Krystallina's Crisis Read online

Was Sarek really worthy of such sacrifice? There were times when he wasn't certain he deserved that depth of devotion. He slipped his hand up and down Gar's thickened shaft. He felt him grow larger, skin stretched tightly, liquid seeping from the slit onto his fingers.

  "You please me very much, Gar. Will you come for me now? Will you show me you forgive me for placing you second?"

  Gar bucked beneath his hands, spurting his semen into Sarek's hands. Sarek lifted a finger to his lips and tasted the salty pleasure of his devoted companion.

  Gar watched him through heavy-lidded, sated eyes. He licked his lips as Sarek tasted the glistening cream on his fingers. Sarek closed his eyes, savoring the taste of his lover, and then a vision burst free within his mind.

  His eyelids snapped open and he looked at Gar.

  "What is it, Master?"

  Sarek saw the alarm in Gar's eyes. It probably mirrored his own shock.

  Sarek shot to his feet. “I know where she is. I have to go to her; she's in great danger."

  He whirled around and raced through the clearing and down a path taking him back to his dwelling. There was no time to waste. All thoughts of passion evaporated as he sped toward his destiny.

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  CHAPTER 3

  Krystallina forcibly parted company with As-ya. He was adamant about accompanying her, but she was just as firm about going her own way. Finally, he accepted her decision and headed in a different direction.

  She hadn't felt this free since Kadin had abducted her three years ago. The brand over her breast throbbed, but she hoped that distance would thwart Kadin's ability to reclaim his possession. The outfit she wore certainly wasn't conducive to long treks across unfamiliar land, but right now that was the least of her worries. Her biggest concern was getting as far away from Kadin as possible. Discovering a place where he could never find her.

  One thing that did concern her was knowing that if anyone saw the brand she would be returned to Kadin as quickly as possible without question. No one wanted to get on the wrong side of the powerful underlord. It didn't matter that she had been abducted and taken against her will. It wouldn't matter that he would kill her if she was returned to him, or that she'd be tortured before he did so.

  Glancing down, she realized the corset would never cover the brand and she'd have to find other clothing. Krystallina had never stolen anything in her life, but she had a feeling she was about to learn the art. If she wanted to stay alive and remain out of Kadin's hands, she was going to have to find clothing to disguise her.

  Krystallina looked around her, moving in a small circle. Closing her eyes she allowed the draw of the earth to direct her. That sense of direction was something that had been instilled inside her from—well, she didn't know exactly when it had started. It had just always been a part of who she was.

  She'd never told anyone, but the Goddess Earth had revealed herself to Krystallina when she'd been a very young girl. Krystallina had never understood why. None of her other sisters spoke of visions of the Goddess, nor did they seem to have the powers Krystallina possessed. Sometimes she'd seen fear shadowed in her mother's eyes. And sometimes, even her father's. Her mother had been the first wife of the Guardian of the jungle lands. Yet, Krystallina was a third daughter and shouldn't have been offered in marriage until her older sisters were wed.

  It was after the last incident, when Krystallina had foretold the death of her father's favorite concubine, that a hasty marriage had been arranged for her. But her journey to her betrothed had ended in disaster. She had known her father would most likely be relieved with her disappearance. Women with abilities such as hers were regarded as dangerous and unsuitable for marriage. More often than not, they were killed. She probably should consider herself lucky that her father had not done the same to her. Krystallina was certain her father never told the man she'd been bartered to of her abilities.

  The forests. Go to the misted forest.

  That voice again. It was the same one that had awoken her from her exhausted sleep. Could she afford to ignore it? She looked up at the sky and then down at the earth. For precious moments she waited for a sign. Finally she felt the draw and strode out in the direction of the strongest earth pull, attempting to leave the negative drain of the underworld behind her. Whatever this direction held, misted forest or not, it had to be better than what she left behind, even if it meant death. She wasn't quite certain which above-world province she had entered from the underworld, but the direct rays of the sun hurt her eyes after so many years below ground. It was possible she was in Syrus, the grasslands province. At least there might be some possibility of locating food and water in this region. Better here than in the desertlands.

  She'd been walking for what seemed like hours and was beginning to tire when she felt the first vibrations beneath her feet. A sense of dread spread through her. It couldn't be. Not so quickly. But she swung around and saw the cloud of black dust and knew immediately what caused it. Kadin's undead horde was bearing down on her much too quickly. Whirling around, she sprinted forward as a new burst of energy infused her. She would not let them take her. She would die first.

  Hope sprang up as she spotted the borders of the misted forest. Kadin and his horde were barred from entering the forests. At least that's what she'd heard. It was the only safe place. If she could make its borders, she might have a chance of eluding them. Though it was said that without proper permission one could be lost within the mists forever, she was more than willing to take the chance. Better to be lost inside the mystical forests than put herself back into the hands of the sadistic underlord.

  Pulling on a last burst of speed, she vaulted for the borders. They were distant. Too far away. An unreachable dream. She would reach them. A stitch drew at her side and Krystallina pressed her hands to the source of ache. She ignored the drawing pain. She stifled the whimpers of frustration and panic. She would not fail. And then she stumbled over a rock and crumbled to the ground, twisting her ankle. Looking up through tear-filled eyes, her gaze widened when she saw a man on a huge white stallion galloping toward her from the edge of the woods.

