Feral Fever Read online

  The warrior's gaze slid to mine.

  Why did his blue eyes gleam? I shoved up, lunging for the side of his mask.

  He didn't see it coming.

  I wrapped my fingers around the edge and yanked. And yanked.

  The mask flew off. Heavy and awkward. It was all I had for a weapon though. I'd have to make do.

  He grabbed my chin and forced me to look into his blue eyes.

  Into his almost human features. He had short facial hair like a manicured beard, the color of the hairs matched what had to be the striping on his skin beneath the beard covering his squared jaw. Black and white. He definitely came off the villain even though the raw power and anger twisting his features could have melted any of my friend's hearts back on earth. He just needed the cocky shit knocked out of him. I swung the mask at his head.

  ?

  Chapter Four

  When Aisling unmasked Prince Kruk of the Thunder Clan, Borun knew nothing could have gotten any worse. That is, until Kruk made Aisling look upon his face. She wasn't just a marriageable female. Now she owed Kruk compensation. And any Royal Guard from the seven realms would want to be sitting in Kruk's saddle. Able to demand anything he wanted from the purest looking female on Luvk, a female wielding all the power and prestige of the planet's Marshal. The Thunder lead Royal Guard wanted her.

  But Aisling surprised the bastard by knocking the breath out of him with his warrior mask.

  I tried to reach her before she worsened matters.

  Kruk blocked her arm before she hit him twice, but he seemed disoriented, sitting motionless while she slithered off his saddle.

  That little one fought like a war beast.

  Jonner leapt toward her as if he feared she needed assistance.

  Aisling didn't look like she wanted to waste any time dwelling on the Thunder Clan though. She threw her trophy mask into a tree's tangled roots and bolted to me.

  At least she knew who held honor.

  Jonner skidded to a halt, allowing me the chance to swing her up behind me into the saddle. It took a bit more effort than it ever did to seat a male behind me simply because she didn't have the spring in her jump like a Luvk. But Aisling obviously had no intention of staying with these Thunder Clan nobles.

  She snaked her arms around my chest and laced her fingers through my harness' straps like she'd had an epiphany with riding war beasts, realizing how to ride. "Who are they?" she asked in one of my ears where she managed to prop her gaze at my shoulder.

  "Trouble. Hold on."

  Thunderous racket noted another war mount's approach. Jonner swung around to meet the intruder with a venomous hiss.

  The golden warrior, Svar, loped toward us.

  If Aisling didn't cling to my back, he probably would have launched his body at mine for combat-tempted fate at long last with hand-to-hand battle. But these foolish nobles wanted her so desperately that they fought with their hearts instead of their minds. Many a warrior died for that mistake. However, they banned together to take me on. To possess Aisling. But even if they planned to share her among their siblings, they'd get something from their combined efforts to possess her. More like a prized death blow since they were up against me.

  I pushed my mind out to Svar and anyone else who might be listening. "The female isn't agreeable. Return to your queen. Or suffer the consequences."

  "I haven't heard her say anything of the sort," Kruk yelled in Luvk.

  Svar charged at me with the long glinting curved blade of his battle claw.

  One I'd never seen before because these warriors knew better than to draw their blades on me.

  Aisling's grip around my chest tightened.

  Jonner's muscles already tensed to react.

  Desperation never presented itself in such ludicrous acts to obtain power. "You won't have her, Svar. Ever," I warned in mindspeak.

  Motion in the forest beyond Svar sprang to life.

  My half brothers.

  Svar's war mount dove toward Jonner.

  Jonner countered with an evasive leap.

  Svar's battle claw sliced through the air at my upper arm and grazed it with a sting.

  Cut or not, I wouldn't give up Aisling. Not after they foolishly drew a weapon on me. Like I'd give up a fraction of the respect my reputation was due.

  Jonner backed rearward until I could watch both Svar and Kruk. The wall of my encroaching half brothers bore down upon the Thunder warriors. Steps separated them.

  Clor crashed into Svar, their battle claws heralding a battle to anyone in earshot with a distinct resonating peal.

