Authors: Emma Paul
"Hey. Is it morning already?"
He nodded.
She bit her bottom lip seductively. "So, do you think we have enough time to take a bath and maybe some ... you know?"
He laughed when she wagged her eyebrows. "I think we can take a bath, yes."
He stood, took her offered hand and helped her up. They walked hand in hand down to the pool, where a few Morey couples were busily washing each other.
They washed quickly. Then Corbin picked Yani up, encouraging her to wrap her legs around his waist. He entered her slowly, until his cock was complete sealed within her sheath.
They held tightly to each other, undulating their bodies as if they were one being. When the pinnacle of the gentle love making came, Yani and Corbin stared into each other's eyes. Their love wrapped around them like a blanket of pure blissful perfection, reaching their souls.
After a long while, still embraced in each other's arms, they sat at the edge of the pool on some flat stones. The cool air breezed through, helping to dry their wet skin. Corbin put his arm around Yani and pulled her close.
She placed her head on his shoulder and stroked his dreads absently, as they sat there for a few moments in silence, enjoying the simplicity of just being together.
Corbin need to tell her how was he going to surrender, although he found it difficult. It was obvious she wanted to remain at his side. Elation overflowed in his heart with the reality of it, which was why it made his decision even harder. Damn fates!
He sighed, and lifted her to sit in his lap, so he could cradle her against his chest.
"Yani I need to tell you–"
She interrupted him before he could finish. "Corbin, who is Kiana?"
It stunned him for a moment. That was the last thing he thought she would ask him. "How do you know that name?"
She twisted so that she could stare him straight in the face. "You spoke it during the nightmares, when you were recovering from the Trill sickness. Whoever she is or was, I surmised that she was the cause of much pain in your life."
He didn't know what to say, but Yani had a right to know. Pulling her in closer, he kissed her temple and took a deep breath. "She was my Breeder."
She stiffened in his arms. "Your Breeder?"
Shaking his head, he ran the back of his hand down her cheek. "Yes, but no longer. I had forced her to participate in the Mating Hunt, so I could capture her. She resented me for it. Her breeding-mate had died the previous year in a hunting accident, she was childless, therefore available for breeding."
Her fingers played with his dreads as she listened.
"Our union was doomed from the beginning. It wasn't long before she began fucking unmated warriors. She was blatant about it too."
Yani laid her hand over his heart. "That's terrible Corbin. Is that why you dissolved the union?"
He kissed the tips of her fingers. "No, I never broke my breeding vows, She was caught in a traitorous plot to kill Kaden's Breeder, our new High Matriarch. She was condemned to Janis Five labor camp for the rest of her life. Our breeding status became annulled."
A tear rolled down Yani's face. "She must have hurt you badly. Is she the reason you became addicted to Trill?"
He smiled sardonically. "No, that started during my warrior's training years. My father chose the Senior Warrior for my training. He was brutal."
He wiped a tear from her cheek. "My father hated me because my mother went to the Dreg Communal Council and asked them to absolve her breeder status from him," A knot formed in his throat as he recalled the horror of his childhood, "he let me know how much, every chance he got."
Yani wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close, soothing him. "Corbin, I'm so sorry. I wish I could reach inside you and take away all the pain and sorrow you've had to endure for so long."
This time, his tears flowed. He faced away from her, ashamed to look at her and see the disappointment in her eyes, when he told her what he was about to do. "I've done many things Yani. I need to tell you. Please forgive me for what I'm about to do..."
He pulled back and cupped her face in his hands, before kissing her lips softly.
"Nal is after me for stealing Velix Coral from a shipment to Elvin and selling it to the D'vlin. I did it for a few grams of Trill. My supply ran out and I was so sick. It was the harvest celebration. Kiana was off somewhere, with one of her lovers..."
He picked up a rock and tossed it into the water and sighed,
"I spent that night in the underground tunnels indulging my addiction, while the Trellians destroyed the East Commune. I told the other chieftains that I had been patrolling the parameter when it happened. I never forgave myself for not being there to protect them, as their chieftain, I should have known. I should have..."
