Surrender by Rachel Carrington

clouding her vision.
    She didn’t have much time, but she knew exactly where she was going.
     
     
    Jarek met her outside the gates of Timara. “I’ve been expecting you,” he responded to her stunned expression.
    “Set won’t release my mother.”
    Jarek watched her face for any signs of deception. “So you believe me, then?”
    Her white, even teeth worried her lower lip. “I’m not sure what I believe, but I do know that man isn’t my father.”
    Jarek took hold of her arm. “This will not be pleasant.”
    She breathed out and then in with hesitation. “I will not allow you to kill him.”
    Jarek squeezed her arm lightly until she looked up into his face. “Have you not learned yet that some things are beyond your control?”
    She clenched her jaw, and Jarek found himself smiling at her tenacity.
    “No, I haven’t. What I want to do, I do, and I want to protect my mother.”
    Jarek wrapped one arm around her waist. “I know.” Her body didn’t relax against him, in spite of his words.
    “Did Lamar really transfer his powers to you when he ascended?”
    The question caught Jarek by surprise, but he answered anyway. “Yes.”
    She nodded her head once. “Good, because you will need them.” She raised her arms, but Jarek held her in place. Silver eyes met his, and he saw the trace of irritation and fear deep within the depths, though she’d never admit to the anxiety.
    “Why this sudden change of heart?”
    Kira brushed his hands off her arms. “My heart has not changed, Jarek. I only want to make sure my mother is safe before I confront Set again.”
    “Then why have you come back to Timara? Why did you not just take her with you when you left Enun?”
    She tipped her head back and gave him a saucy smile, though fear clouded her eyes. “I need a diversion, something to keep my father busy. On short notice, you’ll do.”
    Jarek didn’t break a smile. Instead, he grabbed hold of her arm and fixed his eyes on her face. She smelled like honeysuckle, as if she’d just bathed among the wildflowers, and his blood warmed when she placed the palm of her hand against his chest.
    “Jarek, we need to go,” she whispered.
    His hands caught hold of her waist, and he lifted her to eye level. “We will, but first, there’s something you should know.”
    She looped her arms around his neck. “What?”
    He heard the swift intake of her breath and wondered at the way her pupils dilated. He brought her closer to press her firm breasts against the wall of his chest. “You will return to Timara once this is over.”
    “Is that a command?”
    His lips drew closer to hers. “A command spoken out of desperation,” he allowed, before crushing her lips beneath his. He felt the surrender in the way her body shifted against his, and when her legs linked around his hips, her compliance was complete.
    A thrill shot through his body. She was his. Would be his for all time. The heady knowledge was even more motivation to bring this battle with Set to an end. He wanted to be done with this, to start his life with Kira, his queen.
    He broke the kiss reluctantly, raising his head to draw deep gulps of air into his lungs. “We must go.”
    Kira slid her palms along his cheeks. “Just remember your place, Your Majesty, and we’ll get along just fine.”
    Jarek not only smiled, he laughed, loudly and heartily, before wrapping his arm around Kira’s waist and spinning out into the universe. They broke through the thin veil of atmosphere and arrived at the back entrance to the palace in Enun. Before Kira could put one hand on the knob to open the door, it swung wide.
    Set glowered down at her. “You’re too late. Your mother is gone.”
     
    Black rage swept through Kira, and she pushed Set out of the way. “What have you done with her?”
    Set righted himself easily. “I did nothing. Once your mother realized you’d left, she simply passed on to the other plane of existence.”
    Kira whirled around, pain so deep she