Skye wiped the sweat from his chest with a soft rag, wishing the wind could sweep through the underground like it did above. He’d cool down faster, he thought, sucking in a deep breath. Shortly upon waking after the all-night planning session, he had snuck away to release some of his pent-up tension. He knew the strategy they’d decided upon was the best option, hence why his brain threatened to overwhelm him with all the potential problems that could arise. In all fairness, they knew so little about the Malirrans and their battle tactics.
At the far end of the military training cavern, a demarcated section provided enough illumination that he did not have to rely on his second sight to drill. The dangling strands exuded a duller, more subdued light than other places within Luthis. No one had an explanation for the marked difference in light, and he’d been curious enough to ask several people he knew who were raised in the city. An older warrior had given him an odd look for even inquiring about such a mundane issue. He mentally shrugged.
After drinking an entire gourd of cool water, Skye stretched his leg muscles, balancing his weight on his left leg while straightening the right. Inhaling and exhaling, he reviewed the past two weeks’ events. Would they all survive the coming battle?
He switched legs, staring off into the large, shadowed cavern. Of all the people he’d met, he thought his battlemates’ odds were high that they’d live. Possibly injured, but alive. They were strong, intelligent, and capable of making quick decisions. Also, when he looked back at their history, Skye’s argument was altogether more persuasive.
Rising to his full height, Skye stretched his arms above him, twisting first one way, then the other. His back popping made for a discordant sound in the quiet surrounding him. At last, he walked over and returned the wooden practice weapons to their respective racks. While snatching up his personal weapons, Eiren emerged from the darkness.
You are not ready, My Lord, she accused, her nose twitching with irritation.
“I was on my way to meet you for last meal.”
No, absolutely not. The small paka whipped her head back and forth. You must visit the bathing chamber and dress in clean clothing before meeting your intended.
Her statement caused Skye to stumble. “Wait. Lara? We are meeting for sustenance. I must discuss with the three of you what I learned from the other Kurite warriors.”
No, Eiren emphasized with another firm shake of her head, we are not. Not tonight. The information you learned will wait until tomorrow morning. You, however, are sharing a meal with Lara. Chion and I decreed that you both need a push, and as subtlety is lost on the both of you, only overt maneuvering on our part will work.
Skye rolled his head forward, placing his fists on his hips. Exasperated with the meddling pakas, he tried to stay calm. He ignored the jittery feeling he suddenly had in the pit of his stomach at the thought of sharing a meal with Solara. “Eiren, Lara lost her family this week. She mourns them, though she tries to hide the fact.”
Eiren sniffed. All the more reason to partake of a meal with the woman. She needs a reminder she is not alone. We are her family; she chose us, My Lord.
Knowing Eiren would not be dissuaded, he sighed. “I must grab clean attire from the barracks.” They could discuss the strategy they’d put in place for when the Malirrans arrived. Lara might have some insight on how to overcome some of the potential pitfalls he’d thought of throughout the day.
No, Eiren growled at him. You are already late. I will bring your pack to the bathing chamber. Scrub the sweat off your skin and wash your hair, My Lord. Do not tarry. She awaits your attentions. With that, his bondmate scampered off, leaving him with his growing nerves.
His attentions? He scrubbed his face with one hand. Eiren’s obvious expectations for this meal was comical, yet not. The two pakas would be gravely disappointed. Skye strode to the small chamber that held a hand-carved pool filled with warm water. A woman dressed on the other side of the room while a man floated in the pool. The thick humidity muffled the sounds the two Kurites made. As he wandered deeper into the room, the woman sent him a brief nod before leaving through the same doorway. The bottom of the pool emitted a soft, green light, casting eerie shadows onto the chamber walls. He breathed in the dense steam curling upward from the water’s surface as he undressed, stacking his clothes and weapons in a nook etched into the wall. Having already tested the depth of the pool two days ago, Skye walked off the edge and fell feet first into the welcoming water.
Despite his every intention, he considered the coming meal. Skye recognized that if he did not push Lara toward a courtship with him, they would simply remain friends. Despite her protestations about waiting until after the war, the woman would never make a move. He had to prove his affection for her was true and steadfast. Lara’s father had given him a few tips on how to court the woman, and Skye had quickly learned how different their cultures approached marriage. Not so long ago, he had been engaged to a woman he’d never met. For wealthier Pyrannis—not least the nobility, marriage was less about love than furthering a family’s connections and power. He had ceded his future to his father’s social machinations without an argument; except, Skye had never wanted to marry the woman.
Did his original intended still live? Had she married someone else? Goddess save him, Skye couldn’t even recall the woman’s name.
