A Warrior's Quest (5 page)

His brother was the same. Only on Ren it was more that he was full of himself and his accomplishments. He was often glad to tell of those accomplishments.
Proud, arrogant, strong. Her
Rajni
was one of those men who drew people’s attention everywhere he went. “Kinney, how many healers will that be? And of what Kinds?”

“There are at this time more than 688 different species of Demonkin in this realm. That doesn
’t count the interbreeding that has resulted in hybrids. Each of these species has a particular physiology that necessitates healers specializing in that species. So we’re looking at least that many people—if we only invite the very top healer of each species. But most of them will have at least one assistant or person accompanying them. There are four hotels in this city capable of handling any overflow we may experience. We shall have plenty of room, my loves. It’s just a matter of getting the word out to those who need that word.”

He looked at Aureliana and she got his unspoken message. He would be tied up today, and that left Kindara alone. Aureliana nodded; she
’d not be letting Kindara out of her sight.

Had it not been for Rathan
’s command of
diplomatic
resolution to the problem that was these Warrior kings, Ren would hesitate not an instant in running his blade through Sinrik, the Warrior in front of him.

The father of his niece or nephew was an arrogant bastard who deserved to suffer for what he had done to sweet little Danae. “No.”

“So you would deny me the heir to
my
throne?”

“I would deny you my sister. And by extension, her spawn, yes. Danae does not want you. And I will protect her.
I am honor bound to do so.” It was as that simple to him. This bastard had hurt his sister, crushed her sweet and impish spirit. She was a wraith of what she had been, haunting the castle with worry in her big eyes and her belly swelling in front of her. Was he not obligated to protect her?

“I want her. She has been mated by a true
Warrior, and carries that child. She is by law required to return to me, at least until the birth of the spawn.”

“And you think we do not know what you plan? To keep the spawn and cast my sister aside. She has told us of your threats. You forget yourself—that antiquated law must be approved by the rightful
king
of all Demonkin. Think you that the male responsible for
raising
Danae would just give her away?”

“So you would war, then?”

“Would you?” Ren knew the truth of the race his mother had belonged to. They were the fiercest fighters in the land but their numbers had dwindled in the last two hundred years. Battles and a lack of females to birth more males had taken their toll on Warriors. “These attacks you have engineered on Sharalda need stop now. They will gain you nothing but certain death. My brother tolerates no treason.”

Surprise was in the
Warrior Twin King’s eyes. “There are no attacks by my people. We shall not attack the people of the future King or Queen.”

Instinct told him the
Warrior king was not lying. “Then there is a threat to your kingdom and my brother’s that demands a true Warrior’s attention. I suggest you attend to it instead of threatening an innocent girl.”

“She
’s not so
innocent
. And I will have her, with me, where she belongs. She and the spawn. Because know this, Renakletos Malickus, your sister is
mine.
This I vow to you.” Sinrik gripped the handle of his sword. “And I will have her!”

“Then know that I will die protecting her, if need be.”
He could do no less.

Ren was still burning when he entered the courtyard of his ancestral home a few hours later. No one threatened his family. No one. Yet that was exactly what they were facing on several fronts. For the first time in recent memory he was torn about where to fight first. And it flamed him that he had to wait for his brother to try more
diplomatic
resolutions to the problems first. Ren had never been a patient man. And he was fast beginning to think that more than one war was approaching. How could his Warriors defend the realm on so many fronts? How could
he?

His daughter spotted him and waved from where she stood…holding a wooden training sword almost as long as her body. What the three hells?

He did not allow her to play with swords of any kind. He looked at the woman beside her. “What are you doing? She does no swordplay!”

The warrior girl looked at him with those eyes of hers. “We did not know that.”

He took the wooden sword, ignoring his daughter’s outraged yells. “She has no interest in such, and I prefer that. I do not want her getting ideas that a female can be Warrior.”

“So you
’d prefer her to be a target then?” The challenge was there and the hand he held the sword with turned red from his anger. She did not step away, and he admired that. He had never frightened
this
small creature. Too brave for her own damned good. “Or would you prefer her be able to defend herself in times of trouble?”

He looked at the other two women staring at him. His sister. His sister-in-law. Both with bellies rounded. Both
so achingly defenseless.
Both
had been kidnapped and impregnated within a week of each other. Both had been kidnapped, and though it had turned out well for Kindara, his poor sister still had a fear in her eyes that had never been there before.

A decision was made in that moment. No more treating his spawn like the pampered little princess he wished her to be. It was his responsibility to protect her, and part of that responsibility
did
include seeing that she could protect herself. Gone were the days when his females could be coddled and cossetted. It was time they learned to defend. “I will allow it. But I will oversee the training.”

The warrior girl nodded. There was understanding in her expression now, as she ran a loving hand over his daughter
’s dark curls. A pain that said she understood his reluctance.

She wore her own sword, the beautiful blade he
’d admired before. In her hands was another training sword. Could he think of a woman who would be a better teacher for his Cerridwen? The warrior girl was an exceptional swordswoman, despite her small size. He’d admired her form with the weapon many a time before. She may not be a true
Warrior,
but she knew what it was like to be a female who had to fight.

He raised the wooden toy in his hand, though it was far too small for his use. He bowed to the girl fighter. “Shall we?”

