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not know how it is that she has lived this long, save the fact that she possesses some skill as a healer.”
    “And her body will not let her soul die, no matter how deep the physical pain.”
    “That is what I have long suspected.”
    “She is my female.”
    “I know. I have known for three years.”
    “How? I did not know until this eve.”
    “Because three years ago when I carried her away from her brother’s city, all she could do was beg me to return to save her male. To save you. She does not remember doing so—she remembers so little of that night—but in her soul she knew what she was doing. She sacrificed you to save them. And she has grieved for you ever since. Do not hurt her, Marcos Adrastos. If you do, I will run you through without regret.”
                 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 8

     
     
    SHE didn’t want to wake up, she finally felt warm for once. But Lana had things that had to be done. She always did.
    Her eyes opened.
    She wasn’t in her little hut in the village.
    And a woman sat beside her, rocking a small babe. A horned babe. Lana sat up as the events of the night before returned to her. “I…”
    “Welcome back. How do you feel?” the woman asked.
    “I am well.”
    “I think we can both agree that you are not. But we will work on that.” The woman smiled. “I am Aureliana, by the way. Sister to Aodhan… and Marcos.”
    “Marcos?”
    “Your male. He sat with you last night, do you remember?”
    She didn’t; she didn’t remember anything after she’d entered the castle. “I don’t know what happened.”
    “Exhaustion seems to be the general consensus. Plus whatever was done to your back. Tell me about that.” There was something in the woman’s tone that made Lana comply.
    “There isn’t much to tell. Three years ago, my brother found me helping his slaves and their children escape. He found me trying to help your brother as well. As an example to his men he had me flogged. And then he gave me to Pleius to kill. But Pleius didn’t. He carried me to my people, and then he returned to help your brother. We’ve been hiding from my brother ever since.”
    The woman—Aureliana, Lana would try to remember that—wrapped one hand around Lana’s. Her skin glowed at the contact, and some of the pain that had plagued Lana for three years lessened. “That’s what I could do for now. The healers will do more when they are able.”
    “Thank you.”
    “It is a small gift I possess as a Laquazzeana.”
    “Those are real ?”
    “Yes. We are. You’ll meet a few around this place. Look, I know you have been through much in too short a time, but that ends here. Your brother will be facing justice soon. There is a council for this type of thing. You will be safe. The women and children you lead will be as well.”
    “We are so few, and he leads six thousand men. And he has vowed to kill us all. Even the littlest babe.” And he was so strong, so powerful. She had no real skill with which to fight him. How could she make these people understand that?
    “And my male’s brother leads a world of seven million, seven million demons. And my Rajni leads the armies of this land. And even if you were not fated for my brother, we would offer you that protection. But you are my brother’s mate, are you not?”
    Lana would not say it aloud. They may be fated to be together, but that didn’t mean that they should be. She’d lived without her Rajni for the last three years, why shouldn’t she be able to be without him forever?
    The door behind Aureliana opened and there he was. His hair was wet and he was dressed in turquoise. He had that hasha with the strange black band wrapped around his forehead again. “You’re awake.”
    What was she supposed to say to him?
    “You need to eat.”
    The woman stood. “Marcos, I’ll leave you two alone. I need to get ready for our new arrivals.”
    “When will they be here?”
    “Probably in a