Dara Joy - Matrix 04 (12 page)

The room began to spin and darken. Still Soosha tried to break away from his iron grip. Her balled fists pounded his
chest.

In matters of mating, males were not inclined to be swayed. Daxan Sahain would not relent. She had come to take him and now
he
was taking her.

Soosha was on the very edge of losing consciousness.

Then he sent breath back to her! Just as ritual demanded. He blew into her mouth, filling her lungs with air, with renewed life.

His life.

And she greedily took it. She sucked in his gift of life.

From this point on, every breath she took would be his. In turn, with every breath she exhaled, she would give him renewal. In this way, they were mystically connected as one.

She was fastened to him forever.

Daxan had bound her to him for all eternity.

THIRTEEN

"Why did you not tell me?"

Soosha wasted no time confronting her new husband. She was hurt, confused, bewildered, and not a little apprehensive. He had deceived her. Could she ever trust him?

She would have to
- he was her mate.

Daxan flung his glistening hair back over his shoulders. The more one stared at the gleaming mass, the more dazzling it became, Soosha realized. Since he was no longer hiding his true appearance from her, his beauty was spectacular.

What an exquisite Familiar male!

It amazed Soosha that he had been able to tone down such stunning features. She acknowledged that in his guise as a Spoltami, he had been exceedingly handsome.
But now

His expressive green and gold eyes were still hazy from
the exchange of breath they had just shared. "I hoped you would come to your senses and return to M'yan, Soosha. Word has been sent to me that your brother is on his way here this very moment. You would do well to realize how perfectly you have complicated the issue."

"Issue? What issue" She blinked, not sure what he was referring to. "You mean our mating?"

"That is exactly what I mean."

Soosha snarled, truly angry. "How dare you! You refer to your mating as an issue!"

Resting on his side of the bed, Daxan watched her, fascinated. A full-blown storm was developing right in front of him. The female cat came forth, hissing.

"I do not know which is worse! That you refer to our mating as an issue- or that you would send your mate away! What kind of a man are you?"

He clasped her shoulders. "The kind who would keep his wife alive!"

The loud crash of a door being kicked open- and the even louder roar of something
big
charging into the hallway below- made both Daxan and Soosha freeze.

Soosha clasped her handsome Familiar to her. She was still outraged at his deception, but he was, well, familiar.

"What is it?" she gasped in fright. "Do you think it is that awful man from the
sacri?"

Daxan's brow furrowed. "I do not know; it sounds like a
xathu
beast has been set loose in my doorway."

In a single agile motion, he sprung off both her and the bed, unveiling the true, fluid movements of his race.

He grabbed a robe and his cuff, donning both as he strode to the door. More than anything else, Daxan's sleek, predatory stride revealed to Soosha exactly what he was
.
No male moved like a Familiar male.

With every step, his lithe, sensual nature was revealed.

But who was he? And what was he doing on Spoltam? Soosha recognized that the situation was strange, to say the least.

For one, she had not been thinking of mating. If she had not come to Spoltam, her mating might not have occurred for months or even years.

Which brought up a second point. This man had also ignored the King's decree. He had either left M'yan after Gian Ren had the secret Tunnel sealed; or he had not obeyed the King's order to return home.

Either way, her husband was an outlaw.

Was he a rogue Familiar as well?

She bit her lip. He did not seem wild or uncontrollable-at least not any more wild or uncontrollable than most of their males.

What was more, he had not harmed her.

Just the opposite. He had protected her by bringing her into the safety of his home.

Of course, now she knew the true reason behind his actions. He had felt the Calling. Then he had sensed her. It probably was why he had come into the marketplace in the first place. To protect his mate.

As soon as he met her, he had actively triggered her.

Yet how had Daxan disguised himself? Soosha had never heard of a Familiar being able to do such a thing. Their unique dual-colored eyes always gave them away to others.

She was sure it had something to do with the cuff he wore on his forearm.
Where did he obtain it and just how much of an outlaw is he?

