The True Ruler, page 7
part #5 of Worlds Apart Series
“What is that for?” he asked
Cassie looked at him, pushing her wild hair out of her face. “My grandfather said we had to share a room. He said nothing about sharing a bed.”
At this point, Darden figured he would rather deal with Drake than the woman before him. He could still not read her emotions and grew more frustrated when Cassie placed another blanket on the floor. There was no way he was sleeping on the floor when he could be holding his mate.
“Why can I no longer feel your emotions?” Darden asked. He wanted to distract her from the task she was performing.
“JoAnna taught me how to bring up a shield in my mind,” Cassie answered. “Tonight I opened myself to Karlon. When I let him into my mind, I also realized another means to keep people out of my head. This evening has been very enlightening for a variety of reasons.”
Discussion about the hidden talents belonging to a member of their group could wait until tomorrow. Darden had to correct his soul mate’s misconception he would willingly sleep on the floor.
“We are sharing a bed, Cassie,” Darden said.
“I don’t think so,” Cassie replied. She stood tall, her hand resting on her hip. Her long fingers grazed her naked upper thigh. “Tomorrow I have my first lessons with my grandfather, so I want to get a good night’s sleep. Besides, I think I have a lunch date tomorrow.”
Darden stared at her, temporarily dumbstruck. When he finally found his voice, he could only utter one word. “What?”
“Barash asked me out and my grandfather accepted,” Cassie admitted. “He comes from a good family and Jeryl wants me to cultivate certain friendships.”
He could not believe what he was hearing. In all the years he had known Cassie, Darden did not believe she had gone on a single date. Two days in the Troyk universe and she already had her first date. There was no way she was going to spend an instant alone with Barash Kleyman.
“I assume this date was arranged before your grandfather was aware we were soul mates,” Darden said. “Regardless, if Barash shows up tomorrow, we will both join him. From this moment on, you are not going anywhere without me.”
Cassie stood staring at him. There was something about her that had changed. It was as if she had grown up overnight. His soul mate stood before him, not a little girl. He could resist her no longer. At this point in time, he did not care what he unleashed. Whatever she would become, he no longer had the self-control to deprive himself of making love to his soul mate.
Cassie could not read the expression on Darden’s face. She had never seen him look at her with such determination. When she closed herself off from Darden it also rendered her unable to read him. Suggesting Darden sleep on the floor had probably caused something inside him to snap. She readied herself for some serious verbal sparring.
When he came charging forward, Cassie was not prepared for the solid mass of her enraged male. Darden’s momentum tumbled them onto her bed. His lips were on hers before she could demand he get off her. She opened to him, taking in his intoxicating taste. Her temperature soared in reaction to his simple kiss.
Darden’s hands were all over her body. He examined her like a blind man coming upon a new object to discover. When he finally reached her panties, Cassie lifted her hips to help him remove the barrier. She lifted her shoulders to remove her Chicago Bears jersey before Darden tore it from her body. It was amazing she had the wherewithal to consider one of the only keepsakes she brought with her from Earth.
She now lay naked on the bed while Darden remained fully dressed. The idiot was still wearing his shoes while he played with her body. Cassie started to lift the tunic from his abdomen, hoping he would take the hint she wanted his naked flesh on hers. Darden rolled off her and got to his feet. Removing his shoes, he tossed them across the room and she heard them hit the wall before thudding to the floor. Cassie’s eyes shone as she watched her soul mate rush to remove his clothing.
Cassie soaked in the sight of him. She had seen him in his swim trunks, but had never seen the part of him he had kept hidden from her. Countless times she had seen the bulge in his pants, his erection pressing against the material that confined it. Now it was before her eyes, ready to be buried deeply inside her.
Her soul mate prowled back to the bed and covered her. Darden’s movements were graceful and fluid. His hands slid up and down her body as his mouth continued to devour hers. What little noises escaped her were captured by his kiss. Cassie’s hands were buried in his long hair. She held on to him for dear life. Part of her was afraid she was dreaming and would wake to find herself once again alone.
“Never alone again, darling,” Darden communicated telepathically. Whatever barriers she had erected came tumbling down with his all-consuming kiss. “We will never be apart again.”
His right hand ran along her waist, down her hip, and then rested on her upper thigh. She knew what would happen next. Cassie had wanted this moment to happen from the time she reached her sixteenth birthday. For over two years she waited for Darden to claim her.
She moved her leg as an invitation to Darden. Before she settled her leg back on the mattress, Darden’s hand rested on the juncture between her legs. His index finger gently brushed along her feminine folds until it entered her. A second finger soon followed. He moved within her, preparing her for him.
The temporary discomfort was quickly turning into something quite different as his fingers continued to rhythmically move within her slick passage. His fingers were soon coated with the proof of her passion. Darden removed his fingers and rested his hips against hers, ready to drive home his erect member.
“I love you, Cassie,” Darden shared with her.
He drove inside her with a single thrust, his mouth absorbing her cry as he broke through the membrane of her innocence. The slight ache was soon forgotten as she took him into her core. There was a momentary feeling of loss as he left her body, only to be delighted when he reentered. She adjusted as he increased his pace, meeting his body’s rhythm.
