Crucible of Fate (28 page)

“You look good,” I said before I glanced around at all of them—Ebere, Jamal, Taj, and Rahim.

“You do too,” Mikhail chimed in as he joined us.

“Where’s Samani?”

“She’s enrolling in school. She’s taking online courses to finish her master’s.”

“That’s a nice compromise.”

“She came up with it after I broke down and gave her the truth.”

“And what’s that?”

“That I really do want to marry her and have kids.”

“Was she happy?”

“Yes,” he said irritably. “Why, I have no idea.”

It was endearing, his blindness to his many gifts. “Did Logan perform the handfasting?”

“Yes, he did.” Mikhail was startled. “How did you know?”

“Makes sense. You would have wanted Jin and Crane to witness it. Did Yuri stand up as your second?”

“He did.”

“And were there many people who congratulated you?”

“Yes.” He sounded bewildered.

But I understood. People in the tribe respected Samani Baro. She was known to be smart and honorable, and now Mikhail was her mate. It was a good move for the sylvan to take such a good mate, and marrying into the tribe would also serve him well.

“Good.” I patted his shoulder before my eyes were back on Kabore. “Logan said he talked to you.”

“He did, yes.”

“I’m glad.”

“As I predicted,” he said, leaning close to me, whispering, “Mr. Morris and Mr. Yadin of the Iusaaset will be here next week.” He eased back, no longer speaking under his breath. “I let them know that you were well enough to meet with them.”

“I’m excited to meet them.”

“As, I was informed, are they.”

I gazed into his dark-brown eyes. “I’m sorry that I left the execution of Hakkan Tarek to you.”

“No.” He shook his head. “That was
maat
.”

“Yes,” I agreed and reached out for Ebere’s hand. “Tell me where you’re all going; you seem ready to go somewhere.”

“I’m on my way to Ipis.” Ebere reported, squeezing my hand. “The phocal of the Shu and I are traveling there to check on the two djehus.”

“Excellent,” I said, reaching out for Rahim, who moved closer so my hand could close over his shoulder. “And are you enjoying being phocal?”

“I suspect I am as you are, my lord—finding my way.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I feel the same about you, my lord.”

I gave him a pat, leaned in and kissed Ebere’s cheek, and then wished them both a safe journey. Once they were out of earshot, I rounded on Taj and Jamal.

“What about the yareah and her daughter?”

“They were relocated here to Sobek, my lord. Masika is being tested and will then be enrolled in school. Alana Tarek was the one who begged to be moved. She wants her daughter to have every opportunity. She is entirely focused on giving her the best life.”

“Good.”

“I am on my way back to Satis,” Jamal related. “There is a lot to be supervised there.”

“And how many Shu do you have there with you?”

He said that he had twenty-five men with him, and that things were going well. Shahid Alon had returned from delivering Elham El Masry and Rahab Bahur to Mongolia, and when he got back, his mate and twin girls were there waiting for him.

“Twins?” I clarified with Jamal.

“Yes.”

“Huh. Okay, and how’s Shahid doing?”

“From what Rahim tells me, he’s doing well. Your phocal is even thinking of making Shahid his second, which I think is a good choice. Shahid always was level-headed, and it would be hard for Rahim not to consider him for the position. I mean, really, along with his even temperament, there’s no panther alive faster except for Jin Church.”

“I think Shahid’s to be trusted,” I said, yawning.

“We are all in agreement,” Jamal assured me.

“You are just newly risen,” Kabore said softly. “Hopefully Taj and Mikhail and I might share a meal with you and your sekhem this evening, if you are able.”

“I’d like that,” I said before I focused my attention on Mikhail. “Bring Samani, okay?”

“I will. Thank you, Domin.”

I had no idea why he was thanking me for something that was a given.

“It just means a great deal that you would accept her.”

“Of course.”

“But most semel-atens would not. You understand that, right? You think of us as family, and not just as sylvan or sheseru or maahes, but more. And I know that’s how Logan modeled his tribe for you, but for a semel-aten to run his home the same way is simply extraordinary.”

“Agreed,” Taj added. “You run your household like a family, and we are all honored to be part of yours.”

“I couldn’t imagine it being any other way. I trust you all with my life.”

“And we are all proud that you do so.” Taj blew out a breath, then smiled at me. “Being your sheseru has been a gift.”

“Yeah, getting shot, that was fantastic.”

“I was in your service. I hope to always be.”

“You will be,” I said and then glanced over at Mikhail. “Neither one of you is going anywhere. I have to trust my inner circle implicitly.”

“You have that,” Mikhail affirmed, “and now that Kabore stepped up because Taj and I are both cowards—”

“Coward is an ugly word,” Taj said, cutting him off.

“But appropriate.”

“I didn’t hear you doing it.”

“What are we talking about?” I needed to get them back on track.

Kabore crossed his arms. “I’m sorry, my lord, it had to be done. I know the semel-netjer and his reah are like your family, but really, between the baby and the volume of their fights and their—” He cleared his throat. “—other activities, they disrupted everyone here quite effectively. Your entire household needed them out.”

I was trying not to laugh. “Everybody wanted them gone, huh?”

“My lord, I can speak for the entirety of the villa when I tell you the consensus is we were all very pleased it was you who won the sepat.”

Taj grinned, Mikhail was coughing, and Kabore restated for emphasis, “Very pleased, my lord.”

It was nice to be appreciated.

W
HEN
I reached my quarters, I found Yuri still sleeping but noticed that, in my absence, a large fruit platter and a pitcher of ice water had been delivered. I locked the outer door before climbing back onto the bed.

