Chapter Seven
Stunned, Zoltan watched her run along the stream with her pet leopard trotting behind her. All she had wanted from him was a daughter? Had she planned to bed him, then never see him again? Was he nothing more than a damned sperm bank?
A blast of anger surged through him. She was rejecting him without giving him a decent chance. Even more infuriating was the thought that she would have dismissed him from the start if she’d known the truth. She would have considered him entirely useless. Hell, she probably would have killed him. For the truth was his sperm was dead.
Dammit. He could give her jewels and gowns. Mansions and castles. He could give her pleasure. In time, he could have given her love. As a Vamp, he could even give her immortality. But she wanted the one thing he couldn’t give. A child.
Rejected again. For the same damned reason. Over the centuries, he’d fallen for a few women. The affairs would last for a year or two, but they always ended the same way. The lure of immortality would fade, and then they always left him for a man who could give them children and grow old with them.
A few years back, something had happened that had given Zoltan hope that he could break the cycle of rejection. A brilliant Vamp scientist, Roman Draganesti, had figured out a way to insert their Vamp DNA into live human sperm. Now the Vamps with mortal wives were having kids like crazy. Technically, he could give Neona children, but it would require a trip to Romatech in New York, where Roman worked.
Zoltan wasn’t sure she would ever agree to go there for the artificial insemination process. Roman could probably guarantee her a daughter if that was what she really wanted. But would she expect Zoltan to drop her and his daughter off in Tibet, never to see them again? He would not abandon her or his child, dammit!
And why the hell couldn’t a woman want him for himself? Was he so damned unlovable that a woman could only want him for the children he might provide? He’d been rejected in the past for that, but he would not sit by and let it happen again. Not with Neona. She was different. Somehow, her fate was linked to his. They were connected. He wasn’t sure how, but he knew in his gut that she belonged with him.
He charged toward Neona, using vampire speed to catch up with her. Six feet behind her, he slowed to a rapid walk.
The cat looked at him and snarled. Get lost.
No. He glared at Neona’s back. “So that’s it? You’re giving up?”
The cat huffed. Great idea, yelling at her. That will make her like you.
Shut up, cat. “Talk to me, Neona. Why did you change your mind all of a sudden?”
She kept walking. “I decided it was unwise.”
“Bullshit. You’re afraid. What kind of warrior are you? I thought you were tougher than that.”
She whirled to face him, her clenched hands raised and ready to punch him. “I beat you once. I can do it again.”
“Then do it!” He spread his hands in surrender. “Tie me up and ravish me.”
“I don’t want to anymore!”
“Why not?” He stepped toward her. “Are you afraid you might develop feelings for me? God forbid you might feel close to me while I’m inside you.”
She swung a fist at him, but he jumped back.
Oh, you’re making fine progress, the cat sneered.
Sod off! “You know what really pisses me off?” He stepped closer. “That you see me as a damned sperm bank. There is more to me than my ability to father children. And there is a hell of a lot more to you than your ability to bear a child!”
She blinked, staring at him.
The cat hissed. Stop yelling at her, or I’ll claw your foot off.
Not before I stuff it down your throat. Zoltan gave the cat an annoyed look, then lowered his voice and motioned back to the cabin. “Why don’t we go back in and talk? I thought we were getting along very well.”
She slowly lowered her fists. “I cannot be a . . . friend to you.”
“Why not? I like you. I thought you liked me. We were getting to know each other. That’s what couples do—”
“We cannot be a couple!”
“We can!” He grabbed her by the shoulders. “I’m not giving up on you.”
A pained look crossed her face. “You have to. There is no future for us. Men are not allowed here.”
“Why not?”
“They’re not . . . necessary.”
“Bullshit. Every community needs some men.”
She broke his hold on her and stepped back. “Ours does not.”
He scoffed. “How do you build your houses?” He gestured toward the cabin. “Didn’t Frederic build this one?”
“He helped, but we know how to do it without a man. We built our own homes.”
“What about protection? A man can pro—”
“We can protect ourselves.”
Not against an army. But Zoltan didn’t want to remind her of the recent death of her sister. It would be too cruel. “Men have a lot of uses.”
She gave him a dubious look. “Really?”
“Of course. A man can . . . build a fire.”
She shrugged. “I can do that.”
“A man can provide food for his family.”
“I am an excellent hunter.”
“A man can till the soil and plow the field.”
“We have a donkey.”
He snorted. “You can’t replace a man with a donkey. They are stubborn creatures who won’t do as they’re told.”
Her brow arched. “And there’s a difference?”
He gritted his teeth.
The cat yawned. You stepped right into that one, moron.
Go chew on your fleas. Zoltan planted his hands on his hips. “A donkey doesn’t have hands. He can’t do repairs around the house. Or cook. Or clean.”
“I can do those things myself.”