  Now was our chance to escape. I shot Aisling's blue eyes a glance over my shoulder. "Hold on." I kneed Jonner into a gallop.

  The war beast's full stride might unseat her. But we had to try to distance ourselves from the distracting scuffle. Returning to the Queen alone without a full guard with Aisling was now my only option. Too many males wanted too many things. I can't even trust what my own brothers might decide to do given all the madness in the forest. Not that any of my half brothers ever challenged me. I headed for the river.

  Jonner could carry us upstream without leaving a scent trail. And there were plenty of caves to hide in if someone got too close. If Aisling couldn't ride at a full gallop all day.

  Aisling rode a war mount like a warrior though. Her ass slid down to sit upon the saddle. She molded her curvaceous body to my back and matched the way Jonner pitched my weight with his wide gates. If I lost my seat, Aisling would probably just snatch up the reins and proceed. Like a Royal Guard. She wasn't anything like the weak higher-caste females who required constant protection

  The cut on my arm burned a nasty chastise for my thoughts straying to the female. But who wouldn't think a thought about her with her curves molded to his body and ramming up his ass?

  The cut burned again.

  Taking a moment to treat it would ensure I didn't fail Mother. I studied the bleeding line.

  The cut wasn't too deep but bled a lot. I could ride all day. Dare I risk exhaustion if I'm wrong? Unwise. The Royal Guards could steal the prize if I wasn't careful.

  Jonner veered down the mountainside toward the river.

  Where I'll bandage the wound. Aisling can rest a moment as well. Then we'd set off again for the safety of Mother's palace.

  Jonner slowed.

  The terrain changed from deep woods to upper wetland where the grasses spread down to sunlight along the glistening water's edge. Jonner took the last few steps to the water, sniffed the air, and dropped his muzzle to drink.

  And I detected no telepathic presence with my mind. Time to bandage my cut. "We'll stop for a moment, Aisling." I swung an arm around to help her slide to the ground.

  She hopped onto her feet, gaining a foothold with her black boots, wobbled a bit from the extended ride at full gait, and waited for me to dismount. "You're hurt," she gasped and reached for my cut.

  Her gentle touch burned as much as the wound.

  She worried for nothing. "I have bandages, Aisling. The cut is minor."

  She shot me a perturbed scowl. "Then why is blood all over your pants and down Jonner's side?" She pointed at my war mount's blood-encrusted fur covering his ribs.

  I couldn't argue her truth. But the pain was minimal. And my energy level hadn't changed. I could fight as well as transport her safely to Mother. She just didn't understand the warriors of this world. "It's not that deep, Aisling."

  Her breath knifed and those soft fingers went to the cut, spreading the tissue wide with a motion that equated to a pinch.

  But I wasn't about to tell her to stop hurting me. What kind of warrior admitted to a female she caused him pain?

  A new wave of blood surged from the wound.

  Her disgusted mask shifted her grimace. "That's deep." She gulped. "Sit."

  A command? This little one had fire in her heart. Maybe too much for her own good. "I don't take orders from females," I warned softly.

  She locked a concerned gaze
on mine. "I can fix this, Borun."

  Her voice was so soft, so cooing, that I'd rather just listen to those words as if a songbird perched upon my finger. But Royal Guards had little time for songbirds. And the blood gushing from my wound wasn't just minor.

  "Borun," she insisted, tugging at my wrist.

  Blessed stars, what a warrior did to maintain peace in the seven realms. I bent my knees, descending to the firm ground of Luvk. Watching her.

  What would she do now? Touch me more, no less. But that touch was enough to set my heart thundering into madness. "Do you not recall I told you not to touch warriors?" So much for learning the rules to survive.

  Her gaze watched me in profile. "I'm not about to lose the only person I can trust here."

  My gut sank.

  Or worse. But I'd rather not think about worse with Mother waiting to choose between another consort or a female like Aisling to mate strategically among the clans. "Maybe you shouldn't trust me, Aisling." I couldn't even be sent on a simple task without fouling up my orders.

