“I cannot. I must not.” But he didn’t move away from her this time.
“You can,” Lauren assured him. Taking his hand, she placed it carefully between her bare breasts, pressing his palm to the smooth skin of her chest. “Feel my heart. Look into my eyes. You can have me if you want—I won’t fight you. Just don’t…don’t let him have me. Please.”
Xairn looked down at his large hand between her breasts and then back up into her eyes. “I—”
The sound of boots echoing outside cut him off.
Lauren looked toward the door in the side of the ship with alarm. “Who—?”
“Quickly!” Stooping, Xairn retrieved the cloak, wrapped it around her, and pushed her into the small holding cell almost in one motion. “Be silent,” he warned in a low voice. “Don’t bring attention to yourself.”
“But will you help me?” she whispered, looking up at him, pleading with her eyes. “Please, Xairn!”
“We’ll speak of it later.” He slammed the door in her face and she heard the locking mechanism being punched in.
There was nothing in the small cell but a tiny triangular bench affixed to one corner and a harsh, overhead light. Trying not to cry, Lauren wrapped his cloak tighter around herself and huddled on the bench. Did Xairn care for her enough to save her from his hideous father?
She was afraid she wouldn’t find out until it was too late.
Chapter Twenty-six
“This is stupid,” Kat mumbled to herself. “Not…not gonna kill myself for pride.” Through a haze of pain, she fumbled for the button on her holo-link, which was sitting on the nightstand next to her bed. She wished she could use a Think-me, like Liv and Sophie did but as an unmated female, she wasn’t permitted to use the Kindred version of a telepathic cell phone. It wasn’t a sexist rule—more of a practical one. Without a Kindred mind bonded to and shielding her own, she might transmit her thoughts anywhere—including to the listening ears of the Scourge. Not that the AllFather wants to hear about my splitting headache, she thought wearily. He’s probably too busy cooking up his next nasty plot to care about one stupid Earth girl who accidentally got herself soul-bonded to the wrong guys by mistake.
She hated like hell to call Lock and Deep, but she could tell the pain wasn’t going away any time soon without them. Already it was almost as bad as it had gotten back in the cave on Twin Moons. And how was she ever going to get through the psychic divorce if she was completely incapacitated?
Maybe I’ll just call Lock. No, it’ll hurt him to touch me without Deep. But damn it, she really didn’t want to have anything else to do with Deep right now. Especially after their last encounter. Her finger was hovering indecisively above the send button when she heard someone pounding on the front door of her suite.
“Coming,” she groaned, dragging herself off the bed. “I’m coming, just hang on.” She slapped the switch and the door slid open with a soft whoosh to reveal a very worried looking Lock.
“My lady?” He came inside just in time to catch her as her legs collapsed. “Kat!” He looked at her anxiously. “Are you all right? I could feel your pain and distress—it worried me.”
Kat smiled at him weakly. “Just the same old thing. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.” She sighed. “Where’s Deep?”
Lock’s handsome features tightened. “I don’t know and I don’t care to know.”
“What? So you two really are fighting?” she asked as he carried her back to the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed.
“It goes beyond that.” Lock stripped off his shirt and climbed into the bed beside her.
Kat sighed in relief when she felt his warm hand on her arm. She didn’t even protest when he pulled her blouse gently over her head, leaving her bare from the top up except for her bra. “We should call him, even if you are fighting,” she said as Lock pulled her close, pressing his broad chest to her back. “Don’t want to hurt you.”
“The pain is nothing,” Lock assured her gently. “It’s more than worth it to be near you, my lady. Especially when…” His voice faltered for a moment. “When I’m going to lose you so soon.”
“Oh, Lock…” Kat could feel his sorrow welling up, a sense of loss so great it nearly smothered her with its intensity. Still, she didn’t draw back or try to get away. Instead, she turned in his arms so she was facing him and drew him into a tight embrace. “I’m sorry,” she whispered into his shoulder. “So sorry.”