∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Wray's eyes followed Kim as she moved away from him. He had seen the tears she’d tried to hide as she slid from his arms. Why had he done it? Had he really become so selfish, so spoiled as Emperor that he would put his wants and needs before those of a female? And not just any female, but Kim?
Somehow, in a very short time, she had become precious to him. Her strength and courage combined with her gentleness and caring had worked its way into his heart in a way no one else ever had.
“Please, Kim. I am sorry.” He said, holding out his arms. “I will not touch you like that again. Please, I don’t want you to become chilled, you need never fear me.”
“I’m fine and I don’t, fear you that is.” Still, she couldn't make herself move towards him. “But I do understand what you are saying. I wouldn’t want to touch me either if I were you.”
Wray frowned at her words. Of course, he wanted to touch her, she was beautiful and soft and... why would she think he wouldn’t? “I do not understand.”
The small smile she gave him was heartbreaking in its acceptance. “I do, so it’s okay.” She looked around the cave and realized it was bigger than she thought. “You said we were on Pontus?”
“We are.” Wray let his arms slowly fall to his sides, watching her carefully as she looked anywhere but at him. “It is a small mining planet on the edge of the Kaliszian Empire. Tell me what you meant by my not wanting to touch you.”
“Kaliszians… are they like the Ganglians?” she said instead.
“No.” Wray rose and slowly moved towards her. “Now answer my question.”
“Then what are they like?” Kim asked, taking a step back before she stopped herself. She was done backing away.
Slowly Wray advanced on her, not stopping until their bodies were nearly touching. His eyes searched her upturned face for the slightest hint of fear. Instead, she stuck her chin out so stubbornly that it nearly made him smile. She was such a brave little thing.
“You will explain what you meant by me not wanting to touch you.” He demanded again in a tone every warrior obeyed.
Kim just looked at him. She didn’t want to explain. Didn’t want to hear him say that he only tolerated touching her that it was something he would have done for anyone. Wray had come to mean a great deal to her, despite everything that had happened to her, she found she enjoyed his touch. She needed it. It made her feel whole again, safe; if he took that away from her… it might be what finally broke her.
“Please, Kim.” Wray's voice dropped as his eyes searched hers.
It was the ‘please’ that did it. Somehow, Kim knew he didn’t say it often and because he had now, she found she couldn’t deny him.
“I just meant I understand why you wouldn’t want to touch me. After what the Ganglians…” Kim never got to finish her sentence as she was lifted off her feet and pulled against a heaving male chest.
Wray couldn’t believe the rage that filled him when he realized she thought he didn’t want to touch her… thought he didn’t want her to touch him… all because the Ganglians had. Pulling her off her feet, he growled out angrily.
“You think I do not desire your touch!” He lowered his face so they were nose to nose. “That I would not welcome anything you would be willing to give me?”
“But you said… “ she started.
“That I was sorry I woke you when you needed rest.” He ground out. “Sorry, I let my desire to touch you, to feel your touch on me, interfere with what you needed.”
Kim searched his stormy gray eyes, trying to decide if she could believe him, but found her answer in a different body part when her thigh brushed against the bulge between his legs. Pressing against it slightly, she felt it grow.
“Kim…” Wray growled warningly.
“I… it really doesn’t bother you that…”
“Of course it bothers me!” Wray growled, his eyes flaring. “It enrages me that your male did not protect you, that you were harmed, but it does not affect my desire for you.”
“I… I don’t have a male.” She admitted and slowly ran her fingers along his wide shoulders watching as the heat in his eyes turned into smoldering embers. “You really don’t mind my touch.” She whispered in amazement.
“Mind…” Wray wanted to roar his satisfaction that no male had claimed her. Instead, a low growl vibrated through his chest as he told her the truth. “I crave it.”
Encouraged by his words Kim let her hands slowly travel across his chest, learning every bulge, every crevice, discovering that his skin was not only hot, but also smooth and silky.
“Kim…” Wray groaned.
“Yes, Wray?” she asked, looking up at him through her lashes.
“You must stop… you are… “
“I am what?”
“You are testing my control and you must not.”
“Why?” Innocent green eyes met his.
Wray’s gaze became fierce as he pulled her further up his body. “Because I want nothing more at this moment than to Join with you and you are still recovering. I will not risk harming you.”
"Join..." Kim searched her mind trying to understand his meaning. When she finally did, she stiffened, her eyes widened in fear and she started to tremble. She couldn’t… she….
Wray saw her fear. How could she not be after what she had endured? “Calm, little one.” He said gently, “I would never force myself on you.”
“I…” Kim closed her eyes, swallowing hard, “I know that. I…” but her voice still quivered.
“Shh…” Wray pulled her close, hoping it would comfort her. “It will be okay, Kim.”
“I’m sorry.” She said as tears filled her eyes again. “I can’t seem to stop crying.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, little one.” Wray carefully shifted, cradling her in his arms. “You are strong and you have survived much, but now you need to rest and heal.” Sitting he arranged her across his lap once more. “Rest, little one, and know that no harm will come to you.”
