The Journey's End (7 page)

“Your pardon sir, but he has long coveted what is yours.” 
Renik looked at Nori pointedly, “I do not think that will change now,
especially as your queen has already become a legend for both her beauty and
her strength, and it is clear how you feel about her sir.  Dunstan will be
greatly tempted.”

Menelaus tightened his grip on her hand and his eyes went
cold. Nori felt a stirring of something whirl about her and looked up at him. 
His eyes were a fiery promise on hers.  She felt the hairs on the back of her
neck rise and knew her eyes were flashing green to lavender and back again. She
did not like it one bit that he could affect her like this.  She growled in
warning and he smiled, it was not a reassuring smile.

“But then he does not know her as we do.  Does he?”

The general looked at Nori, then smiled himself.  Then
chuckled while she narrowed her eyes, warningly.  “You might be right about
that.  It could even be worth putting up with his company to see the show.”

Nori growled again,  “I am not a show,” she said.  Her teeth
gritted, her eyes shooting purple sparks.  “You pig brained…”  Menelaus
interrupted her before she could finish cursing them by capturing her lips with
his.  She melted. He pulled her into his chest, one hand going to the side of
her head to dive into her hair; her arms went around his waist.  When Nori was
no longer able to form complete sentences, he pulled back, kissing her on the
forehead, his thumb tracing her bottom lip.

“You are not a show,”  he said softly, and she let her head
rest on his chest where he led it.  She breathed deeply sighing out. 

“You are the most aggravating man.”

“I know.”

General Renik smiled, looking at them, obviously pleased. 
Then there was a commotion at the door, and a soldier rushed in heading his
way.  He saluted and then bowed to the royal couple.

“A contingent from Altier, sir.”

Nori felt the arms around her tighten, and she looked up.

General Renik excused the soldier and turned back to the king
without expression.

“It appears Dunstan is making an appearance after all.”

“Indeed,”  Menelaus said, his hand tight in Nori’s hair. 
“Perhaps he will finally give me reason to challenge him and I can just kill
him outright.”

Nori heard the cold in Menelaus’ voice and tried to pull out
of his arms.  He held fast.  “General, see that my sister is returned to the
hall immediately.”

“Yes sir,”  Renik said grimly.  “I will see to it
personally.”

The general was gone only moments before a group of six
burst into the hall causing everyone around them to silence.  Nori suddenly
found herself placed behind Menelaus’ back. She tried to move around to his
side and he blocked her. She had to be content to peak around his shoulder at
the men coming in the hall.

Lord Dunstan was at least seven feet tall, and massive with
muscle.  Clearly he was a force to be reckoned with physically.  But as big and
dangerous as he was with the look of a bruiser about him, he did not have
Menelaus’ smooth fluid movements or cloak of power.  In short, despite the
powerful look of him, her animal was not impressed.

“King Menelaus,”  he boomed above the quiet hall. “I come to
offer you felicitations on your wedding.”  He spotted Menelaus in the crowd,
both of them heads above all others, and he started forward with a wicked smile
on his face.  “While I have had the pleasure of your wife sir, I would greatly
like to do so again.”  It was more than suggestive and many people gasped,
backing up, the soldiers hands fisting at their sword hilts.  “Where is the
lovely Queen Margeaux?  I’ve come to kiss the bride.”  His eyes met Menelaus
with satisfaction.  “Again.”

Nori could practically feel the tension in the hall
dissipate.  Clearly Dunstan did not know the bride had been changed.  Even Nori,
who had no wish to be here, was glad that Menelaus had not married Margeaux. 
If he had, at this point, Menelaus would have been in a very hard position. He
could have hardly started a war because a man slept with his wife before the
wedding, and it would have been galling to hear Dunstan twisting the knife as
it were.  It would have been the highest insult and not within their laws to
avenge,  which would explain why Lord Dunstan was looking so pleased with himself.

