He tasted her other breast and squeezed the tip with his teeth. But when he tried to pull back, she hugged him closer. More!

  With a groan of surrender, he lost what little control remained. Their link demanded fulfillment now. He swept shaky hands over her skin, thrilling to her innocent response. And she moved to his every demand. Her skin felt like a silken treasure under his tongue, and he touched, tasted, and kissed all of her in a revered awe that quickly changed into savage possession. With a growl, he nipped her neck, grazed her shoulder with his teeth. She laughed yes in response. As a Kasar warrior, he staked his claim on her as mate. Unafraid, Cayla cried and clutched him tighter. Time flew under their frenzied caresses. When he finally eased his thickness between her slim thighs, he hesitated at her barrier. He felt the thin resistance in his mind as well as with his body. Shocked immobile by the image of her virginal form under his massive strength, he waited, poised trembling on his braced arms. This would hurt her. Undaunted by the knowledge, his engorged shaft ignored his control and nudged the silken tissue that barred his way. Sweat broke out in darkened patches on his thin pelt. But the moisture wasn’t caused by the suns’ heat alone. Cayla’s love nearly blistered him with her demand to finish this torture. For a time, he successfully battled his raging desire—and hers. Mind-linked, he felt her excitement, her passion. But she was so small, not like Kasar females. He had to go slowly. Slow down, beloved. He reasoned with her with what little coherency that he possessed, but she refused to listen.

  No! Now! Do it now!

  His reluctance was defeated by her demanding arch. Her hands clawed his hips forward, and she pulled him inside with one clear, searing plunge. He felt the tearing pain as she was breached. She mentally screamed, and he roared aloud. His soul trembled while she breathed her way past the pain. He felt humbled by her gift, her strength in the face of his weak hesitation. She lay quiet for a moment, breathing quickly through her nose, fighting the raw invasion. Her hot sheath still gripped him, and he shared her every sensation. Gently he began again, letting anticipation build in mind and body. He stroked her soft breasts, teased her delicate nipples with the tips of his claws before sliding them down her side past her hip toward where they were joined.

  Vadyn. She gasped. Shafts of her desire spread through him. Everything she felt, his body knew and responded to in kind. Her delicate hands left fire in their wake. Boldly, she explored him, the hills and valleys of his body. And he thrilled to her touch. Her clever fingers slid down his back, over his buttocks. Her eyes widened at his growled response. Then, she smiled, pleased at knowing just where to touch. Sensitive spots were shared—kisses, bites, and licks spread. Their bodies’ rhythm grew more frenzied. Tension built again into one solid desire. Soon, they didn’t know where one body ended and the other began. One. Joined in pounding motion, their twin screams of release severed the air.

  Long moments later, in amazement, they slowly untangled. He gazed silently into her brilliant eyes that were filling with love—with pain, with grief. On one thought, they grabbed hold of each other and poured more love into the deepest of soul-sealing kisses. Tongues swept together—blood pumped in unison. Two surging heartbeats fused. No longer would they be apart. They would share everything. Vadyn. Cayla. Forever one, the needs of their bodies were secondary to the needs of their souls.

  Suddenly, a cool mist sprayed over them. Had the Slytreen returned?

  Chapter 4

  WARNING AIR blasts again sheared the oasis, and Vadyn breathed a relieved sigh. He knew this sound; his warriors had arrived. Their jet stream had sprayed the lake to alert him. He shook Cayla gently in his arms, called her both mentally and physically. Cayla. Her gaze focused slowly.

  She felt the warmth of Vadyn’s mind-whisper. Her dazed awareness returned slowly. So this wasn’t a dream—a nightmare. Her parents were dead. In the distance, she heard the purring sounds of an approaching skimmer, echoing the sounds of Vadyn’s warriors’ heavy carriers, but the jagged pain of grief still vibrated in the aftermath of fulfilled passion. She blinked past jumbled thoughts. Her vision and mind cleared. Oh, dear gods, what had they done? She jerked out of Vadyn’s arms. Awareness struck—alien awareness—fiercely savage—strange. Her thoughts were not her own!

  Oh, by the gods, what have we done? Again she vented the curse; this time it echoed in her mind with disastrous results. A responding roar startled her.

  The crippling backlash of her horror surprised Vadyn into venting before he stumbled and turned a wounded gaze to her. She felt the weight of his confusion, but she couldn’t contain her chaotic thoughts. Oh, stars, what had she been thinking? Despite all her quick reasoning, her mind still remained confused, full of strangeness. Dear gods, she had linked to Vadyn! They had mated as if they’d been animals—in the sand—right next to her parents’ bodies. How could she have been so cruel? With a snarled oath, he reached for her and swept her back into his arms with a jerk. His glare was yellow hard. His raging thoughts beat at her. What was he doing in her head? In quickened reasoning, he tried to calm her, to still her fears. He pelted her with mental explanations until she couldn’t stand any more. Get out! She stiffened and forced her palms between them, pushing against his chest. When that didn’t work, she put her hands over her ears but still couldn’t shut out the mind-speech he bombarded her with. What didn’t he understand? She didn’t want his touch or his intrusion into her thoughts right now. Finally, she gave a frustrated scream aloud. “Get out!”

