The Chosen One

The Chosen One Marisa Chenery (c) 2008 ISBN 978-1-59578-473-5

The Chosen One Marisa Chenery Published 2008 ISBN 978-1-59578-473-5 Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © 2008, Marisa Chenery. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Manufactured in the United States of America Liquid Silver Books http://LSbooks.com Email: [email protected] Editor Devin Govaere Cover Artist April Martinez This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Dedication To my family.

Chapter One He was back. Kali felt her heart beat faster. Just the sight of Gar standing in her throne room with the other supplicants sent her senses reeling. Why had he come? She focused her attention on the next person who stood patiently in line. As queen of Zudris it was her duty to settle disputes among her people, and she took her duty seriously, making sure to listen closely to both sides. Today she found it hard to pay attention knowing Gar was watching her every move. Her body all too clearly remembered what it felt like to be held in his strong arms, to have his powerful body surging into hers. When the final petitioner was heard, Kali remained on her throne and waited for the room to empty. Only Gar remained. She sat up straighter, adjusting her broadsword where it hung at her waist, and watched as he made his way across the room. It had been five years since she last saw him. He had left when she had needed him the most. He moved with a warrior’s grace, sleek muscles rippling with each step he took. Kali’s gaze followed his progress. At six feet nine inches Gar was a giant among men. Heavily muscled from years of swinging a broadsword, he would have made an adversary think twice before crossing him. He wore his white blond hair long, the ends falling just past his broad shoulders. His pale green eyes were blank, showing no emotion. No smile played upon his firm lips. Kali knew how those lips would feel on hers. She had missed tasting them. At twenty-six he was a man in his prime. Gar stood before her, waiting. He never bowed before her and never had. That was what had drawn Kali to him in the beginning. He had never treated her as if she were someone who had to be revered. He had treated her as his equal. To Gar she wasn’t just the warrior queen of Zudris, she was also Kali. He was the only one with whom she could be herself. Just plain Kali. Looking into his tanned handsome face, Kali knew she would have to speak first. “I see you have returned. Didn’t you vow never to do so the last time we spoke?” “I may have been too hasty in making that vow.” Kali gripped the arms of her throne. The feeling of betrayal rose up inside her. She had been eighteen when she ascended the throne of Zudris. At the time her people had been embroiled in an ongoing, two hundred year war with a neighboring country. With Gar fighting at her side she had begun to drive their opponents back across the border. Just before the final battle Gar had refused to fight, leaving her to lead her warriors alone. She had emerged victorious, finally giving peace to her people, but at a terrible cost to herself. The one man who owned her heart had walked away, leaving her alone to pick up the scattered pieces that were left of her country. Gar was to have been her mate, her prince consort, and he had walked away without as much as a backward glance. He gave it all up, gave up on her. “What do you want, Gar?” “I can see you haven’t forgiven me.” Kali narrowed her eyes at him. “You left me when I needed you.” “You know I had my reasons.” “I no more understand why you felt it was necessary today than I did then. My

feelings on that subject have not changed.” Gar stepped closer and placed his hands on top of hers. Bending forward, his eyes swept her face. “Nor have mine, Kali. If anything, I feel more strongly about it. You are the one.” Having him stand so close to her, Kali had to resist the urge to pull him to her so she could devour his mouth with her own. Taking a deep breath, she filled her nostrils with his scent. The musky maleness of it brought images of hot sweaty sex to mind. Memories of Gar in bed with her, his hard body pressed to hers as she held him tight. She felt wetness pool between her legs, aching for him to possess her again. But then his words sank in. Standing, she pushed past him with a snarl and moved to the middle of the room. “I am not the one.” Turning to face her, Gar shook his head. “Kali, think of what you could do with the power.” They were back to that old argument again, picking up where they had left off five years before, with Gar pushing and her resisting no matter how convincing he sounded. “The price of failure is too high. How could you ask me to take that chance?” “Because I believe you can do it.” “I wish I felt as sure as you do.” “At least listen to what the priests have to say.” Kali growled with rage. “You brought priests of the Order here?” “I have been with the brothers for the last few years.” “You have become one of them?” “No. I stay with them to learn. And the more I’ve seen the more strongly I feel you need to speak with them.” “I don’t like the position you have put me in. You know what could happen if I refuse.” “If there was another way to get you to agree, believe me I would have used it. You left me no choice.” “Like when you had no choice and walked away.” Before Gar could respond, Kali walked out of the throne room. All the old hurts she had pushed aside were coming back to the surface. She cursed the blood that ran through her veins. Pantherinae blood flowed through her body, which caused her eyes to be those of a cat, pure gold in color and pupils mere slits. They were a gift from her great-greatgrandmother. Kali was the only one of the royal line to be marked so since. And it had given the Order all they needed to latch onto her. **** Gar watched the throne room doors shut behind Kali. That had not gone the way he had planned. After five years, he had thought she would have been a little more forgiving. It was obvious she still felt he had betrayed her. She had no idea how hard it had been for him to leave her. Kali had been everything to him and she still was. No amount of time would change that. What he had done had been for her benefit. He had known that if he had stayed she would not be the strong warrior queen she was today. She had depended on his support too much. So he had left her, leaving his heart behind. He had stayed away but had held close every bit of news he had heard about Kali, like a miser coveting his gold. Now seeing she was no longer the girl he had once known,

but a strong, confident woman, beautiful with her long, straight, jet black hair and skin the color of wheat, made the lonely years worthwhile. But those times spent living without his heart was over. He had no intentions of leaving her ever again. He would make her his mate. But first he would have to get her to see he was right. And Kali being Kali, he knew that would be no easy task. **** With thoughts of what could have been still swirling in her head, Kali headed for the training room. After a long day of hearing grievances and Gar popping back into her life, she needed the peace she would feel after an hour of sword training. Luckily the room was empty. She was in no mood to make small talk with anyone. She needed to think and she did her best thinking alone. Swinging her sword, Kali felt the pull as her muscles stretched with the movement. The slashing and cutting motions were second nature to her now. She didn’t have to think about what she was doing. Letting her mind drift she thought of that last day she had spent with Gar. It was the day before the battle that had ended the war. After holding council with her generals, she and Gar had spent the rest of the night alone. He had taken her to bed. There had been something in his lovemaking that hadn’t been there before, a feeling of desperation. Almost as if he needed to have her and nothing else mattered but that. At the time Kali had thought it had to do with the upcoming battle. It wasn’t until after they had made love, until they were both sweaty and completely sated, did he tell her what he wanted her to do. That he wanted her to take the Order’s test. Lost in thought, Kali didn’t immediately sense she was no longer alone. She came back to herself when another sword suddenly blocked hers. Following the line of their crossed swords, she glared at Gar as she pulled her sword free. “I came here to be alone.” Gar sheathed his sword in the scabbard that hung at his side. “You haven’t changed. You still do your best thinking with a sword in your hand. I hope it was thoughts of me that kept you so preoccupied.” Kali lowered her sword. She would be damned before she let him know that, even though she had been thinking of him. “Don’t flatter yourself. I do have a kingdom to run. You aren’t the only thing I have to worry about. I now have the added stress of having to deal with priests from the Order.” Gar moved closer. He stood so a mere breadth of space separated their bodies. If Kali took a deep breath the tips of her breasts would brush against his wide chest. “I can help you, Kali. I know how to handle their kind.” She found her eyes riveted to his mouth as he spoke. Tearing herself away she looked up into Gar’s eyes. They were heavy looking, pupils dilated so only a ring of green remained. Kali licked her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue. “You can’t expect me to just let you walk back into my life as if nothing happened.” “I know I hurt you, but I’m back now and I intend to stay. Trust me, Kali.” Slowly, Gar lowered his mouth to hers. Kali’s eyes fluttered shut. It had been so long since she had tasted his lips. There had been no other to take his place. His lips brushed hers once before he covered them fully. When she didn’t push him away, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her up against his hard body. Every inch of him pressed

along the length of her. His tongue swept the seam of her mouth and her lips parted, allowing him entry. He tasted as she remembered. Kali purred in the back of her throat. Reality crashed in when he shifted her so his erection rubbed against her core. Even though her sex-starved body betrayed her as her pussy ached to have him deep inside, demanding that she let him take her, a small voice screamed inside her head that he had hurt her before. That he could do it again. Shoving at Gar’s chest, Kali broke free of his hold. Her breath came in shallow pants as she shook her head. “I shouldn’t have done that.” Gar tried to pull her back to him, but she stepped away, putting more space between them. Gar bit back a frustrated groan and stared down at her. Kali knew he could see that her lips were swollen from his kisses and that her golden cat’s eyes were heavy with desire. “Give me another chance. That’s all I’m asking. Let me earn back your trust.” “I don’t know if I can do that. You already brought trouble by bringing those priests to Zudris. I’ve been able to hold them off without complicating matters, but because of you that will no longer be possible.” “Talk to them, Kali. That is all I ask. I’m sure once you have granted them an audience and they have said their piece, they’ll return to their house.” “Fine, I’ll talk to them, and not because you asked me to. The longer they are here the higher the chances of something unpleasant occurring, at their doing.” Kali brushed past Gar as she headed for the door. Before leaving she turned to look at him. “As for you staying, I’m undecided. You do anything like this again, I will not only ask you to leave I’ll banish you from Zudris.”

Chapter Two Kali held off meeting with the priests until the following day. She didn’t want them to think she would jump to do their bidding. And this was not something she wanted to do. Others had tried in the past and failed, costing them their very lives. To remind them they were dealing with a queen, Kali arranged for the meeting to take place in her throne room. Seated on her throne, she stared at the two priests from the Order of The Chosen One. Each wore the robe of their calling, which covered their bodies from neck to ankle. She noticed the younger of the two avoided looking her in the eyes. Kali let a small smile play upon her lips. “Why should I do this, priests? The others must have felt they were justified in trying and they lost their lives. So why should I take the test? I would not want to leave my people without a ruler.” The younger priest clasped his hands in front of him and bowed his head before answering her questions. “You are different, Your Majesty. The signs all point to you.” Kali snarled which caused the priest to practically jump out of his skin. “Signs. That is all your kind does all the day long, look for signs. Just because my eyes are those of a Pantherinae doesn’t mean I’m the one.” The older priest cleared his throat, drawing Kali’s attention away from his now visibly shaken companion. “Your Majesty, do not take this offer lightly. It isn’t just our house that feels this way. Many houses of the Order have come to the same conclusion. You are a great ruler and warrior, everything that the oracles have said The Chosen One would be.” She had to wonder if the oracles had also included a physical description of The Chosen One along with those attributes the priest had just listed. Kali was pretty sure she didn’t match it. Most holy ones were perceived to be blond, almost ethereal looking in appearance, described as pale beauties. She was the complete opposite with her dark hair and tanned skin. And she was anything but weak. Years of swinging a sword had made her strong. “If the oracles know so much, why can’t they point a finger at who should be tested? They should be able to pinpoint exactly so no others take the risk that they aren’t the one.” “That is beyond their reach.” Her patience at an end, Kali rose to her feet, signaling the end of the meeting. “I will have to seek consul before I give my decision. When do you need my answer?” “We need your answer on the morrow.” “This is not something I can decide overnight.” “Yet you must. You have been called by the Order and to ignore it will cause your people to suffer the consequences.” “Do not threaten me, priest.” The throaty growl of a cat filled the room. “I will give my answer on the morrow, only because I wish to protect my people from the punishment your kind metes out. Now leave me.” Bowing before her, the two men silently left the room. Kali sat back down on her throne. She disliked the situation she found herself in. The

Order showed no mercy to those it felt disobeyed their strictures. Whole villages had been wiped out when they came under the Order’s wrath. The Order had their fingers in everything of monetary value, even down to controlling the amount of food the village markets sold. Watching her people starve was not an option for her. The doors opened and Kali sighed as Gar walked through them. She had known he would come as soon as the priests left her to see how the meeting had gone. Gar wore the brown leather pants and top that marked him as a warrior. She wore similar clothing, never one for dressing to impress others. The only thing that marked her as queen was the slim gold crown that sat on her brow. “Well, how did the meeting go?” “As I expected. They demanded I take the test. If I refuse, my people will suffer for it.” “You have to do the test, Kali. You care for the well being of your people far too much to put them in jeopardy.” “Don’t you think I already know that? I’m well and truly caught in their net this time.” “Did you tell them you would do it?” “No. I told them I would give them my answer on the morrow. I’ll not have them treating me as if I were a peasant with no rank. They already hold too much power as it is. More than they should.” “After the test that will change. With you as The Chosen One, they will have no choice but to do what you order. You can strip them of their power. You will be able to protect more than just your people from the Order.” Kali knew there was merit behind Gar’s reasoning. She could change how things were done in the Order, but she had a feeling it would not happen easily. The Order had too long ruled itself, not having to answer to anyone. Even though their sole purpose was to serve The Chosen One, Kali was sure they would not be pleased when the One was found. She wouldn’t put it past them to select individuals who weren’t, just to show they still searched for The Chosen One. It also was a perfect way to rid themselves of those who opposed their rule. So who was to say they weren’t lying when they said she was the one? It wasn’t as if she had openly done anything to raise their ire, but she knew the Order feared her strength as a ruling queen. “I hope to hell you’re right. That will be the only good thing about all this if I pass the test. The rest, I’m not going to think about.” Silence fell between them. Kali shifted uncomfortably on her throne. She felt Gar’s eyes on her as he stared at her possessively. She knew if she gave him any kind of sign of acceptance, Gar would act upon it. Kali wasn’t willing to just let him back into her life. Too much time had past, and the hurt he had caused her, she could not so easily forget. Gar closed the distance between them. Not wanting him to gain the upper hand, Kali got up and moved to stand next to her throne. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared up at him, daring him to make a move. Gar shook his head and softly chuckled at her show of resistance. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you, Kali?” “Make what easy on you?” “Getting you to trust me again.” Gar took a step that brought them toe-to-toe. “I’m not going anywhere, Kali. So you had better get used to it.” Bending slightly toward her,

he stopped just short of her lips and looked deeply into her eyes. “I’m not giving up on us. My feelings have stayed true.” Kali felt breathless as Gar hovered above her. It was a temptation having him so close that his breath fanned her cheeks with each word he spoke. His scent filled her senses until she felt lightheaded, but she soon recovered herself. Hearing him declare that he had stayed true to her only caused her temper to flare. Curling her lip in a snarl, Kali growled deep in her throat before she pushed Gar away from her. “If your feelings for me never changed, you wouldn’t have been able to walk away. There is no us. As for trusting you, I don’t think I can. You promised me forever once then turned your back on me.” “It was for your own good, Kali.” “So you say, but it still doesn’t excuse your actions.” Unable to be in the same room with Gar any longer, Kali stepped off the dais. Before leaving, she looked back at Gar. “You are welcome to stay in Zudris, this was your home at one time, but I want you to keep your distance. I don’t need you bothering me now that I have the Order to contend with.” Turning her back on Gar, Kali walked out of the throne room. Before the door shut behind her, she heard Gar swearing to himself. **** Kali sent her answer to the priests the following morning. They scurried back to their house to inform the rest of the Order and to begin the preparations for the test. It could only be performed after the proper rituals had been completed and only on the eve of a new moon. That meant Kali had three weeks to wait before she had to present herself to the head house of the Order. She was always amazed by how fast word spread through the royal court and beyond. She couldn’t do anything without its being broadcast to one and all. So she wasn’t very surprised to learn that news of her having to do the Order’s test had spread like wildfire. By that afternoon, the whole court was buzzing with it. Even though she lived in a castle made of thick stone walls, Kali couldn’t help but overhear her people speculating on her chances of passing the test. The courtiers were the worst. Living a life of privilege, they had few outlets available to make their lives interesting. With news such as this, that one and all couldn’t resist talking about, bets would be made on the outcome. Unable to stomach the whisperings and pointed looks any longer, Kali left the courtiers to their gossiping. Once at her private chambers she removed her crown and rubbed her forehead. She had a pounding headache. All she wanted to do was lie down and sleep for a few hours. She hadn’t slept well during the night. Though she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, she was feeling stressed about having to do the test, no matter what the outcome would be. Both were equally abhorrent to her. All she wanted was to be able to rule peacefully. She didn’t need to be anything else but the queen of Zudris. Before she could make it to her bedchamber someone knocked on her door. Kali cursed under breath then bid the person to enter. Opening the door with enough force to send it slamming against the wall, a middle aged woman breezed into the room. Before Kali could say anything the older woman had her wrapped in a perfumed embrace. “Poor, Kali. What have you gotten yourself into this time?”

“Nice to see you, too, Aunt Lara.” Kali’s voice came out muffled sounding from having her face pressed against her aunt’s shoulder. Releasing Kali, her aunt walked over to the large couch and patted the seat next to her. Kali sighed. Since her mother’s death her aunt had made it her sole responsibility to look out for Kali’s welfare. Something Lara felt her older sister would have approved. Kali figured it gave her Aunt Lara the excuse to stick her nose into her business whenever she wished. Sighing once again, she took a seat next to her aunt. At fifty, her aunt was still a beauty. Her black hair, which she wore up in the latest style, was liberally streaked with grey. Her bronze gown matched her whisky colored eyes, and complimented her fuller figure. Kali knew her aunt thought she should take more care with her own appearance, but she was not like her aunt and never would be. “Tell me how two priests from the head house of the Order managed to gain entry to the castle, let alone be allowed to set foot into Zudris. You have been able to avoid such a meeting in the past.” “Their presence here was not my doing, Aunt Lara.” When her aunt arched a brow in her direction, Kali steeled herself for what was to come next. “Gar brought them with him.” Her aunt’s back went ramrod stiff in indignation. “That man brought two priests from the head house of the Order to Zudris without your knowledge?” “I’m afraid so.” “Well I hope you sent him packing.” “Not exactly. Gar’s still here, for the time being.” Kali cringed when her aunt began to reprimand her. “What do you mean he’s still here? After what that man did to you and now this on top of it? If you can’t send him away, I will. And I’ll give him a piece of my mind while I’m at it.” Lara rose, but Kali quickly pulled her aunt back down onto the couch before she could carry out her plans for Gar. “Aunt Lara, I don’t need you to handle Gar for me. I’m perfectly capable of handling him myself.” “For someone who had professed his love for you, he obviously has no qualms about putting your life on the line.” “As far as Gar is concerned, he isn’t putting my life in jeopardy. He still feels I’m The Chosen One.” “But what if you aren’t? It will be a little too late to fix his mistake.” Behind all her aunt’s bluster Kali knew she was terribly upset. She had taken the death of her sister extremely hard. All the love and affection she’d had for her older sister she now showered on her niece. With no children of her own, Lara considered Kali as much her own daughter as she had been her sister’s. “But what if the oracles are right and I am the one? What then? I don’t want to be The Chosen One.” “You may not want it, Kali, but you will accept it.” Her aunt reached out and caressed her cheek. “I pray you are the one. I will not accept any other outcome.” Kali got up and started to pace in front of her aunt. Absentmindedly she rubbed her throbbing temples. “First you want to run Gar out of Zudris, but now you take his side?” “I’m not taking that man’s side. I just refuse to think of the alternative. I won’t lose you, Kali. So then you must be the one.”

Kali rolled her eyes. “I wish I felt as positive as you do about this. Maybe then I would be able to sleep at night.” Her aunt clucked her tongue. “I’ll brew one of my special teas and have it sent to you tonight so you can sleep.” “Thanks, but I don’t think that will be necessary.” “Nonsense. We can’t have you getting ill because you aren’t sleeping.” “Fine, do whatever you want. Just so you know I plan on eating in my chamber tonight. Listening to the courtiers’ whispers about this has given me a headache. I would like to enjoy my meal in peace.” Lara stood and pressed a kiss to Kali’s cheek. “You get some rest, dear. I’ll make sure that man knows you don’t want to be disturbed. I’ll see you tomorrow. Your uncle and I have decided to stay until things settle down. You need your family around you now.” Kali shook her head as she watched her aunt breeze out of the room. She couldn’t help but feel a small amount of pity for Gar. He would be lucky to leave her aunt’s presence without her taking a strip off him. But then again, he deserved what he got. It would do him good to know he wouldn’t be welcomed back to the fold with open arms.

Chapter Three Gar searched the hall for Kali. He hadn’t seen her earlier in the day and had hoped to see her during the evening meal. But when the meal was served and the head table remained empty, he realized Kali was not going to make an appearance. The sound of the hall doors opening drew Gar’s attention. He hoped to see Kali had decided to dine in the hall after all. Seeing her aunt and uncle enter the room instead, he slouched down in his chair. Kali’s aunt was one person he would like to avoid. She was Kali’s greatest defender and would not look too kindly on his return. Once they were both seated at the head table, Gar focused his attention on his plate of food. Maybe if he were lucky he could finish his meal and make good his escape without being noticed. But it soon became obvious he wouldn’t be so lucky. Looking up he found Kali’s aunt standing next to him. He thought about standing to greet her, but thought better of it seeing how she was glaring at him. “Hello, Lara. You look lovely as always.” Lara waved his compliment away with a flick of her hand. “Don’t try to sweet talk me. I will come straight to the point. After the meal I wish to speak to you in my chambers about your stay here.” “I see you’re still direct as ever.” “Well, answer me.” Gar bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling. He always got a kick out of having this small woman, who barely reached his chest in height, take him to task. Being so large he rarely met those who didn’t feel a little bit intimidated by him. “I will be happy to meet with you after the meal.” With a nod of her head, Lara walked back to the head table. She smiled sweetly up at her husband as he helped her into her seat. Gar returned to his meal. He had better build up his strength. He was sure he would need it during his meeting with Kali’s aunt. He knew she would use this opportunity to rake him over the coals for his past, and present, actions. **** Gar raised his fist and knocked on the solid wood door. Lara opened the door and motioned him inside the chamber. Her husband, Victor, stood by the window. In his late fifties, he still was a solidly built man. Even though his hair was mostly grey and his stomach was a little soft looking, it was not something that could be said about the rest of his body. He stood tall and straight with his hand resting on the pommel of the sword hanging at his waist. He nodded at Gar then moved to kiss his wife on the cheek. “I’ll leave you two alone to have your chat.” Victor shook Dar’s hand then left the room. Lara took a seat in one of the chairs set in front of the unlit fireplace. She motioned for Gar to sit in the chair across from hers. Seating himself, he waited for Lara to begin the conversation. “I want to know why you have decided to return now. Kali no longer needs you.”

“I know she doesn’t. I hoped to find her able to stand on her own two feet. I didn’t return to see if she had failed in my absence.” “Then why come back?” “Because I couldn’t stay away any longer. Kali may not need me, but the same can’t be said for me.” At Lara’s snort of disbelief, Gar asked, “Why do find that so hard to believe? Did it ever occur to you how painful it was for me to walk away? How I wanted to do nothing more then come back to Zudris, go on my knees and beg Kali to take me back?” “As a matter of fact, I do. Especially since you are responsible for bringing them to her. What can you possibly gain by forcing Kali to take the test?” “Nothing. Kali would be the one to gain. You know as well as I do she is more than capable of taking on the Order.” Lara searched his face. “I can see you feel strongly about this. Yes, I agree Kali would be able to handle the likes of them, but this is no ordinary test where if she were to fail she could walk away. The price of failure is death.” “It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I have lived with the priests these last few years. I have seen how the Order works and how they use their power to manipulate others. But not all of the Order is corrupt. There are those in the lower ranks that do have a true calling. They are the ones that first interpreted the oracles’ signs showing Kali could be the one. It has only now come to a head because each time the oracles are asked they say the same thing. The Order could no longer ignore them.” “So you offered them your services in finding a way for them to speak to Kali that she could not refuse?” “They came to me first, knowing my past association with her. “You could have told them no, but you didn’t. Now we must all face the consequences for your decision. What are your intentions regarding Kali? You can’t think she will ever take you back.” “I never stopped loving Kali. I still want her as my mate. I sense she still has feelings for me as well.” Lara shook her head. “Very presumptuous of you to think she would want you as her mate. Who is to say she has not found someone to take your place?” “Is there another man in Kali’s life?” “No.” Lara looked down at her clasped hands sitting in her lap before looking back up at Gar. “No, there isn’t. But that does not mean you can expect me to let you hurt her again. I at one time thought you were the perfect mate for Kali. You showed me how wrong I was when you left her.” Gar went over to Lara and squatted down until he was eye level with her, taking her hands in his. “You have my word as a warrior that I would never do anything to hurt Kali again. The last five years have been hell for me. There has been no one else but Kali. I would like to have your blessing, but it isn’t necessary. I’ll still try to make her mine.” Lara nodded. “I can see I won’t be able to change your mind. So I will give my blessing. Just remember one thing. You hurt her and you will have me to contend with.” Standing to his full height, Gar bowed in Lara’s direction before leaving the chamber. Having overcome that hurdle, he still had the hardest one to face, winning Kali over. ****

“What do you want, Gar?” Gar smiled down at Kali as she stood framed in the doorway to her chambers. “Why do you think I want something? Maybe I would just like to have the pleasure of your company.” “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “One glass of wine and a bit of conversation. That’s all, nothing more.” Holding his breath, Gar waited as Kali thought over his request. When she stepped back and allowed him to enter the room, he felt he’d scored one point in his favor. Kali filled two goblets with wine and handed one to Gar before she sat down in the chair across from him. “What did you want to talk about? If you’ve come to talk about the test, forget it. I don’t want to think about it anymore for the time being.” Gar shook his head. “No, that isn’t why I came. I wanted to spend some time with you.” “Okay. I’ll give you until you’ve finished your wine then you can leave.” “You aren’t going to make this easy for me, are you, Kali?” “Drink your wine, Gar.” He chose to ignore Kali’s hint for him to hurry up and leave. “I see your aunt and uncle are here.” “Yes. Aunt Lara heard what was going on and of course rushed to be with me. I suggest you stay as far away from her as you can. She wasn’t thrilled to hear you had returned.” Gar chuckled. “I’m afraid your warning comes a little too late. I’ve all ready been put through the third degree.” “And you managed to leave her presence unscathed. I’m impressed.” “Not totally unscathed. I’ve been warned that if I hurt you, your aunt will do more than simply take me to task.” “That’s Aunt Lara, always sticking her nose into my affairs.” “She means well. You can’t fault her for that.” Gar watched Kali take a sip of her wine. A drop of ruby red wine was left behind on her bottom lip. Using the tip of her tongue she swiped it away. It took everything he had not to yank her out of her chair and into his arms. The urge to bury himself in her softness, sheathing his hard cock to the hilt in her moist heat, was almost too much to ignore. Having tasted her in the training room, after being so long denied, it only made him crave her all the more. Shifting in his chair, Gar tried to hide the state he was in. If Kali saw the bulge in his pants, she would easily see how she affected him. The silence grew between them. Gar knew he had to tread carefully. One wrong move and Kali would push him away forever. That was not something he could live with. Slowly sipping his wine he let his eyes roam over her body even though he knew he was torturing himself. He longed to run his finger along her plump kissable lips, and from there draw an invisible line from her throat down to the valley between her breasts. Moving his eyes further down her body, he followed the outline of her breasts to her nipped in waist. Her leather shirt hugged her body in all the right places. “Stop it, Gar.” Pulling himself together, Gar yanked his gaze back up to Kali’s face. Her eyes bore into him, her breath coming in small gasps. “Stop doing what?” He pitched his voice low, making his question more seductive sounding.

