Maliuth: The Reborn Page 3

  “We can pick another if this one is displeasing.” Ori offered with his arms gesturing around the room.

  “No, that’s okay Ori.” She ran her hands down the material, “This one is lovely, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  He eyed the material at her feet. “Your mate can arrange for clothing that is of an appropriate fit.”

  Alea rolled her neck and flexed her shoulders to relieve the tension, “Thank you for letting me rest in the bath water until I was ready.” She smiled at the Oracle, “Also, thank you for taking the time to talk with me. I appreciate your patience.” Squaring her shoulders, she nodded. “I’m ready Ori.”

  Chapter Five

  Alea talked to herself the entire time she followed Ori. It’s just a man. You are just meeting a man and not the King of the world. Wait a minute, how do you know he’s not the King? He might be! At that thought, her nerves shot into overdrive. She felt her hands sweating and was pretty sure she was going to be sick. The man she was meeting might be some kind of King. In addition, she hadn’t even asked Ori what it meant to be a “mate”. Maybe that was like a concubine or mistress to them. Maybe he just has sex with you once and left you for the rest of the men to take their turn. Now her imagination was getting out of hand and she hurried to control it before she got so scared she was running the other way.

  She had to stop suddenly when Ori and the others all reached a circle in the floor and parted away from her to create a line behind her. She took in the chaise type loungers with their plump pillows and a variety of occupants that were standing as she watched. Her eyes fell first on a very handsome, blond haired male as he stood up. His warm brown eyes were fixed on her, his mouth open. She could see that he had age lines around the mouth and eyes. He was wearing a loose fitting white shirt, tucked into black leather looking pants and his feet were encased in black boots. Strapped to one thigh was a wicked looking bladed weapon. When her eyes went back over his body she noted that what she could see of his skin was tanned and his tall frame was nicely muscled. She wondered for a moment if this was Maliuth, and then he held out his hand for a female that was sitting next to him.

  As she watched, he helped the slight framed, blond haired female to stand next to him. Okay, so this must not be Maliuth. The male and the woman stood side by side and eyed her with interest. The female was tall. Not as tall as the male next to her, but much taller than Alea. The woman’s warm brown eyes were taking in her appearance and Alea grimaced. Though dressed similarly, in body shape, height, skin tone and hair color they were opposites. In addition, she was barefoot and this woman was wearing some type of sandal. It was taking in the woman’s dress that Alea noticed a very feminine, intricate tribal tattoo on her right shoulder.

  Not wanting to stare and appear rude, she dragged her eyes around the room. She saw another blond haired male standing by a different lounger with his mouth gawking open. Both of the male occupants of the room had brown eyes. Both of them were tall and muscular. Both wearing the white shirt with black pants and boots.

  She was seeing a trend here with the blond hair and brown eyes. Maybe going for black hair and blue eyes hadn’t been such a good idea. Feeling a sense of doom come over her Alea finally looked straight ahead and it was her turn for her mouth to drop open.

  He was breathtaking. She would put his height at over six foot tall. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and with his back to her, she got to see his broad shoulders and muscled back taper to an indented waist and hips. His pants covered his lower body but the material was form fitting and his ass and thighs were muscled as well. As she watched, he seemed to flex the various muscle groups, showing off for her perhaps. Then he turned and she wasn’t looking at his back. She was getting a view of his chiseled chest, stomach, thighs and…blushing hotly she hurried to look into his face.

  His eyes were a deep brown with nicely arched brows. The warm color reminded her of melted milk chocolate. His cheekbones were high, with a chiseled jawline. She would swear that he had dimples on either side of his lush mouth. The lips were full and he wet his lips as she watched. Like the others in the room, he had dark blond hair. The silky strands could be wet she supposed since she saw what looked to be water on his pants and the floor around his feet.

  She vaguely heard Ori asking the others to step outside the chamber. His words barely registered with the blood pounding in her ears. Maliuth hadn’t moved since turning from the mirror. They both just watched each other, neither seeming able to move. Alea waited, unwilling to break the mood.

