Sheala (19 page)

Then Marljas cupped her breast.

The memory of vicious pinches roared into her memory, and she scrambled from the bed.

Marljas didn’t try to stop her.

“I can’t,” she sobbed softly.

Marljas closed his eyes and swallowed. He had so hoped that leaving Sheala to herself during their journey here would bring back the trust she had once had in him.

After a brief inner struggle, he opened his eyes and held out his hand. “Come to bed,
Cheta
. You’ve nothing to fear from me. I won’t touch you again tonight.”

Uncertainty evident on her face, Sheala nevertheless walked back to the bed and lowered herself onto the very edge, as far away from him as she could get.

Despair gripped Marljas’ heart. Though he was encouraged by the fact that he had been able to kiss and nuzzle his wife, he was finally forced to admit to himself that her ability to trust had been damaged much more than he’d imagined, and simply bringing her home to Gattan wouldn’t erase the memories of her rape or cause her to trust him not to hurt her.

* * * * *

Sighing, Denieen leaned back in the soft leather chair. “How I missed Gattan tea.”

Her mother-in-law sat next to her in another chair. “How traumatized is she? I don’t want Marljas wasting his life and love on a woman who won’t accept a physical relationship.”

Denieen sipped more tea. “Sheala sleeps in the same bed with Marljas, so it’s only a matter of time. She is, after all, Drakian. Her sexual nature will manifest itself eventually.”

Leaning against the fireplace, Drefes sipped a fine Gattan brandy. “What of this Brianna woman who is now bloodsister to Marljas?”

Denieen smiled broadly as Wendjas answered with a throaty chuckle. “A woman to set our planet on its ear. Marljas did the right thing when he chose to complete the ritual. Brianna is a woman who will enrich our family in many ways.”

“Blooding herself even though she was pregnant. We can’t find fault with her courage,” Teena said with wonder in her voice.

Drefes’ chuckle mimicked his son’s. “Accepting the wife of the Alalakan dragon as a bloodsister into the tribe is not such a bad thing.
Leonine
coffers will prosper with the trading contracts. Surely, family ties will lessen prices?”

Wendjas smiled broadly. “They already have, Father. Marljas’ marriage into the Alalakan family has also strengthened those ties not to mention the ties to Mediria. And the Alalakans have many more ties to the Medirian royal family than anyone not of their clan realized. Sheala and her brothers carry Medirian blood, and Brianna is adopted daughter to the King and Queen.”

“And the Aradab?” Teena asked. “You aren’t going to tell me she’s also a member of one of these families we find ourselves tied to.”

Denieen chuckled. “No, the most obvious reason for her presence is for Sheala’s protection.”

Both Drefes and Teena bristled and interrupted before she could continue.

“They think I could not protect—”

“A woman who comes to me as a daughter…”

“Peace, second Mother, Father,” Denieen said softly. “Char and his father have no doubts in your ability to protect Sheala while she’s here in your house. They think ahead to possible challenges…”

Metal clanged against wood as Teena slapped her goblet down on the table. “If she cannot protect herself, she is not worthy to be wife to any Gattan, let alone my son.”

“Mother,” Wendjas said more sharply than he’d ever addressed her before, “let Deni finish!”

Both Drefes’ and Teena’s eyes widened at his tone, but they remained silent.

“Sheala is more than capable of answering any challenge, or, at least, she will be in a week or so. Beti is here to complete her training. No one on our planet could do an adequate job because we base our martial arts training around our claws. Sheala has none. Nor does Sosha,” Deni continued. “Beti is here as much for Sosha as she is for Sheala. What’s more, Beti will do more to ease both girls’ minds about their captivity than anyone else could.”

Drefes frowned. “Why is that?”

Denieen chuckled. “She’s Aradab. She simply won’t tolerate self-pity. If Sheala or Sosha cannot heal, she’ll offer to help them end their misery.”

Teena’s eyebrows shot up. “Surely neither girl…”

Denieen’s chuckle deepened as she shook her head negatively. “Sheala is too dear to her family and to Marljas, and too much effort was put into curing Sosha of her addiction to let either one of them die.”

“But the Aradab will not tell them that,” Drefes said, realization dawning. “Instead, she’ll bully them into full health.”

