Enticed & Seduced, page 4
part #7 of House of the Cat Series
“Let me speak with him first. I’ll introduce you later.” Kaya placed her hand on his forearm. He wasn’t as calm as he pretended, although he was doing a first-rate job of hiding his unease. She got it. He’d had to step into Ransom’s shoes, and soon he’d face an even bigger test. Now, a stranger had arrived. Yes, she understood. “Will that do?”
“Yes.”
They strode through the entrance hall and down a long passage to one of the rooms she hadn’t entered before.
“How did things go with Hallam?”
Gryffnn smiled, the strain in his expression fading. “That was the easy part. Hallam thinks you’re cool and he can’t believe his old dad has captured your attention.” He halted in front of a closed door. “Call if you need me.”
“Thanks.” Kaya sucked in a quick breath and knocked on the wooden door.
“Come,” a deep voice said.
A high-pitched shriek filled the parlor as she stepped inside and closed the door.
Kaya stared at the pale blue infant in her brother’s arms. Her brows rose. “Something you forgot to tell me?”
“This is Lys, our sister.” Her brother had grown his black hair long. The wavy locks hit his shoulders. He wore a sleeveless leather vest in deference to the heat on Narenda and this revealed his peak physical condition, plus several tattoos. Taller than her, he glared down at her in the big-brother stare that always jerked her chain.
Except for this instance.
Kaya’s gaze darted from him to the infant and back. “Sister? You’re kidding me. Really, who does the kid belong to?”
“Your brother isn’t lying to you.” A man stepped from the shadowed corner of the parlor. “Lys is your sister. Gleneese’s third child.”
“Father?” Kaya glanced at Tayte, a rush of goose bumps breaking out on her limbs. “But-but you’re dead.” Except the man stood in front of her with his pale blue hair as straight as hers. He was taller than Tayte and didn’t have as much muscle, but she recalled the strength in his arms and the speed with which he could run.
“Kaya, have a seat,” Tayte ordered. “We have much to tell you.”
With another glance at the wailing infant, she walked—or rather wobbled—to the nearest gel-chair and fell onto the seat.
“What is that stench?” her father asked.
“It’s me. I washed and rinsed three times, but it takes a while for the scent to fade. I got slimed by one of the carnivorous plants on the other side of the mountains. Tell me about Mother. What happened?”
The baby ceased its wailing when her father took her from Tayte and tickled her tummy. “Are you hungry, sweet Lys?” her father crooned.
He produced a bottle from a bag Kaya hadn’t noticed and soon the child—her sister—drank with gusto.
“A faction developed who believed our race would be better off without Mother’s rule,” Tayte said.
“Phrull, don’t tell me you expect me to return to Sitnam. I don’t want to rule. I-I… I’d make a terrible leader.”
“Listen, Kaya, and we’ll explain everything before we leave,” her father said.
Kaya pressed her lips together. She understood none of this. Her father was alive, and she had another sibling?
Her father stared at her. “You’re so beautiful. You have the appearance of Gleneese.”
But her mother was dead. Another thing she didn’t fathom. Her mother was a strong woman, an experienced and canny leader. It sounded as if her attackers had taken her unaware.
“Kaya, you, Lys and I are full siblings, not half as is the tradition among Mother’s people,” Tayte said. He held up his hand when she opened her mouth. “Father is from Morph. He and Mother met when they were young, and they fell in love. They didn’t care that their people were enemies. Together, Mother and Father made a plan to mate and to stay together for as long as they both lived.”
Her mother, a romantic?
“As a Morph, Father can change his appearance at will. Show her.”
Kaya blinked as the man they assured her was her father—he resembled him—transformed in front of her to the younger male she’d seen in depictions her mother had showed her when she was young. Then, as she watched, his appearance shifted again to a handsome man who in no way resembled her mother’s first two husbands.
Kaya blinked. “Father?”
The man transformed back to the father she’d known as a child before tradition demanded that her mother get rid of him. Let the celebrations begin.