  She turned that beautiful face to me and inhaled deeply.

  Therapeutically as if the very breath fueled the fire's flames hidden deep inside her warrior spirit. But her heart rattled a warning. Or something.

  "What if we mated? Would these warriors go home if you and I joined in a political marriage?" she asked.

  My heart sank so quickly I almost keeled over.

  To think such thoughts was foolish. But those words hung between us, demanding a response. To consider such an option… "Mother would display my hide in her great hall."

  The war drum in her heart stilled.

  Why? Had I crushed her feelings? Dare I think she desires me? Those thoughts led only to a Royal Guard's demise.

  "Very well, then." She fingered fire into my wound with a pursed straight-lipped grimace. "I'm not very good at this healing thing. But I'll fix this. You should be warned that healing knocks me unconscious for a few hours."

  Was she angry with me? Of course she was after her little proposal. Such insanity only led to disaster. She deserved better, a higher-caste marriage at least. If not, seven of them to unite the seven realms. Kruk was the first now. And Mother would see Aisling had the best match from every clan.

  "Okay, sit still." She laid her warm palm upon my wound.

  But, she'd be unconscious for hours? Maybe this wasn't the best time to have to haul the most beautiful female around the countryside slung across my saddle. I pulled my arm away from her warm touch. "This is not a good time, Aisling."

  Her gaze met mine as her hand fell away, her brow knitting. Her stare almost stung. "I can do it, Borun. I don't care what they think of me. I can do something right."

  Her heart pounded with equal determination.

  What had she said back in the Hall of Wisdom? Her psychic powers were weak? Was that a thorn in her side? Obviously by the malice in her features. If I acquiesced and let her fall unconscious when her alertness made every difference in her future, would that make a difference? The glare in her gaze sure could muddy a warrior's thoughts. But I'd seen that look countless times among my half brothers. She needed to prove something to herself. And the idea of helping her made my heart flutter. I slid my wound back to her seductive warm body. "Very well."

  Determination gripped her features.

  * * * *

  Aisling almost choked on the lump in her throat. The prince was going to allow me to heal him? But I managed to gulp it down and push all the memory from my mind of the insulting discussion Goro and I had in front of Borun back in the Hall of Wisdom inside the city ruins. I could help Borun as much as he helped me. Well, a little. Hell, he'd gone and saved me how many times now? I'd never really know given he won't cough up the goods on Luvk lifeways. But he'd declined my proposal for some reason using some excuse like his mother wouldn't let him drive the car.

  Mothers.

  I do have value. Even though my mother wasn't capable of seeing it. Even though she refused to allow me to cure her breast cancer. But Mom was so lost in her twin's death. Even though I tried to convince her I still needed her after I finished my PhD. But Mom couldn't shake her darkness. Her dependence on something she lost. The very same dependence that kept me an only child because Mom feared I'd harbor the same co-dependency in a sibling she had with her identical twin. I can make a difference here on Luvk with my healing or my education.

  I'll begin with big bad Borun and all those orange stripes. I just need someone like him to see healers can help a warrior survive battles. That he needs a mate like me. And I'll be damned if I get stuck with one of those other bastards.

  He watched me drape my palm over the wound like a bandage.

  The wound was something I caused. Yes. Don't worry. I'm going to undo the damage. I closed my eyes and focused to center my energy in the deepest point within myself. Right where Johnson had insisted the energy accumulated. But a resistant scientist often missed the mark.

  I focused inward.

  An upwelling of energy surged in my chest. Radiating up my arm touching the wound. Blasting out of my palm.

  The world went black.

  ?

  Chapter Five

  Aisling collapsed against the wound she healed, an unconscious heap as she had warned, and Borun caught her limp curves. She'd done what she claimed she could do. The only evidence of the wound remaining was the dried blood on my arm and war leathers. And although she lay unconsciously in my arms, I feared even more for her safety now. Healers were legends among the clans. Myths. Something long since lost during Luvk psychic evolution into telepathy. Not even the Slakens had the luxury of healing themselves with psychic energy. She was even more a treasure now.