  Startled into wide-eyed amazement, he le
t her go. She jerked back without meeting his gaze. She just needed time to think this through, and she didn’t need the link to know what he thought. He stood silent, his chest heaving. He was angry with her. His thoughts still buzzed and cut. Through her lowered vision, she watched his chest continue rising and falling. He felt betrayed by her rejection. Damn this intimacy! All she needed was some time. Couldn’t he at least give her that? Again, she heard his low snarl. Visions of his violent past rolled through her mind with the bloody images from the countless battles he had fought. He was savage, dangerous, and oh, so furious with her. He roared again, and she felt a rage that she had never known. Alien. Somehow Vadyn influenced her feelings, twisted them until she couldn’t think straight. That must be it. She felt overloaded with too much death. And so much violence! But, she loved him, didn’t she? She wanted this joining, dreamed of it for years, hadn’t she? He must have felt her confusion for now he drew her back gently into his arms. And she let him. She was no match for his strength. When he tucked her so close, she floundered with her face hidden against his warm, solid chest. She drew in his scent, so familiar, yet now somehow strange. She remained there unable to speak, unable to soothe him as he did her. But she really didn’t want his touch now. She didn’t want anyone’s. Her parents were dead. She wanted to be alone, but she didn’t pull away.

  Cayla didn’t need to tell him her feelings, Vadyn knew her every thought. And he silently raged at her rejection. After what they had just shared, how dare she? She had been the one to save him, to insist that he stay when all he wanted to do was to die with his friends. But she had persisted, and, now, what was he going to do with her? A mechanical screech woke him from his worries.

  A skimmer landed close to them. Sean. Cayla’s brother. The massive Kasar troop carriers with their engines screaming a high shriek followed on Sean’s heels, bringing Vadyn’s warriors. An abrasive shower of sand blasted the area, blinding them again.

  The awful realization finally slapped Cayla fully awake. She tore from Vadyn with an anguished cry. Everyone had seen them! Her clamoring thoughts spun again before colliding with the truth. Sean, in the skimmer, had to have witnessed their joining! Whatever were they thinking to have mated out in the open? How could she have forgotten her parents’ deaths and just—just—Vadyn caught her hand and jerked her back to his side. But his thoughts weren’t angry.

  Hush, love. Peace, please. All your jumbled thinking makes my head hurt. You haven’t forgotten. Neither have I. We will never forget. Never. He cupped her burning cheek in his callused palm, but she tipped her chin away—and again felt the quick spike of the warlord’s hurt. Good gods, this shared link was too personal, too invasive. And, still again, she felt his pain at her thoughts and reactions. She tried to explain, to show him her reasons.

  Sean—he saw us, Vadyn. He hates you already. What will he think now? And your—your warriors? What will they all think of me? New tears flowed down her face, and she trembled, burning with embarrassment and shame as well as pain for her brother. Sean would never understand this, her joining with Vadyn, on top of facing their parents’ death. Considering what she had seen in the warlord’s violent memories, what would he do to her brother? She felt another mind flinch, but, without a word or thought, the warlord cradled her back into the curve of one massive arm while helping dress her swiftly in her torn silks. A blank barrier now filled her head. Like a blanket wrapping her head from outside senses, she no longer felt Vadyn’s thoughts mixed with hers. Now, just a thick dullness surrounded her head. With a light, impersonal touch, the warlord smoothed the ragged robes down her body. But despite his silence and blanked thoughts, she felt his impotent rage; she saw the long muscle that jerked and flexed in his jaw. Emotion bled through the barrier. Such anger! Savage thoughts that were not her own filled her. Impotent rage. Suddenly weak and shaking, she felt her knees fail. But, held in his tight grip, she didn’t fall, and, after a moment, she gave in and rested her forehead against his solid chest. Just the familiar feel of him, his scent, gave her comfort and steadied her. Her weakness was caused by an adrenaline drain, no doubt, and it sapped what little strength she possessed. She wasn’t afraid of Vadyn, was she? In that one quick, quiet moment, she assessed herself. Her gown was torn beyond repair; dirty smudges were the least of damage. She saw several reddened sand abrasions on her arms and legs and realized that she just now felt them stinging. But others would realize how she had gotten that way. Sean would know. Her cheeks stung worse than her scrapes. Her legs still felt as if they couldn’t hold her much longer, but she pulled from Vadyn’s embrace. And she stumbled.