“I can also shift my appearance in the manner of our father,” Tayte informed her. “Our special talents mean we can help certain races with delicate matters.”
“You’re spies?”
“Not quite, but all of our work is undercover,” her father said.
“But why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“We’re telling you now,” Tayte said with clear impatience. “Kaya, time is scarce. We’re in the middle of an important mission, which is why we have to leave Lys with you. Keep her safe.”
“Wait…what…? No! I have no experience with children. If they screech, I hand them back to their mothers. Wait—is this payback for us dumping Olivia Polo with you?”
“No,” Tayte said. “Although I owe you. That Earth girl is a menace to my sanity.”
The trace of confusion in her brother cheered her. She’d known the Earth woman would intrigue him. “Olivia is an intelligent being. Oh, wait. Has she caught on to your spy games?”
Her father chuckled, and for an instant, Kaya felt normal. She had a family.
Tayte straightened, his scowl menacing. “Father and I are in the middle of something dangerous. I don’t want you or Lys caught in the trouble. You are Lys’s sister and you will act as her guardian.”
“Please, Kaya. There is no one else we trust, and you should spend time with your sister. It’s not normal for the children of your race to have close ties, but you and Tayte get on well,” her father said.
“You said she’s in danger?” Kaya asked, her gaze flitting across to the now quiet baby. Phrull, she knew nothing of raising a child. Although Camryn and Jannike had children. Perhaps they would help her. Offer her aid.
Grata! She could imagine Jannike’s evil chuckles now.
“You’re both in danger from the new ruler,” Tayte said.
“All the more reason to separate us,” Kaya blurted.
“No,” her father said. “We’re stronger together. I am proud of my son and older daughter. You are warriors and capable of great things.”
“You’re not giving me a choice, are you?” Kaya asked, staring from her brother to her very-alive father.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” her father said. “You and Lys will have to rub along together.”
Kaya gulped. She’d rather face a herd of hell-horses than this one child. She understood more about hell-horses than offspring. Her shoulders slumped, then straightened. “All right. Who should I watch for? One thing first. I am—” She broke off her intended lie. “I agreed to do a favor for Gryffnn, the leader of the dragons. Another dragon clan from a nearby planet has declared their intention to visit. Gryffnn has a history with the other clan. He believes they have heard of his older brother’s illness. He’s in a coma,” she added. “It’s just as dangerous for Lys on Narenda. I need to tell Gryffnn the truth. My friends too.”
“Secrets shared have a life of their own,” her father said.
“These people are my friends. I hold their secrets, and they will do the same for me,” Kaya snapped.
“Could you pass off Lys as your child? Would this Gryffnn agree to this and protect her as his own?” Tayte asked.
Kaya lifted her head and met her brother’s and father’s doubts. “He has a child from his first mating. I would protect his son with everything I have, and Gryffnn will offer the same protection for me. He is a good man. A decent one. Ry and Camryn, Nanu, Jannike and Mogens—they would all protect Lys with their lives too.”
Grata, she couldn’t believe she’d agreed to this plan.
“Gryffnn. He is the dragon who showed us to this parlor?” her father asked.
“Yes.”
Her father nodded. “He spoke highly of you.”
“He’s an honorable man and trustworthy,” Kaya replied as the baby—Lys—gave a tiny hiccup.
“All right. I agree,” her father said. “But remember this well, Kaya Ignatius. Every person you tell places not only you and Lys in danger but Tayte and myself too. Gleneese has died protecting her family. You must take care.”
“How will the danger present?” Kaya asked, tension sliding down her backbone. Her ears tingled, and she fought to stay her hands at her sides. She wanted to itch that pesky tingle away.
“Watch for a single assassin,” Tayte said. “From Sitnam, I’d say. At least they’ll stand out with their blue skin.”
“The assassins are more likely to chase Tayte or me,” her father said. “Narenda and your home base of Viros are far enough away from Sitnam, which is why we brought Lys to you.”
“Are you returning to Sitnam?”
“Morph,” Tayte said.
