being exiled. Stay a
few hours or a few days. It’s entirely up to you. Once you’ve
decided which direction you want to take, simply reach out across
our link and I will come to you.”
She felt cruel and selfish, which was
irrational. He was the one who’d done something wrong. And his
willingness to accommodate her indecision made her feel even
guiltier.
“You need to know a few things about
Krystabel before we go. She is in hiding, so she is using the name
Cinarra.”
“Why is she in hiding?”
“It’s a long involved story and it’s not
really mine to share. The danger is not so much to Cinarra as to
the child she is caring for.”
She fiddled with the fabric of her dress,
feeling restless and antsy. “Why is the child in danger?”
“The less you know the safer it will be for
both him and Cinarra. His name is Betaul and—”
“Is that his real name or his in hiding
name?”
“He’s your half-brother.”
That got her attention. “How can they both be
my half siblings?”
“You and Cinarra were born to the same
mother, while you and Betaul were born of the same father.”
“I have one twisted family tree.” She
absorbed the information for a moment then said. “You were going to
tell me why Krystabel, or rather Cinarra, looks nothing like
Charlotte.”
His smile was tinged with secrets. “That is
part of the long involved story. When Cinarra feels comfortable
with you, I have no doubt she will tell you.”
Chapter Five
Drakkin paced Indric’s opulent office, hands
clasped behind his back, boot heels ringing against the marble
floor. “It’s been four days,” he snarled. Every hour away from Aria
was torture. He longed to see her face and touch her skin. He
hungered for her taste and ached to slide inside her snug heat.
“Why doesn’t she reach out for me?”
Indric laughed as he pushed back from his
desk. “You barged into her life and snatched her away from the only
place she ever felt safe. Then you seduced her and bonded with her all in the span of a few days. I’m shocked she’s still
debating her options. Most of the women I know would have demanded
the bond be broken and tossed you out on your ass.”
Turning toward his longtime friend, Drakkin
glared. “I’m glad you find this amusing.”
“Ordinarily I’d recruit two or three of my
female servants to cheer you up.” Indric came out from behind his
desk and moved closer to Drakkin. “Somehow I don’t think mindless
sex will help in this situation.”
“Mindless sex is what got me into this
situation,” he grumbled. “Well, not actually mindless, just
overwhelming.”
“I warned you that sex with a jumanna would be different.”
There was no smugness in his tone so Drakkin
unclenched his fist. “I’m not sure what happened had anything to do
with her gift. I simply lost control.”
“You never lose control. Not anymore.” Indric
waved away the conclusion and motioned Drakkin from the office.
There was an elegant tranquility to the
palace. Though every room was luxurious, nothing felt garish or
ostentatious. Drakkin walked at Indric’s side, not caring where his
friend was leading him.
Theirs was an easy relationship shaped by
centuries of friendship. They had supported each other through dark
days and rejoiced in mutual triumphs. Drakkin felt closer to Indric
than he did to his brothers. And he knew Indric felt the same.
“How long have you known she was your mate?”
Indric led him down one corridor and then another until they
stepped out onto a cool, shaded walkway overlooking a verdant
garden. Rather than taming the oasis, the dense bushes and tall
palm trees had been allowed to grow naturally.
“She awakened my inner savage and that only
happens with a potential mate.”
The corners of Indric’s mouth quirked at the
evasion. “And how soon did your beast awaken?”
“I sensed a difference the moment I saw her,
but there was no doubt after we touched.”
Without having to be
few hours or a few days. It’s entirely up to you. Once you’ve
decided which direction you want to take, simply reach out across
our link and I will come to you.”
She felt cruel and selfish, which was
irrational. He was the one who’d done something wrong. And his
willingness to accommodate her indecision made her feel even
guiltier.
“You need to know a few things about
Krystabel before we go. She is in hiding, so she is using the name
Cinarra.”
“Why is she in hiding?”
“It’s a long involved story and it’s not
really mine to share. The danger is not so much to Cinarra as to
the child she is caring for.”
She fiddled with the fabric of her dress,
feeling restless and antsy. “Why is the child in danger?”
“The less you know the safer it will be for
both him and Cinarra. His name is Betaul and—”
“Is that his real name or his in hiding
name?”
“He’s your half-brother.”
That got her attention. “How can they both be
my half siblings?”
“You and Cinarra were born to the same
mother, while you and Betaul were born of the same father.”
“I have one twisted family tree.” She
absorbed the information for a moment then said. “You were going to
tell me why Krystabel, or rather Cinarra, looks nothing like
Charlotte.”
His smile was tinged with secrets. “That is
part of the long involved story. When Cinarra feels comfortable
with you, I have no doubt she will tell you.”
Chapter Five
Drakkin paced Indric’s opulent office, hands
clasped behind his back, boot heels ringing against the marble
floor. “It’s been four days,” he snarled. Every hour away from Aria
was torture. He longed to see her face and touch her skin. He
hungered for her taste and ached to slide inside her snug heat.
“Why doesn’t she reach out for me?”
Indric laughed as he pushed back from his
desk. “You barged into her life and snatched her away from the only
place she ever felt safe. Then you seduced her and bonded with her all in the span of a few days. I’m shocked she’s still
debating her options. Most of the women I know would have demanded
the bond be broken and tossed you out on your ass.”
Turning toward his longtime friend, Drakkin
glared. “I’m glad you find this amusing.”
“Ordinarily I’d recruit two or three of my
female servants to cheer you up.” Indric came out from behind his
desk and moved closer to Drakkin. “Somehow I don’t think mindless
sex will help in this situation.”
“Mindless sex is what got me into this
situation,” he grumbled. “Well, not actually mindless, just
overwhelming.”
“I warned you that sex with a jumanna would be different.”
There was no smugness in his tone so Drakkin
unclenched his fist. “I’m not sure what happened had anything to do
with her gift. I simply lost control.”
“You never lose control. Not anymore.” Indric
waved away the conclusion and motioned Drakkin from the office.
There was an elegant tranquility to the
palace. Though every room was luxurious, nothing felt garish or
ostentatious. Drakkin walked at Indric’s side, not caring where his
friend was leading him.
Theirs was an easy relationship shaped by
centuries of friendship. They had supported each other through dark
days and rejoiced in mutual triumphs. Drakkin felt closer to Indric
than he did to his brothers. And he knew Indric felt the same.
“How long have you known she was your mate?”
Indric led him down one corridor and then another until they
stepped out onto a cool, shaded walkway overlooking a verdant
garden. Rather than taming the oasis, the dense bushes and tall
palm trees had been allowed to grow naturally.
“She awakened my inner savage and that only
happens with a potential mate.”
The corners of Indric’s mouth quirked at the
evasion. “And how soon did your beast awaken?”
“I sensed a difference the moment I saw her,
but there was no doubt after we touched.”
Without having to be
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