Chapter 3

Varad’s bare feet slapped an angry rhythm against the cold marble floor. His fists bunched at his sides. Woe to anyone who tried to speak to him just then. He slammed into his chamber. The wooden door shuddered in its frame as it crashed closed.

He paced across the wide room, frustration making it impossible to relax. Damn her. Damn her. Was this how she wanted their life to be? Never working to overcome problems? Temper boiled in his veins. And damn her for making him lose control this way. He made logical decisions in his personal and public life, ruled an entire planet with a fair, even hand. Then he encountered her and went insane.

He snarled just thinking about it. Pain that was ignored festered, never healed. Who but he would understand her loss? Who but he would want her no matter what? Who but he would crave her for all the days of his life? He thrust a hand through his hair, gripping the still damp strands. He could smell her sweet scent on his skin.

A knock sounded on his door, and he hissed. Who was disturbing him in the middle of the day? Did no one tell them that cats were nocturnal? They should be abed. Like his mate was. Without him. He sucked his teeth in disgust, not at all surprised to find his fangs fully extended. His nostrils flared, catching the scent of his unwelcome guest.

Taymullah.

Care for a walk, brother? I can feel your rage through the door.

Why are you even awake?

It’s a sad day when you even need to ask. Amused satisfaction filled his brother’s telepathic voice.

Varad’s lip curled. He did not want company—he wanted to stew in his own discontent. His breath huffed out. Insane and foolish. He could lay both at Mahlia’s feet today.

His brother’s voice turned cajoling. Come along. We have seen none of each other since your return. A walk will clear your head.

He jerked a saltwater silk robe from his bureau, tightening the belt as he wrenched open the door. Pulling back when he came face-to-fist with Taymullah’s upraised hand, he swatted at his brother’s arm. “Fine. I will come.”

Taymullah grinned. “I’m so very glad of your sweet-tempered company.”

Varad growled and said nothing as he stalked past. Taymullah clasped his hands behind his back, matching his older brother’s stride. Varad could smell the sex on him. Three tigresses? He rolled his eyes.

“Where shall we go? The nude gardens?”

And recall the feel of the first time he’d slid hard and fast within Mahlia, her moans kissing his ear, her nails clawing his back as she screamed his name and came apart in his arms? He thought not. “The market will be fine.”

“As you wish.”

They walked in silence. The wide stairs of the main doors led to a sloping path down to the market. The underground walkways kept out the sun, even at midday, but the heat enveloped them, and they were sweating within a few moments. A few industrious merchants were setting up for the first moonrise market. Colorful carpets littered the paths. Baubles from Vesperi and their trade worlds mingled on sale carts. The smell of the Dead Sea and sand dunes wafted on the hot desert breeze, along with cooking meats.

Taymullah cleared his throat, glancing at his brother several times. “Nice day.”

Varad snorted, in no mood for idle chatter. “You have a purpose for this walk, brother. Speak your mind and be done with it.”

The younger man sighed. “I adore your mate.”

Snarling, Varad whipped around to slam Taymullah against a wall, bits of stone raining down on them. His fingers fisted in his brother’s shirt. “Careful, Taymullah.”

“As a sister. I must say she does not look as happy as she should to see her mate.”

Varad hissed, angered even further that anyone could see things were not right between them. What could he say? Nothing. That he couldn’t fix the problem, couldn’t find a way around or over it without some cooperation from Mahlia, made frustration tear at him with a tiger’s claws.

“She has never dealt with Jeevan’s death. This Turn was rough for her.”

A bitter laugh threatened to choke Varad. “I know it. She refuses to speak of it.”

“You haven’t dealt with it either, brother.”

His shoulders went rigid, his fingers tightening on his brother’s clothing. “I am trying.”

“Try harder.” Taymullah shook off the harsh grip, straightening from the wall.

Varad rubbed at the back of his neck, attempting to ease the tension. Looking for a neutral topic, he thought of the upcoming evening and the work that awaited him. “I need to speak to the werebear ambassador about—”

“Done.” His brother flicked negligent fingers through the air.

Varad blinked. “And the weredragon ambassador—”

“I’m speaking to him at second moonrise.”

“And how will you deal with him?” His brows rose. When had Taymullah learned to negotiate with dragons?

“With a firm hand and a great helping of patience for a people whose behavior makes little sense and who don’t care to explain.” Meeting his brother’s eyes, Taymullah shrugged. “I may have assisted your mate this past Turn. As I thought you would have wanted.”

“Trying to take my kingdom, brother?” He was only half joking. It had happened before, and Varad knew that his absence would make it an easy thing. His heart contracted at what that might mean for Mahlia and their child. He hated to ask his brother, even in jest, but he had to know.

The shorter man stopped dead, turning to face him, a more serious expression on his face than Varad had ever seen. His brother dropped to his knee before Varad, a hand placed over his heart. “Never. I wish you, your mate, and any kits you may sire a long, healthy life and prosperous reign.”

