Ignoring Karic's look of pained discomfort, Liane dropped her backpack and extended a hand toward Devra. "It is my pleasure to meet you. Will you be journeying with us back to Karic's lair?"
Devra's brow lifted, and she turned to Karic. "Well, my love, what about it? Will you take me back as your life mate?"
Karic bit back a groan. Devra was a hot and lusty bed partner, but until now there'd never been any mention of any deep affection, much less a life mating, neither from him nor Devra, who always had made it obvious that she wanted him for his virile young body. What had possessed Liane to ask such a question? What had flared between these two in but the span of a few secundae?
He shook his head. "This is not the time or place to discuss such things. Liane and I have been traveling all nocte. We are weary and need rest."
"You can have my bed, as always," Devra immediately volunteered, her glittering gaze assessing Liane from head to toe. "
She
can have a pallet on the floor."
Liane saw Karic's scowl and cut short his protest. "I'll gladly sleep anywhereand as soon as possible, if that's not too much trouble."
A thin, pitying smirk touched the other woman's lips. "No trouble at all. And while you sleep, I'll see to Karic's needs, which I'm sure," she smiled archly at Karic as she began to lead him away, "are a little more complex than yours."
"I'll just bet they are," Liane muttered as she slung her backpack onto her shoulder and followed.
The hut was clean and simply furnished. Devra quickly dispensed with Liane by handing her a few blankets and pointing to a corner across the room from her box bed. After that, Liane noted with rising disgust, it was as if she weren't even present in the room.
Devra led Karic over to her bed. Combined with teasing kisses, she swiftly relieved him of his tunic and belt. Her hands were at his breeches before he had the presence of mind to stop her.
"Hold, Devra." With the greatest of efforts, Karic stilled her hands. "I meant what I said. We both need our rest."
"Let me ease your body toward that slumber, my love," Devra purred silkily. "I well remember how you like itslow, deep and hot."
Karic inhaled a ragged breath. By the three moons, how he needed a female! And Devra was so warm, so willing.
Until nine sols ago he'd never preferred any pretty femina over another, finding one equally as delightful as the next, but now he suddenly found he desired only one. He swallowed a savage curse. His worst fears had indeed materialized. Liane had driven him mad!
Karic shook his head. "Not now, Devra. We'll talk later, once I've rested."
A small pout pursed her lips. "Talking wasn't what I had in mind." Her glance sought out Liane, scowling at them from her pallet in the corner.
Devra's eyes narrowed. "What is she to you, Karic? Your newest love?"
"Hardly," he muttered. He gave Devra a gentle shove. "Go. I'll come for you later. I swear."
A knowing smile curved her lips. "Just be sure you do." She sauntered to the door, her hips swaying provocatively. "You won't regret it," she shot over her shoulder before leaving the hut. "I'll see to that.''
Karic sighed and turned to Liane. Her face was carefully expressionless, but an angry light gleamed in her eyes. If he didn't so desperately wish it true, he'd almost think she was jealous, but that was fruitless hoping and only complicated an already difficult situation.
He walked over and squatted beside her. "Would you rather use the bed? I can sleep on the floor."
"No, thank you," Liane replied stiffly. "She made it quite clear who was to use her bed. I'm comfortable here." "Then would you share your pallet with me? I've gotten too used to sleeping with you to now sleep alone." A lazy grin teased the corners of his mouth. "Besides, there's always the chance you might change your mind and try to escape."
Liane's heart gave a jump. All the doubts, all the anger at him, fled in an onrushing tide of relief and joy. She pulled back the blanket and scooted over, tears glistening in her eyes.
Karic crawled into bed and took Liane into his arms. Silently, she lay her head on his broad chest, reveling in the wiry crispness pressed against her cheek, the comforting strength of the hard body lying next to hers. She knew she shouldn't let herself want him, shouldn't care, but it was past the point of reason anymore. She loved Karic.
The realization filled her with a bittersweet joy. How could she not have recognized it before? What had begun as respect for a brave, strong man, devoted to his people, had quickly ripened to affection. His resolute courage, his determination to succeed against all odds, had filled her with admiration from the start. Though her mind seek had revealed amazing insights about him, the past sols and noctes together were what served to confirm that knowledge, until her life and heart had become intricately entwined with that of his.
She recalled his acute intelligence, how he'd tried to psychologically manipulate her to protect himself from her mind seek and ultimately succeeded. She remembered his wry wit, his boyish glee at the heart-stopping ride over the falls. Yet the memories that overshadowed everything else were how gentle he could be and his untiring efforts to protect her, even at great cost to himself. Combined with his animal magnetism and the hot fires he could stir in her with only a look, Liane realized she'd been lost from the start.
The admission did little to salve the raw ache spiraling through her. She may have lost her heart, but it changed nothing. She couldn't live with herself if she turned her back on her healing. To make such a decision was too terrifying, as was the possibility of living with that decision each sol. No, as great as her love and desire for Karic was, she didn't have the courage to turn her back on her life's work.
Poignant pain cut through Liane. They were both bound to courses that had the potential to force them apart. In the end, he'd turn his back on her if it meant the welfare of his people. And she couldn't blame him, just as she knew he'd not blame her for her choice.
The tears, held in abeyance until now, coursed down her cheeks. Unselfish sacrifice for a higher cause might gladden the heart at the close of one's life, but it didn't warm one's bed with a loving companion while on the journey to that inevitable end. Cycles of loneliness, cycles without Karic, stretched before Liane. Her shoulders began to shake as the long-repressed sobs shuddered through her. She wept unashamedly, the anguish rising from some deep, most personal part of her.
And all the while Karic said nothing, only gathering her to him to stroke away her sadness, kiss away her tears.