“Looking at me that way.” Lifting his goblet to his lips, Gar took a sip from it, hiding the small smile he wore. “I’m not allowed to look at you now?” “No … I mean yes, you can look, but not as if you’re ready to spring at me.” “If I promise not to stare at you, will you consider spending time with me here in your chambers?’ Kali shook her head. “No, Gar.” Gar sat forward in his chair. He knew one way to get what he wanted. Kali was never one to turn down a challenge. “Okay, how about this? Just you and I, right now in the training room, decide the matter with our swords. If you can best me, I’ll leave you alone.” “And if I lose?” Kali sat up straighter with interest. “Then I get to spend every evening for a week alone with you here in your chambers.” Kali remained silent while she made her decision. In the end she nodded her head. “You’re on. I agree with your terms.” Placing her goblet aside, she took his from him and stood. “Let’s get this over with. And just so you know, I’ve been fantasizing about kicking your butt for the last five years. I’m going to enjoy this.” Gar chuckled as he followed Kali out into the hallway. She may enjoy battering him with her sword, but he was going to win and would enjoy having her to himself for a week even more. **** Pushing open the training room door, Kali stood aside as Gar followed her in. She then closed and locked the door. She didn’t want any spectators. The gossips would have a hay day just knowing Gar had been alone with her in her chambers. Not waiting to see if Gar was ready or not, Kali pulled her sword out of its scabbard and swung it at him. Gar easily blocked it with his sword. “Going to play dirty, Kali?” “No, but I will use every advantage I can get.” She lunged at him. Once again his sword met hers before she could connect. After a few more strikes, Kali could tell Gar was playing with her. His strength was much greater than hers and it didn’t help that he towered over her. As he pushed her across the floor, Kali knew it would be over in a matter of minutes. She knew she couldn’t defeat Gar. She never had been able to in the past, but she still had one more trick up her sleeve. After Gar had blocked her sword yet again, Kali pulled it free and jumped straight up and over his head. Twisting in the air, she landed on her feet right behind Gar. Before he could turn around, she hit him in the ass with the flat of her sword. Gar yelped, then turned to face her. “That move is new,” Gar said as he rubbed his abused backside. Kali lifted her sword and touched the blade to her forehead in salute. The smug smile she wore soon disappeared as Gar charged her. With a flick of his wrist, he sent her sword skidding across the floor. But he wasn’t finished with her. Taking hold of one of her arms, he swept his leg under hers and flipped her onto her back. He fell on top of her, cradled her face in his hands and kissed her thoroughly. She felt every inch of him against her. There was no mistaking the hard ridge of his

cock pressed against her core. His tongue swept inside her mouth, tasting her. Kali felt her body responding to him. An ache began to build between her legs, causing wetness to pool. She didn’t know if she was strong enough to resist. Before she could put her limits to the test, Gar pulled away and stood up. Looking down at her, Gar swept the length of her body with his heated gaze. “Since I’m the victor, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow evening.” Then he was gone. “Damn,” Kali muttered. Slowly picking herself up off the floor, she went and picked up her sword. She was in trouble. With just one kiss Gar had left her aching for more. She didn’t know how she was going to be able to resist him for an entire week. **** Thanks to Gar, Kali spent another restless night. He had given her a taste of passion, which she had denied herself for so long. Now her traitorous body craved his touch. She spent most of the night dreaming of Gar naked in her bed, doing the most delicious things to her body. When it came to sex, Gar had always made sure she was well satisfied, and never left her wanting. With the morning light, Kali woke up frustrated and annoyed with herself. She couldn’t let him get under her skin. He had broken her heart, but she was afraid her body was only too willing to forget the pain Gar had put her through. Getting out of bed, she quickly bathed and dressed, ready to face another day. Before leaving her chamber, she cracked open the door and peered out into the hallway to make sure Gar wasn’t lurking about. Realizing what she had done, Kali shook her head. She knew she was being ridiculous. Gar wasn’t the lurking type. She arrived at the hall just as the morning meal was being served. Her aunt and uncle were already at the head table. Her aunt smiled at her when she sat down next to her. “How are you this morning, dear?” “Fine,” Kali mumbled. “Aren’t we in a fine mood!” “Sorry, Aunt Lara. I didn’t sleep very well last night.” Lara turned Kali’s face toward her. “You do have dark circles under your eyes. I should have sent you one of my teas. Are you still having trouble sleeping because of the test?” “I wish,” Kali said under her breath. “What was that, dear?” “Nothing.” Her aunt pinned her with a look that said she had heard exactly what Kali said, and wanted an explanation. Luckily for Kali, a servant came at that moment and began to fill their plates with food. Choosing to ignore her aunt, Kali dug into her food hoping Lara wouldn’t push. Kali soon heard Lara sigh, and out of the corner of her eye, saw her shake her head before her aunt too began to eat. The hall doors opened and without looking up from her plate, she knew Gar had arrived. All her senses instantly kicked into overdrive as he stepped inside. Lifting her eyes, Kali watched him move to one of the tables set not far from the dais. Her breath caught as Gar looked her way. His eyes bore into her, heating her from the inside out. Kali quickly looked down at her plate as her heart began to beat at a faster pace.

Lara chuckled beside her. “Ah, now I understand why you had a sleepless night.” Kali clenched her teeth together to stop herself from snarling at her aunt. There was no way she was going to let Lara know she had guessed right about whom Kali had lost sleep over. Lara would make more of it than it actually was. Having to suffer Gar staring at her with heat in his eyes, and Lara giving her knowing looks each time he did so, Kali wolfed her food down and left the hall before anyone could stop her. At a fast pace, she headed for her throne room. She hoped a long day of hearing her peoples’ grievances would help keep her mind off things better left alone. **** She was in hell, and Gar damn well knew it. Kali had hoped he would have found something better to do than to sit all day in her throne room listening to the supplicants that had lined up to see her. But as the hours wore on, and Gar stayed at the back of the room casually leaning against the wall watching her, Kali was just about ready to take his head off by the end of the day. She would have tolerated his presence better if he had only just stood there and had no affect over her. But that was not the case. His eyes never left her face the entire day. More than once she had to have a supplicant repeat what he had said when she happened to look up and find Gar staring at her so intently, as if he were the hunter and she the prey. Eyes heavy with longing, he had silently promised she would enjoy what he would do to her once he had caught her. After the last supplicants filed out of the room, Kali expected to find Gar still standing against the wall. With some dismay, she found he was nowhere in sight. Cursing herself for being a fool, Kali stomped out of the room. Gar was playing with her, knowing darned well what kind of effect he was having on her. Once she reached her chambers, Kali slammed the door shut behind her, and for good measure locked it as well. The evening meal would be served in a few hours, but she had no intentions of sitting through another meal with Gar staring at her as if he really wanted to be eating her instead. After arranging with one of the servants to have her meal brought to her chambers, Kali sat down to wait. She tried to read, but after she had read the same page five times and still had no idea what she had read, she put the book away. When she heard the knock on her door, she assumed it was a servant bringing her meal as she had requested. Not thinking, Kali unlocked the door and pulled it wide open. It turned out not to be a servant at all. Gar stood in the hallway, holding a large tray with enough food on it to feed two people. Realizing what he intended, Kali quickly grabbed the door and tried to shut it before he could step inside. Gar stuck out his large foot and blocked it before she could move it very far. Brushing past her, he went and placed the tray of food on the small table she used when she ate in her chambers. Closing the door, Kali turned to glare at Gar. “I wanted to eat my meal alone.” “Well, I decided to eat with you. You did promise to spend the evening with me.” “Yes, but I didn’t think that included having my meal with you.” “You thought wrong.” “That was not part of the deal. I never agreed to that.” “Then you should have said as much before you accepted my terms. The evening meal is part of the evening after all.”

Kali felt like throttling Gar, but thought better of it when he looked at her, daring her to challenge what he had said. Accepting defeat, she threw herself into the chair across from the one Gar stood beside. Without saying a word, he moved his chair beside hers and set one of the empty plates in front of her. Kali tried to put some space between them, but the table leg prevented her from moving very far. Acting as if he hadn’t seen what she had done, Gar began to dish food onto both of their plates. As they ate, Gar’s shoulder brushed against hers. Each time he made contact, a shockwave of awareness shot through her body. Having endured his heated looks all day, this just made her body more sensitive to his. She felt the heat of his body seeping into hers. Unable to stop herself, Kali closed her eyes and drew his scent deep inside, savoring the smell of him. Desire pooled in the pit of her stomach, causing her body to ache, dripping with wetness, demanding her to strip her clothes off and throw herself into Gar’s arms. With her hands fisted to stop from touching him, Kali pushed back her chair and shot to her feet. Needing to get away from Gar, she went and sat in one of the chairs at the opposite end of the room. Gar continued to eat until all the food was gone from his plate. He poured two goblets of wine and gave one to her before sitting in the chair next to hers. They drank their wine in silence. Kali felt her nerves stretched so tightly she was ready to scream. When she finished her wine, Gar took her glass from her and placed it on the tray with the remnants of their meal. Picking up the tray, he headed for the door. Before leaving, Gar turned to face her. “I can see you’re not feeling quite yourself tonight, Kali. I’ll leave you so you can get some rest. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening.” Giving her one last heated look that had Kali melting in her chair, Gar walked out of her chamber. With the fires of desire still licking at her body, Kali decided she needed to take a cool bath or sleep would elude her once again. At the rate Gar was weakening her defenses, she doubted she would survive the week in one piece. **** It was now the final evening of the week Gar had wrested from Kali. Coming to stand in front of the door to her chambers, he took in a deep breath. Tonight he would storm her defenses. He had given her as much time as he could to get used to his being back in her life. He couldn’t allow her to shut him out once again. Since that first evening, Kali had eaten all her evening meals in the hall with the rest of the court. Gar knew she did it to keep him there as long as possible. She made sure she stayed and chatted with her aunt and uncle well into the night. On more than one occasion, Gar had to ruthlessly push back the urge to sling her over his shoulder and take Kali to her chambers so he could have her all to himself. Even though she dallied in the hall, he still made sure she kept up her end of the bargain. Begrudgingly, she would allow him into her chambers each night. They would have a goblet of wine and then he would leave. Before leaving her, he made sure to touch her in some way. Sometimes, just to have the satisfaction of seeing her face flush with desire, he would almost kiss her, allowing his lips to hover a few scant inches above hers. Sitting angled in his chair, Gar was able to feast his eyes on Kali. Letting all the pent up desire he had for her show in his eyes, he looked her up and down. He saw her chest rapidly rise and fall as her breath quickened. It was now or never.

Placing his goblet on the small table that sat between their chairs, Gar moved to stand before her. He held out his hand. “Trust me, Kali. Give us one more chance. Please don’t let our past differences keep us apart. I need you. I always have.” Kali placed her goblet next to Gar’s. He saw the battle she fought within herself, the conflicting emotions she was going through, displayed in her eyes. She was going to fight the attraction she felt for him to the bitter end. When she didn’t take his hand, he began to wonder if he had made a mistake by pushing her. He let it drop back down to his side. Slowly she rose to stand in front of him. “I keep telling myself I would be a fool to let you back into my life. But another little voice inside keeps saying I would be an even greater fool not to. In two weeks who knows what will happen. In two weeks my life could be over and I would have passed up on something I thought to never have again.” Gar inched forward until their bodies almost touched. He kept his hands clenched at his sides to stop himself from pulling her to him. She had to be the one to take the first step. “Then give me these next two weeks and we will see what happens after that.”

Chapter Four Kali’s heart skipped a beat. Gar was too tempting standing there, staring down at her with all the longing he was feeling showing in his eyes. She knew if she did this there would be no turning back. No second thoughts. Gar wouldn’t allow her to walk away without a fight. And after five years of aching for him, she was finding it no easy task to talk herself out of what her body was screaming for her to accept. That had slowly become something she needed to have to continue living. Closing her eyes briefly, Kali moved a step closer so her breasts barely brushed his chest. “Don’t think I’m declaring you as my mate just because I’ve let you back into my bed. I admit I want you, but I’m not ready to accept you permanently back into my life. If you can’t deal with that, walk away now.” “Your terms are more than acceptable.” With a hand over Gar’s rapidly beating heart, she reached up and gently brushed his lips with her own. As if the touch of her lips had released him from the bounds holding him back, Gar wrapped his arms around Kali’s waist and hauled her up against him. His lips took hers in a searing kiss. Closing her eyes, Kali let him sweep her away on a rolling tide of passion. She pressed herself closer. She felt his hard cock nestled against her stomach. The feel of him made her body ache for his as wetness pooled between her legs. Her heart skipped a beat just thinking of how good it would feel to have his hard length inside her pussy. Picking her up, Gar made his way to her bedchamber without breaking contact with her lips. Once at her bed he lowered her to the mattress and moved so he could straddle her body. Sitting back he quickly unbuckled his sword belt and let it fall to the floor. With his hands on either side of Kali’s head, he leaned down and kissed her. Gar hovering above her, Kali was able to slip her hands beneath his shirt. She ran them up his chest, outlining it with her fingertips. The feel of his hot smooth skin beneath her hands made her want to explore more of him. Running her fingers down his rippling abs, she followed them down past his naval to the top of his pants. With nimble fingers she quickly unfastened them. Parting the material she slipped a hand inside and wrapped it around his hard cock. Gar groaned against her mouth as she pumped her hand up and down his full length. Circling the tip, she rubbed a bead of moisture into the velvety skin. Gar sat back and watched her caress him. His chest rose and fell as his breath quickened and his eyes grew heavy with desire. As she worked her hand up and down him, Gar pushed up her shirt, exposing her breasts to his sight. Kali sucked in a breath as he circled her nipples with a forefinger. Her breasts grew heavy and her nipples hardened into tight little buds, begging for attention. Pulling her hands away from him, Gar pinned them above her head. He lowered himself down onto her outstretched body and flicked her nipples with the tip of his tongue before sucking one deep inside his mouth. Kali moaned and arched her hips. Releasing her nipple, Gar licked his way over to the other before taking it, too, into his mouth, sucking hard. Letting go of her hands, he trailed his fingers down her side. When he encountered the top of her pants, he opened them and burrowed his hand between her legs. Kali moaned again as his fingers brushed against her core. Spreading

her legs, she felt a finger push past the curls guarding the entrance to her body as it slipped inside her. Lifting her hips, she squeezed her inner muscles around his finger, as a second soon joined the first. Holding Gar’s head to her breast, Kali rode his fingers, feeling the pressure build deep within her. Kali whimpered with need as Gar pulled away, but seeing him quickly strip the clothes from his body, she pulled her shirt over her head. Having made short work of his own, he helped her remove her pants before moving to lie between her legs. Kali lifted her hips as the tip of his cock brushed against the opening to her body. Unable to wait any longer to have him inside her, she pushed down, taking the head inside. Gar groaned as he slipped his hands under her bottom and pushed the rest of his length into her. The feel of him stretching her, filling her, had Kali clawing at his back. Then he moved on her. Pulling back until he was almost free of her body, he slammed back into her. Kali wrapped her legs around his waist, taking him even deeper. As he rode her, she felt her climax racing to claim her. Kali heard Gar groan as her warm channel embraced his hard length. It was almost too much for them both. After years of not touching another, their bodies were ready to explode. Release was near the surface for both of them. With slow, powerful strokes, Gar thrust his hard cock inside Kali’s softness. Gar shifted so his shaft rubbed her clit. Kali felt her climax almost upon her. Clamping down on his hard shaft as he moved in and out of her, Kali matched his strokes. He was so deep he hit her womb with each stroke. At her peak, Kali whimpered as her body convulsed around his, milking him, pushing him into an orgasm of his own. Throwing back his head, Gar moaned as his body spilled inside her. He collapsed on top of her. Kali held Gar close as their breathing slowly returned to normal. Closing her eyes she savored the feel of his much larger body pressing her down. He was heavy, but she didn’t want him to move, she wanted to keep their bodies joined together. Gar lifted his head and propped himself up on his elbows. He brushed a feather-light kiss against each of her closed eyelids. Kali’s eyes fluttered open. “Don’t fall asleep on me. I’m not done with you yet, Kali. That was just the beginning. I haven’t been able to touch you like this for far too long. Now all the fantasies I’ve had over the years, of holding you, tasting you, making love to you, no longer have to be kept inside my head. I can show you exactly what I’ve wanted to do to you in bed. Before this night is over I intend to lick every inch of your body, and make love to you so many times you won’t be able to think of anything else but me.” Gar hooked one of Kali’s legs over his arm, lifting her bent knee to her chest. Holding it there, he pulled his hips back, sliding his length just about out, only to slowly push back inside her body. Kali felt his cock growing inside her. Clutching at his shoulders, she turned her head as Gar scraped his teeth against the side of her neck. As he moved on her, he slowly pumped his hips. He kept the pace maddeningly slow, refusing to move faster even after she begged him. Pinned as she was beneath him, Kali couldn’t move. She whimpered as he tortured her, her body clamoring for release. Every time she came close, he stopped moving, only to build it back up again. They were both panting with need, but Gar held firm. Keeping her leg raised, he slowly pulled out of her body. He rubbed the head of his cock against the sensitive nubbin of flesh at the top of her opening. Kali groaned in frustration. She was so close.

Still Gar continued to tease her. He placed his lips next to her ear and asked, “What do you want, Kali? I want to hear you say it.” Kali purred as he took her earlobe between his teeth and tugged. “I want you,” she gasped. “Where do you want me?” “I want to feel you deep inside me. I need you. Now.” Forcing her legs farther apart, Gar said, “Then you shall have me.” With one hard stroke, he sheathed himself inside her hot slick opening. He rode her hard, no longer keeping his pace slow. Each stroke of his hard cock rubbed against Kali’s clit, sending lightning bolts of pleasure shooting through her body. She held on as his pace quickened, pushing her over the edge. A keening wail rose up inside her as Kali’s body shattered and her climax took her over. Gar continued to move on her, keeping his strokes firm, making her body shudder with aftershocks. He grew even harder as he rammed into her once, twice, then he, too, was moaning as his body throbbed deep inside her, climaxing. Pulling out of her, Gar moved to lie beside Kali on the bed. Sweat glistened on their bodies. Their chests rose and fell as their breath rasped in and out of their lungs. Turning onto his side, Gar pulled Kali closer, holding her to him. He kissed her lightly on the lips and told her to sleep before his eyes drifted shut. Sated and relaxed, Kali fell into a dreamless sleep. **** By slow degrees Kali brought herself to wakefulness. Cracking an eye open, she realized it had to be mid-morning. Bright sunlight filled the room, coming in through the window directly across from the bed. The curtains that normally blocked the light sat open on either side of the window. During the night she hadn’t thought about drawing them closed. Shifting on the bed she couldn’t help but notice how her body ached in the most intimate of places. It had been a long time since she had last been with a man. A small smile played upon her lips as she thought of how she got those aches. Gar had made love to her for most of the night, only allowing her to sleep for any length of time as dawn slowly inched above the horizon. Kali stretched then tried to roll onto her back but found she couldn’t. Gar lay behind her, his body wrapped around hers. He lay with an arm across her chest and her legs trapped beneath one of his. His shaft pressed against her bottom. She stretched again and it stirred against her. Turning her head, she found Gar awake and staring at her. He removed his arm and rolled her onto her back. “Good morning.” Cupping her cheek in his palm, he tenderly kissed her. “Now that is the proper way to say good morning.” Kali traced the hard angles of his face. “I think you may have left something out. I don’t think you put enough effort into that.” “Really? Let me try again.” His lips descended again. He took her mouth in a firm kiss before sweeping his tongue along the seam, seeking entrance. Kali parted her lips, giving him access to her mouth. Their tongues twined together, tasting each other before Gar sucked hers between

his lips. Kali felt her body go up in flames. Even though she had made love to him for most of the night, her body still wanted more. Taking his hand, she led it down to the entrance to her body. She stiffened as his fingers brushed against a spot that ached from their earlier bouts of lovemaking. Gar lifted his head and looked down at Kali. “Why didn’t you tell me you were getting sore during the night? I would have held back.” “It’s just been awhile.” “How many others have there been?” Not comfortable having Gar ask her something so personal, Kali tried to shove him away. He didn’t so much as budge. “That is none of your business.” “Now that I’ve made love to you again, I find myself to be a possessive man. I would like to know whether there will be rivals for your attention. As long as you accept me being in your bed, and in your arms, you are mine. I won’t tolerate any others being around you.” From past experience she knew how territorial Gar could be. When he thought something was rightfully his, he guarded it against all others. She had fallen into that category at one time. Now, she didn’t know if she found this trait in him irritating or whether she felt elated that he still felt so strongly about her. “You have nothing to worry about. I can assure you there will be no other men vying for my attention.” “Why? I can’t believe they would give you up without a fight.” “If you must know, there have been no others. I have only ever been with one man.” She watched Gar’s face as he thought about what she had said. Kali could see the moment Gar understood the meaning behind her words. His eyes bore into hers, daring her to look away. “Are you saying you’ve only slept with me? That I was your first and only?” “Of course that’s what I meant.” She placed a hand on his mouth and held him away when he tried to kiss her. “But that does not mean I’ll give you anymore than the two weeks we agreed upon. So don’t think my not accepting another man’s advances holds any greater meaning, because it doesn’t.” Kali shoved at Gar’s chest. This time he allowed her to slip out from under him. Standing, she stretched, unmindful of her nakedness. “I’m going for a bath. Unlike you, my day is full and I can’t be any later than I already am.” Turning her back to the bed, she made her way across the chamber to the adjoining bathing room. She could feel Gar’s eyes watching her. Stepping into the other room, she smiled as she heard him groan. She decided the next two weeks could very well prove interesting.