“What about those ten climaxes you wanted? Are you going to do that yourself, too?”
She lifted her chin. “What makes you think I haven’t?”
Dammit. Zoltan searched his brain. “I know! What if you can’t open a jar? You’ll need a man for that!”
Pathetic, the cat muttered.
She shrugged. “Our jars do not have lids. We tie a piece of fabric around—”
“What if you need a hug? And don’t you dare mention that damned donkey!”
She laughed.
“There! You see. You need me around to make you laugh.”
“Actually, the donkey has made me laugh a few times.”
He scowled at her. “I refuse to compete with a donkey.”
“You don’t have to compete at all.” Her face grew sad. “I shouldn’t see you again.”
“I’m not giving up on you.” He stepped closer. “Who will listen to you in the middle of the night? Who will you share your secrets with?”
She gasped, her eyes widening. “Did you hear me?” She shook her head. “You couldn’t have. I was alone.”
“Hear what?”
“Nothing.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“You’re grieving for your sister, I understand that.”
She closed her eyes briefly. “You don’t understand how long we were together, or how long we will be apart.”
The first part of her sentence struck him as odd, since he assumed she’d been with her twin for only about twenty-two years. But facing the rest of her life alone was clearly causing her pain.
When a tear rolled down her cheek, he smoothed it away with his thumb. “I could be with you for a very long time. Trust me.” He kissed her cheek.
She trembled. “Men cannot be trusted.”
“I would never hurt you. Trust me.” He kissed her other cheek.
“Men cannot—”
He stopped her by planting his mouth on hers. She tensed at first, her hands splayed against his chest. But as he moved his lips gently and insistently, her fingers slowly dug into his jacket. He deepened the kiss, and with a moan, her mouth opened.
Yes. He explored her mouth, claiming it as his own. She would belong to him. This was no mistake. The arrow that had haunted him for almost eight hundred years had led him to her. She knew the answers he’d sought for so long. She’d touched his heart that had been cold for so long. Their fates were entwined, he could feel it in his bones. This was the woman he’d waited centuries for.
He scattered kisses across her face and down her neck. Her breaths grew quick and agitated. Her hands slipped up around his neck.
His groin hardened, and he debated how far he should go tonight. As much as he wanted to bed her, it didn’t seem fair to take her when she believed the act would result in pregnancy.
But he could pleasure her. Give her one of those climaxes she wanted. He slipped his hand to the front of her tunic and palmed a breast. The silk was so thin that he could feel her nipple hardening.
“Neona,” he whispered in her ear. “Let’s go back to the cabin.”
She leaned back, giving him a nervous look. “You’re in the mood now?”
“Yes.” He grasped her hips and pulled her tight against his erection.
She gasped. “You . . . you’re vibrating.”
“I am?” He glanced down, then realized the sat phone was buzzing in his pants pocket. Dammit. If he didn’t answer, would Howard send Mikhail looking for him?
“Just a minute.” He stepped back and retrieved the phone from the pocket. “Why the hell are you calling, Howard?”
“Good evening to you, too,” Howard grumbled. “Russell showed up here out of the blue and insists you talk to him. I tried to get him to tell me what the problem is, but he said it had to be you. Something about an arrow.”
Zoltan winced. He would have to go. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He hung up.
Neona eyed the phone curiously. “You were able to talk to someone far away?”
Had she never seen a phone? “Yes.” He dropped the phone into his pocket. “I’m afraid I have to go.”
She nodded and stepped back. “It’s for the best. I shouldn’t see—”
“Don’t say that.” He touched her shoulder. “I will return tomorrow night. Meet me at the cabin at midnight.”
She regarded him sadly. “Good-bye, Zoltan.” She turned and walked along the stream.
So long, loser. The cat trotted after her.
I will win her, cat. You can count on it. Zoltan watched her for a minute, then stepped behind some trees to teleport home.
Neona returned to the rock wall where the stream from Beyul-La jetted out in a waterfall. The rope ladder was there, but she realized she couldn’t go home, not when she was still dressed in her finest clothes. With a sigh, she started back to Frederic’s cabin, where she’d left her hunting clothes.
As she walked, she scanned the forest. Where had Zoltan gone to? The village? It was about fifteen miles away, with nothing but a footpath to show the way. Did he have a horse tethered in the next valley?
She shook her head. There was no point in thinking about him so much. Even if she did enjoy being in his arms. When he kissed her, she forgot all reason. Her heart swelled with such yearning that she could not hold him long enough. With an ache in her heart, she realized it had happened. She was falling for him. She wanted him.
But how could she ever have him?
She entered the cabin and let her gaze wander about the room. There was the embroidered banner he’d admired, the books he’d looked over, the gold box of chocolates he’d brought.
