Part 42 (1/2)

”Hurry!” Emily exclaimed. ”Come on, Lit'aal, lead the way!”

”Yes, my Khalla.”

Lit'aal raced ahead of Daro and Rone who were carrying the limp Tragar between them as rapidly as they could. Solar stayed behind, keeping the High Priestess hostage. Emily could feel her glaring daggers at her back but she didn't care. All she cared about was saving Tragar.

She just hoped it wasn't too late.

Chapter Thirty-one.

”Put him down on the bed,” Emily directed after Lit'aal opened the hidden door that led to the breeding suite. Mother Chundra had been right-they never would have found it without someone to show them. To the untrained eye, the door simply looked like part of the tall, white wall on either side of it. But once it opened, an amazing s.p.a.ce was suddenly revealed.

The entire room was covered in small, pink blossoms. It reminded Emily a little of Saskia'a flower bed she and Tragar had slept in on the Wulven Kindred home world. But in this case it wasn't just the bed-the lovesuckle blossoms covered every available surface. Walls, floors, ceilings, and every piece of furniture in the room were entirely overgrown with them. They varied in shade from the palest blush pink to the deepest rose red and every hue in between. They also gave off a sweet, light scent that seemed to do strange things to Emily.

As she breathed it in, she could feel her b.r.e.a.s.t.s aching and her p.u.s.s.y felt so swollen she thought she would die if she wasn't filled soon. I need to be bred, she thought and knew it was true. If she didn't have a male make love to her soon and spill his seed deep in her womb, she would literally perish.

But Tragar was the only male she wanted and he was unconscious-possibly dying on the flower covered bed. Could she heal him?

There was only one way to find out.

”My Khalla, is there anything else that you require?” Lit'aal asked her anxiously after they had gotten Tragar positioned.

”Just privacy,” Emily said grimly. ”I need to be alone with my chosen mate.”

”Khalla, forgive me, but he is very far gone,” Daro told her gently. ”If you should be unable to revive him...do you wish me to send for another of the candidates to stand outside the door just in case you are in need and Tragar cannot...er, service you?”

”No!” Emily shook her head firmly. ”No, this is a do or die situation. If I can't have Tragar, I don't want anyone. Now everyone go-please! Every moment counts.”

”She's right. We must leave her to her fate.” Daro nodded and led the other two out of the breeding suite.

”We will pray for you, my Khalla!” Lit'aal said. Then she shut the door and Emily was alone with the barely breathing Tragar, lying on the bed.

No-not barely breathing-he's not breathing at all!

Emily gasped and ran to him. Her premonition was true-the broad, muscular chest no longer rose and fell. With shaking hands, she put two fingers to the side of his throat searching for a pulse, just as she'd been taught to do in CPR cla.s.s.

Nothing.

”Oh G.o.d, oh no-no, you can't be dead. You can't! Tragar please!” She pounded on his broad chest, her eyes hot with tears. ”Please, don't be gone-please, I love you!”

Stop, whispered a familiar voice inside her head. It was the other-Emallia, Emily realized but she no longer sounded like a different ent.i.ty. She was a natural part of Emily now that they had merged and Emily sensed she had something important to say.

This isn't how to save him, Emallia told her. Remember, it is the blood or the nectar of a Khalla which may reverse death. Nothing else.

Of course! Emily looked around for something to cut herself with and came up short. There was nothing sharp in the flower-covered room. Everything was soft and covered in a blanket of the pink blossoms.

It would have to be nectar then-her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were certainly full enough. Quickly, she ripped open the dark red kimono-type robe she'd been wearing and pulled up the white slip to bare her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

But how was she going to get the nectar out? Before, Tragar had had to suck it out of her and he was in no position to do that now. What was she going to do if her nectar still wouldn't flow?

It will flow, whispered Emallia in her head. Get next to him, let his skin touch yours.

Trembling and praying she was right, Emily sat on the bed beside the big Kindred and leaned over him so that her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s hung like ripe fruit in his face. Still nothing happened.

Please, she thought. Oh, please, G.o.ddess if you're really there, help me save him! He's the man I love, the only one I want. I know you put us together so please...

She pressed one swollen nipple to his slightly parted lips...

Suddenly it was as though something released deep inside her. A droplet of amber nectar began to grow on the tip of her nipple. The drop became a trickle and the trickle became a steady flow. Slowly the rich, amber liquid filled Tragar's mouth...and began to dribble out from the corners.

”Tragar-Tragar, please,” Emily begged him softly. ”Please don't let it be too late! Please!”

And then the big Kindred swallowed convulsively and his chest began to move again.

Emily nearly cried in relief. She filled his mouth with nectar again and again and every time he swallowed, more color returned to his cheeks and his breathing became more even and normal. His side was healing too, she saw-the awful deep stab wound was actually getting better before her eyes. Soon he looked like a man who was simply taking a nap.

”Tragar?” she whispered. ”Hey, sweetheart-are you back with me now?”

The big Kindred opened his eyes and frowned.

”Where am I? Where is Tier Shan?”

”If you mean your horrible wasp-boss, he's dead. You killed him. And nearly killed yourself in the process, saving me,” she said with mock severity.

”You're the only thing in my life worth saving.” He reached up to stroke a strand of hair out of her eyes. ”But you look different...the changes in your eyes and hair-they aren't flickering back and forth anymore.”

”I had to let the other come forward in order to save you,” Emily explained. ”I think my hair and eyes are going to stay this way now and I might have gotten taller so-uhh!” Her words ended in a groan as a sharp pain went through her lower abdomen.

”Emily?” Tragar sat up, eyeing her anxiously. ”What's wrong?”

”I don't know!” She was doubled over in pain now. Her nipples were beyond sensitive and her p.u.s.s.y was so swollen and hot she couldn't bear to close her legs. ”I need...I need...” She shook her head. ”I don't know what I need.”

”You need to be bred,” Tragar said grimly. ”If your Kit'tara has come fully forward and meshed her mind with yours, you must be in the final stage of Hel and starting your breeding cycle.”

”You...you're probably right. They said it would happen.” Somehow Emily forced herself to sit upright. She looked at Tragar imploringly. ”You can help me, can't you? Please, I need you, Tragar!”

”I swear I will give you everything you need,” he growled softly, sitting up. The white gauzy slip she had on under the open red robe had fallen down to cover her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and p.u.s.s.y again. Now he took it in both hands and ripped hard, parting it down the middle and baring her completely to his gaze.

”Oh!” Emily jumped back. Despite the desperate need inside her, the violent gesture brought back bad memories. He ripped my clothes off...he wouldn't stop even when I begged...

Tragar seemed to understand what was going on inside her head.

”Forgive me, my Khalla.” He took both her hands in his and looked into her eyes. ”I didn't mean to startle you-that is simply the traditional way a chosen mate readies his Khalla for breeding.”

”I don't...don't know how I feel about it,” Emily said nervously. ”I mean, I know my body needs this but I just can't...I mean, it's scary.”

”Of course it is.” Tragar stroked her cheek tenderly. ”But you have my word that we will take things very, very slowly. I will not breed you until you are completely ready and you ask me to. All right?”