Nuworld: Claiming Tara (44 page)

“They weren’t that friendly.” Tara moved closer to the
bed. “Have you been down that way?”
“Ah, now, aren’t you the tricky one?” He waved a finger
at her. “You already know everything, don’t you? I never
doubted you were the best leader. I knew I would work at
your side better than Lord Darius would have. He’s so
jealous. You two would do nothing but try to control each
other. It would be such a distraction for you. You and I
would have ruled as a team, though, just the way we
planned it when we were kids.”
“But we’re not kids anymore, Kuro. Why don’t you tell
me exactly what you were doing in Southland?”
“Exploring, just like you were.” Kuro got a faraway look
in his eyes. “If they weren’t so superstitious, everything
would have worked out just fine.”
“What would have worked out, Kuro?”
“You were supposed to return after I was ruler. Then we
would fall back in love, and you would rule with me. It was
planned so carefully.” Kuro shrugged. “They needed to
reestablish trade. No one wants that opium of theirs.
Although I hear it makes sex fantastic.”
“And you pointed out trade could be established with
their oil.”
“Yes, once I was leader.”
Tara looked at Kuro in disbelief. “And so you devised the
plan for me to be drugged?” Rage ran through her body.
She looked at him coldly, her fists clenched. “How did you
convince the Neurians to put me to sleep for six cycles?”
A gurgling sound came up from his throat when Kuro
made
another
attempt
at a chuckle.
He
grasped
his
bandaged side. “Six cycles? Gowsky was supposed to kill
you. I had a backup plan in case he couldn’t. I know what
kind of effect you have on men, sweetheart. I worried he
wouldn’t be able to do it. It made him crazy not to go help
you in that burning building. I knew that.”
He looked at her, smiling. “I told him once I ruled the
clans, the Runners would negotiate a contract to buy their
oil. I told him it would never work with the current leaders
of the Runners and Gothman. Gowsky trusted me. But he
trusts that Crator-god of theirs more,” he said with disgust.
Tara pulled her laser and aimed it. “Your lack of faith in
Crator has resulted in your own demise.”
“You are so beautiful when you’re angry.”
A long time ago she would have melted in his arms if
he’d smiled as he was now.
“You won’t shoot me. I know you still love me. I can see
it in your eyes.”
Tara aimed her weapon straight at his face.
Laser fire whistled through the air. Kuro died instantly.
Tara gasped in surprise. She hadn’t shot him! Who had?
She spun around and watched as Darius lowered his laser
and returned it to his pocket.
Instead of looking at her, he turned and disappeared.
She looked back at Kuro, lowered her head and stood with
respect for the dead warrior for a long moment. Kuro
hadn’t died an honourable death, though. It had been his
own choices that brought his dishonor. Then, slowly, she
walked out of the makeshift room and left the large tent.
The snow and wind had stopped. A heavy, gray sky
showed patches of deep, rich black where the clouds had
pulled away. Most of the celebration had disappeared into
the Runners’ trailers or Gothman taverns when the snow
had resumed falling. Light from remaining fires lit her path
as she followed Darius, who walked in front of her, heading
for their bikes.
“I would have killed him,” she said as she straddled her
bike.
“I felt I deserved the honor.”
Tara looked up at the sky. The moon appeared through
a black tear in thick gray clouds. She studied it for a
minute, remembering the lady in the burning building who
had talked about the Lunians colonizing the moon.
“Do you think there are people living up there?” She
turned and looked at the rugged features of Darius’ strong
face.
“I don’t know.”
“I was told there’s a colony living up there.”
Darius looked surprised. He stared at the moon for a
moment. “I’m sure if there are people up there, you’ll see to
it that they follow you unconditionally, my lady.”
He started his bike and headed across the packed snow
toward the house.
Tara took one last look at the moon and followed him.

Laurie Fitzgerald lives in Kansas with her three sons, four
very vocal cats, and her Boston Terrior and Beagle. She spends
her days writing, pruning her many rose bushes, and painting
while listening to audio books.

Creating worlds has always been Laurie’s favorite pass time.