Varad swallowed, shamed for what he had accused his brother of. But he would do whatever it took to protect his mate. “I see.”

“There are two people on this planet you can trust without question, brother. I am one of them. Your mate is the other, though she may not know it.” His brother smoothly regained his feet and turned to continue their walk.

Varad cleared his tight throat. “Thank you.”

His brother glanced back when Varad did not immediately follow. An easy grin split the younger man’s features, made his amber eyes dance. “I have no desire to be an Amir, but I will do what I must in your stead to ensure you have a throne to return to.”

“Taymullah the Wise.” He chuckled, falling into step beside his brother.

“That would be a statue for a different garden, I think. Though, if my likeness is to populate the planet, I would prefer it to be in the form of wee kits to frolic at my feet.”

“Is there a mate you have in mind to bear these children for you?” Mahlia would love to meet the woman who claimed a permanent place in his mischievous brother’s affections.

“Mmm…no. But I will keep testing them until I find just the right one. Don’t worry, brother. I take my duties seriously.”

Varad laughed, clapping Taymullah on the shoulder.

 

There was a purple dragon wrapped around one of the pillars that supported the silken canopy over Mahlia’s bed. Its great black eyes stared into Mahlia’s when she awoke. She sucked in a shocked breath as she bolted upright, her heart racing.

“Gods, Katryn! Are you trying to kill me?” Her hand pressed to her chest.

No, but since you don’t have your mate in here with you, I thought you could use some company. She unwound her long body from the bedpost and slid with reptilian grace to the floor.

“You’re supposed to ask permission before entering.”

The dragon snorted, stretching onto the windowsill. The shutters were wide open to let in the moonlight. The second moon already hung heavy on the horizon. The dragon twisted, popping and reforming into Katryn’s human form. Her smooth cinnamon skin contrasted with her ebony hair. The purple scaling on her arms and thighs glinted in the mellow lighting.

“I did ask, Amira, but you were not coherent enough to answer.”

“How did you know Varad wasn’t here?”

“I saw him leaving the palace with Prince Taymullah near first moonrise.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh.” She lifted her delicate nose to sniff the air. “He was here but not in your bed. Tsk, tsk. Waste of a perfectly good bed, in my humble opinion.”

“Humble, ha.” Mahlia hugged her knees to her chest, propping her chin on the bony plateau.

Katryn’s long hair shifted to pool in her lap as she looked out the window. Her voice was deliberately casual. “You always supported his decision to trade with all the colonized planets.”

“That was before—”

Katryn’s dark eyes flashed as she turned back to face her. “Before you had to take some part in what that meant for your planet?”

“So it’s my fault?” Mahlia’s shoulders tensed, waiting for her friend’s response.

Katryn huffed an impatient breath. “Why are you so eager to blame anyone?”

“Can we talk about something else?” Desperation sounded in Mahlia’s voice, and she didn’t care. She couldn’t do this now. Or ever. It was enough that she was dealing with her current pregnancy.

“As you wish, Amira. But if you’ll take a small piece of advice from someone who loves you and wants what’s best for you: talk to Varad. He needs you as much as you need him.”

She shifted, uncomfortable. “Does he? I’m not so sure.”

“I am. I would give half my scales for a man to look at me the way he looks at you. And that is all I will say on the matter.”

Relief flooded Mahlia, and she released a huge sigh.

A coy smile curled Katryn’s full lips as she turned back. “So, tell me… How was the mating ritual?”

Mahlia laughed and then sobered to put on her primmest Amira voice. “I do not reveal the details of the Amir’s sex life.”

“Oh, come now. Let me live vicariously. Is he as good as his reputation says? It takes at least twice to be a true judge of these things. So…”

“Katryn!”

The weredragon opened her mouth to respond when she froze, her head cocking to listen. Mahlia lifted her sensitive nose to sniff the air, straining to hear as well. Varad. Her heart seized at the thought.

The door pushed open as an enormous tiger stepped in. He flicked a glance at Katryn. She stood, bowed, and padded on silent feet out the door, closing it behind her.

Mahlia lifted her chin. “I was talking to her.”

You’ll be talking to me. His voice went silky, dangerous in her mind.

The great tiger stalked forward, its golden gaze locked on her, and she swallowed. He ran his tongue down a long fang, fierce passion in his eyes. The smooth, feline grace couldn’t cover the barely leashed violence. His claws bit into the silk sheets as he leaped onto the end of her bed. His eyes never left her as he moved, forcing her to lie back as he stood over her. Her fingers rose to sink into the warm fur at his neck. His head tilted back, and he began to change. Within moments a naked Varad lay nestled between her spread thighs. Her fingers buried in the soft hair at the nape of his neck.

Her body reacted, dampening, loosening as she arched beneath him. Her knees rose to clasp his hips through the saltwater silk sheets. His buttocks flexed, pushing his erection against her heated pussy. Desire roared like a greedy wildfire through her, burning everything in its path.

