Chapter 13

13

Magic tantalizes before it destroys.

~ Kar'ruk proverb

Kaylina spun at the sound of Vlerion's voice, almost dropping the honeycomb.

He sat upright on Crenoch's back, looking sternly at her.

"If you weren't unconscious so often, you'd see me doing even more blasphemous things." She tried a smile, hoping he wasn't that annoyed that she'd ripped pages out of his book. After all, she'd lost the first one he'd given her, and he hadn't seemed that distressed.

"Such as?" Vlerion looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on a rip in her shirt. His eyes shifted from stern to grim. Maybe even haunted.

"Earlier, I was fondling an unconscious ranger," she said, though her chest pats probably hadn't counted as that. Heaving him onto Crenoch's back definitely hadn't. "That must be against the rules."

Vlerion managed a slight smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. They were focused on the rip. Did he think he'd done it?

"Fondling isn't against the rules, nor mentioned at all in the handbook, but rangers do prefer to be conscious for it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

He slid gingerly off Crenoch, probably sore after his battle, and pulled off his lopsided leather armor, the straps broken.

Kaylina wrapped most of the honeycomb in the page and tucked it away, reserving a couple of pieces for the taybarri. They lapped it down with such gratitude in their eyes that she suspected she was right about the honey, that it tasted amazing.

She touched a piece to her tongue. Oh yes, it was divine. Maybe better than her grandpa's honey.

What kind of mead could she make from it? Would the druids—the brand —allow her to return for more? Or was this a one-time chance to collect honey for that plant?

After licking their blue lips numerous times, the taybarri rolled on their backs in the grass. Vlerion, who'd been about to delve into his pack, presumably for clothes, stepped back with his hand dangling in the air.

"I'm glad Crenoch waited until I dismounted to do that," he murmured.

"I hope there's nothing breakable in your pack." Kaylina waved toward Crenoch, the straps making sure it stayed attached, however flattened it now was.

"Clothes and food."

"I wondered if there's fresh underwear in there." She glanced at him, blushed, then pointed toward where Levitke had left his sword and boots. "We brought your other stuff."

"Thank you." Vlerion stepped closer and pointed toward the rip in her shirt. His voice softened as he asked, "Did I do that?"

"No. I did it to myself when I was fleeing from, uhm." Kaylina realized he might feel equally bad if he learned he'd caused her to rip her clothes. "Those who pursued me," she finished.

Vlerion wasn't fooled. Eyes grimmer than ever, he said, "Me."

"The beast."

"As you well know, I am the beast."

"It'll be all right, Vlerion. I'm working on a way to lift your curse." A piece of comb remained, and she offered it to him on her finger. "The plant was happy when I poured honey fertilizer on it, the first time at least. I'll try again with this stuff." Hopefully, she could avoid being branded again. "And if it works…"

"You'll pour honey on me ?"

"Sure, but we'll have to do it when taybarri aren't present or they'll lick it off."

His eyelids drooped. "I'd rather have you lick it off."

She flushed with warmth as a vision of doing exactly that came easily to mind. She blamed it on his nudity. "If we could ensure certain things wouldn't happen, I might be interested in that."

Vlerion sighed and looked at the torn fabric again. "I can't ensure that, but that you care enough to try to lift my curse… means much. I never would have expected someone I so recently met to be that invested in me." He gazed into her eyes. "And to stand fearlessly in front of me right after I…" He waved vaguely in the direction of the lake and the ruins.

She almost said she'd been far from fearless—she'd been terrified—but if he knew that, it would distress him further. Besides, she didn't want him to think he needed to stay away from her. Maybe it was what they both should have wanted, but the idea was so unappealing that she caught herself stepping closer to him. Drawn to him, as always.

Attempting a bright smile, Kaylina held her finger to his mouth, the honey on the tip. "Taste?"

With his gaze still locked onto hers, she didn't miss the spark of interest in his eyes. Only when he opened his lips and sucked gently on her finger, a tingle of pleasure delighting her nerves, did she realize it might be sexual interest instead of a desire for honey.