A thoughtful expression on her face, Teena lifted her goblet. “Will it work?”

“Sheala will most certainly recover. She spent only one night as a captive.” Denieen paused and stared into her mother-in-law’s face. “Sosha, on the other hand, was a sexual slave for almost a year. No one can be sure what emotional scars she carries. The physical ones are bad enough.”

Teena shuddered. “Ripping out her claws…”

“She still almost tore the throat out of one with her teeth,” Wendjas growled. “The scar on the throat of a Drakian senator implicated him quite clearly in her torture. He, at least, will spend the rest of his life in jail.”

Drefes snarled, “He should be dead!”

Denieen leaned back again, a thoughtful expression on her face. “That’s what Bandalardrac said. I wonder…” She looked up. “His uncle is the Medirian king, and they do have all those assassins…”

Teena waved her hand. “We’re talking about Marljas and Sheala. What are we going to do about them?”

Drefes rose and sighed. “Let it be, Teena. They’re young and will work things out for themselves.

Come. It’s late and I’m ready for bed.”

Teena paused, opened her mouth to say something, then thought better of it.

“One more thing before you leave, Mother, Father,” Wendjas said with a wide grin as he drew Denieen to her feet and put his arm around her.

His parents looked at them expectantly.

“You will become grandparents again in less than a year,” Deni said with a smile. “Brianna assures me this one will be a girl.”

Joy chased away the weariness on Teena’s face as she embraced Denieen. “She’s sure it’s a girl? How does she know?”

Wendjas chuckled. “Brianna is a remarkable woman, Mother. I’m proud to have her in our family.

However, she’s no seer. It is only a ‘feeling’ she has that Deni carries a girl.”

Drefes too embraced his daughter-in-law. “It matters not, Deni. Another grandchild will bring joy to our house whether it is a boy or a girl.”

“But to have a girl…” Teena said breathlessly. “It’s been three generations since a girl was born into our line of the
Leonine
tribe. Krondal’s son is not yet betrothed.”

“Mother!”

“Wife!”

Denieen’s rich laughter broke out over the two men’s simultaneous exclamations. “Peace,” she laughed.

“The child barely rests under my heart, and it will be many years before we need talk of any betrothal.

Perhaps it will be another boy.”

* * * * *

A few doors away Sosha slept fitfully. Though she had not cried while she was awake, tears stained her cheeks in her sleep. Her parents had been informed of her return to Gattan, but no message waited for her from them or her brothers. She’d been correct, her family was ashamed of her.

* * * * *

Beti checked Kadis’ door one more time. It was locked from the inside. That did not mean, however, that Kadis would not try to come out again. Beti settled on the floor across the hall from her door. One of the servants thoughtfully provided her with supper and a blanket. Many had witnessed the Aradab’s humiliation of the queen’s niece. All expected a challenge in the morning, and Kadis was a deadly fighter.

The queen’s niece wore her scars proudly.

Beti had heard the whispers and warnings but had nonchalantly shrugged them off.

She’d gotten a good idea of Kadis’ strength when she’d carried her from Teena’s apartment. She had no doubt that she could subdue Kadis without so much as a scratch.

* * * * *

From a house near the Gattan royal palace, a coded signal flashed towards its destination on an uninhabited planetoid. From there it was relayed to what was thought to be a deserted space on Varce.

Eventually, it reached its destination on Drakan. There the Academy of Science computer that received the message buried it deep into data banks that could only be reached by secret code. Eventually, the message would reach the man for whom it was intended. There were angry people on Gattan who had questions they wanted answered.

Chapter Sixteen

Shivers racing up her spine woke Sheala. Someone was watching her. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

Her gaze collided with a broad chest—her husband’s broad chest.

Pushing herself back, she tilted her head and looked up into his face. Wincing inwardly from his steady gaze, she dropped hers, blinking back tears, cursing mentally at her reaction to the sexiest man she’d ever met, one who said he’d love her forever.

Sheala stared at the dragon and lion tattoo above his right pectoral.

The dragon and lion stared back.

She blinked again. Marljas’ body was sex personified. Muscles bulged on his arms, like his chest, his shoulders were broad, his abdomen was well-developed—“six-pack abs”, Brianna had called the muscles there. His stomach was flat, his hips lean, and his cock… She sighed. He had the most wonderful cock. She should slide across the bed onto his chest and kiss him senseless. Only a month ago that’s exactly what she would have done. Now, though…

Now, she was nervous just because he was staring at her.

