The Warlock

Throwing his hands up in the air, Devon relented. "Very well! You’re right, Jax. I’ll perform the Mate Search and find the woman who is destined to be my mate. "

"Don’t forget the Prophecy." Jax said, grinning like a fool at Devon DeCaro.

"How can I forget when you’ve reminded me daily for the past several months?" He laughed and returned his friend’s grin while slowly shaking his head.

Later that evening, Devon sat on his massive bed, his bare feet crossed upon his knees in the Mate Search position. His head lay back against his neck and his eyes closed. He began the Mate Search chant. It was a ritual chant every male at age fifteen had been taught by their father’s. It came from his memory as if he’d chanted it every day since turning fifteen.

A vision slowly formed in his mind, the image hazy at first then beginning to clear... a woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes with a heart-shaped face and smooth flawless skin appeared. Her name came to him as if spoken aloud....

Belinda Ramsey.

What They Are Saying About

The Warlock

Prince Devon DeCaro of Wiccan needs to find his life mate. The Mating Search has been completed, and now he has found her. Belinda Ramsey has links to a world she never knew existed. Now she is life mate to a Prince of Wiccan, and introduced to his empire, the witches and warlocks, the Vamps and shape-shifters. But this world has its own problems--the Alliance is a threat to the Wiccan, and if that's not bad enough, the Prince's own sister-in-law, the Water goddess Phania, is out to destroy his marriage. What is her goal? The Prophecy foretells the future. What does it hold for Prince of Wiccan, and his mate Belinda? An intriguing story of a world far away, a people we can only imagine, and a prophecy to thrill the heart.

--Angela Verdenius
Golden Wings Award author.

Wings

The Warlock

by

Tamia Dawn Osburn

A Wings ePress, Inc.

Paranormal Romance Novel

Wings ePress, Inc.

Edited by: Leslie Hodges

Copy Edited by: Elizabeth Struble

Senior Editor: Elizabeth Struble

Managing Editor: Leslie Hodges

Executive Editor: Lorraine Stephens

Cover Artist: Christine Poe

All rights reserved

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Wings ePress Books

http://www.wings-press.com

Copyright © 2004 by Tammy Ainsworth

ISBN 1-59088-271-1

Published In the United States Of America

March 2004

Wings ePress Inc.

403 Wallace Court

Richmond, KY 40475

Dedication

To my father and Laura Shinn who helped me with editing the story. And Polly with demanding to me to finish the story and helped me to actually complete The Warlock. Hugs and kisses to all of you. And Daddy, may you rest in peace. And to my Grandmother, Irene, may you also rest in peace.

Prologue

On Wiccan

"You know it’s time." Jax approached his long time friend, the Prince of Wiccan, Devon DeCaro. He watched as Dev ran his fingers through his long black hair.

"I know." Devon sighed, turning away from the three-foot window where he’d stood watching life beyond his own for over an hour. He stared hard at Jax with his gray eyes, eager to find reasons to delay the inevitable. "I don’t have the time right now. Problems that keep arising have been keeping me busy."

With a disgusted growl, Devon turned away from Jax. He gazed out the window again, beginning to feel frustrated about the weight of responsibility upon his strong shoulders.

"But the prophecy..." Jax insisted with a strong voice as he stared at him.

Devon whirled around, locking a pair of intense gray eyes on his friend. "Don’t start with me about that old tale," he ground out with authority, his voice as hard and uncompromising as his eyes.

"Dev, surely you haven’t forgotten our history. Ten thousand years ago..." Jax recited in a soft voice, repeating the history lesson that was taught in school. "The DeCaro family warred with King Eagle. In the last conflict, King Eagle was overthrown and he and his family were banished from Wiccan forever. The queen, saddened by the unresolved conflict, came forth and prophesied. From that day forward, peace between the two families has never been resolved."

Jax gazed up at Devon who stood over a half foot taller. "And another war is about to threaten our people, all because of your brother, Kosek."

Devon DeCaro winced at the mere mention of his greedy brother’s name. The man had been a thorn in his side for too many years to count. This current example of mischief bore close resemblance to others he’d done in the past. This time, however, the thorn had done more than prick his skin--it had left a bloody wound that did little to ease his disposition.

Jax sighed dramatically at his Prince’s silence. In the manner of an old nag, he continued speaking. "You must have heard the vicious rumors being spread all over Wiccan."

"Yes, I’ve heard the rumors and I’m completely aware of my brother’s wild doings." Devon ran a hand through his thick black hair. He moved to sit down in an overstuffed, dark-blue leather chair that sat in front of his light-wood desk. "I have heard, from my sources, his dispute that I am not legitimately the Prince and he is the rightful heir. All of this because my mother birthed me seven months after my parents consummated the Mating Ritual."

Wheeling his chair to face the window, Devon rubbed his fingers beneath his strong jaw, concentrating on the horizon to soothe his unease. The very idea of having children outside of the Mating Ritual was uncommon among his people. It was nonsense to base leadership solely upon the ritual surrounding the Mating Ceremony.

Devon snorted in disgust. "Simply because only seven months passed from their Mating Ceremony to the day that I was born is no reason for him to claim ownership to the throne. It’s madness, and the people stand behind me regardless of the rumors."

When Jax raised an insolent brow to suggest otherwise, Devon slowly shook his head. His bright gray eyes sparkled in a slow simmer of anger. "That fact doesn’t bother me at all!" He claimed, punctuating the end of his sentence by slamming a fisted hand down on his desk. Objects jumped and settled in disarray.

His parents had been very much in love and choose not to wait until after the Mating Ritual to consummate the match of the Mating Search. That didn’t bother him. Why did he let it bother him when his people spoke of this indiscretion as if it held any bearing on his ability to lead? His failure to take a mate rested on the minds of the people--when at the age of thirty, he had yet to take a mate. Being the Prince, he should have taken his mate a year ago. Things continued to happen to his people and he’d delayed the Mate Search.

The Alliance began to issue demands for his people to join them as soldiers. Devon knew how their soldiers were chosen and wanted no part of it, but the Alliance had different ideas. Trade routes had opened up and schedules needed to be completed and that had kept him busy--not to mention the Wolfen packs then began their bloodlust attacks on the tourists. Devon needed to close the tourism route for the time being until he stopped the bloodlust. He’d also begun investigating the reason behind it.

Then the wrath of nature created a disaster in the form of floods and mudslides that demanded they be his top priority. Finding his mate rested at the bottom of his list of things to do. Devon angled his head and glared up at Jax. His friend and trusted advisor kept giving him the strangest look, as if the man could read his mind. Jax did not have that power.

"You know I’m right." Jax’s smugness and his attitude rankled on Devon’s nerves.

Throwing his hands up in the air, Devon relented. "Very well! You’re right, Jax. I’ll perform the Mate Search and find the woman who is destined to be my mate, tonight."

"Don’t forget the Prophecy," Jax said, grinning like a fool at Devon.

"How can I forget when you’ve reminded me daily for the past several months?" He laughed and returned his friend’s grin while slowly shaking his head.

~ * ~

Later that evening, Devon sat on his massive bed, his bare feet crossed upon his knees in the Mate Search position. His head lay back against his neck and his eyes closed. He began the Mate Search chant. It was a ritual chant every male at age fifteen had been taught by his father. It came from his memory as if he’d chanted it every day since turning fifteen.

A vision slowly formed in his mind, the image hazy at first then beginning to clear... a woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes with a heart-shaped face and smooth, flawless skin appeared. Her name came to him as if spoken aloud...

Belinda Ramsey.

His breathing seemed to catch in his chest for a moment, then he exhaled with a burst of air. Panting as if he’d run for miles on end, Devon realized the Mate Search had revealed the woman foretold in the prophecy. The woman lived in a place called Earth.

Opening his eyes slowly, his world had suddenly changed. His destiny was finally at hand.

A lopsided grin stole across his face.

~ * ~

The Prophecy

In a time of imminent war, when the King and Queen are no more, There will come the rise of brother against brother...

And war will begin again.

Sorrow and bloodshed will fall among the people.

Hope survives in the unity of the New King and his mate.

To gain peace and end the bloodshed, the heir must mate with the rightful Princess of the old world.

Then the slaughter of life will end for all time.

One

Belinda Ramsey jerked up in her twin-size bed, her body damp with sweat. In the last two weeks, she’d been having strange dreams every night... towering empires, witches, warlocks, vampires and shape-shifters. They were things she would normally watch on the Sci-Fi channel. I better start watching a different channel so these strange dreams will stop occurring every night. For some unknown reason she could neither explain nor understand, it felt like the people she saw in her dreams were her People, as if she belonged with their kind. But she didn’t recognize any of the faces she dreamed about--none were familiar to her. So, why did she feel deep within her that these were people who’d been lost to her years ago?

Looking over at her clock on the bedside table and noticing that the alarm was to go off in about five minutes, she sighed and reached over to turn it off by flipping the switch. Tossing back the covers with a whip of her wrist, she slid over the side and off of the bed.

The muscles in her arms and back were sore for some reason, so she stretched her arms over her head causing the short pink T-shirt she wore to rise over her ribs, caressing the globes of her breasts and making her nipples taut. Her flat, trim stomach was bare since her sweat bottoms rode low on her hips.

Taking her time and lowering her arms, Belinda reached across her twin-sized bed to grab the top end of the thin, brown blanket and pull it up to the headboard. It billowed up in the air for a suspended moment, then drifted slowly down to the bed. Her eyes remained focused and, as the blanket cleared from her vision, her eyes caught and locked onto the small picture frame that held the snapshot of her parents. Two beautiful faces, yet she didn’t know them, felt nothing but the pain of having never known them. A tragic car accident had taken them away when she’d only been two.

Always she’d felt this way, wanting to feel the horrible pain of knowing what she’d lost, but grateful she was free of that pain. Which feeling was worse, she wondered.

Robert and Rosalinda Ramsey had been car-pooling home from work in the California Hot Springs late one night. A heavy-rain had been pounding through the afternoon and into the night making the roads slippery and too dangerous to be driven. Their tires had hit a stretch of glassy water and they had hydroplaned for several feet, Robert fighting for control of the vehicle.

His efforts had been in vain, though. He couldn’t stop the car and it skidded off the side of the mountain. Gratefully, they’d been killed instantly.

Belinda had been at a local day care center the day of the accident. At nearly the same instant as the accident occurred, Belinda had started to cry. One of the day care workers urged her to stop crying, begged her to stop. Until that moment, she’d always felt safe. But in that instant, her entire life had been changed forever. Social services came and took her away after explaining the unfortunate tragedy to the day care center staff.

Of course, no suitable next of kin was found. Since Robert and Rosalinda were no more than children themselves and had no other family, she was then placed in foster homes. Growing up in foster care homes had taught Belinda much. Some of those homes had been good to her. Most of them, in fact, except for the three years that she lived with the Marten’s. They didn’t have any children themselves and Belinda was the only child in their home for those three long and lonely years.

They’d abused her every day of those three years until the day that she ran away to the Social Services office. At first they hadn’t believed her, because during the initial interview she told them she was happy living with the Marten’s. Pleading with the social worker she’d said, "I had to lie. They forced me say that, or else." Twelve-years-old, Belinda was fighting for her self-respect and her sanity. Embarrassed but feeling there was no other alternative, she turned and raised her shirt to show the woman her recently scarred back. It was then that Belinda was rushed out of the Marten home and immediately placed in another home in Los Angeles.

The Lee’s were a nice, quiet family. They had a daughter Belinda’s age, May Yang Lee. The girls became instant friends, closer than friends, they became sisters. Dan Lee owned his own Dojo and taught Martial Arts, while Sue Ming Lee worked as an R.N. Dan and Sue had taken Belinda under their wings and taught her everything they knew. Belinda to this day could cook like nobody’s business and she’d continued her martial arts classes even after moving away. The Lee’s taught her to exceed her limitations and never restrict her capabilities. The lessons they’d taught, she’d learned well.

Her emotional scars slowly healed over time. Trusting others never came easy, but the Lee’s had taught her how. After graduating from high school, both girls agreed to attend UCLA. May majored in accounting, while Belinda pursued nursing. Even though they were no longer in the same classes, the girls kept in constant contact with each other throughout college and into their separate lives.

Belinda finally decided to go home to Mesa Mecca, California, the place were she’d been born. Both women had kept in touch for last next three years.

~ * ~

After taking a shower, Belinda braided her wet hair. Placing her finger over the opening, she turned her foundation bottle upside down and applied it on to her face. A thin fan of eye shadow and black mascara made her eyes bold. A light stroke of soft pink lipstick accented her lush lips. Donning underwear, green hospital scrubs and her tennis shoes, Belinda made sure her apartment was locked with the answering machine set when she left her cozy little one bedroom apartment.

After clocking in for her shift in the E.R., a strange feeling suddenly washed over her--something unique would happen to her today. May had promised to come to Mesa Mecca for a visit, but she didn’t think that was it.

The feeling of anticipation was strong, and she didn’t know what event would be coming her way. With a worried sigh, she turned around, then wished she hadn’t.

"Hello, Belinda," Kurtis greeted her with a grin he probably thought was charming.

"Hello," she muttered dryly, which was completely lost on Kurtis. She started to walk away, hoping he’d get the hint, when he grabbed her arm, bringing her to an abrupt halt.

"Would you like to do lunch later?" His grin disappeared to be replaced with a frown. Feeling frustrated and not bothering to hide it, she wanted only to run away from his disturbing touch.

"Sorry, Kurtis. An old friend of mine is arriving from L.A. later this morning and I promised her that we would do lunch today." Belinda cast a fast glance up and down the hall, her gaze resting on the E.R., wishing for salvation.

The hard intensity that appeared in his narrowed gaze made her feel extremely uneasy. She’d never seen that look from him before today. Normally, his fun-loving attitude drew females in and out of the hospital between the ages of sixteen and eighty. They all would love to get their hands on him. Even his own female patients flirted with him.

Every female on staff had envied her when Kurtis began working at the hospital two weeks prior, persistently asking her to go out with him every single day. Without exception, every time she turned him down. Her co-workers pleaded with her to put the man out of his misery and just say ‘Yes’. If only she’d agree, he would move on and they would get their chance with him. Belinda shook her head, bewildered at the desperation some women felt to be used instead of loved.

Why not say yes to him? Her alter-ego argued. Belinda’s eyes were still searching down the hallway to the E.R. She argued with herself... Because he doesn’t turn me on. Not like the man in my dreams. It was not altogether uncommon for her opposing opinions to war with one another.

Oh yes, he’s every woman’s fantasy. She sighed, closing her eyes to better see her dream man’s face.

An irritated breath blew into her face. "That’s a shame, Belinda." Kurtis’s voice sent shivers down her spine. Belinda’s eyes popped open.

"Yeah, a shame," she whispered to his back as he stormed away. Glancing worriedly in the direction he’d gone, she turned and walked toward the E.R. Belinda wondered if Kurtis had ever before heard the word ‘No’. Probably not, since he didn’t appear to handle rejection very well, she thought to herself.

~ * ~

The Sorceress

Aboard the bridge of his ship The Sorceress, Devon made the final arrangements before making the long walk to his stateroom. After a long talk with his communications officer, Rina, he had let her know exactly what he wanted before he began the journey toward Earth. The last thing he needed was a repeat performance of the disasters that came when his people explored on a planet that was unable to deal with beings from another world.

Years ago, a group of Wiccans were out exploring other worlds when they’d come across a world called Lazarus. Before gaining knowledge of the planet and its people, they’d landed on that world. Disaster had struck them all. His people were eliminated within a matter of hours. Since then Devon always made sure that his people would be protected so history would not be repeated.

He entered his stateroom. "Lights on." Momentarily blinded, he squinted his eyes against the glaring light. "Dim." The glare became a livable glow. The stateroom didn’t have the spaciousness of his bedroom on Wiccan, but did have the luxury of being the largest room on the ship. Connected to the main room was a bathroom. At least he wouldn’t have to share it with the other crew members aboard.

Crossing the wide stateroom to the showering chambers, he took his time enjoying a long shower. Laying back and crossing his legs at his ankles, Devon pulled the black comforter over his naked body. He tilted his head back deep into his pillow and closed his eyes, placing himself into a deep trance. He went in search of his mate, compelled to see her beautiful face every chance he could.

The only problem he could foresee was her acceptance of her new life and role as mate by his side. She would be leaving her family and friends behind, never to return. Everything she knew of Earth would be transformed once she arrived on his world. She would never see her Earth again.

The trance led him to her present location. Another female with slanted eyes spoke softly to her. The other woman had dark hair, like his own, and brown eyes. Interesting. I’ve never seen that shape of eyes before.

They were looking at some type of white, sheer garment on a pink hanger. Belinda shook her head at what the other woman said. The garment was replaced and they moved on. Devon tucked away the memory of that garment deep inside his mind, thinking to please her when they went through the Mating Ritual.

The image of this woman, Belinda, wearing the sexy garment for him made him grow hard with excitement. It was at that moment he felt another presence searching for his mate.

Acting on instinct, he aggressively searched for the presence. The presence felt familiar... yet unknown to him. That made little sense and the confusion drew his anger. Whomever the presence belonged to felt Devon close by his mate and, feeling threatened, quickly left.

Devon whipped the black comforter aside and leapt off the bed, running for the door to his stateroom. It opened automatically and he ran headlong for the bridge, unaware of his nudity.

Two

"Belinda, what’s wrong?" May looked over with concern when she noticed Belinda frozen in her tracks as they were leaving the boutique.

"I don’t know..." As if hearing another voice from far away, Belinda cocked her head to one side and waited. Unexpectedly, she began to tremble with fright. "It feels like I’m being watched." More precisely, it felt like two people were watching her... one evil and another one... the other wasn’t evil, but she instinctively knew that presence would change her life forever.

May glanced around them, whipping her head from side to side, trying to find the person responsible for making Belinda feel uneasy and scared. There wasn’t a single person staring that she could see, from close by or from afar. "I don’t see anyone, Belinda."

Touching Belinda’s elbow she said, "Let’s go, please." May felt Belinda’s trembling and understood, because she had started to tremble, too.

Belinda didn’t move a muscle. She stood perfectly still with only her eyes in motion, searching through the scores of people in every direction she could see. The feelings of being watched intensified.

Her body gave a slight jerk, her eyes blinking once, twice. "You’re right, May. Let’s get out of here," she whispered. Grabbing onto May’s hand, they rushed out of the boutique without looking back. Belinda shook even harder when she realized she truly was running from some unknown evil.

~ * ~

May watched her best friend collapse onto the couch. She shook uncontrollably. Releasing a worried sigh, she stepped into the kitchen as the tea kettle began to whistle. Reaching out mechanically, she turned off the burner and picked up the cup that held a mint tea bag, her thoughts completely on Belinda. Her routine helped to soothe the worry from her brow while she poured hot water into the teacup. This incident wasn’t the first time Belinda had acted very strange in a given situation.

She remembered the time when Belinda warned her parents about an accident that would happen if they left as planned. Her details were so precise, it convinced them to delay for a few hours. They’d left at a later time than originally planned.

Waiting a few hours--just in case--Dan and Sue left for their trip. While traveling down highway 99, they came upon the accident Belinda described. They’d pulled over and called May and Belinda from their cell phone, telling them in awe and fright about the big rig accident. For twenty minutes they’d taken turns on the phone, thanking Belinda for saving their lives. Ever since that time, they’d believed Belinda to be psychic. May always knew that Belinda’s powers went well beyond what her parents could see.

How could she explain to her parents about the time Belinda once healed a paper cut on her finger from merely touching the cut with the finger of her other hand. Yes, there is much more to Belinda than I can explain, May thought to herself.

Entering the living room with teacup in hand, May rounded the couch and noticed Belinda curled up on the couch, her knees to her chest. Even with her eyes closed as she tried to rest, Belinda still shook harder then she had a few moments ago. Whomever was watching must have scared her pretty good, May thought, calling her sister’s name.

Belinda looked up into her sister’s worried eyes while accepting the teacup. Maybe the mint tea would help stop the shaking. Whoever that evil presence belonged to didn’t fool me in the least; it was pure evil, Belinda told herself. But she also felt bewildered when she sensed some goodness in the person’s soul.

Taking a sip, she sighed in satisfaction as the mint tea slid down her throat. May sat beside her on the couch, picked up the remote control and turned on the TV. For the next hour they sat watching a romantic comedy with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as they sent email to each other. It served its purpose and entertained, but Belinda’s thoughts kept returning to that elusive presence and what it could possibly mean to her...

~ * ~

As soon as Devon realized he had run out naked, he used his unique abilities to instantly clothe himself before someone noticed his nudity. That woman distracted him entirely too easily. Within minutes he stepped onto the bridge. The crew snapped to attention, looking instantly busy.

"Scan check for another ship in our sector." A few seconds later he got his answer.

"Nothing, sir," Defense Officer Craig Servadia said.

"Search it again!" Devon ordered in a harsh voice. He wanted to make sure everything was ready for his trip down to Earth, since he would now be leaving earlier that expected. Beyond a doubt, he knew someone searched relentlessly for his mate. Even though he remained unsure of the person’s identity, this feeling that his mate was being drawn into danger was strong and sure.

"Someone is out there! I felt his presence and I want him found before harm falls upon the... woman who is to become my mate," he insisted sharply. He kept his voice low and confidential. "I don’t know who he is, but the person is here, in this star system. Find out where and who it is," he told Craig as he pulled his long, jet-black hair into a ponytail. He wore Earth’s style of clothing... blue jeans that showed off his muscular thighs and hugged his tight butt. The crisp white tank shirt showed off his dark tan from long hours of practicing his given skill in a meadow behind his castle. The tank shirt complimented broad shoulders and impressive chest. His feet were encased in a pair of white Nikes that fit his long feet perfectly. Briefly, he thanked the Replicator for making the Earth-style of clothing for him and everyone on board the ship. He wanted Belinda to feel as comfortable as possible while on board his ship.

Dev had been ready to meet his future mate since the Mate Search, the woman who would rule by his side. She was constantly in his thoughts and in his dreams since that first initial contact. As for the dreams, they were shared. It was normal for the mated couple to experience these together after the male had gone through the Mate Search Trance. During the first dream, if the female does not wish to be mated with the male, she would say so. He then continues his search until he is accepted. Usually he’s accepted in the first dream. It was rare for the Search Mate Trance to be wrong in choosing the correct mate.

The shared dreams placed a bond between the mated couple until the Mating Ritual was complete. The couple share dreams and thoughts and feelings, creating a bond that links them together forever.

Eagerly, he anticipated performing the mating ritual with Belinda. The shared dreams gave him hope and made him desire her all the more. Especially the one where they are standing on the balcony looking down upon his people. How right she felt next to him, holding his hand after a night of making love.

Devon closed his eyes as he felt himself growing hard from the remembrance of those dreams. With each waking thought, his desire for Belinda grew. Before he slept, his final thoughts centered around her. Each day that passed made him want her more. The shared dreams only enhanced the feeling. Entering the transporter room, he found Jax busy with the controls, typing in the coordinates where Belinda could be located at this moment. Devon waited impatiently for the clear signal from Jax. If he hurried, he could get Belinda off of the planet without having to also transport her friend.

Jax looked up, avoiding direct eye contact. That was not a good sign. "I have some bad news, Dev." There was a slight tremble in his voice and Jax cleared his throat.

Agitated with any delay that kept him from his mate, Devon demanded, "What now?" He stepped from behind the glass shield of the transporter. Jax took a tentative step back.

"You can’t go down to the surface at these coordinates. They’re experiencing a storm, flash flood, high winds and... electricity." Jax prepared himself for his friend’s outburst. Everyone knew that to transport down into an area where an electrical storm brewed would only be asking for trouble. The results could be disastrous.

"What?" Devon thundered, his face turning red with frustration. He ran a hand though his black hair, then down his face. There could only be one reason why a sunny, beautiful day could instantly turn into a raging storm. A Water Goddess had to be in the area to change the weather this quickly, and there was only one Water Goddess that he could think of that would do that much damage: Phania DeCaro, Kosek’s mate. It meant they were in this area of the star system.

Devon swore as his long strides took him over to Jax’s computer screen, his eyes telling him what he didn’t want to believe. A full-range storm encompassed the area where Belinda lived. No safe place existed where he could transport down and get her out of there. Which meant he wouldn’t be getting her off the planet... not tonight.

Cursing again, Devon turned on his heel and walked hurriedly back down to his stateroom. After taking a brief shower he sat on his bed, tired and bone weary. Once again he placed himself into a trance so he could watch over his future mate, hoping that no harm would come to her and her friend.

~ * ~

Belinda sat on the couch beside May who’d insisted on watching Friday the 13^th, even after what had happened to her earlier. During a particularly scary and bloody part of the movie, lightning struck and both women jumped about a foot off the couch. The storm came out of nowhere. Thunder boomed and rain came down hard and violently.

The women rushed over to the window and May swept the curtains aside. Lightning emerged from within the black swirling clouds and the thunder added its own voice to the violence of the storm.

"Tornado? We don’t have tornado’s here in California." May’s voice shook in terror. A scream rent the air and both women screamed in reaction. Whirling around, they saw the woman on the TV being stabbed in the back. Sighing in irritation, Belinda hurried over to turn off the DVD player and flipped the channel to watch the news for a while. The newscasters were in a frenzy by this sudden storm. They didn’t know where it came from or why. Normally a storm of this magnitude originated from the Pacific Ocean. This one remained a mystery to the weather forecasters. They also issued tornado watches in several areas.

The weatherman suggested everyone in those areas prepare to take shelter. The feeling of being watched instantly came back to her, the same two presences she’d felt previously. How she knew this, she wasn’t sure. It was just a feeling that she had begun to experience off and on since the incident earlier today. Belinda stood up and began pacing the living room.

May watched her sister tread a path in front of the couch. "Belinda, this is not a normal storm."

She turned to May, realizing the truth of her words. May’s face showed true fear and she wondered if her face reflected her own fear. This whole situation felt creepy and Belinda shivered again.

::Something isn’t right:: a male voice said inside of her head.

Belinda jumped at the intrusion then looked down at May, searching her face closely. She could see the dazed look in her friend’s eyes.

"May?" Somehow she knew she wouldn’t get an answer. Her eyes were then drawn down, noticing a bottle of wine on the floor beside May’s feet--a bottle she’d never before seen.

Without a doubt she knew neither of them bought the bottle earlier. So where did this bottle of wine come from?

::No!:: That same male voice screamed in her head as she brought the partially empty bottle to her lips, thinking the alcohol would at least calm her nerves. Suddenly she dropped the bottle, the end catching on the coffee table and breaking the bottle. The last remaining bit of wine spilled onto the carpet.

Belinda raised her hands to her head, cringing at the intruder’s voice inside of her head. She squeezed her head slightly, hoping to drown out the voice.

May suddenly stood up, walking like a zombie toward the front door.

::Don’t let her open that door!:: The voice screamed in her head. Belinda shook her head as May got closer to the door. ::Don’t!:: The voice sounded more determined and urgent. May’s hand touched the doorknob.

::Go! Now! Before it’s too late!:: he cried out to Belinda.

Running to May, Belinda felt his urgency and hoped she could stop her before she unlocked the door.

It was too late. The feeling that she got from whoever waited on the other side of that door was the evil presence she’d felt earlier.

"No, May!" She cried out as the door seemed to open by itself and her eyes grew wide with fear. Belinda gave a small gasp when May crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Belinda’s horror grew when she thought her sister might be dead. Rushing over, she knelt down and touched the pulse point of May’s neck. Finding a slow but steady pulse, Belinda felt like crying in relief. Her gaze moved over suspiciously to the shattered bottle on the floor wondering what in the hell been in that wine.

::Kemon, a mind inducing drug.:: That voice again, gentle and soothing, though she could hear the irritation and bitterness in his voice.

The presence overwhelmed her and Belinda looked up as the door opened wide. The man had the nerve to cross the threshold and enter her home. Belinda stood up and stepped over her sister to face the intruder, determined to protect herself and May. He looked familiar as he gazed deep into her eyes. Belinda tried to look away but couldn’t. It unsettled her.

"You!" she accused, when recognition dawned. She knew him!

"In the flesh," he replied smugly. He’d changed his hair color. Instead of the blond that she knew from seeing him at work, he now sported black hair. He wore a robe like the ones people wore when they graduated. She couldn’t help but to laugh at his attire. His brows puckered and he looked down, breaking the spell. Then his eyes returned to her face, his expression hard and cold.

Belinda took a step back, away from Kurtis, stumbling over May. Gaining her footing without hurting her sister, she looked down at the floor. May’s eyes were still closed and she seemed to be out cold from the drug. Belinda turned angry brown eyes on Kurtis.

"What do you want with us?" she demanded, hate and disgust thick in her voice. It became obvious she’d never known him at all. Even more disturbing came the knowledge that he wasn’t the man she’d thought him to be--he was the embodiment of that evil presence.

"My true name is Kosek..." he began, then stopped abruptly, his head snapping toward the ceiling. Belinda followed his gaze. What worried him that he found in the ceiling?

Shrugging, she watched as his focus returned to her.

"That is not important and time grows short."

"What do you want?" Her voice emerged surprisingly calm, though inside, she was scared to death of this man.

"You." He took a step closer. "You must come with me."

She gave a snort of disbelief. "As if I’d go anywhere with you..." Belinda wanted to laugh at the absurdity that she follow meekly behind him. She gave him her best stern face. It didn’t appear to be working.

"Yes, Belinda, you will." His voice became uncompromising and Belinda shivered at the sound of her name from his lips. His intentions were unclear but that didn’t matter. She’d never go willingly with him--anywhere.

"No, I won’t!" The words sounded so childish she wanted to wince. Instead, she raised her chin stubbornly and dared him to do something immoral and illegal.

Kosek’s eyes bored deeply into hers, but he kept silent. Belinda felt herself beginning to get very sleepy. With effort, she tried to look away, but the room became blurry. Her eyes grew heavy. Forcing her eyes to move, she blinked them rapidly, trying to fight the sleepiness from her mind.

Her last conscious thought was feeling herself falling to the floor.

~ * ~

"No!" Devon screamed as he jerked himself out of the trance. He cursed Kosek as he ran out of his stateroom. He ignored the gasps and stares as he ran toward the bridge. He stormed in the second the doors swished open, issuing orders to the gaping crew.

"Sir?" Craig began as Devon demanded to know what was wrong with everyone.

"Sir..." he tried again when Devon stopped to catch his breath. He ignored the communications officer and shouted to his engineering officer to initiate warp speed. He warned them to be on the lookout for The Wizard, his brother’s ship.

"Sir!" Craig barked in embarrassed frustration to gain Devon’s attention. "What!" Devon spun quickly toward the red-haired officer. It was then he noticed the people on the bridge looking at him strangely.

"You might want to dress, sir," Craig said quietly, actually blushing a deep red.

Devon glanced down at his darkly tanned body... his naked body. He blushed but braved it out, placing his hands on his hips while glaring at the two female crew members on the bridge. He turned away angrily, presenting his back to them.

The women laughed softly after having the pleasure of getting a very good eyeful of his glorious body. Jax walked over, escorting Devon off of the bridge when he made no move to leave. Before the door closed, they heard everyone’s laughter. He looked over his shoulder as the doors swished shut. Those blasted females were eyeing his naked butt. He quickly clothed himself.

"Dev, you act as if no female has ever seen you naked before." Jax laughed and slapped him merrily on the back. Devon glared at him in silence before turning his head away. Of all the secrets we have shared, that is one secret I’ve never told even you.

Three

Kosek stood in the transporter room looking down upon the two women that were still sleeping on the floor aboard The Wizard. The ship had been named for the power he held--the spells he could weave. His brother, though, held the magical powers.

Of the females of Wiccan born each generation, only a handful became known as the Water Goddesses. They were always very high in demand. Only a few could be spared so other worlds would have the Goddess they needed to create water for the survival of the planets’ inhabitants. Phania was born a Water Goddess--and she was mated to him.

To this day he still didn’t understand why the Gods chose Phania as his true mate when he couldn’t stand the sight of the greedy little bitch. He chose to be around her as little as possible.

She never upheld the laws of nature taught to every Wiccan child. Being unfaithful to her mate was a way of life. Even though they’d been childhood friends, Phania had always led him into so much trouble. He should have left her in that bar on Leathy Four instead of allowing her to travel with him.

It became common for the two of them to con people out of their money and jewels. Greed was irresistible and gaining power a potent lure. She craved more and more with every day that passed. It was fun for a while, running wild and conning after Kosek first left home when becoming an adult.

Yet, now he wanted to give up that life and settle down to have a family. He’d made the decision and gone into the Mate Search Trance. It shocked him to the core to discover Phania was selected by the gods to be his mate. She did agree after the first shared dream.

Lately, Kosek noticed that something didn’t feel right concerning this mating with Phania. No shared bond existed, no shared thoughts, no shared feelings as it should be with one’s mate. There was nothing. Why? He’d asked himself this question over and over for the past several months after being mated with her nearly a year without the mated connection.

"So... the plan finally worked." Phania stood in the doorway of the transporter room, her sheer net, black dress drawing every male eye to her ripe body. Even her nipples and feminine hair were visible through that damn dress. Kosek scowled at his so-called mate.

"And you simply had to bring her little friend along for the ride."

