Shadowed Read online

  “Forgive me,” she said quietly. “But I thought…if there’s any way I can help…” She didn’t finish with words. Instead, she put one hand tentatively on the back of his neck.

  The moment her cool, soft fingertips brushed his skin, Reddix had instant relief. The stabbing grief, the acid tears, the dark despair that had been creeping into his lungs with every breath suddenly vanished. He still felt sorrow but only his own—he sympathized with his little sister, but the emotional storm around her no longer felt like a personal, physical attack.

  He sighed in relief and looked at Nina gratefully.

  “Thank you,” he said hoarsely. “If you could just stand there…”

  “Of course,” she murmured. “Go ahead—I won’t let go of you.”

  Reddix turned back to his little sister.

  “It’s all right,” he told Minda quietly. “This is Nina—she shuts off the RTS when she touches me. So now, come on …let me hold you.”

  “Oh, Reddix…” Minda held up her arms, no longer refusing his comfort.

  Reddix enfolded her gently, holding her just as he had when they were younger and she hurt herself and came crying to him because their parents were too busy to be bothered. He held her close and let her sob against his chest, cherishing this moment even though it hurt—loving Minda with all his heart and praying to the Goddess that she would live and be all right. That she would recover from this loss and not leave him.

  And through it all, he felt Nina’s soft, gentle fingers on his neck. She stood there quietly, not speaking, guarding him, standing between him and the disease that had eaten his life and made such simple, physical contact impossible for so many years.

  He was beyond grateful. Maybe she does care, whispered a little voice in his brain. Maybe she feels for you the way you feel for her.

  Maybe.

  * * * * *

  Nina stood there quietly, making sure to keep skin-to-skin contact with Reddix while he held his sister and trying not to intrude on their reunion. Still, she couldn’t help watching the gentle way he held Minda or hearing the soothing, comforting words he whispered to her as he stroked her hair.

  And as she watched, she felt her heart melting.

  She’d been trying so hard to keep herself from falling for the big Kindred completely, reminding herself of how he’d kidnapped her, intending to offer her as a sacrifice to the witch. She’d told herself to remember every harsh word he’d ever said, every time he warned her away and told her to leave him alone because he would bring her nothing but pain.

  But somehow, watching him hold his frail little sister in his arms and beg her to live, Nina couldn’t remember any of that. All she saw was a man filled with love and compassion—a man who only needed a little help to let those qualities out.

  I could give him that help. I am giving him that help, she couldn’t help thinking. I could be there for him always. We could go somewhere deserted without many people. We could make a life together…

  It was just a silly pipe dream, and she knew it. But still, she couldn’t get it out of her head.

  At last Reddix murmured something in his sister’s ear, and she whispered, “All right.” When he sat up on the edge of the bed, still holding her hand, her face looked sad but serene. It was as though she had found a measure of peace in his arms she couldn’t find anywhere else.

  “It’ll be all right,” Reddix said hoarsely, and Nina wasn’t sure if he was talking to his little sister or himself. “Everything is going to be all right. You’ll make it through this, Minda—the same way you helped me through when I was first diagnosed.”

  “The doctor did say I could…could try again eventually,” she whispered. “But Reddix, I wanted this one so much.”

  “I know,” he murmured, squeezing her hand.

  “Not just for me, though,” Minda continued earnestly. “I wanted him for you, big brother.”

  “For me?” Reddix looked confused. “Why?”

  “I thought maybe you could name him your heir—you know, so you wouldn’t have to become OverChief after all.”

  “The lineage wouldn’t be strong enough,” Reddix said gently, stroking her fingers with his thumb. “I know you mean well, little sister, but the clans won’t accept a ruler with such weak ties to the blood.”

  “I suppose you’re right. Which is exactly the reason our mother and father didn’t want me to marry Sterx in the first place.” She sighed. “That’s why they’re not here now, you know. Sterx wanted to call them, but I wouldn’t let him. They barely speak to me anymore, and I didn’t…didn’t want them here after what happened. I didn’t want anyone but you, Reddix.”

  He smiled. “I’m here, aren’t I? Forget about our parents and have the life you want. Someone in this family should, after all.”

  “Poor Reddix.” Minda squeezed his hand sympathetically. “You really are dreading stepping up to become the OverChief, aren’t you?”

  “He won’t have to step up after all. I’m back.” Saber stepped in the doorway. “Is it all right to come in?”

  Minda smiled at him wanly. “Saber—of course you can come in. It was good of you to bring back my brother when I called for him.”

  “Of course. And you know I think of you as a little sister, too.”

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Speaking of little sisters, is Lissa here?”

  “I am.” Lissa came into the room too, which was beginning to seem a bit crowded. “Saber and I are together now, Minda. I hope you understand.”

  Minda nodded. “I do, but I’m afraid most people won’t. I’m glad for your happiness, but the situation is very hard on Reddix. He has no wish to rule, even if he didn’t have RTS. And I don’t see how the people will accept a male as OverChief who is married to his own sister.”

  “Um, what?” Nina asked before she thought. Up until now she’d been trying to blend into the background and just be unobtrusive, but this was too weird to be ignored.

  Lissa shot Reddix a look. “She doesn’t know?”

  “It didn’t exactly come up,” he growled. “We talked more about our pasts—I didn’t want to think about the future.”

  “What future?” Nina asked. “What do you mean? I’m sorry, but I’m completely lost here.”

  “The future where I have to agree to become the ruling OverChief of all the Touch Kindred clans because the rightful ruler, Saber, has decided to marry his own sister,” Reddix said.

  “In our defense, there isn’t any real blood tie between Saber and myself,” Lissa said quickly. “We just come from the same clan. Here on Tarsia that’s considered, um, incest.”

  “Incest?” Nina was still shocked.

  “I’m afraid so,” Minda said weakly. “The thought of Lissa and Saber getting joined is as repulsive to our people as if Reddix and I had decided to become mates.”

  Reddix made a face. “Ugh. I love you, little sister but…”

  “Right.” She gave him a ghost of a smile. “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “The laws here on Tarsia concerning who one is allowed to join with are very strict,” Lissa said quietly. “And strictly enforced. They even inject infants with a kinship compound at birth to make members of the same clan repugnant to each other.”

  “Wow, that’s…harsh.” Nina shook her head and looked at Reddix. “So after Saber, you’re next in line for the throne? You never said you were royalty.”

  “I’m not,” he growled. “I mean, it’s not like that. I just have the right blood to rule. And if the line of succession is broken this whole damn planet will erupt into civil war.”

  “There’s not going to be any war,” Saber said firmly. “I’ve already spoken to my father. He’s convening a public meeting of the clan leaders tomorrow evening. Lissa and I will announce our relationship to them and any of the clansmen and women who care to come. At that time, I will tell everyone that I fully intend to take my father’s place when he steps down.”

  “You’d better have an exit str