He rolled away, leaving her barren, cold, aching for more. She curled to her side, squeezing her thighs together in a desperate attempt to ease the relentless need that throbbed there. He sat on the side of the bed, propping his forearms on his thighs.

He twisted to glare at her, his pupils thin slits of anger. “I will not be distracted. We have yet to finish our discussion from earlier.”

Discussion? The words struggled to register in her lust-filled mind. Jeevan. He wanted to talk about their son’s death. Nausea pitched in her stomach, and she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

Make it stop. Make the pain stop. Please, Gods. That’s all she’d done for the past Turn. One day at a time. One breath. One moment. Anything but confront the fact that her son, her sweet child, had been ripped away from her life by an accident of fate. Her hands fisted at her sides, nails biting into her palms.

She closed her eyes, agony rolling over her in a suffocating wave. “I can’t…I’ll just start yelling at you again.”

“So yell, scream…just do something but remain angry. It won’t help you to hold it all in.”

“No.”

A low, snarling hiss issued from his throat, and she swallowed, scooting back against the headboard. His hand whipped out, caught her wrist in an iron grip. His eyes were full gold, the tiger stalking her. She panted, excitement and fear sliding through her.

Varad?

“You know what happens to those who don’t please their Amir?”

She licked her lips, her blood pounding hot and wild in her veins. He pulled her to him, easy strength overpowering her. Digging her heels into the mattress, she tried to resist, but it was a halfhearted effort. Her pussy was on fire, cream flooding her core. Her body screamed for him to take her. Swift and hard and now.

Oh, Gods. What would he do to her? She’d never seen him this angry. Never pushed him this far.

“I—I…”

“You refuse to speak to me, Mahlia. This I cannot tolerate.” A sharp tug flipped her facedown on his lap, her hair brushing the floor beside the bed. Her wrists were caught in his firm grip at the small of her back. Blood rushed to her head, and she felt a giddy anticipation balloon in her chest. His palm stroked over her backside, and she moaned.

“Oh, Gods,” she whispered, her body tensing against his legs.

A sharp slap echoed through the massive chamber. She jumped as flames licked over her skin. His palm landed hard against her ass, alternating cheeks, falling in an unpredictable rhythm. Just when she relaxed, another slap would fall. Her sex clenched, aching to be filled. She arched up into his hand, a dark pleasure she couldn’t define exploding through her.

Then it stopped, and she was left shuddering, confused. Wanting more.

“Do you like this, Mahlia?”

Her breath sobbed between her lips. “Yes.”

His fingertip skimmed over her sore skin, making her gasp as the sensations skittered over her hot flesh. He dipped between her buttocks, and she froze, waiting. One finger swirled around her anus.

Yes. Please, Varad.

He lifted her, tossing her onto the bed with careless ease. His weight pressed her deep into the mattress as he settled on top of her, behind her. His cock nudged her ass, and she arched beneath him, spreading her legs wide. Shameless abandon ripped through her.

“Please, Varad,” his voice mocked her as his breath caressed her ear. He slid a hand around her stomach, lifting her hips to dip his finger between her legs. He parted her pussy lips with rough fingers, flicking the tips against her rock-hard clit. His fingers swirled in her depths. A low purr dragged from her throat.

His cock thrust into her anus, a slow push that stretched her past bearing. Pleasure-pain lashed at her, her ass too tight on his driving cock. Her fingernails extended into claws, tearing into the expensive sheets. She pressed back against him, wanting more, needing all he could give her. He moved in smooth, hard strokes, burying his dick deep within her ass again and again and again. His fingers matched his cock thrust for thrust until she was screaming. She was so full, so desperate for more. Sweat slid down her face, and her arms shook as they tried to support her.

The muscled ridges of his stomach spanked against her hot backside, the slap of his flesh meeting hers loud to her sensitive ears. She loved it. Moaning, she writhed beneath him. Fire licked through her, drew her muscles tight.

Then he stopped. She sobbed in protest, shaking with her need.

His smooth, wicked voice sounded in her ear. “Do you want more? Would you beg for it?”

“Yes, anything, Varad. Yes.” Her breath shuddered out as she gasped for breath.

His cock pulled out and slammed deep. His fingers flicked over her clitoris. The dark magic of his tone seduced her as surely as the pleasure twisting through her.

“Do I please you as no other?”

“Yes.” She closed her eyes, orgasm gathering in her pussy. A few more strokes, and she’d go over. Oh, Gods, yes.

“Say you’ll talk to me.”

Her tongue barely wrapped around the words. Anything to make him keep from stopping, to make him move. She would die if he stopped again. “Yes.”

“Are you not my Amira, my queen, the jewel of my kingdom?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes.” Starbursts exploded behind her eyes, her muscles locking as she came.

A tiger’s roar sounded behind her, echoed by her own high-pitched, animalistic scream. She threw her head back, fangs fully extended as the tiger within her sprang free. She shuddered over and over, Varad pumping within her, dragging out her orgasm until the world went black and she collapsed, spent.