Nori stepped around her husband and cocked her hip. 
Bringing all eyes to her, including Lord Dunstan, who looked momentarily
stunned by the exotic creature before him.

“Margeaux?  That the ice bitch whose ass I kicked?”  There
were more gasps and a few twitters quickly silenced.  The soldiers had wide
smiles on their faces.

“Indeed,”  Menelaus said, the humor obvious in his voice. 
He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.  He seemed partial to the
move.

Nori looked Lord Dunstan over, then dismissed him with a
raised brow. She turned her back to him in an obvious dismissal, looking up at
Menelaus with a wicked look on her face only he could see.

“I’m going to get something to eat, let me know if anyone
interesting shows up.”

Then she walked away, with a definite slide and sexy hip
swing that drew the eyes of every man present.  King Menelaus chuckled, and
then looked Dunstan in the eye,  seeming to just remember he was standing
there.

“Oh, Lord Dunstan, I apologize for the interruption.  My new
queen is something of a distraction, as you can imagine.”

He looked from Nori’s compact curves to King Menelaus, and
his own eyes narrowed.  “Your queen?”

“Yes.  You didn’t hear?  She defeated three, including Lady
Margeaux for the honor.  No matter, I’m sure you will hear the tale.  My wife
has become something of a legend already.”

“Indeed Your Majesty,”  General Renik added from behind
Dunstan,  Lady Leanne on his arm.  “The troops are honored to have such a
strong and virtuous queen to call their own.”  No one missed the emphasis he
put on virtuous.  “They are already singing songs in her honor, and yours, for
having the good fortune to marry such a woman.”

“But my good fortune is yours as well, Lord Dunstan,” 
Menelaus said, his eyes hard.

“Mine?”  Lord Dunstan was grinding his teeth and practically
snarled the word.

“Indeed.  As you have announced to everyone here that you
are more than familiar with the Lady Margeaux, it is my pleasure to announce
your betrothal.  I’m sure she will give you many fine sons.”  The whole hall
was completely silent, watching the tableaux play out.  Nori returned to her husband’s
side, a plate of unfamiliar food in her hand, in time to hear him finish his
announcement. 

She had considered just walking out one of the open doors,
but there were too many guards present.  Dunstan looked at her, his eyes
narrowed and a gleam appeared.

“I would be honored to take Margeaux as mine.  She has been
these many years undefeated.”  He smiled again, and directed his comments to
Nori, “You must have gotten very lucky indeed to defeat such a woman as slight
as you are.  Might I ask who the witnesses were?”  His meaning was more than
clear and Nori laughed, even as she felt the tension in the room spike again.

“I have no idea who the other women were, but if you have
any doubts, you might want to go see your fiancé yourself.  Pretty sure I broke
her nose.”

He lost his smile.  Then turned to Menelaus, his voice
nearly a growl.  “You seem to have been most fortunate in your queen.  May I
kiss the bride?”

Menelaus raised a brow.  The cold wind of his mood surrounded
them, he clearly did not like the idea, but then he looked at Nori and smiled,
a very wicked smile.  “That would be up to her.”

Nori glared.  She would love to wipe that smirk off his face,
but he knew she couldn’t touch another man.  The rat.    Lord Dunstan smiled
himself, sure of his affect on women.

“May I?”  he asked, bowing at the waist and giving her a
sexy grin.  He reached for her hand, but Nori sprang back out of reach in a
smooth show of speed that managed to not jostle her food. She growled a warning
when he would have pressed the issue. 

“I am sorry,”  Menelaus said, reaching for his wife and
pulling her up against his side, “I should have warned you.  She does not like to
be touched by anyone but me.”

“I see,” he said, losing his smile, then regaining it,
though it did not reach his arctic eyes.  “Perhaps when we get to know each
other better.”  He reached for her hair, but she swatted his hand away even
before Menelaus could react, which from the hard look on his face, he was more
than willing to do.  Instead, it was Nori who spoke, her voice a low warning.