His tongue did slide over the honey, tasting it as he watched her for her reaction. She didn't consciously move or notice she had shifted closer until her chest brushed his.

"Fearless," he whispered, lifting his lips from her finger and gazing at her with appreciation.

The look heated her body almost as much as his lips had.

"Unwisely so," she whispered.

"Undoubtedly."

Resisting the urge to grip his shoulders and kiss him, Kaylina stepped back and turned around. She knelt to tuck the honeycomb away.

"You probably didn't hear me before, but I want to apologize for…" She poked in the pack, struggling to voice the words that had come more easily when he'd been the beast and couldn't understand. "I'm sorry I kept trying to make you change when you didn't want… when you told me not to." She flushed at the memory of running her lips over his bare abdomen, of letting her hand drift lower to stroke him. In another situation, they both would have enjoyed it, but it had been a move of desperation. An ill thought out one.

"It's disheartening to know I can be so easily manipulated by a woman—by anyone —but I understand why you did it. And it did work."

"I should have thought of something less…"

"Arousing?" He'd stepped closer, and he brushed the back of her head, fingers pushing through her hair, rubbing her scalp.

"Maybe." Kaylina leaned back into his touch, relieved he wasn't angry with her. The taybarri had moved away, sniffing at the grass and flowers as they explored the valley. For the moment, there didn't seem to be any danger around. "I could have picked an argument with you and called you a pirate over and over until you were so irked that the beast came out."

"For future reference, I'd much rather have you kiss me than curse me." His fingers drifted lower, massaging the back of her neck, and she slumped back against him before remembering he wasn't wearing any clothes. A glance to the side made her aware that he was aroused again.

Her heart pounded. She'd been foolish to think there was no danger about, when he was with her.

Afraid the beast would return, she lurched to her feet. She started to step away, but Vlerion caught her and pulled her back against him. Her mind told her to spring away while her body wanted nothing more than to bask in his embrace, to turn toward him and wrap her arms around him.

"At the time, I might not have appreciated it," he murmured softly, lips brushing her ear, "but the memory will come to me often in my dreams."

Physical pleasure shot through her even as she delighted in knowing she affected him that much, that he found her desirable.

His lips lowered to her neck, and he kissed her.

A tremble went through her. Fear? Desire? Both?

"Vlerion," she whispered, hardly believing he was willing to flirt with this danger.

"I've never changed into the beast again a short time after a turning," he said as if he could guess her thoughts.

Her breath caught. She remembered him saying that before. He'd also said he wasn't certain it couldn't happen, only that it hadn't.

"There's no reason you should have any loyalty to me." His lips traced her throat as he inhaled her scent, one hand wrapped around her waist, the other drifting, stroking her. "We are not of the same class, and I arrested you when we met."

"I remember." Kaylina caught herself tilting her head so he could reach more of her neck, so he could touch whatever he wished. He smiled against her skin, then gave her a soft nip that made her ache with need. "You were an ass," she added.

He laughed softly, his breath warm against her skin. "Yes."

One of his hands slid under her shirt, fingers trailing over the bare skin of her abdomen, and another tremble went through her. It drifted higher, cupping her breast and sliding her bra down so his thumb could brush her taut nipple. She arched into him, the touch so arousing she instantly craved more.

"Loyalty should be rewarded," he murmured, watching her avidly. Enjoying her reactions to him?

"Even when the rewardee isn't properly respectful?"

"In the event of extenuating circumstances, small infractions might be overlooked." His fingers trailed over to explore her other breast as his lips shifted to her earlobe, sucking, then nipping, making pleasure ricochet through her from multiple locations.

She stifled a gasp out of some notion that she shouldn't let him know how hot he could make her, how easily he could arouse her.

Striving for a casual tone, she asked, "Are you quoting from your book?"

The hitch in her breath might have betrayed his effect on her.