Two crewmen stepped forward at a wave of Kosek’s hand, each picking up a woman to take them out of the transporter room to designated quarters. One male licked his lips and squeezed the unconscious woman’s breast while strategically holding the female prisoner. But when Kosek looked over to his mate, he saw her squeezing her own breast and fingering her own nipple to full tautness while eyeing each crewman in turn. He knew her mind and she anticipated handling both men simultaneously. The thought made him sick to his stomach. The slut still reeked of recent sex. Kosek looked away in disgust. "It couldn’t be helped," he bit out, storming out of the transporter room, the two crewmen on his heels. He couldn’t stand the sight of Phania’s peek-a-boo dress for another second. He’d seen the exchange between the two males. He knew that lust-for-her-flesh look well. He’d given her that very same look when they’d met again on Leathy Four. What a wild night of sex they’d had. It was the night he’d lost his virginity.

But a mistake, nonetheless. Kosek was still cursing the gods for choosing her to be his mate as his legs ate up the distance to his stateroom.

~ * ~

The dreams came again. Belinda moaned as the bluish-green and lavender planet came into focus. The pale lavender sky seemed so clear and beautiful. Belinda gasped in wonder at the sight. She breathed in deeply of the fresh and crisp air. No pollution, she thought.

Then she felt it... his presence beside her. She turned her head and saw him staring at her, quietly waiting. The man should be outlawed as too gorgeous to roam around unprotected from the female sex. He was Superman tall with a build that made her mouth water. And the sexiest, pure gray eyes she’d ever seen.

"Who are you?"

::Your mate.:: Though she heard the words, his mouth did not move.

Now this was getting really interesting. "Oh, really?" she said with a crooked grin.

::Yes,:: he replied. Her smile faded when she noticed his seriousness. He wasn’t kidding.

For reasons she didn’t understand, she asked, "When will we be together?" Belinda reached out a hand toward him as he began to fade.

::Soon, I promise. We will be together... forever.:: Then he disappeared.

"No!" Belinda cried out, needing this man nearby. The world began to fade away. A wave of calmness swept over her as she fell back into a deep sleep once again.

~ * ~

Devon slid off the bed, his mind at ease knowing that Belinda slept deeply. What he couldn’t understand was why Kosek kidnapped his future mate. It just didn’t make any sense. Resigned that sleep would never come, Devon made sure he was properly attired before stepping out into the corridor. Not bothering with shoes, he padded softly down to the bridge through the dimly lit corridor. Nearly everyone on board The Sorceress was asleep, except for the few on the night crew.

Running a hand through his long dark hair, his thoughts turned back to Belinda and the feelings she brought out in him. Having never felt this way before, he wondered what these feelings would mean to his future.

He stepped into the large circular room, which was the bridge, where two crewmen were posted for night shift duty.

"Leave. Take a break." Both men gave Devon a worried look before departing. He stepped down to the computer tracking station, making a mental note that they were right behind The Wizard, following her trail. The ship’s destination--Wiccan.

A sound of distress broke from between his dry lips and he collapsed into the Captain’s chair. His gaze focused forward at the wall-sized window, staring sightlessly at the black diamond-studded vastness of space. Without thought, his right palm opened and a small sphere of red-orange fire appeared, lighting up the dimly lit room. His left elbow rested on the armrest while that hand cupped his chin. The sphere brightened as he continued to look out into space.

Past memories of trips with his parents came to mind.

King Mochel and Queen Kamyrn DeCaro had always loved to take deep space trips and explore the galaxy. They were a very close family and had always taken their two sons with them. Unless Kosek engineered some kind of mischief to stay behind in the care of the warriors and servants. Kosek showed obvious envy whenever Devon left for those trips with his parents. Five years ago, though, Devon remained behind to continue his studies in preparation for becoming the next king. Leaving Kosek behind, his parents had begun taking their trips without their children.

During the last trip, they returned home with some type of illness that the healers couldn’t identify or heal--and still to this day continues to puzzle them.

Both the King and Queen passed away from this unknown illness that they picked up on Leathy Four several years ago. With the death of their King and Queen, problems had begun to surface between the Vamps and the Wolfen packs. Both species went into a bloodlust and minor skirmishes began to arise. They fought for power over each other and the victims that were killed for their blood.

Devon didn’t know what to do except to fulfill this prophecy before a war could start and the Alliance could make good on their threats to destroy the Vamp and Wolfen packs.

Both races showed signs of a hunger for blood. The only solution he could think of at the moment consisted of putting up shields around the Vamp and Wolfen packs so as to contain them within their own cities. So for now, he would rely on the security of the shields.

Once done, hopefully the Alliance wouldn’t show any lust for destruction and death to any of his people. Or demand that his children be chosen to join the Alliance. He was afraid that his people would become extinct if they had to fight to stay alive because of their powers.

~ * ~

As the sphere of fire started to fade to a soft orange within the palm of his right hand, he sighed heavily and allowed his thoughts to turn to the report he’d received from his communications officer, Sara. The reports contained information on Earth’s history--specifically history containing legends and folklore behind the origins of Vamps, the Wolfen and the Mystics, like himself.

He’d been curious how Belinda would welcome him into her arms. Earth’s people of the past had committed horrendous acts to those born like him, burning them at the stake and hanging them by the neck for powers that were naturally given at birth. He shivered at the thought of being burned alive, tied and helpless to a stake.

Yet the present showed little improvement over the past. What Earth’s government could do to him simply because he originated from a different world froze the blood in his veins. This could easily happen to his people if they were caught on this world. Earth was definitely not ready for his people.

Even though Earth movies and some literature made his people appear to be bloodthirsty, this was not true. With the exception of the Vamps and the Wolfen packs that lusted for blood among themselves, his people were not bloodthirsty.

So why are they blood-lusting among the off-worlders? Why start now? The healers couldn’t find anything wrong with them that would cause them to be so bloodthirsty.

The two officers stepped back onto the bridge after having their break. Devon nodded his head before turning to leave. Without stopping for any reason, he walked directly back to his stateroom only to find a five-foot three inch redheaded female waiting for him in front of his door.

"Sir," She greeted him with a formal, false smile.

"Triana." Devon narrowed his eyes and searched her face. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Triana’s smile faded and she looked down, twisting her fingers behind her back.

"Jax thought... umm, that you might need... well, some relief." She still refused to look him in the eye, keeping her eyes on the floor. Devon could tell she was extremely nervous, yet unwilling to let him see it.

Why did my best friend send his girlfriend to me for sex? Glancing into her mind, he had the answer. Triana didn’t really want to be here with him.

He raised her chin until their eyes met. "Not interested."

Triana showed shock as well as relieved surprise.

"I know you have strong feelings for Jax... just as he does for you. Tell Jax, thank you for the offer, but I’m not interested."

She gasped when he placed his hands on her shoulders, turned her towards Jax’s stateroom, then gave her a gentle push in that direction.

Devon shook his head, waiting briefly until she’d escaped out of sight. With a resigned sigh, he turned in the direction of the bridge once again. He knew for a certainty that he wouldn’t be getting much sleep this night with so many thoughts going around inside of his mind.

Four

Jax paced restlessly in his dark stateroom, cursing himself for sending his female to aid his best friend, especially considering the strong feelings he had for her within his heart. So why had he done something so very brainless?

What will he do with her? Will he take her... or send her away? Never before had they shared a female. This would be the first and only time, he swore.

What of my feelings about Triana? He debated. Will I continue to care for her after she has lain with Dev?

Cursing himself once again, he turned and began a new path across the floor as he ran his fingers through his hair. Every few seconds he found himself glancing at the door, wishing she would come back to him, saying she had changed her mind after having reluctantly agreed to share Dev’s bed. Come to think of it, she didn’t look very happy about it at all. She’d looked confused and hurt.

To hell with it! I’m going after her. Friend or no friend, I refuse to share her with anyone!

As he strode toward the door to his stateroom, it swished open. In walked Triana. His heart began to pound as she closed the door softly behind her.

She was smiling. "He turned me away, Jax." Her voice was soft, soothing as she glided to where he stood like a frozen statue.

Jax’s heartbeat increased its pace. "What?" Had he heard correctly?

Triana’s smile widened while closing the distance between them. Her arms encircled his neck. "He said to tell you, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ for the offer."

No other words were needed when she placed her lips against his. Emotional sparks flew between them as always when they were in each other’s arms.

They discarded their clothes quickly, throwing them all over the floor. A moan of heated passion escaped Triana’s lips when Jax’s palm grazed her wet core to remove her pants. The sound was charged with energy and echoed throughout the room.

Jax swept Triana up into his arms, carrying her to the bed. Gently he lowered her down, following until his full weight rested on her soft body. His hot mouth traveled all over her, kissing her rosy mouth, down her sweet neck, nibbling on her chest.

When he reached the top of a breast, he sucked on it greedily, including the small birth brand she’d received as a child in the shape of a green, fire-breathing dragon. The design symbolized her family crest and its power, The Dragon Slayers.

Triana reached up and grasped his head between her hands, guiding him down to the hottest spot of her body. He gave her the most intimate of kisses while she dug her strong fingers into the sheets, her legs wrapping around his neck as he feasted on her.

Jax loved the sound of his name being torn from her lips as he brought her to a near climax over and over again. When she voiced her demand for possession, he slid up her body slowly, making sure to feel every inch of her on his way. Taking possession of her mouth, he entered her with one hard and fast thrust.

She gasped into his mouth, so he spent long minutes kissing her pain away, trailing his hot tongue down her chin to nibble on her neck. He knew the exact moment when her pain gave way to passion, when he felt her blood-red nails scratching down his back.

With her increased lust, his own passion soared and he pumped his hips against hers in a pounding rhythm that created their own song. Harder and faster, his pace increased when she began releasing little gasping breaths, her soft breath against his flaming skin, driving him over the edge. He grunted her name and she screamed his as he finally took them to the heavens.

~ * ~

After returning to the bridge, Devon dismissed the two officers for the night. Once again, they looked at him strangely before leaving the bridge. Knowing it probably wasn’t necessary, but checking regardless, he made his way around the bridge, examining each station’s computer before settling himself into his chair.

Like a magnet, the darkness of space drew his gaze and he stared again into its depths. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes wearily, his thoughts turned to Belinda Ramsey--the woman who stolen his heart and his soul. At last he’d found the kind of love he always dreamed of possessing, the kind of love his parents once enjoyed. If only Belinda could learn to love him... then his most private wishes, his secret desires, could come true.

Thoughts of them sharing the Mating Ritual filled his inner vision. Without realizing it, he drifted off into a light sleep where another shared the dream that entered his mind...

~ * ~

The dream came again, more erotic than it had previously. Belinda shifted in her sleep as the smell of roses filled her senses. Opening her eyes, she turned her head this way and that, seeing nothing but an island of roses in every direction as far as the eye could see. Even the bed she lay upon contained nothing but roses. The ground surrounding the bed was sprinkled with rose petals in all colors imaginable.

It was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. Feeling a presence... feeling him, she looked up in time to see him approaching with a slow, purposeful gait. Eyes wide with excitement, she noticed he wore absolutely nothing, his entire body was one beautiful image of tanned muscle and perfection. Glancing down, she noticed her own nakedness. She should feel embarrassment, but there was none. This time together was meant to be.

By the time her eyes found him again, he’d come nearer. Reaching out a hand, Belinda grasped his hand in her own, nodding her head at the unspoken question he asked her. His other hand reached out to cup the back of her head, bringing her lips to his.

Power, energy and lightning flew literally flew from his lips into her own, the spark of passion intense and demanding. Deepening the kiss, their tongues dueled and mated with one another. He laid next to her on the rose-covered bed, half covering her body so as not to frighten her. She could feel his firm hardness against her soft thigh, could feel him growing harder and fuller with each kiss, each caress. Every moan of pleasure was a gift in itself. His warm lips trail down to the pulse point of her neck, and Belinda gasped at the immediate electrical shock when his lips touched that spot. Her body reached for his, begging for release--for more.

His name came from deep within her mind as she gasped, "Devon!" She cried out again when his large hand with its rough calluses touched the damp heat of her womanhood.

He slid two wonderfully large fingers inside her core and a burst of light flashed from them. Belinda gasped and arched her back high, desperately seeking his loving... his tender possession. He slid his fingers out of her and smiled at her voiced denial. Again he thrust his fingers deep into her and retreated only to do it again and again, taking her to lovers’ paradise.

The dream faded as her climax approached. Belinda cried out for him to come back, but in the next heartbeat, he was gone.

~ * ~

May jerked up in bed a little too fast. The room tilted drastically and spun crazily. She placed a hand to her head to stop the spinning and very slowly the room righted itself. A long minute later, the dizziness was gone completely.

What the hell happened to cause this dizziness and pounding headache? Her mouth was dry and there was a nasty unnamed aftertaste on her tongue. Looking around very slowly so the room wouldn’t start spinning again, panic struck her. The room was unfamiliar. "Where in the world am I?"

Then she remembered the bottle of wine and the strange storm that had suddenly struck. There was a strange voice in her mind, ordering her to open the front door to Belinda’s apartment. Belinda? "Oh my God! Belinda!" May searched around the large room wildly, desperate to find Belinda. Seconds later her eyes lit on a bed across the room. There lay Belinda, still asleep. May walked over to her sister and gently brushed the hair from her eyes. Thank God they were unharmed--at least for now.

Belinda moaned in her sleep, tossing and turning. May thought she was about to wake when suddenly a white light burst out of her every pore. May screamed and jumped back in fear. Her heart beat fast and hard in her chest. Where the devil did that light come from? May looked all around Belinda’s body and the bed, looking for something that could explain the unknown. There were no wires or anything connected to her dearest friend’s body.

May took another step back, looking toward the wall behind the bed. No controls to explain the burst of light. Belinda sighed in her sleep and May returned to look at her face. She shifted onto her side, her eyes opening slowly. They were unfocused for a few seconds until she came fully awake.

Belinda slowly sat up in the bed, looking around at the bland, gray metallic room. "Where are we?" she asked May. Easing her legs over the side of the bed, she slid to the edge and slowly stood. Looking down, it registered that she still wore denim shorts and her white shirt. Her shoes were still on her feet. A small sound drew her gaze to May’s face where she saw her sister in a state of panic.

"What is it? What’s wrong, May?" May took another step back away from the bed, terror on her sweet face.

"I... I saw a bright burst of light come out of your body," May whispered, taking another step away from Belinda. Reaching behind her, May searched blindly for something, anything to hang onto.

"What? You saw what?" May couldn’t have just said what she did. So Belinda asked her to repeat it and she told her again. In confused shock, Belinda collapsed back down onto the bed. Her eyes roamed around the room as memories of that stormy night flashed through her mind. She remembered being naked and in Devon’s arms. The thought made her blush furiously. Sighing heavily, she rubbed her eyes and focused them on May. "Remember the night of the storm?"

May nodded, still in a state of shock. All the years of her father’s training to remain calm in any situation flew right out her mind. Nothing she could’ve done would have prepared her for what she’d just seen.

"Remember the bottle, the wine?" Belinda asked. Again, May nodded her head. "It was drugged."

"What!" How could that have happened?

Belinda went on to explain what had happened after May passed out, then Kurtis’s...or rather Kosek’s unexpected visit. She assumed he’d tainted the wine with some kind of mind-altering drug. She didn’t dare mention the voice of warning she’d heard in her head. Especially since that she couldn’t explain at all... even to herself.

May calmed visibly when Belinda described all she’d seen when under the influence of the drugged wine. It was obvious May thought it all fantasy, the workings of her own dreams. Belinda wasn’t as certain.

"So, where do you think we are now?" May asked her sister.

Belinda studied the room once more. "My guess is that we’re on board a ship." She didn’t point out to her sister that the ‘ship’ was as peaceful as a tomb--no waves to rock the ship this way or that. No point in scaring her even more. Truth be told, she didn’t have a clue where they were.

"Where are they taking us?"

Hmm, she didn’t have a clue about that one either. May began to panic when Belinda remained silent. "How can you be so calm when we have been kidnapped?" Her voice rose with every word.

"Who says I’m completely calm?" May pursed her lips. "Okay, I don’t know why I’m so calm... I should be just as scared as you are, May. But I have this feeling..."

Standing up once more, Belinda walked the length of the room and began to pace it off, inch by inch. Running her hand through her shoulder-length brown hair, she pulled it back, wishing she had a ponytail holder or at least a clip.

"Pacing isn’t going to get us anywhere. We need to find out where we are and where they are taking us. Which country is probably more like it since we’re on board a ship in the ocean. I’m guessing the Pacific."

Belinda stopped dead and closed her eyes, biting her lips from replying to May. With every moment that passed, she was certain they were not on a ship going across the ocean. The plans centered around herself... of that she felt sure.

Several questions remained, though. What had caused Kosek to do this and how would it benefit him? At a loss to what more she could do, Belinda opened her eyes to see her sister, her best friend, looking around the room for something. "I wonder what day this is..."

~ * ~

Kosek turned on his viewer in time to see the women finally awake and deep in discussion. He stood there watching for a few minutes while determining if he should inform Phania that the women were awake. He didn’t want to, wanted no part of this anymore. He felt trapped in more ways than one. He could buzz her room, but didn’t want to do that either. There was a good possibility she’d be with another male. His face grew hard at the thought. He grew tired of the humiliation his mate forced upon him every time she committed adultery. Switching off the viewer, he turned and walked out of his stateroom, convinced the best thing to do would be to contact a wizard regarding his mate once they arrived on Wiccan. One way or another, this degradation had to end.

~ * ~

Devon woke abruptly, searching around him with sleepy eyes for the sound that caused him to awaken. He looked over to see Craig, a very smug Craig, next to his chair. It took only a matter of seconds to realize why Craig was grinning at him like a fool. Unable to resist, he smiled back before leaving the bridge.

Damn, he thought. Why did the Mating Ritual have to happen now when Belinda is on another ship? We certainly can’t do the Ceremony of The Bond in Space. It can only be completed on the Isle of Rose Petals.

On the lowest corridor that housed the mess hall, he passed Jax and Triana who smiled at each other, with their arms wrapped around one another’s waist. They walked in his direction and didn’t even notice his presence. Their obvious love was a wonderful thing to see.

Once inside the mess hall, he chose fruit, a few cheese slices and a fruit drink. Normally he ate healthy amounts of succulent meats and eggs, but this morning he didn’t have the taste for them. He desired something sweet. For no reason, he smiled.

Dev sat down at a table in the back corner, his back to the wall. The hall remained nearly empty except for the early risers.

Moments later Jax and Triana sat down in a private corner, away from him. This gave them time alone and he needed the time as well to search his thoughts that lay in turmoil. His thoughts revolved around his new mate and his desperation to have her near him.

His heart beat out the mantra of his thoughts... how long, how long...

~ * ~

May decided to investigate the room a bit more thoroughly and checked every table, every crevice for signs of where they were and where they were going. She didn’t turn when Belinda sighed but kept on looking. Something caught her eye. "Hey, sis, take a look at this computer." May stopped directly in front of what she’d thought to be a mirror, but instead, at closer inspection, appeared to be a wall computer screen. The multi-colored lights blinked and the screen held a bizarre emblem that faded in then out, over and over.

"This thing is strange looking." She looked over at her sister, her confusion unable to hide her concern. "I’ve never seen anything like this before."

Belinda paced until she reached May. She was right--it was like nothing she’d seen before either. The screen held a technology that even NASA had yet to demonstrate. The thought was a bit frightening.

At that moment Kosek walked into the room followed by a tall, beautiful woman. Belinda and May gaped at the woman’s clothing--or lack thereof. Green fishnets made up the entirety of her dress. She wore nothing underneath it. You could see her breasts clearly and her thatch of blonde curls between her legs. Belinda frowned. Why wear anything at all? Belinda spared a glance at Kosek who looked livid. Maybe it was best to question the woman instead. Though May beat her to it.

"Where are we? Where are you taking us?" May demanded from the couple who stood before her and Belinda. Instead of answering them, the blonde woman made a motion with her hand toward the door. Swirling away gracefully, the women followed her as she walked out the door that swished open for them. Kosek brought up the rear.

They walked in silence for a few minutes until the woman glanced over her shoulder. "My name is Phania DeCaro." She came to a slow stop alongside a large, round window. May and Belinda gasped when they recognized the planet in the window. As their beloved Earth grew smaller and smaller, they realized their hope for escape, had just disappeared.

Five

"Is this some kind of joke?" Belinda bit out harshly, her hands fisted at her sides with her back ramrod straight.

"No... joke. Whatever that means." Phania dismissed them with a wave of her hand. Abruptly she turned and walked away from the women.

"Where are you taking us? Why are we leaving Earth?" Belinda demanded of Phania, her rising hysteria forcing her voice to shake. Belinda’s cry met with Phania’s retreating back.

Kosek answered instead. "You are being escorted to Wiccan, our home." Phania turned and narrowed her eyes. Kosek broke the contact, cleared his throat and said, "Follow me. I’ll give you a tour of The Wizard. Some places are off limits but much can be viewed by outsiders."

Turning on his heel, he left the room and slowly walked the length of the corridor. "This is level A which contains the bridge, transporter room and the engine core. It also holds many guest staterooms, like the one you woke up in earlier."

"This sounds like a bad episode of Star Trek-Deep Space Nine," Belinda muttered under her breath. May glanced over giving Belinda a dark look that said, ‘Don’t say another word’.

The corridor went on forever, making it seemed like miles. It was the longest distance they’d ever walked indoors in their lives. True to his word, Kosek showed them the mess hall, the entertainment room, and a rather large gym that held mats for hand-to-hand combat training, equipment for building the body and a small pool for water training. Over in another corner were groups of men and women training with various weapons, including sword-like objects. The rooms were impressive and well-equipped.

The next room was about the size of her entire apartment with a long table and over three dozen chairs. They knew it to be a conference room. Kosek motioned for them to sit at the table’s end. Choosing seats across from each other, they saw a picture on a far wall with a beautiful planet featured from outer space. Belinda made a wild guess that this was the planet of which the Wiccan Kosek had spoken. Taking the end seat at the table’s head, Kosek sat.

Kosek didn’t make a move or say a word. Belinda and May were growing worried about his plans when a few minutes later Phania walked in, still wearing the green fishnet dress. She came to stand behind Kosek, but didn’t touch him. Wasting no time, she got right to the point.

"I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re here and what our plans are for you." Phania stared hard at Belinda, pausing only long enough to make the two women extremely nervous. She traveled Belinda’s body from head to foot, then back up again, disdain written clearly on her face.

She opened her mouth to speak, then snapped it shut. Her head cocked briefly, then she ran out of the room in a hurry. Kosek rose to his feet, looking from Phania’s retreating back to the two women. Worried for some unknown reason, he quickly followed his mate, sure the women would stay out of trouble.

May reached over and took Belinda’s hand, their eyes meeting. This didn’t look good at all. "What do you think is happening, May?" Belinda whispered, leaning in close to her sister.

May answered in kind. "I don’t know. I just don’t..." May looked scared to death and it was all Belinda could do to maintain her calm demeanor.

"Hey, listen... are you hungry?"

May blinked and raised her brows. Deadpan she asked, "You are kidding, right?" Belinda laughed softly. "Not at all. Let’s backtrack and find that mess hall. I’m starving. Let the aliens take care of their own ship."

May nodded and took her sister’s elbow and together they left the conference room.

~ * ~

Devon sat at his desk in his stateroom reading a report Jax brought him. There existed a sudden peacefulness on Wiccan. How long will it last, though? He’d find out soon enough. In two days time they would reach Wiccan and have the answer. Again his thoughts returned to his mate and her companion. Where is Kosek taking the women? And what are his plans for them? Running his fingers through his hair, he sent small electrical currents through his brain to eliminate the headache that throbbed in his temples. He’d discovered it to be the only method of self-healing he could perform on himself. Devon felt his power building within, demanding relief.

Leaving his chair, he was drawn to the small round window in his stateroom. Looking into the depths of space, he sent a mental order to his second in command, Jax, to put the ship into mock speed so they could get ahead of The Wizard.

Home.

For some reason he knew he had to get home before his brother reached Wiccan. Over the many years, his inner voice served him well. He wouldn’t ignore it now when his mate’s life depended on his compliance.

~ * ~

The Sorceress arrived home ahead of schedule and ahead of The Wizard. He thanked the crew briefly over the com-link for their extra efforts. The thanks were well-deserved. Every crewman he passed appeared to be relieved to finally be home. Except for him. Transporting directly to his chamber within his castle, he barely acknowledged his servants and their inquiries of his mate. His steady pace led him down to the meadow behind the castle where he’d trained as a boy. He threw his hands into the air, and heavy bolts of lightning shot from the tips of his fingers into the once calm sky. Dark clouds covered the sun while an instant storm raged high in the heavens.

His people within the Magical Kingdom could easily see the lightning from miles surrounding the castle. They understood all too well that their Prince was not in the greatest of moods at the moment. Wisely, the people decided not to press their business onto him until he’d calmed down.

With his mate still missing from his side, they agreed it would be some time in coming. Midday came and went, and Devon remained alone. By early evening, he came across Jax and pulled him aside. "I must ask... Why did you send Triana to me the other night when I know that you care for her very deeply?"

Jax glanced away from his longtime friend. "Blame it on insanity," he mumbled and began to walk away. Devon stopped him by grasping his upper arm. Jax snapped his head in Devon’s direction and knew his Prince would demand the truth from him. Snatching his arm away, he growled, "I don’t know why! I thought you were in physical need and I wanted to send you someone who has a giving heart. It’s a mistake that I never plan to repeat. I... am grateful you didn’t accept her offer to have relations."

Devon placed a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. "Why don’t you do the Mate Search?" While his advisor struggled to answer, Devon searched his friend’s mind, seeing his thoughts and where his heart lay. He saw Jax’s future with the sight he’d been given by the gods.

"No... not while I have these feeling for Triana that run deeply within my heart."

"What leads you to believe your destined mate will not be Triana?" he asked softly, kindly, knowing his friend’s fear lay in the mate the gods would choose for him.

Jax blindly searched the ground at his feet, then looked into the eyes of his closest friend and his Prince. The helplessness on his face ate away at Devon’s heart and after a moment’s pause, he spoke.

Devon gripped Jax’s shoulders before saying with a smile, "Triana is your true mate, my friend. Initiate the Mate Search with confidence and a joyful heart," he whispered then turned and walked away, satisfied by the utter happiness he’d placed on his friend’s face.

~ * ~

Belinda and May stood off in a corner of the transporter room, holding onto each other tightly. Kosek stood over the shoulder of a crewman as he programmed some kind of coordinates into the strange computer. Thankfully, Phania didn’t appear in the room. The women watched as Kosek glanced every few minutes at the transporter room door and would sigh each time he looked away. It would appear Kosek and Phania were not on the best of terms. That information may work to their advantage later, Belinda decided.

Kosek saw the crewman enter the last of the coordinates into the main transporter computer. Time was of the essence. He needed to do this without Phania watching his every move. He needed to do this quickly and without her intervention.

He turned toward the two females who stood huddling in the far corner. He could sense their fear as well as see it on their faces. He lowered his head to the crewman beside him, then whispered an order into his ear while glancing at the females from the corner of his eye. The male looked up, eyeing May, then Belinda, then returning his gaze to May. He smiled at his commander’s directive.

Belinda turned her head away from the two men, shutting her eyes. Her stomach tossed and turned, a nervousness she’d never felt before overwhelming her. She felt a great terror and a wonderful happiness coming her way. But how could that...

Her thoughts were interrupted when Phania unexpectedly entered the transporter room. Her waist-length blonde hair flowed like a silken river behind her. She stood before the door as it swished closed, her eyes roving over the male beside Kosek. Her lips curved slightly, sending the male a sly smile that held promises for the night to come. Knowing better than to be a fool, the male looked away and pretended to concentrate on the computer before him, the smile on his face giving away his inner thoughts.

Kosek witnessed the exchange and his stomach recoiled at his mate’s behavior. The sooner he took care of this crazy business, the sooner he could seek out that other Wizard. His mate’s rage aside at what he planned for Belinda and her friend, Phania would simply have to deal with the consequences of her actions.

Kosek approached the females and, offering them each a hand and a nod of encouragement, he escorted them to the pads where the transporter beams were located. Phania watched them closely through the glass wall that surrounded the transporter pads.

"Stand right here." He pointed to the beams on the floor. In hushed whispers, he said, "I know you’re afraid, but do not fear. You will be safe. That I do promise."

Belinda knew he spoke with sincerity and squeezed May’s hand. Nodding to the women, Kosek stepped around the glass wall and took several steps back.

Glancing over his shoulder, Kosek nodded to the male crewmen. Ever so slowly, he turned and walked over to Phania until he stood directly behind her.

She looked over to the computer screen and released a scream of outrage. When she took a step toward the transporter pads, Kosek wrapped his strong arms around her, holding her in place as May and Belinda began to fade.

Their destination...Wiccan.

Phania screamed her rage at Kosek, promising retribution. "You betrayed me, Kosek! I’ll never forgive you for this!"

May and Belinda could no longer hear her screamed threats. They were no longer on The Wizard.

~ * ~

Devon entered the privacy of the bedroom he’d used while growing up. He had never taken possession of the master bedroom. He simply wasn’t ready. The day would come when he would share it with his mate, but not until that day arrived would he live in those quarters.

With the Mating Ritual Dream complete, all that remained to perform was the Mating Ceremony followed by the Mating Celebration, but his mate hadn’t arrived. What else could go wrong? He lay back on his bed, closing his eyes, remembering the talk he’d had with his father, King Mochel, when he’d reached his maturity at sixteen. His hormones raged out of control for something he couldn’t quite understand and he’d needed direction and advice.

"Don’t have relations with any female," the king had said on that stormy day. Devon had sought out his father in the master bedroom while his mother was out directing the servants’ duties and planning the evening’s menu. His parents shared a deep love that was evident in every word and touch they shared. He remembered thinking that he would be fortunate to share that with his own mate.

"Try to keep a tight rein on those urges until you meet your mate, as I did, even though you were conceived before the ritual. If you go to your mate pure, the bonds you will share will be stronger and have more meaning."

To this day, Devon had never forgotten those words.

Close... she was close. Sensing his mate’s close proximity, Devon sat up quickly on the bed. Like a wolf sensing a change in the atmosphere, he sniffed the air, knowing that somehow Belinda had arrived on Wiccan.

But where? Charging out of his bedroom, Devon yelled for his Chief Warrior, Jaquay. Jax emerged from another room and followed as Devon ran down the stairs two at a time. The three men ran through the castle and out into the woods, Devon in the lead. They didn’t ask questions; it wasn’t necessary. Their Prince urgently needed their aid, and if it cost them their lives, they would provide them.

~ * ~

Landing on an unknown planet wasn’t on May and Belinda’s list that morning when they awoke. It wasn’t a goal to accomplish in their lives and to say they were unprepared for it now was an extreme understatement. Belinda knew this world--in her dreams.

"Where in the hell are we?" May hissed between her teeth trying to keep her voice low, even though she felt hysterical. This simply couldn’t be happening to them.

"Didn’t Phania call this planet Wiccan?" Belinda kept her voice low as well, looking around the jungle where they’d been dumped. Though she couldn’t say she wasn’t happy about being away from Phania. Every instinct she felt inside told her the woman was unstable.

"Isn’t Wiccan another word for witchcraft?" May asked, stepping over a long, thick log. She looked up and couldn’t be sure through the thickness of the trees, but it appeared to be growing darker by the second and who knew what kind of wildlife this planet contained.

"Yeah, I think it is, May. That in itself does not sound promising." The trees opened into a nice-sized clearing, a meadow of some kind. They stopped along its perimeter for a moment.

Belinda hugged her arms tightly to her chest while looking down at the blue grass under her feet. It was frightening, true... but she felt like she’d returned home in a way she found hard to comprehend or explain to May. She felt like she belonged here. Shaking her head to remove the feeling, she sat down on a stump that was nearby. It had been a very long walk so far and the relief she experienced to simply sit felt good. Maybe only five miles had gone by, but it seemed like twenty.

May sat down beside her, tilting her head back to face the retreating sun. "Why he couldn’t set us down somewhere close to a town, I’ll never know," May huffed, still trying to gain her breath back. She let her head roll on her neck from side to side, viewing the trees surrounding the meadow.

"I don’t know, May. That would’ve been too easy, I guess." Her sister gave a short bark of laughter.

"You have to admit, though, this planet is unusual looking, but very lovely."

"Hmm, that it is." Belinda ran her fingers through her unruly hair, trying to finger-comb the wild mess. Her mouth felt dry and she wished for water. Hearing her stomach rumble seconds later, she tagged food along with the wish. When the rumbling grew loud enough to hear across the meadow, she looked down and frowned at her stomach.

May laughed until her sister’s head turned ever so slowly to glance behind them. The terror that instantly crossed her face wiped the smile from her own. She followed Belinda’s gaze, looking over her shoulder and let out a small gasp. Instantly she froze.

"A-Are those creatures what I think they are?" Belinda whispered.

"I think so. They look like a pack of wolves," May whispered in return. As slowly as possible, May twisted her body and stood so that she faced the wolves. Belinda eased up behind her. Taking each other’s hand, step by step, they walked backward.

The three wolves growled low and deep, their lips pulled back menacingly. Their heads ducked down and they stepped forward, their bodies crouched low and ready.

~ * ~

Using his sight, Devon tracked Belinda to Jungle Island. He landed his loon in the midst of the meadow, unaware of Jax, Jaquay and four other warriors following his every move. Devon saw the women about thirty feet away from the fallen log looking frightened, but calm. In a quick glance he saw them being hunted by three Wolfen, preparing to attack.