Yani placed her hand over his lips. She looked up at him with glistening eyes from tears.
"No! Don't blame yourself for the destruction of the East Commune. No one could have known the Trellians would do such a thing! It would have been another Commune, if not the East one. The Trellians are to blame for what happened." She held his face between her hands.
The look on her face was stern, filled with determination. "Your father, Kiana, blamed you for their inadequacies. They are responsible for their own behaviors. They failed YOU Corbin, not the other way around."
Corbin buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, her essence, needing to make a permanent imprint of her in his mind, his very being. Sweet Ancients, he hated what he had to do.
"My addiction is my own doing, I can't blame anyone for that, not anymore."
He wanted to let her know she was the reason he felt the strength to conquer that demon.
"I know Corbin. We'll fight that battle together."
She was his salvation. Her words, stated so simply, so sincerely, reinforced his resolve to never cause her any unhappiness.
"Yani we need to go. But before we do..." He covered her lips with his and kissed her languidly, "I need you to know that I love you ... will always love you."
Yani's heart raced. She wanted so desperately to hear those words from Corbin. "I love you Corbin, forever."
He smiled through his tears and touched his forehead to hers. His dreads stroked her cheek lovingly.
They remained there for a moment, before he finally stood, went over to the digi-bed near the pillars, and picked up their discarded clothing.
He handed her the simple sarong skirt and breast scarf the Morey had given her. She put on the clothes and took his hand. Outside the gardens, Nytia waited for them. They followed her to the entrance of another tunnel. Sylvana's expression looked grim. "Are you ready, Corbin?"
Corbin nodded, "Before we go I need a word with you, alone."
He gave Yani's hand a quick squeeze and walked off to the side with Sylvana. Yani watched the two of them speaking. She felt uneasy, as if something was off somehow.
Sylvana seemed apprehensive, and Corbin's mannerisms indicated he was trying to convince him of something. Eventually Sylvana appeared to have relented with whatever it was Corbin had asked of him.
They walked back towards Yani. "Is everything all right?"
Corbin smiled at her and bent down to kiss her cheek. He moved his lips to her ear. "Remember, I will always love you . ... "
That was the last thing she heard before Sylvana blew a green, powdery, mist in her face, and darkness followed.
Yani woke to find herself alone, lying on a hammock made from dried animal hides. A large fur pelt covered her. Someone had taken the time to see that she rested comfortable. Rested? Wait, where was Corbin?
She looked around and recognized the surroundings belonging to the Morey. Why was she still in the village? Her head pounded the moment she sat up. Rubbing her temples, Yani shut her eyes and tried to remember what happened just before she woke up.
Corbin and she had just said goodbye to Sylvana and the other Morey. Then a mist hit her and she . ...
Ver! They had used something to knock her out. Why would Corbin do such a thing?
Her heart sank to her stomach thinking about the possibility that he had betrayed her. Did he leave her so he could find more Trill?
No!
She didn't want to even consider it, although she knew it could be a possibility. Why else would he leave her behind? She needed answers and she needed them now.
Hopping down from the hammock, Yani rushed down the tiered steps and ran, passing several stunned Morey, on the way to Sylvana's dwelling.
"Where is he?"
Sylvana sat with his back to her, sipping from a stone goblet. He turned slightly towards her, but remained seated.
"I was wondering when you'd wake?"
Yani's anger boiled to the surface. "How long was I asleep, what did you do to me?"
He sighed deeply, set down his drink, and finally stood to face her.
"I merely sedated you with my breath. It is a gift my people possess. Don't worry, I only used enough on you to last just under an hour."
She looked up into Sylvana's golden eyes. He stood almost a foot taller than her, and for the first time since she met the Morey leader, his presence seemed all encompassing, powerful. It took some of the vigor from her temper.
"Why would Corbin leave me behind?" Her voice sounded pathetically small. She wanted to kick herself for not having more of a backbone to handle the situation with a rational mind.