Daxan had not wanted her to know he was Familiar until after the bond was sealed and they were mated.

That realization did not give her a comforting feeling.

Soosha put a hand to her throbbing forehead, rubbing the sore spot at the center. Such thoughts made one's head ache!

One thing was certain, as wild as Daxan had been the previous night- he was no where near as wild as he could have been. She knew that the surface of the man's stamina had not even been scratched.

So to speak.

He had held back in the very throes of the mating stance! Soosha did not want to even speculate at the capacity for sexual control such a man wielded.

Although she was sure he was going to enlighten her.

The terrified bleat of a Zot rent the air.

It was followed by the muffled thud of something heavy being hurled against an interior wall.

"Did you not know that Familiars dine on Zots? Now out of my way; I am coming in! I suggest that you get your master at once
-
for I am about to tear his abode apart and he might wish to witness the deed!"

Soosha's eyes widened. Brygar!

Her irascible brother was causing his usual mayhem! How had he found her so fast? The man could not track the path of a slime-oozing
zorph
through a dry sand bed!

Her thoughts were halted by another voice. One she was beginning to recognize with every pore of her body.

Except it sounded somewhat different. The smooth, mellow voice of Daxan Sahain was lowered to an ominous level
- one he had never used with her. The commanding tone shocked her.

"No need to call me, I am here. Go back to the kitchens,
Zot."

"B-b-but Master Sahain-"

"I said go back to the kitchens. I will handle this."

Soosha listened to see what would transpire next.

FOURTEEN

The meticulous
Zot
did not need to be told again.

He scurried through a door at the end of the hall, his tail swishing madly behind him.

Daxan leveled an icy look at his uninvited guest.

Said guest cared not a whit.

He squared his wide shoulders, threw back his head, and proclaimed in a proud voice, "I am Brygar from the Fifth Clan of the Familiar! You have my sister and I demand you release her at once!"

Daxan's amused snort could be heard all the way up the stairs.

It was certainly not the reaction Brygar expected.

"I know who you are, Brygar of the Fifth Clan."

"Well, I do not know
you,
Spoltami, and if you do not hand over my sister to me swiftly, it will soon be of no consequence who you
were."

"Always charge in roaring, hmm, Brygar? You should
learn that clandestine entry serves better on occasion."

"I have tried to council him thus. It is, I vow, pointless." A second man entered the house from the street. He had the tall, authoritative mien of a Charl warrior.

Daxan arched his brow. What was this warrior-knight doing with the Familiar Brygar? He had no wish to bring the Charl into this! Especially a Charl who looked as deadly as this green-eyed man. The Aviaran was not in battle stance, yet, the sparks danced in his eyes.

He is powerful.

Despite the potential danger, strong mystical forces were a pleasing balm to any Familiar. Pleasing and dangerous. Familiar were always drawn to that combination. Throughout time, the Familiar aligned themselves to the wizards of Aviara for just that reason.

His power might explain why Brygar traveled with the Charl, Daxan reasoned; but it did not explain the Chart's presence.

"Brygar, your sister did not tell me she had a Charl warrior, as well as a Familiar who thinks he has two sets
of kani,
as her champions."

Traed corrected him immediately. "I am not a Charl."

Daxan was surprised. "You have the ability but not the sanction?" He was not positive, but the man's power level felt like it might be well past the fifth tier. Daxan had never heard of an Aviaran of such power who was not of the Charl. He was curious as to how such a situation was allowed to stand. From what he knew, the High Guild was very fussy about
those
kinds of things.

Traed ignored the man's question and in typical Traed' fashion simply stared ahead, stone-faced.

"You see what I deal with?" Brygar, disgusted with
Traed's reserve, muttered to himself as he tried to peer into the shadows of the hallway to get a better view of their 'host'. "But you are half right, stranger; I do have two sets
of kani. "

Traed quirked an eyebrow at Brygar.