  And her life even more endangered with the advantage her skill offered a clan.

  Kruk definitely would use her to birth his high-caste children as well as heal his wounded warriors to maintain his prominence over his brethren with his mother. But Kruk would have to share Aisling with his half brothers after the earlier scuffle. Then Royal Guards from the seven realms would descend upon the Thunder Clan to possess Aisling. And the partial peace Mother had managed to perpetuate through her narcissistic actions would dissolve into a bloody war that had nothing to do with sky demons. I studied Aisling's sleeping features where she laid across my lap.

  The Marshals probably thought she could work miracles. Mother undoubtedly planned to squeeze this female of every drop of energy she could to promote peace. But who would ensure Aisling's survival? Dear Gods, this is my place in the madness. And Mother had no idea. She'd sent me on errand to recover her prize, leaving me holding the booty without so much as a thought about where I'd be left in her efforts to reign supreme over the clans.

  And Aisling in all her innocence proposed marriage. Why? She couldn't know I was low-caste.

  Jonner nuzzled my shoulder.

  As if knowing I sat with my shredded future. That's where I'd be, sacrificed and displayed on the golden walls of Mother's great hall for all my half brothers to see if I took hold of Mother's prize. If I saved the one thing I know I need to save for the greater good of the clans.

  Jonner nuzzled my shoulder again.

  "Come on, Jonner." I slid my arms beneath Aisling's shoulders and knees, rose, and carefully slung her limp body over the saddle.

  Jonner eyed me with those omniscient red eyes.

  As if he worried for Aisling as well. "I'll take care of her." I leapt into the saddle. "She needs to sleep at the cliffs." I kicked Jonner.

  Jonner hopped into a trot and followed the winding river, knowing the way to the cliffs.

  Little time passed before we stood at the base of the cliffs riddled with caves where the river poured down from above to carve out a winding channel at the foot of a mountain with deadly churning waters. The waterfall had chosen the path of least resistance on the left side of the cliffs leaving a dry side where Jonner could climb more easily while hauling Aisling's dead weight and my own. And the hi
gher the war beast could take us, the safer we were from detection while Aisling recovered from her healing-induced sleep.

  But only a fool would attempt the vertical climb with an unconscious person in tow. Or a warrior known to fear nothing and win all. This feat would be no less than any other task I faced that earned me respect around the realms. "Let's go," I commanded Jonner. "High."

  Jonner claimed a grip on the formidable surface, and another, until I had to clutch Aisling's damnable curves against my groin. It took everything I had to focus on squeezing my knees, gripping the war saddle with one hand, and balancing Aisling's weight with the other arm. That's one more factor than usual. If Jonner could carry us to safety though, I'd be cursed if I couldn't hold on.

  Jonner's almost fingered paws reached out for one grip after another above the churning water below.

  And another. Passing cave after cave as if he knew the higher the safer for us all. And the greater chance he'd have to rest from the climb without fighting off anyone who managed to follow. And before the planet could yank me back to the dangerous water below, Jonner paused, hanging from a crack above a cave where I could slide Aisling's body back across the rocky floor into the tight crevasse.

  I ripped off my mask to ensure I could fit and maneuver inside the crevice, shoved it in with Aisling, and climbed in after her, managing to crawl over her unavoidable curves without bumping my head three times. Twice proved more than sufficient to convince me this was a stupid endeavor. But if she'd been awake, there would have been enough space for her to crawl comfortably on her own. Once I'd gotten behind her, dragging her by her shoulders was easy. I maneuvered until my back lay against hard cool rock.

  I could watch her calm sleeping profile.

  Jonner crawled into the cave's mouth, turned to face the sunlight, and settled down with his head on his crossed forepaws. He shot me a curious glance.

  "Sleep." The command was good advice. But something told me trouble lay ahead. Or at my side.

  Especially since my warrior's mask lay halfway between Jonner and Aisling. She didn't understand what seeing a warrior unmasked entailed. If I left it there. If I just collapsed into a sleep. If… I'd bring on my uncontrollable future. That's what the beauty represented.