Chapter Five After Kali left to perform her duties for the day, Gar quickly returned to his chamber. He didn’t think anyone saw him leaving the queen’s personal chambers, but that didn’t mean news of where he had spent the night wouldn’t be a topic of discussion within the court. Personally, he didn’t care one way or the other. The courtiers could have their gossip. He intended to spend every night with Kali. He only took enough time to have a bath and change his clothes before leaving his chamber again. Making note of the time, he headed outside. Walking through the castle’s large gates, he made his way to the inn located nearby. The Harp Inn was half full. Gar knew most of those staying at the inn were waiting for their chance to see Kali, wanting her to settle a dispute between neighbors or petition her for more lands. Gar searched the large room hoping to find someone in particular. A smile spread across his face as his gaze landed on the lone man sitting in the far back corner of the room. Threading his way around the tables, he pulled out the chair across from the man and sat down. “I see you managed to make it here okay. Everything went as planned?” “Yes. It worked flawlessly.” The two men firmly shook hands. Gar was greatly relieved to see Rand was in good spirits. He hadn’t been all that sure the other man would be able to slip away. Even though Rand was his age, he had spent most of his life living among the Order. Eventually he had taken his vows and became a priest. The house where Rand served was where Gar had gone to live after he had left Kali. “Your leaving didn’t rouse any suspicions?” Gar asked. “As far as I can tell, no. It’s not as if they could stop me. I owe my loyalty to the oracles and not to the likes of them. They accepted my story of going to consult the other oracles about the up-coming test. I just have to lie low and not draw attention to myself. Dressed as I am now, I easily blend in with others, which is something I haven’t been able to do in years. I have to admit I like not having to wear the robes of a priest.” Gar smiled as he inspected the other man. “You do indeed look like your average everyday farmer. Maybe you should reconsider returning to your old way of life.” “Maybe I should.” Rand picked up his tankard of ale and took a large swig. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “I can see myself breaking my back everyday, trying to force something to grow out of the dirt.” Both men burst out laughing. Rand was the least likely person to ever take up the occupation of farming. Books were his life. He shuddered at the idea of manual labor, of any kind. “The day you become a farmer, Rand, will be the day gold falls out of the sky.” “True, very true.” Growing serious, Rand leaned closer to Gar, looking to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard. “I left when the others returned with the news that the queen had agreed to the test. Now that you have seen her again, do you still feel as strongly as you did?” Gar spoke in equally hushed tones. “Yes. Kali has to be the one.” “I pray you are right. The Order grows too powerful. If she does pass the test, it will

earn her enemies. Those with the most power will not want her to pass.” “Do you think they will try to fix it so Kali doesn’t pass?” “That’s not possible. The oracles will be present during the test. They would know if it had been tampered with.” Gar nodded. “Come, my friend. I’ll take you to meet Kali.” Once they were outside and heading toward the castle, Gar added, “One more thing. Let me do the talking. I haven’t had a chance to tell Kali you were coming. I can’t see her being too happy with me for bringing another priest from the Order to see her.” “Will she accept my help?” “That, I can’t say. But I won’t give up without a fight. I’m not going to let her do the test if there is even the slightest chance we are wrong about it being Kali. And you, my friend, are our only hope of knowing one way or the other. Kali will understand.” **** “Another priest?!” “He’s not like the others, Kali. He wants to help.” “It was bad enough that you brought those other two with you, Gar, but this is too much. And exactly how can he help me? As far as I know there is no way to cheat the test.” “Indeed there isn’t, Your Majesty.” They were all in her private chambers, away from prying eyes. Kali had to admit she was more then a little angry with Gar for bringing another priest to see her. But Gar was right about one thing, this priest was unlike any of the others she had met. It wasn’t just the disguise he wore that made her think that way. His brown eyes appeared kind, with none of the greed that lurked behind most priests’ eyes. “Then what exactly are you offering me, priest?” “I’m offering you the chance to know if you will succeed or not.” From the corner of her eye, Kali caught Gar’s not-so-subtle attempt to get the priest to stop talking. She swung her head in his direction. “What do you not want him to say to me? Or are you just waving your hand around like that to draw attention to yourself?” Gar immediately dropped his hand back down to his side. “It isn’t anything like that, Kali.” He turned to glare at the other man. “I just told Rand to let me do the talking.” Turning back he continued, “I thought you would be more open to his offer if it came from me.” “So, in other words, you thought I would bite his head off. Well, you are wrong. I can see you two are friends, and that being the case, I would like to hear what he has to say.” Kali turned her attention back onto the priest. He stood patiently waiting with a smile on his face. “You may continue, priest.” “Call me Rand, Your Majesty.” “Then you must call me Kali.” Rand bowed his head in acknowledgement. “Gladly. As I said earlier, there is a way to make sure you will succeed with the test before you present yourself to the head house.” “How?” “As part of my duties, I help interpret the signs of the oracles. Because of that I have a close working relationship with not only the oracle residing at my house, but with the

others as well. I ultimately answer to them. I have taken the pledge to serve them.” Since he had pledged his service to the oracles, Kali knew Rand was no ordinary priest. There were only three oracles within the order, each residing at a different house at any given time. It supposedly was a great honor to the priests who were chosen to interpret their signs. “That’s all very well and good, but what does this have to do with me?” “There is one thing the rest of the order does not know about those of us who serve the oracles. The relationship isn’t all one-sided. In return for our services, they grant us favors from time to time. Knowing this, Gar asked if I could request a meeting between you and one of the oracles.” “I thought it was forbidden for anyone outside of the Order to be in their presence.” “Normally, yes, it is. That stricture was put in place to protect the oracles more than anything. But there is nothing to fear from you. Seeing you in person, the oracle will be able to give you the answer you seek.” Kali narrowed her eyes at Rand. “The other two priests said that wasn’t possible. That it was beyond their power to say exactly who The Chosen One was.” “That is what the oracles have led the others to believe. If they could tell the outcome of the test of each individual who was picked to take it, the Order would have found some way to circumvent their power.” “I take it the others who serve the oracles know this as well?” “Yes. There are many things we keep to ourselves. That being said, this meeting I’m proposing will be one such instance where the rest of the Order will be kept in the dark. The oracles have all agreed this is something that must be done.” “When would this meeting take place?” “Tomorrow night. The oracle I serve should be arriving at the house here in Zudris tomorrow.” Kali nodded. “All right, I’ll meet with the oracle. You may stay the night here if you wish. You have taken a risk coming to see me like this. I wouldn’t want you to suffer any repercussions because of it.” “I think I’ll accept your offer, Kali. It wouldn’t do to present myself at the house before the oracle arrives. Plus it will give me a chance to spend some time with Gar and with you, of course.” Kali was about to summon a servant to arrange a room to be made ready for Rand, when Gar made another suggestion. “Rand can stay in the room set aside for my use. I won’t be using it and the fewer people who know he is here, the better.” When Rand didn’t so much as bat an eye at Gar’s suggestion, Kali could only assume he was aware of her past relationship with his friend. “Agreed. I’ll arrange for us to dine here tonight as well.” The two men got up and headed for the door. Kali called out to Gar before he left the chamber. “Be forewarned, when we are alone tonight, I’m going to make you pay for springing another surprise on me like this.” Gar closed the door partially and walked back to Kali. He stood toe-to-toe with her. “And what do you have in mind?” he asked, huskily. “I’m not sure yet, but I do have the rest of the day to think of something.” “As long as it includes you and a bed, I’m all for it.” Lowering his head, he claimed her lips in a searing kiss. When Gar pulled away, Kali groaned in frustration. “I’d better leave. Rand is waiting.”

As if on cue, Rand loudly cleared his throat from where he stood just outside the chamber. Gar gently brushed his lips across Kali’s then went to join his friend. Kali took in a deep breath, trying to calm her body down. She knew if Gar hadn’t walked away she would have pulled him down to the floor and given Rand more than an eyeful. **** Later that afternoon, Kali decided to go and see her aunt. Having accepted Rand’s offer to meet with the oracle, it seemed only right to inform her aunt of this new development. For one thing it would hopefully lay to rest some of her aunt’s fears. She also needed Lara to cover for her during the time of the meeting. Not that Kali expected to be disturbed that late at night, but there was always a chance something would spring up unexpectedly. When knocking didn’t bring anyone to the door, Kali pushed it open and called out to her aunt. “Aunt Lara, are you here?” “I’m out in the garden, dear.” Moving to the open double doors leading to the castle gardens, Kali found her aunt sitting in a lounge chair enjoying the bright sunlight. Dutifully she kissed the cheek Lara turned in her direction. “Do you have a few minutes to spare for me?” “Of course, Kali. I always have time for you. What is it?” Kali looked around. Even though this part of the garden was private, meant for the royal family’s use only, there had been instances of courtiers being found eavesdropping. “Would it be all right if we talked inside?” Lara nodded her head and led the way back inside her chamber. She closed the double doors behind Kali. “Obviously you would like to discuss something that must be kept between the two of us. Does it have anything to do with Gar?” Kali couldn’t stop the slight blush that colored her cheeks. She knew what Lara was really asking. “In a way, yes, it does, but not in the way you’re thinking.” Lara smiled knowingly at her niece. “Maybe that is not what you had in mind to discuss, but I can see there is something. You tell me what you want to say first, and then I want to hear more about Gar.” Deciding to ignore the last part of what her aunt had said, Kali continued. “Gar befriended a priest of the Order while he was away. At Gar’s urging, he came to see me today, with great risk to himself. Rand, that’s the priest’s name, has sworn to serve the oracles. He has arranged for me to meet with one tomorrow night.” “Is that wise?” “I think so. The oracles have agreed to the meeting. One of them will be arriving here tomorrow. After the meeting, I’ll know whether to risk my life taking the test or if I will have to find a way to get out of it.” “How is that possible? They haven’t been able to predict the outcome of the tests in the past.” “Apparently it is possible. The oracles, and those that serve them, don’t feel it is necessary to reveal all their capabilities to the rest of the Order. It’s only because of Gar’s friendship with Rand that I’ve been given such knowledge. I would be a fool to pass this up.” “Where is this Rand now?” “Gar has taken him to his chambers. We decided it would be best to keep the number

of people who knew of his presence here down to a minimum.” “An excellent idea considering Gar didn’t sleep in his chamber last night. Rand can take over his accommodations. I assume Gar will only be using it to store his belongings now.” Kali’s face grew warm. “How do you know where Gar slept last night?” Lara patted Kali’s cheek. “I went to check on him last night before I retired. His chamber was empty and the bed was untouched. Given how late it was, I had a pretty good idea where he was sleeping.” “I don’t believe you. First you want to run Gar off and now you are happy he’s in my bed.” “I had a change of heart. You know I always liked Gar. After speaking with him, I came to realize it may not be such a bad thing having him back in your life after all.” Kali would never figure out her aunt. Deciding to leave the topic of her relationship with Gar behind, she changed the subject. “I’ll let you know the exact time I’m to meet with the oracle. When I’m gone I need you to run interference in case someone wishes to see me. No one must know where I’ve gone.” “That won’t be a problem. “I knew I could count on you. Now I must go.” Kali tried to make it out the door before Lara brought up the subject of Gar once more. She was only able to place her hand on the doorknob before her aunt spoke again. “Coward. Fine, run away. I will get what I want out of you eventually. Tell Gar I said hello.” Kali clenched her teeth to prevent herself from answering. With a nod of her head, she pulled open the door and stepped out into the hallway.

Chapter Six After enjoying a pleasant meal in her chambers, Kali sat back and watched Gar and Rand as they spoke to one another. It was easy to tell theirs was a long-standing friendship. There were no periods of stilted silences, only tales of what they had done together and about people and places she knew nothing about. It didn’t bother her that she was left out of the conversation most of the time. She was content to sip on a goblet of wine and watch the two men interact with one another. This was a side of Gar she had never seen. He used to be all business, never allowing any of the warriors under his command to really get to know him. But this wasn’t the case with Rand. She was still having a hard time believing Gar was back in her life. It was something she never thought would happen since they had parted on such bad terms. It was all she could do to stop herself from reaching out every couple of minutes to make sure he was real and not a figment of her imagination. As he talked to Rand, Kali let her eyes roam over Gar’s body. He literally took her breath away. She relished knowing that his solidly built body was all hers to touch and to taste—that a powerful man such as he could become weak just from a touch of her hand. Her gaze drifted up his body. Kali followed the hard planes and angles of his face. She had always thought he was the most handsome man she had ever met, and she still thought that way. She traced his squared jaw and his high cheek bones with her glance. Reaching his chiseled lips she lingered, knowing how talented Gar was at using his mouth. She looked higher and found his pale green eyes turned in her direction, staring at her intently. Kali sucked in a breath as she saw the heat simmering in their depths. It didn’t take Gar long to bring his conversation with Rand to an end. As Rand stood to bid them good night, Kali joined him and walked him to the door. Closing the door behind him, she turned back around to find Gar sitting in his chair, watching her. She remained where she was standing, feeling her pulse quicken as he gazed at her. With boldness she didn’t know she possessed, Kali grabbed the bottom of her shirt and slowly pulled it up. Stopping just short of exposing her breasts to his view, she saw Gar shift in his chair. Before he could stand, she shook her head. “Stay right where you are. I told you I was going to make you pay tonight. Your punishment will be that I get to do whatever I want to you, and you will not be allowed to touch any part of me unless I say so.” Gar groaned. “You’re going to kill me.” Kali shook her head once more. “No, I won’t. You’re a strong man. You’ll survive this.” “That remains to be seen.” Crossing back over to where Gar sat, Kali stood in front of him. Keeping a small distance between them, she pulled her shirt over her head. She bent over to pull off her boots and heard Gar’s sharp intake of breath. Straightening, she slowly inched her pants down her legs. Now naked, she ran her hands up her body until she cupped her full breasts. Gar’s knuckles turned white as he held the chair’s armrests in a death grip. Taking no pity on him, Kali leaned forward and lightly brushed her lips across his. When he tried to keep contact with her mouth, she stood back up. With a step that brought her

even closer, she reached out and dragged her hand down his broad chest, stopping just short of the bulge in his pants. Instead of caressing him, Kali took hold of his shirt and yanked it over his head. She dropped it to the floor. Wanting to touch more of him, Kali straddled Gar’s lap and sat facing him. She ran her fingers through the small amount of hair that grew on his chest. Her exploration continued as she moved to his flat male nipples. She circled one with the tip of her finger until it tightened into a tiny bud. Bending her head, she flicked the tip of her tongue across it. Gar jerked beneath her. With her lips still pressed against his skin, she smiled and moved to his other nipple, repeating what she had done to the first. She could feel Gar’s heart thundering inside his chest. His breath came out in puffs, almost panting, as he held himself back from touching her. Trailing her fingers down the rippling muscles of his stomach, she placed her hands on the fastenings of his pants. Looking down she watched as she parted his pants. Reaching inside, she pulled out his hard cock. Gar groaned as she ran her fingers up and down its length. The chair creaked in protest as he increased his grip on the armrests. Kali slid off his lap only long enough to pull his pants down past his hips. Seeing how big and hard Gar was, the center of her body pulsed as wetness pooled between her legs. Taking a firm hold of him, she slid her hand up and down his erection. Gar was a big man in every sense of the word. When a small bead of moisture appeared on the very tip, she rubbed it into his skin with the tip of her finger. Wanting to taste him, she moved to kneel on the floor between his thighs. Knowing what she was doing to him, Kali flicked the tip of her tongue against the head of his cock. She looked up and found Gar’s heated gaze watching her touch him. “Kali. Let me.” She returned her attention back to his lap as she gripped his shaft at the base, then took the head of him inside her mouth. Gar moaned as he bucked beneath her. She purred deep inside her chest. Alternating between circling him with her tongue and sucking, she felt him grow even harder. His breath rasped in and out of his lungs. She knew the instant Gar’s control snapped. Releasing his hold on the chair, he grabbed her beneath her arms and pulled her back up onto his lap. His mouth slammed down on hers in a hard kiss as he positioned himself before he buried his full length deep inside her with one stroke. Head back, Kali started to ride him as Gar lifted his hips to meet her downward thrusts. Taking hold of her hips, he urged her to go faster. “I need you to come, Kali. Now. You feel too good.” Taking her bottom lip between her teeth, Kali sat up straighter on his lap. Gar’s shaft pushed up against her clit. She was close. She could feel her orgasm rushing up to meet her. Moaning, she ground herself down on him as waves of pleasure tore through her body. A second later she felt Gar stiffen beneath her as he emptied himself deep inside her. Out of breath, she collapsed on top of his chest. Gar wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him. When her breathing returned to normal, she lifted her head to look at Gar. He smiled at her. “You can punish me like that any time you wish.” Chuckling, Kali pressed a kiss onto his chin. “I don’t think that was much of a punishment after all.” “Not touching you was the hardest thing I ever had to do. It was torture.”

“It was nice being able to do whatever I wanted to you.” “You’re definitely going to kill me, woman.” Gar slapped Kali’s bare bottom. The chair groaned ominously. “I think we had better move to the bed before the chair gives out on us. It would be a rather rude awaking to have it collapse beneath us. We don’t want to press our luck.” Moving off Gar’s lap, Kali turned to walk in the direction of her bedchamber. With a look back over her shoulder, she gave him a heated stare. “Don’t just sit there. If you make me wait too long, I may just start without you.” The chair toppled over as Gar lunged to his feet. He caught her up in his arms before she reached her bedchamber door. She snuggled into his embrace as he took her to bed. A feeling of possessiveness washed over her. She didn’t think she could ever let him go now. For the rest of the night she used her body to show him how she felt, not ready to take the next step and put her feelings to words. She sent up a silent prayer to whoever was listening, to let her survive whatever the Order threw at her—to give her a second chance to have a life with Gar. **** The day couldn’t pass fast enough for Kali. The hours ticked by with infernal slowness. Thoughts of her upcoming meeting with the oracle weighed heavily on her mind. She was torn between wanting to be told she was indeed The One, and scared of finding out she wasn’t. No matter what the oracle said, Kali knew her life was about to change. Even though she had told her aunt she would somehow try to thwart the Order if she wasn’t the one, Kali didn’t know if she could actually do it. It just wasn’t her life she was risking. It was also the lives of her people. She didn’t think she was strong enough to put them in such peril. Having listened to the last supplicant of the day, she let her mind wander to thoughts of Gar. She had awakened wrapped up in his strong arms with her body feeling well loved. For the second night in a row, neither of them had slept much during the night. Lack of sleep was slowly catching up with her, but Kali couldn’t think of a more enjoyable way to be kept awake. Just thinking of the many ways Gar had taken her during the darkest part of the night brought a smile to her lips. Once the room was empty, Kali left the throne room and headed for the main hall. The evening meal was to be served soon and she didn’t want to keep Gar waiting. Even though Gar’s presence at her side during the meal would confirm he was now part of her life, Kali couldn’t care less what they thought. She knew there were already rumors being spread of where Gar was spending his nights, and this would only provide proof the rumors were indeed true. Sliding into the empty chair next to Gar, Kali signaled for the evening meal to be served. Lara, who sat on her right, gave her hand a pat, pleased with Kali’s decision to openly show how things stood between Gar and herself. Gar, who sat on her other side, smiled at her as he slipped his hand beneath the table and gave her thigh a squeeze. Before he pulled his hand away, he slid it between her legs and brushed the back of his hand against her core. Kali sucked in a breath as a rush of desire spread through her, centering on the spot where Gar had touched her. Taking a quick peek to make sure her aunt hadn’t seen what had transpired under the table, Kali gave Gar a stern look. He acted as if he hadn’t noticed her silent reprimand and turned away to begin helping himself to

the food placed before them. Two could play that game, Kali thought. Unobtrusively she moved her hand beneath the table and placed it on the bulge in Gar’s pants. She gave it a gentle caress before moving away. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling when Gar stiffened beside her. Helping herself to some food she too began to eat, keeping her attention focused on her plate. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Gar staring at her with a half smile on his face. As the meal progressed, Kali felt the stares of the courtiers watching her and Gar’s every move. Neither of them did anything obvious, not wanting to provide more fodder for the gossip mongers. Eventually the courtiers grew bored and focused their attention elsewhere. “Did Rand manage to leave the castle without drawing undue attention upon himself?” Kali asked Gar, quietly. Gar spoke only loud enough for Kali to hear. “Yes. He arrived at the house shortly after the oracle. I followed him just to make sure there wasn’t any trouble.” “Good, then it looks as if everything is all set for tonight. I’ll leave the hall first and you can meet me in my chambers later. Hopefully the courtiers will think you’re only spending another night in my bed.” “That shouldn’t be a problem since they already know that’s where I’ve slept these past few nights. The only thing I have been worried about is how we will get by the guards at the castle gates.” “We won’t be going through the castle gates. There is another way. It’s already been taken care of.” After finishing her meal, Kali turned to her aunt and made idle chit-chat with her. Lara happily obliged, knowing Kali was only waiting for the right time to leave the hall. When Kali figured enough time had passed, she bid her aunt and uncle good night, then without looking at Gar, she left the hall. Closing her chamber door behind her, she settled into a chair and waited for Gar to join her. **** A half hour passed before Gar followed Kali to her chambers. Once inside he found her standing by the double doors that led out to the castle gardens. She wore a long, dark, hooded cloak. She held out another one for him to take. Pulling it around his shoulders, he found it fit him perfectly. Kali nodded. “I see I picked the right size. I figured we would have to cover that hair of yours. All that light blond hair would be too easy to spot in the dark.” “I see you thought of everything.” Gar pulled the hood up to cover his head. “Now how exactly do you plan to leave the castle if not through the main gates?” “Follow me.” Kali pushed open the doors and led him out into the gardens. She headed to the very darkest section and pushed aside some shrubbery to reveal a hidden door set into the tall stone wall that surrounded the entire castle grounds. Producing a metal key, Kali placed it in the lock and turned it. Once unlocked, the door swung open on silent hinges. Gar couldn’t help but feel impressed. “I never knew this was here. When did you find it?” “A few years ago, simply by chance. I had decided to make some changes to the

gardens. It was then I found the door behind these thick shrubs. The key was rusted inside the lock. I figured it was best to keep its whereabouts to myself, so I had the gardeners leave the shrubs where they were. I’ve kept the lock and hinges well oiled just in case a situation such as this should arise.” Gar brushed by Kali and cautiously stuck his head out the door. There was another wall of thick shrubs on the opposite side, effectively hiding the door from any passersby. Pushing the foliage aside, he found they were just outside the walls and not too far from where the village ended. The main gates were at the opposite end of the walls. None of the guards would be able to see them leave. Moving at a steady pace, they crossed the wide open space that separated the village from the castle walls. Once they reached the village, they slowed and headed for the local house of the Order. No one stopped them, nor did they draw any stares from the few people they passed by on the way. The villagers were used to large numbers of strangers being in their midst. At the house, Gar took over the lead. Rand had instructed him to bring Kali through the servants’ entrance. The servants were always given the nights off, allowed to return to their homes in the village. Since the servants’ area of the house would be deserted, Rand had figured it was the perfect way to smuggle Kali in to see the oracle. Reaching their destination, Gar scratched at the wooden servants’ entrance door. The sound of the lock being opened could be heard a second later. Rand pulled the door open wide as he silently ushered them inside. He relocked the door behind them. After giving them the thumbs up that everything was still going according to plan, he turned and quietly led them through numerous hallways before they reached the oracle’s chambers. The chamber they entered was sparsely furnished, as was the rest of the house. There were only a few pieces that stood out from the rest. Gar could only assume the thick throw rug in the center of the room had been brought with the guest who was staying in the chamber. Giving the room a quick search, Gar soon found the oracle. She was sitting by the small fireplace, patiently waiting for them to acknowledge her presence. Gar was shocked to see how young she was. She had to be no older than he was himself. He had known all the oracles were women. Rand had set him straight on that matter, but he had always assumed they were old—gaining much of their knowledge from the great number of years they had lived. But what surprised him the most was the look the oracle gave Rand as he moved to her side. It was a look a woman gave the man she loved, one whom she knew on the most intimate of levels. Speechless, Gar could only watch as Rand gathered the oracle into his arms and kissed her possessively. Gar turned to find a similarly shocked expression on Kali’s face. The oracle turned and smiled at them. “Welcome. Rand has told me much about both of you. I’m grateful you kept him safe.” “It was the least we could do, Oracle.” Gar bowed his head in her direction. “Call me Tessa, please. I can see we have shocked you. I know Rand trusts you, and I can sense no evil intent in either of you, so I feel I’m safe in letting you in on our secret. Rand is my mate.” Gar turned his attention to Rand. “You never told me. You know I would never reveal your true relationship to anyone.” “I know that, Gar. While you were living at the house, I didn’t think it was a good

idea for you to know what Tessa meant to me. It was safer to keep you in the dark.” Kali spoke up. “Do the other oracles know?” Tessa smiled. “Of course. I’m not the only one amongst us who has chosen the one to serve as their mate. It is we who pick out of the Order’s numbers whom we want to serve. We are the oracles after all. What good is it to have gifts if we can’t use them for ourselves and make what we see will happen into reality? I foresaw Rand as my mate. I fell in love with him the instant we met.” Moving away from Rand’s side, Tessa went to Kali. “If you two gentlemen will excuse us, I would like to speak to Kali in private.” Giving Kali a quick kiss for luck, Gar stepped back and watched the two women enter the other chamber. Once the door closed behind them, he turned to give Rand a look that said he had a lot of explaining to do. **** Kali couldn’t stop herself from staring at Tessa. The woman was beautiful with her thick wavy black hair and perfect looks, but it was really more than that. There was an aura of power, of otherworldliness about her. Her dark blue eyes sparkled with intelligence, as if they had seen many mysteries and had learned from them. Feeling as if she had no right to be in the presence of such a being, Kali nervously pulled off her cloak. Tessa took it from her and laid it on the bed. She motioned for her to sit in one of the two chairs set up in front of the room’s only window. Once they were seated, Tessa stared intently at Kali. Kali couldn’t help but feel the other woman was able to look inside her soul. She only hoped the Oracle didn’t find her lacking. A minute passed before Tessa finally broke the silence that hung heavily between them. “I guess we should get down to business. I can feel how nervous you are. I have only one question for you before we go any further. If all the signs do prove to be correct and you are the one, would you allow the Order to rule you or would you rule the Order?” Kali swallowed, hoping to alleviate some of the dryness in her throat. “Those who are close to me know I have no love for the Order. I feel they are corrupt and need to be restrained. They use their power to better themselves at the cost of those they are supposed to be watching over. If I’m The One, they will find no weak-willed person who is easily led by others. I would do what I felt was the right thing to do. I would do what should have been done many years ago to curb the amount of power the Order was given.” “That was the correct answer and one I expected from you. I have seen inside you what I wanted to see, but I would like to see all of you. If you allow it, take my hand. It’s completely your choice, Kali.” Kali looked at Tessa’s outstretched hand and didn’t give it a second thought before she placed her own on top of it. Tessa closed her eyes as she wrapped her hand around Kali’s. Not wanting to distract Tessa, Kali silently watched the other woman. On the outside it appeared as if she was sitting with her eyes closed, but Kali sensed something, or someone, gently moving through her. It wasn’t an invasive feeling. It felt more like a warm sensation through her entire being. Tessa soon opened her eyes as a look of happiness spread across her face. “Your soul is pure, Kali. Very few are as self-sacrificing as you are. I can see you would put the welfare of your people before your own, even if it meant it would cost you

dearly. You have been long in coming. I see great things in the future for you. The greatest of all is your being The Chosen One. The signs hold true.”

