| |
––––––––
“It doesn’t work that way here, Becka,” Callan said for the third time while he stood in the village common area. Or was it the thirtieth time? Darkness had fallen long ago, and he did not want to spend his last night dealing with Becka.
What did Kaz see in this girl?
She was high maintenance. Too contained. Every move seemed thought out in advance.
Kaz had called her too perfect. Maybe he appreciated that trait.
Callan called her a pain in the—
“Regardless of where I am, I can not allow a male to create my kamara unless he is my intended,” she argued on and tossed her hair over her shoulder. Again.
Did she have some affliction that caused her to constantly sling that mane around?
He held his patience by a thread that threatened to snap any second. Hadn’t he instructed Kaz to build her kamara? Where was he? “You’ve got it wrong, Becka. It is not acceptable for you to share a male’s kamara unless you’re committed to each other.”
“My point exactly. I should be sharing yours.”
Callan bit down to keep from shouting that he didn’t want her within a solar system of his kamara. He lowered his voice. “We have no commitment and we have not bonded. Sharing a kamara requires one of those.”
“Not necessarily, because we could share a kamara then bond.”
She would argue with an empty room. Bonding was the last thing on his mind.
He took a breath, admitting to himself that wasn’t entirely true. He’d been thinking about bonding since returning from the TecKnati camp, but it had nothing to do with Becka.
Zilya and Etoi drew his attention to where they huddled on the far side of the common area, whispering as they watched. Were those two joined at the hip? At least the children were all bedded down. Neelah, her strawberry-colored cornrows bouncing with each step she took, carried a bowl of fruit as she crossed the clearing. She paused to glare at Etoi. “If you have no more to do than gossip then you could help the rest of us who actually accomplish work every day.”
Etoi slashed a threatening look at Neelah, and Callan started counting in his head to keep from yanking them apart before those two got into it one more time. Etoi snarled, “Do your work and I will do mine. Never think you are high enough to speak down to me.”
Before Callan could intervene, Neelah gave Etoi a smug look and whispered, “When we leave here, you will no longer have this high position you’ve assumed.”
“Hold on to your fantasies.”
“We will see who is fantasizing.” Then Neelah moved on.
Callan had to get Becka settled and out of his hair pronto. “Where’s Kaz?”
Becka waved her hand in the direction of Zilya and Etoi. “Last I saw of him he was a little bit that way.”
A little bit that way? Becka would be of no use outside the village or searching for anyone. She might end up lost inside the village.
Sighing, Callan said, “Let’s go see what he’s done.”
Becka let out an undignified noise.
He took her gently by the arm to get her moving. When he reached the other side, he slowed long enough to ask Zilya, “What time does Kenja have you and Etoi on guard duty tonight?”
Fury rolled through Zilya’s eyes. “You will not bully me into that again. We have been on our feet all day. Must I remind you that I am of the Governing House and abusing one of my position is punishable by MystiK law? Continue to harass me and you will be brought before our leaders when we return. You have others to place on guard duty.”
Was that last shot directed at Becka?
Or maybe Rayen.
Callan was not going to ask Rayen to do anything else for him or this village. If he asked her for anything, it would be to take down the walls she’d thrown up the minute she’d encountered Becka. Callan would have explained their convoluted situation, but Rayen hadn’t given him the chance once Kaz had shared his misinformation. She’d just taken what she’d heard and shown no consideration for Callan’s side of all this.
Was it so easy for her to cut ties and walk away?
For the first time, he questioned whether the partial bond that had started between them before she left was still in place. Or had her change of heart severed it?
“I take it your silence means you agree, Callan,” Zilya proclaimed.
Kenja came striding into the common area just as Zilya made that announcement.
Callan’s jaw couldn’t clamp any tighter. “If ignorance is bliss, the Governing House must be in a constant state of euphoria with leaders like you.”
Zilya’s faced warped with rage.
Speaking in a clear and calm voice, Kenja interjected, “Fear not, Governing House, because the Uberons protect this village tonight.”
It took a moment for Zilya to regain her composure even as her attack dog Etoi made threatening noises that Callan shut down with one look of warning. He’d lost all desire to deal with either of these two who set themselves above everyone else.
Gaining height by pulling her chin up, Zilya gave Callan a snide look. “See? Some MystiK warriors understand how the hierarchy functions.”
What a fool. Callan had caught the flicker of threat in Kenja’s voice that had obviously flown right over Zilya’s head. Becka watched the entire scene with a curious slant of her eyebrows but kept her opinions to herself.