"The paragraph on rewards and rank, yes." His fingers slid lower, nails grazing sensitive skin.

"There's only one paragraph on that? I bet there are pages on punishment."

He smiled as he nipped her ear again. "An entire chapter."

That should have been repulsive, not erotic, but she struggled to find it so. With his hands so expertly stroking her body, it wouldn't have mattered what he said. And she couldn't help but imagine scenarios in which Vlerion might reward and punish her… in bed.

She turned her head, wanting to see him, wanting to kiss him.

He gazed back at her with unwavering intensity. Was there a dangerous glint in his eyes? The one that promised he was on the verge of turning into the beast? She didn't think so, but passion gleamed in their blue depths, passion and lust as he bent, bringing his lips to hers.

She couldn't keep from kissing him—didn't want to keep from it. He tasted of honey and heat and desire. He unfastened her trousers, sending his fingers lower. His touch tantalized, promising the reward he'd spoken of.

She trembled, her body eager for more, even as she acknowledged this was playing with fire. If he was wrong about his ability to turn again, and she roused the beast, there was nowhere to hide in the open valley. Nowhere to run. She would be his—the beast's —to do with whatever he wished.

As he touched her intimately, she struggled to retain logical thoughts, to make practical decisions. She squirmed in his arms, pushing against his hand as he rubbed her. If they had sex, would he lie her in the grass and come down atop her? Or would he take her from behind? Like an animal. Like the beast.

Her body throbbed as fantasies of both scenarios shot through her, and she gripped the back of his head, kissing him recklessly. He growled with desire of his own as she writhed, intense need like nothing she'd known scattering thoughts, making her forget all threats of danger. Never had she wanted a man's reward so badly.

One of the taybarri roared.

Vlerion broke the kiss before she did—she didn't want to break it—and his hands stilled. She groaned a protest as her rational mind tried to reengage. Enemies, she reminded herself. There could be enemies.

But she didn't want enemies. She wanted Vlerion's fingers to finish bringing her to a climax and then, if the beast stayed away, she could reward him .

A rumble of irritation emanated from his chest as he looked past her shoulder. "Where were they an hour ago?"

She turned her head and stared in horror. Not Kar'ruk but eight rangers mounted on taybarri stared across the grass at them from the valley entrance. Jankarr was with them, and he smiled when he met their eyes, but Targon was also with them. His gaze was frosty and forbidding as he looked at them. Because he knew the danger.

Vlerion hadn't let Kaylina go. His grip tightened, as if he would refuse to. Maybe he was thinking of ordering the rangers to leave? She doubted that would work with his captain among the men. She hoped Vlerion wasn't thinking of carrying on with them watching.

"I'm not having sex in front of anyone," she whispered to him.

"You didn't mind the taybarri."

"They're furry . And didn't seem to care." Kaylina caught a couple of the rangers gazing avidly at her and realized her trousers were drooping off her hips, her shirt was open, and her breasts were hanging out of her bra.

Cheeks fiery with embarrassment, she stepped out of Vlerion's arms and hurried to fix her clothing.

She hoped his mother succeeded in getting her out of the ranger training, as she'd promised to do, because it would be awkward and even more embarrassing if she ended up in classes or weapons practice with these men.

Even though Targon was mostly glaring at Vlerion, she caught the captain checking her out and remembered comments he'd made in the past. The night they'd met, Targon had asked Vlerion if he'd enjoyed having her squirm in his arms. If Vlerion hadn't then, he had this time. She'd been able to tell that without glancing down.

When she finished fixing her clothes, she realized Vlerion had stepped in front of her to block the rangers' view of her. He was utterly naked with his arms folded across his chest, but he probably didn't care if they saw him. Unless their preferences ran toward men, they wouldn't be that interested in him. She was and lamented that they hadn't gotten further.

Vlerion turned, putting his back to the men as they rode into the valley. His eyes were still heated, and Kaylina had a feeling he had been thinking of finishing, of bringing her to a climax even after the men had arrived. Maybe he'd even been thinking of taking her afterward, of finding his own reward. If the beast hadn't been encroaching, that was understandable. How long had it been since he'd been with a woman, one he could take fully without worry?