  No. She would not let them catch her. Scrambling to her feet, pushing the searing pain in her leg aside, she tried to run as the driving pain thundered up her leg and tears poured down her cheeks. The sobs of her own desperation blocked out even the thunder of the hooves chasing her. She kept her attention on the misted borderlands. Reaching with every speck of her mind to gain their safety.

  A steel band of flesh wrapped beneath her breasts, lifting her away from the ground.

  "No!” She beat at the imprisoning arm. “Let me go.” She wriggled with every last bit of effort she could muster. And found it wasn't enough.

  "Stop fighting me tigercat unless you want to go back to Kadin. I'll drop you now if that's the case.” He hoisted her up in front of him without breaking gait. The breath whooshed out of her lungs as he dragged her across his hard thighs, and she found herself gazing up into the most brilliant blue-green eyes she had ever seen.

  "Don't move,” he commanded, “or you'll fall to your death."

  "I won't go back. I won't let you take me back to him."

  He didn't take the time to glance down at her, keeping his attention focused on his destination. “I'm not taking you back. I'm taking you to safety."

  Did she dare believe him? Did she have any other choice?

  She tried to focus her energies. To reach into his mind as she had been able to do with Kadin. But a steel gate slammed down, blocking her access. This man was not an ordinary man. That much she did sense.

  Was she now in worse danger than she had ever been with Kadin?

  And then she heard the frustrated roar of the horde as the horse she was on entered into the cool mists of the protecting forests. Had she survived one horror, only to be swallowed by another?

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  CHAPTER 4

  Once inside the shaded protection of the misted
forests, Sarek brought his mount to a halt and eased Krystallina to the ground, quickly dismounting after her. When she would have turned and run, he locked his arms around her.

  "You're not going anywhere. I told you that you would be safe."

  She struggled against his hold, but he was stronger and held her firmly within his grip.

  "What makes you think I'll exchange one captor for another?"

  He whirled her around to face him. Cupping her face, he anchored her in place, as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

  Her eyes narrowed to slits, but finally she stopped fighting.

  "I'm not going to hurt you. I know you have the power to sense good and evil. Use it."

  Her eyes opened to wide purple orbs. “How can you know that? Not even Kadin sensed I had ... powers of my own."

  "Obviously, he's not as smart as people say he is. I know you have powers, but I have them as well. Don't make me use them. Will you promise not to run if I let you go?"

  He watched the tumult of expressions cross her face as she tried to assess how much of a danger he was. Her expression darkened and he felt her reach inside his mind. She'd tried it once before when they were running from Kadin's horde and he'd blocked her completely. This time he opened himself just enough for her to sense his purpose was not to harm her.

  Sarek felt her relax. “All right. Let me go. I promise I won't try to run. At least for now,” she amended.

  He loosened his grip and took a step back. Something about her kept him from removing himself too far away. Maybe it was her full, lush lips that begged to be kissed. Or her creamy, pale complexion. His visions seemed a colorless comparison to the rebellious woman now standing before him. Finally, Krystallina stepped away from him.

  "Exactly who are you and how did you happen to come to my aid?"

  She certainly was no cowering female. His cock throbbed to full mast. He sensed her intelligence, her fearlessness. Any less of a woman would have succumbed to Kadin's dominance long ago.

  "I am Sarek.” He saw understanding and then disbelief mirrored in her eyes.

  "You can't possibly be the Sarek."

  He nodded. “Guardian of the misted forest."

  "Master Magician Sarek?"

  "The same."

  Her face paled, going a shade whiter than it already was. She wove slightly. He was afraid she was going to faint and moved quickly to catch her before she fell. He lowered her to the ground as her eyelids fluttered and then opened.

  "When was the last time you ate?"

  "I don't recall. I had other things on my mind."

  Once he assured himself that she was sound enough to release her, he rose and walked back to his horse and dragged out a blanket and a canteen. He returned to her, handed her the canteen, and spread the blanket. “We'll camp here tonight."

  "Before going where?"

  "Back to my home. Neither Kadin nor the horde would dare trespass onto protected land. You will be safe.” He returned to the horse and began to remove the items they would need for the night. Once the saddle and bridle were removed, he sent the horse galloping off into the forests. They were safe inside the boundaries now. He would call for his mount's return in the morning. The forest would provide sustenance. All he had to do was ask and it would be provided. “Do you know how to prepare a fire?"

  "You mean gather wood? Certainly."

  He turned back to look at her. “No, that's not what I mean. How much do you know about your powers?"

  She looked at him and one delicate brow rose. “Apparently, less than you seem to know. I've never really used them. At least not before I was taken by Kadin. The most I've been able to do is access thoughts, see into the future a bit. But even then I have to really concentrate."

  "And he never realized what you were doing?"

  She shook her head. “I was careful. I managed to decipher the map to the labyrinth, which is how I escaped. Why did you save me, Sarek? I'm nothing to you."

