Chapter 31
31
P ari stared after the Muiraran woman hurrying down the long corridor. She wasn’t sure who she was, only that she upset Bondrah.
What was it about that name that made everyone react funny? And why wouldn’t anyone tell her?
She looked at Bondrah, Melvale, whatever. He still knelt before her. Was he literally waiting for her to command him? There was only one way to find out. “Bondrah?”
He raised his face to hers. His eyes held such tenderness in them she almost sank to her knees. No man had ever looked at her like that. “What is it you wish of me, Kahtala Miah, and I will give it to you.”
Her jaw dropped. Was this really happening? “I… I just want to go home.”
He bowed his head to her. “Very well.” When he raised his head, his eyes were bright blue. “I will take you now.”
“What?” Before she could comment further, he reached for her, pulled her against him, and stood with her in his arms, bridal style. “What are you doing?”
“What you command.” He strode down the long corridor, back the way they came, and turned down another.
“But, where are we going?” She wasn’t going to fight him, she didn’t know what that would do. Instead Pari let him carry her. Besides, it beat walking. The palace corridors were long!
“I seek a Time Master.” He stopped, sniffed the air, then kept going.
“Um, are you like, trying to sniff one out?”
“Yes.”
She giggled. “Really?”
He stopped, looked at her, the intensity of his eyes swallowing her up. She sensed the power within him in that moment, and almost cringed. What sort of being was this? “Maybe you should put me down?”
“It will be faster this way.” He picked up the pace. “I have you, Kahatala Miah.”
“That’s obvious but whoaaaa!”
He was off like a shot, moving so fast their surroundings blurred. What was happening?!
Pari closed her eyes, the speed too much for her, and hoped she wasn’t going to be sick.
He slowed, his gait so smooth she was barely jostled. If she hadn’t been convinced he was an alien before, she was now. He stopped before a door. It looked like most doors she’d seen. Heavy wood, tall and arched. Big enough for one of those spider cat creatures to fit through. Were there any inside?
“Who lives here?”
“A Time Master.” He closed his eyes.
“What are you doing?”
His eyes opened and he looked at her. “Summoning him.”
“Oh.” She noticed her arms were wrapped around his neck. She must have grabbed onto him just before he took off at lightning speed.
The door opened, and the big man in yellow and purple robes that served Hal, Raina, and her earlier bowed. “Alpha Melvale.” He did not straighten, and Pari noticed Melvale studying him.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
Melvale looked at her. “He awaits my command.”
Pari blinked a few times. “Didn’t you tell me to command you back there?”
He looked at her again with the same tenderness as before. “I did.”
“So… I can command you?”
He arched a single eyebrow at her. “You can.”
“But… you can command him?” She nodded at the man bowing before them.
“Yes.”
Pari shook her head. “I’m confused.”
The bowed man began to chuckle deep in his throat.
“Rise, Time Master,” Melvale said.
The man straightened, took one look at her, and smiled. “Pari, Alpha Melvale.” He gave them a slight bow then looked Melvale in the eyes. “How can I be of service?”
“Take us to Pari’s home.”
“Uh, excuse me,” Pari said raising a hand. “But, um, can you put me down?”
Melvale looked at her. “No.”
“What?”
Both his eyebrows went up this time. “No.”
“But… didn’t you just tell me I can command you?”
“Yes.” He gave his attention back to the tall black man in the purple and yellow robes. “Take us now.”
Pari watched Melvale’s eyes grow brighter, and the other man bowed again. “As you command, Alpha Melvale.” He straightened, his eyes locked with Melvale’s for a moment before one of the most beautiful women Pari had ever seen came alongside him.
She smiled at Pari then looked at Melvale. The man beside her put his arm around her. “Pretty one, take us to Pari’s home.”
The woman looked at Pari, then Melvale, then bowed her head to them. “As you wish.”
The man spoke again, this time in another language. It sounded familiar, and she wondered if it was the same language Melvale spoke— or rather, Bondrah Miah—spoke to her when they were prisoners of Dr. Charles. The woman he spoke with earlier sounded like she was speaking it too.
Pari gaped when the man pulled the woman into his arms and kissed her! As soon as he broke the kiss, she started to sing.
“Close your eyes, little one.”
“What?”
“Close them. Tight.” Melvale’s eyes took on a different sort of intensity, and she sensed she’d better do as he said.
Pari squeezed her eyes shut as a rumbling sounded, then got louder. She buried her face in the crook of his neck as he held her tighter. She swore the ground shook beneath their feet as the beautiful woman’s voice grew louder. She could feel pure power surrounding then, and it was starting to freak her out.
“Hold on, little one,” Melvale spoke into her ear. His voice was surprisingly gentle, considering this was the unpredictable side of him. She really ought to come up with her own nickname for him. At least until she figured out what Bondrah meant.
“Shhh,” he whispered into her ear. “Do not be afraid.”
Good grief, had she just whimpered? Her ruminating about nicknames while an earthquake was taking place around them didn’t help to steady her nerves. But, wait… the shaking had stopped, and the noise was decreasing in volume. Melvale started to move, and it wasn’t long before a familiar scent permeated her senses. She shivered, and knew she was home. But… how?
“You may open your eyes, little Pari.”
She did, heard her ragged breathing, and blinked in the pitch black. “Where are we?” Though she had a good idea. “Is this my building’s basement?”
“Yes, my little treasure,” said the other man.
Before she could say a word, the light came on. The woman stood near the bottom of the stairs, her hand still on the light switch. Pari gaped at the familiar surroundings, and tears welled in her eyes. “How is this possible?” She shook, unable to help it, as the tears flowed.
