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  He wrapped his arm around her hips, holding her firmly against this body as he crawled onto the bed and collapsed on his side. She followed him down and snuggled back into the warmth of his body.

  “That was...”

  She laughed thrilled that he was just as confused as she. “It sure was.”

  “Apparently, the answer is four,” he told her with a chuckle.

  It took her passion-foggy mind a moment to register what he meant. He’d spilled his seed four times before his body softened. “That’s unusual?”

  He laughed. “It is for me.”

  She looked back and him and smiled. “I don’t usually have thirty orgasms either. Is this because we’re soul mates?”

  He nodded and bent down to kiss her mouth. It was awkward, but she loved that he craved more intimacy even while their bodies were still joined. “It’s part of bonding fever,” he told her. “Sex will still be amazing once we’re fully bonded, but it won’t be quite so exhausting.”

  She laughed. “Glad to hear it. I wasn’t sure I’d survive it for a while there.” She turned her head to a more natural angle and felt her lids drooping. “Can you reach the bedding?” she asked sleepily. She wasn’t really cold, just concerned that someone other than Kage would see her naked.

  “We really do need to cure you of your modesty.” He pulled the sheet up over their bodies and kissed the back of her neck. “Sleep, love. We’ve both earned it.”

  Content and exhausted, her body was happy to succumb, but her mind continued to process the thoughts and emotions their first joining had unleashed. Kage was her mate. This changed everything, complicated everything. How would a permanent relationship with the leader of the Outcasts fit into her orderly life? About as well as the rebellion had, and that hadn’t stopped her from diving in.

  He shifted in his sleep, inadvertently separating their bodies as he found a more comfortable position. She immediately missed the fullness, but his presence was still there in her mind, banked and at rest, but connected.

  Comforted by the realization that she would never again be alone, she sank into a hazy state halfway between awareness and sleep. Her consciousness drifted deeper into peaceful oblivion, and then something drew her back. Awareness returned and then sharpened as her surrounding gradually transformed. Dressed now in a flowing gown of powder-blue, she stood in a verdant valley surrounded by snowcapped mountains. The valley itself was wide and flat, a fast-moving stream angling from one end to the other. For a moment she thought this was the site the Outcasts had chosen for their settlement, but the mountains were too rugged, and the sky was nearly purple rather than greenish-blue.

  A multi-building complex had been arranged at one end of the valley. The largest structure was encircled by a wide walkway. Supported by thick columns, a section of the roof extended to provide shade for the walkway. Stark white against the lush green surroundings, the complex was regal and impressive. But what was it and why was she—wherever this was?

  “Do not be afraid,” a deep male voice said from behind her. “I mean you no harm.”

  She spun around with a gasp, hand flying to her throat. The stranger spoke Rodyte with an unfamiliar accent, but his appearance was similar to the Outcasts. His long dark hair was partially braided on one side, and the rings separating his pupils from his black irises were blood-red, a combination she’d never seen before. He blinked, and she noticed that the outer most part of his eyes was tinged blue. “Who are you, and why have you brought me to this place?”

  His clothing was nearer to the garments worn in the world below than the uniforms worn by Kage and his warriors. His tunic had been woven with all the colors of the forest, brown, grey, green and touches of orange and red. Dark brown strips of what looked like animal hide had been tightly woven to form his pants, which he’d tucked into calf-high boots.

  “I am Lord Drakkin of Hautell,” he told her. “Your mate refers to me as his favorite mentor.”

  Her eyes widened, and her heart beat faster. Even if he was who he claimed, how could he possibly know specific things Kage had said to her? Maybe Kage always referred to him that way. She was being paranoid. “What do you want?”

  “First, you must believe what I tell you is true and accept that I am no threat. You have absorbed many of Seth’s memories. I see them there in your mind. Access them and test my claim. He tries to pretend his life began when he left Bilarri, but he thinks of us more often than he likes.”

  Not sure if she was awed or terrified by his obvious power, she did as he suggested. She’d spent endless hours trying to search Kage’s memories with little success. Tonight, however, every image and emotion was accessible to her lightest mental touch. This male’s image was in many memories as was his incredibly beautiful mate. The mate Kage had nearly killed because of the assassination attempt that forced him to go on the run.

  “I accept that you are who you claim,” she concluded. “How did you create this link? My mind is heavily shielded.”

  “I’m basically a stowaway.” He flashed a dashing smile. “Your link with Seth allowed me to enter your mind because I am linked with his.”

  “Why have you brought me here?”

  “Because Seth refuses to speak with me,” Drakkin said simply. “He is convinced any contact will endanger all of us.”

  “Why do you keep calling him Seth? His name is Kage Razel.”

  Drakkin moved closer, a patient smile curving his lips. “Your mate’s name is Seth dar Aune. Kage is the latest of many aliases he has chosen to use in the hopes of protecting those he loves. He is also my mate’s half-brother.”

  She gasped horrified by the implication. “They did it more than once?”

  Drakkin’s brows drew together, and he stopped several paces away. “Who did what more than once?”

  Maybe she’d been wrong. She prayed the horrible violation had only happened once. “Kage said he was created in a laboratory. That his parents were unwilling participants.”