Chapter Seven “Are you sure? Because believe me, in no way do I feel special.” Kali resisted the urge to get up and start pacing the room like some caged beast. “Yes. And I swear to you on the life of my unborn child, you are The Chosen One.” Kali followed the movement of Tessa’s hand as she pulled her gown tight across her middle. It was only then she could see how rounded Tessa’s stomach was. Kali’s eyes snapped back up to look the other woman in the face. “A child? Rand’s child?” “He’s my mate after all, so of course it’s Rand’s child. With you, my child will have the childhood I never had. My birth was kept hidden from the Order. The only way my parents could keep me with them was to let everyone assume I was one of the few orphans who were raised by the Order as a potential oracle. My child will not have to be hidden away knowing that if the truth was ever revealed there would be severe repercussions for all involved.” “I can understand you would want that for your child. An innocent shouldn’t be made to suffer. You have placed a heavy responsibility on my shoulders. Just because my eyes are those of a cat and I display some of the characteristics of a Pantherinae, it doesn’t mean I’m this all-powerful being.” Tessa took Kali’s hand again. “It does in part, Kali. You are a full-blooded Pantherinae. They were a noble race and you carry all that was good about them inside you.” “That’s not possible.” Kali shook her head. “I can’t be a full-blood. The Pantherinae blood only came from my mother’s side of the family. Even then it wasn’t a full-blooded mating.” “There you are wrong. Pantherinae blood runs in your father’s side of the family as well.” “My father died when I was very young, I have very few memories of him. My mother never said anything about his being descended from Pantherinaes.” “She didn’t know. It was many generations older than your mother’s side of the family.” “Let me get this straight. Are you telling me since I’m a genetic throwback, making me a full-blooded Pantherinae and the last of a long dead race, it’s my destiny to be The Chosen One?” “Yes. You will not fail the test. I won’t say it will be an easy thing for you, but you are more than capable of doing what must be done.” Unable to sit still any longer, Kali got up and began to pace. It was overwhelming to have someone such as Tessa hold so much faith in her abilities. She paced the whole length of the room twice before she stopped and looked down at Tessa. “I don’t know if I can do this alone.” “You won’t be alone. We, as oracles, will be there to support you. The priests of the Order will no longer have us to do their bidding. Only you will be our superior. And along with us, you will have the support of a strong man at your side.” Automatically Kali’s eyes drifted to the door that led to the other chamber. “Gar?” “He is destined to be your mate, Kali. Somehow he knew five years ago that if you

both were to be together he needed to leave you, to allow you the freedom you needed to grow stronger. If he hadn’t left you then, you would not have the strength of character you need now to take your rightful place.” Kali swallowed around the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. “My heart almost didn’t survive his leaving me. I don’t think I could handle it a second time.” Tessa rose to her feet. “There will be no second time. Gar will never leave you. He never stopped loving you. I don’t have to be an oracle to know that. Rand said Gar has done nothing but talk about you for the last five years. You may not be ready to accept him as your mate right now, but when the time is right, you will. Don’t fight what is meant to be.” Knowing the time was slipping away Kali picked up her cloak and headed for the door. Before she opened it, she turned back to Tessa. “I know you and the other oracles will be there during the test, and that there is no way to fix the test without each of you knowing, but answer me this. What’s stopping you from fixing it to guarantee I pass?” “Because of the very same reason that keeps the Order from tampering with the test. The test brings death to anyone but the true Chosen One, so there is no way anyone can fix the outcome.” “That puts my mind somewhat to rest. I know I won’t see you before you leave here, but I want you to know I’m glad we met. I’m sure under different circumstances we would very likely have become close friends.” Tessa chuckled. “And who is to say we won’t be exactly that in the not-too-distant future? Take care, Kali. Remember to believe in yourself. I will be passing on what I have seen to the others. We will proudly stand at your back.” **** Their walk back to the castle was a silent one. Kali seemed lost in her thoughts and Gar sensed she needed some time to digest what the oracle had told her. He could only assume it was not good news. Once Kali had come back into the room, she had walked by him and Rand without saying a word. The expression on her face seemed to say it all. Gar had felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach when he had seen it. He had been so sure. Unable to stand the silence any longer, Gar pulled Kali to a halt as they arrived at the gate in the castle walls. “Whatever you decide to do, I’ll be here for you. You won’t have to face the Order’s wrath alone. We’ll think of something to make them change their minds about having you do the test.” Kali seemed to pull herself back to the present before she responded. “What are you talking about?” “I’m trying to let you know I’ll support you when you have to tell the Order you won’t be doing the test. Tessa gave you bad news, didn’t she?” “No, quite the opposite actually.” Kali had barely finished saying the words before Gar scooped her up and held her tight against his chest. “I knew it.” He spun her around in a circle. “Here I was thinking you were so quiet because Tessa had said you weren’t.” Putting Kali down, Gar cupped her face in both his hands and gave her a lingering kiss. She stepped away when he withdrew his lips from hers. “Yes, she said I was the one, among other things.” Kali looked up at him with

something akin to fear in her eyes. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do this, Gar. I haven’t even done the test and already I feel the responsibility of it resting on my shoulders. Tessa and the other oracles will expect me to change the way things are run inside the Order. What will happen if I fail to take control?” “You won’t fail, Kali. It’s not in you to fail. Look how Zudris has prospered since you came to power. You have brought peace to your people, which is something they haven’t enjoyed for many generations. Think of all the good you will be able to do.” “The ones I will have to oppose will not relinquish their power so easily. In fact, I can almost guarantee they will fight me every step of the way.” Kali turned to look in the direction of the village. “Tessa is pregnant. She is entrusting me with the life of her child. She says only I can change things so her child will not have to be hidden, kept away like a dirty secret.” Turning back to Gar she looked at him beseechingly. “Am I strong enough? I don’t want the blood of an innocent child on my hands because I was incapable of holding my own in a crisis.” Gar wrapped Kali in his arms and pulled her up against his chest so her head rested beneath his chin. “You are capable and then some. You’re trying to second guess yourself right now. If you look deep enough inside, you’ll find the strength you will need. The Order has been in dire need of an ass kicking and you’re the woman wearing the boots who will give it to them.” Kali chuckled. “When you put it that way, it sounds very tempting indeed.” “Good. Just as long as it isn’t my ass you’ll be going after, it will be my honor to be standing at your side when you do the kicking.” Draping an arm across her shoulders, Gar crossed the rest of the distance to the gate with Kali. “The night isn’t getting any younger and I still intend to make love to you tonight. So I suggest we retire to your chambers instead of standing out here in the dark. Unless you like it out here and feel a bed is optional.” “If it’s all right with you, I prefer the bed. You never know who may come along, and personally, I don’t want another woman seeing what you have hidden away inside those pants of yours.” Kali licked her lips as she gave the crotch of his pants a meaningful stare. “That is only allowed to come out and play with me and me only.” As she stepped through the gate, Gar swallowed as blood surged to his groin. “Your wish is my command, my queen.” **** Kali and Gar spent as much time as they could together, both in and out of bed. The remaining days left before Kali had to present herself at the head house quickly sped by. As the day appointed for the test approached, Kali became more and more withdrawn. She did believe Tessa had told her the truth about her being The Chosen One, but it didn’t deter the small voice inside her head that challenged that truth. It was thoughts of failure and its cost that scared her the most. As each day passed she found herself falling harder for Gar. She loved him and could no longer deny her feelings for him. She knew he felt the same way about her even though he had yet to tell her. Being Gar, he was waiting for her to take that first big step and tell him how she felt. It was now the night before they had to leave Zudris and travel to the head house of the Order. Lying naked in Gar’s arms after making love, Kali knew it would have to be now that she told him what he meant to her. With the test scheduled for the following

night, she would probably not have another chance to tell him. There was still a small chance that she might not survive, and if she was to face death, she wanted to do so without any regrets. Rolling onto her side, Kali propped herself up on one elbow so she could stare down at Gar. His eyes were closed, but she knew he wasn’t asleep. “Gar, I think we need to have a talk.” “What is it?” Gar reached up and tucked her dark hair behind her ear. “I hope this isn’t the ‘Now that the two weeks are up, I want you out of my life, Gar.’ talk.” “No, nothing like that.” Kali ran the tip of her finger down his stubbly cheek. “I think it’s time I let you know how I really feel about you.” Gar wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled Kali until she lay on top of him. “You have my full and undivided attention.” Feeling a little bit nervous, Kali looked down and began to twist some of his white blond hair around one of her fingers. “I know I said that I only wanted to have two weeks with you, but I now feel that isn’t long enough.” Looking up, she saw Gar was about to speak. She placed a hand across his mouth before he could interrupt. “Let me finish. This isn’t exactly easy for me, and if you stop me, I won’t be able to say everything I want to say to you.” With a deep breath, Kali pushed on. “I love you, Gar. Certainly as much, if not more, than I did five years ago. You have managed to worm your way inside my heart, and it isn’t ever going to let you out. If you were to leave me, I don’t think I could survive it.” Pulling her hand away, Gar threaded the fingers of his other hand through her hair as he crushed his mouth to hers. It was some minutes before he let her up for air. “I love you, Kali. I never stopped loving you. I have been giving you time to trust me again, to realize you love me as well. And you have my solemn vow that I’m not going anywhere. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life. I want us to be mates.” Kali looked down at him sadly. “And what if tomorrow night turns out to be the last night of my life?” “Don’t say that. It isn’t going to happen. Rand told me Tessa’s predictions are never wrong. Out of the three oracles, she’s the most powerful. So don’t even let yourself think you will fail. Will you be my mate, Kali?” Kali was still not convinced it was something she should do. Was it really fair to tie him to her permanently at this time? “Say I pass the test. How would you feel knowing you are the mate to The Chosen One? I’m sure that prospect alone would send other men running in the opposite direction.” “I’m not other men, Kali. I would be proud to be the mate of The Chosen One. I would let everyone know you are mine, and I protect what is mine.” Gar’s eyes bored into hers, silently begging her to say what he wanted to hear. Kali had tried to do the noble thing—allowing him his freedom if he wished it—but in the end she could not deny herself what she wanted more than anything else. She wanted Gar to be hers and hers alone. “If that is how you feel, then yes, I’ll be your mate.” In one quick move, Gar rolled Kali onto her back, allowing him to be on top. He placed feather-light kisses on her face as he spoke the words used in the mating ceremony. “I claim you as my mate, Queen Kali of Zudris. I vow to love you, care for you, and protect you even after my last breath leaves my body. With these words—” Kali stopped him before he could complete the last sentence. “You can’t think that

by saying the words now it will make it an official mating? We have to do it in front of a priest of the Order.” “You are a queen, Kali. You have the right to oversee a mating ceremony, the same as any priest. And after tomorrow you will be the Order. I don’t want to wait. I want you as my mate now. We can do a more official ceremony at a later date.” At her nod he finished the last line that would mate them. “With these words I bind my soul to yours.” Kali looked up at him lovingly. “I claim you as my mate, Gar of Zudris. I vow to love you, care for you, and protect you even after my last breath leaves my body. With these words I bind my soul to yours.” After the last words left her mouth, Gar claimed her lips in a searing kiss. Kali’s body responded as he nipped at her lower lip until she opened for him. His tongue swept the inside of her mouth, tangling with hers. His cock swelled as he thrust his hips against her slick opening. Spreading her legs wider, she purred as Gar fully sheathed himself inside her. Her body was still sensitized from their earlier lovemaking. Kali knew it wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge into an orgasm. That Gar was well and truly hers now aroused her more than any aphrodisiac ever could. She relished the feel of his hard body atop hers as his hard shaft pumped in and out of her. He was all she had ever wanted. Gar’s pace increased, pushing her body ever higher. “Come for me, sweet Kali, my mate. I need to feel your body clutching mine when you come.” Pressing her head down onto the pillow, Kali angled her hips so Gar’s cock rubbed her clit as she squeezed down on him. Matching his strokes, she felt her body begin to spasm as her climax took hold of her. Kali moaned as waves of pleasure washed over her. Gar held onto her hips as he rammed into her. His cock pulsed deep inside her as his orgasm surged through him. After he collapsed on top of her, Kali held him close, feeling his rapidly beating heart thumping against her chest. Pushing back his hair, she kissed his sweaty brow. As mating ceremonies went, she thought the one that had taken place inside her bedchamber with just the two of them in attendance held far more meaning than any formal ceremony with a large gathering of people. Tomorrow would be a new beginning. With Gar as her mate, she was ready to face whatever fate might bring. Feeling more at peace with herself than she had in days, Kali closed her eyes and let sleep claim her.

Chapter Eight Swinging her leg over the back of her horse, Kali prepared herself for a long day in the saddle. It was still very early in the morning and it would take most of the day to travel to the Order’s head house. Turning her horse around to face the crowd gathered inside the castle’s courtyard, her gaze was immediately drawn to where Gar stood a few feet away. He had yet to mount his horse. He was deep in conversation with her aunt and uncle. She was still having a hard time believing he was truly her mate, even though it was now official. The first thing she had done that morning was to write out the formal mating decree. Both Gar and she had signed it to make it well and truly binding. She then placed the document into her aunt’s hands for safekeeping. Lara had burst into tears when she saw it, happy that Kali had at last found someone to whom she could bind her heart. Walking her horse over to the small group, Kali smiled down at Gar. “We had better get a move on or we’ll never make it on time.” “The men are ready whenever you are.” It had been decided she would take only her own personal guards, which numbered twenty men in total. Having once been lead by Gar, these men readily accepted his authority over them now that he was back in her life. “Good.” Turning to her aunt and uncle, Kali accepted the hand Lara held out to her. “We’ll be back as soon as it can be managed. I trust you to look after Zudris while I’m gone.” Lara squeezed Kali’s hand. “I’ll expect to be kept informed of what goes on at the head house. I won’t wish you luck because I know you won’t fail.” “You will be in our thoughts, Kali. We’ll make sure things run smoothly here in your absence.” Victor patted Kali’s knee before he drew his wife to his side. Kali nodded at her uncle. Seeing her guards had taken up positions behind her mount, she set her horse into motion. Gar rode at her side. Once through the castle gates, Kali was surprised to find what looked like the entire village lining both sides of the street waiting to see her off. Knowing where their queen would journey, many were there to wish her luck as she passed by. Others bowed their heads in respect. Gar moved his horse closer, bent his head in her direction and said quietly, “You have the respect of your people, Kali. Soon you will be able to do more for them. Don’t ever forget that.” At the end of the village, Kali still could hear the villagers’ well wishes. The sound would be one she carried with her during the long hours ahead. **** The head house of the Order had been first built to provide neutral ground and so allowed no country to claim it as their own. The founding priests of the Order had thought to give warring countries a place to meet on equal terms. Bloodshed had been forbidden on this sacred ground. But as the years went by, and the more powerful the Order grew, it soon lost its neutrality. Now it was the seat for the most powerful of the Order, where they placed judgment on those they felt broke their laws. And it was here

where the object that tested those thought to be The Chosen One resided. Kali and her company arrived just as the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon. She directed her guards to make sure the horses were attended to before she presented herself to the high priest of the Order. With Gar at her side, she crossed the distance to where a small group of robed priests stood waiting. The high priest stepped forward to greet her. “Welcome, Queen Kali. I see you have arrived as requested. If you would follow me, I will escort you to the room where the test will be performed.” Taking a deep breath, Kali tried to push away the nervousness that suddenly took hold of her. Even though the high priest had been civil on the outside, she could easily see the contempt the man felt for her. His eyes had been hard and cold. She got the distinct impression he wanted her to fail. The priests led them to a small room that branched off the main hall. All three oracles were already present. Kali made sure her face showed no sign of recognition when she looked over at Tessa. The three women, who all appeared to be roughly the same age, stood in silence as the high priest led Kali to the center of the room. The other priests stood off to one side. Gar went to stand with them. A bright light illuminated the pedestal in the middle of the room. On it sat the object that was the test. Such a simple thing. It looked like nothing more than an ordinary pendant strung onto a thick gold chain, but looks could be deceiving. This was no ordinary piece of jewelry. Hidden powers lurked within the large diamond pendant. It alone decided the identity of The Chosen One. One touch was all it took to decide life or death. For only the true Chosen One could hold the pendant and not drop dead within seconds. At the high priest’s nod, Kali’s palms began to sweat. She wiped them on her form fitting leather pants. Her heart began to race, the sound loud even to her own ears. Hesitantly she reached out her hand and was disgusted by how it shook. Clenching her hand into a tight fist, Kali forced it to remain still as she took a deep breath and opened her hand. She could do this. She would do this. Just before she let her fingers touch the pendant, she sent up a silent prayer to whatever god was listening to not let her fail. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Kali quickly snatched the pendant off the pedestal. Holding her breath, she waited for something to happen. For unbearable pain to rise up and claim her, striking her down for daring to touch such a sacred object. Nothing happened. Opening her palm she stared at the large diamond as it sparkled in the bright light. It was hers. Turning her gaze onto the high priest, Kali watched him drop to his knees and bow before her. She let a smile spread across her face. The man’s robes shook and she was pretty sure it wasn’t from fear. Pulling the gold chain over her head, she relished the feel of the heavy pendant as it nestled between her breasts. No one would be able to remove it from around her neck but her. Even though she had claimed it as her own, the powers within the pendant had not been diminished. It would still strike down anyone who tried to take it from her. Kali looked around the room and found the other priests on their knees with heads bowed. Only the oracles and Gar remained standing. Tessa smiled at Kali. The look on her face spoke volumes. Now the fun and games would begin, Kali thought to herself.

Gar moved to her side as the high priest rose to his feet. The older man looked anything but thrilled. Kali had a feeling he hadn’t had to bow to anyone in a great number of years. He was probably used to having others bow and scrape before him. Giving her a stare that held barely concealed ire, he spoke in a clipped tone. “I will let it be known you are The Chosen One. The Order is here to serve you.” She could tell he had a hard time forcing those words from his mouth. His lips barely moved as he spoke. When he started to leave the room, Kali asked, “What is your name, High Priest?” “It’s Odo, Chosen One. Is there anything else you wish to ask me?” Kali shook her head. She could tell Odo was insulted by the very idea of her not knowing who he was. “Not at the moment, no.” “Then I will leave you for now.” Odo walked out the door. The priests who had accompanied him filed out behind him. When the door shut behind the priests, Kali felt the magnitude of what she had just done. She was The Chosen One. She felt lost, unsure of what was expected of her now. Lifting the pendant away from her chest, she stared down at it. Where it touched her skin she felt a tingling sensation, as power radiated from it. Releasing it, she looked at the others who were still in the chamber with her. “I guess now I don’t have to worry about the diamond killing me,” Kali said with a light laugh. “But what if others were to accidentally touch it? I don’t want to be a walking death sentence to those who don’t watch themselves around me.” Tessa was the one to answer her question. “Only if the diamond leaves your person, then will it bring down any who dare to touch it. As long as it is in contact with your skin it is safe.” “What now? I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.” “You will take full control of the order, immediately. Once Odo declares you The Chosen One, he will try and undermine your authority. He stands to lose the most. He rose through the ranks to high priest not by being the most devout. He is known for his cruelty and those that serve under him fear him.” “So I can assume I’ll have another war on my hands, but this time a holy one?” “Not necessarily. You have us.” It was one of the other oracles who spoke up. With her long red hair and green eyes, she looked like any other young woman at first glance, but Kali sensed the power within her. “My name is Maeve. And this is Seline.” Seline was blonde with hazel eyes. All three women were dressed in long loose-fitting, light colored gowns. “I gladly accept your help, Maeve, along with that of the others. The three of you have been a part of the Order and will know more than I what will likely happen. I never would have asked for this, but now that it’s mine, I don’t intend to let corrupt men hold sway over me. If it’s a battle they want, then a battle they will get.” “And that is why you were destined to be The Chosen One, Kali.” Tessa looped her arm through Kali’s. “Let’s go find Rand. He will be anxious to see you.” Before leading Kali and Gar out of the room, Tessa turned to the other oracles. “Maeve, Seline, you know what must be done.” Each woman nodded in understanding. Looking at each of the three women, Kali had the feeling the priests of the order were about to get a very rude awaking. ****

Kali stepped out into the main hall. She could already tell her life had started to change. The few priests who were in the room went down on one knee, bowing their heads as she walked by. Kali allowed Tessa to lead her out of the room and to what would become her personal chambers. It was there Rand waited for them. Seeing Kali and Gar, he crossed the chamber to greet them. “I see my Tessa was right in her prediction.” Rand looked pointedly at the large diamond hanging around Kali’s neck. “I would have loved to have been there to see Odo’s face when you claimed the prize.” “I think I already have my first enemy in that man.” “He won’t be able to move against you publicly. We will have to make sure you are never alone when you have any dealings with Odo.” Kali couldn’t help but feel a little bit insulted that she would have to be guarded to that extreme. “I’m a warrior queen, Rand. I’ve fought in numerous battles. I think I can handle one middle-aged man.” “I’m sure you can, but this isn’t a question of whether or not you can defeat Odo in hand to hand combat. That isn’t his way. He uses other means to rid himself of those he considers in the way. He’s more likely to serve you a poisoned goblet of wine than stab you in the back with a knife.” Gar pulled Kali up against his side. “Have no fear, my friend. As Kali’s mate, I’ll be watching over her at all times.” Rand smiled and shook his head. “Mate, is it? Congratulations are in order then.” He grew serious. “We’ll keep that bit of news to ourselves for the present. Obviously you didn’t have a public ceremony. Once Kali is firmly in place as The Chosen One, a large public ceremony can be performed.” “I performed the mating ceremony for us,” Kali stated. “The only other people who know besides you and Tessa are my aunt and uncle.” Breaking into the conversation, Tessa asked, “Did you bring your crown, Kali?” “Yes.” “Excellent. Be sure to wear it when I come for you in the morning.” Before Kali could ask why, Tessa spoke to Gar. “I want you to stay here with Kali tonight. No one would dare to disturb Kali’s rest. We really don’t want the rest of the house to know where you are sleeping, so don’t leave the chambers until I fetch Kali.” “I understand. I had no intentions of leaving Kali alone anyway.” Before Rand and she left them alone, Tessa suggested, “And Gar, be sure to let Kali get some sleep tonight. She has a big day ahead of her tomorrow.” Gar chuckled as the door clicked shut behind them. **** “Well, do you feel any different?” Gar watched Kali reach up and touch the palmsized diamond pendant. “Not really. I can feel the power inside the diamond, but I don’t feel any difference in me.” Gar brushed the sparkling surface of the large jewel with the tip of his finger. Now that Kali had claimed the pendant as her own, and as long as she wore around her neck, he was safe to touch it. “Don’t let this change what you are, Kali. You’re perfect for the job as you are now.”

Cupping her face in his hands, Gar looked deeply into Kali’s golden cat eyes before he kissed her softly. It wasn’t enough. He wrapped one around her waist and pulled her up against him as he increased the pressure of his mouth. Having to stand silently by as she did the test had been pure hell for him. When she had reached out for the diamond, he’d had to fight the urge to yell at her not to touch it. The very thought of losing her had just about torn him apart. He didn’t think he could have lived with himself if she had failed, considering she had only done it at his urging. Now that it was over, all he wanted to do was to strip them both naked and make love to her, to hear her moans as she came for him. Slipping his tongue inside her mouth, he let it duel with hers. Kali was his and he would be damned if he let some power hungry priest do anything to harm her. Reaching between their bodies, Gar undid both his and Kali’s sword belts and let them drop to the floor. He slipped his hands under her shirt so he could cup her full breasts. With his thumbs, he brushed it back and forth against her nipples until they tightened into buds. Leaving her mouth, he nipped at the side of her neck. “I have to be inside you, Kali.” “I know.” Gar allowed Kali to walk him backwards until his legs hit the couch as she took control. She placed a hand in the center of his chest and sent him sprawling. Before he had a chance to sit up she came down on top of him. He groaned as she frantically tugged at his clothes. Her mouth latched onto his when she pushed his pants down past his hips. His cock, already hard, jumped as Kali looked down at it with a smile on her face before she licked him from base to tip. Gar groaned at the feel of her tongue bathing him in wetness as she purred with pleasure. It was almost too much. When Kali’s tongue circled the very tip of his cock, Gar lifted his hips, wanting her to take more of him inside her hot mouth. Instead, she stripped off her pants, rose up on her knees and impaled herself onto his hard shaft. He closed his eyes as she rode him. Her strong inner muscles clamped down around him, increasing the pleasure he was feeling. Opening his eyes, he found Kali staring down at him. He brought her head down and kissed her, putting all he was feeling into it. The pendant fell forward and came to rest at the base of his throat, Gar gasped as he was hit with a wave of sensations he knew were not his own. It was as if the diamond had connected him to Kali, making them one. He could feel her pleasure as well as his own which caused his to become more intense. He could feel what her body was feeling, and the love she felt for him. Not sure Kali was having the same sensations as he, but hoping she did, Gar let his feelings for her fill him. Kali threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling it, as she devoured him with her mouth. They were so connected Gar felt the moment Kali’s orgasm reached its pinnacle. Reaching between their bodies, he stroked her clit, pushing her over the edge. He savagely clamped down the urge to spill inside her as she climaxed around him. When the last tremor subsided, he slipped out of her and positioned her with her knees on the floor and her upper body resting on the cushions of the couch. Moving to kneel behind her, he opened her legs wider with his hips as he surged into her. In this position she was tighter and able to take more of him inside. Kali whimpered as he slowly pulled back then rocked back into her. She felt so damn good. He was ready

to explode, but he wanted her to come again before he reached his own climax. Taking up a steady pace, he slid his cock in and out of her, wanting her to take as much of him as she could. Kali pushed back to meet his strokes as he rocked into her. Knowing he had reached the limit of his control, Gar increased the pace. He needed her to come. He reached around to slip a finger partially inside her, applying pressure against her clit as he continued to pound into her. Kali cried out as her body began to climax. Ramming into her one final time, Gar held onto her hips as he spilled his seed deep inside her. Collapsing onto Kali’s back, Gar pulled her close before he slid onto the carpeted floor to lie on his side. Once his breathing returned to normal, he pushed her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck. “I think Tessa should have told you to take it easy on me. I don’t think I have the strength to get up off the floor.” Kali stirred beside him. She rubbed her bottom against his now flaccid member. “I’ll let you rest for a few minutes more, but I want you again already.” Gar groaned. “I think you really are trying to kill me, woman. I won’t be much good to you tomorrow if I’m too weak to raise my sword.” “Oh, I think I can come up with a few ways to get your mighty sword up again.” Kali ground her bottom against him again. “That was not the sword I was speaking of.” “Well that’s the only sword I want rising to the occasion right now.” Gar felt his cock stir against her as she pushed back on him. He gave her bottom a slap. “You’re a greedy woman. It looks as if I’m going to have my work cut for me trying to satisfy you this night, but not out here on the hard floor. A softer surface is where I do my best work.” Moving to her feet in one smooth movement, Kali turned to retrieve her pants. Bending at the waist to pick them up with her legs slightly spread, she teased him with the view of her wet opening. Straightening, she eyed his half aroused member. “It looks as if you aren’t that tired after all.” She pulled her shirt over her head and walked into the bedroom without a second glance. Quickly gaining his feet, Gar followed. Sleeping was the furthest thing from his mind.

