Revealed Read online

  She turned to stalk away, moving toward the back of the temple, past the raised dais where the Empty Throne sat.

  “Wait a minute,” Rast called, running to catch up. “You know I’m not going to let the woman I love die. I’ve made my choice. So why—”

  “This interview is over,” the high priestess said, without turning. “I have matters to attend to. I must serve the throne.”

  Nadiah saw Rast look up. The bottom of the white marble throne was at the level of his head. Suddenly the priestess’s earlier words to them echoed in her head. “Do not touch the throne on peril of your lives,” she had said. Nadiah wanted to shout out a warning—Rast was so close—too close, but her mouth was too dry and the words wouldn’t come.

  “It’s not over until you answer my goddamn question!” He reached for her shoulder, obviously meaning to spin her around. “I want to ask you why—”

  “No more questions!” The high priestess whirled to face him. Planting both hands on his chest, she shoved him away.

  “I—” Rast was knocked off balance. Nadiah saw him reach for something to steady himself…and his hand landed on the side of the white marble throne.

  For a moment he was completely still and then his back bowed outward and an agonized gasp came from his lips. His whole body began to shake like a man being electrocuted, but still his hand stuck to the white marble as though it was glued in place. As though he couldn’t let go.

  Finally, Nadiah’s paralysis broke. “Rast!” she cried and ran forward as fast as she could in her weakened state.

  “No,” Sylvan roared. “Don’t touch him—it might cause a chain reaction!” He leapt forward and tackled Rast to the ground, breaking the connection between his hand and the throne. Rast fell, his head cracking against the white marble floor and Nadiah cried out at the sound.

  She fell to her knees beside Rast as Sylvan hovered over him on the other side. “Is he all right?” she gasped, grabbing one of Rast’s hands. It felt cool and unresponsive in her grasp. “Is he, Sylvan?”

  Sylvan checked the other male’s pulse and breathing. “He’s alive,” he said grimly. He glared angrily up at the priestess. “He could have been killed. You pushed him deliberately. Why?”

  The high priestess stared down at them, her blank emerald eyes utterly pitiless. “I had to be certain he was really the future Counselor before I allowed him to ascend to the top of the high mesa tomorrow morning. Touching the throne, even briefly, would have killed anyone but the rightful candidate. Now I know it is safe to proceed with our ceremony tomorrow.”

  Nadiah shook her head. “But his wings—you saw the marks on his back. You had to know—”

  “I know nothing until I see the wings manifest,” the priestess snapped. “Which they would have already if you were the rightful mate and Lysell of the Counselor .” She made a face as though she’d smelled something bad. “Clearly you are not. Now, I must go and meditate to clear my head for the ceremony tomorrow. Lissa will take you all back to the guest quarters and you may think of what I have said.”

  Turning again, she swept away, her white robe rustling on the bare marble floor.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  “She’s coming around. Look, her eyelids are fluttering.”

  Olivia’s soft words brought Merrick out of the half-doze he’d been in. Blinking his eyes, he sat up in the chair beside Elise’s cot and looked over at her. Olivia had dressed her in a dark red healing gown—a stark contrast to her pale face and black hair. Sure enough, he could see her eyes moving under the lids. He hoped she would be in her right mind this time. It had been a long night and her earlier interludes of wakefulness had been brief and confused. He was beginning to wonder if her long stint in stasis had affected her mind.

  As her small hand twitched in his, Merrick wondered what she would say this time. Sometimes when she woke, she begged him to keep her safe, to not let him hurt her again. At first he had thought the “him” she referred to must be the AllFather. But now he wasn’t so sure. It seemed like maybe her mind was reliving an earlier trauma, an older hurt—perhaps one she’d buried? But he could never get details from her to find out.

  Other times, she clutched at his hand and called him “Buck,” which sounded like a male’s name. Merrick had wondered about that—he didn’t smell another male on her and Olivia said she had no mate on Earth—not one they’d been able to find, anyway. But still the name filled him with a nameless kind of rage. Though he tried to tell himself he didn’t care, the idea that the little Earth female might be claimed by another male made him grind his teeth and clench his fists.

  Don’t be stupid, he told himself. She’s not yours. She doesn’t even know your name. She thinks you’re ‘Buck’, whoever that is. And it’s not like you want a female anyway. What could she do but slow you down and trip you up? But no matter what he told himself, his stomach still clenched every time she whispered that strange name.

  His thoughts were interrupted when her eyes fluttered again and then opened. This time there was no pain or fear in them. Instead, she smiled tentatively up at him and put her free hand to her forehead.

  “Hello,” she whispered.

  “Hey,” he said roughly, then cursed himself for his abrupt tone. “I mean…” He cleared his throat. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine.” She rubbed her forehead. “Tired. And thirsty.”

  “Here you go, hon.” Olivia held a cup to her lips and Elise drank thirstily. A tiny trickle of liquid slid from the side of the cup and down her slender neck. For a split second, Merrick pictured himself licking it off. Then he pushed the idea away.

  Elise finished the drink and nodded at Olivia. “Thank you.” She turned her gaze to Merrick. “You’re the one. You saved me from…from…” She shook her head. “I don’t know from what but it was something awful. I didn’t think anyone would come for me but you did.”

  Merrick shifted uncomfortably on the chair. “I found the pod you were in, drifting in space, and brought you back here—that’s all.”

  She looked confused. “I was in a pod? In space? Well, thank you, I guess.”

  “You’re welcome.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  “Have you been with me the whole time?” She nodded down to where Merrick was still holding her hand. “Keeping me safe?”

  “Uh…” Feeling foolish, he yanked his hand away. “I had to. I found you so I’m responsible for your safety while you’re here.”

  “All vitals are normal and brain activity looks good.” Olivia smiled. “I think she’s going to be just fine.”

  Elise looked around. “I’d feel better if I knew where I was. The last thing I remember is walking in the park by the marina in Sarasota—the one with the statue of the sailor and the nurse kissing. I was on vacation and…and everything else is a blank.” She frowned.

  Olivia’s smile faltered a little. “Well, hon, a lot has happened since then. But the important thing to remember now is that you’re safe. You’re on board the Kindred Mother Ship, orbiting Earth.”

  “Really, the Kindred?” Elise looked at Merrick and gave a confused laugh. “You must be one, I guess.”

  He nodded briefly. “Yes.”

  “I always wondered about them—about your kind, I mean,” Elise said. “But of course I never had to worry about being drafted by one of you.”

  Merrick’s heart fisted in his chest. The only Earth females who didn’t have to worry about the draft for Kindred brides were already mated or spoken for. But if that was so, why was there no scent of another male on Elise?

  Olivia frowned. “You didn’t worry about being drafted? Why not?”

  “Why because…because of…” Elise frowned. “Isn’t that funny? I can’t remember.” She looked down at her arms and frowned. “There seems to be a lot I’ve forgotten. How did I get these bruises? And why am I so sore?”

  Merrick shifted restlessly on the chair and he and Olivia exchanged a glance.

  “