He rinsed off the lather from his hair with a couple of dunks under the water. Solara, on the other hand, could never be so easily forgotten. She burned with a fire that drew him in. At first, Skye admitted he’d fought the pull, not understanding why such an odd woman would attract him. James had explained that, for all of Lara’s outspoken opinions and independence, she protected her heart. Her father warned him that if his daughter gave him her love, Skye would be the recipient of a deep and abiding love. He shook his head. Not exactly the man’s words, but it was the essence of their conversation. He went through everything he had seen and heard in Lara’s presence. The man was not wrong. Lara was fierce in her loyalty, and she would be no different with her husband.
But her father had warned him as if his words had an underlying meaning.
Warned him.
At the time, he had nodded his understanding. Yet, the man’s expression had stuck with Skye, and his gut was telling him the warning was important.
He flicked water from his hair before pulling himself up onto the pool’s edge. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as a dark shadow separated from the darkness, morphing into Eiren carrying his pack in her mouth.
She panted, You are out, good. She leapt to the wall, tugged on the top drying cloth, and dragged it back to him. Dry off, My Lord. Chion is keeping Lara company; you are late to your own repast.
Imitating Solara, Skye rolled his eyes, though he did dry off with quick, efficient swipes. Aware the other man still floated in the pool, Skye said, If either you or Chion had told me of your plan, I would not have sparred with that last paka.
If we had told you of our plan, you would have found another task to put off the meal, she huffed.
He shook his head, tossing his hair out of his face so he could better search his pack for the comb. No, if you had told me of my date, I would have met Lara at her door and ushered her to last meal.
She paused. Chion also used the word ‘date,’ but he could not define what it meant, she admitted, her curiosity flowing through their bond. Wait. My Lord, you would not have fought against our plan?
Of course not, he said, glaring at her. Combing the knots out of his hair, he plaited it and used a leather cord to tie it off. I vowed to Solara’s father that I would respect and love her if she offered me the wedding ring. Her father explained that, on Earth, dating is how a man or woman show their attraction and love toward one another.
As he tugged on his clothes, Eiren stared off, a look of concentration on her feline face. The light scrape of claws on stone was the only indication she was nervous. She didn’t offer the reason for her tension, and he didn’t ask. Before they left the lit room, Eiren came to his side, ready to guide him to their destination. Skye again debated using his Lan’Ai magic, but he’d rather not waste his energy on the short walk. He stroked her head in silent thanks.
As they walked through the tunnels, golden eyes broke up the stygian dark. Aloud, Skye confessed, “Lara’s father gave me a warning about accepting his daughter’s love. I have mulled over our conversation since our return. I cannot determine why he gave me the warning.”
Eiren’s golden eyes glinted with amusement. You know our Lara, Skye, and you cannot conceive why he would warn you? You are so intelligent and knowledgeable about many things, except when it comes to women, she teased.
Offended, he asked, “What does knowing Lara have to do with her father’s warning?”
The humor drained out of her like a sieve. Lara’s magic works on an empathic level. For all her logic and acumen, she is driven by emotions. Anyone she loves would possess the entirety of her soul, not just her heart. Her magic will not allow her to separate the two. I have never met her father, though he must know his daughter well. He cautions you because of this knowledge. If you throw Lara aside, our friend would never recover.
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“By the God’s teeth,” he exhaled, finally comprehending the enormity of Lara and his relationship. Or, rather, their potential courtship.
Hm. There is also another issue to contemplate. Lara might decide to gut you while you sleep. If she could not do the deed, Chion would.
Upon hearing Eiren’s prediction, Skye grinned then laughed, drawing a number of curious eyes their direction. “My Lady, I have no doubt you are correct. If I committed such a deed, I would present a sharp blade for her pleasure.”
Eiren’s answering tinkling laugh continued until they reached the cloth-covered doorway. Enjoy, My Lord. Chion has already left Lara’s company. Inside, the food is covered to keep it warm. She gave him a supportive bump against his thigh before loping away.
Through the thin curtain, Skye noticed a flickering light. He stopped short of pushing the curtain aside when he saw his hand tremble—a shaking silhouette against the light. The jittery feeling in his stomach turned into a deluge of nerves. Standing outside the room was not going to reduce the tension, and Lara had already waited too long. Drawing a breath, praying for strength, he yanked the door covering aside and stepped through.
At his entrance, Lara rose from the floor cushion, causing time to slow to a stop.
Goddess save him, Skye had never pictured such a vision. The woman before him wore a blue gown that highlighted her trim waist and the richness of her brown hair and eyes. Curly hair framed her face, showing off a strong jawline. The woman he’d traveled with, had laughed and fought alongside, was transformed into a beauty with a simple change of attire. For the first time since his childhood, he wished he owned court attire instead of the same, weary outfit Skye wore every day.