  Then he was walking toward her. His eyes were drinking her in from the top of her head to her toes, covered in material as they were and back again. When he reached her in the circle, he tentatively held out a hand as if to check that she was really there. His fingers were light as a butterfly as they traced a path down her arm. The skin where he touched flared to life. She had never had this kind of physical reaction to a male before and was stunned. His large hand engulfed her, his fingers entwining with hers for a second and then dropped away. She immediately missed the touch and was about to say something when he grabbed the material of her dress at the hip. Feeling the material rise along her leg she started to tremble in the circle.

  Was he going to rip her clothes off right here? Would she mind? He must have seen what he was looking for because he dropped the material. With his hand level with her hip, he circled her in what she could only describe as stalking. His hand burned through the material of the dress and branded the skin underneath. First along her hip and lower back, then across her stomach. Against her will, the muscles bunched and trembled. Stopping behind her, his free hand was now playing with the thick fall of hair at her back. When she felt his fingers brush along the small of her back and lower to feel out her ass cheek the gooseflesh and prickling sensation that followed added to her awareness of him. She couldn’t see his large body behind hers, but she could feel the heat of him. When his light touch went along her neck toward her ears, she suddenly felt like it was too much. She went to turn to offer a protest, but she was engulfed in his arms. One forearm was pressed under her breasts, lifting her slightly. The other hand moved to massage her thigh. She felt his hot breath at the base of her sensitive ear. Her back was completely pressed into his chest and her heart raced at the feel of him against her.

  “Do not be afraid.” The timber of his voice was like a tuning fork and she was suddenly trembling all over. Her breasts grew heavier and her nipples stiffened into harder nubs. The moisture began to slick the cleft between her legs and her breathing became rapid. The thumb splayed along her ribs moved slightly to press into the underside of her breast. “I have never seen a form like yours.” The thumb pushed higher and the hand on her thigh was bunching the material of her dress. “So small in stature, yet so perfect.”

  Turning her in his arms she found herself pressed face first into his chest. He had one hand on the back of her neck and the other arm at her lower back. Pulling her up and bowing her back at the same time, she was suddenly face to face with him. Her breasts were smashed against his pecs and the energy flowing between them was electric and stunning.

  “I claim you as my mate.” He growled fiercely and Alea felt a sharp sting along her collarbone and rising over her shoulder.

  “Cease!” Alea heard a voice call out but she was so enthralled by Maliuth’s eyes that she didn’t register the request. “I said cease at once.” Maliuth blinked and reluctantly put some space between them. When Alea felt that her feet were solidly planted on the ground, she took a shaky step back. Looking at her shoulder, she could see the faint glow of a tattoo had been forming. It wasn’t the same as the one she had seen on the female from before. Each mating tattoo must be unique. She looked at Maliuth and noticed he had been forming one also. When pressed together, they would fit together like a puzzle piece. Not understanding why he had let her go she looked around.

  “Drace!” The rage in that one word made Alea shudder. Maliuth was more angry than any person sh
e had ever seen. “What do you—”

  “I am challenging mate status.” The male named Drace yelled out. “You are not to complete the bonding until after the challenge is settled.”

  “How dare you!” The older blond male from before had come storming back inside the chamber from yet another set of doors, along with the other two from Maliuth’s party. She didn’t know who everyone was, but since she had mistaken this male to be Maliuth before he had helped the female with him, and since he had a vague resemblance to Maliuth, she was figuring he must be some form of relative.

  “Father it is okay.” Maliuth had gotten hold of his temper, though Alea could feel his fist clenched against her side.

  “It is not okay. Where are the Oracles?” the older man’s voice was thundering in the small chamber.

  “Dear. Maybe it is best if you let Maliuth handle this. We are here as guests and should not interfere.” The statuesque blond female tried to reason with the enraged male.