This book, and the rest of the Nuworld series, originated from a dream. Although inspired in
many different ways over the years, the exciting part for Laurie is taking that glimpse into a
new world and exploring it while getting to know the people who live there. You can explore
these different worlds she’s created
as
well. Visit
www.lauriefitzgerald.net
or
www.lorieoclare.com
(Laurie also writes as Lorie O’Clare) to learn more about her books, read
excerpts, and find out what book Laurie is working on now.

The Blood Circle Clan buzzed with activity, and Tara
used caution as she steered her bike through the densely
packed parked trailers and motorcycles. She looked for
Tasha, which wasn’t an easy task since she had no idea
what kind of trailer her half-sister might have or what kind
of bike she rode.

Tara moved through the camp, greeting people the way
she’d originally planned. Her comm beeped.
“Tara?” Darius’ baritone almost growled.
“Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m greeting my clan members.”
“Your papa told you to do that tonight.”
“Darius, I’ve got to do this.” She cut communication at
that point, not wishing to hear any lectures on obedience.
Spotting Balbo walking alongside several trailers, Tara
pulled up next to him.
“Tara, now this is a welcome sight.” Balbo opened his
arms.
Tara jumped off her bike to run into them. Her older
step-brother had always been there for her as she grew up.
She
longed
to
unload
on him the
insults Tasha had
spoken. As a child, he’d often comforted her after she and
her sister fought. Tara understood why Tasha was jealous.
After all, Tasha’s mama had taken Tara in as her own and
helped raise her. Tara had shown the qualities of a leader,
not Tasha. But Tara wasn’t a child anymore, and her half-
brother didn’t need the burden of her problems, so Tara
held her tongue.
Balbo was a jovial man, in spite of having a daughter he
was raising alone, and who was already starting to run
wild. Tara never wanted to change that trait in him. She
would set Tasha straight once she found her.
“It’s so good to see you.” Tara smiled and let go of Balbo.
“I think someone else might be anxious to see you as well,
not that she’d admit it.”
“Has she behaved herself?” Balbo seemed prepared to
hear the worse.
“She’s been a great help.” Tara avoided the answer she
knew Balbo dreaded hearing.
Over Balbo’s shoulder, a familiar figure approached.
Tara stiffened. Her heart started thumping as adrenaline
pumped into her system. Balbo turned to see what had
caught her attention. The figure disappeared between two
trailers, and Tara looked back at Balbo.
“What was it?”
“Nothing. I’ll talk with you soon.” She gave him a quick
hug and hurried to where she’d just seen her sister.
As Tara
walked
between the
two trailers, the
sun
disappeared behind one of them. Goose bumps travelled
over her flesh. Children played at the other end of the
trailers. A sight pleasant enough, but for some reason an
ominous sensation trickled through her.
Tara remembered
the
excitement
of
settling
in and
having an area to call her own for a while. She reached
down to help steady a toddler that had taken off too fast
and started between the trailers. Several feet away, an
infant sat on the ground holding steadfast to the long hair
of an older child who wailed profusely in protest.
When she reached the end of the two trailers, the sun
that hit her didn’t warm her. Instead it seemed oddly cold
for such a bright day. Tara gently released the child’s hair
from the infant’s grasp. The child cried miserably and ran
in the apparent direction of her mama.
“Well now, is this fun?” Tara smiled and reached down
to scoop up the infant. The child reached for Tara’s
necklace,
a teardrop-shaped
ruby
with a silver
circle
around it. The symbol of the Blood Circle Clan. A gift from
Darius. “No, no,” she said gently and held the child’s hand.
The baby boy looked up into her face, and Tara froze. He
had blond curls and the darkest gray eyes. She stared at
the child in disbelief. He looked like Andru had at that age.
Two hands roughly ripped away the infant from her.
“What are you doing?”
“I was…” Tara started, surprised, realizing the child had
distracted her to the point of not recognizing the voice. She
stood up straight and the amiability left her as she stared
at her sister.
Tasha held the child close to her chest and cuddled him,
smiling wickedly.
Tara was dumbfounded.
The little boy looked at Tasha, then at Tara. His chubby
hand reached for Tara.
Tasha pulled it back, snuggling it with her own hand.
“This is your Aunt Tara,” she whispered to the baby
although loud enough for Tara to hear. “You two have a lot
in common.” Again the wicked smile.