Nikhil(5)

"Then what did you mean?" Nikhil sucked in a harsh breath trying to calm his pounding heart.

"I meant she would not have survived another beating. Her small body had reached its limit in being able to repair itself."

"She is small, isn't she?"

"Yes."

"She's... She is full grown, isn't she, Luol?" Nikhil’s stomach sank at the thought that he might have found his True Mate while she was still young. He had heard tales of Suja beads doing this, and while he would willingly wait for her to come of age for claiming, he knew it would be torture.

"All my findings show that for her species, she is fully grown," Luol reassured him.

"Thank the Goddess."

"That doesn't mean you can immediately claim her, Nikhil. You will need to handle her with great care. For not only is she a great deal smaller than our females, but her body has been stressed beyond any I have ever seen. If she survives..."

"If? What do you mean if?!!" Nikhil rose to his full height, his anger easily heard.

"Warrior Kozar..." Both men froze when the female between them suddenly cried out.

"What's wrong?" Nikhil desperately looked to Luol. "Is she in pain?"

Luol checked the read out of the machine and shook his head. "No, I don't believe so. It seems your True Mate is reacting to your anger, Warrior Kozar."

"What?"

"It is well documented that over time True Mates will pick up on the other’s emotions. It is part of the bond, but I have never heard of it happening so soon or being so strong, but that also may not be what we are witnessing."

"Why not? Do you think I'm not worthy enough to deserve a True Mate?!!"

"No, Nikhil, I don't think that at all," Luol quickly reassured him. "I know you are more than worthy of a True Mate. All I was trying to say was that we know nothing about her and her kind. Her reactions might not mean what we think."

"But you have heard of the bond being this strong before?"

"Yes, but as I said only with True Mates." He gave Nikhil a considering look. "Let’s test it. Are you calm right now?"

Nikhil frowned. "Yes."

They both looked to Mackenzie and saw she was resting comfortably.

"Good. Then I order you to leave this female and never return."

"What?!!" Nikhil roared out, and as he did Mackenzie began to thrash violently in the repair unit, crying out.

"Calm, Warrior Kozar, or your True Mate will harm herself."

"But..."

"That was the test, Nikhil. To see if you could have bonded so quickly. I never expected such a violent reaction from her. I'm sorry... and I congratulate you, Warrior Kozar. You have found your True Mate."

"But..." He fingered the bead that remained in his braids, the one that he must offer and she must accept.

"Give it time, Nikhil. You are a worthy male, a noble warrior. She will need time to adjust, time to get to know you, but I have no doubt you will win her over. I have never heard of a True Mate not accepting her mate's Ashe bead. Congratulations again, Nikhil. The Goddess has blessed you with a True Mate."

"I..." Nikhil paled slightly. The greatest gift the Goddess could give a male was to have a True Mate. He felt his world shift.

"She is going to need a great deal of understanding and care," Luol warned.

"I can give her that."

"I hope you can, Warrior Nikhil. Because if you can't, I fear more will be lost than just your True Mate."





Chapter Two


Mac knew she was dreaming, but she couldn’t bring herself to care as she watched her life play out. She was just too tired. It was all there, right from her first memory of her mom smiling down at her giving her kisses. Of her being handed to a man that was smiling just as broadly, her dad. Love and safety surrounded her.

Then it was gone.

Mac was six, and grief ravaged her mother's face. Her mother’s eyes were red-rimmed from tears, with deep, dark pits of anguish filling them. She didn't acknowledge the confused little girl tugging on her arm her eyes remaining fixed on the casket being lowered into the ground.

They had told her that Daddy was in that box, but they wouldn't let her see him, and she didn't understand why. She didn't understand why he was going away, didn't understand why they couldn't go with him, and her mother wouldn't tell her. All her mom would do was cry.

Then Mac was crying, watching her mother walk away without a word, without a kiss, without a single look back. Mac tried to run after her, screaming for her, telling her she'd be a good girl, that she wouldn't cry anymore if her mom would just stay. But, two hands gripped her shoulders, keeping her in place. Then those hands lifted her up into strong arms and carried her away.