Chapter Nine Kali stifled a yawn with her hand. Contrary to Tessa’s advice, both Gar and she hadn’t gotten much sleep during the night. She would admit it was mostly her doing. For some reason she couldn’t get enough of him. Perhaps it was from having undergone a test that could have proved fatal and surviving it. Or it could have had something to do with the diamond that hung around her neck. For whenever the pendant had touched Gar’s skin during love making, she had felt everything he had felt which in turn increased her own pleasure. No one really knew what the diamond was capable of, let alone who had endowed it with such power. All that was known about it was its ability to cause death. With quick strokes she pulled a brush through her long black hair one final time and placed her crown on her head. It wasn’t very eye catching, but she didn’t want a crown that was more ostentatious. The plain, solid gold band that circled her head had been in her family for generations, passed down from the very first ruler of Zudris. That alone made it more precious to Kali. Picking up her sword, she strapped it around her waist as she walked into the main chamber. Tessa and Gar stood waiting for her. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long. I want to make sure I look my best. First impressions and all that.” Tessa looked Kali up and down. “You look perfect. I just need to make one small adjustment.” Moving to stand in front of Kali, Tessa undid her sword belt and placed it on the room’s only table. “You won’t be needing this.” “No offense, Tessa, but I’d rather not walk into that room of vultures without some kind of weapon hanging at my side.” “You won’t be weaponless for very long, I promise.” Tessa shot Kali a rather smug look and Kali wondered what her mysterious secret might be. Now satisfied, Tessa walked out of the chamber with Kali at her side. Gar followed behind the two women. When their small company entered the main hall, all conversation abruptly ceased. Kali couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of people assembled in the room. There seemed to be a mix of dignitaries, ambassadors and royalty from all the known countries present along with a large number of priests. With her shoulders back, Kali kept her head held high as she kept pace with Tessa. A large throne-like chair had been set up on a dais at the far end of the room. It hadn’t been there when she had arrived the evening before. When Tessa motioned for her to take her place on it, Kali turned to face the room before she sat down. Both Tessa and Gar took up positions on either side of the chair. Looking out at the crowd, Kali watched as one and all went down on bended knee and bowed their heads. She knew she would never feel comfortable having people treat her as if she were some higher being, but that was something she would not be able to change. Having paid her the homage she was due, the crowd rose as one. Odo appeared to stand just below the dais. His eyes skipped over to Tessa. He scowled his displeasure at seeing her standing next to Kali. He turned his attention back to Kali and he smiled at her. No warmth reached his eyes. They were hard as ice and just as cold looking. Turning to face the crowded room, the high priest began to speak. “As it was foretold a thousand years before, The Chosen One has finally come to

take her rightful place. Our years of searching are over. All praise The Chosen One. She alone holds sway over us all.” Kali began to fidget in her seat. The pompous ass was laying it on too thick for her liking. Yes, as The Chosen One she was to hold the ultimate power, but she knew she would never use it to its full extent. The other reigning kings and queens had the right to rule over their own people. She would never take that away from them. The only group that had anything to worry about from her was the Order and she would use the full power of her authority to rid the sect of the festering rot that threatened it. Odo stood aside as all of the people in the room came to stand before her and pledge their allegiance. After the last one had stepped away, Odo moved to speak to the room once again, but before he could say a word, Tessa stepped forward drawing the crowd’s attention to her. Kali watched Odo’s face turn red with indignation when Tessa spoke. “I know most of you are wondering who I am. I’m one of the oracles.” A loud whisper swept through the crowded room. Tessa waited until she had their attention once more. “Now that The Chosen One has been found, my sister oracles and I have a duty to discharge. We were given a set of sacred items to protect until this day arrived. These items have been passed down from generation to generation, ever since the first oracle foresaw The Chosen One’s coming. The diamond pendant is part of this set. It’s time all three items were reunited.” Maeve and Seline stepped out of the chamber where the diamond pendant had once resided. Each woman carried a polished wooden box in her arms. The crowd parted, allowing them to approach the dais. Tessa opened the smaller box Seline held out to her first. Picking up what was stored inside she held it aloft for all to see. It was a crown. In some ways it was similar to the one Kali already wore. The solid gold band was just as plain, but there the similarities ended. For set into the very center of the band was another palm sized diamond, a twin to the one she wore around her neck. Turning to Kali, Tessa placed the second crown on her head. It was a perfect fit. As it settled into place, Kali heard a clicking sound, as if the new crown had attached itself to the original. She resisted the urge to pull them both off her head to see if they had indeed become joined together. Her task complete, Seline stepped back and gave way to Maeve. Her box was much larger than Seline’s. Tessa motioned for Kali to stand as Maeve lifted the lid. Kali now understood what Tessa had meant about not being unarmed for very long. Inside the second box was a sword unlike any she had ever seen. The entire length of the blade was etched with runes on both sides. The steel was in immaculate condition, not a spot of rust or any nicks marred it. The grip was wrapped in black leather. At the end of the guard on each side, two small diamonds had been set in the steel. But it was the pommel that drew the eye. Set in gold was a third palm sized diamond identical in every way to the previous two. Kali watched as Tessa retrieved the tooled black leather scabbard and sheathed the sword in it. She then belted it around Kali’s waist. Not giving it a second thought, Kali pulled the sword free and hefted it, testing its balance. Stepping away from Tessa, she sliced the air with it. The sword was not only a piece of art but had been crafted to perfection. Just like the crown, the sword could have been especially made for her. The fit and balance were perfect. Looking back at Tessa she gave her a sheepish smile before she sheathed the sword in the scabbard at her side.

Sitting back down in her chair, Kali let her hand rest on the pommel of the sword. Tessa turned back to address the crowd. Kali found she was unable to concentrate on what the other woman was saying. Now that she was sitting down, all three diamonds began to give off surges of power. They felt warm against her skin and her ears started to ring. Suddenly she found she could no longer hear or see what was happening around her. Images began to flash before her eyes that only she could see. First they were too quick for her to focus on, but gradually they slowed until she could see vast plains of grasslands stretching as far as the eye could see. Large herds of different varieties of animals grazed on the abundant grasses. Most of them Kali didn’t recognize. Her point of view changed when she suddenly found herself looking down on the herds from high above. The scenery flew by and she soon left the herds far behind. In the distance she saw what looked like rudimentary dwellings. As she drew closer she saw they were simply made out of hides that were stretched over a sturdy wooden frame. The camp appeared to be deserted except for one small dwelling that sat away from the rest with smoke wafting out of the top. Her flight slowed until she was once again standing on the ground before it. Kali reached out and pushed aside the leather flap that covered the entrance. Ducking inside she waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimness. A fire crackled in the very center of the room. A man sat on the ground before it with his head bent. He was softly chanting in a language she didn’t understand. Unable to stop herself, she carefully crept closer to get a better look at him. His long straight black hair was loose, hanging almost to his waist. His well muscled body was bare from the waist up. The only article of clothing he wore was a pair of pants made of soft leather. Sweat glistened on his bronzed chest. Kali moved closer, wanting to see his face. The man stopped chanting as if he sensed her presence. Lifting his head he looked directly at her. Kali sucked in a breath. He was extremely handsome with his high cheekbones, straight nose and firm chiseled lips. And his cat-like eyes, so very similar to her own, stared back at her. Seeing her staring back at him, he smiled, giving Kali a glimpse of his sharp eye teeth. She found herself unable to move as he walked around the fire pit to stand in front of her. He was just as tall as Gar with the same warrior’s body. Extending a hand, he caressed her cheek with his finger tips. Surprisingly, she could feel him touching her skin. He continued to look in her eyes when he started to speak. Not understanding what he was saying to her, Kali shook her head. She could sense his frustration when he growled in response. This she understood. Having been able to make the cat-like sounds since she was a very small child, she had used them to express herself when words didn’t seem to convey all she wanted to say. She growled softly back at him. His reaction caught her slightly off guard. He pulled her to him and rubbed his cheek against hers. A wave of longing surged through her body. Shocked by her reaction, she roughly pushed him away. He smiled and placed one hand on the diamond in the center of her crown. The three words he spoke Kali understood. “You are mine.” was all he said in his rich deep baritone. After taking a step back, Kali shook her head. Knowing she would do something she would regret later if she stayed with him much longer, Kali left the dwelling. Instantly she was plunged into darkness as she felt herself falling and the primitive landscape gave way to nothingness.

With a jolt she found herself back in the main hall of the head house. She blinked as she tried to get her bearings. Kali looked up into Gar’s concerned face. “Kali, are you all right?” She nodded. “I think so.” Still feeling off center from the vision she’d had, if it was only that, Kali looked around Gar to find the other occupants of the room standing crowded together at the bottom of the dais, trying to see what was wrong with her. Tessa leaned toward Kali and spoke just above a whisper. “Do not say anything more. We’ll discuss your vision in private away from those who have no business knowing what you saw.” Kali nodded. Her head was pounding and the last thing she wanted was to be put on display for curious onlookers. Rubbing the ache between her eyes, she heard an excited murmur run through the crowd. A few individuals pointed in her direction. Kali looked at Gar and Tessa before asking off handedly, “What has them all worked up?” Gar angled himself so his body blocked most of Kali from view. “During your vision, or whatever it was, the diamonds changed.” “What do you mean they changed?” Picking up the diamond pendant, she saw Gar was correct. It no longer look like it had previously. A pattern of solid black circles had appeared in the center of it. Holding it closer to her face, Kali ran her finger across it. The circles were in the diamond itself, forming a design just below its surface. In the very center of the design was a large circle. Branching off from it in a half moon shape were three more groupings of circles ranging from medium sized to larger, then gradually tapering off to a set of much smaller circles. The smaller circles formed the tip of the half moon. Each one curved in a counter clockwise direction, spiraling around the center circle, not touching one another, giving the overall design a round shape. Letting the pendant fall back down to her chest, Kali noticed the same pattern of circles in the diamond set in the sword’s pommel. Without having to ask, she knew the one in the crown would bear the same markings as the other two. Rising to her feet, Kali walked down the dais steps. The crowd parted for her. Thinking Odo might try to stop her from leaving the hall, she searched the room for the high priest, but he was nowhere to be seen. Crossing the length of the hall with Gar and the oracles following behind, Kali made her way to her private chambers. Once the door closed behind the last person who had entered, she pulled off the crowns. With a tug she tried to pull them apart, but they refused to budge. Sitting down on the couch, she let it hang limply from her one hand as she rubbed her throbbing forehead with the other. “Have you ever had a vision before, Kali?” Kali shook her head at Tessa. “No.” “What did you see?” When Kali didn’t answer right away, Tessa sat down beside her. “Visions can be confusing at first, hard to interpret what you actually saw.” “It wasn’t so much that it was confusing. I’m just having a hard time believing it was real, even though it felt pretty real at the time.” “This being your first vision, I can understand the way you are feeling. Most visions allow the person having one to see something that happened in the past or what will happen in the future, using images and sound or sometimes only images. That’s why they can be interpreted in many different ways.”

“I wish I could say I saw only pictures inside my head. This was more real than that. I mean he was able to reach and touch me.” Tessa, Maeve and Seline exchanged a look of concern. “I think you have to start from the beginning, Kali.” Leaning back on the couch, Kali let out a breath. “One moment I was sitting in the hall and the next I was flying above huge grasslands until I came to an ancient looking camp. I went inside one of the hide dwellings. That’s where I found him sitting before a fire pit, chanting.” “What was he chanting?” “I have no idea. He spoke in a language I never heard before. When he saw me, he stopped and came to stand right in front of me. That’s when he touched my cheek. It was as if I was really there.” “What did he look like?” Kali heard the excitement in Tessa’s voice. “Tall, built like a warrior. Long black hair and he looked like me.” “How so?” Kali pointed to her eyes. “His eyes were like mine and he made the same cat sounds I’m capable of making.” “It sounds as if this was more than an ordinary vision, Kali.” Tessa squeezed her hand. “I think the diamonds were showing you where they came from. I think the man you saw was the one who foretold your coming. He would have been a shaman in his time and a very powerful one at that if he was the one who empowered the diamonds. Did he do anything else? Speak to you in any way?” Kali shook her head. There was no way she was going to tell everything that happened between her and the shaman. She was uncomfortable with the way her body had reacted to being held against him. She couldn’t help feeling she had betrayed Gar in some way. “No, nothing else. To be honest, I hope it never happens again. It’s left me with a pounding headache.” “It may very well not happen again. It may have occurred because you are in possession of the three diamonds. Just how powerful they are is something we can only surmise. But it’s obvious they were intended for you.” Tessa squeezed Kali’s hand once more before she stood up. “Get some rest. That should help with your headache. You’ve crossed the first major hurtle in establishing yourself as The Chosen One. Having the designs appear in the diamonds before a large gathering only works in your favor. Soon all will have heard about it.” Knowing sleep would elude her if she went to rest alone, Kali made Gar lie down with her. He somehow sensed her need to just be held in his arms. He pulled her close with her head resting on his wide chest. Kali closed her eyes, lulled by the sound of Gar’s heart beating in her ear. The image of the shaman rose to the surface. His words, you are mine, bounced around inside her head. Snuggling closer to Gar, she savagely pushed them aside. Gar was her mate, not some long dead shaman.

Chapter Ten Odo slammed his fist on the top of his desk. His anger knew no bounds. To have worked his way up from being a lowly novice priest to reach the highest echelon of the Order, he would be damned if he would allow some woman rule over him. Especially one that was half animal. That one such as she would end up being The Chosen One seemed a sacrilege. For years he had used the test to clear away those that questioned his authority. In the past, the oracles’ visions were never very precise. They received vague glimpses of who The Chosen One was, which had worked to his advantage. It hadn’t been very hard to convince the rest of the Order that the ones he wanted to take the test had some of the traits the oracles had foreseen. He had already picked out his next intended victim when not one but all three of the oracles had the same vision and one strong enough so they could come up with a name. Queen Kali of Zudris had meant nothing to him. Her kingdom was small enough that she was no real threat to him. That she tried to avoid any contact with the Order had earned her the dubious honor of being considered a non-threat. Now that had changed. When she had picked up the diamond pendant and not fallen dead like the rest, he had wanted to howl with rage, to scream that it wasn’t fair. In the back of his mind he felt as if the diamond was his, to use as he saw fit. He knew he could never claim it for himself. The risk of failure was too great. Now all was lost to him. Odo moved to sit behind his desk as someone knocked on his door. Taking a deep breath to calm down, he bid the person enter. His assistant opened the door and motioned to the individual he had summoned into his office. Tessa entered the room and came to stand before his desk. He had once been enthralled with her beauty and otherworldliness, but that soon changed when she refused to treat him with the servility that was his due as the high priest. Even know she appeared to be looking down her nose at him. How he longed to set her in her place. “What were you and the other oracles doing in the hall this morning? You know it is forbidden for you to be seen by any other except for the priests of the Order.” “We had a duty to perform now that The Chosen One has been revealed. It could not be done by any other.” Odo ground his teeth at Tessa’s superior tone. “And why were those objects kept secret from the Order? All things pertaining to The Chosen One are property of the Order. You had no right to keep them from me.” “I had every right. They have been passed down from generation to generation, each new oracle given the same duty to protect them and to only relinquish them to The Chosen One. I gladly took on the task of keeping them safe as it was passed on by my mother.” “Your mother? But you were an orphan like all the oracles before you.” “That is what you and your predecessors before you were led to believe.” Tessa’s face grew stern. “Every oracle chose her own successor in the form of her daughter.” “But that is not possible. They had no opportunities to conceive a child. No man was allowed near them.” Odo felt his anger surface again as he realized who the fathers could

only be. “The priests that serve the oracles are the fathers.” “Correct. My father pledged his service to my mother. He became her mate, just as Rand is mine.” “That is forbidden,” Odo snapped. “You both shall pay for your transgressions.” “You no longer hold any sway over me,” Tessa snapped back. “The days of the oracles being hidden away are over. Kali holds all the power now. And if you think even for a minute she will quietly sit back and let you use her as a figurehead, you are sadly mistaken. I’ve seen what she will become and what she will do to bring the Order back to what it once represented. She will cut out the cancer that has slowly been destroying all that is good in the Order. And you, High Priest, stand to lose the most.” “You are a fool if you think that woman is strong enough to handle the likes of me.” Tessa laughed. “You don’t know Kali if you honestly believe that. That woman brought peace to her country ending a two century long war at the tender age of eighteen. She’s even stronger today. She holds onto what is hers and she will not tolerate your scheming. Your days are numbered.” Where at one time Tessa would have waited for him to dismiss her, she turned her back on him and left the room without saying another word. Odo snarled with rage. He had to do something. He would not give up all that was his. The Chosen One may think she held the highest power in the Order, but the Order was his to rule. Kali needed to be taught her place. Even though the thought sickened him, he would play along for the time being. He would do all he could to get into her good graces, lull her into thinking he had come to terms with her position within the Order. All the while he would watch and learn—learn all of her weaknesses to later use them against her. She may be considered a supreme being, but she was just as mortal as the rest of them. When she got what she so richly deserved, he would be there to pick up the pieces. And by the gods he would make those who opposed him wish they had never sided against him.

Chapter Eleven Kali stared at the man who stood before her. Odo was still not thrilled with her being the one the Order had sought for so many years. He hadn’t shown his dislike for her openly, he was by no means a fool, but Kali sensed the animosity he felt toward her. Two weeks had passed since she claimed the diamond that hung around her neck. As Odo spoke, Kali noticed how his eyes strayed to each of the diamonds, first resting on the one around her neck before moving to the one set in her crown and then to the one set in the pommel of her sword. She knew he resented her for having them. Narrowing her cat eyes at Odo, Kali growled quietly. The cat-like sound caused the high priest to fall silent. He scowled in disgust at her before he quickly put his mask of indifference back in place. The Pantherinae blood that flowed through her veins marked her as more animal than human in Odo’s eyes. She had encountered many who felt the same way as the high priest did and she could easily read his dislike for her because of it. Kali spoke before Odo recovered himself. “I mean no disrespect, Odo, but you can’t expect me to simply follow your dictates. I’m The Chosen One. I alone rule over the Order. I’ll look into how the Order has been run in the past, but I can assure you I’m quite capable of deciding what will stay the same and what has to be changed. I can tell you right now, the first change will be the vow of celibacy the priests of the Order must take.” Odo’s face grew red as he spoke through gritted teeth. “The vow of celibacy must stay in place. It is to show what we are willing to give up in our service to you.” “That may have been well and good when The Chosen One was unknown, but I would never ask it. It would be unfair of me to ask those that serve me to stay celibate when I have no intentions of doing so.” Kali looked across the room to the large blond man who stood guard at the doors to the main hall. Gar being her mate was something Odo still knew nothing about. When the opportunity was right, she planned to have a formal mating ceremony with Gar. “The Chosen One must remain pure,” Odo sputtered. “I haven’t been pure for quite some time now.” Kali heard Gar snort before he covered it up by clearing his throat. “I’ll not back down on this, so you might as well resign yourself to the inevitable. The vow of celibacy will be abolished.” Odo glared down his nose at her. A small feat considering the throne she sat on was placed on a raised dais and Odo was standing before it. “You can’t expect to just be allowed free rein in how the Order is run.” Kali growled once again. “That is exactly what I expect, High Priest. If you don’t like it, you can resign your position and I’ll find another who is more accepting. The choice is yours.” With his jaw tightly clenched shut, Odo quickly bowed to her and walked out of the hall. Leaning back in her chair, Kali let out a sigh as the doors slammed shut behind him. This was the first time since taking her rightful place as The Chosen One she’d had to exert her authority over Odo. She knew this was only the first of many such encounters. “I think he took that rather well, don’t you?” “Actually, for Odo, I think you are right.”

As Gar approached the dais, Kali stood up and met him halfway. She loved this man with all her being. Since their mating was a secret, she couldn’t touch him as she wished, but that didn’t stop her from looking. Gar towered over most people at his six feet nine inches. If that alone didn’t intimate his enemies, his heavily muscled body did. She let her eyes rest on his handsome face. His pale green eyes stared back at her with the promise of pleasure swimming in their depths. She couldn’t wait to be alone with him. Gar smiled suggestively at her. “Now that your meeting with Odo is over, we could always sneak away to your private chamber.” Kali was tempted to take Gar up on his offer, but knew it would have to wait until night had fallen. “We have to be careful, Gar. Once my rule has been established in the Order, I promise planning the formal ceremony for our mating will be the first thing I do.” “I know. I’m just finding it hard knowing we are already mated and I have to act during the day as if we aren’t. Sometimes I wish Odo would move against you so I can get rid of him and we would no longer have to go sneaking around.” “Give it time, Gar. I have to go see Tessa. I promised I would let her know what happened when I met with Odo.” Gar gave Kali one last look of longing before he fell into step beside her as she left the main hall. “Does Tessa know of your decision to abolish the rule about being celibate?” Kali turned her head to smile at Gar. “Yes. Maeve and Seline know as well. They were all quite happy about it. Along with Tessa, Seline is the only other oracle who is mated to the priest who serves her. With the vow of celibacy lifted, she and her mate want to start a family of their own now that they don’t have to hide in the shadows.” “I’m surprised Maeve is still unmated. Hasn’t she selected her mate from the ranks of the Order yet?” “Apparently not. The priest who serves her is her uncle, brother to her father. She says her mate isn’t a priest of the order.” “I guess there is something to be said about being able to see who will be your true mate.” “It does have its merits, but it can lead to a lonely life if you can’t see exactly who it is you are waiting for.” Kali ended the conversation when they reached Tessa’s chambers. Tapping on the door, she waited for Tessa to let them in. The other woman met them with a smile and waved them inside before she shut the door once more. “I see you survived your first formal meeting with Odo, Kali,” Tessa said with some humor. “I really dislike that man. I find him more annoying each time we meet.” Sitting in the chair offered to her, Kali saw Gar had moved across the room to where Rand sat at a desk reading from a thick bound book. Figuring he would be well occupied, she turned her attention back to Tessa. “Did the meeting go that badly, Kali?” She shook her head. “No, not really, at least not from my perspective. Odo, on the other hand, was not thrilled by what I had to say.” “I had more than a feeling he wouldn’t be.” “He tried to give me a list of things I could and couldn’t do. Most of the things I

could do would have no bearing on how the Order was run. Reading between the lines, I found it obvious that he would hold onto the power he had before my coming, and I am to just follow along with it. I set him straight about that, much to his displeasure.” “And what about the other?” Kali chuckled. “I think my abolishing the Order’s vow of celibacy irked him the most. He even had the audacity to tell me I had to remain pure. As I told Odo, it’s a little late for that. I would never expect others to be celibate if I have no intentions of being so. To be honest, I think Odo would have ended up a much better person if he had been getting some sex over the years.” Tessa burst out laughing, drawing the men’s attention. When she shook her head at them, they returned to their own conversation. “I predict a bumpy ride from here on out, but I’m sure you will be able to handle Odo.” “Let’s hope so. I still think he has something up his sleeve. He’s been too accepting of my presence here. I can’t shake the feeling he’s trying to convince me he is supporting me as The Chosen One, but in reality he is only waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.” “I wouldn’t put it past him, but don’t worry about Odo. He won’t be allowed to do anything drastic.” “No, he won’t. If he tries anything at all, I’ll take great pleasure in ridding the Order of him.” Gar had come to stand behind Kali’s chair as he spoke. Rand soon joined them. As the other three talked, Kali felt her mind drift, focusing inward. The diamonds hummed with power, making it hard for her to hear what the others said. She knew what was coming next. Sitting further back in her chair, she waited for the vision to take her over. Unlike the first time, there were no grasslands or ancient dwellings. There was nothing but an empty black void. Suddenly, a small pinprick of light appeared in the blackness. As she watched, it grew in size and intensity. It moved closer to her and stopped a mere inch from her face. Colors swirled in its center as the sound of a heart beating, thump, thump, filled her ears. Unable to look away, Kali stood transfixed as the colors began to coalesce and lengthened. A shape quickly began to form, until it became a recognizable shape of a man. Blinking against the bright light, Kali found herself staring up into the eyes of the shaman. His body was outlined by a shimmering light, and when he reached for her, his hand passed right through her body. He closed his eyes. He appeared to be concentrating. He soon opened his eyes once more and reached out to her again. This time she felt a featherlight brush against her cheek where his fingers touched her skin. He smiled at her. “Long have I waited for you.” Kali gasped. “I can understand you. How can I understand you now?” He lifted his hand to touch the diamond in the center of her crown. “This allowed me to learn your speech, little one.” “Did you empower the diamonds?” Smiling at her inquisitiveness, he nodded his head. “Yes. I saw that you would have need of them.” “What do they do?” Seeing he was slowly starting to fade, Kali tried to keep him with her by reaching out to him. She watched her hand slip through him. “Don’t go. I