“But isn’t that dangerous? Won’t they see your true faces once you land there?”
“Neither Tayte nor I registered as Morphs,” her father said.
“Every bit of information you offer gives me more questions,” Kaya commented. “You can tell me the story once your mission ends. You will survive. Won’t you?” she added in a hard voice.
“We’ll do our best.” Tayte picked up a package she hadn’t noticed earlier. “This is Mother’s sword. She always intended to pass it on to you. I had a faithful servant retrieve it for me once I heard of Gleneese’s death.”
Kaya took the wrapped sword, feeling the magic of it radiating through the wrapping. Tradition said the sword chose its master, not the other way around. Until she felt the prickle clear to the tips of her ears, she’d never believed the stories, dismissing the information as fantasy and gossip. “I will treasure this sword.”
“Practice the routines you learned as a youngster,” her father instructed. “Gleneese always boasted of your talent. If an assassin comes after you, you’ll require fast feet and a strong arm.”
“All right. I train each cycle. Adding in swordplay is easy enough.”
“Lys’s clothes and supplies are in the two bags.” As he spoke, Tayte pulled out a third bag and removed a woman’s dress. The flowing type that older matrons wore.
Her father handed Lys over and Kaya accepted her sister awkwardly since she still held her sword. Although she’d been around Camryn’s and Jannike’s babies, she’d escaped close contact. Tayte yanked off his vest, tossed it aside and pulled the dress over his head. Secs later, her brother morphed into a middle-aged female with stark black hair and an ample bosom. By the time she turned to scan her father, he also had transformed to an older woman.
Her father embraced Kaya, taking care not to squash his youngest daughter. He stooped to kiss Lys’s forehead. He stepped back, his blue eyes bright with emotion. “Take care, my daughter,” he said in an old-lady rasp to match his appearance.
“You too,” Kaya murmured, blinking at the difference in her father and brother even though she’d witnessed the change from male to female.
“Kaya.” Tayte approached and hugged her.
“Stay alive,” she murmured as he kissed Lys.
“Please thank your Gryffnn for his hospitality and consideration,” her father said. “We will meet another time.”
Kaya nodded and watched as her father and brother minced from the parlor and disappeared.
With a sigh, she frowned down at her sister. The infant had an angelic appearance with her blue curls and blue-tinged skin. Her little pointy ears. Then, she opened her mouth and screeched.
“Oh no. Oh no. Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry!” Kaya jiggled her as she’d seen Camryn and Jannike do with their children. Lys promptly vomited all over Kaya’s front. “Grata! Camryn! Camryn!” Kaya strode from the parlor, heading toward the family room where Gryffnn’s family hung out together. She figured—prayed—Camryn and Ry were present too.
Her father and brother had left her holding the baby. A screaming, angry, sick one at that.
The Scary Responsibility
“Kaya?” Gryffnn had hovered close enough to give Kaya aid should she require it but far enough away so he didn’t eavesdrop with his superior hearing. Oh, he’d wanted to listen, but decency forbade him to intrude in this manner. Two men had entered his parlor and two elderly women departed, yet he’d remained in position, trusting Kaya, despite the odd situation.
Kaya appeared in the doorway holding a squawking baby. The stench of vomit wafted on the air. Kaya’s eyes were wide and round and her muscles clenched tight. “She won’t stop crying! She cries and cries. I don’t know what to do.”
Gryffnn took in the vomit on Kaya’s tunic, the fear on her face, and his heart melted at her panic, the chink in her tough warrior armor.
“Here, let me.” He scooped up the wailing infant, held her against his chest and rubbed her back. The child burped and quieted, her frantic sobs reducing to sniffles. Gryffnn continued to stroke the child’s back, enchanted by her similarity to Kaya. “Has your brother left?”
“Yes. I need to talk to you, tell you something in private.”
She stared at him weirdly, her mouth opening and closing until she resembled an inexperienced dragon youngling who’d burnt his lips on his beginner fire.
“Whoa,” she muttered and shook her head.
