Star's Storm: Lords of Kassis Book 2 (7 page)

He and Dakar, along with a small army of
North and West House guards, had scoured the city looking for the
two women. Their unusual coloring and the fact that they were
moderately famous helped in the search. After following their trail
of visits to local merchants who had not only been fascinated with
the two females but utterly entranced by their friendliness and
unusual beauty, they had finally located them. Armet ground his
teeth when he saw them relaxing back, totally oblivious to the fact
that a small crowd of onlookers had gathered to see the unusual
species that had captured not only the hearts of the royal family
but the imagination of the Kassisan people.

“Would you like a drink?” Star asked with a
grin. “They make the most incredible fruity drink here. I bet they
could even put some liquor in it to help you loosen up a little.
You know being all doom and gloom all the time can't be good for
your blood pressure,” she teased.

“Make that two,” River said, tilting her
head back and looking at Dakar's tightly controlled face. “Hi
Dakar.”

“Lady River,” Dakar acknowledged
stiffly.

River rolled her eyes and looked at Star. “I
think we need to request a bottle of the good stuff. Do you think
Torak would be upset when that shows up on his credit?” She asked
mischievously.

Star's light, husky laughter drew the
attention of all the males in the establishment and a frustrated
groan out of Armet. He knew the tiny female had no clue as to the
effect she had on the Kassisan males. Even he wasn't immune to her
delicate looks and husky voice. She was like the small, fragile
imaginary creatures told to all Kassisan children when they were
little. Her long, sun kissed hair sparkled when the sun touched it,
her rosy cheeks, dancing eyes, and tiny, perfectly proportioned
figure pulled at a warrior's need to protect. Her husky voice
pulled at the male's need to possess and claim. Armet ground his
teeth together as he felt both responses to her.

“My ladies, I think it would be best if we
returned to the royal Houses,” Dakar said in a cool voice. “Lord
Torak will not be happy that you left without protection.”

River's eyebrow rose at Dakar's tone. “No
offense, Dakar, but I happened to be over the age of having to ask
permission if I want to go out for a while.”

Dakar flushed as River's unusual, dark blue
eyes stared at him steadily in challenge. A muscle ticked in his
jaw before he bowed his head in respect. River refused to back
down. Dakar needed to learn that she wasn't going to be intimidated
by him or anyone else. Besides, she wasn’t stupid. She had enough
blades on her to handle just about anything.

“My lady, I promised Lord Jazin that I would
protect you with my life,” Armet said quietly, stepping closer to
Star. “For now on if you wish to visit the markets or shops in the
city, I will make arrangements for it. I just ask that you not
leave the West House without proper protection,” he added
reluctantly.

Star's mouth twisted in remorse when she
noticed the strained look on Armet's face. “I’m not used to asking
for permission to do things,” she responded with a rueful grin. “I
can’t promise, but I’ll try. I will tell you, and I’ll tell Jazin
when I see him again, that I will not be kept in a gilded
cage.”

Armet bowed his head briefly to show he
heard the steel behind her words. A reluctant smile tugged at the
corner of his mouth. He had heard the rumors that the three females
were the prophesied warriors spoken of in a recently discovered
temple in the ruins of Karazdin, the ancient city of knowledge. If
he had not fought during the battle several weeks ago and saw the
dead warriors in the garden for himself, he would never have
believed it possible for females to be warriors. The fact that the
two females could also escape the Royal Houses without being seen
proved their skills at moving unseen through a highly secured area.
A feat an experienced warrior would have difficulty doing.

“I do not believe there is a cage in all the
known galaxies that could hold you for long, my lady,” Armet
admitted reluctantly.

“Armet,” Dakar’s voice called out. “We need
to return immediately.”

Star looked at Dakar’s face. He had been
listening into the com attached to his ear intently for the past
several minutes. His eyes had grown colder the longer he listened
and his eyes had focused on her face. A feeling of unease rolled
through her stomach. Something was wrong. She could feel it as a
shiver coursed through her body. Something had happened to….