have so many questions. I don’t understand why I was destined to be The Chosen One.” His form once more took on some solidity. “You are the last of our kind, Kali. Only you can be The Chosen One.” Taking a step nearer, he leaned toward her and rubbed his cheek against the side of her face and purred. Kali felt his rumbling purr through her entire body. It stirred her blood on a very elemental level. She balled her fists at her sides to stop herself from pulling him to her. “How do you know my name? He pressed his lips to hers briefly before he stepped away from her. “I know everything about you, Kali. We are one.” His form rapidly started to fade and shift, as the light surrounding him grew more intense. “I don’t understand.” When he didn’t answer, Kali quickly added, “At least tell me your name.” The ball of light that had been the shaman shimmered as it floated away from her. Before it completely faded away, once more leaving her in darkness, she heard, I am Sahir. Coming back to herself, Kali quickly looked at the others in the room. They were still talking, not showing in any way they had noticed she’d had another vision. Pulling her legs up underneath her, she resisted the urge to rub her throbbing forehead. For some reason she didn’t want them to know about this vision. It had seemed more personal this time now that she had exchanged words with Sahir. **** Gar pulled Kali closer to his body. She had fallen asleep after they had made love, but sleep eluded him. Lying in the dark, he absentmindedly ran his hand through Kali’s long black hair. Something was not right. He sensed a difference in Kali, something that hadn’t been there before they had seen Tessa and Rand. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he definitely knew it was there. She had been quiet, withdrawn even, appearing to be lost in her own thoughts. Gar had tried to draw her out several times, hoping she would tell him what was bothering her. But she never let on that something was wrong. When night had fallen, and they could be alone together, Kali had pulled him to her and kissed him with an intensity she had never shown before. And their lovemaking had been fast and hard. Kali had clung to him almost as if she thought he was going to leave her again. But what concerned him more was what he had felt when the diamond had touched him. Since the first time they had made love after Kali had claimed the pendant as her own, the diamond had connected them. The pleasure they had felt was bounced between them, heightening their senses. But this night, Gar swore he felt the diamond holding a little bit of Kali from him, shielding a part of her that it didn’t want him to see. Gar didn’t know how he felt about that. Kali shifted in her sleep and mumbled something he couldn’t understand. Pushing his thoughts aside, Gar kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes. He needed to sleep. There was a very real chance Odo, or someone of his ilk, would try and remove Kali from power. He had to be at his best to meet any and all challenges to her authority. Before sleep claimed him, the diamond gave a little surge of power where it rested

against his chest. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t pleasant either. Gar had to wonder whether the gem was giving him a warning. He couldn’t shake the feeling it was the diamond that was behind Kali’s strange behavior. **** Kali stretched and reached across the bed for Gar. When her hand encountered only sheets and not his warm body next to her, she opened her eyes. Sitting up, she found the room empty. She couldn’t help feeling a little relieved that she was alone. Her night had been filled with strange dreams, leaving her on edge. Guiltily, she recalled one dream in particular where she had been in the arms of the shaman. What bothered her most about this dream was her willingness to have Sahir take her, claim her as his own, with no thought of Gar. The other dreams she found to be a bit disconcerting as well. They had been filled with strange images, of people who could shift into animal form. She didn’t know if it was because they all were Pantherinae, but each one changed into a black panther. She knew these people were not ordinary Pantherinae either. All of them had some kind of power within them, marking them as a shaman, men and women alike. Knowing much wasn’t expected from her this day, Kali took her time bathing. The soak in a hot bath helped ease her troubled thoughts. After she was dressed, she buckled her sword around her waist and placed her crown on her head. She made sure the three diamonds were on her person or within sight at all times. Surprisingly, when she arrived at the main hall, she found it empty. There was usually at least one person around. Wondering what could have drawn all the priests away, Kali headed for the doors that led outside to the courtyard. Even before she reached the doors, she heard a large crowd assembled on the other side. Opening the doors wide, Kali blinked at the sight before her. Standing in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by priests and the men of her personal guard, was a large male black panther. At the sight of the animal that had haunted her dreams during the night, Kali stopped short. As the large cat growled at the people around him, she felt the diamond in the pendant give a slight surge of power. Regaining her composure, Kali moved closer to the crowd. The panther grew still and stopped snarling as she approached. Its gold eyes followed every step she took. The crowd parted, allowing her to get her first full view of the large cat. He was a magnificent animal, sleek and powerful looking. Just under his black fur she saw the barely visible rosettes that covered his body. She found she couldn’t take her eyes off the black panther. She felt drawn to him. Kali knew he was a wild animal, one that could very well bring her down easily, but she had no fear of him. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Not making any sudden moves, she slowly moved toward him. Gar stopped her before she could reach the large cat. “Kali, what are you doing?” “I’ll be all right, Gar. He won’t harm me. He came to be with me.” “What?” “I don’t know how, but I can sense he was looking for me.” “That is a wild animal, Kali. He can strike you down before anyone could stop him.” “I’ll be fine. I have to go to him.” Kali knew Gar was fighting his need to protect her while trying to understand what

she felt she had to do. In the end, he silently nodded and stepped aside. Crossing the remaining distance, Kali held her hand out to the panther. He sniffed her fingers before he ran his rough tongue along them. She smiled as he butted her hand with his head, wanting her to pet him. Running her hand across the top of his head, Kali was surprised at how soft the panther’s fur was. When she scratched behind his ears, he moved to lean against her leg and purred in contentment. Kali shook her head in wonderment. She had never been this close to a black panther before. So few of them remained. They were dying off just as her race had. The absence of noise brought Kali back to her surroundings. Keeping her hand on the panther’s back, she looked up to find the crowd staring at her. It wasn’t every day that a beast such as this came to the world of man and remained so docile. Kali had to admit this panther was not acting like others of his kind would in this situation. She knew it wouldn’t be safe for the panther to stay at the house. Thinking to send him back to the wild where he belonged, Kali headed out of the courtyard to the lands surrounding the house. The large cat walked at her side, brushing up against her leg every few steps. When she reached the start of a large piece of grassland, she pointed and said, “Off you go. Go back to your home. It’s not safe for you here.” The panther stared up at her, showing no signs of wanting to return to the wild. At the sound of footsteps coming up from behind, Kali turned to see Gar had joined her. He stopped a short distance away, obviously not wanting to get too close to the panther. “It doesn’t look as if he wants to go back, Kali.” “He has to. It’s where he belongs.” Deciding to be more forceful, she yelled, “Go!” If anything, the panther pressed closer to her. Gar chuckled. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere. And I have no intentions of forcing him to leave either. I would like to keep all my limbs intact.” “He can’t stay here.” “Why not?” “Gar, you were the one that warned me not to get too close to the panther, and now you think I should let him stay with me?” “Well, he obviously likes you. By the way he’s acting he wants to stay with you. And the more I think about it, it’s an excellent idea. With him at your side, you won’t have to worry about anyone getting too close to you.” Kali looked down at the panther. He was leaning against her leg, happily purring. She had the feeling she would have to do something drastic to get him to return to the wild. And Gar had a point. Just the sight of him alone would keep others at a distance. “Okay, I agree he would make an excellent bodyguard. But will you still think the same way if he keeps you away from me as well?” “Let’s find out.” Stepping closer, Gar moved to stand at Kali’s other side. The panther walked around her and growled menacingly, looking prepared to jump at Gar. Kali growled at the panther and stood in front of Gar to block him. “No,” she said sternly. The panther sat down on its haunches and looked at her. “Gar is a friend. There will be no biting of Gar tolerated.” Gar snorted. “I’m sure he understood that.” “Give me your hand, Gar.” When he kept his hands at his sides, Kali grabbed one

and allowed the cat to sniff it. “He has your scent now. I take it as a good sign that he hasn’t bitten your hand off. I think you should pet him so he knows you want to be friends.” “Okay. Whatever you say.” Gar stroked the top of the panther’s head a few times then pulled his hand away. “I think that’s enough. I still can’t help feeling he’s sizing me up, trying to see how many bites it would take for him to eat me.” Kali chuckled. “Then I’ll just have to make sure I keep his belly full.” “Please do. Well, if he’s going to be staying, you should at least give him a name.” “His name will be Sahir.”

Chapter Twelve The shaman’s name had just popped out of her mouth. Kali had no idea why she had said it. When Gar had asked what she was going to call the black panther, she hadn’t even begun to think of a name. She was happy she hadn’t told Gar and the others about her second vision. They would have taken her naming the panther after the shaman entirely the wrong way. As it stood now, they all thought the name suited the large cat. With the decision made to allow the panther to stay, Kali had led Sahir back to the house. The spectators gave them a wide berth. She heard them muttering as she pulled open the doors and walked through them with Sahir at her side. Not surprisingly, she found Odo standing in the main hall waiting for her. It didn’t take much guessing on her part to know one of the other priests had informed him about what was going on outside in the courtyard. “Chosen One, what do you plan to do with that creature?” Odo sneered in distaste as he looked at the panther. “I plan to keep him.” Odo’s glare snapped to her face. “You can’t keep a wild animal here in the head house. It’s quite possible it could turn on someone.” “If he’s kept well fed, I’m sure that won’t be an issue. So far he’s been docile enough.” “I still must insist you send the creature away.” Under his breath, almost too quiet for Kali to hear, he added, “Two animals are too much to ask for me to tolerate.” Kali curled her lip and snarled at Odo, sounding like the animal he was insinuating she was. “I would watch what you say around me, High Priest. I have the power to strip everything away from you, including your title as high priest. I won’t tolerate any slurs from you.” Sensing the tension between Kali and Odo, the panther growled menacingly at the high priest. When Odo moved a step closer to respond to Kali’s threat, the large cat let loose with a full throated roar. A tight-lipped Odo quickly jumped away. Before leaving the main hall, he shot a scathing look in Kali’s direction. After the high priest was gone, Gar burst out laughing. “Sahir is more than welcome to stay now. He’ll keep Odo in check more than anything I could come up with.” Before Kali could respond to Gar’s comment, Rand and the oracles came rushing into the hall. At the sight of the black panther standing next to Kali, they all came to a stop a few feet away. Tessa was the first to speak. “We thought we heard what sounded like a rather large cat roaring, and decided to see if you needed our help. I can see it wasn’t you who made that sound.” Kali let a small smile play across her lips. “No, it wasn’t me. I’m no longer the only cat residing here.” When the newcomers stood their ground, she brought the panther to them. She stopped them before they could move away at her approach. “Have no fear. Sahir is harmless, so long as you aren’t Odo that is,” Kali added laughingly. “Sahir, is it? The name suits him.” Cautiously, Tessa allowed the big cat to sniff her hand. “So it was Odo he was roaring at?” When Sahir didn’t do anything but sniff Tessa’s hand, the others followed her

example and let the panther smell their scent. “Yes. It would appear Sahir hasn’t taken a liking to the high priest.” “Well, then, we will have to encourage him in that feeling. So Sahir will be staying?” “I tried sending him away, but he has no interest in leaving.” Tessa smiled as she scratched behind the panther’s ears. “Excellent. For me, this is just another sign that you are indeed a full blooded Pantherinae, Kali. These cats, the black panthers, were known to have lived harmoniously with the Pantherinae, free to come and go as they pleased. They had a special bond with the panthers.” “I think you and I should have a long chat about the Pantherinae, Tessa.” Kali knew next to nothing about the people she was descended from. Her great-great-grandmother, even though she had been a full-blooded Pantherinae, hadn’t really passed down much information about her heritage. So at the time of Kali’s birth what little had been known had been mostly lost through the years. “It will be my pleasure, Kali.” Peering down at Sahir, Kali was surprised to find the panther staring at her intently. Looking into his golden cat eyes, so much like her own, she swore she saw intelligence in their depths. Not just animal intelligence, but something more, almost as if Sahir understood every word that was being said. When the doors that led to the courtyard opened and a few priests began to trickle in, Kali brought herself out of her musings. Thinking it would be best to keep Sahir away from the priests, at least until he had been well fed, she took the panther to her private chambers. **** Draining the glass goblet of wine in one gulp, Odo threw it into the cold fireplace. The sound of it smashing brought his assistant running. Odo impatiently waved the priest away. He was in no mood to be dealing with his underlings. Damn the woman. His temper soared once again at the thought of what that woman had threatened him with. How dare she threaten him? It was bad enough Kali would not do what he wanted, but to actually outright say she could, and would, strip him of his status in the Order, he could not tolerate. For the past two weeks he had held his tongue, hoping to get into Kali’s good graces. So far he was not having much success. She kept him at arm’s length, never coming to him for advice. It was the oracles she kept in her inner circle. Tessa and Kali seemed to grow closer with each day that passed. What irked him the most was he was never allowed to be alone with Kali. The blond giant who had arrived with Kali was never far from her side. Odo had the feeling the warrior would have to be removed at some point. It would be something he would enjoy arranging. Gar was too smug and too friendly with Kali. Odo had a feeling there was more than just friendship between them, but he had yet to find any proof. He had to do something to take back the power he once had. He couldn’t stand having to take orders from the likes of Kali. In his eyes, she was more animal than human. And her bringing a wild black panther to live with her only reinforced his opinion. Taking a seat behind his desk, Odo spied the sheet of paper sitting in the center of it. He curled his lip in disgust. It was a listing of all the changes Kali wanted to take place within the Order. He couldn’t let any of them become reality. If he did, Kali would have

the Order well within her grasp. It looked as if the time for him to act was upon him. Taking a fresh sheet of paper out from his desk drawer, Odo penned the message that would have him back in his proper place and rid him of Kali. **** Gar stood in the doorway to Kali’s bedchamber and watched her remove her crown. It was now night and she was preparing to go to bed. He would be joining her there. Crossing the room, Gar came to stand behind Kali and pulled her to him. He bent his head and kissed the side of her neck as he reached around her and undid her sword belt. Placing her sword on the table in front of her, he wrapped his arm around her waist. His cock hardened as she ground her bottom against him. He was finding it hard not being able to touch Kali in any way during the day. He understood the need to keep their relationship secret for now, but it didn’t make it any less hard on him. They were mated and he wanted the world to know. Soon. For some reason, at the back of his mind, he couldn’t help thinking that he would lose Kali if she didn’t openly proclaim him as her mate. Turning Kali in his arms, Gar leaned in and took her lips in a searing kiss. He would never get enough of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pushed his tongue inside. Tasting her, he let his tongue twine with hers. Kali moaned then growled deep in her throat. Reaching up, he cupped her breast in his hand and rubbed his thumb across her pebbled nipple. This time the growl he heard was louder and sounded menacing. Gar kept Kali held to him and lifted his head. It was then he realized the growling had not come from Kali, but from the black panther who now stood in the middle of the bed glaring at him while making grumbling noises. Deciding to ignore the large cat, Gar once more bent his head to Kali. Sahir growled again. This time it was Kali who pulled away. “I think it would be a good idea for you to let go of me, Gar.” Kali kept her eyes on the cat as she spoke. A quick glance in Sahir’s direction proved Kali’s suggestion held merit. The black panther had his hind legs coiled beneath him ready to strike. Slowly, so as not to startle Sahir, Gar let his arms fall to his sides and took a step back from Kali. The cat instantly relaxed his posture and stretched out in the middle of the bed. To test if it really was his touching Kali that had set Sahir off, Gar pulled her up against his chest. The cat’s head came up and he snarled a warning. Gar quickly released Kali. He stared down at her, unable to remove the scowl from his face. “I’m not allowed to touch you now it would seem.” “I don’t understand. Sahir seemed to accept you before.” “That was in front of the priests where I couldn’t touch you like this.” Kali looked from the large cat then back to Gar. “He does seem to be a little overprotective of me. Maybe he just has to get used to you.” “I hope so.” Gar ached to have Kali in his arms. He quickly decided it was better for him to keep all his limbs attached. “Fine. Sahir wins, but I’m still going to sleep next to you in your bed. He’ll not keep me from doing that.” Coming around the other side of the bed, Gar moved to sit down on the mattress. The sound of Sahir’s sharp teeth snapping closed a mere hand’s breath away from his throat had him quickly jumping to his feet. “A little help would be nice, Kali.”

When Kali made no move to dislodge the cat, Gar shot her a questioning look. Kali shook her head. “Maybe we should let Sahir have his way this time.” “What are you saying, Kali?” Gar crossed his arms across his chest and waited for Kali to answer his question. “I think maybe it would be better for all concerned that you find somewhere else to sleep tonight. It would be safer for you.” “If you’re that worried, lock Sahir in another room.” Kali shook her head. “No, I can’t do that. He’s a wild animal. There’s no telling what he would be like in the morning.” “So you would rather keep the damn cat with you instead of your mate.” Kali flinched at the harsh tone he had used. He couldn’t help it. That she would choose to keep the cat over him rubbed him the wrong way. “It’s not that, Gar. We have to be careful. If Sahir were to kick up a big enough fuss to bring all the priests of the house to my chambers in the middle of the night, how would we explain your presence in my bedchamber?” “I would tell them the truth.” “I’m not ready for them to know. I don’t want to give Odo anything to hold against me until he has been put in his place.” “And exactly how long will that take? A few weeks? A few months? What will you do if it turns out to be years, Kali?” “I don’t know. Look, let’s not get into this right now. It’s late and we’re tired. We don’t want to say anything we’ll regret later.” Gar clenched his teeth tightly together until the muscle running along his jaw began to jump. He knew Kali wasn’t going to change her mind by the way she held herself so stiffly. With a nod of his head, he walked out of the chamber. And for the first time since Kali had accepted him back in her life and bed, Gar slept alone. **** At first Kali couldn’t sleep. She had become used to having Gar’s large body draped around her, with the sound of his beating heart lulling her to sleep. Shifting to her other side, she closed her eyes determined to find her rest. Sahir, who lay beside her, moved until he was stretched out full length against her back. Much to her surprise, having the large cat snuggled at her back, Kali felt her body relax. She soon fell into a deep sleep. The dream, or vision, claimed her shortly after that. She once again found herself in a black void, but this time she wasn’t alone. When Sahir the shaman appeared before her, some of the blackness withdrew allowing her to see him clearly. This time his body didn’t have a shimmering of light outlining it. He looked as solid and substantial as she herself was. Looking down at her, Sahir drew his finger along her bottom lip. Kali shuddered as her body came to life. Not liking how she was reacting to him, she took a step back. Sahir chuckled. “Why do you fight what you feel for me, Kali?” “Because it isn’t right.” “It’s more than right. You weren’t meant for him.” “Who do you mean?”

“The one called Gar.” Kali shook her head. “How do you know about Gar?” “I know everything there is to know about you, Kali. As any good mate should.” “Gar is my mate. We’ve said the words that bound us together.” “They were just mere words. You and I are bound by something more than words. The diamonds have linked us. I’m yours as you are mine.” “No, I’m not. It’s not possible. You died long before I was ever born. How can I be mated to one who is no longer of this earth?” “There is more here than you understand, Kali. In time you will see that I’m right. But for now, I need to awaken your gifts. It’s time to show them all why you were picked to be The Chosen One.” Before she could move away, Sahir placed the flat of his palm against her forehead. A current of energy flowed through him into her. Her ears began to buzz as her body grew weak. Sahir caught her to him before she could fall. Once he pulled his hand away, he kissed the center of her forehead, the exact spot where his hand had been. “Soon you will see what lay buried inside of you.” Kali tried to speak, but found herself to weak to utter a word. “Sleep, my Kali. I’ll be here to watch over you.” And with that, her world went black. **** Kali jolted awake. Much to her surprise, she found the chamber filled with bright sunlight. She thought she hadn’t slept that long. The dream vision she’d had just ended moments before. That much time couldn’t have gone by. Now fully awake, Kali noticed two things. The first was that even though she’d had a vision, her head didn’t ache. The second was the realization that a warm furry body was pressed against her side. Already lying on her back, she turned her head to look at the panther. Sahir lay beside her with his head next to hers. He appeared to be asleep. When she stretched, the big cat came awake. He rolled onto his stomach and stretched out his front paws with his claws extended. “Don’t you dare rip up my bed, Sahir. If you want to stay on the bed, you’ll put those claws away.” The panther stopped mid-stretch and his claws quickly disappeared. Kali smiled at him and stroked the silky fur on the top of his head. He turned his head so she had better access to the spot behind his ear he wanted scratched and purred. Kali swore he understood her. Sitting up, she watched Sahir lick one of his front paws. She then thought of Gar. After what had passed between them the night before, she had a feeling he would still be upset with her. She needed to make things right again. Kali couldn’t explain why she had decided to keep the panther with her rather than Gar. It was just something she knew had to be at the time. But now she realized she may have made a mistake. It hadn’t been fair to Gar. They were mated and she shouldn’t have sent him away. Slipping out of the bed, Kali headed for the bathing room. Once she had a bath and was dressed, she would go in search of Gar. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too angry with her. If he was, she would make it up to him tonight. As thoughts of what she would do to him filled her head, what the shaman had said about her not being meant for Gar rose to the forefront of her mind. Savagely she pushed that memory aside. The shaman had been wrong. Gar was her mate and always would be.

Chapter Thirteen Kali had no chance to see Gar before Odo cornered her just outside the main hall. With Sahir at her side, the high priest at least kept his distance. “I’m glad to see you’re finally awake, Chosen One. I was on my way to seek you out.” “Can whatever you wish to speak to me about wait until later? I need to talk to Gar before I do anything today.” Odo sneered and shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Today is the day when the tithes are due to the Order. You must be the one to accept them now. And besides that, Gar is busy elsewhere. I saw him earlier at the barracks. He and the rest of your guard are at their sword practice.” Kali found herself to be in a quandary. She felt the need to talk to Gar was great, but if the tithes were coming in, this would be the first time as The Chosen One she could use her authority to do something meaningful. It was long said that the Order increased the amount of tithes that were theirs by rights whenever they felt like it, and not out of any necessity either. As queen of Zudris, she had also owed the Order a tithe. She knew what an acceptable amount was and would make sure the Order didn’t get more than that. Focusing her attention back to Odo, Kali found him staring at her as if he expected her to back out of this responsibility. She got the distinct impression that was exactly what he had wanted her to do in the first place. She was sure, as high priest, it had been a task only he had performed in the past. There was no way she could allow him to act in that capacity any more. She knew damn well he used it as a means of control. “You’re correct, High Priest. Supervising the collection of the tithes is my responsibility. I’ll arrange to talk to Gar later.” Odo’s face fell at her words. He glared at her before he quickly brought himself back under control. “I’ll show you where the tithes will be collected.” Turning on his heel, Odo led her outside to the courtyard. The building that housed the tithes was separate from the main hall, and not too far from the barracks. As they walked by the training grounds located beside the barracks, Kali spied Gar amongst the other men. From the look of him, he had just finished sparring with another. He stood leaning on his sword while his chest noticeably rose and fell with each rapid breath he took. At first Gar didn’t notice her, but once he did, he stood up straighter and stared at her. Even from this distance, she saw the hunger in his eyes. Before she knew what she was doing, Kali started to take a few steps in Gar’s direction. The large cat moved to block her way. Thankful Sahir had stopped her she ran her hand along his back. Changing direction again, Kali looked over at Gar before she followed Odo once more. She watched as he looked down at the panther then back up at her. With his face void of any emotion, Gar turned his back on her and walked inside the barracks. That hurt her. Once inside the building where the tithes were collected, Kali pushed away her hurt feelings. She would deal with Gar later. Right now she had to have all her wits about her. She followed Odo to the back of the large open room. Already there were many people

milling about, waiting for their arrival. Odo’s assistant was there as well, sitting at a small desk with a large ledger open in front of him. Kali managed to make her way over to the priest before Odo. She purposely stood next to the priest and waited for Odo to catch up. Noting her position, he stood in front of the desk and gestured for her to move aside. “If you could move over there, Chosen One, we could get started.” Kali looked to where Odo indicated. She snorted. He wanted her to stand in the far corner, well away from the desk. She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “I’m quite happy where I’m standing.” She could almost hear Odo’s teeth grinding before he managed to say, “I need to be there, Chosen One. When the tithes are collected, I must be able to see the ledger to make sure the proper amounts are received.” Kali pretended to think about what he had said before she responded. “Actually, I prefer to stay here. This is to be one of my responsibilities, so there is no time like the present to begin learning what it entails. Come to think of it, I would prefer you weren’t here at all. That way I won’t have to rely on you in any way.” Odo’s face flushed with anger. “I must insist you remove yourself, Chosen One.” “You do tend to say that a lot to me, High Priest. That you must insist I do something. Since theoretically you are to obey me as The Chosen One, I’m going to issue my first order to you for the day. Leave me. I’m sure your assistant knows how things are to go. We should be fine. Isn’t that right…?” Odo’s assistant stammered, “Conlan. My name is Conlan, Chosen One. And yes, I know what the procedure is for collecting the tithes.” “Good.” Kali turned back to Odo. “Time for you to go, High Priest. I’m sure you have other matters to take care of.” When Odo didn’t make any move to leave, Kali began to wonder if he would outright defy her. If that had been his plan, he never got the chance. Sahir, who had been stretched out on the floor behind her, got to his feet and snarled at the high priest. That was more than enough incentive to get Odo moving. With hands fisted at his sides, Odo muttered something unintelligible under his breath and then stomped out of the building. Once he was gone, Sahir settled back down on the floor. Kali sighed. She had the feeling her relations with Odo had just taken a turn for the worse. The room had gone deathly quiet as Odo and she had exchanged words. Kali looked about the room and smiled. “I think we can get down to business now. If you would all line up, I’ll try to get through this as quickly as I can so I don’t tie you up any more than needs be. All right, Conlan, let’s see what you got.” “As you wish, Chosen One.” The first person who stepped up to the desk was the headman of his village. Kali asked him his name and then looked to Conlan. The priest rattled off an unbelievably large number. Thinking there had to be some kind of mistake she pulled the ledger away from Conlan and looked down the column of names until she found the right one. Running her finger across the figures listed, she felt her temper rise. Pushing the ledger back to Conlan, she looked at the man standing before the desk. “How many people live in your village?” “Two thousand, Chosen One.” “Totally unacceptable. Those figures are outrageous for a village of that size.” And it

was true. This small village’s tithes were what a large town should be paying. “Conlan, I think this is going to take a lot longer than it normally does. I’m going to have to see the figures for each person here, and if I deem them too much, we’re going to change them to something more reasonable.” Conlan nodded as he looked up at her with respect showing on his face. He gave her a broad smile and a quick nod of his head. He then quickly wrote down the new numbers Kali rattled off. And that was how she spent the next three hours. Just about every tithe listed as the Order’s due had to be readjusted to something that would not starve or leave the people in tough straights. At the end, Kali felt well rewarded as each person she dealt with walked away with more cheer than when they had arrived. Conlan had also turned out to be a wealth of information. He knew every pertinent fact about each of the villages or towns she asked him about. In her past dealings with him as Odo’s assistant, Kali had thought him timid. Once they had settled down into a rhythm and he felt more comfortable around her, she found that not to be the case. It was obvious to her that Odo kept the priest cowed. Just something else for her to fix in the not-too-distant future. Conlan was wasted working for Odo. When the door closed behind the last headman, Kali stretched her aching back. She had spent the last three hours on her feet. Conlan closed the ledger with a snap and cleared his throat nervously before he spoke to her. “If I may, Chosen One, I’d like to make a request.” “By all means, Conlan. You more than lived up to my expectations. What would you like?” “I’ve seen the list of changes you want to have take place in the Order. What you did here today…I would be more than willing to do anything to see them come about.” “Are you implying you would be willing to spy on Odo for me?” “Yes. In return all I ask is that you take me on as your assistant.” Kali nodded. “It’s a deal, only when this is over, you go back home and take Deidra as your mate instead of being with her in secret.” Conlan’s mouth gaped open. “You know about Deidra?” “It would seem so,” Kali said, haltingly. She had no idea where that information had come from. As Conlan had spoken, she suddenly had just known he had a woman back at his home village. And that he loved Deidra enough to break his vow of celibacy. “You’re not angry about it?” “You read the list, Conlan. Absolving the vow of celibacy was first on the list. I haven’t changed my mind about that.” Jumping out of his chair, Conlan pulled her into a rough hug, realized whom he was hugging, and blushed to the roots of his auburn hair and stammered out an apology. Kali chuckled as she reassured him that he had done nothing to offend her. “I’ll leave you now, Conlan. And I look forward to seeing you again.” Before she left with Sahir in tow she added, “Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Odo is not the kind of man you can double cross and hope to escape unscathed.” Conlan bowed to her. “Have no fear for my safety, Chosen One. How do you think I’ve been able to survive thus far as Odo’s personal assistant?” Kali nodded. She was sure Conlan knew more than Odo gave him credit for. The high priest would soon pay for that mistake.