Leaping from his loon, Petey, he shouted, "No!" Then he took off running toward the women at full speed. Knowing he needed to act immediately, he shot out his arms, palms to the Wolfen, as the middle wolf launched itself toward Belinda’s head. Her scream tore one of his own from his throat when the Wolfen bit deeply into her neck.

A single bolt of lightning shot out of his palm knocking the wolf away. It didn’t get up again. Devon ran the remaining distance, sliding on his knees as he neared her prone body. Her eyes were closed and she lay deathly still. His hands frantically covered the bite on her neck, applying pressure to try and stop the blood from flowing out of her body. Terrified beyond belief, he cried out her name. "Belinda!"

When she made no sound and did not move, he gently reached down and scooped her into his arms. Only when he looked up to stand did he see his warriors chasing the other two Wolfen in the distance. Trusting his men to take care of the Wolfen, he turned toward Petey as his large stride ate up the distance to his transportation. Every second counted.

Six

"Who... who are you?" May stared in awe at the blond-haired, black leather attired man who approached her through the meadow. Taking a quick look over her shoulder, her eyes widened in fear as the dark-haired man carried Belinda to a bird that stood four feet high. "Where is he taking my sister?" She demanded, determined not to cry. When the blond man did not answer, she turned and ran like crazy toward her helpless sister. She cried out in denial when the bird took flight seconds before she could reach them.

A large, strong hand clamped onto her arm like a vice, holding her back. May twirled around and, angry at her complete helplessness, she saw a red haze in her line of vision.

Jerking her arm, she broke free of his hold. May lifted her right leg fast and kicked him in his stomach with such force, he fell onto his back. Raising up on an elbow, he gaped up at her like a fish.

Jaquay didn’t see the move coming. As a matter of fact, he’d never seen such a move. Having the breath knocked from your lungs by a female embarrassed him enough. He could only stare up at the woman as her gaze returned to the sky, her eyes following in sorrow as Devon and his mate faded into the falling dusk over Witch’s Mountain.

Quietly, he stood up, brushing the dirt away from his clothing. He didn’t dare look over to where Jax and the other four warriors stood off to the side, watching in what he knew was amused silence.

When Devon and his mate were no longer within shouting distance, Jaquay turned toward the striking woman. "Cease this foolishness, woman. We must make haste." He made a commanding motion with his hand, pointing to where the other loons waited.

"What are you trying to say? You can’t mean for me to get on one of those crazy-looking animals. To fly?" He didn’t answer her question. Slowly, he advanced, Jax and the other warriors flanking her on all sides. Before she realized what happened, she’d stopped in front of the loons, her back to the creatures.

Jaquay noticed the fear in the female’s eyes and how she trembled. Probably from all she’d experienced in the past few risings, he thought. One of the loons lowered her head and snapped at the short dark hair on the female’s head. She let out an ear-piercing scream before she fainted dead away.

He caught the eye-slanted beauty in his arms, sighing to the melody of the other warrior’s gentle laughter. Issuing Bethel a brief mental reprimand for scaring the female, he ordered her down and she lowered onto her haunches. Jaquay lifted his right leg, mounting onto his loon’s back. He shifted the female in his arms so that her back pressed against his front. Though he did this in order to better hold her as they flew, the contact of this female against his lower body, as he straddled the beast beneath him, made his body throb and come alive.

This was neither the time nor the place for such feelings. He pushed them aside as he gave Bethel another mental message.

Bethel began flapping her wings and Jaquay tightened his hold on the feminine beauty in his arms. Within seconds they were airborne, flying toward home.

~ * ~

Devon eased Belinda down on the soft bed in the master bedroom. A red and gold bedroom. She belonged here with him since they would be the new King and Queen of Wiccan. He envisioned the many years ahead where they would share this room once they consummated their union through the Mating Ritual. A gentle smile crossed his face while pushing a lock of her hair from her forehead.

Various footsteps sounded in the hall. Devon looked up in time to see the healer coming into the room. He stepped aside to allow her room to work on his mate. He joined Jax and Jaquay where they waited in silence. Jaquay lifted his head in acknowledgment.

Devon looked behind the men. "Her friend?"

"Across the hall, sleeping off a dead faint." Devon raised a brow and Jaquay grunted his answer, rubbing at his still tender stomach. "Bethel snapped at her. Don’t laugh, Dev. You know how jealous that damn loon can be. The females endured much at Kosek’s hands these last few days. I’m sure it’s been difficult for them."

Difficult, perhaps... but Jaquay would not soon be forgetting how the woman with the slanted eyes kicked like a warrior. Where did she learn that technique? Of all the warriors in his galaxy, none knew of this fighting method. Swords were their weapon of choice and hand-to-hand combat didn’t involve using their feet. It was a concept he planned on learning--one way or another from that female--if she would cooperate. A scowl crossed his face when he remembered her unfriendly attitude.

Devon brought him out of his thoughts when he spoke to Jax.

"Jax? What of the Wolfen pack?"

Jax’s gaze meet that of his Prince. "Captured and waiting in the cells for interrogation." Looking past Devon to where Belinda rested on the bed, helpless and pale, Jax quietly asked, "Will your mate live?" The healer continued her work, trying to save the woman’s life.

Devon looked over his shoulder. A feeling of dread washed over him as he looked down to the floor where her discarded shirt lay, soaked with her blood. She’d lost so much from the Wolfen’s bite.

An uncontrollable rage worked through his veins. "For the Wolfen’s sake, I hope so." He couldn’t see that future, and it scared him to death. He ran a shaking hand through his hair, letting out a breath of frustration. Turning fully, Devon watched Ramidine, the healer, close the wounds on his mate’s chest. Her hands worked over Belinda’s face and the back of her head. What a blessing to possess healing with only the touch of a hand. Ramidine could heal nearly any type of illness or injury with that soft, gifted touch. The dead, though, were beyond her reach. And defects in body or mind that came at birth could not be healed. Those conditions were the work of the gods and could not be altered.

Ramidine raised her hands above her head and away from Belinda. The healing was completed. "She needs to rest," Ramidine said, rising from the bed. "She will awaken soon on her own. Do not force her to wake. She will need rest to finish the healing on her own." Ramidine paused for a moment, locking her intent gaze on Devon. "Her... healing power is great. You need to send her to me when the time is right." Ramidine held the Prince’s gaze until he gave a hesitant, though brief, nod.

As was customary, Devon gave her a gold coin for coming to his mate’s aid. He paid no heed to the meaning of the healer’s words. Only his mate’s recovery mattered. Ramidine, Jaquay and Jax left the room, closing the door quietly.

Sitting in the gold and red chair next to the bed, Devon held Belinda’s hand while silently cursing his brother for placing his mate’s life in such danger. His thoughts were confused and swirled within his head. Remembering what the healer told him, he focused his full attention on his mate’s recovery.

~ * ~

Kosek transported down from The Wizard, appearing within feet of his home. It was a two-story house made of lime green bricks. His relief came swiftly, happy to be on his home world once more. He released a long sigh. He’d missed the purple and pink blossoms of the granapple trees that he planted years ago. His trees were heavy with the precious fruit. He inhaled the scented air of the beautiful green oceans next to his brick home. The rolling blue grass that his loons loved to eat surrounded his house. It was a symphony of sound, scent and color. It was his paradise.

His long stride brought him over to the loon’s pen. Yan, his favorite, hopped up and walked over to great him.

"I also missed you, Yan." He petted Yan on top of his orange-feathered head. Yan pecked at him affectionately and he had to laugh. Looking to the side, he viewed his other loons, in a variety of colors... blue, green, yellow and white.

He’d been blessed with a home and beautiful treasures. And his mate... A deep frown marred his handsome face. His mate. Why had the gods chosen her, of all women in the universe?

Kosek glanced down at the black leather pants he’d changed into before leaving the ship. Phania hated these pants and any others he wore. She said they took too long to remove whenever she needed him sexually. He hated when she spoke like that, making him feel a slave to her unending and disgusting passions. He despised the awful robes she insisted he wear. For opposite reasons, did she insist on them. "Easy access," she would reply coldly, then laugh at his look of disgust. He shook his head sadly.

Phania had given the order to leave orbit as soon as he’d transported off of The Wizard. He couldn’t begin to express his gratitude that she’d refused to come home with him. This wasn’t right, these feelings regarding his mate. Why had the gods deemed them lifemates if he couldn’t bear the thought of her within the same room? It made little sense and he became even more determined to speak to another Wizard.

Yan pecked at his white Hanes T-shirt for the treats that he usually gave her after being gone for so long. He smiled down at the shirt he wore. Earth clothing had rubbed off on him. Within a very short time, the male clothing of that world had became second nature to him. Whether Phania liked it or not, he’d decided to wear more of it.

Petting Yan’s head once more, he turned and walked into his house for those treats of granapples. Reluctantly, his thoughts returned to Phania. There was no love lost between them. The past year had been fraught with confusion and disappointment. He’d done the Mating Trance in search of his lifemate. So why had they chosen her for him?

Kosek dropped into a chair in his big room and leaning back, closed his eyes. In their first shared dream she seemed different then the female he knew now. He simply didn’t understand why Phania agreed to become his mate. In the dreams she seemed to be so lovable and caring of others. Not the greedy bitch he knew her to be. This he knew all too well. Upon meeting her, he’d thought that once they were lifemated she would change her ways. Instead, she became even worse. The lying, cheating, manipulating whore he called his mate never changed her ways. The bond shared by lifemates never come about between them. So why had the Mating Trance Search led him to her?

These were questions he needed to have answered. Soon.

~ * ~

Never she been so furious and so terrified at the same time. Phania paced her stateroom, her thoughts running in circles. A loud snoring could be heard from her bed. Looking over her shoulder, her lip curled in disgust at Mino. How can a man snore like that?

She shook her head wildly. He was the least of her worries. Any day now Kosek would find out about Stephia... her twin. What would she do once he’d discovered she lied to him for the past year? How she’d stolen his lifemate away from him?

Pacing like an angered beast, Phania needed to repair the plans that Kosek destroyed by transporting the females down to the planet instead of into a cold death in space. She needed a new plan of revenge on the royal brothers that still eluded her grasp. They could do no wrong, she sneered in hate.

One Earth saying appealed to her... Don’t get mad, get even. She smiled evilly as another plan began to form in her mind. Her humor restored, she smiled wickedly as she walked back to her bed. She roused Mino by rubbing his shaft with her hand until he groaned and reached for her.

~ * ~

Devon refused to leave her side. He still held on tightly to Belinda’s hand, smoothing her brown hair away from her soft face. Emotion swirled deep within him when he remembered how very close he’d come to losing her before he’d even had a chance to claim her love. Two days had passed since the healer had worked her power on his mate. Patience was a virtue he’d learned early, but applying it now tested him completely. Why hadn’t she awoken yet? It’d been too long, or so it seemed.

The healer specifically told him not to awaken her before she was ready. Devon sighed as he glanced away from Belinda’s pale face. Would she hate him for wanting her to stay here, on another world? Could she come to love him for who and what he is? He began to worry about where his thoughts would lead him when Belinda’s head slowly moved, her lips opening to a soft moan.

Gripping her hand tightly, he whispered softly, "Belinda." The feel of her hand in his brought warmth into his groin. Her beauty and sexuality continued to astound him. Would these feelings ever end?

He whispered her name again, placing his warm hand against her forehead. Beneath her lids, her eyes moved frantically and he couldn’t help wondering what lay in her dreams. Her head rolled again, away from him this time.

Devon lifted his hand from her forehead and held his breath, waiting for a sign that she would soon join him. When she remained silent, he released a weary sigh and relaxed his hold on her hand. Lowering his face down to her bed, he closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift.

Minutes or hours later Belinda’s hand moved within his. Devon came awake instantly and lifted his head; he looked down at his beloved mate. Color darkened her cheeks in a healthy glow. Thank the gods her skin had lost its pale hue.

"Belinda," he whispered, his voice raw from more than the remains of sleep. Within seconds, her eyelids began to flutter, then open.

She must have heard his thoughts, he realized suddenly. For during his time of rest, he’d called to her, begged her to join him. And she responded.

Looking up into his intense gray eyes, she swore she was having another of those sexy dreams.

"You." Her voice emerged in the softest of whispers. He smiled and her eyes were instantly drawn to his soft, sensuous lips.

Tearing her eyes away from his masculine beauty, she searched the room for something familiar and received a shock. Her stomach lurched forward in rebellion at the sight of red and gold furnishings. Everything in the room was blindingly, red and gold. The walls, the rugs, everything. It was hideous!

"I think I’m going to be sick," she mumbled as she struggled to sit up in the biggest bed that she’d ever seen. Sweat began to bead on her forehead and her stomach began lurching.

Devon made a quick sweep of the room, searching for something that she could use while Belinda covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes found his and he read her desperation. Green was not a color she wore well on that lovely face.

Finally his eyes landed on a golden bowl with an arrangement of flowers. He dumped the flowers onto the red and golden-weaved carpet. Thrusting the bowel into Belinda’s lap, she drew away her hand and vomited.

~ * ~

May sat up quickly in her bed. It took her a minute to gain her bearings. Oh, how she hoped this was only a dream. But by the looks of this room, she knew it was wrong. Who would be crazy enough to decorate everything in blue? Different tones of blue? Her eyes traveled around the room in disgust. No one could be this blue-crazy. Everywhere she looked, blue.

Tossing the dark blue comforter aside, she slid her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. The first priority was to find Belinda.

Making a mad dash for the door, she paused to note the golden symbol on the wall facing her, alongside the door. It was little relief for the bombardment of color. What did that symbol mean? She’d never seen it before.

Throwing open the blue door, she nearly ran into the black leather-clad man standing guard outside her door. Her eyes walked up an impressive chest to find the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. When she recognized him, she gasped, quickly covering the sound with her hand. Finding her courage, she placed her hands on her hips and demanded, "Where is my sister?" At least her voice sounded stern to her ears. The huge man pointed a very long finger at the door across the hall.

May stepped around the man and walked across the hall. Before she could place her hand on the doorknob, he informed her that she could not go in. Big mistake.

"Watch me." When her hand touched the doorknob, he placed a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder, which was his second mistake.

Seven

Before Jaquay could blink, May moved swiftly, grasping his arm and twisting it upward behind his back, and he had no choice but to bend over. Instantly, she kicked him in the stomach... for the second time. Without a second’s pause, she placed a swift kick into the center of his back and let go of his arm. The man landed flat on his face, one arm cradling his injured stomach. He took in great gulps of air and pushed himself to his knees with his other arm, glaring in her direction.

Stepping around him and easily avoiding the hand he threw out to stop her, May threw open the red door. Belinda sat in a huge bed, bigger than a king size, throwing up into a gold bowl. With a small cry of dismay, May ran over to the bed and pushed the man who’d taken her away from Belinda’s side.

"Are you okay?" May asked once Belinda finished emptying her stomach. Belinda nodded her head slowly and placed a hand on her throat. It must be sore. Gently, she took the bowl from her and placed it on the night stand next to the bed. May looked at Belinda from head to foot and saw her shaking. Reaching out with her hand, she placed it on Belinda’s forehead. She was cool to the touch. May’s face scrunched up in confusion. That couldn’t be right if Belinda was sick. Grabbing a pitcher and glass from the nightstand, May poured her sister a glass of cold water. Belinda took the offering and drank the water in sips, hoping it would stay down. To her surprise, it did.

May smiled her encouragement as Belinda continued to sip from the glass. She straightened and glanced around the room, everything done in red and gold. May knew just how Belinda felt. Whoever decorated this place must have been sick in the head, she decided after seeing only two rooms in the house.

Devon turned to see his Chief of Warriors entering the room. Jaquay turned his head to glance at May briefly before returning his eyes to his friend. "She made it clear she wouldn’t be kept away from your mate." His stomach hurt, but no more so than his ego. Never was he bested... by anyone. Especially a female.

Devon turned away while his mate’s friend fussed over her. He hid a knowing smile from Jaquay. His friend’s expression revealed everything. Life on Wiccan would become interesting very soon.

The tussle beyond the closed door was still clear in his mind. He knew exactly what happened on the other side of that door. The gift of his sight told him much about this female and Jaquay. For now, though, he planned to keep this information to himself. Something would happen soon, he knew. Something good and something bad would come between them. His mate’s friend’s voice drew his attention. "Damn, this room needs a good decorator," May mumbled and looked accusingly at the men.

Devon and Jaquay grunted their answer. She couldn’t tell if it was an agreement or a denial. Those infernal men simply stood there staring at her with their hands behind their backs. Damn them. As if they could hide their grins from her.

"May..." Belinda said weakly from the bed.

"What, hon?" May’s brow dropped when she noticed how pale Belinda had become. "Get me out of this room, now." Belinda began to turn green again.

Devon’s smile disappeared in a second. Pushing away from the door, he made his way toward Belinda as the woman, May, pushed the red and gold comforter off Belinda’s legs. His mate’s forehead beaded with sweat. He concentrated and mentally called Ramidine. Gently pushing May out of his way, he lifted Belinda into his arms. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as her stomach lurched once again. Her pitiful moan made set him instantly in motion.

Devon’s large stride ate up the distance to the door. He nodded to Jaquay who stepped aside so Dev could get out the door.

After he walked across the hall into the blue bedroom, Belinda opened her eyes and closed them tightly, shaking her head. "Not this one," she whispered.

"Can’t blame you there, hon." May shivered in distaste. Devon grunted as he turned away from the room. Walking down the wide hallway, he paused before a door and Jaquay opened it. The room is done entirely in a bright orange color. Once more, Belinda opened her eyes and quickly shut them again. Her stomach twisted into tighter knots.

"Please, no!" She cried, burying her head into his shoulder as her heart beat faster. Belinda felt chilled to the bone, yet she could feel the heat of this man’s body warming her. It helped keep her calm when he walked into an all purple room. She took a peek and shook her head into his neck.

The same thing happened when he showed her the green room. The last straw came when he took her into a horrid brown room. May, thinking ahead, shoved the bowl she’d brought with her into Belinda’s hands as she threw up again.

At a loss what to do, Devon finally took her into his room. A white room. At least the sight of this room didn’t make her feel sick. As gently as possible, he eased her onto his bed. May rushed to Belinda’s side, asking how she felt, feeling her head and neck. The healer found them in his room and ordered the other woman away. She looked Belinda over and pronounced her fit.

The cause of her illness was the head injury she’d received from being knocked down with enough force by the Wolfen to make her unconscious. Devon thanked her and paid the healer another gold coin. She left quickly. Devon excused himself from the women’s presence and motioned with his head for Jaquay to follow.

Once they were outside and the door closed, May turned to face Belinda who still appeared in pretty bad shape, regardless of what that other woman said. "Who are they and where are we?" May asked looking around the room for a way to escape.

"I don’t know. I am as much in the dark as you are." Belinda coughed weakly and reached for the glass of water. May quickly came to her aid. "All I can remember is being attacked by that wolf." Belinda placed a hand to her wounded chest and shivered at the memory.

Then she realized the pain she should’ve felt at her own touch was gone. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. May knew something bothered Belinda, so she asked, "What’s wrong? Does your chest hurt?"

"No," she whispered. "But it should." In a panic, Belinda frantically reached for the top buttons of the nightgown in which she found herself. She didn’t want to venture a guess at who changed her out of her own clothing. She was afraid she already knew the answer. The gold gown held tiny little flowers that she didn’t recognize from Earth’s flora. With shaking fingers, she unbuttoned the gown from neck to mid-chest, afraid of what she would find. Though she didn’t feel pain right now, she knew beyond a doubt that the wolf had slashed across her chest.

She remembered the intense, burning pain and the feel of her blood pouring out of her body before she passed out. Closing her eyes briefly in a silent prayer, she took a few deep breaths and opened the front of her gown. Looking down at her chest, her eyes slowly grew wide with disbelief. Not a cut, not a scab, not a wound of any kind. Her chest was smooth and unblemished. How could this be? Nothing was there! Belinda cried to herself. Gasping out loud brought May’s attention to her chest.

"What? Let me see." May gently pushed Belinda’s hands aside. Peering inside of Belinda’s gown, her wide-eyed gaze finally lifted to meet Belinda’s look of awe. "You were injured, weren’t you?"

When Belinda nodded jerkily, she looked down again. "Nothing. Not even a red mark." Astonished, May said in an unsteady voice, "This isn’t right. It isn’t normal. What’s happened to us... to me?" she ended in a whisper.

For the life of her, May couldn’t give her an answer.

~ * ~

Seating himself beside Devon’s desk in his private study, Jaquay leaned back in his chair, watching his Prince and friend closely. "Does she know she is your mate?" Jaquay bit the inside of his mouth, determined not to smile when Devon sent him a glare. Devon spoke his words slowly and dryly.

"You know I didn’t get a chance to tell her... yet." He stood abruptly and walked the few feet to the window behind his desk. He looked down at the busy streets in the Magical Kingdom, his home, his livelihood. Only... his peace and sanctuary were gone. Too many questions invaded his thoughts.

Questions about Belinda, questions about their future here on Wiccan... questions about Kosek. Jaquay felt the intensity of Devon’s thoughts and stood to leave, wanting to give him some measure of privacy to air his personal thoughts and find an answer to his many questions. With a hand on the doorknob, Jaquay turned to look over his shoulder at Devon, who still faced the window.

"I did attempt to stop the other female from invading her room. She... she bested me." He opened the door and closed it quietly behind him, unaware of Devon’s knowing smile as he stood gazing down into the streets below him. Jaquay’s thoughts fell heavily on the female with the slanted eyes. Her name: May.

~ * ~

Kosek landed his loon in the Magical Kingdom’s pen next to the castle. Seeing to Yan’s comfort and making arrangements to have food and water for his favorite loon after the long trip, he left the pen in search of his brother. He gave himself no false hope that this visit would be easy.

His brother deserved to know the reason behind his actions and he’d decided to take whatever punishment Devon decreed. Kosek hoped his brother would forgive him for what he did. And, at some point, he hoped to ask Belinda’s forgiveness as well. Her abduction and unnecessary suffering could have been avoided if he’d stood up to Phania and said, ‘No’. Another approach also... Belinda’s foster-sister, May. He’d hoped to gain her forgiveness and soften the heart of her sister.

Kosek didn’t hesitate as he approached the Main Gate to the palace. "I am here to see Prince Devon DeCaro," he announced to the guards. He awaited permission to enter. He wanted to use the side entrance made for the family, but he decided against it. Kosek knew with a certainty that the family gate would be closed to his use. A great wave of sadness washed over him when he realized he’d been locked out of his family home... by his own brother.

What more did I expect? He’d known from the start that such treason against not only family, but the Prince would turn him into an enemy of the people. Isn’t this what he deserved after everything he’d done against his own family over the years? Looking up at the sky, Kosek silently cursed Phania for what she had done to him. He could have stopped her sooner, but he’d only wanted to make her happy. Hope still remained that some how, some way she would become the woman he’d originally seen during the Mate Search.

Look at him, at what he’d become in his efforts to please his so-called mate. When he searched deep within himself, he wasn’t at all pleased with what he’d become. A twisted vision ripped him from his life, his only family, and for what? To please and beg the love of a woman who hated him almost as much as he detested her. It was simple madness.

Several guards came to the Main Gate. Kosek wasn’t a bit surprised to see them. They were Devon’s personal escort whenever he traveled off-world. The private escort took him into the castle and led him into the silver, round conference room. Devon’s eyes met his instantly, narrowed slightly in speculation and something else he recognized all too easily; Distrust.

The Prince nodded his head to the four warriors and they quietly turned and left the conference room. He knew they would be outside the door, awaiting any call he might need to make. Kosek looked at the center of the round table that bore an engraved, five-point star in its middle. A pentagram. The star symbolized five elements: Earth, Wind, Air, Water and Fire. The five elements of Magic. Devon seated himself at the point of Air, symbolizing the Spirit. He watched his younger brother take a seat at the point of Earth, symbolizing Truth. He nodded his head at his brother’s choice of seating.

"Where is your mate?" he asked Kosek. Before Kosek answered, he stood and crossed the room, picking up a gold chalice beside a pitcher of meadowsweet; violet, with a pinch of gardenia, tea. He poured himself a generous cup before seating himself again. "As soon as I transported back to Wiccan, she left orbit in The Wizard." Kosek took a sip of the sweet tea, grateful for it’s soothing effects.

Devon sighed with relief. He never had liked his brother’s mate. She had a cold heart that no amount of love would ever thaw. "Tell me then, my brother, why did you abduct my mate and leave her in the jungle with three wild Wolfen?" Devon stood up slowly from his chair as he spoke, his hands splayed wide on the table, his eyes narrowed in intense anger.

Kosek choked on his tea. Taking a few deeps breaths to gain his voice, he said, "I had no idea they were there, Dev. I swear to you, I truly had no idea."

Devon looked away, down at another point of the table, taking several deep breaths and letting them out slowly before he could look at his brother again. He must decide whether he would trust his brother’s words or not.

"Why did you take her from her world in the first place?" His eyes returned to his brother’s, hard and uncompromising. He looked pointedly down for a moment at the symbol point for Earth where his brother sat then back up into Kosek’s eyes. Only the truth would be spoken.

Kosek read Devon’s look easily and knew his brother’s angry gray eyes didn’t hide his sense of betrayal. It is time for the truth to be revealed. "Phania told me of her plan to abduct Belinda. It was her idea, not mine. She thought that if you failed to take a mate you would be cast off the throne and I would be allowed to take your place. She would instantly be queen and I have no doubts now that she would endeavor to kill me and find a mate of her liking. She wants to rule Wiccan, then the Alliance."

Searching his brother’s eyes, Devon knew he told the truth. He could feel it to the very depths of his bones. Releasing a heavy sigh, he sat back down into his chair. Kosek continued. "I don’t know why she is chosen to be my mate." He explained briefly the feelings and the findings about his mate. "I am not even sure if she was meant to be my mate. Nothing is right about our relationship."

Leaning back in his chair, Devon let Kosek talk. Never once did he speak as Kosek poured over his history with Phania. At that point he realized what kind of woman she really was. His heart went out to Kosek. Quietly he listened for several hours as his brother’s monologue explained the depth of Phania’s treachery.

Kosek leaned forward, his chest against the rounded desk, his eyes imploring. "Can you see into my mind and tell me if Phania is my true mate?"

Devon sighed with regret for this one thing he could not do for his brother. "You are my brother and family, so I am unable to see who awaits you."

Kosek’s heart felt lighter after his confession with Devon. He stood, thanked his brother for listening and turned to leave. Devon came across the table quickly and insisted on walking him to where he’d placed Yan.

After Kosek explained his long history with Phania, he could not believe that his brother had forgiven him.

"It’s up to my mate and her friend to forgive you, not I. You must ask them yourself." They had reached the pens when Kosek asked if he thought that Belinda and May would ever forgive him for what he’d done to them, and would allow him to explain his actions. Devon smiled and replied that his mate and her sister were exceptional females and had gracious hearts.

As soon as his loon reached a safe distance from the castle, he realized it was time to see the Wizard Daemon.

~ * ~

Dusk settled around him and a cool breeze could be felt in the air, flowing over the land from the green ocean nearby. The mognats buzzed around his ears, not bothering him at all. The twin moons were full and glowing brightly. Less than ten minutes later, Kosek landed Yan in Daemon’s yard.

As Kosek walked his loon over to the pen, the wizard, Daemon, turned from feeding his own loons.

"Greetings," Daemon called with a nod of his head. His husky voice reached Kosek’s ears as he watched the wizard pour water into a trough.

"Greetings," Kosek returned, walking Yan up to the pen.

The wizard was not very tall, but he held himself with a straight back and an obvious pride. Kosek could literally feel the waves of power and confidence coming from the gray-haired wizard, it would be impossible to label him with an age. Daemon appeared timeless.

"What can I do for you?" Daemon dumped a bucket of feed into a barrel, then dumped a bucketful of barley oats and orange corn into the feeding trough for the three birds.

"Have your loon join mine for dinner," he invited, pointing to Kosek’s loon. Daemon waited for Kosek to speak and when he did not, he knew this would be a long visit with a request from a troubled heart. This male felt much pain.

Kosek led Yan into the pen. The three birds greeted her with long and loud chirps and squawks. Their wings flapped and loose feathers floated through the darkening skies. Kosek smiled at their friendly greeting.

He breathed deeply and inhaled the fragrance of wild cherryberry blossoms with a hint of tangy gardenias. He followed behind the wizard whose gait was slow but steady. They reached his hut and ventured inside.

"Have a seat." Daemon pointed to a chair at a small round table. As with all other wizards, his table did not bear the sign of the pentagram like the warlocks and witches of Wiccan. His table held various colors of waxed candles, oils and incense sticks. One of the sticks had been lit and the smell of anise floated through the air of the hut.

Daemon stood at his stove, brewing a pot of bay and cinnamon tea. Once it steeped, he gave Kosek a small teacup of the brew while he held a matching cup for himself. Kosek cleared his throat. He could not delay asking for help any longer. "I need to know something, yet I am... unsure exactly what it is that I seek. It concerns my mate."

Placing his teacup on the table, Daemon stood up and walked over to a tall-standing bookcase on the far wall. Searching carefully, he pulled out a volume and placed it on the table. "What is it that you need to know about your mate?" Daemon asked as he turned the pages of the volume, searching for the help this young man would need. Kosek leaned over, trying to see what Daemon searched for in the book. His hair fell over his forehead and he pushed it back in irritation. One of Daemon’s loons had pecked the leather thong out of his shoulder-length black hair.

Turning his steel gray eyes back to the man who sat down again at the table, he struggled to phrase his problem to the wizard.

"I often wonder if she is truly my mate. We were mated more than a year ago. We do not share the bond of a mated couple, though. The Mating Trance did not give me her name, only a vision of her appearance," Kosek explained.

Daemon stood up to extinguish the incense stick and to light another. He promised to return and within a minute, he reentered the kitchen having donned a green and blue robe.

In the kitchen once more, he lifted several jars from the pantry. Placing them on the table, he turned to a shelf and picked up two candle filled jars, also in blue and green. Looking toward the window, he muttered, "This is a good time for this spell." He sat comfortably at the table, sprinkling the herbs of dragon’s blood, anise, witch’s grass, valerian, meadowsweet and sage over the two candles.

"These herbs are for catalysts, dreams, happiness, love, peace and wishes." With a quiet intensity, Daemon sat perfectly still, watching Kosek. When Kosek appeared to relax somewhat, Daemon drank the rest of his tea and sat back in his chair, placing his palms on his knees.

Seeking the quiet and peace that comes from focusing on nothing negative, Daemon let his lids drift closed and breathed deeply several times. Once he found that place, he thought of a soft breeze in the forest.

He thought of dreams first. Then happiness, love, peace and finally wishes. He kept those thoughts focused clearly in his mind until a vision appeared to him.

Two women. And Kosek. One of the women appeared to Daemon as a gentle, sweet, loving, woman. Her name did not come to him. The second woman, appeared to be a greedy, selfish woman. Her time to perish from this life would soon come, though he couldn’t see exactly when.

Then Kosek appeared before him. He would search out his true mate. The loving and sweet woman was the mate the gods had originally revealed to him.

Twins. The word whispered into his mind. Slowly, his eyes opened.

Kosek watched Daemon come out of the trance. Daemon’s expression was unreadable until he looked into his eyes. He said only one word.

"Twins."

Kosek’s heart constricted as Daemon relayed to him the visions he had seen. Without saying a word, Kosek stood up from his chair, shock making him unable to move from the room. When his eyes found Daemon’s, the wizard only nodded once and whispered, "Go. Find her."

Without a word, he turned to leave, having more questions on his mind than when he’d arrived.

Eight

Belinda opened her eyes, only to wonder if they were truly open. Wherever she’d been placed was shrouded in total darkness. Night had come while she slept. As her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, she could see she was in a bedroom. The breath she took deep into her lungs felt good and refreshing. Releasing it on a sigh, she slowly sat up in a wonderfully soft bed. That felt wonderful, too.

The next sensation wasn’t nearly as pleasant. Her bladder needed to be emptied and she didn’t know where to find a bathroom. Was there one nearby or would she have to go in search outside of this room? Just as she slid her legs over the side of the bed, the door opened. Light from the hallway spilled into the bedroom throwing the man standing in the doorway in shadow. Only his impressive silhouette could be seen but she gasped when she actually recognized his frame and build.

Belinda opened her mouth to speak, but a wordless breath caught in her throat when she realized the man from her dreams had been no illusion. He’s real.

"Oh my God..." Belinda whispered, lowering her head into her hands. The feelings coursing through her were new and unplanned. What was she supposed to feel about finding this man after so many dreams, so much time?

Tears welled up in her eyes and she rubbed at them with the heels of her hands. Everything that had happened to her was real, not simply a dream. It was unbelievable, yet here he stood in a doorway not thirty feet away. How could this be and why had she been brought here? Silently, she wept.

Devon couldn’t bear to see Belinda in such pain. Not when he could stop it. Quietly, he walked up to Belinda, easing himself down on his bed beside her and gathered her into his arms as she wept. Sliding his hands up and down her back became a temptation that he realized he couldn’t indulge himself. Her back arched into his touch which only made his ardor for her increase. All he would allow himself to do at this moment was comfort her in his arms. Patiently, he waited for her tears to stop, for some sign that she felt as he did. No matter how long that would take.