  "I wouldn't say that.” He turned back to her and dropped a copper pot on the ground. “I'll show you how to create a safe-fire so we can enjoy a good meal tonight. It looks like you could use one.” He walked back to the saddlebags, pulled out a brown caftan, and tossed it to her. “That should serve you better than what you're wearing. The forest gets cold at night; you might want to change."

  Krystallina rose to her feet and looked around, then limped toward some thick bushes.

  "Don't think about disappearing on me,” Sarek called after her. “I'll have no problem finding you. You know nothing of my woods; you'd only get lost."

  She turned back to give him a narrowed look. “I can take care of myself. I've done so thus far. I could find my way out."

  "Not before I found you. And I wouldn't hesitate to punish you for disobeying me. There are still dangers in the forest. Bottomless bogs and living vines and trees like you've never encountered before. Until you have mastered your powers and the forest has accepted you, I wouldn't advise trying to command what you don't understand."

  She didn't answer him and stalked through the bushes until she was hidden from view. At least she tried to stalk. That limp seemed to be giving her some problems. He'd take care of that when she returned. Sarek had to smile. He liked her fight. Even after time spent in Kadin's kingdom, the underlord obviously hadn't beaten the spirit from her.

  While she was changing, he bent to the task of building camp. He could have easily gotten them back to his home tonight, but he wanted to spend time with her alone, to get to know her before introducing her to his companion apprentice and the other apprentices in his household. Gar understood the destiny prescribed and his place in it. But Sarek had a feeling Krystallina wouldn't have a clue as to where her future lay. None of what Sarek knew had obviously been revealed to Krystallina.

  His attention was diverted as Krystallina walked back into the clearing now engulfed in one of his robes. She lifted the hem high in order to walk without tripping. The garment had been made for his measurements, not those of a slight woman.

  "Now will you tell me how you happened to leave the forest and be in the right place at the right time?"

  He took the bundle of clothing she had clutched under her arm and tossed them into the fire. “Goddess Night revealed you to me in a vision. Sit down and let me take care of that swollen ankle for you."

  She gave him another mutinous look before finally dropping down. He knelt in front of her. As he rubbed his hands together, generating the heat of his magic, she lifted the hem of the caftan to reveal her foot and ankle. Sarek tried to focus on his task, but the hint of tantalizing flesh was very tempting.

  He gripped the swollen ankle and concentrated. Closing his eyes, he felt the healing heat radiate through her skin. One hand slid up the curve of her calf. So soft and silky. Within moments his hand found its way to her knee.

  He opened his eyes and his gaze met hers as his hand slid beneath the cloth to stroke along her well-defined thigh. He watched her expression grow heavy with passion. He knew she would accept him now if he so desired. He could smell her arousal. If he were to touch her pussy right now, he knew he would find the silky folds coated with her cream.

  Sarek released her leg as though it were on fire and rose to his feet, pivoting away. If he wasn't looking at her maybe he could get himself under control. By the Goddess he did want her, but first she needed to understand her reason for being here.

  "Why me?” Her husky voice pulled him from his lusty thoughts and he turned back to her. She was now standing, her thoughts shielded, just as her body was. Thank Goddess for that caftan or he wasn't sure he could control himself.

  This was the tricky part. How did he explain her position in his life without sending her hightailing into the forest? She'd been enslaved by Kadin. Sarek doubted she would react kindly to being chained to another man, even if it was as equals. And even if they had been soulmates in another life.

  "You know you have powers unlike other women. You must have realized you w
ere different than others in your homeland."

  Her gaze shifted away from him and her expression tightened. “Yes, I did. And so did my father. He got rid of me as quickly as he could. I think he thought if he arranged a marriage for me, he wouldn't have to think about the strangeness of his daughter and how I had come to be born."

  Sarek cupped her cheek.

  She jerked away and lifted her chin. “I don't need your pity, oh great one."

  Goddess, she was magnificent. He did not want to tame her, but he did ache to possess her. “It isn't pity I offer.” He stepped toward her. “You were created through the grace of Goddess Night; your father should have recognized such a priceless gift. You are here for a reason, Krystallina. And be assured, I will not squander the gift of the Goddess."

  Her expression turned wary. “Exactly what are you saying?"

  "You are to become my wife, Krystallina. You and I together will forge a strong enough bond to control Kadin's growing powers and contain him. Together we will protect the forests and create a safe haven for the Aestivali. Be thankful he never realized the precious gem he harbored in his kingdom."

  "You can't be serious. The Aestivali have all been exterminated. Everyone knows that. You can't save something that hasn't existed for eons. And I'm not going to be anyone's wife. And certainly not yours.” She took another step away from him. He saw it before she even thought it. And then she was gone in the blink of an eye, running away fast as an antelope, fleeing from her destiny. He had apparently healed that ankle a bit too soon.

  Foolish woman. Hadn't he warned her?

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  CHAPTER 5

  Krystallina's instincts were always getting her in trouble and this time would be no exception. She had no idea where she was or where she was going. An overwhelming, claustrophobic panic had gripped her at Sarek's words and there was no way she was turning back. There was the undeniable feeling she was caught between two powerful entities, both of them determined to crush her will. And she was just as determined not to let either of them destroy her.