One blessing.
But allowing Zilya and Etoi to get away with shirking their duties was not fair to the rest of the village. He told Zilya, “We are fortunate to join forces with Kenja and her Uberons, but they are not expected to bear the entire burden for protecting this village. Find your rest but be prepared to take your place on the security schedule when I call for you or you’ll find yourself sleeping outside this village.”
The dual gasp of Zilya and Etoi confirmed that he’d finally gotten through to the petulant pair.
When Zilya spun to leave, Kenja added, “And you should prepare as well to face reprisal from the report I shall make upon our return.”
Zilya turned back. Her eyes would have burned a hole in Kenja if Zilya had possessed that gift. She pointed a finger at Kenja. “You dare to threaten me?”
Kenja shrugged. “Threaten? Telling the truth has never been deemed a threat unless you see it as such.” Then she put steel in her voice. “On the other hand, I find your tone and attitude offensive, but I will allow the insolence to pass this time. Cross me again and I will not be as understanding, and you do not possess Rayen’s powers. Any battle between you and me would be over swiftly.”
Becka was tapping her foot and making impatient noises that were barely audible, but Callan heard them. Grant me the patience to survive the women in my life.
Zilya surprised him by silently turning and walking away.
Until now, he wasn’t sure she’d possessed enough survival instinct to recognize a more powerful adversary. Kenja was just as deadly as she projected.
Having witnessed the whole exchange, Becka shook her head. “Zilya should be removed from office. I’m a G’ortian, which puts me above her if she wants to be technical. It’s fortunate for her that I’m not interested in governing, but neither do I want to be ruled by someone who annoys me. I think we need a committee created to discuss how to run this village.”
Callan wanted to pound his head into the nearest tree.
Kenja sent him a sympathetic glance that he appreciated. She was the sole female not giving him grief at this moment.
“Let’s get you settled,” he said, towing Becka by her arm again. He shined light from his hand to guide the way or he’d end up carrying her. Not happening. “Have any of your G’ortian powers manifested yet, Becka?”
“Some, but nothing consistent yet.”
“What about shining light energy from your hands?”
“Oh, no, that’s discouraged by the head of our House. It’s far too ... pedestrian. There are plenty of servants capable of accommodating us.”
Callan mentally added needy to the list of Becka’s unattractive qualities. He was drawn to strong women not little girls.
The image of Rayen attacking a croggle single-handed filled his mind. That was the woman for him.
When he reached the cleared spot in the woods that was much closer to the common area than he’d prefer a sleeping unit, Callan could see why Kaz had chosen this for Becka. She was within shouting distance to call out for service since she viewed everyone around here as her servants.
He released her arm and she kept walking then stumbled, flailing for her balance.
“Callan, where are you?”
Was she serious?
He shined the light at his body. “Right here.”
She extended her hand. “Please. I don’t want to fall since this is my only outfit until more can be produced.”
He didn’t even want to ask her what she expected for production of clothes.
A remnant of energy hovered over the spot where Kaz had started her kamara and Callan intended for him to finish it.
Standing only six feet away, she still held her hand out.
He caught her by the wrist just to shut her up and moved her over to where she could stand on a perfectly smooth section of ground.
It was identical to the spot she’d just vacated.
She grabbed his shoulder with a desperation that should be reserved for clinging to the edge of a cliff, then she maneuvered herself up against his chest.
It took all his control to keep from flinging her away.
Callan called out to Kaz telepathically. Where are you?
Near enough to watch Becka paw you.
Then come and get her off me.
I’m just making sure you haven’t changed your mind.
Not. In. This. Lifetime.
Becka dug her sharp little nails into his shoulder, clutching tighter. “Thank you for making my kamara, Callan. Our parents would want this for us.”
There is never going to be an us.
Callan couldn’t put off explaining that there was no future for them together. He opened his mouth to tell Becka when a stick snapped behind him. Thank goodness, Kaz was going to peel Becka off Callan’s body. Relief rushed through him until he turned and realized it was not Kaz walking up.
Just beyond the glow from his hands, Callan could make out every detail of anger rising in Rayen’s face. She swung her gaze from Becka to him. “Please. Don’t let me interrupt you love birds.”
Becka replied in a sugary tone, “Thank you. We do require privacy.”
Callan started, “Rayen, it’s not—”
Her voice sliced through his words faster than if she’d used the edge of a broken glass. “Save it.”
Then she was gone.
Callan roared, “Kaz!”
