Breaking Ice (The Jendari Book 2) Page 6

  Kasim’s eyes widened and his lips parted in shock. “Humans can get diseases from having sex?”

  “Yes.”

  It took a second for him to collect himself. “That’s … unfortunate.”

  She cocked her head at him. “And the Jendari don’t?”

  “No. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

  Okay, that was good news. Kind of. “I don’t know much about cross-species biology. It’s possible that when we—” She clamped her lips shut before she finished that sentence. She couldn’t call it fucking, but she didn’t want to give herself away by calling it making love. “When we exchanged body fluids, we might have introduced foreign pathogens to each other.”

  Kasim smoothed out his features, cool as ice. But she knew him well enough now to see the concern in his pale-blue eyes. “That seems unlikely. Tallis and Jasmine have been together for months and they haven’t reported any adverse effects.”

  “So you do know them.”

  “Yes.” He didn’t apologize for his earlier evasion, which didn’t surprise her at all. He did, however, address her more immediate concerns. “I’ll consult with our healers to make sure you’re safe.”

  “Thank you.” It was more than she’d hoped for, truth be told. Which left her with the other half of her problem. “And what are the chances of an unplanned pregnancy?”

  “None.” His answer was quick and decisive. “A Jendari is only fertile when he or she wishes to be so. We have no accidental or unplanned pregnancies.”

  Again, good news. Kind of. “When you talk to your healers, will you confirm that holds true for Jendari-human relations as well?”

  “I will.”

  “Thank you.”

  Kasim stood, towering over her in all his Viking glory. “Let’s get some sleep.”

  And just like that, the conversation was done. He climbed into his bed, turned his back, and left Winter sitting there like the girl nobody wanted to dance with.

  To hell with that.

  Proving that she could be as cavalier as him, she slipped between the coarse sheets and switched off the light. Keeping her breathing even, she willed herself to go to sleep.

  Sadly, it was hours before she finally drifted off.

  ****

  Nightmares aside, Kasim had trained himself to wake fully alert. The moment he opened his eyes in the dawn light, he knew where he was and who he was with. The room was still dark, but like all rhe’hashan, his night vision was perfect. So he indulged himself a little, edging down the bed and turning so he could look at Winter.

  Her hair was still in a messy bun, but a few dark strands had slipped free to spread over her pillow. Her thick lashes fanned over her cheekbones, and her stubborn jaw seemed far too delicate in the gentleness of sleep.

  When he realised just how much he was enjoying the view, he flipped onto his back and squeezed his eyes closed. Last night had been a mistake on many levels.

  He never should have confided in her. He never should have asked for her secrets. And he never should have given into his urges and fucked her.

  Because right now he wanted to do it all over again. And it wasn’t just the physical connection he craved, it was the emotional. And as screwed up as he was, that path could only lead to heartbreak. He was debating how he would deal with Winter in the cold light of morning when he felt a familiar presence in his mind.

  Shallamar?

  Found you!

  Goddess save him. He catapulted out of bed. “Winter. Winter, wake up.” He shook her roughly and yanked the covers from her body.

  “What?” She tried to turn over onto her belly, but he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a sitting position. “Get up. We’re about to have a visitor and you won’t want to be in bed when she arrives.”

  “What?” Winter stumbled out of bed and shuffled to the window to open the blinds. The early morning light didn’t do much to brighten the room. “Who’s coming?”

  He watched as she moved around, his eyes skimming over the soft, sweet body he’d touched the night before. “Shallamar is coming. She’s my me’hendra.”

  Winter gave him a dirty look. Clearly she still hadn’t forgiven him for his transgressions, whatever she thought they might be. She folded her arms under her soft breasts. “Let’s pretend I don’t know what that is.”

