Revealed (38 page)

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Is it really so difficult to understand? You can only heal your little female by proving yourself to be the true Counselor
 
we have been waiting for these last thousand years. And if you prove that you
are
said Counselor , you will never leave
First World
again—you will be bound to your home planet.”

Nadiah felt her heart leap into her throat. As cruel as the words of the high priestess were, she could feel the truth of them. It was exactly as she had foreseen—Rast was going to be forced to make a choice. And if he chose to stay, he would never leave.

“It’s true,” Sylvan said, echoing her thoughts. “According to tradition, the Counselor
 
is bound to
First World
, sworn to protect it and unable to leave it so long as he lives.”

“Now hold on, back up a minute.” Rast put up his hands. “I never signed on for any of this. I didn’t notice any big flashing sign in your landing area that said
‘No exit, ever.’”

“Very well, leave.” The high priestess made a dismissive gesture. “It doesn’t matter if your little female dies. She isn’t right for you anyway—if she was, your wings would already have manifested.”

“What are you
talking
about?” Rast’s deep voice was a roar of frustration. “I
don’t have wings.”

“No, but you
should!”
The high priestess’s emerald eyes flashed.

“Excuse me,” Sophia said timidly, stepping forward. “I, uh, don’t want to start a fight but if the Counselor
 
always has wings, why didn’t we see any on the vid scene you showed us of Rast’s father?”

“Normally the wings only manifest in times of great trouble—they come when they are needed and fold back into the Counselor ’s body when they are not,” the priestess explained in a stern voice. She looked at Rast. “By giving your female a life threatening illness, I had hoped to
force
your wings to come out, Adam Rast. But though they are clearly there, her plight has not yet caused them to burst forth. And until they do, you cannot claim the Empty Throne.”

“Right,” Rast said sarcastically. “Because obviously making the woman I love terminally ill is going to cause me to
sprout wings.”

“It had better.” The priestess gave him a severe look. “If it does not, she will surely die. The only cure for her is to be found in the waters of the Goddess’s fountain in the
Healing
Garden
, high on the side of the holy mountain. And the only way to reach the g
arden
is to fly.”

Nadiah saw the stricken look on his face as his dilemma became perfectly clear. If his wings manifested in time, he could fly her to the
Healing
Gardens
and save her life. But then he would be trapped—bound to
First World
by the very wings that saved her. If, on the other hand, his wings
didn’t
manifest, she would die of the fever the high priestess had cursed her with. Rast would be able to leave, but he would do it alone for Nadiah would be dead.

“So,” Rast said heavily. “The choice is stay here forever and cure Nadiah or leave and let her die.”

“That is it, exactly.” The high priestess smiled a cruel smile.
 
“The choice is yours. You may have tonight to think about it and I will hear your formal oath tomorrow at sunrise on the high mesa.” She glowered at him. “There your wings will surely manifest…or your female will die.”

She turned to stalk away, moving toward the back of the temple, past the raised dais where the Empty Throne sat.

“Wait a minute,” Rast called, running to catch up. “You know I’m not going to let the woman I love die. I’ve made my choice. So why—”

“This interview is over,” the high priestess said, without turning. “I have matters to attend to. I must serve the throne.”

Nadiah saw Rast look up. The bottom of the white marble throne was at the level of his head. Suddenly the priestess’s earlier words to them echoed in her head.
“Do not touch the throne on peril of your lives,”
she had said. Nadiah wanted to shout out a warning—Rast was so close—
too
close, but her mouth was too dry and the words wouldn’t come.

“It’s not over until you answer my goddamn question!” He reached for her shoulder, obviously meaning to spin her around. “I want to ask you why—”

“No more questions!” The high priestess whirled to face him. Planting both hands on his chest, she shoved him away.

“I—” Rast was knocked off balance. Nadiah saw him reach for something to steady himself…and his hand landed on the side of the white marble throne.

For a moment he was completely still and then his back bowed outward and an agonized gasp came from his lips. His whole body began to shake like a man being electrocuted, but still his hand stuck to the white marble as though it was glued in place. As though he couldn’t let go.

Finally, Nadiah’s paralysis broke. “Rast!” she cried and ran forward as fast as she could in her weakened state.

“No,” Sylvan roared. “Don’t touch him—it might cause a chain reaction!” He leapt forward and tackled Rast to the ground, breaking the connection between his hand and the throne. Rast fell, his head cracking against the white marble floor and Nadiah cried out at the sound.

She fell to her knees beside Rast as Sylvan hovered over him on the other side. “Is he all right?” she gasped, grabbing one of Rast’s hands. It felt cool and unresponsive in her grasp. “Is he, Sylvan?”

Sylvan checked the other male’s pulse and breathing. “He’s alive,” he said grimly. He glared angrily up at the priestess. “He could have been killed. You pushed him deliberately. Why?”

The high priestess stared down at them, her blank emerald eyes utterly pitiless. “I had to be certain he was really the future Counselor
 
before I allowed him to ascend to the top of the high mesa tomorrow morning. Touching the throne, even briefly, would have killed anyone but the rightful candidate. Now I know it is safe to proceed with our ceremony tomorrow.”

Nadiah shook her head. “But his wings—you saw the marks on his back. You had to know—”

“I know nothing until I see the wings manifest,” the priestess snapped. “Which they would have already if
you
were the rightful mate and
Lysell
of the Counselor .” She made a face as though she’d smelled something bad. “Clearly you are
not.
Now, I must go and meditate to clear my head for the ceremony tomorrow. Lissa will take you all back to the guest quarters and you may think of what I have said.”

Turning again, she swept away, her white robe rustling on the bare marble floor.