“Try to touch me again and I’ll rip out your liver and stuff
it up your ass.”

Lord Dunstan froze, Menelaus blinked, humor replacing his
anger and the quiet around them was broken by a few snickers that quickly
turned to coughs.

“I believe that’s a no, Lord Dunstan,”  Menelaus said with a
straight face. “If you will excuse us, I have a need to spend some quality time
with my queen.  You may of course enjoy the celebration before you depart.  No
doubt you would like to get to Margeaux as quickly as possible to finalize your
marriage.”

Lord Dunstan had no choice but to bow as the king pulled his
queen away.  But from the look in his eyes, he was not done with either of
them.  He turned and stormed out of the room, his men following close behind.

Nori was shaking her head.  “Doesn’t anybody like you?”

Menelaus smiled, his thumb rubbing a soft caress over her
hand.  “There are twelve kingdoms, you have met the nobles of three.  The rest
are all loyal to me and as such I did not want them leaving their lands with
Dunstan and the others crossing borders left and right, there will be time
enough for you to meet my trusted.”

“Uh-huh.  But I won’t be here that long.”

He just smiled, and kept walking, and Nori let him,
confident that it would not take her long to suss out the situation here and
make her escape.

It took Nori nearly two weeks to learn what she needed to
know to form a plan of escape.  She knew it was imperative she make her escape
on market day, which was the only day that caravans of soldiers and traders
went to the bridge.  Unfortunately, it was also the day the bridge would have
the most coverage.  She already knew trying to escape when the bridge was
closed wouldn't work.  She would just end up back in a tech prison until
Menelaus figured some way to collect her. 

She would make her run on that day and take her chances on
getting lost in the larger crowd.  Stowing away would be her best bet.  She had
already realized the easiest plan was to secure herself on the top side of the
carriage and ride the whole way as a secret passenger. 

Maybe I can find a bow to wear too, so when Menelaus has
the vehicles searched, I can jump out and yell "Happy Birthday!"

Whatever else he was, Menelaus was no fool.  The easiest way
was not going to cut it.  It would have to be over land on foot and she was
going to have to be tricky.

And it would be soon.  With each day that passed, the bond
between them strengthened until she felt sometimes that she was drowning in
it.  She had long since given up trying to keep her body her own.  He was fast
taking even the slightest give on her part and searching out more.  Already
they could pick up random thoughts from each other when he was in the same
room.  How long before every thought in her head was his to sift through?  That
would certainly put a crimp in any escape plans. 

So it would be tomorrow.  She had squirreled away food and
traveling clothes, weapons and a map that she had found in the great library. 
Now all she had to do was disappear.  If she had any hope of hiding from the
mate bond, she had to go before it got any stronger.

He came in sweaty from sparring with the youngest fighters
most nights.  Nori had long since decided never to watch him fighting, even in
practice.  She had watched him spar with General Renik once and that was
enough.  It had just been the two of them.  The general was good, but Menelaus
had moved so fast and with such fluidity, that it had looked like the general
was standing still.  She had rarely seen anything as beautiful as Menelaus with
a sword in his hand, and she had jumped him as soon as they were alone.  It was
the last time she had watched him fight.  There was no way she could see that
and keep her distance.

Tonight he walked in and dumped his gear by the bed.  His
face was cast down as if he was contemplating some problem.  When he finally
glanced her way, he took one look at her already naked in his bed and froze. 
Then, very casually, he wiped his forehead with his already removed tunic.

“What could I have possibly done to deserve this?”

“You think this is for you?”  she asked, a purr in her voice
as her hand trailed her naked thigh.  “Maybe I’m just extra sleepy tonight.”

“Yes,” he said, his heated eyes following the hand as she
intended.  “You look it.”  That made her laugh.

She nodded toward the bathing room.  “Your bath is ready.”

He didn’t bother to look away from her as he stripped off
his leathers, “Would you be joining me?”

"Would you be wanting me?"