  “That is true, though I’m shocked he told you. He must love you very much.”

  Uncomfortable with such a personal observation, she asked, “What’s your mate’s name?”

  “Aria,” he told her.

  “If she is the one with silver hair and pale purple eyes, she is quite beautiful.”

  “She is, and I agree that she’s lovely.” A sudden brightness lit his gaze, and his smile returned. Drakkin clearly adored his mate.

  “You said half-brother,” Eza pointed out. “Which parent did they share?” Why had Kage omitted this detail? Harming his mentor’s mate was dreadful enough, but nearly killing his sister must have been doubly traumatic.

  “Vee, my closest friend, was their father.”

  That raised her brow, and she realized that his easy manner was allowing her to relax. “You joined with your best friend’s daughter?”

  He chuckled and continued his approach. “Trust me, falling in love was not my intention when I went looking for her. Also, Aria was not the product of Operation Hydra. Vee briefly had a mate and loved her deeply. Aria was the result of that love. She is roughly twenty years older than Seth, and like him, she has only known Vee through video files and shared memories.”

  Operation Hydra? Here was a person who could tell her anything she wanted to know about her mate. Drakkin already told her more than Kage had been willing to share. The temptation to spend the next few hours quizzing Drakkin was almost irresistible, but the information would mean so much more if Kage chose to share it with her.

  “Well, your mate appears happy in Kage’s memories, so she must not have minded bonding with an older male.” The observation was almost laughable. Like Kage, Drakkin appeared to be a male just entering his prime. Did none of these males age?

  “How is Seth?” Drakkin brought the conversation back to the actual subject. “I’m thrilled that he has found his mate. Aria will be ecstatic. How is the settlement progressing?”

  “As well as can be expected since lea
rning of my people’s existence.”

  “Ah, then you are indigenous to this planet?”

  She gave him a quick overview of the situation, including the challenges they face in the world below. She wasn’t sure why she found this stranger so easy to talk to, but trusting him felt natural. “Kage has mentioned other relatives, an aunt, and grandmother. Are they both well?”

  “Both are thriving. As is his great aunt, High Queen Charlotte of Ontariese.”

  Shocked into silence, she just stared at him for a long moment.

  He laughed softly, the levity softening his angular features and making him look even younger than before. “Seth didn’t mention that his mother was of royal blood? Of course, he wouldn’t. Such things hold no value to him and never have. His grandmother is mated with a Bilarrian king. As is his half-sister, more or less.”

  “You are royalty as well?” This was unreal. She’d thought Kage was impoverished and desperate, a common soldier forced to sell his sword just to survive. Instead, his lineage was every bit as elite as hers, maybe more so. Sarronti Prime had no monarchs. Their closest equivalent was the ancient bloodlines. But Kage was connected with royal houses on two planets!

  “My son is now king of Hautell, but I had the honor for many years.” He swept his arm toward the stately complex in the distance. “This is the Conservatory. It is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work for Vee. That is why I brought you here. I wanted you to see a glimpse of Seth’s father.”

  She drew her gaze away from the complex and looked at her visitor. “Can you show me Vee or his image at least?” She was curious to know what Kage really looked like but knew he would show her in time.

  “This was Vee.” He motioned to the space between them and an image formed. Dressed in a shapeless gray garment, the male looked like a cleric at first glance. Then the image rotated, and she saw his hair. Extending from the crown of his head to his heels and beyond, the snow-white mass was intricately braided and still trailed behind him like a shimmering tail.

  “Ontarian shapeshifters frequently develop sensation in the strands of their hair, so it becomes impossible to cut,” Drakkin told her, his dark gaze fixed on the image with a mixture of sadness and affection. “It has been many years since he passed beyond, but I still miss him.”

  The image faced her again, so Eza focused on his features. His skin was unlined, making his age hard to determine, and bright green eyes dominated his even features. This was the exact shade Kage’s became when his disguise began to slip. Kage had his father’s eyes.

  “What was Vee like? What was Kage’s mother’s name? He never mentions anyone by name.”

  Drakkin shook his head as he walked toward the Conservatory. Eza naturally fell into step beside him. “His mother’s name was Belle, and Vee was complicated and at times surly, but loyal to a fault. After training on Bilarri, Vee realized how much Ontarians with an aptitude for magic would benefit from formal training. That’s why he built this facility, and it is still in operation to this day.”

  “This is Ontariese?” She looked around with more interest.

  “A psychic representation of Ontariese, but yes. This place is called Mystic Valley and the Conservatory is the best and most prestigious training facility on the entire planet.”

  “Is this where you trained Kage?”

  “No. My home is on Bilarri. Same star system, different planet.”

  They reached the main building a few minutes later. It was easy to picture the buildings teeming with activity. “Has Kage ever been to this place?”

  “Unfortunately, no. The NRS, the fanatical organization determined to kill Seth and others like him is from Ontariese. Unless they are wiped out completely, it is unlikely Seth will ever be able to return.”

  “Others like him?” she echoed, confused by the phrase. “I thought Kage was one of a kind?”