**** On the way back to the main hall, Kali quickly scanned the outside of the barracks for any sign of Gar. Not seeing him, she increased her pace. Sahir loped at her side, easily keeping pace. Now that the chore of collecting the tithes was completed, Kali felt an overwhelming need to corner Gar somewhere and have it out with him. If they didn’t get this sorted, she had the feeling it would eventually get blown out of proportion. She wouldn’t lose Gar over something as bizarre as having an animal coming between them. Deciding first to get Sahir fed, she led the panther to the kitchen. She had sent a message to the cook the night before explaining what she had needed. When she entered the kitchen, the staff and the cook bowed to her. Kali waited for the cook to straighten before she spoke. “Did you get my message, Vera?” “Yes, we did, Chosen One. It was the first thing I did this morning. I’ll have it for you in a second.” Kali watched the older woman walk over to the large cold box. Vera was an excellent cook and kept a well run kitchen. Vera was a friendly person, so it had not taken much on Kali’s part to get the cook to relax around her. Kali had taken an instant liking to Vera. Vera returned with a large bowl of fresh meat. “This should fill up his belly.” The cook pointed to the panther patiently standing at Kali’s side. “Thanks, Vera. I’ll leave him here to eat if you don’t mind. I’m sure he will find his own way back to me once he’s finished his meal.” Vera nodded and without a second thought gave Sahir a pat on the head. “He shouldn’t be any trouble. My Gran always said I inherited her way with wild animals.” Kali couldn’t discount what Vera had said. Sahir walked over to Vera and leaned against her leg. The sound of his purring filled the kitchen. “At least he knows you’re the one who will be providing him with food.” “He’s a smart boy.” Vera waved Kali away. “You go do what you need to do, Chosen One. We’ll send your pet on his way once he’s finished.” “Thanks, Vera.” Leaving Sahir in the kitchen, Kali went on the hunt for Gar. The main hall was practically empty, so she continued on to the private chambers. Her chambers were deserted. Thinking there could only be one other place Gar could be, she went to see Tessa. Gar wasn’t there. What she did find were all three of the oracles and the priests who served them in a deep discussion. At Kali’s arrival they all stopped talking to look at her. She got the distinct impression she was the topic of their discussion. “What did I miss? And before you answer that, have any of you seen Gar?” Maeve’s uncle, the priest who served her, got up and motioned for Kali to take his chair. “Come sit with us, Chosen One.” At Kali’s pointed look, he added, “I mean Kali.” Kali sat where he indicated and looked at the others. She had only seen the priests who served Maeve and Seline a couple of times. The head house was not where they usually stayed. It was only since Kali’s coming had all three oracles stayed together for any length of time. Maeve’s uncle, Jon, was the oldest of the group and looked very similar to his niece. They both had matching red hair and green eyes. The priest, who

served Seline and was her mate, was of the same age as she. Tarn had dark hair and dark eyes, which never strayed too far from Seline. Kali liked both men. “Okay, what’s going on?” Tessa spoke up first. “We think Odo has finally decided to move against you, Kali.” “Why do you think that?” “He’s gone.” “What do you mean he’s gone? I just saw him not three hours ago.” “That’s precisely when he left. What happened?” Kali shrugged. “Nothing serious. Today the tithes were collected. I decided to oversee them myself so I sent Odo away. Good thing I did. I couldn’t believe some of the amounts owed to the Order. I ended up having to change them all.” Maeve burst out laughing. “I would have loved to have seen Odo’s face when you told him to leave. I find it hard to believe he would have allowed it. For years we have known he has been lining his own pockets with a good portion of the tithes.” “He didn’t exactly have much choice. Sahir was the one who ended up sending him on his way.” The small group looked at each other then laughed. Tessa smiled at Kali. “That panther deserves a medal. Where is our champion by the way?” “I left him in the kitchen eating. Vera had some fresh meat ready for him.” “A well deserved reward.” “I agree.” Kali changed the subject. “Now what is the big deal about Odo leaving the house?” “Odo rarely, if at all, leaves the head house. It is here that he reminds everyone what his position is within the Order. He can only be up to no good by leaving. Luckily he was spotted entering the stables so we have someone following him.” Kali sighed. “Let me guess, it was Gar who followed him?” “Yes. He seemed more than eager to volunteer for the task.” Tessa looked pointedly at Kali. When Kali didn’t say anything more, Tessa nodded her head. “I think Kali and I have to have a little chat in private. If you all wouldn’t mind?” The others quickly stood and filed out of the room leaving the two women alone. Tessa sat down in the chair next to Kali’s. “I can tell something is bothering you. It sometimes helps to talk it out with a friend.” “This is something new for me—having close friends. I’m used to looking out for myself. I’ve never taken the time to really get to know other women.” “I suppose not. What with fighting wars and trying to pick up the pieces of a war ravaged country, I’m not surprised. But I am your friend, Kali.” “I know, Tessa. All right. Gar and I had a little bit of a tiff last night.” “About what?” “The panther.” Kali could tell Tessa didn’t know where she was going with this from the look on her face. “You see, last night Gar wanted to get intimate and Sahir was in my bedchamber at the time. Sahir has been so protective of me. He sort of made sure Gar didn’t touch me.” “Oh. I take it Gar didn’t react well to it?” Kali looked down at her hands. “That would be an understatement. I’m partly at fault. He asked me to lock Sahir in another room and I refused. So Gar made me choose between the two of them. It’s hard to explain, but I knew Sahir had to stay with me last

night. Come morning I realized I probably sent Gar the wrong message by doing so. If I could have spoken with him I would have told him so.” Tessa patted her hands reassuringly until Kali looked up at her. “He’s coming back, Kali. He’ll understand. His male pride is getting the best of him right now. As for the panther, I sense there is a connection between you two. I think he was sent to be your protector.” Just then they could hear something large banging against the chamber door. Tessa got up and opened it. Sahir calmly walked in and went to sit at Kali’s feet. “He does seem to take his job seriously.” “A little too seriously, if you ask me. I can’t have Sahir coming between Gar and me.” “Then tell Sahir that.” Kali rolled her eyes. “I don’t think he’ll understand me.” “Yes, he will. You are Pantherinae, Kali. Talk to him in a language he’ll understand.” “Now why didn’t I think of that?” Kali shook her head. “You haven’t been around another Pantherinae, so of course using your cat language wouldn’t be the first thing you would try.” Kali nodded and turned her thoughts inward. She had been around another Pantherinae—the shaman. If she had another vision and he came to her, Kali made a promise to herself to ask him about their people. Maybe that would distract him enough to have him stop telling her he was her mate. The way Gar was acting now, one mate was more than enough for her to handle.

Chapter Fourteen Gar easily kept the rider ahead in sight. Odo had ridden to the nearest village. Even though he was cloaked and hooded, just as Gar himself was, the high priest stood out in the crowd because of his arrogant bearing. When a peasant got too close to his horse, Odo rudely kicked the person away. Seeing Odo had stopped his horse in front of the local inn, Gar slowed his mount, giving the other man time to step inside before he approached. Not wanting to take the chance that Odo might recognize his mount, Gar dismounted and walked it around to the back of the inn to the stables. A stable boy quickly ran out and took his horse’s reins. Gar passed the boy a coin then headed back to the front entrance of the inn. Gar pulled the hood of his cloak down further, hiding his face. The tap room of the inn was filled almost to capacity. The innkeeper and those that worked for him looked frazzled. Obviously Kali’s being proclaimed The Chosen One had increased the man’s business. Spotting Odo sitting at a table deep in the shadows, at the very back of the room talking to a rough looking individual, Gar moved to the bar. Where he stood, he could easily watch the two men who appeared to be deep in conversation. The innkeeper stepped up behind Gar. “What can I get you?” Without turning around he said, “I’ll have some ale.” “Here you go.” The innkeeper placed a tankard of ale on the bar and accepted the coins Gar passed him. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” “Actually there is.” Gar gave one last glance over at the table Odo sat at then turned to face the innkeeper. “I assume you make it your business to find out all you can about your patrons.” The other man snorted. “Being so close to the head house of the Order, I would be a fool not to. Can’t trust those priests, especially the ones at the head house.” “Then what can you tell me about the two men who are sitting in the shadows at the back of the room?” Without looking to where Gar had indicated, the innkeeper grabbed a rag and began to wipe down the top of the bar. “I only know the one. The rough looking character. He’s been here for the last couple of days. The other, it’s the first time I’ve seen him.” “What do you know about the one staying here?” “He’s not one you want to cross. He’s got a temper that’s for sure. He stabbed one of the other patrons the other night because the man had looked at him wrong. He has the look of a mercenary to me. I’ve seen his kind many a time.” Gar slid two more coins across the bar to the innkeeper. “I thank you for that information. I think it would be better for the both of us if you don’t mention to anyone I asked you about those two men.” “You don’t have to tell me twice. I know how to keep my mouth shut to save my own hide.” Picking up his tankard of ale, Gar turned his attention back to Odo and his companion. They seemed to be in the middle of a heated argument now. He wished he could hear what the two men were saying, but he didn’t want to take the chance of Odo recognizing him by getting any closer.

Odo suddenly jumped to his feet and stomped out of the inn. A minute later his companion left the inn as well. By the time Gar had finished his ale, he figured Odo would have had enough time to be on his way. With a nod to the innkeeper, he too left the inn. As he had predicted, Odo was nowhere to be seen. Figuring he wouldn’t learn anything more, Gar headed for the stable intent on returning to the head house. He rounded the corner at the back of the inn when something slammed into the back of his head hard enough to bring him to his knees. Before he could fully recover his senses, he was struck again. As blackness rose up to claim him, Gar groaned at the sight of both Odo and his companion looming over him. **** Kali paced the length of her chamber for the thousandth time. Sahir had long given up pacing with her and now lay on the floor busily giving himself a bath. Something wasn’t right, she just knew it. Odo had returned to the head house hours before, but Gar was still missing. If Gar had managed to follow Odo to wherever he had gone, he should have returned shortly after the high priest had. The longer Gar stayed away, the stronger Kali felt he was in some kind of trouble. Sahir growled in warning when she stepped too close to his tail. “Sorry, Sahir. I’m just a little distracted right now. Gar has been gone too long.” The panther cocked his head in her direction. “If only I could send you out to look for him.” Now that she thought about it, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. Going to her bedchamber, she quickly returned with one of Gar’s shirts. Kneeling down in front of the panther, she placed it under his nose. “I need you to find Gar, Sahir. If anything happens to Gar…” Kali swallowed the lump that suddenly rose up in her throat. “Find Gar for me.” The panther stood so he was eye level with her and looked her in the eye. Kali swore he nodded his head before he pushed his face into Gar’s shirt that she still held out to him. He then loped to the door. Kali looked up and down the hallway before she opened the door wider and followed the large cat to the doors that led outside to the courtyard. It was now fully dark, but Kali knew it wouldn’t hinder Sahir. Black panthers were nocturnal hunters, preferring to hunt in the early morning hours and the dark of night. Kali pointed out into the night and said, “Go find Gar.” She added a growl of command at the end to send the panther on his way. She watched the large cat pad off on silent paws. She hoped he had understood what she wanted him to do, but she just knew the cat would return with Gar in tow or at least with knowledge of his whereabouts. Once the panther disappeared from sight, Kali felt a wave of intense power surge through her. It was so strong that if she hadn’t been holding onto the door frame, she would have ended up on the floor. She looked down at the diamond pendant around her neck. It was glowing. The light within it pulsed in time with the beat of her heart. Then just as quickly as it had come, it subsided, leaving her weak and shaking. Kali made her way back to her chambers. She felt drained of energy. Inside her bedchamber, Kali just barely managed to sink onto the bed before a profoundly deep sleep overtook her. ****

“Kali, wake up.” Hoping the voice would just go away and leave her alone to sleep, Kali rolled onto her side and pulled the covers over her head. But the voice persisted. “You have to wake up, Kali.” Hearing the urgency in Maeve’s voice, Kali rolled onto her back and looked up at her. “What?” She forced herself to sit up when she saw the look of concern on the other woman’s face. “You’ve had us worried. When you didn’t appear in the main hall this morning, Tessa came to look for you. She tried to wake you, but nothing she tried worked.” Kali rubbed her eyes and stretched. “It can’t be all that late. I’m never a late sleeper. Too many years of being a queen has made sure of that.” “You’ve slept most of the day away, Kali. It’s almost evening. We think it wasn’t a natural sleep you were in. Did anything unusual happen before you retired last night?” “I don’t know.” At first, she forgot how she was overcome with lethargy after she had sent Sahir out into the night. “Wait, there was something. The diamond.” Kali reached up and wrapped her hand around the diamond pendant. “Last night I felt power leave it and go into me. A pulsing, glowing light appeared inside it. It lasted only a matter of seconds, but afterwards I felt so drained. I barely made it to bed.” Maeve nodded. “Then we were right, it was not a natural sleep. How do you feel now?” “Fine. Now that you have me awake, I don’t feel tired anymore.” It then sank in what hour of the day it was. “Gar?” Maeve shook her head. “He still hasn’t returned.” Kali swore under her breath. “What about Sahir?” “We have been a little worried about that. When we realized he wasn’t in your chambers, we assumed he must be lurking about the house somewhere. But so far no one has seen him.” “Then he too hasn’t returned.” “From where?” “I sent him to search for Gar last night.” “I don’t mean to dash your hopes, but Sahir is a wild animal. He’s probably gone back to his home.” “No, he didn’t. He has Gar’s scent. Sahir will find him.” “You’re sure of this?” “Yes. I just know.” Maeve stared at Kali hard. “This isn’t the first time you’ve known, or should I say, seen something, is it?” Kali shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “What’s happening to me, Maeve?” The other woman smiled. “My guess is the diamonds are awaking something that was lying long buried inside you, Kali. You have the sight now. Who knows what else you’re capable of?” Before Kali could respond, the sound of a panther roaring could be heard outside in the courtyard. All thoughts of what the diamonds may be doing to her fled. With Maeve following on her heels, Kali raced to the panther. Sahir sprinted over to her and gently took her wrist in his mouth. He then began to pull her away from the house. Kali dug in her heels trying to stop their progress. “Wait,

Sahir.” The panther still continued to pull her away. Knowing she couldn’t match the strength of a hundred and fifty pound male panther in his prime, she growled in warning. Sahir released her and looked up at her. “I’ll go with you. Just give me a minute to get ready.” The panther sat down on his haunches. Maeve, who had watched the exchange between the panther and Kali, shook her head. “Kali, you can’t go with him.” Ignoring her, Kali turned and hurriedly walked back inside the house. “Yes, I am. He must know where Gar is.” “It isn’t safe for you. You could be walking into a trap of Odo’s making. Gar’s disappearance could have been planned. Odo may have realized what Gar means to you. If that’s the case, he would know Gar is the one thing that would draw you away from the head house.” Reaching her chambers, Kali quickly strapped her sword around her waist. Not wanting to leave any of the diamonds behind, she slipped her crown on her head. “Did Odo leave again?” “No. He’s still here.” “Then I should be safe enough.” “At least bring your personal guards. You are The Chosen One now, Kali. You must be protected.” Kali suddenly stopped walking. She turned to face Maeve. “I’m hardly one who needs protection.” To stress her point, she pulled her sword out of its scabbard. “I assure you, I’ve had more than enough practice using a sword.” Sheathing it once more, she moved out into the hallway. Sahir’s appearance in the courtyard had once again drawn a crowd. Intent on making her way to the stables, she paid little heed when Maeve left her and headed for the barracks. By the time she had her horse saddled and led outside, her personal guard was lined up before the stables. Kali shrugged her shoulders then swung up onto her mount. With a nod at her captain, she followed Sahir out of the courtyard, leaving her guards to catch up. **** It was fully dark by the time Sahir finally stopped. He had led them through the grasslands to a thick forest. Kali and her men had no choice but to hobble their mounts and leave them behind. There was no way horses could safely make it through the thick brush. As her guards stumbled through the forest unable to see much in the pitch darkness, Kali was surprised to find her night vision had vastly improved. It had always been better than what most people had because of her Pantherinae blood, but now it was even more so. She could see just as well as if it had been broad daylight. Not wanting to think about what other differences she would find in herself, Kali pushed those thoughts away to concentrate on the present. Sahir had gone into stalking mode. Kali silently signaled her guards to quietly follow the panther. With unsheathed swords in hand, they slowly followed the large cat. The panther stalked forward until he reached the edge of a small clearing. There were men everywhere. Small campfires had been set up, spaced at intervals throughout the clearing. Men were huddled around them. Some were talking, while others sat eating.

But there was one common bond between them—they were all mercenaries. Kali had fought against many of them while Zudris had been at war. They were fierce fighters, selling themselves to the highest bidder. Their presence here, so close to the head house, was not a coincidence. This had to be Odo’s doing. Kali searched the clearing for any sign of Gar. She spotted him a short distance away from where she stood out of sight. He lay bound hand and foot on the ground. She couldn’t tell if he was injured or not. Even though the mercenaries outnumbered her and her guards, it wasn’t going to stop Kali from freeing Gar. Once again she signaled her guards, they spread out and followed Kali as she moved closer to where Gar lay. Sahir kept his body low to the ground, eyes held steady on the men guarding Gar, as he inched silently forward. Kali took a deep breath then stepped into the clearing with the panther at her side. At first the mercenaries didn’t notice her presence. They all sat with their backs to the trees, having no thoughts of anyone daring enough to sneak up behind them. Crouching down, Kali made short work of cutting Gar’s bonds. She spied the dried blood on his white blond hair at the back of his head. Gently, she shook him. Gar’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw her. She held a finger to her lips, telling him to keep silent, but it ended up not being necessary. The panther growled low in his throat in warning. Kali looked up to find that the mercenaries who had been guarding Gar were no longer oblivious to them. With a hold on Gar’s arm, Kali pulled him up as she slowly stood to her full height. The men she had brought with her stepped into the clearing behind her. The sight of the diamond in her crown and the pedant around her neck caused the mercenaries to pause. Odo must have made sure they knew who exactly she was. But that didn’t last very long. Kali raised her sword to block the swing of the mercenary closest to her. Instincts taking over, she hacked and slashed, ever mindful of Gar standing at her other side completely unarmed. Having dispatched two attackers, she spied Gar’s sword lying on the ground next to the campfire. She snatched it up and passed it to Gar. He smiled at her as he quickly strapped it around his waist and pulled his sword out of its scabbard. By now the whole camp had been alerted to their presence. Vastly outnumbered, Kali yelled at her men to fall back. Their only hope of escape was to find refuge in the trees. The ability to swing a sword inside the thick brush would be greatly hindered, for them and the mercenaries. As she entered the trees, Kali took a quick glance back at the clearing. She was just in time to see the black panther launch himself at one of the mercenaries. The man’s screams were cut short as Sahir clamped his strong jaws around his throat. No longer needing stealth on their side, they crashed through the forest, pushing through it as quickly as they could. With her keen ability to see in the dark, Kali led Gar and her guards through the forest, taking twists and turns until she could no longer hear their pursuers coming up from behind. After what seemed like hours, she burst through the tree line to where they had left the horses. Removing her horse’s hobble, Kali swung up on his back. Gar leaped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Seeing most of her men were mounted, she kicked her horse’s sides and took off at a gallop. A black blur appeared out of the trees and ran toward her. Sahir managed to keep pace with her horse as they raced across the grasslands. With her blood still fired from battle, Kali couldn’t wait to confront Odo

when she returned to the head house. He had a lot to answer for.

Chapter Fifteen The group entered the courtyard of the head house at a more sedate pace. Kali half expected to find Odo waiting for their return with armed men at his back. Luckily for him, he wasn’t. Gar had explained what happened to him on the ride back to the house. It was bad enough Odo had hired mercenaries, but Kali felt he had gone too far with his attack on Gar. Her temper flared just thinking about it. She was more than temped to grab the odious man out of his bed and have him thrown out of the house. She knew she wouldn’t do it though. It was better to have the viper close at hand, to make sure he didn’t strike when she least expected it. After Gar dismounted, Kali slid off her horse. One of her guards took the reins from her. She thanked each of the men. She then told them to have a few ales, having more than deserved them after this night’s work. With Gar on one side and Sahir on her other, Kali entered the main hall. Not surprisingly she found Tessa sitting next to the hearth. The oracle stood and signaled them to silently follow her. Once they were all behind Kali’s closed chamber door, Tessa turned and gave Kali a look that told her the other woman wasn’t too happy with her. “Kali you shouldn’t have run off like that.” “I’m fine, Tessa. Relax.” “You can no longer do things at the spur of the moment. You must be protected.” “I had my personal guards and Sahir with me. I was more than amply protected.” Turning her attention to Gar, Kali motioned for him to sit. “Let me take a look at that head wound of yours, Gar.” Hearing Gar was hurt, Tessa suddenly turned into a mother hen. She clucked over Gar, helping him to remove his cloak as Kali went and filled a basin of water in the bathing room. When she returned, Tessa was already standing behind the large warrior, poking through his hair to look at the wound. Gar winced when Tessa hit a particularly tender spot. “Sit down, Tessa. It’s very late and you look as if you’re ready to drop. It won’t do the baby any good if you drop from exhaustion.” Tessa did as Kali suggested. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep until you returned. I was afraid something would happen to you.” Getting Gar to tip his head down, Kali pushed his hair aside and gently dabbed the dried blood away from the wound. “Gar was in more danger than I was.” “So tell me what happened.” Gar spoke up before Kali could answer. “I made the mistake of underestimating Odo. I followed him to an inn at the village nearby. There he met with one of the mercenaries he hired.” “Odo hired mercenaries?” “Yes. I thought Odo didn’t see me, but I guessed wrong. After he and the other man left the inn, I decided to come back here. I was almost at the inn’s stables when the damn mercenary bashed me in the back of the head. Last thing I saw before I passed out was Odo and him standing over me. When I woke up, I found myself in the middle of a camp full of mercenaries, bound like a trussed pig. How did you find me, Kali?”

