over her. Without him she would crumble beneath the force of
despair swirling around her. Her body might survive, but her
mind and ka would be lost in limbo. She sank to her knees. In
the dark, Warda pressed against her as if to offer consolation.
She clung to him.
“Kyne, help me.”
His attention focused on DiSanti, Kyne barely heard Sianna’s
voice. But like a warm ray of light in a dark, dank cavern, her
mental plea pierced the ominous shadow that had him in its
grip. Her despair rocked him. He felt her terror, her fading life
force as she teetered on the brink of a bottomless chasm.
He looked into the darkness of the pit and realized the power
to save or destroy her rested in his hands. Linked together, his
actions impacted her. If he slew the defenseless DiSanti, Kyne
would lose not only a part of himself, he would ravage Sianna’s
ka.
The choice was his.
Kyne let his sword arm drop to his side. He no longer needed
to strike the killing blow to find peace. Living and loving life
fully would be his revenge against the devastation DiSanti had
wrought. Let others determine the man’s final fate.
He strode to Sianna’s side. Crouching next to her, he
wrapped his arms around her trembling form, and with his heart,
mind and ka he reached out and pulled her away from the edge
of the abyss.
Their connection was instant and powerful. Energy surged
through them as love overpowered hate.
She curled into his embrace, her gentle hands stroking over
the numerous cuts and bruises DiSanti had inflicted. Warmth
tingled in the wake of her caress. Pain faded away, replaced
by a new vigor.
“Enough, my love.” He captured her slim, cool fingers in
his own to stop her. “Do not spend your strength in healing me.
My wounds are minor.”
“In healing you I heal myself. Your strength is mine as
mine is now yours. In this as in all else we are now one. Together
our power is more than doubled. We are connected. Do you
accept this?” Her gaze rested on his face. Through their strange
joining he felt her fear of his rejection.
He glanced at the unconscious DiSanti. Kyne’s anger
flickered briefly to life. Then she placed his hand over her belly,
and her love vanquished the ghost of revenge.
Like the sun’s rays reflecting off crystal prisms, Sianna’s
smile blinded him inside and out. She stretched up on her toes
and fitted her mouth to his. Hard and fast, desire surged through
him. His sword fell unnoticed as he snatched her up until her
feet dangled above the floor, and he feasted on her soft lips.
Then with a groan he gripped her arms and held her away. “As
much you tempt me, love, this is not the time or place.”
He felt her blush as she turned aside. “Do not be shy.” He
caught her chin in his hand and turned her face to his. The red
glow of the joined moons deepened her blush. “When the time
is right, I’ll welcome your advances.”
“Stand aside, First Minister,” King Timon’s voice quavered
with restrained anger.
Kyne turned to face the king. “Sire?”
There was no disguising the air of power and command
that hovered over the young king.
“Guards,” Timon bellowed. There was no response. He
strode forward and stood before them. His gaze focused on
Sianna. “Which daughter of the devil are you?”
Instinctively, Kyne tried to move Sianna behind him, but
she slipped out of his embrace and silenced his objection. Head
high, she faced the king. “I am Sianna DiSanti.”
“The bridal pawn.” Faced with Sianna’s courage and fragile
beauty, the king’s tone softened.
“A pawn is just how my father saw me. I had no say in his
plans.”
“Where is the other? The devil’s spawn? What of her?”
“Your wit is quick, Sire,” Sianna acknowledged the king’s
flash of humor. “She fought alongside Rul Cathor and was
wounded in battle against our father.”
Doubt flickered in the king’s eyes. “Why should I believe
that DiSanti’s heir, the daughter he reared to stand at his side,
turned against him? Though she did not come to court, news of
her exploits in quelling the people from rebellion against DiSanti’s
rule reached even my ears. She was your father’s strength in
the field. Her ruthlessness nearly matched his. Why would she
relinquish such power?”
“For love.”
“Love?”
“She speaks the truth, Sire.” Kyne wrapped his arm around
Sianna’s waist. Though she appeared calm and fearless, he felt
her tremble as she leaned into his strength. Their fate lay in the
king’s hands. “Laila DiSanti carries proof of her love for my
brother in her womb. When DiSanti had Aubin murdered, she
renounced her father and joined with those who stood against
him.”
Rage faded from the king’s gaze. “You would guarantee
her allegiance to the crown?”
“As my own, Sire.”
“And this woman?” The king’s gaze settled on Sianna. “Do
you chance your life on her loyalty as well?”
Kyne turned and looked into Sianna’s eyes and smiled. “My
love for her is no gamble. She holds my life, my heart, my ka in
her hands. Without her I am hollow. She is my mate and carries
my child.”
Indecision flickered across Timon’s face. “You risk much
for the daughters of our enemy.”
