Falling for Kindred Claus: A Kindred Tales Novel (Brides of the Kindred) Read online

  “Why nothing—nothing at all.” Ba’deal spread his hands in an apparent gesture of placation. “We were only having a simple conversation about our respective homelands and then she ran away from me, for no reason I could tell.”

  “That isn’t true!” Lisa exclaimed. “You’re lying! He’s lying,” she told Asher. “He tried to grab me!”

  “What’s this? Is there a problem?” Suddenly Natillus and Lambada appeared from out of the mists. “Oh, Ambassador Ba’deal,” he said, catching sight of the other Chorkay male. “How are you? I had no idea you would be here tonight.”

  “Why of course—I couldn’t miss the opportunity for purification in your lovely temple, now could I?” Ba’deal asked, smiling.

  “And is there some kind of trouble here?” Natillus asked, frowning.

  “Yes, there does appear to be,” Asher answered before Ba’deal could speak. He looked at Lisa. “What happened?”

  “Nothing but a misunderstanding, I assure you,” the Ambassador said smoothly, before Lisa could even speak. “A cultural miscommunication.”

  “Lisa?” Asher looked at her seriously. “Is that what happened?”

  Lisa felt angry and cornered. She wanted to shout that it had not been a misunderstanding—that the asshole had come after her and tried to attack her. But…what if what Ambassador Ba’deal had done was the normal way men and women interacted here? Also, Asher himself was supposed to be a diplomat. If she kicked up a fuss and accused Ba’deal of trying to attack her, how would it affect him?

  “I…guess it was a misunderstanding,” she said unwillingly.

  “Of course. And if I have offended you, I am most heartily sorry, my dear.” Ba’deal bowed politely.

  “Sure, whatever,” Lisa muttered. “Excuse me.” She ducked past Asher and Natillus and Lambada, just wanting to get away from the Chorkay asshole. But Asher followed her.

  “Lisa,” he said seriously, turning her to face him. “What really happened? You can tell me.”

  “It was nothing.” She looked away, arms crossed protectively over her breasts, hands cupping her elbows. “I thought he was trying to…to do something but maybe I was wrong.”

  “Do you want me to fight him? Kill him?” Asher asked seriously.

  “And make a public scene in a place where you’re supposed to be a peaceful diplomat?” Lisa raised her eyebrows at him. “Do you think that would be a good idea?”

  “Do you really think I have to make it public when I decide to kill someone?” Asher returned, his voice low and full of deadly menace. “If he hurt or attacked you I can and will make him sorry without raising an alarm.”

  Looking into his green eyes—which were now ice-cold—Lisa felt herself shiver. This was a side of the big Kindred she hadn’t seen before. He was so kind and gentle and respectful of her it was easy to forget that he was also an assassin when his job called for it.

  “That’s okay,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry I was so upset. It just…it brought back some bad memories of my husband. Ex-husband,” she added because damn it, divorce papers or not, Cameron was out of her life and she didn’t intend to consider herself married to him at all anymore.

  “I’m sorry,” Asher said, frowning. “Did your ex-mate…” He shook his head. “Never mind. I am certain you don’t want to tell me about that part of your past and it would only make me go into Rage to hear of anyone hurting you.” He looked at her intently. “Are you certain you don’t wish me to make this Ambassador Ba’deal sorry he bothered you?”

  “No. I’ll just make sure to steer clear of him in the future.” Lisa sighed. “Especially in a situation where everyone is naked in a huge sauna together.”

  “Are you naked?” Asher asked, frowning. “I thought that females were required to wear some kind of garment to cover themselves.”

  “Oh, I am,” Lisa said quickly. “I mean this—these, uh pictures—are fake.” She nodded down at herself uncomfortably.

  “I see.” Asher’s eyes flicked over her body quickly and then back up to her face. Lisa was also trying her best not to look below the big Kindred’s belt-line but she couldn’t help a quick glance. Well, at least his cock wasn’t erect and waving at her like Ambassador Ba’deal’s had been. That had just been creepy.

  “How was your purification process?” Asher asked, apparently trying to change the subject. “I hope it wasn’t too onerous? I was very concerned about you.”

  “No, it wasn’t bad at all,” Lisa said. “Why—was yours?”

  “It was…extensive.” Asher told her about the hot and cold pools and the hall with the long mechanical arms and rough brushes and Lisa shook her head.

  “Oh, that sounds awful! No, I didn’t have to go through any of that. Lambada and I didn’t do anything but lie on a pink couch and breathe in flower fumes.”

  “I’m relieved you didn’t have a bad experience,” Asher remarked. “But rather envious, too. It sounds like your purification process was much easier than my own.”

  “I would think so,” Lisa said. “Guess I’m lucky I have the Sacred Blue eyes.”

  “They are certainly beautiful,” Asher said softly. He shook his head before she could answer. “Forgive me—I promised myself I would not make such remarks to you. It’s just difficult when you’re so beautiful.”

  “Um, thanks. You’re not so bad yourself,” Lisa said, smiling shyly up at him. “And I don’t mind compliments. As long as we both understand they aren’t going to lead to anything else.”

  “Of course not,” Asher vowed seriously. “We will keep our relationship strictly professional.”

  Lisa couldn’t help herself—she started to laugh.

  “Strictly…professional,” she gasped out, when she could talk through her giggle-fit.

  “Yes.” Asher frowned. “Why is that funny?”

  “Well, I mean, we’re standing here together naked—or as good as—in a steam bath. It’s not exactly a professional setting, you know?”

  “Well, no,” he admitted frowning. “But to me professionalism is more about attitude and actions than circumstances and setting.”

  “Good point.” Lisa finally stopped laughing but her little giggle-fit had done her good. It had gotten the last of the fear and anger out of her system. Ba’deal might be an asshole but she was determined not to let him spoil her night.

  I’m on an alien planet sixty thousand light years from home, she reminded herself. Which is so much better than being on a bus headed to some other city in Florida, hoping that Cameron won’t track me down. I refuse to be upset.

  “Oh, there you two are.” Lambada came out of the mists to find them with Natillus right beside her. “We were wondering where you might have gotten to,” she said, giving Lisa a worried look. “Was Ambassador Ba’deal bothering you excessively?”

  “He was,” Lisa said honestly. “But I don’t think he’ll dare to try anything again—not after the way Asher here was staring him down.” She reached out to pat the big Kindred’s arm, noticing that he was solid muscle as she did.

  “He had better not,” Asher growled, frowning. “I will not tolerate anyone hurting my mate.” He sounded so menacing that Lisa shivered.

  “He will stay far away from you now, I am sure,” Natillus said dryly. “For a moment there, it seemed that your eyes were turning color with protective anger—I have never seen such a thing.”

  “It’s a Kindred trait,” Asher said shortly. “When a beloved mate is threatened a Kindred warrior may go into what we call ‘Rage’—a state of berserker fury which persists until the threat is eliminated.”

  “Well, I’m certainly glad the ambassador apologized!” Lambada looked shaken. “I have never liked him,” she confided to Lisa. “Those from the Southern continent are not to be trusted. I do not know why the old Potentate allowed him to come to the coronation of the new Potentate.”

  “I believe they expressed a wish to make peace,” Natillus said mildly. “Though I will be very much su