“She’s coming around. Look, her eyelids are fluttering.”

Olivia’s soft words brought
Merrick
out of the half-doze he’d been in. Blinking his eyes, he sat up in the chair beside Elise’s cot and looked over at her. Olivia had dressed her in a dark red healing gown—a stark contrast to her pale face and black hair. Sure enough, he could see her eyes moving under the lids. He hoped she would be in her right mind this time. It had been a long night and her earlier interludes of wakefulness had been brief and confused. He was beginning to wonder if her long stint in stasis had affected her mind.

As her small hand twitched in his,
Merrick
wondered what she would say this time. Sometimes when she woke, she begged him to keep her safe, to not let
him
hurt her again. At first he had thought the “him” she referred to must be the AllFather. But now he wasn’t so sure. It seemed like maybe her mind was reliving an earlier trauma, an older hurt—perhaps one she’d buried? But he could never get details from her to find out.

Other times, she clutched at his hand and called him “Buck,” which sounded like a male’s name.
Merrick
had wondered about that—he didn’t
smell
another male on her and Olivia said she had no mate on Earth—not one they’d been able to find, anyway. But still the name filled him with a nameless kind of rage. Though he tried to tell himself he didn’t care, the idea that the little Earth female might be claimed by another
 
male made him grind his teeth and clench his fists.

Don’t be stupid,
he told himself.
She’s not yours. She doesn’t even know your name. She thinks you’re ‘Buck’, whoever that is. And it’s not like you want a female anyway. What could she do but slow you down and trip you up?
But no matter what he told himself, his stomach still clenched every time she whispered that strange name.

His thoughts were interrupted when her eyes fluttered again and then opened. This time there was no pain or fear in them. Instead, she smiled tentatively up at him and put her free hand to her forehead.

“Hello,” she whispered.

“Hey,” he said roughly, then cursed himself for his abrupt tone. “I mean…” He cleared his throat. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine.” She rubbed her forehead. “Tired. And thirsty.”

“Here you go, hon.” Olivia held a cup to her lips and Elise drank thirstily. A tiny trickle of liquid slid from the side of the cup and down her slender neck. For a split second,
Merrick
pictured himself licking it off. Then he pushed the idea away.

Elise finished the drink and nodded at Olivia. “Thank you.” She turned her gaze to
Merrick
. “You’re the one. You saved me from…from…” She shook her head. “I don’t know from what but it was something
awful
. I didn’t think anyone would come for me but you did.”

Merrick
shifted uncomfortably on the chair. “I found the pod you were in, drifting in space, and brought you back here—that’s all.”

She looked confused. “I was in a pod? In space? Well, thank you, I guess.”

“You’re welcome.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Have you been with me the whole time?” She nodded down to where
Merrick
was still holding her hand. “Keeping me safe?”

“Uh…” Feeling foolish, he yanked his hand away. “I had to. I found you so I’m responsible for your safety while you’re here.”

“All vitals are normal and brain activity looks good.” Olivia smiled. “I think she’s going to be just fine.”

Elise looked around. “I’d feel better if I knew where I was. The last thing I remember is walking in the park by the marina in
Sarasota
—the one with the statue of the sailor and the nurse kissing. I was on vacation and…and everything else is a blank.” She frowned.

Olivia’s smile faltered a little. “Well, hon, a lot has happened since then. But the important thing to remember now is that you’re safe. You’re on board the Kindred Mother Ship, orbiting Earth.”

“Really, the Kindred?” Elise looked at
Merrick
and gave a confused laugh. “You must be one, I guess.”

He nodded briefly. “Yes.”

“I always wondered about them—about your kind, I mean,” Elise said. “But of course I never had to worry about being drafted by one of you.”

Merrick
’s heart fisted in his chest. The only Earth females who didn’t have to worry about the draft for Kindred brides were already mated or spoken for. But if that was so, why was there no scent of another male on Elise?

Olivia frowned. “You didn’t worry about being drafted? Why not?”

“Why because…because of…” Elise frowned. “Isn’t that funny? I can’t remember.” She looked down at her arms and frowned. “There seems to be a lot I’ve forgotten. How did I get these bruises? And why am I so sore?”

Merrick
shifted restlessly on the chair and he and Olivia exchanged a glance.

“Some things are better left for another time,” Olivia said. “Why don’t you get some rest and maybe it’ll come back to you later.”

Elise frowned and sat up, looking more alert. “But I don’t
want
to rest anymore. How long have I been out? My vacation time may be up already. Do you know what my caseload is going to be like when I get back home?”

“Caseload?” Olivia echoed.

“The number of cases I handle at work—I’m an attorney.” Elise blew out a breath and pushed a stray lock of black hair away from her eyes. “Why is my hair loose? I never wear it down like this.”

“An attorney, huh? Who do you represent?” Olivia asked soothingly, offering her another drink.

Elise took the cup without question, holding it on her own this time, and took a swallow. She made a face. “That’s bitter.”

“It’s good for you. Have some more,” Olivia urged. “And tell me about your job. I was a nurse down on Earth and I kept it up once I got here.” She motioned at the med station. “Kindred anatomy is a little different from human anatomy so it was kind of a case of learning on the job.”

“That’s interesting.” Elise took another sip and made a face. “Well, I’m a prosecutor with the Attorney General’s office. Mostly I represent children because…because they…” She yawned and then looked at Olivia sharply. “Hey, what was in that drink?”

“Just something to relax you.” Olivia stroked her arm. “I think you need a little more rest but don’t worry, I’ll contact your mother and stepfather while you sleep. They can be here when you wake up.”