  “A me’hendra is…” Kasim wracked his brain for a human-equivalent word, but there wasn’t one. “You would probably describe them as animals. A human would look at her and see a large cat. But they are so much more.” Kasim talked fast, trying to prepare Winter as best he could. “Every rhe’hashan is bonded to a me’hendra, and that bond is a connection of souls. I belong to her and she belongs to me. We fight side by side, she shares the most important parts of my life, and she is the one being on this planet—or any other—that I can rely on without question. Her love is fierce, unconditional, and unwavering.” He moved to the end of the beds and faced the door. “And she’s about five seconds away. You’d better open the door or she’ll smash it down.”

  Winter gave him a strange look, but she did as he asked. Kasim shifted his weight to the balls of his feet and braced himself. A blur of dirt-colored fur was the only warning he had before he was hit with five hundred pounds of love.

  Shallamar landed on him with her front paws on his shoulder and they both went down. Kasim lost whatever breath was in his lungs and he gasped uselessly as she pressed him to the floor. Rubbing her face on his and giving him an occasional lick, Shallamar purred in happiness.

  Found you.

  Yes, you have. Kasim wrapped his arms around her and grabbed a fist full of thick, silky fur. I missed you so much, and I’m so glad you’re here. Even though her presence complicated things with Winter.

  Missed you too. Shallamar gave him a sharp, disciplinary nip on the shoulder. You left me. Bad Kasim.

  I didn’t leave you on purpose, I was taken.

  You no call me.

  I tried. He didn’t mention the fact that he delayed for longer than he should. Shallamar was pissy enough as it was. I don’t know if the facility I was in was shielded or whether the drugs they gave me interfered with the link, but when I tried to reach you there was nothing but darkness.

  Shallamar eased herself up so she could look him in the eye. Her long, up-curved ears twitched forward and her almost colorless eyes stared down at him. They hurt you?

  Yes. Reaching up, Kasim smoothed his hands over her thickly furred head, stroking her cheeks and following the line of long fur that peaked down on either side of her jaw.

  Like before?

  No, not like before. Thank the Goddess. Kasim wouldn’t have been able to hold onto his sanity if they’d violated him in that way.

  We still kill them.

  Yes. When I have a plan in place, we’ll go back and kill them all.

  Shallamar grunted in satisfaction. Sliding off his body, she pressed close, turning her head so she could rest her chin on his chest. That was when she noticed Winter for the first time.

  Rumbling a warning growl, she eased to her feet and peeled back her lips. Winter froze where she was, casting Kasim a look of panic.

  He rolled to a sitting position and placed one arm firmly over his me’hendra’s shoulder. “Shallamar, this is my friend Winter. Winter, I’d like you to meet Shallamar, she’s my … family.”

  Winter stood like a statue near the closed door, but she gave Shallamar a slight nod. “Hello.”

  Shallamar hissed and the hackles on the back of her neck stood up. Kasim tried to pet them flat. “Winter helped me escape my prison. She brought me here to rest and she covered our trail so my captors wouldn’t find us.” He didn’t trust Shallamar not to attack Winter. If his me’hendra even thought Winter was a threat, he wouldn’t have time to talk her down. So he spoke in a way she’d understand. “Winter fed me, she brought me clothes to make me comfortable, and she’s making plans to get me home safely.”

  Shallamar stepped over him, p
ausing long enough to skewer him with a deadly glare, then prowled toward Winter. Kasim rolled to his feet but didn’t intervene. Winter had to fight this initial battle on her own if she was going to earn Shallamar’s respect.

  The me’hendra stalked closer. Winter slowly straightened to her full height, but she was so tiny Shallamar’s head reached her waist. Shallamar stretched her head forward, sniffing Winter as though her scent was one step down from a rotting carcass.

  Edging forward, Shallamar herded Winter until she was pressed against the door. Then one dinner-plate-sized paw lifted and pinned the human to the wood. Keeping her body facing forward, Shallamar turned her head to look over her shoulder at Kasim.

  She smells like you. You mated her.

  I haven’t mated her, but we did share our bodies last night.

  Shallamar cocked her head. She force you?