Darden continued to ride her as Cassie’s breathing became labored. Her body was on the brink of something wonderful. God knows, she had read enough books on the subject. They all paled in comparison to what she was feeling. This wasn’t just sex, but a true mating of their very souls.
She brought her legs to his hips, allowing him to drive deeper inside her. For an instant, Cassie feared she would not survive the sensations building in her body before she fractured. How long could Darden keep up the frantic pace before he climaxed?
An orgasm came upon her the instant Darden experienced one of his own. Her euphoria was multiplied by their soul mate link. His physical rapture and his joy made her feel whole. A scream came from her, echoed by a guttural groan from her mate. They were truly one.
Cassie knew what would happen next and she welcomed it. As her cry waned, she felt her brain excrete the hormone they had all feared. What telepathic gifts she possessed before would now be eclipsed by her new abilities. As she had barely scratched the surface of her powers, it was unlikely she would be able to decipher her original powers from her enhanced ones.
“Are you all right?” Darden asked.
He moved damp wisps of hair from her face. Darden looked at her with such love, it took her breath away. She never believed she could love this man more than she had, but she was wrong. They were entering a new phase of their relationship. Now, they were truly partners.
“I’m wonderful,” Cassie answered. It was a partial truth.
She wanted to concentrate on what it felt like to be in Darden’s arms, not dwell on the telepathic changes occurring. They had made love to share a passion that was long denied, not to make her more powerful.
“Everything will be all right, I promise,” Darden said. He reacted to the confusion and turmoil that engulfed her. She could not hide her innermost thoughts from him.
“It’s not fair,” Cassie cried. “We should be basking in the aftermath of what we are together, not wondering what we both will experience because we made love.”
“Any changes will be gradual, based on the past experience of our friends,” Darden assured her. “You will adjust to the powers, just as your lifelong friends have. JoAnna did not turn into a monster, and neither will you. Benko did you no favors in not fully training you and scaring us out of not having sex. Legends of soul mates are positive tales, not horror stories.”
“But what about what haunts Shirl?” Cassie asked. “I’ve known her my whole life, something about her powers terrifies her.”
“Shirl is no monster,” Darden responded. “She knows what she is capable of and controls her power because she is a good person and so are you. Regardless, you are not alone. You have me, along with the rest of our family, to help you navigate your new future. Try to sleep. As you noted earlier, you have a full day tomorrow.”
Darden rolled over and brought her into his arms as he adjusted their positions. Her head rested in the crook of his neck. She took in his scent and closed her eyes. Cassie would try to rest. It was doubtful she would be able to sleep. She was worried about what had they just released.
Chapter 8
Darden woke to find Cassie sleeping soundly in his arms. She had struggled to find peace after the hormone was excreted, plagued by what would occur. He had developed new abilities of his own over the years. Although he was a crystal telepath, early on he discovered other gifts. Gifts he shared with no one.
Cassie had been so young when they met. The first time they touched, not only did a telepathic channel open, but he also developed a means to soothe her when required. Adolescence was hard for anyone, but it was harder for Cassie. Her refugee status, her father making her fear her powers, and a soul mate she was ill-equipped to deal with at such a tender age, all made her burden greater.
Darden struggled over the years to adjust to the role he would play in his soul mate’s life. How do you transition from older brother or friend to lover? As her body developed it was hard not to have a physical relationship with her. They shared their first kiss when she was sixteen.
Benko could not deny her anything. It seemed easier to meet her every request rather than dwell on their predicament. When Darden entered the picture, he followed Benko’s example. Anything Cassie wanted was hers, except for the sexual relationship she had been demanding once she turned sixteen. They inadvertently created a spoiled brat.
Benko monopolized their time when Darden was in Gingko Terra and he did not want her father to know he had any additional powers or that they affected Cassie. At first, he was relieved by Benko’s presence. As time passed, he began to resent the intrusion. Fortunately, he could differentiate his frustration with Benko related to his interference with Cassie and his admiration of, and loyalty to, the True Ruler of the Troyk universe.
Darden held her through the night, sending her feelings of love, security, and peace. Everything had changed. Cassie still needed protection, but not from herself.
He heard muffled voices down the hall. The household was stirring. Candy was probably in the kitchen drinking coffee while Tolfer cooked. Zane and Leenea would join those two after breakfast was finished. Leenea knew she was an atrocious cook and did not want to stop her son from finishing the meal out a sense of loyalty to his mother.
His right hand caressed the side of Cassie’s neck. Waves of mahogany hair were spread across the pillow. Her toned body still rested beside his, generating a comfortable heat that made him want to lounge longer in bed next to his mate. Had he followed his heart, Darden could have enjoyed mornings like this in the penal colony, rather than waking cold and alone.
“Morning,” Cassie muttered, sleep still partially embracing her. “What time is it?”
“Early,” Darden replied. “Go back to sleep. I will wake you when breakfast is ready.”
The aroma of bacon started to permeate the room. His stomach complained. When was the last time he ate? He had barely eaten a bite once he returned to the penal world to discover Cassie gone.