Belinda cried against his chest, her warm breath a caress in itself. Incredible heat traveled down his arms, into his stomach and pooled within his shaft the longer he held her in his arms. Devon glanced down and caught a glimpse of full, wet lips and more than anything he wanted to lower his head and caress her lips with his own... to lay her back onto his bed and make sweet, slow love to her throughout the night and into the morning.

Instead, he forced himself to look away, to hold his need in check, knowing she needed a comforting touch more than a passionate one. His body didn’t agree with his choice, however, it demanded immediate relief. The pain of abstinence wasn’t something he preferred. He desired his mate in the deepest, most physical of ways--to claim her as his soul mate for all time. Only her body would ever be able to satisfy him.

Feeling her body tense as her tears dried on his white T-shirt, Belinda slowly pulled herself out of his arms. For a moment, she didn’t think he would let her go. She looked up into those gray eyes that she knew so well and her heart twisted painfully at the blatant desire she read in his gorgeous eyes.

What should she do? Follow the direction of her dreams concerning this man, or push him away? Her uncertainty reflected itself in her watery eyes.

Devon looked down into her confused gaze, her eyes red from crying. His heart went out to her. She’d been through so much already, and it could’ve all been avoided if he’d reached her in time. He cursed Phania’s very existence and her greedy ways. This wasn’t how he wanted his mate to come to him.

"Who are you?" Belinda demanded in an unsteady voice as she rose from the massive bed. Taking a few steps away, she turned to glare at him. The sniffle she tried to hide did nothing to promote her intimidating image. At least he didn’t to laugh at her.

"Devon DeCaro," he said with a small formal bow of his head, something he never did to anyone. He didn’t want her aware of his royal status as of yet. He wanted her to care for him as the man he’d become, not as the future King of Wiccan. He decided he would tell her later.

Belinda looked away from the secrets she could see in his eyes. She took in the room in a glance, searching for the bathroom. She had taken a few steps along a soft teal carpet before grabbing onto the gold-plated bedpost. Dev had moved to sit in a dark-red plush chair and stood, going to her aid. She waved him aside glancing away from him toward a dark-wooden dresser, Her eyes searching for the one place she desperately needed to--

As if sensing her thoughts, Devon pointed towards a nearly invisible door on the far side of the huge bedroom. The dark kept her from seeing the outline to the room beyond.

"What you seek is through that door."

She looked in that direction then back to him in amazement. Did the man seriously read her thoughts? If she didn’t have to go to the bathroom so desperately, she’d stay and drill him until he told her. She blinked when he suddenly smiled as if amused by something she’d just said... or thought. Hurrying away, she looked back at him before disappearing into the bathroom. He’d simply nodded once and smiled again.

While Belinda took care of her personal needs, Devon turned as Jax entered the room. "I hope I am not interrupting, but you are needed immediately in the Conference Room." Devon glanced toward the bathroom then released a heavy sigh and stood. It appeared his time with Belinda would have to wait. More pressing matters awaited his attention. Jax stood next to the opened door, patiently waiting for his leader and friend. When Jax took a step out the door, Devon followed, closing the door quietly behind him.

~ * ~

Belinda looked at her pale face in the mirror above the sink. She groaned when she pinched herself and knew that this couldn’t be a dream. Why delude herself any longer? She’d hoped this would be another wild dream, but everything felt too real. She had actually been kidnapped and brought to another planet. Incredible. The thought went through her mind. Testing it gently, she turned the golden faucet and it quietly released a long stream of clear water. She brought handfuls of the cool liquid to her face, even finding the bravery to touch her tongue to her palm and taste the water. It tasted different, but felt refreshing going down her throat.

Even after cleaning her face, neck and hands, she still felt weak. Turning off the water, she dried her face, her gaze returning to the mirror. A little better, but not by much, she decided. She opened the bathroom door, amazed that it didn’t make a sound. Not even the smallest squeak. Light slowly entered the room through the window from the approaching dawn. The room looked familiar, done all in white. Thank God. Those other rooms were a living nightmare. If he tried to take her back to one of those, she’d never make it. With a near hysterical laugh, she wondered if this planet had an interior designer.

The dark-haired stranger, Devon DeCaro, had left the room. A familiar face popped into the room, making her smile. From the doorway May asked, "How are you doing this morning?" Her smile was a wonderful thing to see. Motioning her into the room, Belinda walked over and eased herself back onto the bed.

"Fine. As soon as I get my strength back, we can figure out how to get home to our family and friends. To Earth," she mumbled quietly, her smile disappearing. May eased her sister back into a laying position and pulled the covers over her.

"Shh. Don’t worry about it right now. Until then, you need to save your strength." May sat on the edge of the bed by Belinda’s side, sweeping her hair off to the side and whispering words of assurance until her sister fell asleep. She’d been too afraid to say anything, but May also wondered how they would get back to Earth when she wasn’t even sure where they’d been taken. Why had this happened and what would become of them? Those were questions she promised herself she would have answered.

But for now, only her sister mattered.

~ * ~

As Devon entered the silver conference room, he noted that the Members of the Alliance sat around the pentacle table. He nodded his head at each member before taking his seat at the head of the table. Alliance president Ganer Dumoc stood, addressing Devon. "We wish you happiness in your union. When will we have the honor of meeting your mate?"

Devon took his seat, deciding the truth would be best. "My mate was attacked by the Wolfen in the jungle after my brother brought her here to our world."

Ganer gasped and a soft murmur could be heard from the others at the table. Ganer looked at each of them until the table grew quiet once more. When his gaze fell on Devon, he nodded and sat.

"She has been attended by one of our healers. Once she has rested, she’ll be fully recovered in a few days."

Ganer nodded. "That is good to hear." He paused only a moment. "Shall we get down to the real reason why we’ve called this meeting?" Ganer didn’t wait for an answer and began passing around readers to everyone at the table.

"What is this about?" Kreex Daoy asked as he switched on his reader.

Devon looked over the information on his reader screen. Based on these contents, he knew this would not be an easy discussion. The Alliance wanted immediate action taken against the Wolfen and the Vamps. Soon, if he couldn’t manage to bring them under control. Damn their cursed bloodlust!

With a wave of his hand, chalices of almond and orange tea appeared in front of each Alliance member. His thoughts turned briefly to Belinda upstairs, knowing she’d fallen asleep once more. He looked down at the cup of tea he held in his hands. Soon they would need to consummate their union. It would become imperative to their land that she be at his side as his queen when he assumed the throne. The Alliance wanted nothing more than to control the worlds around them, his included.

Raising his eyes to the Alliance President, he let his anger at the man’s audacity show. "You can’t terminate my people," he growled across the length of the table.

Moay Sies raised her cup to her lips to sip then lowered it to speak. She spoke calmly. "Yes, we can. The Wolfen and The Vamps are creatures that can easily kill. You should realize this better than anyone, since your own mate was attacked by the Wolfen recently," she said, not above using Devon’s recent scare with his mate.

Devon’s hands tightened on his cup. "Nevertheless, they are my people. We have lived among them since the dawn of our time. In the scope of our history, they have never behaved in this way. My mate recently arrived on my planet and didn’t know the dangers of the Wolfen. My brother stranded her in the jungle without being aware that they were in the vicinity.

"We are aware of their history," Maoy said, tossing her long red hair back over her shoulder with a wave of her hand. "They remain a risk that the rest of the Alliance isn’t willing to take."

Slowly, Devon sat back in his chair and narrowed his eyes on each Alliance member in turn. He was breathing hard and running his fingers in agitation through his hair. He took several deep breaths and forced himself to calm down. Nothing would be accomplished in anger. He needed to reason this out and find a solution the Alliance would agree to.

They want to destroy a part of my people, though. What can I do to save them if I don’t know what’s happening with their races? Dev grimly thought to himself.

Ganer could well see the protectiveness Prince Devon felt for the... others that shared Wiccan. He stood and the other members followed suit. He agreed to give Prince Devon one month to bring The Wolfen and The Vamps under control or they would be destroyed. Nothing more needed to be said.

Turning, he took his leave, the other members trailing behind him.

~ * ~

Three days had passed since Belinda and May had arrived on Wiccan. Slowly, Belinda’s strength returned and Devon decided to let her out of bed. His people gave her the respect due to a queen and were friendly towards her in every way. The pride he felt for his people grew stronger as it became clear they were happy that she had finally risen from her bed in good health.

Devon and Jaquay took the women on a grand tour of their world. Although May was still afraid to approach the loons. Jaquay laughed and took her by the hand. He ducked swiftly when she used her other hand to strike out at him. She slowly lost her fear as he explained that the loon’s pecking was a form of greeting. He watched her closely as she made peace with the animal.

He remained on his guard at all times, though. Women were a fickle lot and it served him well to keep his eyes open and his emotions in check. That this woman had taken him by surprise more than once, physically and emotionally, disturbed him greatly.

They each mounted a loon and flew up into the sky to gain a better view of Wiccan’s beauty. Belinda looked over the grassy hills of the islands and out into the deep green ocean. It’s so beautiful here. Her eyes met Devon’s and she smiled.

Pointing down to one of the islands they passed, she asked, "Why don’t we land there?"

Devon had led them to other islands during his grand tour, but refused to land them on the one below.

"Those lands belongs to The Wolfen. They are crazed right now and it is not safe to land there." He repeated the same words as they passed over The Vamp’s island.

"Oh," Belinda said as she looked over at May. May’s eyes were as wide as saucers. She knew exactly how her sister felt.

After landing on several other islands, Belinda noticed that May appeared to be enjoying the ride and the tour. She had to admit, the view of Wiccan from the air left her speechless. And the islands they toured were rich in natural beauty. Earth had lost so very much of its natural beauty that she felt great sorrow for the planet she’d called home for so very long.

For the last several days, all May spoke of was going home, back to Earth. Looking over at her now as she spoke quietly with Jaquay, she wondered if that was still true. It surprised Belinda to realize that she really did like it here. And from all appearances, May liked it here, too. Did they truly wish to go home?

And what about Devon DeCaro? Every time her head turned his way, her heart pounded like mad and her breathing became erratic. She would break out into a cold sweat whenever they were within the same room. Her tongue became tied up in knots and she couldn’t speak a coherent word to him. It was really embarrassing. All she could think of was dragging him off to the nearest bed and easing the ache within her body. She knew he felt that ache, too. Every time she looked deep into his eyes, it was there for the world to see. He wanted her.

Belinda sternly reminded herself she couldn’t get into a relationship with him, not if she wanted to leave. He’s of another species, for heaven’s sake! If my government finds out we’ve been abducted by aliens and been on another planet, they’ll quarantine us for months and never let us out! They’d probably do experiments on us, too. And if not, the worst they would do is snicker behind closed doors and call us crazy. It would ruin whatever life we’d have if we went home. But that was the real question, wasn’t it? Do we... Do I really want to go home? These feelings are so confusing, but I feel as if I am home. On Earth she’d always felt different, as if she didn’t belong there. She knew she shouldn’t be feeling this way, but she couldn’t help it. How could she discuss this with anyone? How could she tell May she was having second thoughts about returning home?

After spending the day touring the many lands of Wiccan, they all landed back at Devon’s palace. They put the loons in their pens and each went their separate ways. May walked off to one part of Devon’s garden while Jaquay walked up the front steps. Devon stood still, his eyes following Belinda.

Needing to get away from her swirling emotions, Belinda’s eye caught the bright color of roses that lined the garden’s walkway. She walked over and breathed deeply of their rich fragrance.

"A purple rose... and it smells like a rose from Earth," Belinda mumbled, her head tilted to one side as she looked at the odd-colored flower in Devon’s garden. Or more likely his mother’s garden. It was very well-tended with dozens of odd-colored flowers that she had never before seen. A few she recognized from Earth, which she found odd, but she couldn’t explain why the same flowers on Earth would also bloom here.

Devon followed Belinda into his mother’s garden. He watched her closely as she eyed every flower, every tree. Since his mother’s passing, his servants tended her garden daily in respect and tribute to their lost queen. Soon they would be tending it for their new queen. He wanted this garden to be perfect for his mate, something she could enjoy and cherish.

As Devon looked on, he saw surprise register on her beautiful face when she touched a purple rose. Her ancestors had taken some of Wiccan’s flora with them to Earth. As much as he wanted to look into her mind and discover if she’d made the connection, he did not. He allowed her a few private moments to herself. But it took every ounce of his willpower to resist the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her with all of his repressed passion.

Belinda stiffened when she felt a presence; felt him behind her. Her heart began to beat faster and her pulse went into overdrive. The breath coming out of her mouth was out of control. She used an old martial arts technique, taught to her by one of her instructors, to try and slow her breathing, focusing on the essence of breathing.

Only to fail. How could she concentrate when he stood so close behind her? She could actually feel the heavenly warmth from his body. Putting on her game face, she turned to face him. "Purple roses? I’ve never before seen this color of roses. Some of these flowers I recognize from Earth, though," she said while pointing to several surrounding the garden path. "How can this be possible?" Her brow puckered in her confusion and she looked to him for an answer.

Sighing with the duty of telling her the truth, Devon prepared to tell Belinda the real reason she was here. It wouldn’t be fair for her to continue to believe she’d been abducted for no reason at all.

He took a deep breath, ready to tell her everything, when her eyes dropped to his lips. Unable to resist her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her gently into the solid warmth of his chest. Circling her tiny waist with his large hands, he swooped down and claimed her lips. Passion, fire, delight... she was all of that and more.

An electrical jolt passed from his mouth into hers. Belinda gasped, her lips parting naturally. Devon greedily seized that moment and slid his tongue inside, feeling her wet heat and tasting the moist dew of her mouth. Every second he tasted her, his erection grew harder. The deeper he probed into her sweet mouth, the more he wanted her naked and writhing beneath him.

Surprise came when her tongue met his, sliding over and around his own in a seductive dance. He moaned with the force of his passion. His hands slid lower until he found and cupped her buttocks, pulling her firmly against his rock-hard arousal. When she gasped into his mouth, he knew she could feel how desperately he wanted her.

After long minutes of touching and caressing, he finally pulled back, his desire for her raging out of control. He could either stop now or strip them naked and consummate their union in his mother’s garden for everyone to witness. That wouldn’t do. There was destiny to fulfill... and the promise of their shared dream.

Devon pushed himself away from her embrace, gripping only her upper arms. He stared down into fathomless eyes, reading in them her desire to mate, as well as her confusion. And it didn’t come entirely from his withdrawal, but from her easy acceptance of his embrace. He took a deep breath and let her go. He took one step away, then another, then another until her confusion ate into his soul. Turning abruptly, he walked away from her pain and bewilderment.

Belinda stood perfectly still and watched Devon walk away from her. She didn’t know what to think, what to say... what to feel. She only knew that he seemed to... fit somehow. It wasn’t something she understood, but her feelings existed all the same.

~ * ~

Jaquay stood alongside Jax on the palace steps, neither ashamed of having witnessed the passion between the Prince and his mate.

"What do you think?" Jax leaned his head to the side, careful to whisper, but his eyes followed the quick retreat of his friend.

"I think that they need to consummate their bond," Jaquay said. "Soon," he added with special emphasis and grinned wickedly.

Jax laughed in complete agreement. Lightning bolts raced to the sky from behind the castle. Both men turned and looked up as lightning blasted the clouds above them. Every single man, woman and child in the Magical Kingdom knew exactly what their Prince was feeling at this very moment.

Nine

Belinda took a thirty minute walk to cool down her libido. There were too many thoughts, too many feelings coursing through her. She needed to release some of this nervous energy and knew exactly how to do it when she came across May in the deserted meadow. Jaquay followed Belinda and remained hidden by a tree as they two women spoke quietly, laughed then bowed to each other. What was this? They’d begun sparring.

At first he thought they were trying to hurt each other, which made no sense since they laughed and goaded each other on throughout the match. He stood his ground and watched in awe, eyeing the swift kicks, punches and the countermoves. He’d never before seen anything like this. Incredible. To see fighting of this kind had a taste of uniqueness alone, but to view two women in trained combat left him speechless.

Quietly he retreated, his thoughts focused on a new form of combat to use and train in his men whenever the need would arise. At some point he would ask May to instruct him in the art of their type of fighting. Their warriors would have a newer element of surprise when confronted by their enemies. A smile slowly formed on his face as he made his way back through the trees.

Later that evening, Devon pulled Belinda aside in the meadow during their evening walk. Now would be an excellent time to tell her the true reason why she remained here, with him. With a wave of his hand, a bench appeared before them. He motioned to it, inviting her to sit. He took a seat beside her but remained a respectable distance away.

Devon decided to start with Wiccan’s history. "Ten thousand years ago, we were at war with one another. It came down to a final battle, becoming the last war we would be faced to fight. For the last few centuries we have remained blessedly at peace. The old King was overthrown and removed from his royal position, his crown denounced. His family and household workers were banished from Wiccan, sent out into space, never to return. Before they left to find a new home, the Queen gave us a prophecy. ‘In a time of imminent war, when the King and Queen are no more, there will come the rise of brother against brother. And war will begin again. Sorrow and bloodshed will fall among the people. Hope survives in the unity of the New King and his mate. To gain peace and end the bloodshed, the heir must mate with the rightful Princess of the old world. Then the slaughter of life will end for all time.’"

Okay, Belinda thought. But what does all of that have to do with me? She raised her eyes to his and caught her breath at the intensity on his face. Quickly, she turned her head away. Memories of their shared kiss filled her every thought and ran like warm, thick honey through her veins. So he is about to be mated. The thought shook her so badly, she couldn’t think straight. She didn’t know what to say, what to feel. No, that wasn’t true. She knew exactly what she was feeling. But that feeling was in vain considering his destined future. Shaking the memory of their kiss from her mind, she wondered how the man could kiss her with such unrestrained passion when he was going to be mated with some princess from another planet. A vision of that princess suddenly came to her mind. Belinda was unprepared for the vision in her mind’s eye.

A planet of ice and snow. Beautiful. Then another thought came to her mind; Devon must be mating for gainful purposes. She remembered Earth’s history in medieval times. She wondered if they did the same thing here.

"No, I am not going to be mating with some ice princess or for gainful purposes." Devon stood directly behind her.

Belinda gasped, rose and spun to face him, her face flushed with anger. "You can read my mind?" Her tone demanded an answer.

"Yes, I am Telepathic. I don’t read minds very often, though. If I did, I might not be amused to discover what some of my people think of me." He grinned but Belinda’s anger remained.

Making a sound of that very same medieval maiden outrage, Belinda spun on her heel and stormed off, leaving him grinning after her.

Devon’s smile slowly faded. He should have told her, he was already mated--with her. Once again, the opportunity didn’t arise. I must tell her soon. The longer I wait, the more difficult it will be for her to accept.

Taking his time, he returned to the sanctuary of the castle. Tomorrow. He would tell her tomorrow, before someone else inadvertently told her the truth. That would be bad indeed. Listening to the sounds of the night life filling the air as he strolled slowly back to the castle, Dev hummed a soothing tune. His thoughts returned to their kiss and his anticipation to consummate their bond became a physical, painful need. He needed Belinda with every fiber of his being. They were mated and he needed that mating to be complete in every way. To delay much longer would be torture beyond his restraint.

Stepping into the castle, he could hear the servants as they prepared to take their rest for the night. His footsteps carried him to the far wall where he stared at his family’s golden symbol. The symbol of Love, Peace, and Happiness. Would that ever come about again? In the garden he’d explained to Belinda the war between their ancestors, although she didn’t understand her part in the history. There had been no love, no peace, and no happiness in the lives of his people--just the bloodshed and hate.

But now, would the arrival of his mate bring about the coveted peace that would once more unite the people of Wiccan?

~ * ~

Belinda entered the big room and instantly spotted Devon staring at the strange symbol on the wall. He must’ve felt her presence because he turned his head and met her gaze. He waited until she stood by his side. "Do you know what this means?" He asked, pointing to the symbol. Belinda shook her head, her brow drawn down in confusion. He turned to face her, his hand raising to her cheek. "It means Love, Peace, and Happiness." As he spoke, he caressed her face with gentle, loving fingers. "It means unity as a people, and unity of all hearts."

His words barely registered. Devon lowered his head and she watched spellbound as he claimed her lips with his. Her mouth opened automatically in delight. Devon slipped his tongue inside, claiming more than simply her mouth. He slowly lay claim to her soul. The servants quietly watched them for a moment, sighed at the romance between their Prince and his mate. One by one they left the couple alone, giving them the respect of privacy.

Shaken to the core from the intensity of his kiss, Belinda tried to push away from his possessive embrace.

"I can’t do this. I’m sorry."

Devon would not let her go. The time had finally come to reveal the truth of her position at his side. His arms tightened around her. Devon lowered his face onto the top of her head, inhaling the soft fragrance of her hair. "Why is that, sweet Belinda?"

She stared at him in amazement, the answer overtly obvious. "You’re about to be mated, that’s why!" This couldn’t happen. Belinda refused to allow him to cheat on the woman he would soon be marrying.

"I am already mated, although we have not consummated our bond." Belinda pushed hard this time and Devon released her. She stepped back, shaking with the force of her anger.

"What?!" Men! she raged. No matter where you find them, they are all the same horny old dogs. Even if some are Princes. "How can you cheat on her this way?" she demanded, her fists at her waist.

Devon didn’t truly understand her question, so answered her in the only way he could.

"Belinda... you are my mate."

Ten

Belinda stood motionless, completely stunned. Surely he didn’t mean she was his mate? He’d been trying to soften the betrayal of his true mate by saying something so... so crazy. She’d clear this up right now.

"Tell me you didn’t just say that I’m your mate."

He regarded her thoughtfully for a moment before saying, "Have you been dreaming about me?" Devon took a step closer when she gazed off into the distance, thinking. Remembering. When he nearly reached her, she looked up, startled. Every step he took forward, she took one back.

Her back struck something solid. She looked over her shoulder and saw the wall. Her dismay became panic. There was nowhere to run. Trapped.

Calmly, he explained. "When the time comes to take a mate, the males on Wiccan initiate a sacred ritual. It’s called the Mating Trance. The gods reveal our true mates during the vision. The male then shares the first dream with his newly found mate. During the first dream, the female can choose whether or not to mate with the male."

It was all too much to take in at once. She was his mate? They’d shared a dream? Of course she’d dreamed of him, but the dreams were actually an acceptance of his claim as her mate?

Belinda shook her head, beyond confusion. "So, what exactly are you saying here?" Dev smiled down at her with confidence, love and a desire in his eyes that she couldn’t ignore. "You are my chosen mate, chosen by the gods. The Prophecy has been fulfilled."

The trembling began deep within her body until her hands were visibly shaking. The Prophecy was intriguing when she thought it to be about some distanct Princess. Oh, God...was he trying to tell her she was some long-lost Princess from this world?

"This can’t be happening to me. I can’t deal with this right now."

Ducking beneath Devon’s arm, she ran up the curved stairs to her room as fast as her legs could carry her.

Devon released a sigh of frustration as he watched her retreat from him, again. His strong fingers threaded through his hair, revealing his aggravation. His other hand was fisted at his hip. The time for being subtle was nearly over. Soon he would have to put into motion the steps to make her his queen.

For too long he’d been without his mate. Although he strove for patience and gentleness, his body wanted hers in a desperate way. When the time came for them to mate, he was half-afraid his gentleness would be lost and his aggressive demands would take over.

Jax cleared his throat from behind and Devon pulled himself together and turned around to face him. "Forgive the intrusion, Devon, but I may be able to help your situation. While we orbited Earth, I did some research on Earth courtship."

Devon met his eyes directly and glared. He didn’t need his Advisor telling him how he should get his mate... to mate. His confusion led him to react irrationally. With a slicing motion of his hand, demanding silence, he turned abruptly and stormed from the room.

Jax watched in silence until Devon left the room. "I’m sorry, my friend," he whispered to the empty room. "I only thought to help you."

Belinda slammed the door to her bedroom, the feeling to scream her confused frustration overwhelming. Her chest heaved from her exertion up the long staircase. She’d taken most of them two at a time.

How could he do this to me? Make me feel so special in one moment and an obligation the next? "Damn that man!" she screamed into the room.

May was sitting on the bed and jumped when Belinda slammed the door. "Who?" she asked with a smile, already knowing the answer.

"That... that... alien down there, that’s who!" she sputtered in outrage, pointing directly at the closed door.

"Hmm... Okay. So, what did he do this time?" she asked, slipping off the bed. May’s smile vanished when she saw how Belinda shook like a tree in stormy weather. Instantly, she was concerned. She walked over to her sister and pulled her by the hand over to the bed where they sat on its side. Belinda didn’t answer May’s question but burst into tragic tears. After several minutes, she explained as best she could what about had happened.

~ * ~

The following morning, Belinda awoke to a whole new day, bright with sunshine that poured in through her windows. Ironically enough, her first thought came before she even opened her eyes: I’m married... mated to a Prince. A sweet smile of innocence spread across her face. Remembered childhood fantasies with Princes and far away places. It looked as if all of those childhood dreams were finally coming true.

With eager anticipation, she pulled a summery dress from the closet, slipped it over her head and added tie-string matching sandals to her feet. A quick brush through her hair and Belinda was ready to face the new day. With a smile on her face, she took the stairs down quickly, in search of May.

May, although, couldn’t find a smile this morning. Her emotions couldn’t decide which was more prominent: anger at Prince Devon for keeping his title a secret from Belinda, confusion about Belinda’s behavior--giddy as a schoolgirl one minute and mad as hell the next--or fear. Yes, she was very afraid. Afraid that this Prince would convince her beloved sister to stay.

She couldn’t deny the planet’s beauty. All around her were sights that took her breath away. But that was not reason enough to stay. Belinda didn’t love this guy, didn’t even know him. Why on Earth... or Wiccan would she want to stay?

Marching through the Market Square, May continued to seethe. May didn’t have a real clue how Belinda felt about this guy. At some point today, she would find the answer.

May paused at one of the many stalls scattered through out the Market Square. A lady dressed completely from head to toe sold small bags of herbs, her quiet entreaty to passersby drowned out by the loudmouth in the next booth selling purple fruit. May glared at him for a minute and offered the woman a smile. The woman returned the greeting and May continued her walk, more calm than she’d been all morning.

Riding on Petey’s back, Belinda searched for hours for May, worried that something had happened to her.

~ * ~

By noon, or at least, she assumed it was noon since the sun had risen directly overhead, Belinda saw the beach and landed Petey, deciding to walk for a while. She loosely tied off his reins to the branch of a tree farther up the beach and walked ever so slowly along the dark, hot sand, watching the tide bring in the green ocean only to roll away seconds later.

May sat in the soft, dark sand up ahead, her arms wrapped around her drawn-up legs. Belinda approached her slowly, giving herself time to get her thoughts in order. Obviously May wanted to be alone, but what were sisters for if not to comfort each other when they needed it?

Belinda came up behind her sister and sat down at her side. Her thoughts were still in chaos... all but one. "You know what this means, don’t you?" Her voice emerged quietly, gently. May’s gaze focused on the ocean and Belinda followed her line of sight. They watched what appeared to be a half-whale, half-octopus jump out of the green water and splash down into the ocean’s depths.

May spoke, keeping her eyes on the roll of the waves. "I’ve always known you were different from everyone else. I just never knew how. Until last night..." May stopped abruptly, shrugging her shoulders and looking down at her knees. She tried unsuccessfully to hide the tears glistening in her dark eyelashes.

"I never knew about this... but there is a lot I still don’t know. A lot I should know," Belinda whispered.

They lapsed into an awkward silence. After a few minutes, Belinda said, "Never would I have believed that my roots began on another planet. As far as I’m concerned, I’m from Earth, just like you."

Then why are you acting like you want to stay? May’s eyes said when they met Belinda’s, her tears falling freely.

May shook her head violently, stood, and walked over to where her loon enjoyed eating some leaves from a red tree. May mounted the creature and took off in flight.

She was in pain, her heart confused and Belinda knew just how she felt. Would her sister be less disturbed if she’d told her about her growing feelings for Devon? How much longer would she be able to keep it to herself? Surely it must show on her face whenever he’s nearby.

Belinda stood, knocking the sand off the bottom of her shorts. She walked over to Petey and climbed onto his back. Giving him a mental picture of the place she felt called to go, he took off, straight toward the heavens. This place had been calling to her all day, but finding May was her top priority. Now she followed this feeling, the desire to be in this place. She needed to be there, couldn’t avoid not going. It was as if she were fulfilling one string in the orchestra of her destiny.

Devon sat at his desk going over the reports that came in from the Alliance. They were not good. He looked up with a bleary gaze, dropping the writer from his hand. His strong fingers rubbed the lids of his eyes, trying to soothe the pain that came from staring at reports all morning and well into the afternoon. His ears picked up the normal everyday sounds beyond his open window.

Wiccan had grown quiet, peaceful. That should be a good sign. But that wasn’t what bothered him. He searched himself for the reason for his feeling of unease. Something felt... incomplete.

A call floated to him on the very air he breathed. Calling him, persuading him. A need to go, leave. Immediately. He rose quickly from his chair, rounding the desk and threw open his office door. There was no activity in the hallway but he could hear the normal sounds of work within the castle. All was in order, but the feeling deep within him remained. Should he use his sight? In an instant, he chose not to do that. He left his office and work behind, taking long strides through the castle.

People scrambled out of his way and he realized he was scowling. Why was he doing this when he had so much work to do?

The call, like the voice of a siren, drew him to the corral. Without a second thought, he followed his instincts that said to mount his loon. The creature sat immobile, waiting for the mental command of its rider. Devon closed his eyes and a picture formed clearly in his head. His eyes popped open when he realized he was airborne.

His heart began to race when he finally understood the call and where it would lead him. He knew what the call meant. A smile of sheer joy and anticipation transformed his face. He shook his head wildly as the wind swept through his unbound hair. The time had come.

Night fell over Wiccan as Belinda and Petey landed on an island. Where am I? I don’t remember Devon bringing us here during the tour.

The smell of roses came from all directions. She’d smelled it before she landed, while still in the clouds. They were everywhere and in a variety of colors that put the rainbow to shame. It was the most breathtaking site and intoxicating smell she’d ever experienced.

Belinda walked Petey to a nearby corral where eight others were placed. She took the time to feed and water Petey, then laughed when the creature made a loud growl that she interpreted for ‘thank you’.

Once she’d closed the corral door behind her, she looked around, unsure where she should go. Lights flickered on down a pathway. Why not? I must be here for a reason. Might as well go find out what it is.

Taking a deep breath, she began walking toward the light. Alongside her were other paths, but only one had been lit, so it must be the one she should take. Feeling nervous and scared for reasons unknown, Belinda continued down the path. A knot formed deep in her belly, the kind you got when you knew you were about to do something that would change your life forever. Feeling a sense of destiny, she walked until she felt the light touch her face.

Devon pierced the clouds below him as he descended. The smell of roses made his blood race, knowing the joy that awaited him. He landed his loon on the Isle of Roses and instinctively knew Belinda had already arrived, waiting for him. His heart beat faster and his body grew hot with the fever to touch.

He quickly corralled Vera next to Petey and left them behind him. He’d never been on this isle nor would he be here again. The isle of newly mated lovers.

Smelling the roses around him, he grinned as he plucked one from a bush along the lighted path. He chose the color carefully. Red, in honor of Belinda’s adopted planet. This night would forever change him. He would remember it for the rest of his life.

~ * ~

Belinda panted heavily as she reached the end of the path but not from the exertion of walking. The spot lay in seclusion. She sat down in awe of the soft blue grass. Belinda closed her eyes and made an attempt to regulate her breathing.

When she felt a measure of calm, she tilted her head up and opened her eyes, enjoying the clear, star-studded sky. In the universe overhead, the night sky still held the same familiar twinkling of stars in the sky. The knowledge helped her to relax. Off to the right shined Wiccan’s two moons. Devon called them Pagan and Coven. They glowed brightly in the night sky.

It was then she remembered the dream of them making love. Everything around her, here on this isle was in her dreams. She understood exactly why she’d been brought here.

Eager for the night to begin in his arms, she stood up and looked down the path she’d walked only minutes ago. Devon stood there waiting at the entrance to this sensual haven. Her breath caught in her throat. The forever present black leather pants fit him like a glove and the white T-shirt clung to every muscle in his chest, outlining the trimness of his ribs and waist. A smile crossed her face when she saw the white Nikes he’d discovered on Earth. He was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. He ought to be outlawed.

Devon stood tall and confident, his arms tense at his sides. The desire she saw deep in his eyes echoed a mutual feeling deep within her heart. Desire for only her. She could think of no other man and knew she never would again. Devon had been chosen as her destiny and she for his.

He didn’t move but continued to stand there, waiting. Was he waiting for a sign that she was ready for this to happen? He took a step closer then stopped, his brow drawn down in confusion. This gorgeous, wonderful man could be all hers with only a nod of her head. He would belong to no other woman and she’d belong only to him. This was right... and she was finally ready.

"Dev..." She whispered his name, afraid to speak in this beautiful place. Afraid he might come to his senses and change his mind. Devon smiled and came closer. Had that man read her thoughts? Try as she might, it became too difficult to sort out her feelings for him. Too many feelings coursed through her head and into her veins to settle in her heart. One thing was for sure... her heart belonged to Devon.

Belinda rubbed her damp palms against her thighs, her body crying out for the man she now called mate. The intensity of her feelings frightened her, but she felt safe and secure whenever he came near her. That knowledge allowed her to place her hand in his when, on bended knee, he offered up his open hand, in entreaty, in surrender. Tears sprang to her eyes at the gallant gesture.