  No! He took couple of involuntary steps forward. No. I wanted to be with her. She let me take her in a way that was good for both of us.

  Her large head swung back to face Winter. You like her.

  Yes.

  Me not like.

  Kasim hid a grin. That’s okay. You can feel however you want about her.

  She has stupid name.

  Kasim tried to smother a laugh but it came out anyway, only slightly choked.

  Winter gave him a startled look. “What’s funny?”

  “Shallamar was just commenting on your unusual name.”

  “Commenting?”

  “Yes. We can speak to each other, mind-to-mind.”

  “Holy cow. That’s amazing.” She looked down at Shallamar who growled, dropped her pinning paw, and stalked over to jump on the bed. Winter watched the me’hendra and made no attempt to move from the door. She did, however, continue the conversation. “My mother’s maiden name was Winter.”

  Kasim tried not to sigh at yet another term he didn’t understand. “Maiden name?”

  “In our culture, most women take the last name of their husband when they marry.”

  Kasim frowned at that information. “Why would they do that?”

  “It’s tradition. My mom’s on her third marriage, and she’s change her name every time.”

  That sounded confusing to him. Kasim couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be known by a name not his own. He motioned for Winter to come to him, and when she closed the distance, he gestured for her to sit on her bed. Kasim sat opposite, on the tiny stretch of mattress Shallamar hadn’t claimed.

  “In Jendari culture, male children take the names of their fathers, and female children take the name of their mothers. Both fraternal and maternal lines are kept intact.”

  At that moment, Shallamar’s paw stretched out, aiming for the lamp on the bedside table. Kasim shot sideways, locking his hand around the offending appendage. Shallamar’s ears twitched forward and she glared at him in disgust.

  No smashing things, he said.

  Me bored. You and human talk too much.

  Kasim released Shallamar’s paw and began petting her before she got into any more mischief. Digging his fingers into the ruff of thick fur around her neck, he scratched her just how she liked it. With a grunt of satisfaction, she closed her eyes.

  Kasim turned back to Winter. “So, what’s our plan for today?”

  “I’ll get some breakfast for us, and after that I’ll hire a car.”

  “If you take care of the food, I’ll sort out the transport.” Now that Shallamar was here there was no point keeping his whereabouts a secret. The me’hendra communicated with each other freely and often, and Kasim had no doubt the people who cared about him now new his location and his state of health.

  Have you told Liron where I am? he asked Shallamar.

  Of course.

  Liron was partnered with Borini K’ahel, the leader of the American-based rhe’hashan. Which meant Kasim was in for an ass-kicking if he didn’t make a call. He turned to Winter. “May I borrow your phone?”

  “Yes.” After rummaging around in her purse, she handed the device over. “Who are you going to call?”

  “My boss.” That was a simple term for Borini’s position, but it wasn’t truly accurate. Borini was a leader, mentor, father-figure, and disciplinarian. Every rhe’hashan knew Borini would fight and bleed for them if necessary. But Badria help you if you fucked up and awoke his inner tyrant.

  Tapping the number of the tower into the phone, he pressed his other hand deep into Shallamar’s ruff. The phone clicked and a professional, female voice came on the line. “Hope Tower, how may I direct your call?”

  “This is Kasim Ta’nehr. I’d like to speak with Borini K’ahel.”

  “One moment, please.”

  Borini must have been in his office because the call connected so quickly Kasim hadn’t quite ordered his thoughts.

  “Kasim.”

  Those two syllables held a world of retribution. “Borini.”

  A sigh of exasperation. “Where the fuck have you been?”

  Chapter Seven

  For once, Kasim was happy about the lack of security on a cell phone. “I can’t tell you much, I’m not on a secure line.”

  “Then we’ll talk when you get back to the tower.” Borini’s voice was pitched at a conversational volume, but Kasim didn’t miss the threat in the tone. “Are you well? Can you get back on your own or do you need help?”