He had learned over the past few days that the Familiar had a bating sense of humor. Brygar seemed to thrive on outrageous declarations.

Brygar glanced at Traed and said in mock seriousness, "Had you not heard, Charl-who-is-no-Charl? The extra set comes from Spoltami men who apparently have none. Their men lose them with their passionless logic." He turned back to Daxan. "Now
who
are you? Come out of the shadows that we might see who we are to kill!"

We?
Traed gave Brygar another sidelong glance that held a wealth of meaning. Killing an unarmed man in his robe in his own home seemed a tad extreme to Traed.

Although, in certain circumstances, the idea could have appeal. . . . He glanced again at Brygar, only this time, his look was speculative. Perhaps if the man wearing the robe was also the man who boasted of two sets of kani?

Yes, that would be acceptable for him.

He shrugged off the fantasy. Reluctantly. "You have heard of attempting diplomacy first; have you not, Brygar?"

The Familiar grinned wickedly. "Truth be told, I care not for that method." He circled his arm through the air. Shinar y shinjii. "Thus it has no meaning for me."

"This does not surprise me." It was apparent that Brygar never willingly met a term he did not like. Clearly, this situation was going to get worse before it got better. Traed crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door
frame.

Or what was left of the door frame after Brygar.

Sometimes there was naught to do but watch as foolishness unfolded. He sighed, then inquired of Daxan, "Have you had your midday meal yet?"

"My midday meal?" Daxan blinked. Were they both mad?

"You see, I feel better killing men before they have their midday meal. It seems uncharitable to end a man's life after he has dined. The meal makes the opponent sluggish. There is not as much fight in him."

Although the man spoke in a perfectly serious tone, the Aviaran's green eyes flashed ever so slightly in what could only be called dark humor.

"Thus if you have had your midday meal," the Aviaran went on, "I will probably wait until the morrow to slay you."

"Then I have definitely partaken of my midday meal." Daxan moved out of the shadowed alcove.

For once Brygar was speechless.

But it did not last long.

"YOU!"

Daxan's lips curled upward; he inclined his head in greeting. "I had no idea Familiar were so well-endowed, Brygar. My esteemed respects to your clan. Or ... have you made off with all of their
kani
as well?"

"What are you doing here!" Brygar fumed and turned from Daxan to Traed. "What is he doing here?"

As if Traed should know.

Not moving from his post against the frame, Traed simply shrugged his shoulders. He had no clue and was not inclined to delve into it further.

Unless, of course, he had to.

Daxan motioned to Traed. "Come inside and close the door behind you before you alert the entire city of Aghni to your presence. "

Traed moved off the frame and attempted to close the door. After a few tries, the panel listed to the side but stayed in place.

"How did you two get here without being noticed?" Daxan narrowed his eyes. "Or did you?"

"Let me simply say that Brygar was moving very quickly. You may fill in that depiction on your own. I do not believe anyone took special note of him."

Daxan switched his attention fully to the tall Aviaran. "And you are?"

"Traed ta'al Krue." The Spoltami's amber eyes widened in recognition. He was familiar with some part of the name. It was not surprising to Traed. Krue was a well known Charl knight, and Traed, a legendary bladesman.

"Do not be so sure he was not spotted. The slavers are never seen, yet they are everywhere."

Traed nodded, thanking the stranger for the warning. By his sentiments, the man clearly was no threat to Brygar or his sister. It did not seem he wished them any harm. He addressed Brygar. "Do you mind telling me who our 'host' is since you seem to recognize him?"

"His name is Daxan Sa'ain and he is well-known to the family of Gian Ren. The man turned rogue and left M'yan-right after the Feast of Wizards, as I recall."

Traed listened carefully to Brygar's words. The Feast of Wizards was a Familiar celebration that honored the House of Sages. Every year, the entire High Guild of Aviara attended.

He turned and studied Daxan carefully.