“Why don’t we discuss whatever you need to tell me in my chamber? You’ll want to change your tunic. Hallam moved your possessions for me. Well, he started to until he got to your underwear drawer. I had a maid finish the rest of the packing while Hallam did the toting back and forward.” Gryffnn waggled his eyebrows and grinned. “He has questions for you.”
An un-Kaya-like moan slipped from her. “Maybe I could redo this entire cycle. I’m a warrior, not a nursemaid. Two children in one cycle. It’s way too scary for me.”
Gryffnn wanted to smile at her flustered air. Her ruffled manner made her more interesting, as did learning of her family. She had a brother, which meant he’d have another brother, if he got his way. A dragon could never have too many siblings guarding his back.
“This is my chamber,” Gryffnn said, stopping in front of a carved wooden door. He placed his palm on the recognition plate and the door swung open. “I’ll code the door for your palm later this eve.”
Kaya shut the door behind them and turned to him. “This is my sister, Lys. My mother died, and my father and brother believe if those responsible catch up with either me or Lys, they’ll try to kill us. They suggested I pretend Lys is my daughter. Children are a mystery to me. What if I break her?” Kaya almost wailed.
“That’s a lot of information for my poor male brainbox to compute. Start again and tell me everything,” he said.
Although he’d received the gist of what she said, the lift of her nose, the straightening of her shoulders told him Kaya was regaining control. She set the wrapped package she carried in the corner of his chamber.
“What is that?”
“My mother’s sword. Tayte said she wanted me to have it.”
“Are you talented with a sword?”
“I used to train with one. It won’t take me long to regain my muscle memory and strength.”
The baby in his arms cooed and grabbed a strand of his hair. She yanked it hard. “Ow. The little one is a warrior like her sister.” He freed himself and the baby laughed at him. His heart melted with a fierce wave of emotion. If he and Kaya had a child, they might resemble this baby, or they might turn into a big hulking dragon. Either way, he’d celebrate.
Normally, dragons didn’t mate outside their species, but he and Ransom had discussed the matter when his older brother had noted his fascination with Kaya. Ransom had informed him anything was possible. He’d confided to Gryffnn that if he discovered a woman who called to him, he’d follow his heart—no matter what the lectures the remaining elders gave him.
Good enough for him.
Aware his thoughts had wandered onto a different path, he glanced at Kaya. She’d sunk onto the corner of his gel-bed. The next step would be getting her naked.
“Your eyes are glowing.”
Gryffnn blinked. The baby was staring at him too. Best he get his randy thoughts under control. Lys cooed and flung up her little arm, smacking him on the jaw.
“Lys.” Kaya cast her gurgling sister a scowl, and Gryffnn controlled his amusement with difficulty.
“What happened to your mother?”
“She was the ruler of Sitnam. From what my brother said, there was a faction on the planet who wanted to overthrow her and they succeeded. The ruler of Sitnam is always a female. My race never values males, which was why my brother left at the age of twelve rotations. My mother sent him away, but now everything I thought I knew is upside down.”
“Why? Can you tell me?” This slice of her life fascinated him.
“In my world—my mother’s world—a male serves one purpose. To provide seed to produce the next generation. Once a female is breeding, the female kills the male. My father didn’t die until I was around four rotations, which is unusual on our world.”
Gryffnn blinked yet again. “Kills them?”
“Yes. I thought my mother had followed tradition, since my father differed from Tayte’s. But now I find she fell in love with a man from an enemy planet. A man from Morph. Tayte, Lys and I all have the same father, and he is still alive. I-I think he raised Tayte and made sure of his safety. Tayte kept the secret and never told me.” She sounded confused and disgruntled.
“That was your father with your brother?”
“Yes.”
And the Morph connection explained why two women had left. He’d let them go without questioning their changed appearance since he’d been more worried about Kaya.
“Your father and brother think you and Lys are in danger?”
“It’s possible the faction who overthrew my mother will search for us. We’re a danger—well, me—since I have the bloodlines to stir the people to rebellion.”