  “I accept your challenge and ask Galan to be my second.” Maliuth pulled her into his body and carried her to stand away from the circle they had been standing on. Alea was grateful since she was too stunned to move on her own.

  “You cannot have the Crown Prince as your second.” Drace taunted as he too prepared for the fight. Clothing was being removed and blades handed out. “Icus is my second.” He nodded to a male that had stormed the room with him.

  “Then I will second Maliuth.” The older male called out and Alea noticed that Drace paled under his tan.

  “Father it is beneath your station to stand in as second. The King will not be happy if he hears of this.” Maliuth had moved to stand in front of his father. “I am honored that you would do this for me but I cannot let you.”

  “Let me?” The older man had taken his shirt off and Alea noticed he was extremely fit. There were slightly pale scars crisscrossing his back and sides. His shoulder had an intricate tattoo that she bet would match the one on Maliuth’s mother. “You cannot stop me.”

  Turning to look at the males as they all formed a circle in the middle of the room. She asked the female standing next to her. “What are they going to do exactly?”

  Whispering down to her the female replied, “They are going to fight of course.” Alea paled and before she could respond, the woman went on. “I am Sartya by the way. Maliuth is my son. The stubborn ox preparing to stand with him is my mate, Malendroch. You can call him Malen since we are to be family.”

  Alea was still stuck on the ‘fight’ part of Sartya’s statement. “You mean they are going to use those blades and attack each other?” The men in the circle were doing some sort of ritual and then only two were left in the circle. Maliuth and Drace were facing each other, both with a very sharp looking bladed weapon in their hands.

  “Yes dear. One of them must die since this is a challenge for mate status.” Sartya stated matter of factly. “Maliuth was chosen by The Elder for you, but if challenged by a previously chosen male, then he could lose the right to be your mate.”

  “What is a previously chosen male?” Alea jumped when Maliuth and Drace suddenly started swiping at each other with their blades and spinning to avoid being hit. She had to turn away and looked at Sartya. “I don’t understand.”

  Sartya looked at her with sympathy, “A previously chosen male is one that was given a chance at a mate but was unsuccessful in getting her through the shadows. It is a very heavy burden for a male to carry. I could almost feel sorry for Drace if he was not trying to take you from Maliuth.”

  “If Drace wins, then I am to be a mate to him? I have no say in the outcome?” Alea was stunned that she didn’t get a choice in the matter.

  “Drace will not win.” Sartya didn’t even sound sorry, “Maliuth is the First Prime of Abondiel.” As to her having a choice Sartya conveniently didn’t answer that part.

  As if Alea knew what that was. It sounded impressive and when she could bear to look at the fight she saw that Drace was taking far more damage than Maliuth. She wasn’t familiar enough with the ways of this world and she really didn’t want to interfere. That didn’t mean she was going to watch and cheer Maliuth on in his attempt to kill someone. When there was an especially loud groan, she couldn’t help but look. Seeing Maliuth on the ground, she gasped loudly. “Mal—” She went to step forward but Sartya stopped her. Pressing her fist into her mouth to keep from crying out she watched as Drace jumped forward. Maliuth used his legs and Drace’s momentum to hurl him across the circle. Drace went slamming into the ground and slid a good ten feet. Maliuth was stalking toward Drace and Alea couldn’t help remembering being in his arms and the physical attraction she felt for him. She didn’t wish death on anyone, but she refused to think of being a mate to anyone but Maliuth. He was the one for her. She knew it deep in her soul. She had come through the shadow for him.

  Both men were getting fatigued and Alea wondered at the stamina that kept them going.

  “It will be over soon. Drace is making too many mistakes.” Sartya placed her arm around her shoulder.

  Suddenly a roar shook the temple and another voice yelled for all to cease. Not sure who the newcomer was and why everyone stilled at his command Alea looked to the male in the doorway. She saw Ori and Jerr with a much taller robed figure entering the room. The newcomer strode purposefully in. His gaze taking in the males fighting in the center and then his eyes landed on her. Where the others had warm brown eyes, this male had black empty ones. Even though he was wearing the brown robes, he had his hood down and Alea could see some type of adornment around his neck that the other oracles didn’t have.