Kim laid her head against Wray’s chest and tried to sleep, but her mind wouldn’t settle, there were too many thoughts running through it, too many questions she didn't have the answers to and the harder she tried to relax the more tense she became.
“Kim…” Wray could feel her muscles tightening, but didn’t know how to help.
“Talk to me, Wray,” she pleaded, her arms wrapped around his massive biceps like a vine clinging, holding on to the only solid thing in her life. “I need to hear your voice.”
“What do you want me to talk about?”
“I don’t know. Anything. Everything. Tell me about your world.”
“My world….” Wray thought about the Tornian Empire, he had known it all his life, had loved every part of it, but how did he describe it?
“Wray?”
Pleading eyes looked up at him and the words poured out of him. “The Tornian Empire contains twelve main planets, each ruled by a Lord, who reports to the Emperor, all except for Luda.”
“Luda?” she asked, her eyes never leaving his.
“Yes, Luda is ruled by a King. He is always a blood relative of the Emperor and is next in line to rule if the Emperor dies without male offspring.” He felt the tension slowly start to leave her body as he told her about his world. “Together they create the Assembly of Lords and rule the Empire.”
“Are all the planets the same?”
“No. Each is special in its own right. Take Vesta, it is ruled by Lord Reeve, its lands are rich and fertile and can grow nearly every food imaginable. Much of it is traded with the Kaliszian Empire for power crystals and gems.” He looked down and while her eyes were still open, they were beginning to droop. “Betelgeuse is ruled by Lord Oryon, it is heavily forested with a great abundance of wildlife. Many warriors travel there to hone their hunting skills.”
“The planet I live on is called Tornian and it has all these things, but it also has vast mineral resources that support
Tornian technology. Lord Bertos is the Lord that oversees those things.”
“Lord Bertos?” Kim asked drowsily and found she couldn’t keep her eyes open. “I thought the Emperor would rule his own planet.”
Wray stiffened, then realized she was not questioning his ability. “He does, but he leaves the day to day worries to Lord Bertos so he can deal with the rest of the Empire.”
“Hmm… that makes sense, I guess. Is it pretty there?” she asked rubbing her cheek against his chest as she snuggled deeper into his embrace.
“I think it is the most beautiful place in all the known universes. The sky is beautiful and clear, the water pure. There are mountains, deserts and some lands that are so flat that you swear you can see forever. It supports so much life….” Wray found his throat tightening as he spoke of his home. He had never tried to express these feelings before. Embarrassed at this show of emotion, he looked down at Kim worried she would think less of him for having such soft thoughts. What he found was that his words had put a soft smile on her lips and lulled her to sleep. Leaning back, he rested.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Kim eyes slowly opened and she couldn’t believe what she saw. Everything was so bright, so clear and crisp. Every color was more, every sound pure, looking up, she saw… everything.
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
Kim turned towards the melodic voice and discovered the most beautiful woman she has ever seen standing a few feet away.
“Thank you.” She said bowing her head slightly.
“I didn’t say anything.” Kim said, frowning slightly.
“But you thought it.”
“You can read my thoughts?”
“Of course. I am the Goddess.”
“Goddess?”
“I had forgotten that you don’t know of me.”
“Aren’t Goddess’ supposed to remember everything?” Kim asked and immediately wished she had kept her mouth shut as razor sharp eyes pierced hers. Lowering her gaze, she bowed her head.
“Very good. You are learning.”
“Learning what?” Kim asked as she cautiously peeked up.
“Why I saved you.”
“I thought Wray did that?” She quickly lowered her eyes again and missed the Goddess’ smile.
‘Yes, this one would do.’ She thought. “He did because I allowed it. I gave you something to hang onto until he could find you.”
“Warrior.” Kim whispered, remembering the growls she had heard.
“Warrior.” The Goddess nodded in agreement. “He loved and protected you, died protecting you and I knew if you thought he was coming for you, you would hold on until my Warrior found you.”
“If you knew all that, why didn’t you save him?”
“He served his purpose.” she said dismissively.
“His purpose!” Kim hissed out angrily as she rose to her feet. She hadn’t even known she was sitting. “He wasn’t a purpose! He was a living, breathing creature and he deserves your respect!” Kim had forgotten she was confronting a Goddess.
“You would challenge me over him?” The Goddess asked softly and doing no more than raising an eyebrow, had Kim slammed onto her back.
“Yes.” Kim immediately jumped back to her feet, her hands clenched.
“Over his worthiness?” She demanded.
“Yes.”
“Even if it meant your own death?”
Kim only paused for a moment before replying. “Yes!”
The Goddess smiled and the universe sang. “You will do.” She told her.
“Do? Do for what?”
“You will be my new beginning. Because of you, my Tornian Warriors will finally realize why I have withheld my blessing from them for so long. You are the beginning.”
“The beginning of what?”
“Of a new world for all.” she said in that enigmatic way of the Goddess as she faded away.