Devra found Karic late that sol, chopping wood for the village seamstress. The old woman had sewn him a soft leather loincloth, and Karic was repaying her with a split pile of logs. Devra's eyes admiringly ran up his long, muscular body, glistening with a light sheen of sweat.
"I like you much better in the loincloth," she said. "It leaves little to the imagination."
Karic lay down the ax and turned. He recognized that familiar, hungry light in Devra's eyes. Not long ago it had been more than adequate invitation to gather her into his arms and carry her off into the forest. Now, he just sighed and took her by the arm.
"we have to talk."
She resisted his gentle tug on her arm. "And why don't I like to hear you say that?" She eyed him intently. "You don't find me desirable, do you?"
"It's not that. You're still a beautiful femina. The problem is me, not you."
"I'd say the problem is that black-haired bitch in my hut," Devra hissed. "You love her, don't you?"
Karic breathed the admission on a whispered sigh. "Yes."
She cocked her head, her eyes narrowing. "Then why don't you sound happy? Doesn't she want you?"
He shook his head.
"Little fool! Shall I claw her eyes out for you?"
Karic smiled at the surge of protectiveness in Devra's voice. "No, it wouldn't change anything. She's doing what she feels is best. I can't fault her for it."
"But you're taking her back with you to your lair. How will you bear it, seeing her each sol and knowing she'll never be yours?"
His eyes darkened in pain. "I don't know. I'll deal with it when the time comes."
Devra lay a gentle hand upon his arm. "The loving's been good with you, Karic. Very good. I'll always be here, waiting, if you ever want me." "And if some nocte I get it into my head to pay you a visit," he grinned down at her, "and find your life mate in bed with you, what will you say then, Devra?"
"Why," she fired back with a provocative toss of her long tresses, "I'll say move over husband and let an old lover in."
Karic threw back his head and laughed. "I believe you would, fernina. I really believe you would."
His glance caught that of Liane's, just exiting the hut. For an instant their eyes met, and Karic's expression sobered.
He turned back to Devra. "I must speak with Liane. Do you care to accompany me?"
"And pretend courtesy to a fool?" Devra sniffed in disdain. "No, thank you." She walked away.
With a final, bemused glance in Devra's direction, Karic turned and headed over to Liane.
She gave him a tentative smile. "I woke up and you were gone."
He studied her face, still puffy from falling asleep, crying in his arms. "How are you feeling?"
"I am fine. Thank you for your patience."
"It hurts to see you so unhappy, Liane."
She inhaled a deep breath. "It'll pass. Now, no more of it. When do we leave?"
Karic's glance scanned the path of the sun. "In about five horas. It won't be dark enough until then."
"Well, at least there'll be moonlight to brighten our way. The cloudy sky last nocte blocked all light whatsoever."
At the mention of the moons, the unsettling urgency gnawing at Karic stirred anew. Curse it all! He didn't have enough to worry about with trackers on his trail and the need to get home becoming more and more urgent, not to mention the distracting problems with Liane. Now, he had to face his need to mate when the triple moons came into alignment at a time that put him in a vulnerable, unthinking state that could endanger them both.
Well, by the time they set out this nocte they'd have only traveled a few horas before the moons rose. If they were in alignment he'd head back to the village. Devra, he knew, would willingly ease his torment.
"What's wrong, Karic?"
He stared down at her, momentarily confused, then he shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Come on," Karic growled, grasping her arm. "We've got supplies to gather, and I'll have to barter some service to pay for them."
Liane brightened at the thought. "And perhaps there are some ills to be healed. I, too, would like to do something to repay the villagers' kindness."
She was generous to all, Karic thought, as they headed across the commons. His people would greatly benefit from Liane's presence in their lair. It almost made the sacrifice worth it. Almost. . . .
They set out just after dusk. Their journey through open farmland was easier, but it did nothing to slow Karic's furious pace. If anything, he became more driven, more agitated as time went on. Unease spiraled through Liane.
There was something gnawing at Karic. She had sensed it growing for the past sol, a restless, churning, primitive thing, but without a mind seek it was impossible to fathom its source. And Karic would never permit even the slightest glimpse into that secret part of him. Liane squashed the rising anxiety as best she could and silently trudged on. He hardly spoke or looked at her. Perhaps he was angry, she thought as they finally took a break among a small scattering of trees, angry with her for slowing him down, her presence continually placing them in situations that increased their danger. Without her, she knew he could cover distance at a much greater pace, his tall, muscular body speaking most eloquently of his strength and endless stamina.
She covertly studied Karic. The loincloth suited him and all he represented. He was a young, virile animal, simple and free. Her glance slid down his body, admiring the broad shoulders and powerful arms, the hard, flat planes of his naked, fur-matted chest, the rippling abdomen with its dark river of hair that disappeared beneath his loincloth. He stood before her, a magnificent specimen of a man, his glance averted toward the distant mountains. Then, with a low groan, he turned.
Their eyes met. Liane's breath caught in her throat. His eyes seared to the very depths of her being and stirred fires she'd thought safely controlled back to a blazing intensity. Suddenly, she felt drawn to him in a way both primal and savage.
He saw the smoldering look and knew it was a response to the fierce mating aura emanating from him. A tremor shook his tall frame. She was sensitive, just as his own mother had been to his father, but to seduce her now, in her highly emotional state, would be to take advantage of something she had no understanding and little control over. He couldn't do it.
Karic strode over to kneel beside her. "I must leave you for a time," he rasped, fiercely gripping her arms. "It is safe here among these trees. If anything prowls about while I'm gone you can always climb up into them. Will you stay here? Wait for me?"