Chapter 12
TWELVE
RAIKAR
Raikar's black uniform felt like armor as he strode through the twilight toward the main courtyard, each piece of military regalia—the crisp shirt, the medal-adorned jacket, the polished boots—weighing heavier than usual against his shoulders.
The twin moons cast long shadows across the stone pathways, and with each step, the crushing weight of what he'd done to Jade pressed deeper into his chest.
How could I have lost control so completely?
The memory of their joining replayed with brutal clarity—Jade's wild abandon as she rode him, her moans filling his senses, the mate bond singing between them like electricity.
He'd felt his panther surge so close to the surface, felt his claws partially extend, but he'd been so lost in the sensation of her tight heat around him, so consumed by the primal satisfaction of finally claiming his mate, that when his climax hit with devastating force, he hadn't realized his claws had penetrated her skin.
A General who prided himself on discipline and control, reduced to an animal marking his mate without consent. The shame burned through him like acid.
She can still walk away. She can demand to go home, call Gerri, and flee my life forever.
The partial bond would remain, that cruel tether ensuring they'd feel each other's emotions across any distance, but she could choose never to complete it.
The thought of her absence, of spending his life with only half a connection to the woman his soul recognized as its perfect match, made his chest constrict with panic.
Just get through this political theater. Rush back to her. Convince her to stay.
The courtyard came into view, torches flickering against the gathering darkness as hundreds of clan members assembled in anticipation. Raikar's jaw clenched as he spotted the small stage where Councilor Xylen waited with predatory patience, Sera standing beside him like a perfectly polished trophy.
"General Raikar!"
Brenn's voice cut through his dark thoughts. She jogged toward him, her usually calm demeanor replaced by obvious worry.
"Where is Jade? She hasn't been seen since training this morning, never came home. Talia and I are concerned."
Raikar stopped, realizing he should have communicated earlier. "My apologies for not contacting you sooner. Jade is at my estate. She was attacked by a panther in the jungle today."
Brenn's eyes widened with shock. "Attacked? By whom? Is she injured?"
"I arrived in time to intervene. She sustained scratches on her arm and some shock, but she'll recover.
" The clinical words felt inadequate to describe the terror that had ripped through him when he'd sensed her panic through their developing bond.
"She'll be staying with me until I determine who orchestrated the attack and why. "
"That's wise." Brenn's relief was palpable. "I can bring her belongings by later, so she doesn't need to worry about retrieving them herself."
"Your thoughtfulness is appreciated."
Across the courtyard, Xylen's sharp gaze fixed on him with unmistakable impatience. The councilor's expression promised consequences for any further delays.
"I must attend to this ceremony now."
Brenn nodded, stepping aside as Raikar approached the stage with measured strides.
The crowd's anticipatory murmur died as he climbed the steps, positioning himself between Xylen and Sera.
The councilor's satisfaction was almost palpable—finally, after a decade of waiting, the problematic General would fall into line.
"Welcome, members of our proud clan," Xylen's voice carried across the courtyard with practiced authority. "Tonight marks a momentous occasion—an event we have anticipated for ten years. General Raikar has finally chosen his mate."
The councilor turned toward Sera with theatrical flourish. "She stands before us now—Sera Valdris, a daughter of our finest bloodline."
Sera stepped forward, her hand reaching for Raikar's with confident expectation. The touch would seal their public engagement, the first step toward a mating that would secure his ascension to High Commander through political alliance rather than true partnership.
Raikar pulled his hand away sharply.
Xylen's eyes flashed with warning, but something inside Raikar—some combination of fury at being manipulated, protective rage over Jade's attack, and the bone-deep certainty that came with finding his true mate—finally snapped.
"Councilor Xylen speaks truthfully about one thing." Raikar's voice filled the night air with commanding authority. "I have chosen my mate after ten years of searching."
The crowd leaned forward in anticipation.
"But that mate is not Sera Valdris."
Gasps rippled through the assembly. Sera's face went rigid with shock and humiliation. Xylen's carefully constructed composure cracked, revealing the calculating politician beneath.