"I'll find you later," he whispered softly, stepping forward and resting his hand on her hip while pressing his face into her hair. "If not for my pleasure, then yours."

"We both know that's not a good idea."

Later , the beast would have the ability to return.

"One day, we'll find a way," he said and kissed her.

"By all the warring gods," Targon snapped from scant feet behind them, "put your cock away, Vlerion."

Vlerion broke the kiss but didn't move away from Kaylina, only turning his head to level a cold, defiant look at his captain.

His mother's words came to mind, that the beast in him was drawn to the anrokk in Kaylina. Isla had been worried Vlerion might not be able to control himself around her. Maybe she'd been right. Kaylina wasn't even positive she could control herself fully.

"There are Kar'ruk all over this forest," Targon added, glaring back as defiantly.

"I know," Vlerion said. "I killed many of them."

Some of the men who'd ridden up behind Targon exchanged confused looks with each other.

Had they been to the ruins? Had they seen that claws and fangs, not a sword, had killed those Kar'ruk?

Afraid he would get in a fight with his captain or give away his secret—or both—Kaylina stepped away from Vlerion.

"I'll find your clothes for you while you men talk," she said, trying to sound bright and normal.

But as she took a few more steps away and looked for the taybarri, Vlerion stalked off, apparently not interested in talking with his captain. He'd spotted Crenoch at the edge of the valley and headed to hopefully grab his clothes out of his pack.

Targon turned his focus on Kaylina, giving her a baleful you-know-what's-at-stake glare. Or maybe it was a how-could-you-be-so-stupid-and-you're-horrible-for-him glare. Just because Targon had looked at her bared skin earlier and had admitted he had uses for her didn't mean he liked her.

Maybe it hadn't been wise to kiss Vlerion, but she hated the reproof in Targon's eyes and lifted her chin. If other men hadn't been within earshot, men who didn't know Vlerion's secret, she would have told Targon that the threat had been low because Vlerion had shifted earlier. If she'd seen that dangerous glint in his eyes, she would have stepped away.

Targon looked like he might say something to her, but he had to be aware of the men too—and that he'd also sworn to keep Vlerion's secret.

His eyes narrowed with speculation, the way they had when he'd been contemplating using her to further his goals. Maybe this time, he was contemplating her death and how it would make things less dangerous for his ranger subordinate.

Vlerion returned, clothed and with his sword in hand. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Kaylina and went back to glaring at Targon. This time, it seemed less about irritation that the rangers had interrupted and more about protection. Maybe he'd also seen something unsettling in his captain's eyes.

Targon shook his head. "Jankarr, take the girl someplace the guards and the queen won't stumble upon her."

Annoyance flashed in Jankarr's eyes, but he covered it quickly. He had to be tired of being sent back to the city instead of allowed to fight. Even if he seemed like a nice guy, he couldn't be pleased with a babysitting duty.

"Vlerion and everyone else," Targon continued, "we have more Kar'ruk to hunt down. I gather from that bloodbath by the lake that none have been captured for questioning?"

"No," Vlerion said curtly.

"We've got to capture at least one. I want to know how many are in the preserve, what they're planning, and how in all the altered orchards they sneaked this many Kar'ruk over the mountains and into our lands."

"Whatever they're planning, it's nothing good for the city," one of the rangers said. "That's for sure."

Targon waved for his men to follow him and rode out of the valley without another word for Jankarr.

"Later," Vlerion told Kaylina, "I'll find you and help you clear your name. And with anything else you wish."

The significant look he gave her, his eyes raking down her body, turned her on all over again. By the gods, she wanted to be with him.

But with his words delivered, he mounted his taybarri and took off with the other rangers. He had a duty, and she… she had a mission. She needed to prove her innocence, and she also had honey to try on that plant if she could sneak into the castle again without being spotted.