Kyne dropped to his knees at the king’s feet and bowed his
head in supplication. “Sire, you offered me a reward for my
service to you. I beg you, place the lives of Laila and Sianna
DiSanti in my hands. They are not your enemies.”
Time stretched out unbearably as Kyne waited for his king’s
verdict. No matter what the king decided, Kyne knew he would
protect Sianna with his last breath even if he lost all in the
process.
No. Sianna’s denial sounded in his mind. He is a just king.
He’ll not demand my death.
Timon placed his hand on Kyne’s shoulder. “Rise. A First
Minister begs favors from no man—not even his king. I’ll not
force you to choose between two masters. The women’s lives
are yours. See that they cause no further trouble.”
Relief coursed through Kyne as he stood. Though he sensed
Timon’s doubts, in time the young king would learn Laila’s loyalty
and Sianna’s true worth. “You have my humble thanks, Sire.”
“Do not thank me too quickly. There are conditions. The
DiSanti name must cease to exist. By royal decree I declare
that Laila DiSanti was wed to Aubin Cathor. And,” Timon’s
sudden grin revealed the mischievous youngster hidden beneath
the burden of kingship. “You must wed Sianna DiSanti. Is this
acceptable to you?” he asked Sianna.
“Yes, Sire.” Joy sparkled in Sianna’s eyes and voice.
“And you, First Minister?”
Kyne straightened and began to re
turn Timon’s broad smile.
“How tender,” DiSanti rose behind Timon.
Kyne shoved Sianna aside and dove for his sword, but the
point of DiSanti’s blade against the king’s throat stopped him.
Slowly, Kyne eased his hand from his sword and stood up.
Blood trickled down Timon’s neck, but he didn’t flinch.
Warda’s growl warned Kyne the hound prepared to attack.
DiSanti’s blade bit deeper. “Call off your hound, Cathor, or
I’ll slit the boy’s throat now.”
“Warda. Hold.”
The hound whined, his body quivering, but he held.
“Release the king, DiSanti. You can’t hope to harm him
and leave this room alive.”
DiSanti’s laugh held little mirth and no sense of sanity. “Do
you think I care? What is there left for me to live for?” He
turned his glare on Sianna. “I curse the day you were born. You
and your whoring sister. All my plans. Dreams. You’ve destroyed
them all. Well, I’ll not die alone. The king dies first. Without him
to rally the ministers and people together, Dramon will crumble
into anarchy. I will have my revenge.”
“He’s gone mad,” Sianna whispered.
“And now you die, Your Highness!” DiSanti pulled back
his sword and prepared to drive the point into the king.
Before Kyne could react, Sianna sprang forward. She
knocked DiSanti’s sword aside and threw herself between them.
The king fell backwards out of harm’s way.
“No!” DiSanti screamed and plunged his blade into her
back.
Pain staggered Kyne as Sianna collapsed in his arms. He
sank to the ground with her.
Howling, Warda sank his teeth into DiSanti’s sword arm
and held him. The man shrieked and fell back, struggling to
keep his feet and prevent the hound from reaching his throat.
Sianna’s fingers closed around Kyne’s sword and thrust it
into his hands. Inside, he felt her life force slipping away.
“Sav...save yourself,” she whispered. “End...his evil. Not
for vengeance, but for sal...salvation.”
Warm from her touch, the hilt settled into his grip. How
could he leave her? Without him, she would surely die. And
without her, his life held no meaning. But if he didn’t stop DiSanti,
he would kill them all.
“Hold on, my love.” Vengeance played no part in his actions
as he tore himself from her side. His thoughts focused on
Sianna’s fight for life, he sprang to his feet, whirled around and
struck.
The red crystal blade found its mark deep in DiSanti’s chest.
Kyne released his grip and stepped back.
DiSanti’s sword fell from his fingers. Hands clenched around
the hilt of Kyne’s blade, he went to his knees and looked up.
Disbelief etched his face. Then his gaze went blank and he fell
forward, dead.
Warda sniffed at the corpse, then went and lay down near
Sianna.
Kyne felt no elation at the death of his long-time enemy, his
thoughts centered on Sianna’s fading life force. He knelt and
gathered her limp body into his arms. Blood covered her back.
Breath wheezed through her parted lips.
He barely noticed as Timon scrambled to his feet and came
to their side. “I’ll fetch help.” He ran from the room, shouting
for assistance.
Kyne tried to stanch the flow of blood. “Sianna. You must
live. For me. For our daughter. Without you, life holds no
meaning.” Fate could not be so cruel as to steal her from him.
With every beat of her heart he felt a stab of pain. “You are a
healer. Heal yourself.” Anger heated his demand.