She was a royal princess, descended from generations of royal blood. Her whole life had been an instruction on how to remain regal in the most dire of situations. She should be demanding Sylvana to take her to Corbin.
Then why am I not doing it?
Because she was scared of the possibility that Corbin meant to leave her all along.
After everything they had been through, why?
She stared at the Morey leader, and tried as best as she could to remain regal, proud. Although, the thought that Corbin didn't want her with him tore her to pieces.
Sylvana looked at her with tender understanding in his expression "He did not leave you, Yani. In his mind, he only wants to protect you. What he will face outside these cave walls was more of a danger to you then he was willing to risk."
He wanted to save her.
The thought reminded Yani how much she truly did love him. What Corbin didn't know is that she didn't want saving. She wanted to be by his side, no matter what consequences, hardships, or whatever else, they had to face. She looked up at Sylvana, her tears fell at his feet. "I need to go to him. I won't let him suffer alone. Whatever happens I need to be there with him! Please Sylvana, where did he ?"
He looked down at her. Indecision shown in his eyes, and he appeared to battle with the possible repercussions of his actions. Finally, he appeared to have reached a decision, as his expression softened. "Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"Very well Princess, I will take you to him."
* * * *
The decision to leave Yani tore at his heart. Corbin knew it had been the right one, though. What lay ahead for him would only devastate her. She was much too important, too good, for that kind of torment.
His father had been right at least on one point, it's time he faced the consequences of his actions. Using his tracking skills, he easily followed Kaden and Nal's trail. From his estimation, they were only an hour or two from his location.
He knew the desert lands as well as any Morey. In very little time, Corbin managed to backtrack until he had circled around the scouting party looking for him, so that now he followed them.
There were eight sets of tracks. He knew Kaden and Nal were among the men looking for him. The others he assumed were Gor, his brother, Joran, and possibly his father as well. Kaden must have enlisted a few Dreg Warriors to help as well.
For a brief moment, he considered reversing his direction and simply waiting for them to come up on him. However, that truly didn't appeal to him. If he were going to turn himself in, he would do it on his terms. Despite all his imperfections, he was still a Dreg Warrior.
A small oasis came into view. His water pouch could use a refill, not to mention the winds started to stir. A sand storm may be approaching.
The grouping of ten-foot desert flowers with their blooming leaves, created a much welcomed shade and protection from the winds. Where there were flowers, there would be water.
Corbin wasn't disappointed. He saw a tiny pool of water that thinned to a winding stream and disappeared into a crevice on the side of a tall rock formation. Corbin knew immediately he'd found an entrance to another underground Morey cave. He squatted on the edge of the pool and submerged his drinking pouch in the water.
His dreads suddenly vibrated against his back. He tensed. Someone had just come up behind him.
"Well if it isn't the elusive Corbin."
Gor's voice dripped with venom.
Corbin slowly stood up and turned around." Hello Gor. Been a while."
The Azurian prince snarled at him. "Shut up! Where is she?"
Corbin feigned ignorance. "Hmm ... her?"
Gor spit at his feet and took a step forward, putting Corbin into a defensive stance. "You know exactly who the fuck I'm talking about, Dreg." He tilted his head to the side briefly, then gave Corbin an evil little smirk.
"Or maybe the Trill has finally rotted enough of your mind that you truly don't remember?"
He reached into a compartment on his belt, and pulled out a small vial filled with a silver liquid.
"Perhaps you need a bit more to jog your memory."
Corbin stared at the Trill dangling between Gor's fingers. As much as he hated to admit it, the temptation to snatch it from the Azurian's hand was hard to resist.
"I'm done with that, Gor, and I'm done with this conversation. Take me to Nal and end this."
Gor tsked him and shook his head. He stepped up to Corbin until their noses were an inch apart. "All I want Corbin–" he flipped the top off the vial with his thumb and held it eye level, "is for you to give me Yani. Come on Corbin, you can't resist the Trill, you want it don't you? Give me Yani and this sample is yours along with a lifetime supply at no cost...