The tea had steeped too long, but she needed a strong drink. She drank as she tidied up the cabin, putting out the fire and hiding the gold box under some blankets in the wooden chest. She rinsed out the teapot and cup in the stream outside, then back in the cabin, she changed into her brown and green linen tunic and pants. She stashed her good clothes in her bag and swung it onto her back along with her quiver of arrows.
She grabbed her bow and headed back to the rock wall. Zhan joined her on the way.
She patted his head. “Zoltan had to leave. It’s for the best, I suppose. I should be grateful it didn’t go any further.” She could have loved him and lost him. She could have lost a son. Breaking off the relationship now was the only way to save herself from heartache. Then why did she feel so miserably sad and lonely?
While Zhan scampered up the rock wall, jumping from one ledge to another, she climbed the rope ladder. At the top of the wall, she pulled the ladder up. And the tears began. With each tug, she was sentencing herself to a long life of loneliness. There was no place for a man in her life. Zoltan might come tomorrow night, but she would not be there. Better to live lonely than risk shattering her heart.
She dropped the end of the ladder on the ground. It was done.
“How was the hunting?” a voice asked behind her.
The queen. Neona quickly wiped her face. “No luck tonight. I’ll try again at dawn.” She took a deep breath and faced her mother. “You’re welcome to join us if you like.”
“I’ll be busy in the cave tomorrow.” Queen Nima tilted her head, studying Neona. “Did you see anyone in our territory?”
Her stomach clenched. “No.”
Nima gazed out into the neighboring valley. “The owl landed on my windowsill and told me there was an intruder.”
Neona swallowed hard. Had her mother seen her walking about in her finest clothes?
“We must be extra vigilant,” Nima continued, “especially now that we’re in the beginning of a new cycle.”
“I understand,” Neona murmured.
“I fear Lord Liao will continue to search for our valley. He may have sent spies.” Nima turned to look at her daughter. “If any man discovers our valley or our secrets, he must be executed.”
Neona nodded. “Yes.”
Her mother arched a brow. “The correct response is ‘yes, your majesty.’ Did you think I wouldn’t notice that you have neglected to use my title for the past two weeks?”
Neona tamped down on a sudden surge of anger. “I have had other things on my mind.”
“The death of your sister.” Nima nodded. “I understand that you’re hurting. That is why I have not reprimanded you for the lack of respect.”
Neona scoffed. “And you are not hurting? Minerva was stabbed to death right in front of us!”
“We all risk death when we engage in battle. You know that. Now let us return to our homes.” Nima started down the path to the base of the valley.
Neona’s hands fisted. How dare her mother dismiss Minerva’s death that easily. “We shouldn’t have given away her baby!”
Nima halted and looked back, her eyes narrowing into slits. “That was seven years ago. What is done is done.”
“It was never done for Minerva.” Neona walked toward her mother. “She never recovered. If we had kept her baby, she would have fought harder. She would still be alive!”
Nima’s eyes flashed with anger. “Do not make such ridiculous claims. Besides, there was no way her son could remain. Men are not allowed here.”
“He was a baby! What harm could he have done?”
“He would still grow to be a man.”
Neona motioned toward the neighboring valley. “You let Frederic live close by.”
“And he was never allowed into this valley.” Nima made a sound of disgust. “He had two daughters with Calliope and still abandoned her. I should have killed him when I had the chance.”
“That would have gone over well with his wife and daughters.”
“Drop the sarcasm,” Nima hissed. “We all know the rules and why we have them. Your insolence is appalling, but I will tolerate it this one time since you are in mourning.”
How good of you, Neona bit back the words. Her anger grew as she watched her mother turn her back and walk away. “What happened to my father?”
Nima halted, her spine stiffening. “You go too far. I told you never to speak of him.”
Neona approached her. “Did you kill him?”
Her mother turned to face her. “Hypocrisy does not suit you. We are warriors.” She stepped closer. “How many men have you killed, Neona?”
“In the heat of battle, it is self-defense. We must kill in order to survive.”
Nima’s mouth twisted with a wry smile. “And what makes you think your father didn’t fight back?”
Neona’s gut churned. Killing men in battle was one thing, but killing a man after mating with him?
The queen patted Neona on the cheek. “Pull yourself together. Nothing matters except fulfilling our sacred duty.”
“Minerva mattered.”
Nima closed her eyes briefly with a pained look. “In the end, she was weak. Don’t let that happen to you.” She turned and walked down the path into the valley.
Neona remained behind with tears stinging her eyes. Zhan butted his head against her leg, and she crouched down beside him.
“Sacred duty,” she muttered. All her life, she’d heard that nothing mattered except keeping the valley and its secrets safe. “Minerva mattered. Her son mattered.”
And Zoltan mattered. Even though it hurt like hell, she could not see him again. He was venturing far too close to Beyul-La. Not only was her heart at risk. His life would be over if he was caught.
She hugged Zhan. “Love matters.”