“Jazin,” Star breathed out looking at
Dakar’s face intently as she said the name of the man who meant
everything to her.

The flicker in his eyes told her the feeling
of unease had been correct. Star reached down and grabbed the bags
at her feet. River rose immediately, a look of concern on her face
as she stared at Star. No words were necessary. River had sensed
the same thing she had. Something bad had happened to the man she
loved.

Armet reached over and took the bags from
Star and River, stepping back so the two women could move ahead of
him. Star numbly followed Dakar’s lethal figure through the crowded
room and out into the street. A transport pulled up and he opened
the door. Neither woman said a word as they quickly slid into it.
Star stared blindly out the window as the transport rose and did a
U-turn in the middle of the busy street. They wove through the
streets at a fast pace heading back to the palace. Star jerked in
surprise when she felt River curl her fingers around her cold
ones.

“Everything will be alright,” River
whispered compassionately.

Star opened her mouth before closing it. She
nodded once before turning to look back out the window at the
blurred images of buildings and people going about their daily
life. She saw none of that. The only image she had in mind was of
Jazin’s beautiful smile as he looked down on her after he had
claimed her. A single tear escaped and coursed silently down her
cheek. She refused to believe that would be her last image of
him.

The transport slowed as it pulled up in front
of the steps to the South House. Dakar slid out quickly once it
stopped. He scanned the area carefully before he stepped back far
enough for River, Star and Armet to slide out. Armet took Star by
the elbow while Dakar escorted River toward the steps leading to
the front entrance. Torak and Ajaska were standing at the top,
waiting. Torak immediately descended the steps when he saw River.
He drew her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. Ajaska
looked sadly down at Star. He opened his huge arms for her without
saying a word. Star shook her head in denial even as she slowly
climbed the steps. Her heart beat erratically as she stopped in
front of him and looked up. She stared at Ajaska for a brief moment
before stepping into his embrace as uncontrollable shivers began
coursing through her.

“Please tell me he is okay,” she begged in a
voice thick with tears. “Please tell me he isn’t…. he isn’t….” She
turned her face into the warm muscular chest and fought
unsuccessfully to control the sob that was trying to escape.

Grief pulled at Ajaska as he held the tiny
mate of his youngest son in his arms. Pain and sorrow poured
through him as he felt her fear and disbelief. He and Torak had
just received word that Jazin’s fighter had been destroyed while
returning from the Uri Spaceport. Initial reports say that it had
exploded shortly after leaving the popular refueling station. The
unofficial report states the fighter was believed to have been
damaged when a short-haul freighter came in to quickly and struck
it.

“I’m so sorry, my daughter,” Ajaska murmured
as he ran his hand over the silky, blond strands. “He did not
suffer,” Ajaska reassured her even as his eyes closed as pain swept
through him.

“NO!” Star’s muffled cry of pain and grief
poured out from the center of her soul.

Ajaska caught her as she collapsed, sobs
tearing at her tiny body until he feared she would harm herself as
she shook. He picked her up in his arms and turned to enter the
South House, heading toward medical. Star’s wretched sobs echoed as
he moved through the silent corridors. Torak followed, holding
River’s weeping figure protectively against his body. His own face
twisted with grief as he followed his father.

*.*.*

Star sat in the chair by the window, staring
out at the gardens with unseeing eyes. It had been a little over a
week since Ajaska told her that Jazin had been killed. She
remembered very little of the first few days. A numbness had
settled around her. She knew what was going on but she was more of
a ghost observing everything from the outside instead of being a
participant. She didn’t remember eating, drinking, or sleeping. She
knew who came and who went but that was all. She didn’t respond to
anyone; not even to River who came daily to spend time with
her.

“Star, try to drink some of this,” River was
saying as she held a cup out to her. “It is a broth that will help
you keep your strength up.”

Star fought down the bile that rose at the
smell of the liquid. She turned her head slightly away from the
smell. She heard River’s sigh and the sound of the cup being set
down on the table. In the background, she heard someone knocking on
the outer doors. The knocking became more persistent until River
finally released a muttered oath and stood up to answer it.