Their destiny had arrived.

Eleven

"Belinda." Her name was but a whisper, said in quiet reverence. He stood slowly, releasing her hand to cup her face with a gentleness that amazed her, considering his vast strength. Involuntarily, she reached out to touch him in the same way, her eyes closing as a deep sigh escaped her lips. Devon lowered his lips to the alluring temptation of hers and claimed her, body and soul, with a searing kiss.

Electricity jolted through them and they gasped as one. The sensation, the heat of that simple contact, set them both aflame. Yet, their lips never parted from each other. Devon gently caressed her lips with his tongue before venturing inside her sweet depths.

Taking the kiss deeper, he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer and molding her body to his own. Belinda wrapped her arms around his neck, threading her fingers through the long, wild length of his hair.

Devon’s passion conquered her, making her legs weak. Her tongue entered his mouth and battled with his, imitating what was to come. The world around her felt surreal and her head felt light, as if floating above her body. Desire grew within her body, making her weak with need, but desperate for the need to claim him as well.

The world tilted when he caressed the length of her spine. Belinda opened her eyes and instantly realized they were both floating in the air, their feet dangling without a floor beneath them.

Crying out her sudden fear, she wound her arms tightly around his neck and her legs around his waist. Devon laughed softly, damn him, and eased them onto the rose-covered ground, Belinda beneath him. She glared at him and he kissed her nose.

All humor left his face, though, when Belinda moaned his name and rocked her pelvis into his hard erection. Devon’s lips parted in an all-male growl and he swooped down to nip pleasure/pain kisses along her jaw and down the throbbing vein in her throat. She arched her whole body into his aggressive touch, giving him more access to her delicate skin.

Devon gently nibbled his way along her neck, down to the neckline of her T-shirt. Her stomach contracted when his fingers eased beneath the bottom hem of her shirt to gently touch her bare stomach. Loving her intense reaction, he grasped the shirt and eased it over her head, baring her breasts. She arched her back to help him remove the shirt, which thrust her breasts upward, their rosy tips a temptation he wouldn’t be able resist for much longer.

Belinda couldn’t take her eyes from him as she reached out and slipped off his shirt. Her fingertips gently caressed across the smooth expanse of his powerful chest and down to his taunt stomach. She wanted this with Devon, but her touch remained shy and loving. Her hands felt their way around his waist to his back, her nails raking down every muscle and curve.

Devon shivered and Belinda gloried in the feminine power in her touch. A sweet fire blossomed low in her belly and traveled throughout her body like warm honey. This had to be the most glorious feeling she’d ever known.

His lips latched onto her breast, sucking gently on the tip, loving how it grew more stiff in his mouth. His free hand went to her other breast, softly kneading it.

Belinda’s sweet breasts, creamy in texture and soft... so very soft. He gave one a love bite. Devon nearly lost his control when Belinda growled her delight and tightened her legs around him. Her wet heat thrust aggressively against his rock-hard erection and for the first time Devon wondered if he’d last until he was ready to claim her. Sweet Belinda dug her nails deeper into his back and the pain of it bordered on orgasm.

Putting a tight rein on his passion for her sake and his own, he levitated them, concentrating until their clothes disappeared, then lowering them to the ground once more. Needless to say, concentration came with great effort right now. Belinda didn’t help when she gasped at the contact of cool grass on her bare back and legs.

"Dev!" she cried, leaning up to bite his shoulder. Devon shivered at her wonderful show of possession. Delighted and aroused beyond belief when he felt her nails and teeth digging into his flesh, he groaned hoarsely, "Belinda..."

Her hand slid down his damp chest until she reached his hardened length. She caressed him with a steady motion, his flesh jerking in her hand. Belinda stayed her movement, then slowly resumed at a more leisurely pace, knowing instinctively she was pleasuring him and tormenting him all at once.

His lips opened and his hot, wet tongue left a trail from her breasts up to her throat and finally seized her lips. Probing her with his tongue, they dueled with one another. Chasing and playing as the kisses deepened.

Devon lifted his head and their eyes locked. He searched her face for passion, for desperation. Yes, she is ready. With a single, long finger, he gently probed deep into her inner heat, swirling his finger, touching, learning. Belinda released a low keen of pleasure.

She parted her legs further, allowing Devon deeper access. He rewarded her by inserting a second and third finger, thrusting his hand in a pounding rhythm into her womb. Belinda watched in blissful abandon as Devon’s eyes became a deeper, richer gray. Panting small gasping breaths with each of his thrusts, she kept her eyes only on him. He didn’t release her gaze.

"Oh, please... Dev..."

The time came to join wholly with his lifemate. Devon lowered his entire body into the snug cradle of her thighs, loving the feel of their naked skin touching in this way.

"Belinda, my mate..." He began the Mating Chant that would bond them together, forever. "Heart to heart. Soul to soul. Feelings to feelings. Thoughts to thoughts. We join as one. Until death, we will never part." Devon surrounded her face with his hands and entered her in one swift thrust, pausing when he broke through her virginal barrier. Her hissing breath told him he’d caused her pain. Reaching down, he kissed her trembling lips, whispering words of love and comfort while he waited for the pain to ease within her body.

A bright white light began to surround them, yet neither appeared to notice as he began to move slowly within her. Devon vowed he would make this moment last as long as possible, showing Belinda intense pleasure as well as pain. He withdrew slowly, until only the tip of his manhood remained, then thrust home, her cry a joy to his ears. Once more he pulled out, only to claim her again and again. Within minutes their pace increased. Belinda met him thrust for thrust. With every rise of her hips she met his body, helping to bury him deep with her.

Her back arched at one point when he slammed home and stayed, but rotated his hips around in slow, delicious circles until Belinda thought she would die from the pleasure alone.

Taking her lips when he felt his climax near, his tempo became fast and rough. The light surrounding them grew brighter and brighter, then multi-colored lights began to dance around the edges of their bodies. The bright blue, pink, green and yellow lights swirled around them wildly as Devon and Belinda raced to that place of paradise where only lovers can go.

A single cry of euphoria burst from their lips as the white light burst into a million tiny sparkles. A single, smaller dance of light touched Belinda and quickly faded.

~ * ~

Kosek paused in the middle of feeding his loons. Too many thoughts raced through his mind: The Wizard’s words, Phania’s betrayal, the wrong he’d done to his brother and his mate. He had so many questions to ask of Phania, yet she remained elusive, in hiding.

Kosek looked up into the night sky and wondered for the hundredth time where she could’ve gone. Only Phania knew the answers he sought.

~ * ~

Phania paced the confines of her stateroom. Her latest lover laid sprawled out on her bed, gently snoring. Her entire body shook with such anger that even he could not calm her pacing. Would she ever find someone who’d be able to satisfy her carnal needs?

Nothing would ever satisfy her until she achieved revenge... against them. Throwing her hands in the air, she collapsed into a chair in the far corner of her room. For nearly an hour she ran one idea after another through her mind.

Giving up momentarily, she leaned her head back against the chair’s cushion. That’s when it came to her, when her mind went blank. A gentle smile appeared on her face as she envisioned exactly how she would gain her revenge.

The idea couldn’t be considered twisted. It was too sweet, too clever. Why hadn’t she thought of it before now? Lifting her head, her eyes slowly opened. She tilted her head, letting the vision flow through her moment by moment until she could see the end result. Ahh, yes, revenge truly was sweet. Turning her gaze to the man sleeping in her bed, she stood, arching her back like a sensual cat and slowly approached the bed. Phania crawled with eager purpose over to him and began licking his soft manhood. When he groaned and it began to harden, she rewarded him with a gentle kiss on its tip.

Phania looked up in time to see his sleepy gaze grow passionate. Never looking away, she opened her mouth wide and took between her lips his fully extended erection.

Twelve

Time ceased to exist for Kosek. He could no longer move forward with his life. A vital element still remained elusive and only one man could answer the question that would led him to his true destiny: Daemon.

Kosek approached the wizard’s hut and opened the door. He knew beyond any doubt that Daemon not only knew of his presence, but was expecting another visit from him. A corner of his mouth lifted in the smallest smile when Daemon spoke without turning. "What can I do for you, Kosek?" He pulled the door closed.

Before answering, Kosek glanced around the hut. He was alone. Daemon stood before a blazing hearth, the flames throwing a quivering shadow of his silhouette on the far war.

"I still have questions that need answers if I’m to discover my true destiny."

Daemon nodded once, ever so slowly. He guided his mind from the research he needed to prepare for another warlock. Making a mental note of what he’d discovered, he turned, his gray robe flowing around him with the smooth movement.

Waving his hand to the side, Daemon motioned for Kosek to take a seat at the table. He poured them each a cup of the Chamomile tea he’d been brewing for the past twenty minutes.

"What are your questions?" He seated himself at the small table, opposite Kosek. While waiting for his tea to cool, he clasped his hands together so that the forefingers touched the tip of his chin.

Kosek took a sip of his tea, wincing when the hot brew burned his tongue. He released a frustrated sigh before looking at Daemon.

"I need to know the name of Phania’s twin and where to find her. Only then will my life... my soul find peace." Kosek looked away, staring sightlessly out the small circular window on the far wall of Daemon’s hut. Daemon stared hard at the young man, searching his heart and saw only pain and confusion. Making a decision, he looked over the man’s shoulder and went into a trance. After a few moments, Daemon blinked, his gaze returning to Kosek.

"I am truly sorry, but I an unable to help you. This is something you need to find out on your own."

Kosek saw the wizard’s brows lower in disappointment. He spoke the truth. There was nothing more to do... but go directly to the source for his answers. And that, for the moment, was beyond his reach.

Thanking him briefly, Kosek rose from his chair and quietly left the hut.

Daemon turned as his door closed. Why hadn’t he seen something that should’ve been easy to find in the man’s life? The dilemma bothered him. Yet, nothing more could be done. Turning back to the hearth, he prepared to continue his research.

Hours later, Daemon’s focus remained unsteady. Kosek’s troubles lay heavily on his mind.

~ * ~

Lying entwined on the makeshift bed with cool, blue grass surrounding them, Devon and Belinda cuddled in the warmth of each other’s arms. Their bodies pressed close together, their hearts beat as one. Neither felt the need to move as the cool breeze passed over them in soothing caresses along their heated bodies.

"I... didn’t... know..." Belinda couldn’t finish her breathless words. Devon kissed her softly and rolled them so they lay on their sides, his erection still firm and deep within her. She shivered in his arms and a blanket appeared like magic to cover them.

"I didn’t know either," he whispered into her hair. His eyes followed his finger as he caressed a lazy trail up her arm. He knew her thoughts, what she felt at his touch... the tiny electric currents flowing throughout her body. Belinda looked up, staring deeply into his eyes. The swollen offering of her lips tempted him. He lowered his lips to hers, gently caressing the ruby softness of her mouth with his tongue.

Though it was a small, brief kiss, Belinda felt the rush of pleasure and need throbbed in the lower part of her belly.

Devon knew she wanted him again, but he could feel the pain in her womb and knew she had to be sore. Later, he promised himself and his mate. He drew his mouth away from hers and lowered his head to the pillow. He would rest for only a moment, enjoying the comforting sound of Belinda’s breathing.

Belinda turned her head toward the sky and stared in wonder at the millions of stars that lit the night sky. Amazing that no matter the planet, no matter which universe she was in, the heavens looked the same. The thought gave her a feeling of security and comfort.

"Dev... where do we go from here?" The words were whispered and she couldn’t decide exactly when it had stopped mattering to her. Personally, she wanted Dev, wanted a life with him. Naturally, she was curious where their relationship would go from the steps they’d taken tonight. Seconds passed with no answer. Belinda turned her head back to Dev and saw the relaxation that came with sleep. She closed her eyes briefly and breathed in the scent of her man... her mate. Devon was a force to be dealt with gently when awake. Asleep, he was the image of perfect male beauty.

A sigh of contentment passed Belinda’s lips as she lowered her head to his chest and closed her eyes. Moments later, she too fell into a deep slumber.

~ * ~

May slammed the door to Belinda’s room, her thoughts in a panic. "Where is she?" she muttered furiously to no one. Taking off down the hallway at a full run, she reached Devon’s room and threw open the door with such force, it banged against the wall. Her eyes were instantly drawn to the bed.

"Damn," she muttered once again when she found the room deserted. "Where are they? I’ve searched the grounds; I’ve searched the rooms... where the hell have they gone?"

Making certain, she checked Devon’s bathroom, opening the door with a single whoosh. She poked her head in, uncaring of what state of undress she would see. Empty. Damn. A growl of frustration escaped her lips as she threw her hands up in the air. Turning abruptly, she made for the bedroom door and crashed into a solid, male chest.

Jaquay. May tried not to shiver at his nearness. She wasn’t as successful as she’d hoped to be. Taking a deep breath before speaking didn’t appear to help since her breath had deserted her.

"Where’s Belinda?" The breathless quality in her voice dismayed her. Trying to gain the upper hand, May crossed her arms over her chest, cocked her hip to the side and put a don’t-screw-with-me look on her face. It wasn’t working. Jaquay remained unmoved. Literally.

From his superior height, Jaquay looked down at the stubborn, angry, petite woman before him. The challenge in her stance could not be overlooked, but amused him nonetheless. The temptation to accept the obvious challenge was strong.

His eyes were helplessly drawn to the rapid rise and fall of her breasts. They bulged invitingly due to the pressure of her crossed arms beneath them. He swallowed and felt the saliva dry up in his mouth. How he wished to taste the sweet innocence of her ripe body. Well, maybe not sweet... or innocent. But her taste would be addictive, he felt certain of it. Quickly, he looked away, his eyes traveling to her face. The surprise and awe on her face made him realize his face must’ve been an open book. May’s arms dropped to her sides and he thought she might take a step away. Several steps.

But once again, she surprised him. That cute, stubborn chin lifted and her eyes hardened aggressively. The respect he felt for her rose another notch.

"Prince Devon and Princess Belinda are on the Rose Petal Isle." This information wasn’t known to one and all and he debated the wisdom of telling her their location. Of course, what was done, was done.

"Which isle?" May narrowed her eyes, trying to remember all of the islands Devon had shown them on their initial tour. She couldn’t recall this one.

Never one to back down from a fight, it surprised him when he felt the urge to back away from the growing anger and suspicion in her eyes. Forget pride! He took three steps back--toward the bedroom door--before giving her the information she sought. Once he felt certain he was at a safe distance, he told her. "It is the isle where newly mated couples go to consummate their bond. I believe Earthlings would call it... a honeymoon." May held perfectly still, assimilating the news for a long, quiet moment. Jaquay had known... had known all along where they’d gone and why. The betrayal she felt confused and hurt her, even though she didn’t know why.

Without rational thought, May attacked.

~ * ~

Phania paced her stateroom over and over, still furious and unsatisfied with her revenge. All of her well-laid plans went absolutely nowhere. Thanks to her so-called mate who’d betrayed her and released Devon’s mate. Thoughts of her twin sister did nothing to soften her heart. She felt only hate and an overpowering desire to extract revenge on those she couldn’t have, couldn’t control.

Making a sound of disgust, she threw her fists up into the air and released a scream of rage to the ceiling. "Thanks for nothing, Kosek!" Her greatest wish was for Kosek to be here in this room so she could take her rage out on him. The harm she would place on his head, and body, made an insane smile come to her face. Suddenly, she felt much better.

~ * ~

Devon tightened his arms ever so slightly around his sleeping mate. His world, his reason for living. Never did he imagine the emotional satisfaction that would come once he found his mate. Consummating their union had been sweet indeed, but the joy of her presence alone gave him peace and an understanding he realized his father and mother shared. Their unique love and unity of mind was all clear to him now, for he shared that same unity of mind with Belinda. He caressed his way gently up her body, eager to know more of her.

Slowly, her mind still half-asleep, Belinda opened her eyes. Immediately, her senses were alive. The wonderful smell of roses seeped into her nose and Belinda breathed deeply to take it all in. Even lying on her side, she easily saw the abundant variety of colorful flowers surrounding her love nest. Her chest was cool, but not cold. Her back, however, was hot, due to Devon’s natural heat-producing body. She didn’t know the time and didn’t care. The moon and stars were out and shining brightly down on the foliage around her. The flower’s colors glowed in the light of the moon.

She felt her lover’s hand aggressively squeezing her breast. Belinda couldn’t resist a small, feminine smile. Devon’s eagerness for her body pleased her. Never had a man wanted her so desperately. Gently plucking a tight nipple with his strong fingers, Devon’s other hand slipped down her stomach to the wet heat already soaking the hair between her legs. Belinda’s desperate moan pushed him closer to the edge and he damn near came on her backside. When she thrust her hips back and her lush bottom embraced his erection, he growled passionately into her ear and slid his lips down her neck. At the base, he bit her gently, loving her, claiming her.

Unable to wait any longer, his hands reached down to still her thrusting hips and he pulled her backside up and toward him until he could pierce her womb from behind her. In perfect unity, they cried out from the wonder of becoming one.

Controlling the speed and direction of her hips, he urged her to steady their pace. His hands eased her away from his body then back again, away then back. With each impalement, he slid deeper still until Belinda reached behind her and grabbed onto his thighs. The glorious sound of her little sighs, groans and growls encouraged him to increase the tempo.

Sensing her impending release, one of Devon’s hands slid to the swollen bud at the apex of her thighs. With his thumb he caressed it in a wild motion until Belinda cried out, her climax upon her. Deeper and harder he pushed himself into her, gulping for air.

"Dev! Oh, God..."

Hearing his name torn from her lips in the throes of ecstasy pitched Devon over the edge. He moaned long and deep, joining her in a release he wouldn’t ever forget. He stiffened as he poured his hot seed deep into her body. Belinda released a long breath and relaxed completely. Joy burst from his heart at the gift the gods had given him.

Not as surprised as he should be, Devon reached up a hand to wipe a tear from his cheek.

~ * ~

Morning came all too soon. Belinda stretched and discovered herself sore in places she’d rather leave unmentioned. Devon rolled to his side, leaning on one elbow over Belinda to give her a deep good morning kiss.

"Sore?" His voice was soft, gentle. His handsome smile reassuring. Belinda nodded her head and winced when she moved her hips. Devon murmured something softly that she couldn’t understand as he sat up. Reaching down, he began to massage her thighs. Soft heat seeped into every muscle, easing them and helping her to relax. It felt wonderful! The longer he massaged, the less sore she became until a different heat began to pool deep inside her belly. Belinda heard a soft moan and realized it had come from her.

Devon’s mouth trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses along her jaw, her neck, nibbling around her breasts until he reached the nipple, taking it fully into his mouth. He sucked hard on her erect nipple at the same moment his hands moved up her thighs to where they joined.

His fingers began a loving assault on her wet, slick heat, caressing every part of her woman’s body.

"Oh, Dev..." Her whispered words were a plea to his ears. Leaving a wet trail of kisses down her stomach, he stopped every few inches to nip at her tender, creamy flesh.

Belinda’s hands reached down and grabbed onto his black hair, holding him as she guessed his destination. Moments later, he gave her the most intimate kiss possible, his thumbs parting her so his tongue could bathe her, taste her. Feeling the pressure of his face against her portal, she gasped out a breathless cry when his tongue thrust eagerly into the depths of her womb. Sensation upon sensation swamped her senses. His touch claimed her in a way she could barely comprehend. She couldn’t think. And why should she? This was ecstasy!

Belinda cried out at his intimate invasion, her fingers tightening in his hair. Her legs spread open wide when his thumb found the nub of her desire. He gently rotated his finger in a slow circle, enjoying the whimper that escaped her.

"Please... I want... Oh, please..." His thumb left her bud to be replaced by his lips as he suckled her. Belinda cried out, desperate for it to end... and go on forever. It amazed her that she could feel exactly what he was feeling: the joy of touching her, pleasing her. It felt so good and so very strange at the same time. The desire to see to her happiness humbled her as nothing else could. There was no one like Devon DeCaro, and never would be. She’d found her... mate.

Dev felt the deep quaking within her body and knew she was near her release. Releasing the bud between her legs--but not before giving it one last, long lick--he slid up the length of her body and entered her with one swift downward thrust of his hips. The intensity he felt at this moment brought delight to his soul. It was more than simply being inside her slick, wet heat. It was knowing he’d truly found his lifemate and made the right decision to wait for her, remaining pure to better enjoy this moment and all of the moments to come.

A tightening around his erection made him realize her muscles were constricting, milking his shaft until her release washed over his manhood. Pumping into her with a burst of speed, his release came long minutes later with a final thrust of his hips. Not only had she enjoyed his continued riding, but allowed him the joy of coming at his own pace. For long moments he waited for his breathing to slow, his manhood still full and buried deep inside her body.

He hadn’t missed the increased speed of her breathing as he rode her hard toward his climax, or the tightening of her womb’s muscles as her body began to react to the pleasure it felt. Devon looked down into the smiling, sated face of his mate and saw a glimmer of unfulfilled passion in their brilliant blue depths. As her mate, he couldn’t allow her to feel so neglected. With a wicked grin, his erection growing thicker and longer by the minute, he began moving inside her with powerful thrusts. He joined in her laughter as she wrapped her legs around his waist and met him thrust for thrust, hanging onto his shoulders for another passionate ride.

~ * ~

Kosek stared out of his bedroom window at the dawning sky, black against various hues of lavender. His thoughts remained on that cold-hearted mate of his... but, as it turned out, she wasn’t truly his mate after all. Feeling the need to talk to his brother about the new information he’d discovered from the wizard, he’d approached the castle only to be told that the Prince was with his mate on the Rose Petal Isle. Deciding that sleep would not be coming this night, he got up and dressed, leaving his house to search the night sky for answers to many questions. His loon called into the night.

Smiling, he walked over to the pens. The only creature to care for him was this big, ugly loon. What a sad case he must make. Would he ever find his mate, the one that the gods intended for him all along?

Sighing out his frustration, he bent to pick up the bag of feed for his loons, filling their buckets upon the ground. Even his loons had a mate of their own.

Unexpectedly, the loons began howling, making such a huge racket, he was sure the neighbors would hear and begin to wonder what was happening. What could be disturbing them enough to cause such screeching? Looking around him at the beautiful but deserted landscape, he shrugged his shoulders as he went about his chores.

~ * ~

Phania stood deep in the shadows of the tall-standing trees surrounding Kosek’s home. She watched him come outside and gaze longingly at the clear sky. Cursing the poor timing, she cursed the damn loons for drawing him over and keeping him occupied. If she’d come earlier, she would’ve caught him asleep and helpless.

Gazing down, she gripped the wooden handle of the large knife she held confidently at her side. How she longed to plunge the sharp steel into his cold heart. But that moment of revenge, it appeared, would have to wait. When he’d looked up at the dawning sky, she wondered what could bring such sadness in those clear, gray eyes she had once watched grow dark with passion. She hardened her heart against his pain and remembered her own and who had caused it. She could never forget Kosek and Devon were her enemies.

Backing away from his home, she made her escape.

Thirteen

Phania would need an obedient follower in order to bring her carefully planned revenge to fruition. She would not fail again. She chose a young warlock who hadn’t had any sexual experiences to know her intent, but had the experience in potions and magic that she would require. It would be a simple matter to seduce the young male until he was enamored and would do anything for her pleasure.

Introducing herself shyly as he exited a restaurant, Luke’s eyes opened wide when she took him by the hand, simply saying, "I have something of great importance to show you." His male curiosity aroused, he followed in her rushed wake, her hand dragging him along.

Phania glanced back and smiled when she caught his eyes traveling the length of her golden hair, the slight breeze blowing it freely. She wore her favorite black dress, the transparency a definite advantage since his eyes revealed a sexual heat at the lush movement of her bottom within the confines of the skin-tight dress. Kosek had always hated this dress, but now more than ever, she loved it.

It pleased her greatly to see men lust after her wherever she went. Every street, every establishment held a delicious array of men she would love to pound herself against in ecstasy. As she walked down street after street, wet, sticky heat gathered on the insides of her thighs, begging to be used to slick the invasion of a male... many males. Her sexual appetites had no boundaries.

She took the very young warlock to her home, located on a deserted isle. By the time she’d reached her bedroom, he no longer needed to be led. Luke rushed her inside, his breathing heavy and telling. She stripped him naked... slowly, trailing her hands down over his chest, every limb. Because of his youth, his body wasn’t as thick and well-developed as many of the men with which she’d lain. His muscles were sadly lacking. But what did it matter? As long as he could pleasure her repeatedly--his youth and energy being another advantage--and could follow her instructions, he would be perfect.

She reached down and carefully wrapped her long fingers around his manhood. But not too tight... just enough to make sure he knew she would be the aggressor. Licking her lips, she watched him grow heavier and longer in her delicate hand.

His eyes were intent on the up and down movement of her hand along his hard manhood, his eyes aglow with lust and passion. He surprised Phania when his hand covered her own. She rewarded him by increasing her movements. His breathing grew faster and more shallow. A smile of satisfaction lit her face.

"Are you a virgin?" She laughed softly when all he was capable of doing was jerking his head in a nod. Removing her hand, she took a step back, waiting for his reaction. It was immediate. He groaned in dismay and his eyes instantly sought hers. This sweet torture would be so much fun. There was nothing more exhilarating than breaking in a virgin, teaching him the pleasures of passion. She’d known a few males that had learned enough to actually teach her a thing or two. In those rare moments, she relinquished her aggressive role and allowed herself to be taken, sometimes forcefully. Those had been wonderful moments.

When she knew Luke’s eyes were focused solely on her, she slowly ran her tongue across her upper then lower lip, biting the bottom one, hard. Her body tingled and she felt a gush of moist heat leave her when he groaned harshly, deep in his throat. She thought it sounded nearly like a growl. Maybe she’d be able to push him that far.

Each in turn, she toed off her sandals, pushing them a few feet away. Then, raising her hands, the thumb of each hand slowly lowered the thin straps of her dress across her shoulders and down her arms. Careful to let her hands graze the sides of her breasts, waist and thighs, she pushed the dress down to the ground. Pirouetting around gracefully, so he would receive an open view of her bottom and hot portal, she stayed bent over until she could feel the sexual tension in the air grow so thick, she could taste it.

By the time she’d stood upright, Luke was standing directly behind her. Her wild imagination saw him grabbing her waist from behind, pushing her up against the edge of the bed, spreading and lifting her thighs, and burying himself deep within her vagina in one hard thrust. She waited, but he stood motionless behind her, his hot breath stirring her hair. She’d nearly forgotten... he was a virgin, untried. Time for the lesson to begin.

Turning around, he was less than a foot away, his eyes attached to her perky breasts. Grabbing him gently by the hair, she pulled him down to her chest. "Kiss them... suck on their tips." Spoken softly, it was still a command. One he eagerly obeyed. His hands encircled her waist.

The young warlock’s lips closed over her entire areola, not bothering to be gentle. That suited her. She didn’t want gentleness this night. She moaned, then cried out when his teeth nipped her pebbled bud. This one learned quickly, indeed. Good.

She held onto him by his hair as he assaulted her other breast. Luke raised a large hand to cover and massage the wetness of the breast he’d abandoned. Phania tossed her head back and moaned, not because of the work his hands and mouth were doing upon her breasts, but because of the thick erection he’d slid between her nether lips. Not entering, but moving across the lips and sensitive bud, back and forth, back and forth. It nearly drove her mad. Wanting, needing to feel that thick manhood pounding desperately against her, she walked backward, hating that his lips, hands, and more importantly, his hard length temporarily left her. When she would’ve fallen backward onto the bed, he surprised her once again, twisting so that she fell upon him. He scooted back until his hips rode the edge of the bed. When he spread his legs wide, his meaning became clear.

Phania laughed long and hard. Luke not only learned quickly; his appetites mirrored her own. All the better. Knowing from her previous experiences with men what most preferred, she kneeled on the floor, using her hands to spread his legs farther apart. Her hands found the back of his knees and pushed up until he was fully exposed to her. Vulnerable. She heard no complaints.

Licking and sucking, she spent long moments giving attention to his sack before licking her way up the back of his erection, from the base to the tip. He bucked when her moist mouth sucked at the end, drawing forth his leaking fluid into her mouth. Phania tongued his tip, swirling around the mushroom-shaped end of him like a treat in her mouth. He tasted delicious. Maybe she should show him how sweet he tasted. Phania slipped her breasts across his manhood, intending to cover his body with her own. On impulse, she paused, resting the weight of her chest against his throbbing erection. For one long minute, her breasts surrounded him.

Eager to see what he would do, she pushed her breasts together, increasing the pressure to his erection, then began a steady rocking, up and down against him. His hands latched onto her shoulders, helping her move, increasing the pace. Luke’s breath panted out of his open mouth in measured gasps. But she wanted to see more from him. Intending to drive him wild, she lowered her lips to his wet tip. She’d never seen such a long erection, even on her own mate. He might be sadly lacking in muscle, but the Gods made up for that error and placed it all between his legs.

Her tight breasts rode him, harder and harder, her sucking mouth nearly bucked away by his thrashing hips. The end was coming... too soon. Standing abruptly, she leaned over and blew on his erection. His angry growl made her laugh in delight.

"Easy, lover. The end won’t come so easily." She laughed again at her choice of words.

Giving him a moment to cool down, she grazed the pad of her finger across his waist, surprised to find him ticklish. It trailed down his thigh to his knee and up his inner thigh. When she reached the base of his sack, she cupped him for a moment, then trailed her finger down the other thigh.

"Phania... come to me. I want you." She heard the sweet words. Maybe there was hope for her after all. Maybe Luke... Thinking was interrupted when he sat up and found her heat with thick fingers. Pushing one up inside of her body, his hand was instantly drenched in her dew.

"Yes, Luke. It’s time..." She crawled astride his waist but he remained on the edge of the bed. She meant to tell him to scoot back when he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down on top of him. Phania was wonderfully and erotically impaled. She screamed. This would be no simple ride to climax, she realized. This would be one of those moments she would remember and relive, forever in her memory.

Placing her feet flat on the bed, level with his waist, she didn’t ride him... she lifted her backside up high, pounding her bottom down hard against him, over and over. His manhood seared her every time she came down upon him. He panted, he grunted, he groaned. Her breathing grew ragged until she wondered if she’d have the strength to finish. Young virgins never lasted this long.

When she began to slow and tire, he took control. Phania didn’t object, curious to what he had in mind. Would he flip her on her back and ride her furiously, or come around and ride her from behind? Either sounded very pleasurable.

Still on the edge of the bed, he sat up and grabbed her hands when she cried out, afraid she’d fall backwards right on her rump. Luke rested deeply within her and she thought he meant them to come together in a tight embrace until he said, "Put your hands on my shoulders." She did so, gingerly. "Now, wrap your legs around my backside." Once she’d done these things, he reached behind her with one hand cupped her bottom. With the other, he supported her back.

"Let go of my shoulders."

"But..."

"Trust me, Phania. I saw this position once in a book and I think you’ll enjoy it." She laughed. Letting go, he supported her back as she lay upside down, her head inches above the floor.

What on the silvered moon...! "Place your hands above your head, supporting them against the floor." She did so. Placing both large hands at the top of her bottom, he pulled her up hard against him until he was fully embedded inside of her. She gasped at the sensation. He released his hold and gravity pulled her down to the floor until only the tip of his erection remained inside her. With a swift upward pull, he buried himself once again, keeping them locked together long enough to rotate her in small circles, his hands at her waist.

Luke repeated this amazingly erotic position again and again, until she could stand it no longer. Supporting her weight with her forearms against the floor, she unlatched her legs from around his waist and flung them open wide, her release at hand. Sensing this, he stood, placing his feet apart to support his weight. His hands gripped her waist, keeping her stationary as he pounded himself down into her slick, hot depths. Phania screamed his name over and over again.

Her final scream held no meaning other than the gratification of reaching that small moment of death before her body radiated extreme pleasure from her womb out to every nerve in her body. Long minutes later, Luke reached his climax, but not before collapsing against her, her legs opened wide and flung up high, her feet against her shoulders. His hands followed the path of her legs, planted firmly on either side of her shoulders, his legs desperately trying to support him at the awkward but wildly thrilling angle.

When he’d finally released his hot seed inside of her, he eased her legs down and lay within the cradle of her drenched thighs. Phania gloried in the weight of his powerful body. She would never see him as weak and powerless again. Luke was the most creative lover she’d ever had.

"Luke...?"

"Yes, beloved." She blinked at that intimate word. Beloved? Then understanding dawned. He’d been a virgin. His first woman would be memorable and special to him. That, of course, would fade in a short enough time. This she knew from her past experiences.

"I must see the book from where you learned all of your information. It might inspire us again."

Luke laughed and she actually liked the sound. He grunted in a completely male way and thrust his hips against her. His shaft became thick and hard once again. "I don’t need any other inspiration than the beautiful, warm woman laying beneath me."

Phania lay there in shock. Had Kosek spoken to her in such a way? She couldn’t recall one instance. Luke, for all of his kind words and flattery, would move onto another woman, given time. She should take his words at face value and enjoy them while they lasted.

Blinking in a subtle, sultry way, Phania reached between them and cupped the base of his manhood. "Consider yourself inspired." Laughing outright, Luke used his knee to ease her thighs apart. He’d begun to enter her when he stopped cold. Grinning down at her wickedly, he pulled out suddenly. "I have a better idea."

Sitting back on his haunches, he rolled her over onto her stomach and raised her bottom high into the air. Phania laughed and came up on her knees, spreading them as wide as she was able.