Why? Drakians didn’t get nervous when someone stared at them. They liked it.
She
liked it. At least she had, especially when Marljas had stared at her. She’d spent a great deal of time on Drakan making him notice her. Now, she had his undivided attention, and she wasn’t sure what to do with it.

She blinked again. Damn Bakom and his assistants! Every time Marljas touched her, one of their faces popped into her mind.

“You’re very beautiful,
Cheta
,” he murmured as he kissed her gently on the forehead.

Sheala moved restlessly, though not fearfully. His lips couldn’t hurt her. He
wouldn’t
hurt her. She knew that. If only she could convince her body…

Keeping firm control on his body, Marljas continued his gentle kisses. Knowing what would happen if he touched his wife in any other way, he used his lips to caress her face and neck, keeping the blanket fisted in his hands. He
would
keep his hands to himself—for now.

The contented sigh that escaped her lips and her stiff body relaxing told him his gentle approach was working.

Before he lost control, Marljas forced himself from his wife’s side and rolled off the bed. He’d made progress this morning and didn’t want to frighten her with an inopportune fumble.

“Where are you going?”

“Now that I’m home, I have responsibilities.”

She pushed herself up until she sat leaning back against the tall headboard. “What do you do?” she called after him as he walked into the bathing room.

The question was music to Marljas’ ears. Smiling at his reflection in the mirror, he splashed water on his face, cleaned his mouth, tied his hair back with a leather thong, and returned to the bedchamber. “I’m in charge of monitoring our herds—culling, breeding, and so forth.” He shimmied out of the loose bed pants he was wearing.

After a quick gasp, Sheala jerked her gaze away from his naked hips.

Marljas turned to a large wardrobe, glancing back at his wife under his arm.

She was staring at his ass.

Chuckling quietly to himself, Marljas grabbed a clean tunic and pants and straightened. When he turned back to Sheala, she was staring at the ceiling.

Sliding into his pants, he adjusted his tail then shrugged his tunic over his head. After stamping into his boots, he settled a thick, leather belt around his waist. Then he leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Go back to sleep if you want. Mother will give you a few days to adjust before she finds chores for you.” After another kiss to the top of her head, Marljas spun on his heel and sauntered out of the room.

Sheala watched breathlessly as her husband left the room, whistling. She allowed her mind to wander back to his kisses and was surprised to feel her nipples tighten. Before she could dwell on her reaction, however, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

A young Gattan girl entered and smiled tentatively. “I’m Denta Grodanisdotir. Teena Seenasdotir has sent me to be your personal maid, if I am acceptable to you. If not, there are others she can send.”

Sheala smiled back. “I’m sure you’ll be fine, Denta, though I don’t really need a maid.”

A fearful look appeared on the girl’s face to be followed almost instantly by one of determination. “Oh no, Alalakan dem al’ Sheala, your husband is a son of the house. You must have a maid. Teena Seenasdotir would lose face with the other matriarchs if the wife of her son wasn’t treated properly.

Would you like me to draw you a bath?”

Sheala shook her head. “No. I had one last night. I’d like to have something to eat though.”

“I’ll order a tray. Is there anything specific you’d like?”

“I’d rather eat what everyone else eats and where everyone else eats if that’s okay.”

The young maid’s smile broadened.

Sheala nodded to herself. Obviously, she’d said the right thing. Besides, if she was going to be part of Marljas’ family, she’d better get to know them. And she couldn’t do that hiding in her room.

Besides, Sosha needed her.

Denta’s smile became even more relaxed. “Then if you will follow me, I’ll show you to the dining room.

Breakfast is about to be served. Normally, it’s served earlier. However, the matriarch gave orders that it was to be delayed this morning.”

Sheala followed the shorter girl out the door.

“You’d best pay close attention to where we’re going,” Denta said as she led Sheala down a flight of stairs. “The Drefeson home is a warren. Wings have been added haphazardly to the main edifice. The rooms you shared with Marljas are in what was considered the family wing, but the dining room, library, etc. are located in a newer wing of the house.”