He seemed exhausted, and I wanted him to rest, but when his eyes fluttered open and I was looking into his clear blue eyes, I was too happy to tell him to close them again.

“You’re awake,” he said, obviously pleased, the gravel in his voice very sexy.

“I am,” I said, reaching over to touch his cheek, then run my fingers along his jaw line. “Tell me about the scar on your brow.”

“Oh. The night Hanif Tarek tried to kill me, one of his panthers caught me across the face with a claw. I was more worried about the eye than the brow.”

“I didn’t notice before.”

He grinned lazily and my heart clenched. “You were so out of it, I’m surprised you knew you were talking to me half the time.”

“Why are you so tired?” I questioned, putting a hand on his hip and then easing him closer, until our legs entwined.

“I just wanted everything to be in order when you woke up, that’s all. Plus, I’ve been making some changes to the villa, like making the entrances wheelchair accessible, as well as the stacks. Samani and I are also going to build a shelter to house runaways, battered women, just anyone who needs protection. I think sometimes we assume that because we’re panthers that there is always the semel to count on, or the tribe. But if you think about it, even someone as remarkable as Jin was thrown out of his original one. The home of the semel-aten must always be a place that everyone can come to and find safety.”

“Yes, but kids from, say, Omaha, Nebraska, aren’t coming all the way to Sobek for a place to eat and sleep if they’re thrown out of their homes.”

“No, but there should be a sanctuary like the one we’re building here in every city,” he murmured as he slid a hand under my T-shirt, feeling for bare skin, before moving to the small of my back. “It’s a change for you to implement.”

“I—what?” His warm palm pressing me forward against him broke my train of thought.

“Every city you visit, you’ll give the semel money to build a shelter. We’ll call them Menhit House, after your tribe.”

It was a sweet thought, but Menhit represented everything I used to be, not who I was now or ever wanted to be again. “No, we’ll call them Sekhem Shelter, because like you are my arm, there will be arms to protect and embrace all who need it.”

His eyes filled.

“Come here.”

“I don’t—you’re still fragile and—”

“I’m okay,” I said, opening my arms for him.

He rolled over on top of me and wrapped his arms under and around me, and then he shoved one hand down the back of my pants.

“I know tears of joy when I see them,” I said, trying to be sensitive even as I bucked off the bed, grinding my groin into his. “But it’s not like you to go all maudlin on me.”

“I’m just tired,” he rumbled, hand on my thigh lifting my leg over his hip. “And you’re saying good stuff like you love me and—”

“Oh, baby, I love you.” I laughed softly, playfully, squirming under him, pushing him off me just enough so I could get to the snap of my jeans and my zipper. “I love you so much.”

He scowled and I lost it, laughter rolling up and out of me, full of relief and happiness. Amazing that being in bed with this man changed everything in so many ways. I owed him, and I was happy to repay him for the rest of my life.

“You don’t love me.” He huffed indignantly, shucked my jeans and underwear and then tossed both away as I yanked my T-shirt over my head. “You just wanna get laid.”

“I do love you,” I said honestly, twisting under him, reaching for the nightstand as I heard the jingle of his belt buckle.

“The lube is under your pillow.”

I met his hot gaze. “Is it?”

“What? Why am I being teased now?”

“Because I can’t believe you! You’re giving me grief for not being romantic when you stashed lube under the pillow!”

“I—what?” He was laughing as he stood up on the bed to get his jeans off faster.

I grabbed the lube and tossed it to him as he stepped down off the bed to the floor.

“Me? Are you sure?”

“Oh yes,” I whispered, and I saw the effect my words had on him. All his playfulness was instantly replaced with raw, primal hunger. “Oh please.”

He slicked his cock fast; I was never that rough with his flesh, more careful because he was mine. I understood the haste, though, and his absolute need.

“Come here.” His voice bottomed out with the command, and I scrambled over to him and lifted my legs in invitation.

He dropped the lube, gripped my thighs, and jerked me toward him. He then spread me wide as he positioned himself between my legs.

“I’m okay,” I assured him. “You don’t have to be careful with me.”

“Yes, I do.”

“No, don’t you dare be gentle.”

He draped my knees over his forearms as he nudged against my entrance. “You’re not in charge here, my semel.” His voice hitched as he began pressing forward. “Never here.”

I arched off the bed, head back, mouth open, panting as he slid inside me.

“You belong to me, Domin Thorne,” he growled as a surge of heat tore through me. “And only me.”

“Yes,” I gasped as he pushed deep and my body opened and welcomed him home. “I’ve only ever been yours.”

“This is your vow to me,” he said as he lifted me higher and curled his arms around my thighs. “Your promise.”

“Oh yes,” I breathed, raising my arms, reaching, wanting, aching to touch him. “Give yourself to me.”

And his smile—the blinding, heart-stopping joy I saw on his face—let me know that whatever sliver of doubt had remained in the man was gone. When he bent to let me wrap him in my arms and seal his lips to mine, I knew he was finally, and undeniably, my mate.

“You’re mine,” he whispered.

There was never any doubt.

About the Author

M
ARY
C
ALMES
lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and two children and loves all the seasons except summer. She graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Due to the fact that it is English lit and not English grammar, do not ask her to point out a clause for you, as it will
so
not happen. She loves writing, becoming immersed in the process, and falling into the work. She can even tell you what her characters smell like. She loves buying books and going to conventions to meet her fans.

Change of Heart
from
M
ARY
C
ALMES