~ * ~

Devon and Belinda were awake for some time. They lay in each other’s arms, enjoying the sunrise. The warmth made the scent of the roses come alive. It would be a pity to leave this isle and never return. But the memories would be with them for a lifetime. Helping his mate to stand, Devon waved a hand across her and she was instantly clothed in a deep sapphire gown. Her hair was pulled up at the sides, but the rest of the thick mass hung loosely about her shoulders. She was a vision of royalty, as she should be.

Belinda ran her hands down the sides of her dress. It felt like velvet. How amazing it must be to have that much power at your fingertips. The thought frightened her.

Waving his hand down his nude body, Devon clothed himself in a like manner. "Before leaving, we should eat. You have left me drained and in need of nourishment." Her laughter warmed his heart. Belinda threw a punch at his chest and Devon took the harmless blow, feigning pain.

"Easy, my love. I have only so much strength."

She took his hand and began down the path that led them out of their mating nest. "I might’ve bought that if you hadn’t made wild, passionate love to me in that last hour before sunrise." Deep, rich laughter danced in and out of the trees they passed. Belinda could listen to him laugh forever. It was a magical sound filled with life and love.

Finding a fruit tree along the path, Belinda accepted a pear-looking fruit. Strong teeth bit into the soft fruit, its juices running down her chin. She wiped it away and licked her lips. Her mouth still held some of the fruit when she said, "It tastes like an orange. Isn’t that strange?"

Devon’s eyes darkened seriously for a moment. It was time to gently lead her into knowing the truth. "Have you ever wondered what powers you possess?" She appeared to be surprised by the question. He began walking again and she stayed at his side.

"I really haven’t given it any thought. I was a nurse back... ugh, on Earth." Sad eyes looked blindly at the ground. Devon heard the unspoken word... home. Would she ever consider Wiccan her home? With him? Devon wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked along the rose-covered path toward the holding pens.

"You must have a healing power if you chose to be a nurse." He waited a moment then, in a quiet voice, he said, "There are ways for you to discover your gifts. I can show you..."

Belinda shook her head adamantly, remaining quiet. Her thoughts turned to the home she’d once known. Her family, friends. They must think the worst by now. How could she bask in the pleasure of being in this man’s arms when her mother and father were probably worried sick? Shouldn’t her main concern be May and how to get them home again? May must’ve been worried when she didn’t return to her room.

Oh, no! They’d agreed to meet and discuss a way of getting back to Earth. Slapping a hand to her forehead, she could kick herself for forgetting! Devon eyed the strange gesture, but made no comment. There was no reason to do so. She’d forgotten he could read her thoughts loud and clear. Had she hurt him?

Thoughts in complete chaos, she decided not to worry about it right now. For this moment, she was at peace. As they walked, she noticed the glimmer of a golden armband around his upper arm. "Where did that come from? You’ve never worn that before."

Devon looked down and grinned. "It’s the symbol that I am mated. It means I have become Wiccan’s King." He reached for her hand and found it cold, shaking. When they reached the loon’s pens, he turned her to face him. Slowly, she meet his eyes.

If Devon is now their King, then what am I?

Devon looked down at his mate, a small smile at the corner of his lips. With infinite patience, he leaned down and kissed her rosy lips. Before she realized what he was doing, he swung her onto the back of her loon. "It means, my beloved mate, you are their Queen. These people are our people... your people." Her eyes opened wide with fear and wonder and his smile grew wide as he leaped onto his own loon.

"Come, Belinda. Our people have awaited this moment for many years."

~ * ~

May greeted Belinda with a wild wave from the holding pens. Once she’d landed, May gave her sister a tight hug, not letting go for several minutes. She remained silent as they walked back to the castle.

Devon remained at the pens, graciously accepting the congratulations from the warriors. He was told of the people’s joy at his union and of the last few days of preparation for the celebration of his mating. He couldn’t be more pleased by their reaction to his choice of mate, but wondered if it would last. Upon leaving the Rose Petal Isle, Belinda didn’t look as happy as when he’d first glimpsed her on the carpet of grass with the rainbow of roses as a backdrop. How long before she accepted her life at his side, Queen of Wiccan?

Belinda walked alongside May to her old room, still stunned by Devon’s earlier news. What would happen to her now? What would she tell May? Belinda sat on the edge of her bed, turning to face her sweet sister.

"May, I..." Belinda stopped. Exactly how delicate could this be said? She decided moments later that no delicate way existed.

"What, honey?" Instantly, May was at her sister’s side to rest her hands on Belinda’s thighs.

"I did it." There was a very long pause. May blinked. "I made love with Devon." Belinda couldn’t see, as May did, the look of wonder on her face.

"So, is he a good lover?" May took one quick look at Belinda’s face. "No, don’t answer that. I can tell from your expression that he is." May smiled and patted her sister’s hand. The happiness on her sister’s face was mixed with confusion and an exhaustion that was easily read in her eyes. "Listen, we can talk more later. You need some rest. I’ll come back in a bit." Turning, she left Belinda sitting on the bed, closing the door quietly behind her.

Outside in the courtyard, men advised, congratulated, warned and teased their new King’s mated state. Devon took it all in with a small smile and a great amount of patience. He wanted to be alone with Belinda. From the corner of his eye he saw Jax approach.

"Congratulations, my friend," he said, gripping Devon’s arm in greeting. "May I say with humility and in respect of your new position... it’s about damn time!" The exclamation was joined by the sound of hearty male laughter. Devon smiled wide at his good friend. Jax tapped the gold metal band on his arm with great significance. "Once again, Wiccan will find peace."

Devon hoped that was true. Although, right now, he wasn’t entirely sure it would happen so easily. "Thank you, Jax. That also is my greatest hope for not only our people, but our planet." Devon looked beyond Jax’s shoulder to where Jaquay stood. His eyes were upon the castle door where Belinda and May had disappeared a few minutes ago. Devon narrowed his eyes in speculation at the look on Jaquay’s face. He knew that look, felt those emotions stirring within his own heart once as well. Jaquay felt desire for May and another emotion that was new to the warrior’s heart. Jaquay was falling in love.

Moments later, May raced down the front steps of the castle. She paused upon hearing male laughter, her eyes finding his. Then as if by some sexual magnet, her eyes were drawn to where Jaquay stood, silently waiting. She looked down then back up slowly, her hand going to her stomach, as if in pain.

Devon’s eyes went from one to the other, watching and waiting. The men stopped speaking, their eyes having followed those of their King, watching the tense scene unfold.

Jaquay took a single step but stopped. May turned tail and raced away, deep into the beautiful garden surrounding the castle walls. A strange look passed over Jaquay’s face. Pain, anger, disbelief... desire. Devon could feel the man’s pain as if it were his own. He understood the agony of waiting for a woman to see the obvious.

Jaquay turned away, walking slowly toward his quarters. A woman spoke Jax’s name and the men turned to see Triana coming into her mate’s arms, lifting her head to accept his brief kiss and a warm hug. The men snickered, some laughed. Neither Jax nor Devon, though, were smiling.

"Did you see," Jax asked his mate.

"Yes. It’s only a matter of time. Passion rides on stormy waves between those two. They want each other."

Jax laughed deep in his throat. "Their desires aren’t the only ones in existence around here!" He laughed and ran his large hands down her back, stopping to cup her lush bottom. Giving it a gentle squeeze, she laughed and slapped his hard butt, making the men laugh loudly at their display.

Devon’s mouth smiled for his friends, but his worried eyes returned to the castle. The relationship forming between the two of them would not be a smooth one. Pitfalls would lie ahead.

~ * ~

Phania lay on her back upon the bed, fully naked and spent. She watched Luke dress and enjoyed his smile and wink. Eager for another bout of his loving, she smiled seductively up at him and opened her arms.

"Won’t you stay?" Luke paused for a moment and smiled. He blew her a kiss as he pulled on his leather pants then climbed back onto the bed, straddling her waist. He reached down and kissed her, long and slowly, his tongue plunging deeply into her moist mouth. Phania spread her thighs wide and he pressed hard against her, thumping and rotating his hips until he feared he would spill himself inside his pants.

He broke away, panting heavily. "I want to stay, I do. But I am late for my studies. I must go, but I will return this eve. This I promise you." Giving her one last kiss, he slipped himself down her body and kissed the crown of her nether curls, licking briefly, before leaving the bed. "That will give you something to think about before I come back later," Luke whispered. Phania growled softly and reached for him. She wanted him to finish what he’d started but he was already across the room, dressing.

Her gasp delighted him and he truly wished he could stay. Phania was a passionate woman and awakened his senses to the joys of loving. What would she say if he asked her to be his woman?

Hurriedly, he laced up his black leather boots, tugging his black leather shirt over his head and down his lean body. Passion and the promise of more made tying the shirt’s laces with shaking hands tricky.

Unable to resist her feminine charms, he raced to the bed and she met him, kissing her as if he would never taste her again. Phania threw her arms around his neck and returned his kiss eagerly, her desire strong.

He pulled himself away reluctantly but not before she carefully cupped his manhood in her hand, giving it a loving squeeze. "Hurry back to me, sweet lover." With a jerky nod, he turn and his large strides took him from the room in seconds.

Phania watched him leave, a satisfied smile on her lips.

~ * ~

Kosek sat underneath one of his favorite trees in front of his home. His back lay against the trunk, his legs stretched out and crossed. The sky was clear and the sun bright. Such a beautiful day for so many horrible thoughts to be running through his head. Why would Phania lie to him? They’d known each other as children, played side by side. Never, not once, had she mentioned a sister. A twin sister at that!

Doubling over as a sharp pain bit into his stomach, Kosek felt her betrayal. Would this pain ever end? Groaning, Kosek felt as if he’d been tortured and his insides were ripped out. Lies... all lies. Why would she do this to his family, to his brother’s mate? It made no sense.

Soft footsteps warned him that someone approached. A brief smile appeared on his face when he saw his visitor. The pain slowly began to fade. It was Daemon.

"Good day, Daemon. What can I do for you?"

"I have considered this a long time and have come here to aid you." He sat next to Kosek beneath the large Cherry Oak tree.

"How?" Kosek didn’t try to soften the desperation in his voice. His eyes sought the distant wash of the green waves upon the shore. The ocean had long been his source of tranquility.

"You must confront Phania, Kosek. She will not speak the truth, but somehow you must convince her to give you the answers you seek. Only with the knowledge you gain from the truth can you remove her influence from your past and find the peace to continue with your life. Then you must find her twin... your true mate."

"What if Phania refuses to talk, regardless of how I plead or threaten? How will I find my mate?"

"It would be wise to perform another Mating Trance. It is possible for this to be done a second time." Daemon searched the man’s silhouette. After a brief nod, he stood and slowly walked away.

Kosek did not turn to watch him leave, his thoughts on what the elderly, but wise wizard had instructed.

Go through another Mate Search? Why didn’t I think of that already? Will the gods allow me to search for my mate a second time? Daemon seemed to think so and the thought reassured him.

Standing with more energy than he’d had in days, Kosek dusted off the seat of his leather pants and shook his head at his own stupidity. Of course he should perform another Mate Search! And he would do it soon. But first he had to find Phania and convince her to confess what she’d known for years.

Walking briskly to the bathing chamber, he started the water, stripped away his clothes, and prepared himself for his brother’s ceremony.

~ * ~

One of the maids helped Belinda choose a dress to wear for her ceremony. Belinda chose a beautiful, yet simple white dress. Delicate thin straps tied at the shoulders to form a simple bow. The dress reminded her of the designer ones she’d seen in bridal magazines. Looking down at herself, she not only looked like a bride, she felt like one, too. The maid swept her hair up into a soft bun at the crown of her head, placing tiny white flowers throughout her hair. Almost like the crown of a princess. Belinda heard a sigh from behind and turned her head. May wore a wistful smile.

"You look like a fairytale princess preparing to marry your prince," May whispered with tears in her eyes.

"Thank you, May. You don’t know how much it means to me that you approve." Tears formed in her own eyes. "I wish you could be my bridesmaid, just like we always planned." She laughed softly, trying hard not to cry.

May wiped her tears away and warned, "You’d better not cry, girl. We have a ceremony to attend and neither of us can show up with red eyes."

Belinda smiled and reached for her sister. They embraced tightly, their love for each other a strong, unbreakable bond.

Nodding to the door, Belinda followed May out of the room and down the golden stairway.

Fourteen

Dev waited for Belinda in the garden behind the castle where the ceremony was to be held.

People gathered around each side of him, but at a safe distance, waiting for his mate to make an appearance. He paced back and forth from the dais to the castle. Twenty paces in all. Why was he feeling so nervous? Belinda was his destiny, his eternal mate. He should feel overjoyed and anxious. It is not every day that a man becomes King. His conscience gave him the answer. His heart beat fast in his chest as silence washed over the town. He looked up, his gaze fastening on the two heavy, wooden doors that led into the castle. His breath hitched up and he held it tightly in his chest until he felt his lungs would explode. Slowly, but with incredible confidence, Belinda exited through the castle doors.

She did not walk quickly to his side, as most mates would. Following behind May, she took a step, paused, took a step, then paused, her progress making his anticipation increase at a maddening rate. Damn... she’s tormenting me on purpose! He thought wildly. Until she looked up at him and smiled, so sweetly, so very happily. His heart calmed its fast racing and his mood lightened. Belinda was not tormenting him at all, she wanted this mating as much as he did. Devon broke out in a wide grin, his chest puffed out with pride in his mate, his head held high. His beloved Queen approached.

Belinda looked up and smiled at her mate... Did she really use that word? She continued to walk, step, pause, step, until Devon raised his hands in the air. Without breaking eye contact, lightning bolts shot from the tips of his fingers, lightening the sky as if it were day. Belinda thought the display looked like fireworks on the Fourth of July. It was beautiful, magnificent. And Devon DeCaro was all hers.

May reached Devon first and stepped off to the side, reaching for the flowers Belinda found from somewhere in the house. The thought amused and delighted him. She should be covered in roses at all times. The thought put a twinkle of mischief in his eye. It gave him an idea for later.

May watched Belinda walk the final steps of the wedding march to Devon’s side. She couldn’t help but feel envious that Belinda had finally found her prince. All of Belinda’s childhood dreams had finally come true. Would she ever find a love as wonderful as her sister’s?

They stood there gazing into each other’s eyes and May felt her own heart constrict as she watched the tender emotions pass over their faces. It was so very obvious the love they shared. But now Belinda would have her... mate. Where does that leave me? May realized in that moment she wanted to find a way home. But how could she leave without her sister? Tears rose to the surface and May realized she would be horrified if she ruined her sister’s wedding day. She needed to get out of there before she started crying like a baby!

Taking a few steps back, she melted into the eager crowd watching the ceremony. May half expected the loving couple to turn and ask her where she was going, but they had eyes only for each other. That’s as it should be, she admitted.

As the crowd swallowed her up, her gaze fell on Jaquay’s face. Her heart beat out of control at the sight of him, but constricted when he began searching the sea of faces in the crowd. He couldn’t be looking for her, could he? A tall man obscured her view and May turned to make a quick getaway. Jaquay caught sight of May as she turned into the crowd and disappeared. He stood at Devon’s side and could not slip away unnoticed. Why did she flee the ceremony? Was she not happy for her sister’s mating? He stood there stunned as May walked away. Maybe from him. He could see the castle doors, still open, and saw May escaping in a near run from them. He held his breath and tightened his body as he watched the sway of her hips taking her away from him.

~ * ~

Phania stood within the shadows of the garden’s trees, watching the ceremony. She placed a hand on the dark tree and leaned forward, her thoughts racing, denying what she witnessed. Her breathing accelerated until she thought the crowd would be able to hear it drumming in her chest. That should be me up there, mated to the King. Me! The Queen! Inside she seethed, determined more than ever to put an end to this couple.

Belinda inhaled sharply when she noticed that Dev had worn white to this ceremony. He looked dangerous and handsome wearing skin-tight white leather pants and a white shirt. He’d finally taken off those ridiculous Nikes that he always wore. He was dressed today in white ankle-length boots that fit him well. She couldn’t take her eyes away from him. Yes, he was gorgeous, but more than that, she wanted the title of Queen that only he could provide her. The power, the respect... she craved it all with an insanity she didn’t realize.

Devon reached out and took her hand in his. Kissing the knuckles briefly, he laced her fingers with his own, raising their hands into the air.

Facing the crowd, his deep voice reverberated through the air. "Behold, your Queen!" A loud cheer could be heard throughout the grounds. Devon waved his hand in a circular motion and an inch-wide gold band appeared in his hand. Belinda gasped along with the crowd. Not at the warlock’s power, but at the beauty of the ring he held out to his Queen.

"No..." Phania uttered a denial. No! she raged, letting go of the tree. Phania tossed her head back, throwing her hands into the air, her wrath great. Her soft chant did not reach the crowd.

"Goddess of the winds, hear me now! Goddess of the water, hear me now! Give me strength. Show me your power." Phania continued the chant, knowing what the result would be. The wind rushed through the trees, building its strength. Threatening clouds began to swirl in the dusky sky. Thunder boomed a warning over their heads. She could hear people screaming, knowing they were running for cover. She delighted in the chaos she caused, if only for a while.

"Let the heavens open up and the rain fall! Let the lightning flash fury in the skies above! Let the thunder roar its rage!" Phania lowered her gaze to the madness of people scrambling for shelter, most to their own homes, some to the castle. The storm grew in intensity with each second that passed. Phania was oblivious to the rain drenching her body. She delighted in it, welcomed it. This was only the beginning of her vengeance upon the royal family. Soon, more would follow and the opportunity to become Queen would be hers!

~ * ~

Devon grabbed Belinda’s hand and they rushed for the castle. Pausing at the doorway, they turned and viewed the ferocity of the sudden storm. While Belinda’s face held only a frown, Devon narrowed his gaze in suspicion. He knew storms well and they did not come about in this way. Magic was at work here. But whose?

While standing confidently in the midst of the rain and wind, Phania stood laughing at the chaos she had caused. The precious King’s ceremony, ruined. What a shame. Laughter escaped her until she could feel it consume her uncontrollably.

Devon’s mood changed once they’d entered the castle. Nothing and no one would ruin this special day with his mate. Chanting softly, he raised his hands, and from several feet away, outlined her silhouette from head to toe. Hearing her sweet laughter made his heart sing with joy. Belinda stood just inside the castle doors and felt a warm breeze pass over her, through her. Looking down, she couldn’t help the giggle that burst from her lips. Her once mud-splattered gown became completely dried and restored to it’s blinding white color by some spell Devon wove around her. Reaching for her hair, she patted it gingerly. Dried, and not a hair out of place. With wonder on her face and a happy laugh, she twirled on her toes, her gown swirling around her legs.

Kosek stood off to the side, watching the new King and Queen. He knew without a doubt who had caused the sudden storm. As he approached, Devon turned his way and caught the serious look on his face. Devon’s smile faded, his mood sober once more. He understood Kosek was about to deliver bad news.

"Dev, I believe Phania is behind this attack on your ceremony."

Belinda gasped, her shock evident. "Why would she do such a thing?"

Kosek turned toward Belinda, the new Queen. He paused before he spoke, tempering his words. "I believe she is after your throne, Belinda. She wishes to be Queen."

Belinda’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Jealousy surged within her until she felt the warming touch of Devon’s arm surrounding her waist. He winked down at her and she found a small smile for him.

Devon spoke to Kosek. "I’ll issue a search party to find her and bring her here." Devon kissed the top of his mate’s head, gave her a squeeze and walked over to where warriors awaited his orders. His back stiffened as he gave the order for her arrest. The men dispersed into three groups and hurried out the door. The storm was slowly beginning to fade.

Kosek looked away, his heart torn. Although Phania was mated with him, she wasn’t truly the mate of his heart. His place was here, at the aid of his brother and King. Would he ever be through with this madness so he could search out his true soul mate?

Belinda’s heart softened at the pain and sadness in Kosek’s eyes. Her heart went out to this man. Why? She wasn’t sure. Once, she’d thought she’d known him, was his friend. Then to discover she’d been betrayed and kidnapped had destroyed that trust, she’d thought forever. She realized now that although he’d taken her away from Earth, he’d been trying to save her life by leaving them in the wilderness.

She watched as Kosek slipped away, taking the stairs like an old man, weary and broken. "Greed does strange things to people," Belinda whispered as she watched Kosek walk away. He would stay the night, as would most of the guests. Maybe in the morning they could have a heart-to-heart talk.

Belinda could feel Devon’s eyes upon her and she turned in time to see his eyes returning from Kosek’s departing figure to her face. She warmed at his smile of approval and slow nod. His eyes widened when she puckered up, kissed her hand and blew him the affection. Devon’s roar of laughter drew all eyes his way, then toward Belinda, who slowly sashayed from the room, the epitome of sensuality.

May peeked around a corner, aware of the sudden storm and needing to know if Belinda and Devon were all right. When she spotted them and kept on searching, she told herself firmly she was not looking for Jaquay! She searched for a good ten minutes, but he was not in the room. Sad that she’d missed seeing him before the end of the evening, she turned toward her room.

Jaquay found his solitude in his own room inside of the barracks, once he was sure the King and Queen were safely inside, away from the storm. Lying on his back, his body naked and aroused, he crossed his arms beneath his head and stared up at the ceiling, not really seeing it at all. Why is this woman so important to me? I see her in my mind wherever I go, whatever I do. Am I doomed to be haunted by her face in my memory forever? For some unknown reason, I feel a unique attachment to this female from Earth. Could it be? Was she the one? Sighing wearily, his eyes drifted closed and he fell into a deep slumber with the haunting face of May before him.

Hours later, or maybe only minutes, Jaquay was jostled awake, his bed surrounded by warriors, his friends. A few laughed none too quietly at his aroused state. Most warriors slept nude, but not at full attention.

"Up you go, Jaquay! The new King of Wiccan has issued an order for an arrest. Three groups of warriors have been dispatched, but we will be the first to find this woman!" Healthy competition was often encouraged during battle training. Nearly every warrior carried that over in their duties to their King. Leaping from the bed, he groaned as his erection protested in a very physical way. More loud laughter from the warriors spurred him to dress quickly. Within a minute, the arrest party left the barracks, weapons in hand, and on the hunt.

~ * ~

Phania rushed back to her secret house, eager to see Luke and release the excitement that raced through her body. Her time of victory approached quickly and the excitement of becoming the new Queen of Wiccan was a heady, intoxicating mix in her blood. Maybe once she became Queen, Luke could remain her lover. She found the thought of giving him up difficult. He aroused more than her body, and that had never before happened to her. Between the power of the Queen’s throne and her affair with Luke, she would have everything she’d ever desired.

Luke opened his waiting arms the moment she walked in the door. Slamming it shut, she leapt into strong arms that picked her up off her feet. Phania viewed Luke differently now. Somehow, over the course of the last day, she’d begun seeing him as the most attractive, sexiest man she’d ever met. Could this unusual feeling and range of emotions be love?

Kissing each other deeply, they tore at each other’s clothing, eager for the searing heat of their flesh sliding against one another. Luke’s large hands found and squeezed her breasts in the same moment that her hands wrapped around his long, thick shaft. Squeezing gently, she slowly slid up and down the velvet skin. Luke groaned and thrust his hips against her hand.

Phania rubbed the tip of him against her slick nether-lips, walking him backwards until he willingly fell back across the bed. She wasted no time and mounted him, sliding down in one quick thrust.

"Yes!" Phania cried out, her body embracing his eagerly. Luke moaned loudly and rocked his hips up into hers, arching his neck in ecstasy. Phania closed her eyes, savoring the enjoyment of riding her...

Her eyes popped open in shock... then traveled down to Luke. Her heart warmed. Mate... could it be? Grabbing onto her buttocks, Luke rose to his feet in one swift move. Phania gasped at the quick movement, surprised that he was able to move so quickly. Bracing his feet firmly on the floor, he urged her to wrap her legs tightly around his waist. Phania wildly came against him as Luke pumped into her at a faster pace. She tightened her arms around his neck, sobbing her discovery against his passion-drenched skin. Luke pounded his hips aggressively against hers, sweat glistening over his tanned skin.

Throwing back her head, Phania screamed his name as she came. Luke fell upon her neck, laving it, licking it, and biting down hard against her racing pulse. Phania screamed again, this time in overwhelming joy. There was no other man like Luke.

Luke squeezed a breast in one hand, and her bottom in the other as he felt her release constrict over his shaft. Her screams of delight took him over the edge to fulfillment, his hot seed shooting straight into the heart of her womb.

~ * ~

Within the castle, groups of men and women gathered for the King’s ceremony talked in excited whispers. Who had done this to their new King, and why? Although a few decided to leave, the room was still quite full.

Belinda wove her way through the groups, her eyes searching for May as she made her way to the castle stairway. Her sister was nowhere to be found. Resigned to talk with her at a later time, a burst of laughter made her pause halfway up the stairs. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Devon running to catch up to her. With a haughty lift of her head, she turned forward and began up the stairs once again, the laughter increasing. Devon reached her side as she reached the top.

Her heart began to beat quicker when Devon swooped her up into his arms, a loud cheer coming from below them. The new King bowed as best he could and moved out of sight.

"Was that really necessary?"

He laughed. "Quite. It appears Earth traditions can cause quite a stir."

"You have no idea," she muttered dryly, but her smile spoke of mischief.

Belinda’s heart beat in double-time when Devon passed the doorway to her room. From this night forward they would be sharing a room--as husband and wife. Well, as mates, at least. But what would they be considered on her world? The thought troubled her. Belinda quickly guarded her thoughts, careful not to let Devon see her doubts and worries.

She might as well enjoy her new life here. But would she really want to go back if given the opportunity? Devon quietly shut the door to his room--their room--behind him. He placed her on her feet, turning her in his arms to face him. He rubbed his arousal against her belly, desperate for her touch.

"I can’t seem to get enough of you," he said softly into her ear. Placing tiny kisses along her neck, he worked his way down to the tops of her exposed breasts. When he licked the hard nub of her nipple, Belinda gasped. Her dress had disappeared.

"I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the idea that you can make my clothes disappear with only a thought." She laughed softly.

Dev chuckled, his hands moving to her breasts. "Don’t worry, my beloved mate. You have years to adjust." His lips tugged on one of her nipples until she cried out at the erotic sensation. He levitated them across the room to their bed. Belinda felt the cool sheets on the heated skin of her back. The feeling, so erotic. After a deep, passionate kiss, Devon rolled off so they lay on their sides, facing one another.

Delicate fingers danced across his chest and slipped down to his shaft. He groaned, her breast slipping from between his warm lips. His head rested on her shoulder, enjoying the feel of her hand moving up and down, slowly, gently. Then she squeezed and picked up the pace.

"Belinda?" Devon gasped, his breathing labored.

"Yes, sweetheart." She giggled, burying her head against his shoulder so that they were nearly embracing, except for their touching hands.

"I can’t wait. I must... please..."

Devon moved her hand away, rose up on his knees and lifted her leg high into the air. In the next breath, he plunged into her slick, heated core.

~ * ~

Luke and Phania lay entwined on her bed. She ran her fingernail down his smooth chest in a single, long caress. Then she trailed her finger across his chest from one nipple to the other.

"Luke?" she asked softly, breathlessly. They’d made love four times over the last few hours and she was beyond spent. She, for the first time ever, was completely satisfied. At least physically.

"What is it, beloved?"

Phania loved it whenever he called her that. She could hear him say it forever. His voice was raw from screaming, husky with his spent passion.

"What do you know about sleeping potions?" Phania raised up on her elbow to judge his reaction.

Luke’s brown eyes twinkled, one brow cocked up. She thought it was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.

"I’ve learned much about potions. It’s one of my best subjects. Why... what worries you?" "Can you make one for me? I seem to have a problem falling asleep lately." She grinned at him and he returned it.

"Of course, I will. Maybe you need to work off more energy in order to sleep."

Phania laughed. "Whatever did you have in mind?"

Luke’s grin looked evil as he rolled her over and began caressing her from behind.

~ * ~

Taking a stroll in his beautiful gardens outside of his home, Kosek replayed Daemon’s words over and over again...

"...perform another Mating Trance." The Mating Trance would lead him to his true mate and he was eager to begin it... today! Yet, he knew he should confront Phania first. He would have no peace otherwise. The question of why remained.

Looking up, he gazed dreamily at the stars. Somewhere in the universe his mate awaited his contact. Then an irritated sigh escaped him. It was a shame the bond between he and Phania had never been forged. He could’ve use it now to locate her.

Fifteen

Lying naked in his oversized bed, Belinda lay on her side facing the bedroom door. Devon lay spooned behind her, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist. Each struggled to gentle their heavy breathing from their recent lovemaking.

"I’ve asked this before, and will ask you once again. Have you discovered your given powers, bestowed upon you at birth?"

Belinda scooted until she lay on her back, her head turned to face him. "No, I haven’t." Her eyes held his and watched as his darkened with passion once again. She smiled seductively into his sexy eyes. "I had other things on my mind." Although truthful, she looked away in embarrassment.

Devon reached out a hand, gently grasped her chin and brought her face toward him. His eyes looked deeply into her own. "Why did you choose a nursing profession? It is important you look within yourself to find this answer."

A hesitant frown replaced Belinda’s smile. "I’m not really sure. I’ve wanted to be one since I was a little girl." A memory surfaced, the Marten’s beating the idea out of her. Belinda couldn’t contain the shiver that traveled like ice through her limbs at the memory. She tried to look way from him, but he wouldn’t allow it.

Devon’s intense gaze narrowed, his eyes and mind searching her memory. "You were beaten by this couple?" The vivid memory he saw in her mind made him furious! Wasn’t the raising of children the reason parents sacrificed so much of their own lives away, to pass a part of themselves onto the little ones they raised?

"It happened so long ago. The last I heard, they were still in jail." Belinda couldn’t make herself feel any pity for those horrible people. They’d earned their punishment, deserving every year they’d been sentenced. She found out what had happened to them when she turned eighteen and she checked through the social services records.

After reporting her case of abuse to the authorities, The Marten’s were investigated and charged with child abuse. Belinda wasn’t the only child they’d abused. There were several other children abused over the years and those cases were researched one by one. Serving twenty years in state prison, it would be some time before they’d be eligible for parole.

Devon breathed in deeply the fragrance of her hair. Belinda... so beautiful, so unique and special in his heart. Never again would another living thing harm her. Devon reached out and gathered her into his arms.

"Would you show me?" Although they’d mated several times, Devon hadn’t seen the scars on Belinda’s flesh. All he’d seen was the joy of being with his mate.

Belinda leaned away. She showed him the scars on her back from beatings with various belts and wooden switches. Through time, the physical wounds were healed, but the scars on her flesh and her soul remained. Devon vowed to slowly remove every scar from her mind.

Kissing each scar on her back, he trailed his lips and tongue down a particularly long scar down her right side. Instead of flinching, Belinda grew warm with desire at his gentle touch. She rolled onto her back, looking up into his beautiful, rich gray gaze. Her hand at his nape brought his lips to hers. Desperate to show her his passion, Devon fell on her chest, ravishing her with a need to prove his eternal love and desire for her happiness. Belinda welcomed the weight and clung to her mate as never before.

~ * ~

The following morning May sat at the dining room table waiting for Belinda to arrive for breakfast. What could be taking her so long? It was nearly eight-thirty.

Triana leaned over and tapped her arm. "You are going to have a long wait. Maybe you should just go ahead and enjoy your breakfast. Seated beside her, Jax grinned and nodded to Triana. May frowned. Jax answered her unspoken question. "They are having breakfast sent to their room."

"Oh." Realization dawned on her. They were... honeymooning. May began to eat, slowly searching the room every few seconds. Jax and Triana gave each other knowing looks. They knew exactly for whom she searched. And it wasn’t Belinda.

Unnoticed by anyone in the quiet castle, Phania sneaked into the palace wearing a garment worn by the Vamps so that they could venture out during the day. The blue dress covered Phania from head to toe, concealing her completely. Getting her hands on it hadn’t been easy. She’d traded five valuable crystals for it, a fortune. However, it hadn’t been a fortune from the wealthy lover from which she’d taken them. It was wonderful how some things turned out.

No one knew the garment’s origin or from what the fabric was woven. The Vamps used the garments daily, and Phania hoped no one realized that a Vamp walked their halls. With the trouble between the Vamps and Wolfen, it was safe to say that a Vamp wouldn’t be readily welcomed into the King’s castle.

Tucking her gloved hand into the deep pocket at the garment’s middle, her hand wrapped around the vial containing the sleeping potion Luke had made. She smiled wickedly behind the blue veil. Now, to get to Devon’s sleeping quarters unnoticed.

She began to go upstairs when she heard a commotion and stopped. Looking over her shoulder, Phania saw several warriors returning from a hunt, speaking loudly and slapping each other on the back.

Using the commotion to her advantage, she stole up the stairs, raising the long garment to take them two at a time. Only servants were allowed upstairs and she wouldn’t convince anyone that she was a servant in this thing.

She’d taken a few steps when a door opened at the far end of the hall. Phania cursed, knowing she had no other choice if she didn’t want to be discovered, and she fled back down the stairs and out of the castle through a side door beyond the kitchen. Seething behind her veil, she walked away. Another opportunity would arise. She’d make sure of it.

~ * ~

Dev and Belinda dressed before sitting at the table in his room. He wanted a nice private meal with his mate. They needed to talk. "Tell me again about why you wanted to be a nurse," he said as he buttered a biscuit on his plate. She looked up at him as she slathered some jam on her toast. She laid the piece of toast on the side of her plate.