His grey eyes heated to molten silver.  He picked her up on
his way to the bath while she laughed and proceeded to get them both very
clean, very quickly. Then after taking her vigorously in the tub, he carried
her back to his bed where they lay together, still damp from the bath.  Nori
sighed and cuddled closer.  There were some things she would miss.  Too many
things, actually.

"I always want you," he said.  Drawing her
attention to a face that was dead serious.  "Since the moment I saw you up
on that bar facing off against two armies.  So slight of frame and so
unbelievably fierce."  He took her hand and kissed the knuckles. 
"You took my breath away."

Just like that, she was the one having a hard time breathing. 
"You seemed quite composed."

"So did you," he said, not letting her lighten the
mood.  "But you felt it too."

She dropped her head back to his chest hurriedly. 
"That was my beast reacting to your strength.  It wasn't romance."

He was quiet for so long, she thought he'd let it go. 
"Why do you talk as if you are not one and the same?  As if having such
strength somehow makes you less?"

Her body went rock hard against his, and he held her tight. 
They both knew she would be gone in a moment if he didn't hold on.

"Don't freeze up.  Just talk to me,"  his voice
said. He wanted to shake the answers out of her, instead he waited.  Eventually,
surprising them both, she talked.

"Shakien is a planet of barbarism.  Might makes right
and the weak are crushed by the strong.  We have a noble class similar to yours, 
though they rarely fight their own battles as yours seems to.  The way Kirny
acted with Lara and Margeaux’s treatment of that farm girl show me once again
that we are not alone in our perfidy.  Still, even through the dregs of the universe
I have traveled since, it is only the Shakien that causes beings of all planets
to back away in horror when they realize."

"When they realize?"

"That I'm Shakien.  Beast folk.  Beings of rage and
fang. Children from every known world are warned not to get close to one lest
we fly into a rage and slaughter everyone."

"You are not like that."

That made her laugh, but not in a happy way.  "I am
exactly like that.  All Shakien are in the right circumstance."

"I've seen you in a rage..."

"You've seen nothing,"  she spat out, interrupting
him.  "Mildly annoyed and in heat, maybe; but not rage.  That you've not
seen,  or you would never have touched me."

"You think I wouldn't want you?"

"No one ever has before." 

He held her tighter.  "There is nothing you could do or
say that would change the way I want you."

"Years ago, some enterprising pirates thought it would
be a great thing to procure Shakien while they are young and train them up like
pets, for protection and…other things."

"Procure?"

"I was sold by my pride.  I was a runt, you see.  Too
small to live.  Worthless and fated to die young anyway, so selling me to the
traders was like getting something for nothing."

"How old were you?"

"Six,"  she said with some bitterness. 
"Really, it was a wonder I survived six whole cycles.  It was…harsh." 
She unconsciously pressed herself in closer to his chest.  "But the
pirates… they were worse.  Shakien have a reputation for withstanding torture
and healing any injury.  They wanted to test that before I matured enough to be
a danger; they were creative.  I lasted two years in captivity before my body
forced the change.  When I awoke from the blood haze, I was the only one not in
pieces."

"You can't be blamed for acting out against years of
torture and fear."

"Maybe, but the only reason no innocents were killed
was that there was no one else there.  I can understand why people fear us.  I
fear me for the same reason.  No one is really safe."

"Yet you travel with Lara and call her sister.  You
speak of your adoptive father Tryne like they are family."

"Lara is more a danger to herself right now than I am. 
She needs me until she understands the danger she courts.  Besides, Hetians are
different.  The people as a whole are tranquil, for want of a better word. 
Peaceful, not weak, just slow to anger.  They are ambassadors for many worlds. 
I am…soothed by them."

"But you are not yourself with them."

That made her angry.  "Haven't you been listening?  I
am the me I want to be with them.  Not a raging freak."