Though few knew it
- like his old master, Yaniff
- Traed possessed the Sight. He focused on the ornate cuff around Daxan's forearm.

An Aviaran device of extraordinary skill.

The woven design was complex. Only a high level mystic would have the ability to conjure those kind of energy patterns. It was a rare, difficult bind to achieve, for it shielded truth. To do so, the spell had to continually warp the fundamental reality that surrounded the wearer.

The device would require regular 'feeding' by the wizard who created it.

Only a handful of wizards had the ability to conjure such a device.

Even less could sustain its continual drain.

Traed thought such devices were strictly controlled by the High Guild. In the wrong hands- or for the wrong purposes
- stasis spells could prove disastrous.

So who had had given it to the Familiar?

He walked over to Daxan and lifted the man's forearm by the cuff. Arcs of twisting energy streamers flowed from Traed's hand to the armband, and Daxan's eyes revealed their true dual colors.

"Interesting." Traed murmured. "Might I ask who gave you this?"

Daxan met Traed's gaze but would not answer.

Traed was not surprised. He let go of the device. Once more the Familiar's green/amber eyes cloaked. "Should I bother to ask what are you doing on Spoltam or am I wasting my time on that as well?"

Daxan remained silent.

"I thought as much; however, I must insist that you-"

"He is an outlaw!" Brygar came forward. "There is no telling what mischief he is into! For all we know he could be working with Oberion slavers.
Where is Soosha?"

"I am here, Brygar!" His sister's sweet voice floated down to the hall from above the stairwell. She peeked over the balcony at the men, her long black hair streaming over the railing like a gleaming ebony waterfall.

All three men paused in unison to enjoy the sight of such a beautiful girl.

Daxan almost purred as he remembered her silken hair twining around him. Its perfect scent. The sensuous ropes had held him to her exactly as he had imagined. He had been bound to her last eve in so many enticing ways.

He planned on getting most creative with that hair in the future. That was, if he lived to see M'yan again.

"Come down at once, Soosha! We need return home. We can discuss this foolish escapade of yours later."

Apparently, Brygar was not going to waste a moment getting her back to M'yan! Soosha felt like scratching him silly.
Foolish, thick-skulled brother!

"That is not possible, Brygar." Soosha sprinted the rest of the way down the stairs, her movements like a feather in the wind.

Brygar crossed his arms over his chest; he tapped his booted foot. "And why is it not possible?"

"Just a moment." Traed interrupted them both. "I need first hear more about why this man is wearing an Aviaran device-"

"Because we are
mated,
dear brother."

For Brygar, the news was too terrible to comprehend.
"What?!"
He roared, looking rapidly back and forth between the two of them.

There was no denying the satisfied aura surrounding that renegade, Daxan.

And, if he was truthful, his sister, as well.

Brygar chose to ignore that last part; much in the same way as he ignored the concept of diplomacy. If Soosha excelled at
shinar y shinjii,
then Brygar was its master. If something did not please him, he did his best to disregard it.

"Not him!
Do not tell me it is so! Soosha, he has gone rogue! And besides, he has always made my mane stand on end. I do not like him!"

Soosha raised her chin and snarled back at her brother. "Then it is fortunate that
you
are not mated to him! You will accept him in our clan, dear brother, for he will be returning to live with us in our home!"

Daxan raised his brows, then rubbed his hand over his face as he listened to the siblings of squabble over him.

"You are an outlaw?" Traed asked hopefully.

"No."

The Aviaran's nostrils flared with annoyance and acute boredom.

But brother and sister were not paying them any mind; they were too busy having their own conversation.

Soosha scoffed at her brother's ridiculous reasoning. "It matters not if he is a rogue; he is still my mate!"

Daxan started to smile at her for standing by him- until she added, "The scoundrel will be returning to M'yan with us! You had best learn to call him brother."

Brygar was openmouthed with horror.

Traed thought the expression suited him. Furthermore, it rendered him
silent.