Lawked Flame (10 page)

She offered a slight nod and a weak smile.

Frustrated, he towered over her. “Speak. Tell me
what you think of this declaration. Years past, you have proclaimed
this incident would be the salvation of our people. Yet, now that
it has happened, you become mute.”

“
Your anger is justified. I have
my reservations.”

“
And they are?” he ground out. His
frustration crested as his anger rebuilt.

“
She is damaged.”

He thought back to their dream
state and could not recall anything off-putting. In fact, he
thought her creamy skin, full breasts, and wide hips refreshing.
His mouth watered at the memory.

“
Damaged? Stop speaking in riddles
and tell me plainly.” He returned to his seat, a vibrating thread
of desperation riding through him. “I must know everything about
her to plan my next move.”

Clotho nodded. “She has been married.”

His brow rose wondering what she meant.

“
She had a husband. Humans would
equate it to a lighter version of mating. It is meant to be for
life. But somewhere it became twisted, tangled, and there is a
system in place for mates to become separate again.”

“
Impossible,” he hissed. His eyes
heated. He knew they glowed brightly with his disdain. “One cannot
separate the egg once it is stirred.”

“
Exactly. That is why she is
damaged.”

He thought on what she said for a moment. “She is my
Kee. Anyone before her means nothing to me.”

“
I believe you called them
practice mates.”

His face warmed at the reminder of his arrogance.
“Ironically, now that she is here, instinct plays such a large
role. I see now there was no need for that. I did not know the
intensity of the pull between a Lawke and his Kee. Still... it is
done and cannot be undone.”

“
She is human and cannot as easily
set her past or memories aside. The hurt of her former mate’s
betrayal is bone-deep, I fear it will take much time for her to
accept you, us.”

“
We do not have time,” he snapped.
Calming, he modulated his tone. “According to the Murlins, the
Geleets have made the viruses more complicated, the cures are
taking longer to discover. Each day without an antidote, hundreds
of thousand die and we are blamed. I have no doubt Nature’s Mother
will not continue to allow this transgression on her home or its
people. When I am unlocked, we will leave. The Geleets will no
longer use us to destroy this race.”

“
I have heard the reports and
still I am concerned,” she argued. “Humans are different,
passionate, loyal, loving and kind. But they do not always see
things in black or white.”

He quietly thought of a way to balance his duties.
“She plans to leave, should I let her go?”

“
Can you stop her? Do not forget,
she is your Kee. In her own right, she has untapped powers that
will emerge equal to yours. Unlocking goes both ways. Your powers
are untested against her and I would advise you not to
underestimate the female.”

Khayden remembered his loss of control in Alayna’s
presence and realized his advisor was right. He would not be able
to control her or deny her much.

“
How does this work? Am I to allow
the one person who can unlock me and my people, walk away to do as
she pleases, while my people weaken as they sustain me? How can I
live with that choice?” The full weight of the situation crushed
him.

“
She will come around, you must be
patient.”

He stood, allowing the word to rattle in his mind,
it did not settle. He slapped his chest as he looked at her.
“Patient! We are running out of Frejyn! The only way to bypass the
need for the plant is for me to unlock my people. We are dying and
dependent on forces beyond our control. And now, after two
centuries, our salvation is here in human form and you say be
patient. Tell me, how can I do that?”

“
You have little choice,” she
whispered. Pity and fear twisted in her voice and eyes. “You cannot
force a Kee into a Lawke. She must come on her own to fully unlock
you.”

“
Fully unlock me?” He latched onto
her final words. “What does that mean?” He stared as her face
reddened.

She coughed and glanced aside. “Intimacy is
something that grows, you know this.”

“
Yes. Connect it to my unlocking.”
His tone was dark and obstinate.

“
I believe you have started the
connection already tonight. I smell her on you. The closer you
become, the more of you will be released.”

“
What?” He could
scarce believe it.
Incremental
unlocking
? Hope rose in his
chest

“
A full unlocking requires total
commitment. But you will grow stronger as the intimacy between the
two of you grows.” She looked at him and grinned. “So will
she.”

A rush of excitement filled him. “Even a released
portion of my own powers would lessen the drain on my people. Are
you are saying that is possible?”

Her lips tightened and her eyes
squinted in thought. “Understand, these are uncharted waters with a
human Kee. She is the first. But I believe that is how it
works.”

Khayden walked in tight circles,
his mind flying over the possibilities, testing new angles. “If she
leaves, I will need to go with her.” She was not immune to him, he
could strengthen the bond, gain more of his own powers.

Clotho gasped, and then smiled. “That is good to
hear. You will need to protect her and allow her to know you.”

“
Protect her?” His skin tightened
at the idea of anyone hurting Alayna. “From who?”

“
From any who seek to stop the
unlocking. She is central to our success but detrimental to our
enemies.”

“
But with human weaknesses,”
Khayden said, his voice hardening.

“
And strengths,” Clotho reminded
him. “Remember the lesson from the Frejyn plant. We needed
something this planet did not have. Nature’s Mother created the
plant from the recesses of the Earth to meet our need. The plant
she provided does not look the same as the original, it grows
differently, requires certain amounts of sun and shade. Yet,
despite the variations, it is superior to the original. We require
less because our energy lasts longer.”

He nodded, thinking about Alayna and the fire that
had sprung up between them. “You think she has hidden abilities
that will assist us?” He had trouble believing the human female
could be of much help even though she was his Kee.

“
I believe the good Mother does
nothing in halves. The Kees she provides will be assets rather than
liabilities. They will also test and challenge who we
are.”

Thinking about his time with Alayna so far, he
agreed. “Tell me, why did she sneeze when she saw me earlier?”

Clotho smiled.

His frown deepened.