He maneuvered her until he had her face between two hands
and she had no choice but to see how much he meant what he was going to say.  "You
are beautiful.  Everything about you is spectacular.  You are not a freak or a
monster and nothing you could say or do would stop me from wanting what I hold
in my hands at this moment."

She felt the tears building and swore to herself they were
tears of frustration.  "You haven't heard anything I said."

"I heard everything you said.  I am awed by your
courage and proud to call you mine."

He meant it, she could see he did and it brought the tears
flooding from her eyes.  "You don't understand.  I can't contain my beast
here.  I have zero control around you and eventually this gilded cage you want
to put me in will become intolerable and flip that final switch. People you
care about will die."

He kissed the tears from her cheek. "You aren't eight
years old anymore.  I have faith in you, even if you don't."

She slapped his chest.  "You are a stubborn fool."

"Perhaps," he said smiling through her anger. 
"But not such a fool as to let you go, life mate."  He kissed her
angry mouth until she finally gave in with a groan and kissed him back.

"No," he murmured against her sweet lips. 
"Not such a fool as that."  Then he was taking her mouth with tongue
and heat. 

One hand took possession of a breast, tweaking her nipple
while the other palmed the curve of her ass.  His hand trailed down until she
opened for him.  Her legs falling to either side of his hips while he shifted
her until he was pressed against the core of her.  Then he flipped her under
him and held her so they were eye to eye when he thrust inside.  Her head fell
back against the bed, her eyes closing, but he bit her bottom lip until she
looked at him again. 

"There's nowhere you could go that I wouldn’t find
you."

She leaned up until he could feel each word against his
lips.  "When I really decide to go, you don't have a chance in hell of
stopping me."  This time she took what she wanted, kissing him with wanton
fire, then flipping him back over so that she rode him, his hands going to her
hips to hold her while she gave them both over to pleasure.

***

There's nowhere you could go that I wouldn't find you.

Sometime later, his quiet words found her again in the dark
and her eyes opened.  It had to be tonight.  With the way he was digging his
way through her defenses, it wouldn't be long before any distance between them
would be intolerable.  She would literally be trapped here.  For his sake, if
not her own, she had to leave.  Tonight.

But not yet.  If this was the last time they touched, she
wanted to hold him a few minutes longer.  Soon enough the servants would be up
stoking fires and starting their day.  He would wake up and find her gone. 

He would come after her, all the way to the Wosite bridge
and back.  But she was Shakien.  They were patient hunters and eventually he
would give up and she would be back with Lara and Tryne on Heti or the
ambassador’s frigate and everyone would be safe.  She would get over wanting
her mate.  Eventually it would probably even stop hurting.

***

Too soon she felt the kiss of early morning.  It was past
time to leave.  Nori left the bed and padded naked to the window.  She looked
behind her once and then, closing her eyes, she called the change she had
avoided since she was old enough to control it.  She felt her eyes go first, her
gaze suddenly sharpened until she could see everything in the soft shadows of
morning.  Like water flowing over her skin, it started.  The soft pelt of fur
rippled down her body in waves until her naked form was covered from head to
toe in a sable fur that matched her flowing hair. 

It was deceptively soft, like everything else about her.  The
Shakien fur was only used in battle because it looked and felt soft on the
surface, but the under layer was armor much like the suit she habitually wore. 
It could stop a blade or dull blaster fire; it was so difficult to penetrate. 
The battle form of a Shakien cat had the ability to strike fear in the hearts
of hardened soldiers.  When you saw it, then you knew you were dealing with
something truly inhuman.

Her eyes had fully transformed to Shakien lavender and her
ears and canines were slightly pointed.  Her nails had grown with the fur and
were now longer and harder.  She raised her hands and studied them.  Maybe she
should let him see what she was capable of, then he would escort her back to
the bridge quick enough.  But she was too much of a coward to see that look on
his face when he realized what she was. 

She looked once more to the bed, and with the tiniest breath
of sound, she slipped over the window, as soft as you please, and just...disappeared.