Left speechless, his eyes roved her form until Skye noticed Lara had yet to meet his gaze. He stepped forward and bowed with a flourish, his childhood training taking over despite the years in between.
He cleared his throat. His voice was huskier than expected when he said, “Sare Solara, I apologize for the wait.”
He fought a grimace when his eyes met hers. Lara’s expression gave away how out of depth she felt with the scene Eiren and Chion had set up, and his court training was not helping matters. He chided himself for his thoughtlessness. The woman had not been the recipient of any courtly decorum. Through their bond, he murmured, Forgive me. Your appearance caught me by surprise.
She blushed and looked down at her gown with a dubious eye. At last, she gave him a half grin. “It is a beautiful gown. I feel like I’m in a medieval dress. I have no idea what Chion had to do to obtain it.” She smoothed down her dress as she studied him. “From your damp hair, I take it you were as surprised as I was about our date?”
“I was. Nevertheless, I do apologize for the wait.”
The smile that crossed Lara’s face, along with the flickering light from the fireplace, gave her a luminous glow. She raised her hand and started waving away his concern, and then she jerked and dropped her hand, straightening her gown once more. Clearing her throat, she said, “Actually, I arrived about a minute before you. I had just sat down to wait when you walked in.”
He scolded Eiren through their bond, Sneaky fiend. Skye received a giggle in return. Aloud, he said, “Good. That is good.”
He glanced at the short table. Waving a hand toward the sumptuous feast, he asked, “Shall we sit and eat?”
“Um, okay?”
At her lukewarm response, he raised a brow. “We do not have to. I only thought you might be hungry after our long day. I am. I haven’t seen the meal yet, but I imagine our bondmates included dishes they knew we would like.” He studied Lara’s face as her distress grew, her lips rolled inward, and her eyebrows lowered. Skye hurried ahead, “We don’t have to eat. Would you rather do something else?”
She opened her mouth, then shut it with a snap. Lara pulled her shoulders back as if she was going into battle. “No, no.” With more confidence, she said again, “No. We can eat. I want to eat.”
He waited until she had settled on the large floor cushion before taking his place across from her.
She blurted, “This is awkward. I’m acting awkward. Why am I so nervous?”
Laughing at the entire debacle Eiren and Chion had orchestrated would make Lara even more discomfited. He cleared his throat again. When he was certain his mirth was under wraps, he leaned over the table and lifted her chin with two fingers. “Solara, do not feel nervous. Or, I should say, you are not the only one that is nervous.” He grimaced as Lara reached up to take his hand in her own, realizing he had touched her without thought.
Looking disconcerted, she grumbled, “I could scream at my dad right about now. It is all his fault, you know. Nothing has changed, yet at the same time it feels like everything has.”
Leaving her father out of their conversation was probably for the best. Instead, he nodded his agreement. “Lara, I have not changed. I am the same man who makes you roll your eyes, the same man you take intense pleasure in annoying. I am also the same man who will protect you with my life.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding. “Okay. I know all that, but I feel like my father put things in motion. I don’t want to force you into something that neither of us are prepared for, especially with the Malirrans practically on Kureto’s doorstep.”
He slashed the air with his right hand. “Do not doubt my sincerity, but you are right. Now is not the time to discuss the future. The days ahead are filled enough with turmoil. We do not need to add to it.” He paused. “How about we eat the food in front of us and discuss whatever we want. I had a few concerns about the coming battle, and I had hoped to hear your thoughts.”
For a long moment, the beautiful woman sitting across from him weighed his words. When she sat back, their bond exploded with happiness and a lightness that let him know how much this dinner had truly bothered her. “Fine, let’s eat before it gets too cold. I know Chion and Eiren don’t have any money, so I’m really hoping they didn’t steal the food for our impromptu date.”
Skye chuckled. “Knowing Chion, he probably dropped hints that the meal was for the Goddess’s Chosen Lady, and everyone pitched in to help.”
“He wouldn’t,” she exclaimed, appalled at her bondmate’s audacity.
“Of course he would, but don’t forget my devious paka. No one can hear her, but—”
“She is mighty,” Lara finished for him. She raised her goblet. “To the pakas we love,” she toasted.
Skye tapped his goblet against hers, and the soft chime filled the room. Taking a sip of the chilled wine, he hummed with pleasure. He admitted, “The last time I had wine this good I was still a trainee and had gone home to visit.”