She bowed in return, eyes on him. “We shall. Cerri, watch how your daddy holds the sword, compared to how I do? It’s because he has bigger, stronger arms. You’ll always have to watch that. Because rarely will you be bigger than your opponent.”

They battled for several moments, neither of them tiring. He barely noticed when Kindara and Danae slipped away. Once the sparring was over he bowed to her again. She was the only female he had ever sparred with, and she
’d once again impressed him with her skill. But she had also concerned him. “You favor your injury now. Whereas before you had no weakness, save for your small size.”

They
’d fought a true battle once before, ending with him running his sword through her flesh. He had regretted his haste many a nights since. When all was quiet, and he was thinking before he slept. He would see her face, her fear as she fell to the ground before him. The look of shock and—to him, surprising betrayal. He had been angry, and she and her party had been strangers in his land. He had acted too rashly, and had nearly killed her.

This beautiful warrior
girl could have been lost because of him. He’d never forget how he had felt seeing her so weak, so close to death. Would never forget holding her as Kindara had sewn her flesh back together. Nor would he forget the feel of her lips on his neck as she pulled the blood from his body, taking from him what she had needed to survive. He had never fed one of her Kind before, and it was a sensation he would never forget. His blood flowed in her now, if just a small bit.

“I am not exactly small. I am taller than average for my Kind, you know.”

“But small for the demon world, pet.” He wanted to touch her again, so he did. He wrapped his hand around the pale flesh of her arm—so soft and light compared to him. When not purple or other colors, he was far darker than this little creature by several shades. In skin, and in soul. Cerridwen squealed to be picked up—not by him, but by the warrior girl she adored. She scooped his spawn up and carried Cerridwen on her hip as if it was the most natural placement for the child in the world. Like his little Cerri belonged there. Her own mother had shown her less affection than this bloodsucker did. He pulled them both closer as they walked into his brother’s castle for the evening meal.

She smelled good, this little foreigner to his world. Why had he not noticed earlier?
 

He half thought about renewing his offer of consort, but he
’d offered once—more than once—and been turned away. He would take no more rejection from her, no matter how he admired her fighting form.

Cerridwen was chattering at the poor woman, but she did not seem to mind. Seemed so natural with the child. Why had she chosen a warrior
’s path instead of working with children? She was made to be a mother. She should have found a mate decades ago and made her own spawn. She would be perfect in
that
role.

Aureliana didn
’t mind the little child in her arms, the chatter sweet and innocent. Perfect, in a world of realms so far from perfect it terrified her. Teaching a child not yet old enough to read to defend herself with a sword was something she hated having to face. But what options were there? The child would face threats her entire life, shouldn’t she learn to protect herself? But she’d also understood her
Rajni
’s grief that it was necessary. He hadn’t hid how he felt from her. Not by a long shot. Or maybe it was just that she was that perceptive where her
Rajni
was concerned?

Her hand stroked the silky black curls and she held the child just a bit tighter, reminded of how she would carry Jierra—and even Bronwen—close when they were just this girl
’s size.

Now look at them. Jierra was a mother now, and fast becoming the right hand of the
goddess.
She was happy with her
Rajni
and her children. But Bronwen…Bronie worried her. She was but a shell of the girl she had been just eight months ago. She barely left her suite, barely seemed to eat, barely spoke. Something had to be done about her, and soon. Or they would lose her.

“Maybe it
’s just that the demon world is too big for you?”

Maybe that
’s what it was? Maybe they both—she and Bronwen—just missed home too damned much?

She said little else as she carried Cerridwen in to the main living hall. It was where Rathan and Kindara often sat when not in the privacy of their suite. The rest of Rathan
’s close family would be in there occasionally. Aureliana tended to avoid that room—most often Ren was in there discussing business with his brother.

But Cerridwen had toys in there, and so that was where she headed now. Dinner wasn
’t quite ready, and the child would need to be entertained.

And she was a good buffer between Aureliana and her father.

They never made it to the main hall. Bronwen stumbled by, worry on her face. Aureliana passed Cerridwen to Ren, and grabbed Bronwen’s arm. “Bronie?”

“Danae
’s having her babe. I must go to her!”

Aureliana let her go.

Ren cursed softly and Aureliana turned toward him. “What is it?”

“The
Twin Kings are both in the castle still. They will get word of this. Sinrik is determined to remove Danae and the spawn to his own lands. Rathan is still objecting.”

“Surely they will not make Danae go?” It was barbaric to even expect that Ren
’s sister would be given to a male just because he’d fathered a babe with her. No one even knew if the act had been consensual… “Rathan won’t allow it, will he?”

Ren tightened his hold around his daughter. “Never. And neither will I. My sister has a choice. Sinrik may not believe it so, but she will be protected. Come. We
’ll take Cerridwen to the dining room. We shall eat our dinner, and wait for the news of the spawn’s arrival. Cerridwen, my little kitten, tonight you get a cousin.”

Aureliana didn
’t want to be with him; not just the two of them and his child. It was too intimate as they sat at the dining table. Too
familial.
They entertained Cerridwen and Aureliana tried not to think of what could have been between them. What she wished would have been between them. Grief for what she would never have threatened to overtake her, but she pushed it away. Ruthlessly.