Chapter Four
Waking, Kim discovered she was no longer in Wray’s arms; instead, she was lying on the hard cave floor, wrapped in a thin metallic blanket, alone. Startled, she sat up. Where was Wray?
“Wray?” She called out softly but received no reply. Slowly, she looked around the cave, taking in the details she’d been too distracted to notice before.
The cave was unlike any she had ever seen on Earth. Granted, she only saw them in pictures or on television, but those caves had always appeared so dark and cold, with little creepy crawly things in them. Just thinking about it made her skin crawl. This cave was warm and it had a light. Where was the light coming from?
Standing, she cautiously moved towards one of the walls. There was some type of feathery growth on it and it seemed to be giving off the light. Reaching out to touch it, her hand stilled when the growth seemed to curl back into itself, its light dimming.
"They are called luciferins."
Glancing over her shoulder, Kim found Wray coming towards her from deeper in the cave. "Luciferins?"
"Yes, they thrive in the caves on Pontus. They live off the remains of the energy crystals that were once mined here. In doing so, they glow."
"They're beautiful."
Wray tipped his head slightly and looked at the luciferins. He never considered it before, but yes, they were pleasing to look at.
"Are they dangerous to touch?" Kim asked.
"No, but it can damage them."
"Oh." Kim looked back at them, then realized they reminded her of the coral reefs back on Earth. Beautiful and alive, but if not treated with care, easily harmed and though she longed to touch one, she lowered her hand. She wouldn't knowingly harm something that was benefiting her.
"I'm sorry I was not back before you woke." Wray said, stepping close, his eyes moving over her, searching for any signs of harm.
"Where were you?" she asked, turning to face him.
"I woke and needed to relieve myself."
"Oh." Kim blushed slightly, then realized she did too. "Ummm, where?"
"Follow the luciferins, there are several small chambers, I used the first one on the left."
Nodding, she started back then paused. "Is there anything I should look out for?"
"Look out for?" Wray frowned at her question.
"Animals, little creepy crawlies?" Kim made spider-like movements with her fingers.
"No,” Wray found he had to hide his smile at the thought she might be afraid of a little bug. “You have nothing to worry about. There has been little life on Pontus since the great infection."
"Why?"
"Because little grows here anymore."
"I...." Kim held up a finger, "hold that thought." she said and quickly moved deeper into the cave. Selecting the second chamber, she entered and found out that Wray was right there wasn't a single bug in sight. Quickly taking care of her needs she hurried back to Wray.
When she returned, she found he had spread the silvery blanket out and placed a bar and the pouch of water in the center. “Is that a survival blanket?” she asked.
“It is what warriors use to survive in harsh conditions.”
“That’s what we use them for on Earth too.” Moving she sat down across from him and winced. “It’s not very thick.”
“It is made to store in the smallest amount of space, but it will keep you warm or cool depending on the conditions.”
“Yeah.” Lifting a corner, she tossed aside the rock she sat on before settling again, “but it’s not very thick.” She said, giving him a little grin.
"Drink, Kim.” He smiled back, gesturing to the center of the blanket. “Eat."
Suddenly Kim realized she was parched and picked up the water pouch, but it was so light she paused.
“What is wrong, Kim?” Wray asked, frowning.
“There’s not much water left, shouldn’t we wait?”
Wray’s eyebrows shot up, he had seen her thirst and yet again, she’d considered their future needs instead of her present ones. She was so unlike Tornian females. “There is plenty of water, Ki
m. Drink.”
Kim eyed him suspiciously. Was he just saying that so she would drink? “It’s nearly empty.” She informed him.
“There is more water in the back chamber. It is the other reason the luciferins thrive here.”
Kim just looked at him. “Is that the truth?” She finally asked and watched as his beautiful face darkened and his massive shoulders stiffened. The softness left his gray eyes. Suddenly she realized she insulted him. “Wray…”
“You think I lie?” He demanded harshly, his breathing becoming ragged. Never in all his life had he ever been accused of such a thing.
“I… I don’t know. I mean, I don't really know you all that well and while I'd like to think you wouldn't flat out lie to me, I do think you’d stretch the truth if you thought it would benefit me.”
Wray just stared at her, shocked at her observation because it was true. He would have told her there was plenty of water if it meant she were cared for. Somehow, in a very short amount of time she had come to know him very well. “I would have,” he finally admitted, slowly relaxing, “but I am speaking the truth. It is why the luciferins chose these caves to live in. For not only are there energy crystals here, but there is enough water to meet their needs. Do you need me to show you this truth?” Wray waited, wondering if she would trust his word.
“No, I don’t need to see it. I believe you.” Lifting the pouch she took several deep swallows, then handed it to him. When he took it, she reached for the bar. This time she had no problem opening it. Breaking it in half, she handed Wray his share. “So is this the only water on Pontus?” she asked, biting into her bar, chewing slowly she waited for his answer.
“No. There is plenty of water on Pontus.”
“But you said little grew here. Why does nothing grow if there is plenty of water? Is the soil bad?”