“
I believe she was catching your
scent.”

Chapter 9

“
Come on, Lorenzo.” Alayna gazed
out the window, searching the barren streets for signs of her dream
lover. Although she awoke this morning energized and refreshed, it
didn’t take long for mortification to tinge her cheeks.

A wet dream
!

She hadn’t had one of those in, well, never. To make
matters worse, she didn’t know anything about the man. Khayden,
that’s right, he had told her his name. She picked up her shopping
bags and opened the front door, this time better prepared for the
aura of dullness which assailed her senses.

Shaking off her thoughts, she
moved onto the porch, determined to leave this place today even if
she had to walk to her brother’s house. Despite the charm of the
older buildings and the great shopping deals, after last night, the
town had too many creepy vibes for her comfort.

“
I am here.” Lorenzo stepped out
behind her, holding the rest of her bags and another small
bag.

Frowning, she tipped her chin toward the extra bag
in his hand. “What’s that, lunch?”

“
No.” He
chuckled as they crossed the street and headed in the direction of
the warehouse where her brother’s truck was housed. “I have a few
of my things just in case I get stuck out of town.” He winked,
displaying
a boyish
grin.

“
Oh,” she said, grateful for the
company since her brother and her nephew were still out of town.
They continued walking in quiet. A few blocks over, they reached
the building. He opened the heavy steel door, and ushered her
inside.

“
Kenton,” Lorenzo called as they
neared the vehicle.

Staring straight ahead, Alayna’s heart dropped. The
Land Rover sat in the same spot as yesterday. Even though she said
she’d walk, those were words she had not expected to fulfill. After
a quick search for the mechanic, she frowned at his absence. There
were many questions she needed answered, specifically, when she’d
drive her brother’s car out of here.

“
Kenton,” she yelled, pissed he
wasn’t responding.

“
Yes?” The large man stood in a
side door she hadn’t noticed before. His hair was all over his head
and his shirt was on the wrong side. It was obvious they had
interrupted his rest or something.

Alayna’s face heated realizing what the something
might be. After last night, her mind was definitely in the gutter.
Clearing her throat and thoughts, she twirled toward the truck. Her
hand smacked the hood. “When will this be ready?”

“
I am waiting for Mas...I mean
Khayden to pick up a part.” At the mention of his name, she jerked
as if slapped. Her heart stuttered, then raced as she waited,
hoping to hear more about her mystery man.

Kenton continued. “As soon as I get that, it will be
ready in a matter of an hour or so.” He turned and then looked at
her again. “Anything else?”

“
Khayden? He has transportation
out of here?” She looked from Kenton to Lorenzo. “Why didn’t
someone tell me?”

“
I was going to introduce you to
him last night, but...you started...”

“
Sneezing,” she whispered, and
then looked at Kenton. “How can we find him? Maybe he can give us a
ride into town when he picks up the part.”

Kenton shrugged and closed the door, the rude
man.

“
What’s his problem?” she asked,
pointing at the closed door.

He shrugged, his lips threatening a smile. “I am not
sure. Would you like to meet Khayden? Ask for a ride?” His tone
hinted a double meaning, but his face remained impassive. She
looked at him a second longer, trying to see if he were teasing
her.

“
Yes. If we don’t have to walk all
the way to the house, that’d be great. How do you find
him?”

“
I am sure Kenton has already
called him. He should be here shortly.”

Her breath hitched at the idea of seeing him again.
Last night didn’t count, it was only a dream. A hot, sexy, got my
rocks off, dream. But it wasn’t real.

“
What if I start sneezing again?”
she asked. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the far wall,
memories from last night bombarding her. “I don’t know why I had
that problem last night.” She looked at Lorenzo, desperate for an
answer. “What should I do?”

“
Nothing. If you were going to
sneeze, you would have been doing so by now.”

She frowned at him. “Huh?”

He pointed behind her.

Swallowing hard, she pivoted. Spotting Kenton
holding the door open, it was obvious that her dream lover had seen
and heard everything. She inhaled as Khayden walked noiselessly
across the concrete, moving fluidly, his gait sure, determined.

“
Hello.” The warmth of his voice
wrapped around her, stealing her ability to speak. He wore a long
dark brown leather coat, a royal blue and brown turtleneck , and
jeans fitted over dark boots. His thick hair was pulled back in a
ponytail, minus the two braids, highlighting his angular cheekbones
and sharp nose. Full lips stretched into a smile, revealing
straight white teeth.

“
Hi,” she whispered. Overwhelming
sensations clamored inside her. Liquid heat curled low in her
belly. As hot as her dream had been, the reality of him was ten
times more.

As she stared up at Khayden, Lorenzo cleared his
throat. “I believe Alayna would like a ride home.”

She snapped out of it and stepped
back. Her face heated as she glanced toward the door where Kenton
had stood. Thank goodness he had returned to his room. That was one
less person to see her make goo-goo eyes at this man.

“
Yeah...yes that’s right,” she
stammered. “Can you give us a ride to my house?”

Khayden frowned. “Us?”

She waved at Lorenzo. “Yeah, he’s going with me for
a few days.” She caught the look of surprise on her new friend’s
face and prayed he’d back her up in this. He had agreed to walk
with her through the forest if necessary, but they had not
discussed the possibility of a ride. There was no way she would get
in a car with Khayden without a buffer. After last night, she
didn’t trust herself alone with him.

No one spoke. She looked up and saw Khayden staring
at Lorenzo. Stepping toward her new friend, she touched his arm
drawing his attention. “There are some things I want to show him.
We plan to go into town and hang out.” She wasn’t sure why she felt
the need to defend Lorenzo’s presence, but the look on Khayden’s
face all but demanded an explanation from someone.