  “Maliuth.” The male walked furiously into the circle, “Drace. You will cease this fight immediately.” Since Drace was weakened by blood loss, his blade fell to the ground and he stumbled. “Orihin see to Drace.”

  Ori went to the male as he stumbled and was trying to help him stay on his feet. He wasn’t able to keep Drace upright and the large male fell onto the ground. “Elder.” The poor Oracle moved to stand up. “There is nothing I can do for him.” So…that is who the taller Oracle with Ori was. The leader of their order and the one who chose males for mates.

  “What about the newcomer?” The Elder looked at her and she felt as if she was transparent. His eyes were looking into her and seeing everything. “Alea is it? Come forward…here.” He pointed at the circle where Drace was dying.

  “I do not think that is a good idea.” Maliuth went to stand before her but was stopped by The Elder.

  “I chose you for her.” His eyes bore into Maliuth, “I can un-choose just as quickly. There is something I need to see, and if proven...” He let his sentence hang unfinished.

  Alea looked around at the panicked faces and wondered what The Elder wanted from her. What could she possibly have done to warrant being pulled as a mate from Maliuth?

  “You cannot just—” Maliuth went to argue.

  “Can I not First Prime? Do you want to test me?” The Elder held the key to keeping Maliuth as a mate and she hurried to break up the building argument.

  “What do you want me to do?” Alea made it to the circle and looked on helplessly at the bleeding Drace.

  “Heal that male.” The Elder pointed to the ground and Alea saw that Ori was looking at her with despair.

  “I don’t understand.” She knelt next to Drace. “He has lost a lot of blood,” she would know since she was kneeling in it, “and needs a medical doctor.”

  “We have elders on Abondiel that have some talent with herbs and medicinals.” The Elder stated over her objections, “There has not been a true healer in many hundreds of years. One who can cure disease and stop wounds with a touch.” Alea thought back to the wounds on Jerr’s arm. “From what Orihin had reported to me, you are such a healer.”

  Alea was shocked, “I’m not. I don’t even know what that means.”

  “Did you mark one of my Oracle, and then heal those wounds.” The Elder was looking impatient and Alea didn’t wan
t to anger him but she was confused.

  “No.” She insisted. “At least I don’t think so.”

  “There you see.” Maliuth tried to intervene. When she admitted that she wasn’t sure she could tell that was the wrong thing to say. Maliuth looked stunned and the gasps of alarm from his friend and family echoed around the room.

  “We are wasting time Alea.” The Elder moved surprisingly fast and gripped her face in his hands. Standing over her menacingly he snapped, “You would not want me to test your skills on someone closer to you.”

  As a threat went this one held sway with her. He would chose to try to harm Maliuth, and her mate would strike back. Funny that she was already thinking of him as her mate. What kind of trouble would he be in for killing the leader of the Oracle?

  She couldn’t risk it. Leaning to touch the dying body of Drace, she closed her eyes.

  Chapter Six

  It was the same void as when she had died. She saw Drace standing confused and approached him cautiously.

  “Hello.” She tried to sound unthreatening. “Do you know who I am?”

  “Alea. You were chosen to be with Maliuth.” He answered and turned away from her, “I am waiting here, but I do not know what for.”

  Laughing weakly Alea reassured him, “I know how you feel.”

  “That is right, you were Reborn so have been here before.” He smiled and she noticed how handsome he was. Perhaps not as handsome as Maliuth but very good looking just the same. “What am I supposed to do?”

  “You could come back with me to Abondiel...” She trailed off when he shook his head.

  “I was a failure with my mate.” He looked so sad that it broke her heart. “I have nothing to go back for. That is why I challenged Maliuth. I knew I could not defeat him in a fight. It was a penance for my failure.”