Her hand touched his cheek. Cold already seeped through
her flesh. “I...cannot.” She smiled at him, but it was as if she
looked beyond him to a world out of his view. Her serene gaze
held no fear of death. “But you...can. You ha...have the gift. I
felt...it when I healed...Graham. I...could not...have done
it...without you.”
“Help me. What do I do?”
“Do?” She looked puzzled as life and awareness drained
away with her blood.
“How do I use this gift?”
“Just be...lieve.” The glaze of death crept over her eyes
before they fluttered closed, and she went still in his arms.
He clutched her close and searched for their connection,
but where her ka had touched his he found himself alone and
empty. Though her breath still stirred the hair at the nape of his
neck, he no longer felt her presence or her pain. For this journey
she had separated from him. If he didn’t act soon, she would
move to where he could not reach her. A faint flicker of light
pierced the darkness.
Believe.
The word sounded in his mind. Did he believe in this gift
Sianna had and claimed he had as well?
How could he not believe? Without it, she was dead.
He’d seen the miracles she wrought. Zoa. Graham. Laila.
By the two moons, to save her, he would believe.
He pressed his lips to hers and whispered, “I believe.” With
every ounce of his being he willed his energy into Sianna’s
limp, cooling body. He spread his hand over her back. Warmth
infused him, flowing through him and into Sianna as he absorbed
her injury. Icy agony pierced him. He bit his lip to keep from
crying out. Wave after wave of pain washed over him. Then
their entwined bodies. With each crest, the pain lessened and
finally faded.
Chest heaving, she gave a ragged cough, and her eyes
opened. Love shone in her now clear gaze. She smiled and
touched his lips with her own. Inside, he felt the renewed vitality
of her body and spirit. With hasty fingers, he searched her back
for the wound DiSanti inflicted, but found only smooth, unbroken
skin. Miracle or witchcraft, he didn’t care as long as she returned
to him.
“Are you well?”
She placed his hand over her belly. “We are both fine.”
He felt his daughter’s presence, her reality. The soft flutter
beneath his fingers echoed the awareness in his mind. A laugh
of pure joy bubbled inside him. With this promise of the future,
the past fell away. “I would name her Atrianna, Atra for my
mother, and for you.”
Sianna smiled up at him. “I believe our daughter approves.”
Her smile faded. “My father?”
Kyne stiffened at her continued claiming of DiSanti as her
father. “He is dead.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks.
“He does not deserve your grief.” Kyne could find no
forgiveness in his heart.
The sadness in her eyes reflected her understanding. “I
don’t grieve for the man he was, but for the man he might have
been. No matter the circumstances or his actions that followed,
he gave me life. Don’t ask me to disavow him. In doing so, I
would lose a part of myself. I cannot change the circumstances
of my birth. Nor can I deny the blood that flows in my veins, as
&
nbsp; it does in Atrianna’s.”
Kyne couldn’t deny her words when her very being had
healed his wounded ka. “Without DiSanti you would not exist.
For that alone, I find I can put the rest behind me. For you I
forswore vengeance. For your love, I will put aside hatred.”
“The future is now ours to create.”
Kyne grinned and stroked her belly. “I do believe we already
have.”
Don’t Miss Elysa Hendricks’
Gemini Moon
ISBN: 1-893896-57-9
A warrior by nature, a prince by birth, Ash del Gar resigns
himself to a loveless, political marriage with the princess of a
neighboring country. On his wedding night he discovers his bride
is Raaka—one without a soul. For peace to reign, the marriage
must produce children, so when a holy man tells Ash of a way
to retrieve the princess's soul, he agrees to try. In the midst of
a storm, through the power of a crystal medallion, Ash is struck
by lightning and transported to Earth.
Lame since childhood, Cathy Lawrence expresses her
longings for love only in the imaginary world and the imaginary
lover she's created in her art. When the naked embodiment of
her dream lover appears in her studio, Cathy fears her fantasy
world is becoming more real than reality.
Using the power of the storm, Ash abducts Cathy to his
world. Cathy struggles to find her way back to Earth and sanity,
while Ash fights his growing love for the woman whom he
must convince to save his world by sacrificing her soul...
Available Now from ImaJinn Books
About the Author
Elysa Hendricks resides in Northern Illinois, but her
imagination allows her to visit 1870's Texas, alternate universe
and other planets. A voracious reader, she began writing in the
early 90's. She helped found both the Windy City and the
Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal chapters of RWA.
Owned by two cats, one dog, two sons, a mortgage and
two car payments, she dreams of escaping to a tropical island
with her hero husband. For the time being, she keeps warm by
writing hot, sensual love scenes.
Elysa loves to hear from her readers. You may contact
Elysa through her web site, www.geminimoon.org, or write to
her in care of ImaJinn Books.