Part 21 (1/2)

”Well, just because Tragar's an a.s.sa.s.sin doesn't mean he's all bad,” she said, trying to make herself believe it. ”He's committed to helping me through this...through the Tenrah, I mean.” Although at times he didn't seem very happy about it. And he was only helping because his biology forced him to-or so he'd said. But could it be he was planning to kill her after all? Especially if his only other option was to kill himself?

Emily was pulled out of her uneasy contemplation by a loud shout from their left. Her head jerked up and she saw Tragar and an older male Beast Kindred with iron gray hair coming toward them, out of the forest that ab.u.t.ted the market area.

”Here they are!” Saskia's voice held a mixture of relief and distrust and Emily saw she was eyeing Tragar with barely concealed fear. It was hard to believe she was so upset-Emily had just seen the Wulven girl face down three huge, h.o.r.n.y males without a flicker of fright, yet now she looked scared to death of Tragar.

Well, maybe she's right to be scared of him, whispered a little voice in Emily's brain. After all, what do you know about him except what he's told you? Can you really trust him just because he says he wants to help you?

Before she could answer the troubling questions, she looked up and saw Tragar looking at her. When they locked eyes, the big Kindred began to run-jogging towards her as though he couldn't get to her fast enough.

Saskia stepped back quickly but he didn't even throw a glance in her direction-all his attention was centered on Emily and the look on his face was fierce and terrible to behold.

Oh G.o.d, he's mad at me! He probably thinks I got out of the shuttle and went wandering around on my own for fun because I wanted to go sightseeing! He's going to shout at me or shake me-I just know it!

She wanted to run but it was too late-Tragar was there, his golden eyes glowing hot.

”Tragar, I'm sorry! I don't know what-”

”Come here.” He reached for her and Emily tried to cringe away, afraid of the unchecked emotion she saw in his burning eyes.

But she couldn't elude him. Tragar grabbed her. Instead of shaking or shouting at her, though, he dragged her to him, crus.h.i.+ng her in a hug that was almost panicky-tight.

Emily gasped as he enfolded her in those flexible-steel arms.

”Thought I'd lost you,” he growled in her ear and was there a sob buried in his low rumbling voice? Surely not! Emily could see why he would be angry with her for getting lost on a strange planet but she was certain she didn't mean so much to him that he'd actually be upset if something happened to her. Well, other than the fact that it would hurt his Kindred pride and he would have failed in his self-imposed mission to get her safely to Rageron. But as for personal emotion and genuine affection-no, she must be imagining it.

Still, she couldn't help pressing her face to his broad shoulder and breathing him in. The warm scent of his skin smelled like safety to her-safety and protection and home. Which was ridiculous, of course.

The big Kindred hugged her tighter.

”Thought you were gone,” he muttered into her hair. ”Can't lose you, too.”

Emily had no idea what he meant by that but it was getting hard to get a good deep breath with those muscular arms wrapped around her so tightly.

”Tragar,” she gasped, pus.h.i.+ng uselessly against his broad chest. ”Can't...breathe.”

”Forgive me. Did I hurt you?” He released her and held her out at arms length, looking into her face.

Emily stared up at him. Were there tears standing in his golden eyes? Was he almost about to cry he was so worried about her?

But the next minute, the idea was shattered. His face grew hard and cold and he scowled at her angrily.

”Never do that again! Never wander off on your own on a strange world!” He shook her-just once but fiercely enough that her teeth clicked together.

”I didn't mean to!” she protested. ”I...I don't even know how I got out of the shuttle! I barely remember anything until I was suddenly in the middle of a crowded street surrounded by strange men!”

”G.o.ds! Did they hurt you? Did they touch you?” He stared at her anxiously.

”No, I...no.” Emily shook her head. ”Saskia found me before anything could happen.”

”Thank the G.o.ddess!” He crushed her to him again, briefly, then pulled back and glared at her. ”This is what comes of leaving when I told you not to! The Howlund is the worst place you could have gone!”

”I didn't go there on purpose!” she objected. ”I just found myself there.”

”Just found yourself there?” He cursed-a deep angry, guttural word that the translation bacteria didn't seem to be able to translate.

”I'm sorry,” she said again, getting angry herself. ”I didn't think you'd care so much if something bad happened to me. I mean, you're only helping me because you have to, right? Isn't that what you told me?”

”You think I don't care? d.a.m.n it, Emily-I care! You've made me f.u.c.king care-whether I want to or not!” The words came out in a roar and she couldn't help flinching back from the anger and anguish in his face.

Could it be that he really did care about her? It seemed so but it was also obvious he wasn't very happy about it. In fact, it almost seemed like he blamed her for making him care for her. As if she'd done it on purpose somehow.

”Tragar, take it easy on the little female.” The older male Beast Kindred had reached them now and put his arm around Saskia's waist. ”We know the voice-witch drugged her and she probably bespelled her as well. I'm certain she didn't leave the safety of the shuttle of her own volition.”

”You said the witch could only bespell you if she told you what you wanted to hear,” Tragar growled. ”Obviously Emily here wanted to hear that she could get away from the shuttle and do whatever she wanted.”

”No, she told me she could stop the Tenrah and all the embarra.s.sing things that go with it!” Emily shouted at him.

”What?” He narrowed his eyes at her. ”I thought you didn't remember anything.”

”I didn't...I don't...” Emily swayed as another image of the kindly old lady invaded her brain. ”Oh my G.o.d...” She put a hand to her head, feeling dizzy. ”I remember now-Grandy...Grandy See-something. She helped me...I think.”

”Whatever she did to you, it wasn't to help,” the older male said grimly.

”Xen'dex is right.” Tragar held her by the shoulders. ”What did she do to you? Can you remember?”

”I remember she seemed really nice. And she had a pet that was half cat and half caterpillar. And she gave me some, uh...um...”

”Some what?” Tragar urged.

Emily coughed. ”Some things to, uh, wear.” She bit her lip and looked at Saskia and the older Beast Kindred uncomfortably. More and more was coming back to her-such as where she'd gotten the weird nipple clamps and the heavy thing inside her-but she really didn't want to discuss the bizarre memories in front of strangers.

Saskia seemed to understand her problem.

”Come, Xen'dex...” She tugged at her mate's arm. ”There's something I want to show you, just over here.”

With a lingering look at Emily that made her face feel hot, the older male nodded and allowed himself to be led a little ways away. Once she was sure they were out of earshot, Emily looked back at Tragar.

”She gave me these.” She had s.h.i.+fted her nightgown to try and cover the strange metal nipple covers but now she s.h.i.+fted it back, allowing the silver thimbles with their golden chain ta.s.sels to come into view through the ragged holes.

Tragar looked grim.

”If that's star-silver, you've got to take them off at once,” he growled. ”That stuff is dangerous-Xen'dex says so.”

”She told me it would stop the flow of my nectar,” Emily said, frowning. ”And you know what? Since I put them on, I haven't, uh, leaked at all.” Although she had to admit her b.r.e.a.s.t.s felt awfully full and achy.