  Drakkin paused and looked at her, concern knitting his brow. “How much has he told you about how his parents met?”

  “I know his mother was born in captivity and Vee was part of the team sent to rescue her.”

  “That is true, but it’s a tiny sliver of a long and complex story.”

  He’d thrown the door wide open, and she couldn’t resist stepping through. “I would love to know as much as you’re willing to explain.”

  For the next two hours, they strolled through the Conservatory, and Drakkin told her the intricate and surreal story of Seth’s origins. She knew many of the basic facts but learning the details greatly enriched what Kage had already shared. Drakkin spoke of a human scientist obsessed with Ontarian magic, of the depraved depths to which he sank in the name of scientific discovery. He told her of the daring rescue and the sacrifices necessary to finally free the captive Ontarians. Eza listened intently, fascinated, and moved by the bravery and selflessness of everyone involved, Drakkin included.

  “Our only regret,” Drakkin concluded, “is our inability to protect Seth from this lingering evil.”

  “Do these fanatics really have that much power? Sarronti Prime is very secluded. The NRS cannot search the entire universe.”

  “The NRS is where this began, but they are one organization among many. Similar fanaticism exists all over the universe. Beings fear what they do not understand, and no one fully understands the victims of Operation Hydra. Still, we all wish Seth could have lived a more conventional life.”

  “Both his parents sacrificed themselves to ensure that he survived. They literally had nothing more to give.”

  “I know. And the rest of us tried, are still trying. The fanaticism on Ontariese seems to be cyclic. It burns like a bonfire for a few years, then smolders. Unfortunately, the embers never cool completely, so the NRS always flares again.”

  “I like to think we will eventually evolve beyond such prejudice,” Eza said. “But some of the Sarronti are certainly guilty of similar injustice.”

  “As are some Bilarrians.” They stood on the walkway now, staring out across the valley in the other direction. It was truly lovely, so peaceful.

  “Tell me about Aria,” Eza suggested after a companionable pause. “You said you went looking for her. Will you share that story as well?”

  “I would be happy to, but I think you should wait and hear it from her perspective. She will insist on meeting you.”

  “I would like that very much.” Kage’s presence in her mind grew stronger, his sleep obviously lighter now. Was he sensing the lengthy conversation his mate was having with his favorite mentor?

  “Go,” Drakkin urged. “If Seth realizes what I’ve done, he will block my access to your mind.”

  “We can’t have that. I look forward to other conversations and meeting Aria.”

  “Until next time,” Drakkin said.

  Acting purely on instinct, she rocked to the balls of her feet and lightly kissed him on the cheek.

  Drakkin smiled broadly, then dissolved the visualization.

  Eza awakened with a gasp, inadvertently bringing Kage to full wakefulness too. He sat up and looked down at her, dark brows drawn together. “What’s wrong? Why did you gasp?”

  She shook away the lingering haze from the lengthy psychic trance. “Just a very strange dream. Nothing bad,” she assured him when his expression darkened, “just surreal.”

  “I thought I had worn you out so well that you’d sleep too deeply for strange dreams.”

  Part of her wanted to confess all she’d learned and let him know Drakkin was desperate to speak with him. But she only had a few hours left with Kage before she’d need to return to her village for the advancement challenge. There were much better ways to spend that time than arguing. “I guess you’ll have to try harder.” She punctuated the statement with a challenging smile.

  Chapter Six

  Eza sat on her seat in the private balcony overlooking the arena wishing the event were simply over. She was surrounded by people she found phony and heartless, and they were waiting for a fight to the death that would determ
ine the course of events for the foreseeable future. She’d contacted Sage shortly after arriving in the world below, confirming that Sorcerer had agreed to attend the fight and take whatever action necessary to ensure Malik’s success.

  Her gaze swept the crowd crammed into the tiered seating surrounding her. Already they were rambunctious and loud. Clearly, scheduling this for late morning in the hopes of decreasing drunkenness had not been completely effective. Was Sorcerer somewhere in that unruly mob? If what she sensed was accurate, and it usually was, he was by far the most powerful of the Shadow Circle members. Yet she had discovered him in the Long Shadow village, which meant he likely belonged to one of the lower designations, perhaps even Niffal. Long Shadow village was remote and primitive. Most of its occupants lived simple lives and had little interest in “city intrigue.” The contradiction of being extremely powerful, yet having society assign you a low designation would explain why someone so reclusive became directly involved in a political rebellion. The Shadowborn Rebellion. She smiled. The name was growing on her.

  “You look distracted, Eza.” Isolaund Farr squeezed onto the padded bench beside Eza forcing the person next to her to scoot over. “What could possibly be more interesting than this?”

  Eza tensed. She and Isolaund were not friends, so why the sudden familiarity. “I don’t enjoy blood sports, Lady Farr. But Malik is a friend of mine.” She emphasized the word to demonstrate her annoyance. “I came to show my support.”

  “Of Malik?” Isolaund sounded genuinely surprised. “He’s not even Ayrontu much less of ancient blood. Apex is a much better choice.”

  “Your brother agrees with you,” she said lightly, not in the mood for verbal sparring. “How is Lord Indrex? I haven’t seen him this morning.”