  Kasim smiled despite his pending ass-kicking. For Borini, the welfare of his warriors always came first. “Physically, I’m fine.” Or he would be once he phased again—which he couldn’t do until Winter left the room. “But I would like some help with transport. Shallamar is with me, so I’ll need something big with tinted windows.”

  “Done. I have your location. Expect something in the next thirty minutes.”

  Aware that Winter was listening, Kasim gave the address anyway. It wasn’t safe for her to know how easily the Jendari could track human tech. Once he’d disconnected, he deleted the call information and handed the phone back to Winter.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Putting the cell in her pocket, she picked up her purse and headed for the door. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “No rush. It will take a while for our transport to arrive.”

  She nodded, gave him an unreadable look, and slipped out the door. As soon as she was gone, Kasim locked it behind her, closed the drapes, and moved to the space at the end of the beds. Singing his song, he called to the other half of himself, phasing from man to lepardine.

  Furred and clawed, he stretched out, allowing the power of the phase to heal the last of his hurts. Shallamar jumped off the bed and came to lie next to him, pressing close to offer silent comfort and support. They stayed like that until Kasim sensed Winter’s return.

  His heart sped up, and he didn’t like the burst of anticipation that filled his belly. Trying to block out the images of her naked and needy, he triggered the phase.

  By the time Winter got to the door, he was once again in his two-legged form and he had emotions under tight control.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Her liquid-brown eyes flicked up and away as she walked past him and placed the food on the counter. There was no dining area in the room, so Kasim cleared the bedside table and dragged it into position between the beds. Winter had bought plenty of food and it took a couple of trips for them to ferry over the deli sandwiches, fries, and a couple of salads that Kasim would never touch. The last item in the bags was large pack of raw ground beef. “For Shallamar?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Winter still wasn’t making eye contact and the golden skin on her cheeks flushed pink. “I didn’t know what she ate, so I got that just in case.”

  “It was very thoughtful, thank you.” The portion was large by human standards, but for Shallamar it would be less than a snack. However, the fact that Winter had thought about his me’hendra’s needs touched him in a way that made him yearn. So he squashed that emotion, too.r />
  Peeling away the packaging, he placed the meat on the floor next to the wall. Shallamar, Winter has brought you something to eat.

  Shallamar sauntered over. When she saw the offering, she gave a disdainful sniff. Not much food.

  No. She’s never met a me’hendra and she doesn’t understand how much you eat. Kasim ran his hand down Shallamar’s silky back. But it was considerate of her, don’t you think?

  No. Me still not like her.

  Apparently that dislike didn’t extend to food, because Shallamar crouched neatly in front of the offering and began to eat with quiet efficiency. Leaving her to it, Kasim returned to his makeshift meal.

  Sitting on opposite beds, he and Winter made their selections and began to eat. They didn’t speak much, and Winter barely touched her food.

  “You need to fuel your body.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve had enough for now. You finish it off.”

  He eyed the remaining containers, still hungry. “If you’re not ready to eat now, perhaps we should save some for later.”

  “There’s no need. I’ve had enough, truly. And it’s easy to buy more food once we’re on the road.”

  He looked at her, but her expression was as closed as her energy. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but he was afraid of the answer. And really, did it matter? After today, they’d never see each other again. Taking her at her word, he picked up a bag from the floor and emptied the contents onto the small table.

  When Winter excused herself, Kasim let her go and tried not to notice how her shoulders slumped as she settled in a corner with a notepad and pen.

  Fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door. Kasim and Shallamar stayed out of sight while Winter dealt with the delivery man. When she closed the door, she held a set of keys in one hand and a large leather bag in the other.

  “I think that’s for me.” Kasim moved forward, taking the heavy package from her. Throwing it on the bed, he unbuckled and unzipped it, revealing a clean change of clothes, basic weapons, and an envelope. Opening the envelope first, Kasim counted a huge amount of cash. “That’s for you,” he said, handing it to Winter. “Take out what I owe you, and use the rest as needed for our trip home.”