“I sent Sahir out to find you.” Gar turned his head slightly so he could look at the panther that lay on the floor close to where Kali stood. “How did you make him understand what you wanted him to do?” Even though Gar couldn’t see her, Kali shrugged her shoulders. “I let him smell one of your shirts and I just told him to go.” When neither Gar nor Tessa said anything, Kali looked up from her work to see them staring silently at each other. “What?” Tessa answered. “I find it amazing that Sahir would do that. I know hounds can be given a man’s scent and then go off and find him, but never a wild panther. I get the feeling this is no ordinary black panther, Kali.” Kali sighed. “Maybe he’s just smarter than your ordinary panther. I swear he understands what I say to him.” Tessa fell silent, seemingly lost in thought before she responded. “Hearing you say that reminds me of an old legend about the Pantherinae.” “What about it?” “It’s nothing really.” Tessa slowly stood up. “I’ll leave you two alone. You must have a lot to talk about. Just make sure you don’t drop your guard. If Odo has hired mercenaries, and once he finds out Gar has escaped, I’m sure he’s going to do something drastic. That man doesn’t take too kindly to having his plans thwarted.” **** Once they were alone, Kali patted Gar’s shoulder signaling she was done. “No offense, but you could do with a bath. I’ll go run one for you.” Before he could say anything, she picked up the basin of water and went into the bathing room. Gar found the panther staring at him. He cleared his throat and said, “Thanks for bringing Kali to me, Sahir.” The panther bobbed his head, almost as if he acknowledged what Gar had said to him. “I think you do understand me.” The sound of running water reached his ears. Taking a quick look to make sure Kali hadn’t returned Gar spoke once more to the panther. “If you do understand me, there’s one thing we have to get straight. Kali is mine, not yours. Once you figure that out, we’ll get along just fine.” Sahir pulled back his upper lip, showed Gar his sharp canine teeth, and then went to sit by the bathing room door. Not intending to have a repeat of the previous night, Gar stiffly got to his feet and went to Kali. Before the panther could step into the room, he shut the door in the large cat’s face. Kali turned and looked at him questioningly. “Sorry, but I’m not taking a bath with him in the room.” “I have to apologize for the other night. I shouldn’t have sent you away, Gar.” Crossing the room in two long strides, Gar went to Kali and cupped her face in his hands. “Don’t. I shouldn’t have made you choose in the first place. I was angry. Why I feel jealous of a panther, I have no idea. It’s just I have the feeling he wants to get between us. That he doesn’t want us to be alone together.” Almost if on cue, Sahir scratched at the door. Gar shook his head. “See what I mean?” “I’m not going to let him come between us.” Raising her voice, Kali said, “No, Sahir. You’re not coming in. Behave yourself.” The scratching abruptly stopped. “There. You see? He listens to me.” “I guess he does.” Even though his head still ached from the blow to the back of it, Gar knew he was

going to make love to Kali. He’d had nothing to do but think during the hours of his captivity. Not knowing what his captors had in store for him, he thought of nothing else but how he had left things between Kali and himself. He had only been thinking of himself. It was then he realized there had to be something more going on with Kali, something she wasn’t telling him. He had a feeling the black panther’s appearance was somehow tied up in her deception. Bending his head, Gar gently brushed his lips across Kali’s. When she wrapped her arms around his waist and brought their bodies together, he groaned and claimed her mouth fully. Desire slammed into him. He wanted nothing more than to pull her to the floor and bury himself in her. But Kali deserved to be loved slowly, so he could show her with his body what she meant to him. He let his hands drift down her body until he cupped her bottom. Lifting her slightly, he brought the core of her body to his hardening cock. She gasped as he rubbed against her. He used the opportunity to push his tongue inside her mouth. As their tongues twined, tasting each other, Kali purred. Backing her up against the wall, Gar wrapped one of her legs around his waist and ground against her sensitive core. When he pulled his mouth away from her mouth to trail kisses down the side of her throat, Kali mumbled something. With desire making his blood pound, Gar ignored what she said. Not to be put off, Kali yanked on his hair. Without lifting his head, he nuzzled her neck and in a husky voice said, “What did you say?” “Bath.” “What?” “The bath is still running.” Gar swirled his tongue around the shell of her ear. “It can wait. I want you now.” Kali chuckled then pushed him away. “Gar, you need a bath. Let’s just say you’re a little overpowering at the moment.” When he didn’t completely release her, she added, “I’ll make it worth your while.” If she wanted him to have a bath first, then he would do so. With quick movements he unbuckled his sword belt and stripped out of his dirty clothes. Naked and still aroused, he let her get an eyeful before he stepped into the bath. Kali turned off the running water. Stepping away from the tub, she removed her crown and sword. She rolled up her sleeves and returned to the side of the tub. Kneeling beside it, she pushed him down farther into the water. Gar dunked his head, wetting his hair completely. Kali set to work washing his hair. He never had a woman wash his hair before. He found it was something he enjoyed. She did a thorough job of it, careful not to rub too hard where his wound was. After she rinsed away the soap, he wiped the water off his face and found Kali standing looking down at him. With her eyes never leaving his face, she reached up and undid the laces of her shirt. Acting as if she had all the time in the world, she slipped her shirt over head. Gar placed his arms on either side of the tub and held on to keep himself from dragging her to him. She knew exactly what she was doing to him. By the time Kali had slowly inched her pants down her legs and off, his cock was full and throbbing. With a small smile playing along her lips, she stepped into the tub with him and straddled his hips. He would have reached for her then, but she shook her head, picked up the bar of soap and rubbed it between her hands. “I’m not done washing you yet.”

Gar groaned as Kali ran her soapy hands across his chest. He didn’t know if he could last with her touching him like this. Wherever she touched him, she left a trail of fire behind. Resting his head on the back of the tub, he closed his eyes and let her have her way with him. She left no part of him unwashed. When she was finished with his upper body, Kali slid down his legs until she sat between them. Opening his eyes, Gar watched her soap up her hands before she took his hard cock between them. He arched up, pushing himself up out of the water to give her better access. Increasing the pressure of her grip, Kali ran her hand up and down his full length. It felt good, almost too good. “Now, Kali. I need you now.” Releasing him, Kali moved up his body. The feel of her wet skin sliding against his own caused him to suck in his breath. With one hand, he cupped the back of her head and took her mouth in a searing kiss. He sucked her tongue into his mouth, tasting her, his tongue dueling with hers. From there, he left a trail of kisses down her throat until he reached the valley between her breasts. Cupping one of her breasts in his hand, he lifted it to his mouth. Kali moaned with pleasure as he swirled his tongue around her taunt nipple, once, twice, before he took it deep inside his mouth. Kali arched her back and pushed her breast closer as she rubbed her slick opening along his cock. Needing to be inside her, Gar lifted his hips out of the water and seated himself to the hilt in her warm sheath. Leaning forward, Kali grabbed the rim of the tub on either side of his head then slowly began to ride him. The water sloshed out of the tub and onto the floor as they moved together. Placing his hands on her hips, Gar pushed up into her with each of her downward strokes. The diamond pendant around her neck lay against his shoulder. As before, Gar could feel what Kali felt, doubling his sensations. When Kali moaned and took her bottom lip between her teeth, Gar knew she was feeling what he did. Kali increased the pace as she tightened her inner muscles around the length of him. Bucking his hips against her, Gar dragged her head down and kissed her. Kali let go of the tub with one hand and threaded her fingers through his wet hair at the back of his head. Gar felt a burning sensation where her fingers touched the wound on his head, taking the ache away, but he soon forgot about it, lost in the pleasure only Kali could give him. Feeling how close she was to her release, Gar reached between their bodies and rubbed her clit, pushing Kali ever closer. Clamping down on his cock, Kali rode him faster until he could feel her inner muscles squeezing him, convulsing rhythmically, as she climaxed around him. Her release sent him over the edge into his own orgasm. Arching up into her, Gar held Kali firmly by the hips, holding her to him, as his cock pumped deep inside her. Sinking back down into the cooling water, Gar held Kali close when she collapsed on his chest. Without saying a word, he pulled free of her body and managed to get them both out of the tub. Kali stood swaying on her feet as he made short work of drying her and himself. Picking her up so she lay cradled in his arms, Gar opened the bathing room door and headed for the bedchamber. On his way there, he saw Sahir lying in the far corner of the room. The panther lifted his head, watching them. Feeling a trifle uncomfortable at how intensely the large cat stared at him, Gar quickly entered the bedchamber and

securely closed the door behind him. Sahir wasn’t going to have the chance to kick him out of Kali’s bed this time. **** Kali fell into a dreamless sleep soon after Gar put her in bed. Before sleep overcame her, she felt Gar get into the bed next to her. He threw an arm and leg over her, holding her close. Sometime during the night, Kali dreamed. She dreamed of the Pantherinae shamans, the ones who could turn into black panthers. They urged her to join them, saying she was like them. Kali felt a wildness rise up inside her, making her want to run, to be free as the large cats. Wanting it so badly, she focused her thoughts on the panthers, willing herself to become one of them. The diamond pendant around her neck pulsed with bright light. With each beat it grew larger until she was completely bathed in its brightness. The cat side of her that she always felt buried deep inside surged forth. She felt her body change, taking on a new shape. Looking down at her hands, she saw paws in their place. Roaring in triumph, Kali coiled her back legs beneath her and took off in a burst of speed. She ran through the thick grass feeling freer than she ever had in her life. A male panther appeared at her side, easily keeping up with her. They ran together until Kali could run no more. Slowly she turned to her companion. She knew who this panther was. It was Sahir, the panther and the man. It was then she realized they were one in the same. The cat in him called out to hers. Unable to resist, Kali rubbed her large feline head against Sahir’s and purred. In response, he gently pushed his larger body against her, urging her down onto her belly. Purring, he positioned himself behind her and bit her neck in a love bite as he made ready to mount her. Kali surged awake, drawing great gulps of air into her lungs. She told herself it was only a dream. But no matter how many times she told herself that, she knew there was something about it that had been real. Still breathing hard, she turned to look at Gar who lay beside her. He slept on, oblivious to what she was feeling. Even before Sahir roared loudly and slammed himself into the closed chamber door, Kali sensed something wrong. Gar surged out of bed, gloriously naked, looking frantically around for his sword. Kali quickly slipped out of the bed and hurriedly pulled on some clothes. “What’s wrong?” Gar followed suit and started to dress. “Something bad. Something is coming.” Gar stopped what he was doing and swore. “Odo. The bastard must have found out you helped me escape and has decided to make his move.” Kali opened the chamber door. Sahir had been pacing in front of it, clearly uneasy. Her dream flashed through her mind when he looked into his eyes. Knowing she didn’t have the time to pursue those thoughts any further, Kali rushed into the bathing room and retrieved their swords, along with her crown. Before leaving her bedchamber, she looked out the window. Dawn was barely breaking over the horizon. From this vantage point, it only brought home how unprotected the head house was. Being neutral ground, there were no defenses worth speaking of surrounding it. No high thick walls, no gates to keep intruders out. Now both armed, Kali and Gar, with Sahir following, ran through the head house with one destination in mind. The only chance they had was to rouse her personal guard

out of the barracks and get them into the head house. Reaching the barracks, Gar raced inside to wake up the men. Kali stayed out in the courtyard. Their time had almost run out. The feeling was so strong it almost brought her to her knees. Looking in the distance, she spotted a cloud of dust moving ever closer toward the head house. Odo’s mercenaries were on the move. Yelling at Gar to hurry up, Kali raced back inside the house. The panther brought up the rear. Dispensing with formality, Kali went to each of the oracles’ chambers and woke them up, hurriedly telling them what was happening before moving onto the next. As she moved through the house, she checked windows and doors, making sure they were secure. She saved Odo’s chambers for last. She wasn’t surprised to find his chambers empty. The man was no fool. He would have made sure to make good his escape from the house before sending his paid thugs to attack. Before leaving Odo’s chambers, Kali woke Conlan. As Odo’s assistant he was expected to be available at all times to do Odo’s beck and call. Once he was awake and dressed, Conlan became all business. He rushed into Odo’s office and began gathering up important papers and ledgers. “I had a feeling Odo was up to something last night. He sent me away, saying he had no need of me until the morning. Usually he has me doing something until he retires for the evening. I didn’t think he would move this quickly or I would have come to you with my suspicions.” “That’s all right, Conlan. I was a little busy getting Gar back from the mercenaries Odo hired.” Conlan slumped down in the chair behind Odo’s desk. His face looked decidedly white. “Mercenaries? I had no idea. The head house wasn’t built to withstand an attack.” Kali pulled the stunned priest to his feet and picked up some of the paperwork he had piled on the desk to take with him. “I know, Conlan, but don’t give up hope. If we can hold them off long enough, surely some of the nearby villages will realize we’re being attacked. Someone will come with reinforcements.” Pulling himself together, Conlan nodded. “There is one place where they will have a hard time getting in.” “Where?” “The chamber that housed the test. Even though the diamond would have killed anyone who dared to steal it, the chamber was built to keep intruders out. There is only one way in and out. Once the door is bolted, it’s virtually impossible to break it down. The wood has been reinforced with steel.” “Then we’ll make our stand there. Hurry, we have to get the others.” Kali raced back to the main hall. Gar and her guards had just shut and bolted the hall doors as she arrived. Gar shook his head when he saw her. “There’s too many of them, at least two hundred. We number just over twenty warriors. We can’t fight them, Kali.” “Round up the rest of the priests and the servants. We have to get everyone inside the testing chamber. Conlan says it’s the only chamber in the house that can withstand an attack.” “There’s no time, Kali,” Tessa said as she stepped into the main hall. “They’ll be fine. Odo has no reason to harm them, but you and the three of us,” She motioned to herself and the other two oracles that stood with her, “are another story. With us removed, Odo will be able to take over the Order and have no one standing in his way to stop him from doing so.”

Not liking it, Kali nodded her head in understanding. At that moment something heavy slammed into the hall doors. The occupants of the room dashed to the testing chamber. Once they were all inside, Gar slammed the door shut and shot home the heavy bolt. Conlan produced a ring of keys and used one to lock the bolt in place. Kali scanned the room to make sure everyone was present. The chamber was on the full side with her twenty guards, the oracles and the priests who served them, herself, Gar, Conlan and one large black panther filling the space. They all sat silently listening to the rhythmic pounding of the battering ram the mercenaries were using to break down the main hall doors. Kali knew it wouldn’t take them long to get through. When the inevitable came they would be powerless to stop it. She fisted her hands at her sides. She hated being so helpless. The pounding started up again, but this time on the door she stood in front of. The door shook with each hit from the battering ram. Even with Conlan’s assurances that the door would hold, Kali remained doubtful. It may slow the mercenaries down, but she didn’t think it would keep them out indefinitely. Scanning the room once again, she saw the worried expression Tessa wore. The oracle had her arms wrapped protectively around her protruding belly. Kali felt her temper rise. There was no way she would allow Odo to harm a defenseless babe not yet born. Turning back to the door, Kali growled low in her throat. Sahir came to stand at her side, adding his own growl. She knew there had to be something she could do. The diamonds had to have picked her as The Chosen One for some reason. Focusing her thoughts inward, she reached out for the power of the diamonds. Power surged through her like nothing she had experienced before. It enveloped her, growing stronger as it did. Thinking it would be too much for her, Kali gasped when it slammed into a part of her buried deep inside. Like a floodgate opening, power permeated every cell of her body, changing her in its wake. Lifting her hand, Kali focused the power rushing through her toward the door. Light shot forth from her outstretched hand and completely covered the door. Dropping her hand back down at her side, Kali panted from the effort it had taken to focus such raw energy. Looking at the chamber door, she saw a shield of bluish light over it. The battering stopped on the other side of the door, telling her the shielding held on that side as well. Kali turned to the others in the room. She felt as if she were moving in a dream. The powers she had called forth still had a hold of her, not finished with her yet. Something she had no control over was moving through her, busily changing every aspect of her being. Her vision dimmed, narrowing until all she could see was Gar reaching out to her with stark concern on his handsome face. A light burst inside her head then she knew no more.

Chapter Sixteen Gar caught Kali before she could fall. He was still shocked by what she had done. He took a quick glance at the door as he gently lowered her down to lie on the floor. The bluish light remained. Kneeling beside Kali, Gar pushed her hair away from her face. She was too still. With a shaking hand, he placed it front of her mouth. He felt no warm air moving past her lips. Checking the vein at the side of her neck, he couldn’t detect a pulse. Roaring in pain, Gar yelled, “Kali, no. I won’t let you leave me.” Taking her by the shoulders, he began to shake her. “Gar move aside.” Maeve knelt beside him. “I know something of healing.” Not wanting to let go of Kali, Gar only moved far enough away for Maeve to lean over Kali and place her ear to her chest. His gut clenched when she sat up and sadly shook her head. He brushed Maeve aside and shook Kali again. “You can’t leave yet.” Seeing her lying there, knowing she would never open her eyes again, something went dead inside him. Gaining his feet, he unsheathed his sword and went to the door. Wanting nothing more than to feel the blood of those that had been in part responsible for what had happened to Kali, he reached for the door. He quickly pulled his hand back as a burst of energy shot through him, warning him away. Not to be deterred, Gar threw himself at the door. This time the shielding knocked him over. Groaning, he painfully pulled himself up on his feet only to find the panther standing between him and the door. “She’s gone, Sahir. Move out of my way.” The panther slowly shook his head. “Fine. Have it your way.” Gar lifted his sword, prepared to force the black panther to move with the flat of his sword. He let it drop as a shimmering light began to outline the panther’s body. The light increased until it almost blinded him. When he could see again, a man stood in the panther’s place. From behind him, Gar heard Tessa say, “It’s the shaman from Kali’s vision.” Letting his gaze bore into the shaman, Gar looked the man up and down. The shaman was the same height as himself, and just as muscular. His eyes marked him as Pantherinae, along with his long straight black hair that fell loose to his waist. His skin was naturally tanned as Kali’s was. The shaman moved, heading to where Kali still lay on the floor. Gar raised his sword and blocked him from coming any closer. “Stay away from her.” “She is not dead, warrior. She only sleeps.” The shaman’s voice was heavily accented as if the words he spoke were not his first language. Feeling as if the shaman had punched him in the gut, Gar allowed the other man to pass. “What do you mean she is only sleeping? There is no pulse.” “She is in a power sleep. She still lives.” Kneeling beside Kali, the shaman placed his fingers at the large vein in her neck. He held it there for quite a while before he smiled and motioned for Gar to kneel beside him. Taking his hand, the shaman placed his fingers in the same spot his had been. After what seemed like an intolerable amount of time, Gar felt the vein pulse once then it stilled.

“How can she still be alive?” “It is the powers inside her. Her organs have slowed while her body adjusts to the powers she will have when she awakes. Her heart will only beat once per minute. Her breathing has slowed as well.” “How long will she stay like this?” The shaman shrugged his shoulders. “It is hard to tell. The length of time a shaman spends in power sleep depends on the powers he or she was born with. Kali is the strongest of us all. It could be many hours.” Weak with relief, Gar sat down on the floor and pulled Kali into his arms. He kissed her gently on the lips, thankful he hadn’t lost her. Feeling eyes boring into him, he looked up to find the shaman staring at him much as he had while in his panther form. The panther’s possessiveness took on new meaning now that Gar knew who the panther actually was. “Kali is mine, shaman.” “There you are wrong, warrior. It was decided she would be my mate long before she was born. You must not interfere with her destiny.” “She has already chosen her mate, shaman. We were mated before she did the test.” The shaman smiled and shook his head. “I would not be so sure of that, warrior. She has not told you everything. When I’ve appeared in her visions, she is drawn to me. We are the last of our kind. Like calls to like.” “She has only had the one vision.” “That is what she told you? I’ve visited her more than once. The last time was the day I arrived in panther form. The night she kept you out of her bed.” Gar didn’t want to believe the shaman, but a small part of him knew Kali had been keeping something from him. Now he knew what it was. Moving to sit with his back against the wall, Gar cradled Kali against his chest. “We’ll see what Kali has to say when she wakes up. For now, stay the hell away from her and me.” **** Kali slowly came back to awareness. Her body thrummed with the power that had now become her own. It had changed her into something new, something better. Looking inward, she found she was now capable of things she could have only imagined before. Abilities beyond anything a normal person could ever possess. Stirring, she felt the arms wrapped around her tighten. Gar looked down at her with the love he felt for her shining in his eyes. She smiled at him and reached up to stroke his stubble roughened cheek. “What happened?” “You were in a power sleep.” “A power sleep? How do you know that?” “He told me.” Gar jerked his head to someone behind her. Craning her neck, Kali turned to see Sahir the shaman standing not far from where Gar sat on the floor. “How is it possible? You died long ago, Sahir.” At the mention of the shaman’s name, Kali felt Gar jerk in response. “When I had a vision and saw the greatest shaman of the Pantherinae would be born into a world where our people no longer existed, I could not allow you to be alone. I empowered the diamonds and placed them in the pendant, sword and crown. I left a little bit of my essence in each of the stones, knowing once you claimed them as your own,

they would call me to you.” Kali sat up in Gar’s arms. Reluctantly he allowed her to sit on the floor beside him. “Why did you stay in panther form?” “That was the only form I could take until you went into your power sleep. It’s a form all shamans are comfortable in, as you will find when you make the change for the first time.” She had a ton of questions to ask Sahir, but Kali knew this was neither the time nor the place. First she had to rid the head house of its intruders. Standing up, she headed for the chamber door. With a swipe of her hand, she removed the shielding. Another flick of her hand, she unlocked the bolt holding the door securely closed. Before anyone could protest, she pushed open the chamber door. The ten men who stood on the other side of the door shot to their feet with swords drawn. Kali made short work of them. With her palm facing them, she pushed them back using the power inside her. The men flew back, slamming to the floor in the middle of the main hall. Stepping around the stunned men, she walked out to the courtyard knowing that was where she would find Odo and the rest of the mercenaries. When she appeared she heard the sound of many swords being drawn free of their scabbards. Kali ignored the mercenaries who slowly advanced on her. Odo was her prey. Spying the high priest at the back of his hired thugs, she let the power inside her filter into her voice as she spoke, compelling Odo to obey her. “Come to me, High Priest.” Unable to disobey her command, Odo walked through the armed men to stand before her. Still he remained defiant. “You are outnumbered, Kali. If you surrender, I’ll let the oracles and your precious warrior live.” “Your threats mean nothing to me. I am The Chosen One. It’s time to show you exactly what you’re up against.” Unsheathing her sword, Kali pointed it in Odo’s direction. With a smile, she used her powers to engulf the blade in fire. With her voice echoing with the power within her, Kali spoke to the armed men before her. “You will leave this place and never come back. I’ve reached the limit of my patience. Leave now or face the consequences.” The sky boomed with loud claps of thunder as the ground shook beneath the mercenaries’ feet. Most dropped their swords and took off running, not wanting to face the wrath of The Chosen One. The rest, Kali helped move along, shoving them back with her powers. The courtyard emptied in a matter of minutes. Soon all that could be heard was the pounding of horses’ hooves as Odo’s paid army fled. Only Odo remained, quaking with fear. Stepping closer, Kali pointed her flaming sword at Odo’s throat. “As for you, High Priest, I strip you of your position within the Order. You are banished and are never to return on pain of death.” Kali didn’t hesitate to enter Odo’s mind and show him exactly what she would do to him. Whimpering, Odo backed away and then ran to the stables. Kali watched him gallop off a few minutes later, knowing it would be the last she would ever see of him. The Order was now hers to control. **** The following day, Gar stood outside trying to enjoy the bright sunlight. He was failing though. All his attention was focused on the two figures walking together through the high grass of the meadow that was next to the head house. Kali had taken Sahir there

to talk. Even though Kali had shown him most of the night and early this morning that she had chosen him over the Pantherinae shaman for her mate, he felt as if he could still lose her until she set Sahir straight. The pair stopped walking and Kali turned to face the shaman. Gar couldn’t hear what she said, but he could tell Sahir wasn’t too pleased to hear what Kali had to say. Sahir shook his head a number of times. In the end he nodded in what looked like acceptance. The shaman brushed his lips across Kali’s then turned and walked away. Kali stood watching him go for a few seconds before she turned and headed back to where Gar stood. Reaching him, she smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s done. I told him you were the one for me and that would never change.” “How did he take it?” “As well as can be expected. I did tell him that my choosing you over him didn’t mean I didn’t want him around. He and I are the last of our people. I have much to learn from Sahir, about what it means to be Pantherinae and a shaman.” “I have to pity him a little though. All the things he did to make sure he was here for you once you took your rightful place as The Chosen One, then to lose you in the end.” Kali leaned back and looked up at Gar. “Are you saying I should reconsider my decision?” “Hell, no. You’re mine and I have no intentions of ever letting you go.” Kali chuckled. “Good, because tomorrow everyone is going to know you are mine.” Gar cupped Kali’s face in his hands. “We’re going to have our formal mating ceremony tomorrow?” “Yes. If you think that’s too rushed for you, I can—” Gar didn’t let Kali finish her sentence. He kissed her long and hard, not caring who saw them. She was his, and tomorrow everyone would know The Chosen One was well and truly taken. **** Maeve stopped to pick another wildflower that grew in the meadow. Closing her eyes she inhaled its sweet fragrance. Tucking it into the basket she held, she continued on her way. Being able to freely roam the meadow, or anywhere for that matter, had been something she had not been allowed in the past. But now that Kali held the reins of the Order, sweeping changes were already starting to take effect. The first thing Kali did was set Maeve and her oracle sisters free. No longer did they have to be hidden away. Maeve gloried in her newfound freedom. Deciding to enjoy the whole experience of being out in the meadow in the bright sunshine, Maeve plunked herself down in the tall grass and lay down. She watched the fluffy white clouds go by in contentment. Her contentment soon changed to surprise when a very large, and rather heavy, black panther landed on top of her. The animal quickly changed to man form and he hurriedly apologized to her. “I’m so sorry. I did not see you.” He made no move to get off her. Maeve smiled, and as he continued to stare down at her with his beautiful gold cat eyes, her smile slowly slipped away. Staring up at him, images flashed through her head. When they were gone, she reached up and stroked Sahir’s cheek. “No need to apologize.

I’ve been waiting for you.” The End About the Author: Marisa Chenery was always a lover of books, but after reading her first historical romance novel she found herself hooked. Having inherited a love for the written word, she soon started writing her own novels. After trying her hand at writing historicals, she now also writes paranormals. Marisa lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and four children. Check out Marisa’s website at www.marisachenery.com. She would love to hear from you, so drop her an email while you’re there.

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