"Like I said earlier," she blushed at the still warm memory of him making love to her just minutes ago, "I always felt the need to help others when they re sick or injured. I was called ‘ the woman with the golden touch’ at the hospital where I work." She smiled at another warm memory of the patients. How they always said that they started feeling better whenever she touched them.

She’s a healer. He told himself. For some reason he knew that she was a healer. "I’ll take you to see Raimadine. She is a special healer that knows when a girl is to be a healer. These special healers can tell other healers at a younger age before they know what powers that we hold. The teaching also starts at a younger age. They have years of teaching that is longer than yours," he gently told her.

"But I am too old for that kind of training," she strongly told him as she placed her fork next to her plate and glared at him.

"It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to be sure what powers that you have. Besides, you already have some knowledge of training when you went to school to be a nurse."

They ate the rest of their breakfast in silence.

When they arrived at the bottom of the stairs, Dev gave her a brief kiss. "I’ll see you later when I take you to that healer. Right now I have some paperwork to look at," he told her.

"Bye," she said in a whisper before Dev entered his study followed by Jax and Jaquay. Belinda looked around the room until she spotted May and Triana talking in the dining hall. She sighed as she started walking into the dining hall.

Dev stopped and turned to look at the three women converse for a few seconds. Belinda nodded her head as May and Triana stood up and walked out of the castle. In the shadows of the nearby trees, Phania watched them leave, then sighed. She mentally cursed herself that nothing was going right this morning.

"Tell us, how do you like being mated to the King of world?" Triana asked as they walked down the path to the market. Triana looked at the gold band on Belinda’s arm. May also looked at the gold band, slightly touching it with a finger, thinking that it looked beautiful.

"I don’t feel any different than I did before," she told them, which was the truth. She didn’t feel any different.

"How is he in bed?" Triana asked another question.

"Triana!" May cried out loudly. But Triana giggled when Belinda blushed.

"He must be that good then." Triana smiled and looked down the road to the market. Belinda’s blush deepened to a deeper red. May sighed.

~ * ~

"What are we going to do? We have less then two weeks before the deadline. And those Wolfen are still out of control," Jax said as he leaned back in the chair.

"I don’t know. But the prophecy stated..." Jaquay started but stopped when Dev gave him the look that said ‘shut up’.

"Who started this damn Alliance anyway?" Jax stated in a hard voice.

"I don’t know. But I heard that they are drifting apart," Dev said as he turned to look at the window. "Too many people are getting upset with them for taking their children away from them at such a young age."

"You mean that people are revolting against them."

"It’s just a rumor," Dev said, thanking the gods that his people were not considered to be a part of that damn Alliance Pact.

"But what about the Wolfen Problem?" Jaquay asked.

"I think it’s time to bring in the healers," Dev said looking at the man who’d asked the question.

"I agree," he said in a hard angry voice that matched Dev’s as he glared back at Dev with matching fire in his eyes.

Hours later, Jax and Jaquay left the study; mumbling. Dev leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. A moment later he heard the door open. One of the maids entered the room followed by a servant carrying his chalice of tea. The servant bumped into the maid who was carrying a bucket of mop water, and the bucket sloshed water all over him. He jumped up from his chair and scowled at the maid. She looked horrified and ran from the room, crying. The servant looked at the departing maid and shrugged her shoulders. She turned to him and handed his chalice to him. Dev took the chalice and stepped out of his study taking a step on the stairs, and noting that the guard was not at his post. Not making a comment about the missing guard, he downed the contents of his chalice as he continued up the stairs.

Phania smiled behind her veil as she slowly followed a drowsy Dev up the stairs. He stumbled a few times as he entered his bedroom where he fell face first on the bed. She looked around the room and liked what she saw. Quickly she tossed off the veil, walked over to the now sleeping Dev and peeled off his pants, inhaling sharply, as she revealed his muscular thighs and legs. Eyeing his heavy manhood, she crawled onto the bed and peeled his shirt off his muscular chest. Walking over to the window. She spotted May, Belinda and Triana walking back to the castle. Phania ran back to the side of the bed and quickly undressed.

Crawling over next to Dev, she wrapped his arms around her. Closing her eyes, she waited.

Sixteen

Belinda stepped into the castle around noon. She was thinking she hadn’t had this much fun since she’d arrived here. The people were just as excited to see her at their market and they swarmed around her, bearing gifts. She finally felt as if she belonged somewhere--here. The only other time she’s felt any sort of belonging was when she had lived with the Lee’s.

Since she arrived here, she’d never been to the market. Everywhere she’d gone, Dev had always been there beside her. But he had never taken her to the market. She sighed as her eyes searched for him. Triana walked over to Jax and he kissed her while she showed him her purchases. May looked almost out of place as she went upstairs.

Thinking that he must still be in the study, she went inside and noticed that he wasn’t at his desk. Exhaling a stuttered breath, she turned and collided with Kosek. "He isn’t here?" Kosek asked as his eyes did a quick search of the study.

"No, he’s not in the study," Belinda answered, with a concern filled voice about her missing mate. "He must be upstairs." She left the study while Kosek waited next to the door as he watched Belinda pass a descending May. The two women smiled as they passed one another. Belinda juggled the large bags in her hand as she climbed higher up the stairs.

Once she came to the top she turned left. She slowly walked the corridor as she noticed the door to the master bedroom was slightly ajar. She found it puzzling since the door was always closed. She paused outside the door and peeked through the crack seeing a slight movement on the bed. She adjusted her stance and looked in the direction where the bed was. Her mouth dropped open.

"What the..." She never completed the whispered question. Bringing her hands to her mouth, she dropped her bags on the floor, unaware. Turning away from the door she quietly ran to the stairs as silent tears ran down her face at what she had just seen in her own bed. "The nerve of that man," Belinda muttered under her breath, "I should have known."

Phania smiled as she heard something dropped on the floor. She turned over on her side and rose up on her arm as she softly trailed her finger along Dev’s arm, hearing him softly snoring. Soon, she promised quietly in her mind, soon. Falling onto her back, she giggled quietly.

~ * ~

"What did she do to you?" May asked Kosek. Before he could answer the question he looked up the stairs as Belinda raced down, crying. May was about to rush to Belinda when Kosek placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. Belinda stopped next to May and threw her arms around her, sobbing out what she had just seen.

Kosek tensed next to them. He turned to the stairs and took a step when Belinda stopped him with a request.

"Take me home. To Earth. Now," she cried out sadly. May looked at him and nodded her head. Kosek looked up the stairs not wanting to believe that his brother would sleep with another woman. But looking at Belinda he knew that it was true. He nodded his head and stepped away from the stairs and out of the castle followed by May and Belinda.

Standing next to the window, she watched Kosek and the two women following him. A crying Belinda and comforting her, May. Phania sorted with disgust as she turned away from the window and walked back to the bed, naked. Crawling over next to a very naked Dev, she closed her eyes to take a brief nap, knowing that Dev would keep her awake for the better part of the night. She fell asleep with a grin on her face.

~ * ~

"Are you sure that you want to do this? What about Dev?" Kosek asked her for the fourth time since they’d transported to his second ship The Defiant, a scout ship. Belinda sobbed harder as she nodded her head. May took her hand and led her to one of the staterooms. The Defiant was a smaller ship than The Wizard. The Defiant only needed one to man the ship. No crew was needed, even though the ship had three separate staterooms.

Falling onto the bunk, Belinda cried even harder. May took a seat on the room’s chair and watched, her hands hanging between her knees, thinking that Belinda must have some strong feelings for Devon DeCaro. King of Wiccan. Scum of the universe. Wondering how he could do this to her. She felt The Defiant start to vibrate and shudder and the engines fired up. She could tell by the change in vibration as it started to drift further into space. May looked over at the view port and watched the stars blur.

Meanwhile, Belinda didn’t seem to notice that they were indeed going back to Earth. It hadn’t escaped May’s notice that she hadn’t called it home.

~ * ~

Dev tightened his hold on his mate. He began to nuzzle her neck, inhaling her sweet sent. He tensed at the strange scent as he came wide awake. His hands cupped her bigger-sized breasts. He tensed even more. His eyes slowly opened, and he could not understand why he was feeling groggy and tired. He raised up on his arm as he looked down at the woman who was lying naked in his bed.

"What!" he shouted as he jumped up out of the bed. Looking down he realized that he was completely naked. He had clothes appear over his nude body as he walked over to the door and yelled for the guards just as he also requested them through his mind. He looked over at the woman waking on his bed.

Phania.

"Darling, what is all that ruckus?" she asked, as she peered up at him with sleepy eyes and stretched her back with her arms over her head and smiled up at him. She was showing off her entirely naked body as Dev swiped the covers from her.

Dev placed his hands on his hips as he clothed her naked body as five guards rushed into his room. "Take her to a cell. The one that is private," he ordered. He turned to look at Jaquay. "Where is my mate?" Dev asked calmly.

Jaquay shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea where she is at the moment." He looked from Phania to Dev with confused eyes.

The five guards dragged a screeching Phania out of his bed. Dev dragged his fingers through his hair as he tried to make some sense out of what had just happened here. "What time is it?" he asked looking back at Jaquay. He ran his hands down his face, still feeling the effects of the drug that Phania had given to him sometime earlier in the day. He noticed the shadows crossing the room as the sun shifted during the day that he had missed.

"Past evening, Dev. What the hell happened to you and why was that woman in your bed?"

Dev winced as he walked over to the window and looked out blindly at the view. The last thing that he remembered was that he worked most of the day in his study. He was supposed to take Belinda to the healer after the noon meal. The sky was growing dark and his mate was missing.

"What happened here, Dev?" Jax said as he entered the room.

"I don’t know. The only thing I know is that I came up stairs for something that I don’t remember. Wait a minute, my clothes were wet after the maid dumped water all over me. And I drank some tea that the servant gave me. Then I woke up with that... woman in bed with me. Naked, I might add. She must have drugged me."

Dev turned to look at Jax and Jaquay. They both looked at him with knowing looks. "Don’t tell me I was given a sleeping potion?" The two men nodded their heads. Dev grimaced, swearing out loud and shaking his head. "And Belinda? Where is she?" Jax and Jaquay both shrugged their shoulders.

Dev used their bond to locate her. He stood still as he found her aboard The Defiant. Crying. He fell to his knees and cried out "No!" His head was bent over his knees, close to the floor. His arms clutched his stomach and he sobbed out loud. "She’s gone."

~ * ~

"You can’t do this to me," Phania said as she was shoved into a cell by a guard. "I will be Queen one of these days." She gripped the metal bars in her hands as she glared at the guard.

The guard snorted as she slammed the barred door shut. "Only in your own insane imaginings," she chuckled as she walked toward the end of the long corridor and stood guard.

Phania screamed out in frustration as she turned away from the door and sat down on the small cot in the dirty and smelly cell. The cot had no blankets or covers of any kind. She didn’t even want to know of what the cot was made. "I need some blankets!" she yelled out.

"When The King says that you can have them, you will get them," the guard yelled back. "Now be quiet."

Phania cursed at her back.

~ * ~

Dev sat in the chair, alone in his room after he told Jax and Jaquay to leave him in peace. His head titled back as he stared up at the ceiling. He couldn’t seem to understand why she had left him. Not unless she had seen him in bed with Phania. She could have woken him up and demanded answers from him. But she didn’t. She left. He closed his eyes against the pain that he felt in his heart, then brought up a hand and rubbed it over his heart trying to rub away the pain. He wondered if she had any feelings at all for him.

She must have some feeling if she is crying her heart out on The Defiant, his mind told him. He stood up and paced the room, his hands behind his back. He decided to go after her and explain it all to her. Yes, That is what I can do. But first, he had to find a fitting punishment for Phania.

Seventeen

Walking into the cells, Dev looked at the woman whom he despised at the moment. Phania had seen the look in his eyes and mentally gasped.

"Why?" he demanded in voice that held hate and contempt. His gray eyes held even more hate and disgust for this woman. Holding back a slight shiver, Phania turned her back on him.

Dev took a step closer to the cell. Placing both hands on two of the black bars, he gave her back a hard look. "You have broken many laws of our creed. You have used your gifts to harm others. You used spells to harm others. You..." He paused for a moment trying to think what else he could remember, other laws that she had broken. "The law demands your death for the laws that you have broken. You have broken every Wiccan oath and creed that you spoke before me."

Phania cried out as she spun around to face him. Dev’s jaw tightened and he gave her a very hard look. Jax and Jaquay both looked at him. Surprise filled their faces as they both continued to watch. For the past hundred years, there had never been an execution on their world.

"But I am not going to demand your death," Dev continued to speak softly as he watched her reaction reflected on her face. Phania seemed to look a little relieved that she would not be put to death. "You will remain here in this special cell for the rest of your life." Dev’s voice had hardened as he spoke the words to her. With that said, Dev turned on his heel and stormed out of the cells.

"What does he mean that this is a special cell?" she asked the two remaining men with a confused look.

Jaquay stepped forward. "It means that you cannot use your powers in here. You will have a female guard at all times. You might as well get comfortable... if you can." With a wicked grin that held no humor, he also turned on his heel and followed Jax out of the cells.

After climbing the two dozens steps to the top of the stairs, Dev was out of breath. Something told him that wouldn’t get any answers out of Phania. He already knew the answer to his question anyway. Mentally shrugging his shoulders he gave a mental order to prepare his ship for his journey. He was going to get back his mate.

~ * ~

Belinda sat in the galley staring at the plate of food May set in front of her. She sighed as she lifted the fork and dug into some type of bright green stuff that was unfamiliar to her. Her mind wasn’t on food at the moment. Her thoughts kept drifting back to image of Dev in bed with another woman. She started shaking and tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to come out once again, but she failed to stop them.

Dropping the fork onto the plate she brought her hands up to her cover her face and cried. Looking across the table, May sighed at the sight of Belinda crying her heart out. At that moment Kosek entered the galley. He took one look at Belinda then at May. May shrugged her shoulders. "She’s still at it," she mouthed at him but her eyes were on Belinda. Kosek shook his head. Walking over to the simulator, he punched in his request for what he wanted for his meal. He sighed when it came out a bright green blob.

"I guess it needs a tune up. Or something," he mumbled as he turned and sat at the table looking at May’s plate then at Belinda’s. Both plates held the same thing. "I should have had the simulator looked at before we left," he told May as Belinda eased herself over the table and continued to cry. At least she wasn’t crying too loudly, like she’d been earlier.

May continued to watch her. "I have never seen her like this before," May said with amazement in her voice. Kosek glanced over at Belinda.

~ * ~

"I have to go," Jax said to Triana as he eased himself out of her, looking down into her smiling face.

"I’ll get ahold of you and let you know what my sister has," she told him softly as she ran her hand down his smooth chest. He crawled out of the bed and dressed in soft leather pants and a white leather shirt.

Triana thought that he looked like an Alliance officer. Bending over, he kissed his mate goodbye. I’ll tell him when he comes home, she thought as she watched him leave.

~ * ~

Luke snuck into the cells after the female guard fell asleep. "Luke!" Phania cried out softly at the sight of him.

"Is it true what you did? You drugged the King with the potion that I made for you and you got into bed with him? The Queen has left." A sad look washed over his face as he gripped the bars in his hands and he stared down at her.

"No. I was upstairs asleep after I drank the sleeping potion. When he came into the room, I guess Dev didn’t see that I was already in the bed when he decided to take a nap. It’s all a misunderstanding. And they don’t believe me," she said innocently giving Luke a sad look of her own that had taken her years to perfect.

Luke sighed with relief, his eyes closing as Phania went on, "Please you have to get me out of here!" Begging him, making it sound like a plea in her voice.

"I’ll do what I can." He placed a kiss on her lips between the bars. He left her just as Gretchen the guard was waking up from her nap.

~ * ~

Sitting in the captain’s seat on the bridge of The Sorceress, Dev tilted his head and closed his eyes, using the sight to locate his mate. Images swirled in his mind, blurring into darkness. Sounds became nothing. Then a sound of wind filled his mind. Darkness became light. His thoughts centered on Belinda. Images swarmed his mind as he tried to locate her. Until he found her. She was lying on the bed aboard his brother’s ship The Defiant. He noticed that she had been crying. His heart tightened at the knowledge that she had been hurt, but he was heartened knowing it meant that she must have some feelings for him. Opening his eyes slowly, his heart constricted even more finding out that she did care for him very deeply.

Standing up from his chair, he walked out of the bridge and down the corridor to his stateroom. Lying down on his bed, he suddenly had a need to sort out his feelings for his mate.

~ * ~

May pulled a very bedraggled Belinda out of bed and into the bathing chambers. May still had not become used to the idea of not using water to bathe on space ships. She still did not feel clean enough using sonic waves to clean herself. She made Belinda take a shower anyway, to clean herself up properly. May was getting tired of her smell, and Belinda’s hair was becoming greasy from not showering.

Belinda lay on the floor of the shower in a fetal position as May shut the door and pressed button on the panel. She could hear the soft hum of the sonic waves of the shower, cleaning Belinda. A few minutes later the humming stopped. May opened the shower door and helped up Belinda.

"We are almost home, Belinda," May told her. Belinda let out a soft sob, but there were no tears coming from her eyes. "We need to come up with a story, about why were gone for so long," May said as she eased Belinda into a chair and started combing out the tangles in Belinda’s hair.

Her feelings were still in turmoil as May combed her hair. Belinda had finally stopped crying an hour ago. She had felt his presence within her mind then, and knew that he was coming after her. Anger was starting to set in with regard to seeing him with another woman, and the sorrow was beginning to fade. She knew that May was right about coming up with a story to tell their family, friends and co-workers.

She inhaled a shuddering breath and let it out slowly. Tomorrow they would be home. She wasn’t ready to face anyone right now. She looked into the mirror in front of her, noting the red puffy eyes and tear-streaked face, along with the sad look in her eyes. No, I am not ready to face them yet, she thought to herself. She tilted her head to the side as May continued to comb her hair, but as she talked, Belinda wasn’t listening to what she was saying. Her thoughts were on the time that she had spent with Dev.

~ * ~

Kosek walked slowly into the galley, unsure of what kind of condition Belinda would be in when dinner time came. He was surprised that she wasn’t still crying. Instead she was eating as if she hasn’t eaten in days--which she hadn’t. May sat there staring at her in amazement as she ate. She looked up at Kosek as he sat down next to her. She shook her head at him.

Kosek looked at May, then down at the green blob on his plate, making a mental note to fix the problem as soon as he got home. He looked up as Belinda stood up and walked out of the galley. "Will she be okay?" Kosek asked.

"I hope so. With her eating like that it’s a good sign," May replied, worried because she hadn’t been eating enough to keep a bird alive. "You know, Kosek, you aren’t that bad of a guy. I can understand why you kidnapped us."

Kosek stared at May, unsure what to say to her.

"What I’m saying is, I know that Phania was behind the whole scheme. She is an evil person and uses people to get her way. I can tell that deep down you’re a good person. I forgive you for what you did to us."

~ * ~

The following day, The Defiant entered into Earth’s space. Belinda looked out the window as she watched them get closer to her home. May carefully watched over a very sullen Belinda, noting that her eyes weren’t red or puffy anymore. But they held a sad look within them. She sighed as she turned her eyes back to Earth. Kosek had told them that he would teleport them into Belinda’s apartment, and that he would stay in space for a few days.

He gave them a handheld device, showing May how to use it if she needed to contact him in case they wanted to go back to Wiccan. May took the device but didn’t say anything to him about going back, but she did look at Belinda with the question in her eyes. Her thoughts turned to Jaquay, the warrior.

Eighteen

Entering the apartment after so many weeks had passed seemed strange for Belinda. A slight coat of dust covered her furniture and appliances. She bent over and picked up the empty bottle of the drugged wine, noticing a small dried, red stain about the size of a quarter on her white carpet. Sighing as she walked into the kitchen, she tossed the green bottle in the trash can, and wrinkled her nose at the awful smell from spoiled, moldy food.

Picking up the trash can, Belinda walked over to the front door and placed the can outside the door. She made a mental note to herself to dump the can in the dumpster along with the trash and buy new one later.

She looked over at May sitting on her couch, her head tilted back with her eyes closed.

Belinda sighed as she walked over to the couch and sat down next to her friend. "What are we going to tell people?" Belinda asked quietly as she also titled her head back, closing her eyes. Quickly she opened them as visions of Dev, lying in bed with another woman filled her mind.

Looking at her friend, May answered her question after rubbing her forehead with the palm of her hand and sitting up, "I don’t know." At this moment in her life, May was unsure of what she wanted. In a way, she was already feeling like she was missing something that she had found on Wiccan. But she didn’t know what it is that she was missing. "We can always say that we rented car and drove to Mexico and the car broke down in some remote area that didn’t have telephones or electricity," May said as she stood up and walked out of the living room and into the bathroom for a much needed shower with real water.

Belinda continued to sit on the couch listening to the water running in the bathroom and thought about what May had just suggested they tell everyone to explain why they were absent for so long. If they said that they were abducted by aliens, they would be placed in a mental institution. Leaning her head back, she continued to ponder their options.

~ * ~

Pacing the length of her cell, Phania waited for Luke. The female guard slept, and she grimaced at the loud snores coming from her. Letting out a sound of frustration, she turned around to face the brick wall. A slight sound came from behind her, and she turned around to find Kosek. She made a face at him--he was the last person she wanted to see at the moment. In fact, she never wanted to see him again--except at his funeral. She turned away from him.

"Who is she?" Kosek demanded, griping the bars with his hands. Phania could feel the anger radiating from him. She turned to face him with a smile on her face.

"I have no idea who you’re talking about." She eased her way up to the bars and placed her hands on his. Kosek jerked his hands from under hers and took a step back, not out of fear but disgust.

"Why didn’t you tell me that you had a twin?" Looking at her made him want to choke the life out of her with his bare hands. He was trying to stop a growl of rage from coming forth. She took a step back from the bars, then another step to the cot in the corner and sat down without looking at him or answering his question.

"Tell me," Kosek demanded again, running a hand through his hair as he looked over at the guard who was starting to wake up. She rubbed her eyes with her fingers as she came awake, looked at him and gasped. She quickly stood up and went into her guard stance and back to her post, her feet spread apart and hands behind her back. Her back stood straight and her eyes faced forward. Kosek sighed as he turned his gaze back to Phania, only to find her lying on her back with her eyes closed.

"I will be back, and I want answers from you." He let out the growl, he couldn’t hold back, in a loud roar that startled Phania and the guard. He swiftly turned on his heel and stormed out of the cells.

Phania kept her eyes closed but the guard turned and watched him storm out.

~ * ~

"I’m not even sure that I want to believe this outrageous tale." Dan sat on the couch in Belinda’s apartment, awed. He was looking at the two women and shaking his head at them. Then he burst out laughing, throwing his head back and roaring with mirth. Sue sat there with a pale face as she stared at May and Belinda. They stood there with their eyes downcast with their hands in front of them and their fingers entwined. They looked like guilty girls that were caught in the act of mischief.

May was the first to look up, "It’s true," she cried out quickly. Her hand flew up in the air then back down after making her statement.

"Abducted by aliens," Dan roared as he stood up, his face becoming red with anger. Sue jumped off the couch and grabbed his arm.

"They must be telling the truth," Sue said in a small voice. Dan looked down at her face. Shaking her hand off his arm he stepped out of the room needing the time to think, alone.

Looking up, Belinda watched her foster father leave the room. Never in her life had she ever lied to him. "I feel as if this is all my fault," Belinda muttered as she watched Sue dash off to Dan.

"It’s not all your fault," May said as she wrapped her arms around Belinda’s shoulders. "We didn’t ask for this and you know it." She gently guided Belinda over to the couch and sat down with her. May ran one of her hands up and down Belinda’s arm and stopped when her fingers encountered the golden band on her arm. She looked down at the band and sighed.

Dan and Sue walked back into the living room and both looked at them on the couch. "Your mother convinced me that I should believe you. We did hire a private investigator to search for you two and he couldn’t find single trace of either one of you." He shook his head, placing his hands on his hips, while Sue stood behind her husband wringing her hands in front of her as she looked at Belinda and May.

May was the first to stand up and walk over to her father, giving him hug. Belinda also stood up looking at the couple that had raised her since she was a teenager.

"But there is something else that we should tell you," Dan said as May eased out of his arms. "We sold the Dojo."

"What?" May cried out, her hands covering her face, shocked. Belinda stood there shocked as well as she looked from May to her foster parents.

Sue took a step closer to Dan as he placed his arm around her shoulders. "We decided to retire early and tour around this great nation of ours. We bought a motorhome and placed the rest of the money in the bank."

May stormed out of the living room into Belinda’s bedroom. Belinda wasn’t sure if she should chase after her or not. She turned back to look at her foster parents, then back to her bedroom door. "Let her be," Sue told them both.

"I’m worried about her. She has been through a lot these last couple of weeks," Belinda said to them as she sat back down in the center of the couch, bringing her fisted hands to her trembling lips. Dan and Sue sat down on either side of her, each placing their hands on her back, rubbing her shoulders. May wasn’t the only one who had been through a lot during the weeks that she had spent on Wiccan.

"Why don’t you tell us what happened to you?" Sue said gently looking at Dan over Belinda’s bent head. Belinda sighed, she didn’t know where to begin, but was thinking that maybe she should start with the dreams. "For two months I was having these dreams of another world. It felt as if I belonged there..." Belinda started and she continued with her story about the man in her dreams, stating that she thought that the dreams were caused by watching too many Sci-Fi shows.

Not leaving out a single detail, she included Dev and how he told her about her family history, her royal ancestors. The mating ritual. All of it, including how she found him in bed with another woman. As Belinda was telling her tale, May came out of the bedroom and sat on the floor next to the couch. She gave them her side of the story also. While Dan and Sue listened to them, they asked questions about this world that they had visited.

"Everyone there is very friendly--except for Phania," Belinda said as May nodded her head in agreement. There was a slight note of bitterness in Belinda’s tone of voice when she mentioned the woman’s name.

"This place seems like it was a lovely place. No crime and no pollution, sounds like a very nice place indeed," Sue commented.

A smooth, deep male voice spoke from behind them. "It is a nice place."

Belinda gasped out loud as she spun her head to face him.

"Who the hell are you?" Dan demanded as he jumped off the couch and faced the intruder. Sue also leaped off the couch and dashed over to her husband, placing a hand on his arm when he made a move toward Dev. But the hand on his arm stopped him.

May eased herself off the floor, her eyes never leaving him.

Dev sighed as he took his eyes off of Belinda to face the elderly couple. "I am Belinda’s mate."

Nineteen

Staring up into Dev’s eyes, Belinda’s breath caught in her throat. She could see anger and despair in his eyes. Feelings washed over, but anger held her the most, so she turned away from him, not wanting him to see the hurt in her eyes and have him know that she still had feelings for him. Hearing him sigh behind her, Belinda closed her eyes. There was suddenly the sound of feet moving out of the living room and out of the front door, leaving her alone with him. She jumped when there was a touch of his hands on her shoulders. Feeling him turn her until she was facing him, her eyes remained close. She could feel his breath on her check, and she smelled his masculine sent. Without opening her eyes, she raised her hands until they touched his chest and she gently pushed him away from her. Taking step away from him, it was then that she opened her eyes, seeing the heated gray look that he was giving her.

"How could you?" Was the first thing she asked him.

Closing his own eyes and turning away from her, Dev could feel the anger that was coming off of her, and it wasn’t because of the bond between them. He turned back to her, knowing that she needed to hear the truth from him. Shoving his hands into his jeans pockets, he shrugged saying, "I was drugged."

Throwing her hands up in the air, she took another step back. "A convenient excuse," she said in a hard voice that made Dev wince.

Taking a hand out of his pocket, he moved his hand in an up and down motion. "It’s the truth," he said in a very hard, convincing voice. "If you will just let me explain," he added in a softer tone as he saw the tears shimmering in the corners of her eyes.

Watching her as she turned her back on him, his feelings hurt when she made that move. Her shoulders began to shake. Using the bond, he could feel just how upset she was with him at the moment.

"Please, just go..." she said in a raw voice. Dev wanted to go to her, wanted to place his arms around her, comfort her. Instead he stood, watching the gentle shake of her head.

"Belinda..." he said her name in a voice that was filled with the raw emotion of a man being denied his mate.

"Just go," Belinda whispered, her back still towards him so that she didn’t see him reach out to her before he disappeared from her living room. But she did feel him leave her, and she ran from the living room into her bedroom, throwing herself onto her bed. Burying her face into her pillow, she cried, unaware that Dan, Sue and May watched her from the doorway. Sue had her hand on her chest, while Dan scowled. May’s eyes were tear-filled.

~ * ~

Pacing her cell, Phania glared at her guard with hate filled eyes. Her guard glared right back at her with even a more hate in her eyes. With her hand, Phania tossed her hair over her shoulder as she turned on her heel and paced away from the bars while rage slowly simmered inside of her. "I will get out of here," she told the guard as she walked to the end of the cell. She shivered as she felt a breeze of cool air seep inside the small room. Hearing the guard snort out her reply, "In your wildest dreams," Phania let out a shrill laugh, letting the reply go at that.

Spinning around, she turned to the sound that came from the end of the corridor.

~ * ~

Sitting in the dark in his stateroom, Dev stared at the wall. Jax sat beside him, also staring at the wall. Both were missing their mates. Jax missed his mate because Triana had decided to stay on Wiccan to help her widowed sister who was about to give birth to her first baby. He understood decision to stay behind with her sister, since they only had each other.

Their parents died on a trip to Krokus for a festival that was held each year. The festival had been raided for illegal goods that were being sold on the underground market, and their parents just happened to be there at the wrong time and were caught in the crossfire. Along with them was Janis’s mate, Triana’s brother by mate.

"You can always try to court her here by Earth’s standards," Jax suggested, running a lone finger along his stubbly jaw, his eyes never leaving that one spot on the wall.

Sighing, his gaze left the wall to look at Jax. "What kind of standards?" Dev asked in a soft voice as he ran his hand through his hair, stopping at a spot on the top of his head and scratching. Rising up from his chair he walked across the room and stopped as he stood in front of the wall in Jax’s line of vision.

"When we were here, I did some research about Earth’s customs of courting. I thought that it might come in handy," he said grinning up at Dev.

Dev knew he didn’t like that grin that his friend was giving him--most of the time Jax’s plans usually meant trouble for him. Dev slowly shook his head as he grinned back at him.

~ * ~

Hours and many boxes of Kleenex later, Belinda finally stopped crying.

"Do you think that he was telling the truth?" May asked Belinda after Dan and Sue had left to check into a motel.

Belinda looked at her with tear-filled eyes, then sniffed before asking, "How can you take his side?" She stood up and walked into the living room. May got up and followed her.

"Think about it, Belinda. How can a man leave you after a night filled with passion and go right to another woman’s arms like that? Besides, Devon doesn’t look like that kind of man to do something like that."

Belinda sniffed softly as she let what May had just told her sink in. Maybe her friend could be right. She began to think about the woman that she had seen in bed with Dev. The blonde haired woman looked so much like Phania. She felt her spine stiffen. "That Bitch!" she said in a hard tone.

"Belinda?" May asked, looking at her with a puzzled stare as Belinda turned to look at May. "It was Phania that drugged him and crawled into bed with him," Belinda ground out as all of the pieces began to fall into place.

"What?" May asked as she walked slowly up to her, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I’m sure." Belinda turned away from May, and May’s hands slipped from her shoulders as Belinda slammed her hand on her forehead, "How could I have been so blind not to see that woman had planned this. This has to be one of the oldest tricks in the book." May continued to stand there and watched as Belinda paced the living room floor. "I owe him an apology, May. But when I see that bitch again, I’m going to..." Belinda didn’t finish the thought, but she stared into nothing as she gave the unknown a very hard glare and shook her head as thoughts of what she wanted to do to Phania filled her mind.

~ * ~

"Are you sure that this is what they do on Earth?" Dev asked Jax in puzzlement after he read a book that Jax had picked up on Earth on their last visit. The book was a soft paperback with a man wearing a skirt and a white, soft, creamy long sleeved shirt that appealed to Dev--but the skirt he thought needed to go. He would not wear a skirt. The woman was wearing a long sleeved rose-colored dress with the neckline that barely covered her breasts. Dev placed the dress into his mind as one he wanted to produce for Belinda.

"Isn’t that what they do in the book?" Jax asked as he turned the page.

"Yes." Dev sighed as he sunk lower in his chair, tilting his head back and closing his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Smothering a yawn with the back of his hand he stated, "I guess I’ll try it." His mind was already made up.

Twenty

Waiting at a picnic table underneath a tree in the middle of the park, Belinda sat while she waited for Dev. The city park was full with families and their children on this sunny June day, and the high school across the street was closed for the summer. Sighing as she continued to wait, she ran through her mind the apology that she wanted to say to him when she noticed him walking down the street with two very large horses. Standing up, Belinda continued to stare at him.

Darting her gaze around to the other people in the park, they didn’t seem to notice a strange man with two horses heading right toward them. Placing her hands on her hips, she watched him getting closer to her with every beat of her heart.

Part of her was happy to see him, while the other part wondered why he was bringing horses to the park.

"I thought we’d take a ride in the park," he told her with a sheepish grin. Now there were plenty of people staring at him and the damn horses that he brought with him.

"A ride?" Belinda said as she stood there looking at the two horses. Tenderness washed over her. "That’s very sweet of you, Dev. But no one rides horses in the park anymore."