Melvale went down on one knee, then sat, cradling her in his lap. “Shhh, Kahtala Miah. You are safe. You are whole. And you are home. Do not cry, I cannot bear it.” He tucked her head beneath his chin and gently rocked her back and forth.
Pari didn’t know why she couldn’t stop crying and so let the sobs come, her body shuddering with them. She caught a glimpse of the handsome couple with them. They watched them warily yet with compassion, and waited patiently for her to calm. But she couldn’t.
“Kahtala Miah,” Melvale said against her hair. “ Amin khan deloh .” He held her away from him and kissed her forehead.
Pari sucked in a breath as some unseen force surrounded her. It didn’t hurt her, on the contrary, whatever it was, was calming. She swore a golden light surrounded them, and figured her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Pari squeezed her eyes shut, sniffed back tears and realized his lips were still touching her as he spoke in what had to be his native tongue. The feathery feel of his lips against her skin also helped, and she relaxed enough to open her eyes and sniff back more of her tears. She also needed to wipe her nose, but didn’t want to detach herself from his moving lips. She enjoyed hearing him speak gently to her.
Exhausted, it wasn’t long before she was snuggled against him, her eyes drifting closed, her mind still insisting they were surrounded by golden light. He kept speaking, and she felt him stand. He really did do as she commanded.
But how long was this going to last?
He began to move, and after a few moments, Pari opened her eyes, saw the familiar red and yellow paint of the hallway, and cried fresh tears. “I’m home…”
“Just as you wished,” Melvale said and went up a flight of stairs. She noticed she didn’t hear any of their foot falls but didn’t dwell on it. She also belatedly realized that the tall black man looked human, while the woman with him had the same pointed ears as Melvale. But, but they were changing!
She looked up at Melvale, and gasped. “Your ears!” She studied his face. “What… you don’t look…”
“I am disguised,” he said with a wink.
Pari gaped at him. His eyes were still a brilliant blue, yet the other side of him, the Melvale side, seemed to be seeping through, blending with the side that could become a fanged beast in seconds.
When they reached her apartment, he stopped, but did not put her down. “Kwaku, the door.”
“Yes, Alpha Melvale.” The man pulled a key from somewhere in his robes and unlocked her door.
“How do you have a key to my apartment?”
The door to the apartment next to hers opened and Mr. Winston poked his head out. “Pari! Are you alright? We’ve been worried…” his eyes widened. “Why is he carrying you?”
Melvale looked at him and growled low in his throat.
“I’m fine!” she blurted. “Everything’s fine. This is my, um, boyfriend.” She gave Mr. Winston a cheesy smile just before Melvale carried her across the threshold and into the apartment.
“Did you all just come from a costume party?” Mr. Winston called after them.
“Something like that,” she called back. The woman brought up the rear and closed the door behind them, effectively cutting off whatever Mr. Winston was about to say next.
Pari looked at Melvale. “Now will you put me down?”
“No.”
She heaved a sigh.
“Kwaku…”
“Right away, Alpha.” The man called Kwaku swept into the room Raina stayed in while the woman went into her living room.
“What are they doing?” she asked.
“Making sure we are alone, that the apartment holds no danger.” He looked into her eyes and cocked his head. “I will not risk your safety.” He lowered his forehead to hers. “Know that if I deem anything here unsafe, we will return to the palace. Is that understood?”
Her face fell. “But… I asked you to bring me home. That means I stay here. And you…” she snapped her mouth shut.
“I what, Kahtala Miah?”
She swallowed hard. “Go home?”
His face softened. “Pari, my beautiful one. You are my home. How can I leave it?”
Her jaw dropped.
“Everyting is clear, Alpha.” He looked at Pari. “I am Kwaku Awahnee. Time Master.” He bowed, straightened, then held out his hand.
As if sensing what he wanted, the woman stepped into the tiny foyer, scooted past them and took his hand. “And dis, my Alpha’s treasure, is my mate, Zara.”
Zara eyes met Pari’s and she smiled. There was something calming about her. “You have a beautiful voice,” Pari said, unsure of what else to say.
“Thank you, Pari Mae Lindir.” She gave Pari a slight bow then looked at Melvale. “All is safe.”
He gave her a nod then locked gazes with Pari. “I am loathe to let you go. This feels too right.”
All Pari could do was stare at him. She was so confused by his actions, she didn’t know what to think! It was like he had a real thing for her, but how could that be? Was she dreaming?
Slowly, he set her on her feet but took her by the hand. “She will need food, drink.” He took in their clothing. “We are not properly clothed.”
Kwaku smiled. “And whose fault is dat?”
Melvale narrowed his eyes at him. “Mine.”
Pari took in Melvale’s attire. He still wore his blue and silver robes. Kwaku his yellow and purple, and Zara was all in white with a yellow and purple sash around her waist. She looked like some goddess. No wonder Mr. Winston asked if they’d just come from a costume party. “What time is it?” She tried to go into the living room to look at the clock on the wall, but Melvale didn’t budge.
She turned to him. “I just want to see what time it is.”
“It is all right, Alpha Melvale,” Zara said. “It is safe.”
He looked at the handsome couple, then at Pari. “I will keep you close by my side.”
Pari forced a smile. What girl wouldn’t want to be at his side? But again, this couldn’t last, so she shouldn’t get too attached. Something that was becoming hard to do.
The cold fact was, she was damaged goods and wasn’t so hot emotionally either. The sooner he figured that out, the better.