Back on even footing again, Lara filled her plate as he regaled her with happy memories of home. Long after they had demolished the food, they stayed and talked, never mentioning the oncoming battle despite his earlier words. Eventually, Lara crawled around the table and laid down, resting her head in his lap.
She said around a yawn, “I’ve been on dates before, you know?”
“You have,” Skye said, trying to contain his jealousy. It didn’t work since even he heard how flat his voice became. It took some effort to scrub the image of her with another man from his mind.
He grunted when Lara poked him in the stomach. “Not like that. What I was going to say was that this was the best date I’ve ever had.”
Skye searched for something to say in response. He had taken his pleasure at the pleasure houses when not forced to do assigned tasks. It was a rite of passage for many of the boys, especially for those whose wives were already chosen for them.
She huffed, “Skye, I know our cultures have different traditions. Because of that, I appreciate you willing to date me in a way I am familiar with. That is all I meant. Thank you for a wonderful evening. Well, aside from the beginning. The beginning was really, really awkward.”
A laugh escaped before he could stop it. He picked up a loose strand of hair and ran his thumb across the silky curls.”
Lara sat up, though she stayed close enough for him to feel her warm breath along his throat. A sly smile spread across her face. “Do you want to know how a date ends on Earth?”
He leaned closer, hoping it ended how he thought it would. “Yes?”
“Like this,” she whispered.
Suddenly, soft lips molded to his. He didn’t dare move, breathe. But when she started to move back, he cupped the back of her head and sank into the kiss. He kept their kiss gentle, wanting to show how much he honored and valued her. The kiss continued, and soon Lara was in his lap. His right hand slid down her neck to her side, pulling her closer.
A deep roar broke them apart, and Lara and he twisted to look toward the door, panting, their clothes askew.
Chion and Eiren stood inside the entrance, staring at them with a combination of satisfaction and bemusement.
Eiren sat down and pawed at the ground. You might want to delay the kissing.
“Why? Are the Malirrans already here?” Lara asked with alarm. She scrambled away from Skye in a swirl of blue material.
Chion choked, No, My Lady, no. Then he did the strangest thing; he also pawed at the ground with his front foot.
Skye studied the two. They both refused to meet their eyes. It was almost as if the pakas were embarrassed.
“Well?” Lara asked, scooting farther back, putting a cushion between them.
My Lady, I think Eiren and I have determined what your Lan’Ai magic entails. Similar to Skye’s power, it is nothing Kureto has ever seen. At least not to this extent. He turned to Eiren. Will you stick your head out and check?
“What are you checking for?” Skye asked, his own alarm rising.
Eiren poked her head out of the room. All is as it should be out here.
Flipping her hair away from her face, Lara groaned, “What did I do now?”
Skye, Lara, and Eiren all looked at Chion, making the paka take a startled step back. Having never seen him look so uncomfortable, Skye chuckled.
“Eiren,” Skye said, “please explain. We need to know, especially Lara.”
Lara muttered, “I really don’t want to know. Call it a hunch, but I really think I want to stay oblivious.”
Ignoring her, Eiren returned and sat beside Chion. Looking at anything but them, she said, Lara’s emotions emanated out to the people nearby. It was… interesting to see.
Lara was the first to grasp what she meant. “Oh my God. Oh my God. Please be joking.” She shook her head back and forth. Before he could finish breathing in, Lara was across the room hunched over, her hands covering her face. “Oh my God,” she repeated, over and over.
Concerned, Skye asked in a low voice, “How bad was it?”
Chion snorted. She has the same range as you do, though the effect trails off the farther away they are. We did not notice anything wrong until we came closer. The smell of lust and the sounds of fighting grew more noticeable once we reached your immediate vicinity.
“So, Lara and I must control our growing affection for one another until she knows how to stop forcing her emotions onto others. We did decide to wait until after we defeated the Malirrans, but our decision wasn’t quite for this reason,” he mused. Skye refused to show any embarrassment; Lara was displaying enough for them both.
“Oh my God,” Lara groaned with horror.
Eiren and I both think it is best, for now. Chion’s eyes were fastened on his bondmate.
Skye shook his head, the entire situation one he had trouble wrapping his head around. Then the absurdity of it all hit him, and he chuckled.
“Shut up, you idiot. It isn’t funny,” Lara wheezed. She groaned again. “Oh my God, I’m never showing my face in public again.”
He rested his arm against his bent knee and scratched his chin with the other hand. “Lara, your Lan’Ai magic has made itself known.” Skye shared a glance with Eiren.
“Ha. What a wonderful gift it is too,” she muttered, her face still hidden behind her hands. As they all chuckled at her predicament, she complained, “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”