Dev was standing next to her as the horses grazed at the grass next to her feet. A few people gave them odd looks but went on their way. Even a few children rushed over to them just to pet the horses.

"Where did you get the horses?" Belinda finally asked him as she slid her hand over the gray mare’s nose.

Dev didn’t answer her question right away, instead he gave her a sheepish look then glanced away. "I borrowed them," he told her. Raising his hand, he patted the horse’s neck.

"Who did you borrow them from?" she asked stepping in front of him, and looking up at him. "Who?" she asked one more time. He looked down at her with intense eyes. Belinda mentally gasped as she saw the loneliness that he felt so deep inside of him.

Dev locked his eyes with hers, but what he wanted to do was touch his lips with hers. Breaking the hold on her, he looked away, remembering that Jax had told him to take things slowly with her. "I don’t know the name of the person that I borrowed the horses from."

Taking a step back away from him and the horses, "What!" she cried out, looking at the people around them. Taking a step closer to him she whispered, "You can’t just go around borrowing things from people without asking. We call that stealing here. People go to jail for that."

Looking at her, confused, he asked her "What is this ‘jail’?"

Not sure how to answer that question, instead she sent him a mental picture of what jail was, at least from what she had seen on TV. He gave her a disgusted look at the picture she gave him in her mind. Before she could comment further about the jail system on her world, she noticed a patrol car pull up to the curb along the side of the park. She froze as she watched two officers climb out of the cruiser. Watching them as they approached, she grabbed onto Dev’s hand.

He stood there watching Belinda’s reaction to the men who were wearing what he guessed was a uniform of some type that had to do with enforcing their laws on this world. The closer they got to them the more tense that Belinda became. He could feel her heart racing and her breathing became more erratic.

He did note that the officers weren’t even looking at them nor the horses, they were looking past them. Belinda glanced over her shoulder as she watched two men that were sitting at a nearby table jump up and take off running. One of the officers took off after them as the other officer ran back to his cruisers and took off with the siren wailing and the lights flashing. Letting out the pent-up breath that she didn’t even know that she was holding, she looked up at Dev as he looked down at her.

"You should take these horses back," Belinda told him in a whisper.

"I should do that," he agreed with her, not wanting this day to end with the two of the not being together. He decided it would be the best thing since the mood that he had planned for the two of them was now broken. Besides, he needed to get these borrowed horses back to their rightful owner. He did not want to spend anytime in their jail.

~ * ~

"What else do you suggest, since the ride in the park did not go too well?" Dev asked his friend as they sat in the empty dining hall. Jax sat opposite of him at the table, looking down at the full plate of dinner. Dev didn’t eat any of his meal either--his thoughts were on his mate. Just as Jax’s thoughts were on Triana. Waiting to hear from her was taking a toll on him Dev noticed. Jax knew that Dev didn’t like the idea that his mate was on Earth while he was here aboard his ship. He gave him a smug look as he looked up at him. "That is what they did in the books."

"What else did they do in the books?" He pushed his plate to the side of the table as he asked the question. He turned to look at his friend.

Jax placed his arms on the table and leaned forward in his chair as he said, "Rescue damsels in distress."

Dev glanced away before he looked back to his friend. "She is not in any danger. Nor does she need any rescuing." He stood up as he raked a hand through his hair, feeling tension rise inside of him. Taking a few steps away from the table, he stopped and turned back to his friend. "I need something else."

"Well, there is something that I have seen in a movie."

~ * ~

"I thought that it was a nice thought," Belinda told May as they sat on Belinda’s bed as she told her friend about what had happened in the park.

"Luckily you weren’t arrested for stealing the horses," May said as she grinned at Belinda.

"It wasn’t funny," Belinda said while trying to hold a straight face, then burst out laughing when she couldn’t hold it anymore. Minutes later as she wiped the tears from her eyes, she said, "I do wonder what he has planned next."

"No telling what he’ll do next," May said as she grew into a somber mood, even though she was happy that Belinda had found happiness with her mate. But May couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever find her own happiness.

~ * ~

"Tell me, Phania," Kosek demanded while he stood next to the bars looking at the female whom was once his mate, looking at her with a hate-filled glare. She just laid there on her back on the small cot in the even smaller room, even though he knew she must be uncomfortable in the cell. She had no luxuries or male companions to which she had become accustomed. In a way he pitied her, but she’d brought this on herself.

"Why can’t you tell me your twin’s name?" he pleaded with her once more. "I don’t understand you. I guess I never did know you at all."

Feeling the hurt in her heart when Kosek said that, she closed her eyes and turned over onto her side, looking away from him. She didn’t want him to see the tears forming in her eyes. She was thinking to herself, that sometimes she didn’t understand why she did the things that she does. He looked at the female guard, then back to Phania, "Where is she? Where is my true mate? Your twin sister?" Kosek demanded, again and again, but Phania did not answer. Kosek swore as he left the cells.

As dusk fell across Wiccan, Kosek sat on the sand next to the ocean, staring out to the sea as he watched the sun dip into the ocean. His thoughts were on the woman that was his true mate. Wondering where he could find her, since he didn’t have a clue to her whereabouts or even where her parents were for that matter, since they were supposedly doing some traveling through the metal-galaxy. Sighing, he touched his forehead to his bended knees. He silently cried for his aching heart, hoping that his brother was having much better luck with his own mate.

~ * ~

Placing the latest note Belinda had received in her dresser drawer, she thought a nice little picnic at the lake was pretty harmless. Thinking that nothing could go wrong, she thought that it was quite a romantic gesture. Smiling as she climbed into bed, she couldn’t wait for the next date with Dev. She was thinking about him as her eyes drifted closed and she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Twenty-one

Looking at the note once more, Belinda sat on the blanket that was placed on the grass near the lake. She gazed out to the cool water of Lake Besitia as the sun began to descend as dusk grew nearer. Her nerves began to tingle and she grew more nervous as the time drew closer for her date with Dev. Her palms began to sweat, her heart pounded at a fast pace.

Why was she was so nervous about a simple date when she had done more than that with him. Looking over her shoulder as she heard a sound from behind her, her heart nearly stopped and started beating again as the man that was always on her mind stepped closer to her. She should stand up and greet him, but her legs were too weak to make that possible. She just sat watching his slow stagger as he continued to approach her. Instead she smiled up at him.

Dev felt like someone punched him in the stomach when Belinda gave him the most tender and gentlest smile. The air in his lungs whooshed right out and his legs grew weaker the closer he got to her. He sat down next to her on the red and white-checkered blanket after he got to where she was sitting.

"Hi," Belinda greeted him, her arms aching to hold him again. She wanted to draw him to her aching body, to feel his warmth fill the cold inside of her body.

"Hi," Dev returned her greeting, first looking into the depths of her eyes, searching the inside of her whole being, her soul. Finding the loneliness inside of her, he was comforted knowing that she felt just as lonely as he did.

Silence stretched between them for long moments while they gazed at the darkening lake. Not saying a word between them, stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Belinda’s heart pounded, while Dev’s breathing grew erratic. The feeling to hold one another grew so intense, but neither was sure which one should make the first move or say what was on their minds.

Belinda drew in a deep breath as she turned to look at him. "I’m sorry." She spoke the words in a breathless sigh as she stared up into his eyes.

Dev turned to face her, and Belinda looked down at her lap as her fingers twisted with each other, taking another deep breath before she looked up at him once more, staring into his eyes.

"I should have trusted you. I should have known that Phania had drugged you and made it look like you and she had been together." Dev remained quiet, somber as she continued, "I realized that you would have never done something like that with her. I was blind with rage and couldn’t think. All I could see was you in bed with her. I should have stayed and let you explain what had happened instead of taking off the way I did." Ending on a softer note, she reached out with her hand and cupped his cheek with her palm, "I am truly sorry."

His heart constricted as Dev heard her words. He felt like he should be the one to apologize to her, not the other way around. He reached up with his hand and covered hers with his. "I’m sorry, too. I never meant to betray your trust and I never will again. Phania will not be bothering us again, since I placed her in a cell."

Dev smiled down into her face as he waved his hand in the air between them. A thin box lay between them on the blanket. Belinda let out a small gasp, looking into his eyes. She reached out slowly and lifted the cover off the box.

A sheer white negligee on a pink hanger lay within white tissue paper inside the box. Belinda recognized it and smiled, tears in her eyes. " It’s beautiful." Her dream came true, she wanted to wear it for him. It was the one from when her and May had been shopping in the boutique, when she had felt his presence and Phania’s. It seemed a grand waste since it was about to come off again. She blushed and Devon was delighted, vowing to produce more garments like this one if she would blush each time.

Gathering her close to him, he placed his arms around her and held her close to his beating heart. Burying his face into the top of her head, holding her tight against him, the pink negligee fell to the grass.

Belinda raised her lips to his, giving him the most heart-rending kiss that she knew how to give him. Dev inhaled sharply at the contact of her lips. The coldness began to seep out of her as warmth breezed in. Her arms went around his neck as she deepened the kiss. Rising up onto his lap, she was getting closer to him as his hands searched out the hem of her T-shirt. Belinda moaned as his heated fingers made contact with her bare skin. Her finger searched for the hem of his shirt and she whimpered when she couldn’t find it.

Dev lowered her onto the blanket as he made their clothes disappear, and Belinda sighed with satisfaction of feeling his warm skin on hers. Their kiss went even deeper as his hands again learned every inch of her body--learning all the secret places that she loved to be touched and kissed. His lips traveled down to her cheek and neck while she bit his chest and gently kissed the small hurt away.

Her legs wrapped around his waist. Dev placed his shaft to her warm moist heat core. Dev groaned at the feel of her on his length, feeling her growing even more damp at the feel of him.

As he moved his body up and down, feeling her, Belinda raised her hips begging him to take her. Dev moved his hips away from her, and Belinda cried out at the loss of contact. She reached out with her hand and stroked him, up and down, very slowly. Dev raised his face just above hers and looked down at the mischievous smile on her face. Taking her hand in his, he carefully removed her from his near bursting shaft. "I’d rather be in you when this ends," he said in a husky voice.

Lowering his hips back to hers he entered her in one swift move, his eyes never leaving hers as she cried out his name. Her legs tightened around him as he began to move within her. Matching his thrust with hers, he pumped into her hard and fast. They both cried out when they reached the final climax of their reunion.

Dev collapsed on top of her, entwining their fingers together and raised them above her head. Raising his head slightly above hers as he asked her, "Now do we get to go home?"

Belinda smiled up at him nodded her head since she couldn’t speak after the best lovemaking that he had ever given her.

~ * ~

"I am going to search for my true mate," Kosek announced to Daemon after he’d thought long and hard the following night. Daemon nodded his head as he continued to lean against the counter in his hut. "I figured you would. And I wish that I could help you more in your search, but I can’t." He shrugged his shoulders. "But what about Phania?"

Kosek grimaced at the mention of her name, "Do not worry about her, I can deal with her and she won’t be a problem since she is in a cell," he said as he walked out of the wizard’s hut.

~ * ~

Excited as Luke finally came through for her, Phania silently clapped her hands and just as quietly jumped up and down at the sight of him. " Sorry that I could not do this sooner, I had studies and a final exam," he said as his heated gaze traveled over her body. Phania grew damp and wet at the look he gave her. But there was no time to sate her lust for this young man. Luke carefully took the cell key from the ring on the guard’s neck and unlocked the door. Phania jumped into his arms and gave him a short but deep kiss as her arms tightly held him and his wrapped around her. " Thank you," she said softly after easing herself out of his arms. Taking him by the hand they ran up the stairs.

~ * ~

Swearing in every language that he knew, Kosek placed his hand on his hips as he stared at the empty cell, then down at the very deeply sleeping guard on the floor next to it. " Dev won’t like this one bit." He shook his head slowly knowing what he had to do, and he didn’t like it one bit.

~ * ~

Jax sat in his empty stateroom and he watched Triana on the communicator as she held her newborn nephew for him to see. "Janis is doing fine after she had a very hard labor," she told him as she stepped out of the viewer and came right back empty handed. "I miss you," she said softly.

"I miss you, too," Jax told her as his eyes softened and grew moist as tears threaten to appear. Their hands met at the glass of the viewers, and they could feel the heat of each other even though they were galaxies apart. Missing each other, wanting to be together. "I’ll be home soon," he said.

"I’ll be here waiting for you."

Twenty-two

"What do you mean that you’re leaving Earth?" Dan stood up from the couch glaring at Belinda while Dev stood facing her foster family as they stood in front of the couch. Sue sat there in shock, but May didn’t seem surprised by their announcement. Only Dan showed anger. Belinda looked over her shoulder at Dev, giving him a small but sweet smile. "I want to go with him." She looked back to her foster father.

Dan raked a hand through his hair, snorting in frustration. Sue stood up, placing a hand on Dan’s shoulder, whispering in his ear. He looked up at her with warm and sincere eyes, then smiled down at her face. Brushing the back of his fingers along her cheek, he said something to her in Chinese. She smiled back at him and said the same thing to him. Belinda guessed that they were saying that they loved each other, and her heart went out to them.

Stepping closer to Belinda, Dev wrapped his arms around her waist. Bringing her closer to him to bury his face into the side of her neck. "Sa Lome ne," he whispered in her ear.

Belinda turned her head and gave him a puzzled look. "What does that mean?" she asked in a whisper.

"It means that I love you," he whispered back, the love that he felt for her showing in his eyes, which made Belinda gasp out loud.

Her heart constricted, and tears began to form in her eyes. "I love you, too," she said in a hushed, emotional voice, bringing her lips to his. He brushed her lips once, then twice before taking the kiss deeper only to break away when there was a sound of a throat being cleared. Belinda looked at Dan and Sue who stood there smiling at them.

"I now understand why you want to leave. You have my blessing. And you," Dan pointed a finger at Dev, "you better be good to my girl here," he pointed at Belinda, "or you will have me to answer to." Belinda laughed at the gesture but she knew that her foster father had good intentions.

Sue stepped around her husband and embraced Belinda, tears trailing down Sue’s face. Dev and Dan then embraced each other. Watching from the couch, tears also formed in May’s eyes--she was homeless with no job in sight. But she was happy for her best friend and her chosen one. Her heart constricted at the happiness that radiated from the couple. Her parents also were happy for them. Sniffing and wiping the tears from her eyes with her hand, she stood up and walked over to Belinda; hugging her. "I am going to miss you like crazy," she told her as she spoke in a tear-strained voice.

Tears began to fall from Belinda’s eyes. "I will miss you, too." Belinda grabbed onto May’s hands, holding them tightly in her grasp.

"Then take me with you," May announced. Gasps were heard from her parents. Belinda looked at her with moist, wide eyes. "What?" Belinda asked as she looked from May to Dan and Sue, then to Dev; his eyes also looked wide and shocked.

"Please, take me with you," May begged, her eyes pleading with Belinda’s. "There is nothing to tie me here anymore except for my parents, and they plan on traveling around the world." She looked at her parents with a look that she hoped and begged for their understanding.

~ * ~

Making a land based to ship communication took a very long time. Kosek got his message through to The Sorceress. Jax informed him that he would let Dev know that Phania had escaped and that they would keep an eye out for her. Jax did not seem to be very happy that she was on the loose at this very moment.

Walking into his bedroom, Kosek began to pack his things. Ignoring the chirps of the loons outside, a part of him wondered why they were making such a huge fuss. He walked over to the window and looked out curiously. Seeing nothing, he continued with his packing. He was going to search for his true mate if it took him the rest of his life.

Hearing a noise behind him, he stopped packing with a shirt in his hand and turned to investigate. All that he could see was a blur before blackness overcame him and he slumped to the ground. Blood began to ooze from the back of his head.

Standing over Kosek’s prone body on the floor, Phania couldn’t help but smile at the scene that he made. Squatting down on her haunches, she brushed his face with her fingertips, "We could have had it all. Together. Just you and me," she whispered. Glancing over his body, smiling, "You just had to ruin things for me." She reached into her boot and pulled out a six inch long blade with a black handle.

"You are going to pay for what you have done to me." She heard something and took a glance over her shoulder and gasped. That damn wizard was walking up to the house. Looking back down at Kosek, she turned him onto his back and plunged the knife down, deeply into his stomach. She rose up and walked over to the window. Sliding the glass up, she leaned out and saw that Daemon had walked to the front of the house. Phania could hear his loud knocking from the front door to the bedroom. She climbed out of the window and dashed into the forest.

Growing frustrated as he banged on the door for the third time, Daemon placed his hands on his hips as he walked to the side of the house. Noticing that the window was open, he walked over to it. Taking a deep breath he glanced through the window and cried out as he saw the blood-soaked carpet. He followed the path with his eyes only to notice an ashen faced Kosek lying on his back, with a knife plunged into his body.

He climbed through the open window and raced over to Kosek. With a shaking hand, Daemon reached with his fingers and felt for a pulse. He found one, just barely. His pulse was too weak. Reaching out, he grabbed the handle of the knife and pulled it out with one hard jerk. Blood gushed out, and Daemon found a shirt and placed it on the wound. After mumbling a few words, the bleeding slowed down to a trickle.

Picking up Kosek, he walked through the house, mumbling a few more words as Kosek began to grow lighter. He called for his loon. The bird hopped over to him and squatted down.

~ * ~

"Why do you want to leave us?" Sue asked her daughter.

"I just feel that I have to go back," May answered on a whisper. Dev and Belinda stood to the side of the living room as they watched the scene unfold.

Her parents looked at each other, both at a loss for words, not sure what to say or what to do. They had raised their daughters to do what always felt right in their hearts and soul. To always do the right thing. Sue looked over to Dev and Belinda and shrugged her shoulders. Dan walked over to May and hugged her. May returned his hug with one of her own. "Why do you feel that you need to go back?" he asked her in a raw voice.

"I don’t know, Poppa." May sniffed as tears continued to fall from her eyes.

Dev felt a tingling in his mind, and he tensed as he looked off into nothingness. Then he groaned and looked down at Belinda. Taking a deep breath he told her, "Phania has escaped her cell. I am afraid that she is on her way here."

"No!" Belinda cried out at the same time Dan made his announcement.

"We’ll go with you. We plan on traveling anyway. Why not see other worlds instead of our own?"

Twenty-three

"We should have left three days ago," Dev told Belinda as she sat on the floor of her near bare apartment.

"I know, Dev." Belinda stood up a little to fast and felt dizzy. Dev reached out with hand to steady her.

"Are you okay?" he asked her with a concern-filled voice, looking into her eyes. "I’m fine, just got a little dizzy." She placed a hand on his arm, not sure who was trying to comfort whom. She smiled up at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Reaching up to him, she had just placed her lips on his when the door opened.

"We sold the motor home back to the dealer...Oops, sorry, we didn’t mean to interrupt." Belinda stepped away from Dev with a soft chuckle as Sue and Dan entered the room.

"That’s okay, Dan." She turned to face her foster parents, they both were smiling at them. Three days ago they had announced that they were going with her and Dev to his home world and Dev gave them permission to go with them.

May was so excited that her parents were going with her. A glow seem to grow brighter around May these past few days. With each day that brought them closer to going home, she seemed happier and Belinda couldn’t put a finger on the why. Turning back to Dev, he stood there looking at her with a puzzled look on his face.

"What?" she asked him softly. He just shook his head slowly as if he was trying to figure out something. He cocked his head to the side, listening to what the voice was saying to him in his mind.

"We need to leave now. Kosek has been hurt badly."

Belinda cried out, "How…?" She could barely speak as shock overwhelmed her. "How badly?"

"If the wizard hadn’t shown up when he did, Kosek would have perished from this plane," Dev said in a grief filled voice as sadness overtook his emotions.

Belinda laid her shaking hand on his arm just above the armband. "I am so sorry."

Dan and Sue walked over to him and took him into their arms, embracing him. "We are also sorry to hear about this. How?" Sue asked.

"He was stabbed with a knife," Dev answered in a raw, hard voice, and as he spoke his eyes became hard with a strong emotion.

"Who?" was all that Dan had asked. Belinda gasped as she knew who would have done such a thing. She looked over at Dev, he looked at her with hatred in his eyes, then nodded his head to confirm the unasked question. "We need to leave as soon as possible, before she gets here," Belinda said as she rushed into her bedroom.

"Before who gets here?" Dan asked as he followed Belinda into the bedroom that was almost empty. Belinda tossed clothes onto the floor. "Who is she?"

"Phania," Belinda said as she looked over her shoulder at Dan and Sue. "She is a vengeful bitch who will do anything to get what she wants. And she wants to take my place at Dev’s side as Queen. And she will not stop until she gets what she wants." Looking at the clothes on the floor then to Dev, she waved her hand at him. Dev waved his hand in the air and the clothes on the floor and in the closet disappeared from sight. Dan and Sue gasped out loud, they looked at each other, then at Dev. He stood there grinning at the couple.

"As soon as May gets back, we will leave," Dev told them as he was finishing making things disappear that his mate wanted to take back with her.

"Where is May anyway?" Belinda asked, curious as to what was taking her best friend so long.

~ * ~

"You are probably wondering why you are here again?" Phania asked as she stood over May. Looking up at the woman who had given her friend such grief over the last few weeks, May wrung her bounds hands that were tied behind her back. The rope wouldn’t budge. She nodded her head since she couldn’t speak with the tape over her mouth. She did try to kick Phania with her bound feet, but the woman stepped just out of her reach.

"Let’s just say that I don’t want you to interfere with what I have planned for the Queen. From what I have heard, you have a very unique way of fighting. And I don’t want you to get in the way."

With wide eyes, May could only stare up at her. Fear showed in her eyes, she was scared for her friend. Even though she knew that Belinda could hold her own against this woman, May was worried if she would be able to hold herself against someone who had such powers as Phania.

May still couldn’t understand how Phania had overcome her after all of her years of training that her father had taught her.

~ * ~

Four people paced the now empty apartment, waiting for May to arrive so that they could leave. "What is taking her so long?" Dan asked, worried for his daughter.

"I am sure that she’s lost track of time while out shopping." Sue tried to comfort him. Dan said a few words in Chinese. Sue commented back.

Dev cocked his head to the side once more, and a minute later Jax appeared in the apartment. This time Dan and Sue did not seem so shocked to see a person appear out of nowhere. "This is Jax, my first in command. He will take you to the ship and give you are a tour of The Sorceress. As soon as May arrives, Belinda and I will board with your daughter and we will leave," Dev told them as Jax walked over to the other couple and shook hands with them after introductions were made. Moments later the three of them vanished.

Walking to a corner of the living room, Belinda sat on the floor. "I wonder where she is? What could be taking her so long? It’s been hours." Placing her head on her bended knees, she began to feel tired, as if her energy level had dropped considerably low.

Dev walked over to her and sat down next to her, placing an arm around her shoulders.

"What’s wrong?" he asked her with a concerned filled voice.

"Nothing. Just tired," Belinda answered, taking a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Something is wrong. I can tell." Dev placed a gentle finger under her chin, lifting her face to make her look at him. Dev noticed her pale face and the dark smudges under her eyes, wondering if he had been keeping her up too late at night.

"I’m fine," she told him, in a soft voice, and rising up on her knees, she nudged closer to him, placing her hands on his chest. "I love you," she murmured looking deep into his eyes.

Placing his hands around her waist, Dev brought her closer to him, his eyes never leaving hers. "I love you," he whispered to her, lowering her onto the floor. Their lips touched and heat grew between them. Their arms wrapped tightly around each other, not wanting to let the other go.

Tongues met and dueled. Moans echoed in the empty living room. Belinda could feel the carpet on the now bare flesh of her back, feeling his skin on her overheated skin. Placing his hands on her full breast, her palmed her peaked tips. When he replaced his hand with his moist mouth, Belinda cried out at the sensation, arching her back to give him better access to her. Dev groaned at the nails raking down his back to his buttocks. His length grew even larger. He couldn’t wait much longer, so he entered her in one swift move while Belinda’s thighs parted wider, welcoming him inside of her. Feeling him inside of her.

Matching his thrusts with hers, as he pumped into her faster and faster. Crying out her release with his shout and he stiffened as he poured himself into her.

Rubbing her hands down his sweat soaked back, Belinda stared up at the ceiling. While she waited for his breathing to return to normal, she couldn’t help but think that this lovemaking was different then the rest. She was thinking that this time was because they had declared their love for one another. She smiled secretly as he rose his head up and looked down at her, grinning. Giving her a deep, heartfelt kiss, he rose up from her and clothed them. Wrapping her into his arms, they continued to wait for the arrival of May.

~ * ~

Hours later, to their shock, Phania arrived in the middle of the living room just as the sun began to fade and darkness began to arrive. Belinda and Dev stood up to face her. "Hello," Phania greeted them. She looked at them with innocently.

"Phania," Belinda returned the greeting just as softly and with cool calmness. Dev just stood there looking at his sister by mating with hate filled eyes. He wanted to go to her and wring her neck with his bare hands, but Belinda held him back with a hand on his arm. Phania looked at their matching armbands and grinned. Then she looked at Belinda, "Do you want your friend back?"

"Why you..." Belinda couldn’t finish the sentence as she took a step toward her, but this time Dev reeled her back as he placed his arms around her waist, jerking her to him.

"What have you done to her?" Belinda demanded.

"She is my guest, in a matter of speaking. If you want her back, meet me at the lake near here in five minutes or you will never see her again." Phania made her demands known, then suddenly vanished.

"Let me go." Belinda twisted out of Dev’s arms as she stepped away from him. "You heard her, we have to leave, now."

Nodding his head, Dev grabbed her hand and mumbled a few words, transporting them to the lake.

Twenty-four

A few minutes after they arrived, Phania made her appearance with May slumped at her side. Belinda rushed to her friend, checking to be sure that she was all right, which she was. May looked up at her with pleading eyes as she knelt down at her side.

Reaching for the tape at her mouth, Belinda carefully pulled the tape away. "Thank you," May whispered while taking in deep breaths of air.

"Are you okay?" Belinda asked in a whisper, looking her friend over with trained eyes, keeping Phania in her peripheral vision for any sudden movements coming her way.

"I’m fine," May told her and looked over Belinda’s shoulder to Phania. "Please, be careful. She knows a lot more tricks now, and not just with water."

"Enough with the chit-chat," Phania said then noticed that Belinda was reaching for the rope behind May’s back.

"Leave her tied up. This is just between you and me."

Rising up from her kneeling position, Belinda took a step towards Phania. "Then let’s begin." Belinda moved into her combat position, her legs spread apart, her hands in front her, fisted in combat ready. She heard Dev inhale sharply, but she didn’t take her eyes off of Phania.

Laughing softly, Phania watched Belinda get into her position to fight. She moved her hand above her, chanting. The wind picked up speed, twirling around them. Leaves began to swirl around them with the force of the wind. Clouds began to form in the sky and it darkened, thickening with water that would soon be rain. Phania looked up at the sky, smiling wide, at what would happen soon. Then she looked back to Belinda, who had never budged from her position. She stood, looking serious. "Think that you can beat me with your tricks?" she asked with an amusing voice.

"I don’t think so, I know so," Belinda said, then she began to smile, "I’m going to kick your ass." She began to run towards Phania, and just as she was a step away, Belinda jumped into the air and executed a roadhouse kick, hitting her mark, Phania’s head. She landed where Phania had been standing.

Phania lay on her back a few feet away, stunned. A bruise had started to form on Phania’s temple where the kick was placed. There was a slight trace of blood on her finger and the gaping wound on her temple was trickling blood.

Hands rose in front of her in the air as Phania chanted again. Belinda took the chance and looked up. Lightning began to form in the clouds. A bolt shot down to the Earth. Belinda jumped back to avoid the bolt just as Phania stood up. Anger filled her.

Wanting to run to her, to help her, Dev ran into an invisible shield. Feeling around him, he couldn’t find a way out of it. He cried out in frustration when he couldn’t be transported out of the invisible shield. He could only watch, rubbing his hands down his face. Watching Phania take off running and Belinda giving chase while dodging lightning bolts.

"Nice try," Belinda said after Phania had run out of bolts shooting at her. Phania breathed heavily while Belinda’s breathing remained normal, thanking those breathing techniques that Dan had taught her years ago.

Reaching out to Phania, Belinda did a ridge hand to Phania’s temple, knocking her again to the ground. "Why don’t you quit now and return to your cell?" Belinda’s voice held authority to the other woman as Phania got to her feet.

"Never!" Phania cried out while she stood up. "I’ll never go back to that cell. The throne is mine!" She stomped over to Belinda and tried to slap her face, only to be blocked by Belinda with an inside block. Grabbing Phania’s wrist, she pressed her thumb against her smallest finger, while the rest of her fingers wrapped around Phania’s wrist. Belinda twisted her hand, and Phania went down onto her knees, crying out with pain.

"Give it up," Belinda demanded. "The throne will never be yours! Ever!"

"No!" Phania began to chant once more. Belinda could hear a rumble behind her. Looking over her shoulder she watched in horror as a huge wave formed over the lake. They were too close to the shore, and when she looked back down at Phania, she was smiling at her. "You will never win. I will take what is mine," she told Belinda.

Thinking quickly as the wave grew closer to them, Belinda used her elbow to knock Phania out cold. Belinda ran from the shore, running until she reached May and Dev. They stood watching as the wave swallowed Phania and took her back into the lake.

The shield instantly disappeared, and Dev ran over to the two women. Gathering them into his arms, and holding them tightly, he stared at the spot where Phania should have been. The storm Phania had caused had quickly faded away, leaving no trace of bad weather in its wake. Belinda and Dev worked the ropes off of May. She stood, looking at the spot where Phania once stood.

Sadness overcame the trio, as they waited and waited, until Phania’s body washed up on the shore. They walked over to her, and Belinda turned her face away from Phania. She once was a beautiful woman that had held such vengeance and greed. She was thinking that a person should not have died this way. Nodding his head at an unmentioned question, Dev had Jax transport them onto the ship to take them home.

Epilogue

Months later, after arriving on Wiccan, Dan and Sue traveled the world, excited by their new discovery. Belinda questioned Dev about those lights that she had seen when they had consummated their vows that night, "You are telling me that we are going to have a baby?" Belinda said with awe.

"Yes," was all that he could say as he whooped with delight, grabbing her around the waist and twirling her around with him. Belinda felt sick and threw up on him. Dev glanced down at his shirt and smiled, hugging her close to him as Belinda felt guilty about puking on his shirt. As usual, Dev had made the malodorous sight disappear from his clothing.

The bloodlust of the Vamps and The Wolfen was finally over and put into the past.

Two Alliance officers appeared on their world demanding that Dev sign an agreement stating that they would be allowed to choose any eight-year-old children to join the Alliance. Dev had told them a very stern, "No! I will not subject my people’s children to that kind of life." Now that he was about to become a father himself, he didn’t want to subject his child to that kind of life with the Alliance, either.

"You will be sorry that you have crossed the Alliance. I am declaring war on your world, King Devon DeCaro." With that said, the two officers left the study, leaving a very stunned Dev and Belinda in their wake.

The war did not last very long, little blood was shed and no lives were lost. The Alliance had lost their little war. Dev wondered about the behavior of the two Alliance warriors that didn’t participate in the fight. When he questioned this, Darr Xenobe told them that they did not believe that this fight was worth the effort. Making friends with the King of Wiccan, when the war was finally over, Dev declared that, "No Alliance personnel are welcome to my world. All trade with the Alliance is declared over and you will no longer be welcomed here." However, he told Darr and Dage that they were welcome anytime that they wanted to visit with them. Dage and Darr took them up on his offer.

All the while May and Jaquay continued to avoid each other. May watched her parents leave Wiccan to visit other worlds, knowing that they would return by the end of the month to visit her. May had started her own karate lessons with the children, a few hours a day. Jaquay had talked to Dev about training his warriors in the art and begged Dev to ask May.

"Yes, I’ll try to teach these oversize men the arts," May had replied. Thus, the warrior’s lesson began while Jaquay watched from as far away as he could.

Healing from the stabbing took a long time for Kosek, both physical and mentally. He was saddened by the death of Phania, knowing that he would never know the answers to the questions that only she could answer. Months after healing his body, Kosek decided to begin to search for his true mate, Phania’s twin sister.

~ * ~

The time came for the birth of their first child. Belinda lay in the master bedroom panting and sweating. She cried out in pain as another contraction hit her and Dev squeezed her hand. The healer checked her one more time. "Push, Belinda. I can see the head."

"I can’t! I’m too tired," Belinda cried out when another contraction came over her.

"Push!" the healer told her in a hard voice that filled the quiet room.

Shoving herself up, Belinda pushed long and hard, feeling the baby rush out of her. Wearily, she lay back down onto the bed with Dev’s help. Tears fell from her eyes as she heard the baby’s first cry.

"It’s a boy," the healer announced to those that were present in the room.

Belinda looked up at Dev, noticing that he was also crying. The healer handed him the baby. Dev stared down at his newborn son with such pride and love. He touched the baby’s cheek with a gentle finger.

"What shall we name him?" Belinda asked him.

Dev looked down at his mate then back to his son, "We shall call him Eagle."

Meet Tamia Dawn Osburn

I was born and raised in California. I was also raised on Sci-fi movies and tv shows.

I am thrilled to become a writer with Wings ePress and I am happy to reach my life long dream of becoming a writer with my second book, The Warlock, which I wrote a year ago. This is my baby. I hope the readers enjoy reading the story of Dev and Belinda as much as I enjoyed writing it.

I am currently working on May and Jaquay’s story.

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