Star heard muffled voices from the other
room before footsteps echoed quietly against the tiled floors. She
didn’t know who had come to visit. She didn’t care. She was
waiting. For what, she didn’t know for sure. Perhaps for the
numbness to wear off. Perhaps for someone to say there was a
mistake and Jazin hadn’t been killed. Perhaps for death so she
couldn’t feel the mind-numbing pain that was eating away at her.
She didn’t know and really didn’t care. She would sit here and
wait.

“Star,” River called out softly. “Madas is
here to see you.”

She didn’t respond. She listened as River
explained to Madas that she had been unresponsive since the
sedative the healer gave her wore off after the first day. Madas
asked several questions before asking River if she would mind if
she spoke to Star alone.

“I need to check on Torak. He has taken this
hard as well,” River was saying. “Please let the guard know before
you leave. I don’t want to leave her alone for too long.”

“I promise she will not be left alone,”
Madas hissed out softly. “Do not give up hope yet, Lady River.
There are some things that are yet to be revealed.”

River looked inquisitively at Madas for a
moment before she nodded. “I’ll be back soon, Star,” River said
quietly as she walked over and knelt next to Star’s chair. River
squeezed her friend’s hand tightly. “I love you, little sister.
Never forget that.” River rose and nodded tearfully to Madas before
quietly leaving.

Madas watched as the slender figure walked
out. What she had to say was for the little warrior’s ears only.
The Gods had sent a message and Madas firmly believed it was time
for the little warrior to prove how fierce she could be. Madas
looked at the still figure sitting in the chair. The light played
with the colors of spun gold in her hair. Her face was still,
almost serene. It was as if she was waiting for something. Perhaps
she was waiting for Madas.

“Little warrior,” Madas hissed quietly.
“Your mate needs you.”

Star didn’t respond but something told Madas
that she was listening. That was all that Madas wanted. Her own
mate was being stubborn and refused to believe her. There had only
been one other person Madas knew who might believe her wild dream –
the person who knew the man responsible for Jazin’s supposed
death.

“He is not dead. He is a prisoner. It is
time to claim your mate before he is truly taken from this life,”
Madas hissed out in a firm voice filled with confidence and belief.
“The Gods have spoken to me. I need you to believe.”

Star’s head turned and she stared silently
into Madas black eyes for several long minutes. Madas did not look
away. She needed the little warrior to believe her – to trust her.
Madas held no animosity that her own mate did not believe in her
dreams. He had been raised to believe in logic and facts where
Madas had been raised to believe in the spirit of the Gods and the
messages they often sent through dreams. Her grandmother had been
their clan’s spiritual leader and Madas had been taught at a young
age to believe and accept the wills of the Gods. Too many times
when she was growing up she had visions that had spared or helped
her clan by believing in them. Her dream several nights ago showed
her where to start and who she needed to enlist to help her. The
sight of the little warrior standing fierce and proud in the face
of battle in the dark fortress, her mate standing at her side had
been one of the clearest visions she had ever had.

“How?” Star’s raspy voice asked. “How do you
know?”

“Look deep inside your heart,” Madas said,
reaching out a slender clawed finger to touch Star’s chest. “What
does it tell you?”

Star closed her eyes briefly, focusing
inward. What did her heart tell her? She felt the slow, strong,
steady beats. There was no way it could beat so strongly, so steady
if it was missing. She knew if Jazin had died than there was no way
it could beat the way it did. For if he had died, her heart would
have died with him.

“That he is still there. That he can’t be
gone,” Star said huskily as she opened her eyes. A small hope began
to warm her from the inside out.

Madas sank into the chair across from Star.
“I had a vision about your mate several nights ago. My visions are
not to be ignored. My stubborn mate still has difficulty believing
them but they have protect both of us many times. I saw your mate.
He is being held a prisoner. He grows weaker each day but he
lives,” Madas said confidently.