“I have to pee,” Cassie complained. He found her unguarded words adorable. She felt comfortable enough in his presence not to put on any pretense.
Darden smiled to himself as Cassie rolled over and slowly rose. He enjoyed the view of her naked backside as she staggered to the bathroom. Her long hair cascaded down her back and swayed as she moved. If he was lucky, there was no clothing in the bathroom and Cassie would return in all her glory.
Unfortunately, ten minutes later a fully dressed Cassie emerged. Her face was newly scrubbed and the hair surrounding her face was slightly damp. She bent down to kiss him good morning. Cassie tasted of mint, having just brushed her teeth.
“I’m famished,” Cassie admitted. “Get dressed and join me in the kitchen before Alex gets up. I understand she can pile away the food.”
Cassie was right about Alex’s ability to eat. How the little auburn haired woman could eat everything and not gain an ounce was a miracle. He imagined Tarsea kept Alex active in bed burning every calorie she consumed. Darden planned to do the same with Cassie.
“Barash Kleyman is bragging about his lunch date with Cassie,” Starc communicated in their private channel. Although they were not identical twins, they shared a link just accessible to the two of them. “What is going on?”
“Jeryl Jarlyn set it up,” Darden communicated. “He did not know Cassie and I were soul mates when he did.”
Silence answered his comment. Rarely speechless, it was not like Starc not to have the last word. His taciturn brother rarely spoke to others, but that did not apply to conversations with his twin. Darden had been sent for training as soon as his abilities were discovered. Starc had all the normal childhood experiences and shared his activities and what they were like with Darden. That continued well into their adulthood.
“What is wrong, Starc?” Darden inquired. Something was bothering his brother about the arranged date and he needed to know what his concerns were.
“Jeryl Jarlyn is always looking to garner more power,” his brother shared. “We are not an influential family like the Kleymans. The Prime Ruler will not gain anything with a permanent mating between you and his granddaughter. Once Cassie comes into her powers, you are expendable unless your physical presence enhances her abilities.”
Darden had not considered what his brother suggested. Would Jeryl Jarlyn separate a pair of soul mates for his own gain? The answer to that question caused Darden to jump out of bed.
“Koel. JoAnna. I need you to come to the Childers’s home as soon as possible,” Darden communicated through the warrior channel. Everyone would have heard the request and he imagined more than Koel and JoAnna would arrive. Hopefully, Tolfer made enough food to feed an army.
He quickly dressed and headed for the kitchen. As expected, Candy was enjoying her morning beverage and Tolfer was plating the meal he just finished. The talented cook quickly started to prepare additional food for the unexpected guests he had just sent for. Cassie and Candy quickly filled their plates and started to eat.
Tarsea entered the kitchen and poured himself coffee. He imagined his friend’s mate was still sleeping in their bed. With Alex’s pregnancy, she would not have received the communication he sent through the warrior link. As expected, Tarsea immediately rose and was ready to hear what Darden planned to share.
“Start laying out the problem before the others arrive,” Tarsea requested. His best friend was the unofficial leader of their group.
“The Prime Ruler has arranged a date between Cassie and Barash Kleyman,” Darden said. “Starc is afraid Jeryl Jarlyn will want to set up an advantageous marriage between his granddaughter and another powerful family. I may be expendable once he learns Cassie and I have been sexually active.”
Darden had not planned to share with everyone that Cassie and he had made love. However, it was critical everyone knew all the facts. Although he spoke aloud to everyone in the kitchen, Darden also communicated through the warrior link.
“My grandfather cannot force me to marry anyone against my will,” Cassie said. “If things become too difficult, we can always return to the penal world. Shirl does not need a crystal to open a naturally occurring portal. Besides, I can play the blushing virgin and declare I won’t have sex until Darden puts a ring on my finger. Why would I want to be with anyone other than my soul mate?”
The conversation was temporarily stalled when Alex entered the kitchen. She passed the coffee and sighed. Since her pregnancy, one of Alex’s many complaints was her inability to drink caffeine. It made her especially moody in the morning.
Tarsea rose and poured his mate a glass of juice. Alex accepted it without a word and sat next to Cassie, mumbling some kind of greeting. Neither appeared to be morning people, but Cassie was able to drink coffee and let the wondrous beverage clear off her brain’s morning fog.
“What do we know about Barash Kleyman?” Tarsea asked.
“He supports the government and never deviates from procedure,” Starc responded through the warrior link. “Otherwise, he is a decent guy. Barash worked on his father’s campaign. The new Prime is a mind control telepath; the son is not.”
“Barash follows the straight and narrow,” Candy commented out loud. She translated what was communicated in the warrior link to her two friends who did not have access to it. “Otherwise, he’s cool. Cassie’s new beau is not a mind control telepath and does not appear to be a fanatic. He has never entered the warrior channel, that much I know.”
Darden thought it odd Cassie was unable to link into the warrior pathway. Being so close to both him and Benko over the past few weeks, Darden had assumed she would be able to connect. He never considered Cassie was not loyal to her father, the True Ruler of the Troyk universe. All of a sudden he looked at Cassie differently. Was there more to her growing relationship with her grandfather?
