Page 11 of Clan and Crave

Sletran helped him sit up. “What’s going onat home, Conyod? An Imdiko minor running away who’s in the shapeyou are is serious legal trouble for his parent clan. If they’vedone nothing wrong, you need to tell us.”

His warning sobered Conyod. He hadn’trealized his bid for freedom would have such repercussions on hisparents.

“They aren’t neglecting me. It’s theopposite, in fact.” He spoke to Sletran instead of the therapistagainst whom he’d develop a serious case of mistrust and antipathy.“They’re always there, watching every move I make. Yeah, I don’teat well, but it isn’t because they don’t feed me. They’reconstantly bugging me to put on weight. All day long, it’s ‘Conyod,where are you going?’ or ‘Conyod, finish your steak,’ or ‘Conyod,you can’t go visit your friends since none of us are free to gowith you.’ I can’t take a breath without someone there to noticeit. I wish they would neglect me, at least for a few seconds!”

Sletran regarded him throughout his diatribe.Watched him closely, in fact, but didn’t scrutinize him as hisparents did. The Nobek showed mere interest, unworried Conyod mightsuddenly vanish into thin air. “You ran away because they paid tooclose attention to you?”

“I only wanted to escape the constantsupervision for a while. I felt like I’d explode,” he admitted.“They love me, but it’s driving me crazy. Our house, the ranch,those damned mountains…they all feel like they’re closing in.”

“Have they always been sooverprotective?”

Tyaru’s voice came from a distance. ForConyod, there was only Sletran. Kind, understanding Sletran, whosaw him sitting there instead of a would-be vacancy.

“Ever since my brother rode to the mountainsand didn’t come home, they’ve been scared the same thing wouldhappen to me. Which is hilarious because I hate the mountains. Iwouldn’t go there if you paid me every cent the Imperial Clan has.Especially now since the ghost started roaming the area.”

“Ghost?” Sletran’s brows drew together.

“Yeah, all the ranch’s hands talk about theboy in white who’s been sighted on several occasions on our land.They’ve seen him near the corral or on the plain, staring at themountains. Most think it’s the spirit of Hoslek, my brother.”

“Have you ever seen it, Conyod?” Tyaruasked.

“No. I’m never allowed out of the house afterdark. I’m not allowed anywhere my parents aren’t.”

“Breathe,” Sletran whispered. His big handrubbed the back of Conyod’s neck. “Relax and breathe, Imdiko.”

“All I want is to breathe. They keep mecooped up. They won’t give me any room. I feel like a prisoner inmy own home.” The tears that came this time weren’t from ahysterical laughing fit. They sprang from the ache of having hisevery move under constant scrutiny, of love gone suffocating. “Ican’t breathe. They won’t let me have any air. That’s why Ileft.”

* * * *

Sletran, age 35

Conyod’s sleeping room was still dark whenSletran’s interior clock woke him. The window vids displayed a seasparkling under moonlight.

Not the mountains. He hated the mountains,especially those near his childhood home. Hated and fearedthem.

The Nobek wondered if Conyod had gotten overhis loathing of those scenic peaks, the site of his older brother’sdeath.

His night vision was excellent, and the dimillumination allowed him to examine Conyod’s slumbering features.Once again, he marveled at how stunning his lover of the nightbefore had become. How much a man the Imdiko was. Only the shape ofhis nose and chin remained to remind Sletran of the troubled teenhe’d rescued from a pack of bullies. The child appeared to be longgone.

Such a beautiful, desirable man. Sletran hadnever imagined the skinny boy with the hollowed eyes could becomethis gorgeous creature. He was amazed anew, as he’d been when he’dsighted Conyod in the bar yesterday.

He’s laid his ghosts to rest.

As if sensing Sletran’s scrutiny, Conyod’seyelids fluttered open. He blinked at the Nobek, and a smile curvedhis lush lips. “It wasn’t a dream. You’re here.”

“I’m here.” And ridiculously glad he was.

“How long can I keep you here?” Conyod’sfingertips skated over Sletran’s chest and abdomen, lower stilluntil he found how awake Sletran was. “I can’t allow you to leavein this state.”

“I should hope not. Maybe the good Dr. Conyodcan cure me in an hour? I have to get back to base for drills.”

“You’re very gifted at drilling, Inoticed.”

Sletran laughed. “Worst pun ever.”

“Then I have to earn your forgivenesstoo.”

“What did you have in mind?”

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