"Her name is Jade Moreno," Raikar continued, his voice carrying to every corner of the courtyard. "She is my fated mate."
"What?" Xylen's voice sharpened to a dangerous edge. "Who is Jade Moreno? Why weren't we informed of this development?"
"She's a human martial arts instructor from Earth.
The situation required delicate handling, which is why I didn't mention it sooner.
" Raikar's gaze swept the crowd, noting the mixture of shock and intrigue on their faces.
His warriors, at least, didn't look surprised—they'd witnessed enough interactions between him and Jade to suspect the truth.
"But it no longer matters. Jade is my chosen mate.
You came here for a mating announcement—that is your announcement. "
The silence stretched taut as a bowstring before Xylen's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"If Jade Moreno is truly your fated mate, then you leave the council no choice but to invoke the ancient Trial of Shadow. The sacred mate bond must be proven before we acknowledge it and grant your ascension to High Commander."
Ice flooded Raikar's veins. The Trial of Shadow—a week-long survival test in the deepest jungle, requiring mates to work in perfect harmony against dangers that had killed previous challengers.
It hadn't been invoked since his great-grandparents' time, over two centuries ago.
His father and grandfather had both entered arranged matings that required no such proof.
The crowd buzzed with excitement. None of them had lived long enough to witness the legendary trial, but the stories of its brutal challenges were woven into clan folklore.
"When does this trial commence?" Raikar heard himself ask, though his mind raced with the impossibility of what lay ahead.
"Two days hence," Xylen replied, his satisfaction now unconcealed. "You will meet us at the sacred jungle stones at dawn."
Just perfect.
He had tonight and tomorrow to not only convince Jade to participate in the trial but to train with him for challenges that could kill them both.
"Very well. We'll be there."
The words escaped before Raikar could fully process their implications. Around him, the crowd dispersed in animated clusters, some doubting a human's ability to survive alongside their General, others thrilled by the prospect of witnessing history.
But as Raikar left the stage, Xylen's expression lingered in his mind. The councilor's investment in Sera's success seemed far more personal than political necessity would explain.
Why does he care so much about this particular mating?
The question would have to wait. Right now, he had a mate to convince and a trial to survive—assuming Jade didn't demand to return to Earth the moment he walked through his door.
The weight of two centuries of family legacy pressed down on his shoulders as he strode toward home, toward the woman who held his entire future in her hands.
His estate stood silent against the moonlit landscape as Raikar approached, his boots echoing against the stone pathway.
Each step carried the weight of monumental decisions—publicly rejecting Sera, claiming Jade as his mate before the entire clan, and now facing a trial that could kill them both.
His panther prowled restlessly, torn between triumph at declaring their bond and terror at what he'd potentially lose.
She'll be waiting by the door, demanding I call Gerri immediately.
But the front entrance remained empty, no furious woman with blazing brown eyes ready to unleash righteous anger. Relief flooded through him so intensely his knees nearly buckled. She hadn't fled. Yet.
The guest room lay vacant, the bed rumpled but abandoned. The kitchen was empty. The dining room was still. The back terrace overlooked the pink ocean under the twin moons, but Jade wasn't there absorbing the alien beauty.
Where could she—
His bedroom door stood ajar, soft light spilling into the hallway. Raikar's heart hammered as he climbed the stairs, each step bringing him closer to either salvation or devastation.
There, cross-legged on his massive four-poster bed, sat Jade with his most treasured possession—the leather-bound collection of poetry his great-grandmother had given his great-grandfather during their courtship.
The sight of her delicate fingers tracing pages he'd marked with adolescent hope and adult longing sent something raw and vulnerable crashing through his chest.
His panther surged, demanding he claim her again, complete what they'd started. But the careful way she held the ancient book, the flush across her cheekbones as she read words about eternal love and destined souls, made him feel utterly exposed.
What else did she discover while I was gone? What secrets did she uncover in my private sanctuary?
"What are you doing?"
She startled, the book nearly tumbling from her hands. "I was just—sorry, I shouldn't be in here. But I couldn't sit in that guest room any longer."