  Here, use my strength—even if my touch repels you. She was amazed. Even angry with her, Vadyn didn’t hesitate in coming to her aid. His fingertips barely touched as he tipped her face and surprised her by briefly kissing her, more of a pubic branding than anything physical. Done, he quickly stepped back. She felt her lips quiver and again knew the bite of his anger. His eyes narrowed on her. Still, whatever her doubts, she drew in the assurance of his love and stood taller. After all, he was Vadyn, the warlord of Kasara, the mate she had fantasized about for years. Amazingly, she found she could actually stand without his support. But underlying Vadyn’s gentle concern, she still tasted the hot edge of his temper. His yellow gaze was cold, regardless of how tenderly he had touched her. Obviously, her sudden doubts about their joining infuriated him. Added to that, the knowledge that she feared and rejected his savage nature intensified his rage. Sudden shame flooded her, and she dipped her head, trying to hide her thoughts. It would all be better in time, she hoped. Anxiously, she watched her brother approach through lashes spiked with tears. Sean had better tread lightly.

  After quickly jerking a strip of white silk around his waist and buckling on his laser belt, Vadyn planted his feet in a wide stance. He let his sand-filled hair flow loose, wild in the wind. His gaze again narrowed on the approach of his troops—and on Sean. Rage still licked through him at Cayla’s rejection of the rightness of their joining. That wonderful fulfilling joy had died for him even as his friends had died, killed by the murderous Slytreen. He longed to tear something—or someone apart. His ire simmered just below his calm surface, but he refused to show his warriors his turmoil. Thanks to twenty-five years of shared calming human emotion, Vadyn, Kasara’s warlord el’kota, could wait with his arms crossed in militant ease. The suns burned warm on his war bands; the expectant air smelled dry and hot. He twitched, feeling Cayla’s tension from where she stood behind him. She radiated fear and sorrow but also echoed a deep concern for what he might do to Sean. As if he would tear her brother limb from limb. Stars! He couldn’t stand her distrust.

  Be at ease, little one. Turning, he tipped his head at her before sweeping her back to his side, the rightful place for her to stand. A mate stood by her love. She stiffened at his touch, and he dropped his arm, hiding his pain. He carefully muted his thoughts. You are my mate, Cayla. You have nothing to fear from Sean or from Kasara’s warriors. We will see this through together. He didn’t touch her again, knowing she didn’t want to feel the intimacy between them—an intimacy he could do nothing about—yet. But he would further deepen that intimacy the first chance he got. He heard Cayla’s outraged strangled gasp.

  He couldn’t help a small smile. He could never resist a challenge.

  Chapter 5

  CAYLA IGNORED Vadyn and his lascivious thoughts. All her attention was on her brother. Sean had leaped out of their parents’ skimmer before its engines even shut down. Now, he ran in long strides ahead of the larger warriors with pale disbelief written on his face. But faced with the brutal evidence, he couldn’t deny the reality. Surrounded by the grisly remains of the attacking Slytreen, their parents lay in each other’s arms on the bloody ground. They had been overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Sean’s hands fisted at his sides. His chest rose and fell. She could feel his pain from where she stood. Despite what he might think of her, she ran to meet him.


  “Get out of my way, Cayla.” He slapped away the hand that she raised to him. His words barely got past his clenched teeth, and his narrowed eyes blazed at her. His anger, mixed with the searing heat of the desert and the foul stench of burned bodies, made bile rise in her throat. She swallowed hard. Surely he didn’t blame her. Did he? Her blurred vision strangely cleared. For a moment, unusual anger flared, and her tears dried on her hot cheeks. How dare he! She felt off-balanced with conflicting emotions before Sean roughly shouldered her aside and knelt in the sand. He gave an anguished cry and kept searching—touching—searching for wounds in their mother’s clothing, whispering words too low for Cayla to hear. She only heard the anguish echoing in the sobs that escaped his control as he searched for life signs from their father. Finally, she couldn’t stand it any longer and pulled at his arm, drawing him away. “Stop it, Sean. Please. Just leave them alone. They’re gone.”

  Blindly, he struck out at her and struggled to his feet. “Keep your whoring hands off me!” But he shrugged off her touch only because she let him. With her new strength linked with Vadyn, she suddenly realized that she could easily subdue Sean. But she didn’t want to fight with her brother. He tried moving further from her, stumbling in the dragging sand. His anger was evident, and his clumsiness only added to his ire. “Get away from me!” He avoided looking at her and turned away. But his rejection and the loss of her parents were just too much for her. She knew her brother: he was hurting. Grief was tearing at him the same as it was her. Damn it, he needed her. She followed him, forced her arms around him again, and held him with her unusual strength until he finally relented and stopped fighting. Still, after just a moment, he tried to pull away. Obviously, he didn’t want her touch, but she refused to let go. This time she would make him listen. “We couldn’t get to them in time, Sean. We tried,” she insisted. “They were surrounded. Father tried to protect Mother, but they shot him first and then—Mother fought them, but she was hurt too badly to survive. They didn’t suffer long. I swear it.” Finally, she loosened her embrace only to have Sean pull away. She couldn’t say more past the lump in her throat. Her cheeks burned anew from what he must be thinking. She had been having intercourse with Vadyn right there! A deep sob escaped before a warning growl sounded behind her.