Page 7 of Stegian: Project Exorcism 4

Chapter Four

Bradi easedher off the horse and set her lightly on her feet. She turned just as Christian Beauden, their Chieftain, stepped out of one of the compound bay doors. His long blond hair hung in one braid over his left shoulder. He naturally oozed power, control and authority. It was in his blood to lead her people. His father had, and his father before him, and so on. The fact that he, Bradi and Sevan were close friends lent to why he'd personally come out to greet them upon their return. He lifted a brow at the sight of her.

"Find a stray?" he questioned, the voice as powerful as the man.

Bradi laughed. "Something like that. She's from Neatalie and got separated from her group in the storms that blew through last night. Found her just outside the perimeter fencing and didn't want to chance any of the others finding her. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye with the Neatalies, but I wouldn't want any of them ending up snack food for the others. I'd rather starve those lechranki worm bastards."

Jacquelyn snorted softly. Bloodsucking worms that were partial to eating their own vomit weren't thought highly of. Apparently, Bradi put them on par with the others.

Suspicion crept into the shadows of Christian's gaze as he raked it over her slowly. He folded his large, muscle bound arms over his chest. His vest, worn by some males of her race, pulled together somewhat. There was no denying the power the man had both physically and mystically. "Neatalie is a long way off from here, and I've never known any of the men to permit their females to go unguarded."

"Interrogations later," Bradi said, patting his nonexistent stomach. He was nothing but muscle, as was the case with most of the men in her village. "I'm starving. Tell me something good is on the menu tonight in the mess."

"Your wife was looking for you," Christian replied smugly. "She cooked at your home tonight."

Bradi groaned. "I love that woman but she cannot cook worth a damn."

Sevan came to a stop next to them and dismounted. The muscles in his body tightened, showing what pristine physical form he was in. "I wouldn't advise letting Marisa hear you say that. She's a trained medical professional. Meaning, she could castrate you with one arm tied behind her back while wearing a blindfold and humming a tune. With as much as your son has been protesting sleeping through the night still, I'm betting she'd enjoy every minute of it too."

Her brother cringed and grabbed his man parts. "Point taken. Off to dinner at home I go." He hedged slightly, his gaze sweeping to her. "I'm sure my wife can accommodate one more. Interested?"

"After that ringing endorsement?" Jacquelyn hid her smile. "Thank you, but no. I'll find somewhere out of the way to settle in for the night."

"Nonsense," Sevan said, shaking his head as he handed the reins of his horse to one of the stable hands. "My wife, Lorelei, and I can make room for you if Bradi is still coming off as too gruff. He tends to do that."

Bradi gave him the finger.

Sevan laughed. "You'd like it too much."

Christian watched the two go back and forth for a few minutes before he lifted a hand. "Children, if you are quite done, I'll see our visitor to the guest quarters and assure she's fed."

"Killjoy," Bradi mumbled as he headed off in the other direction. He glanced over his shoulder. "You used to be more fun."

Christian smiled wide. "One of us had to grow up. One would assume it would be the one with a child and wife." He pursed his lips. "And one would be wrong."

"Har-har." Bradi actually danced a bit as he entered one of the compound’s sliding bay doors. The compound was built as a giant octagon, surrounding the village and the villagers, adding another layer of safety and protection between them and the outside world.

Soon Jacquelyn was left standing with Christian and two young men she didn't know well, but who she knew worked the stables. Christian shooed them away and focused his attention on her. "What is your family name?"

She hesitated briefly. Neatalie was roughly the same size as Shamenia, meaning it was big enough to be self-sustaining. Christian couldn't possibly know every family name there, but he'd more than likely send a runner to ask about her, so Jacquelyn knew better than to give an answer. "Best I not say, or I'll end up being gifted a stall in the stables as my sleeping quarters tonight."

He grinned as he looked her over. "Ah, one that doesn't see eye to eye with my people."

"You could say that."

Lie.

Christian put his arm out to her, the gentlemanly thing to do. As her fingers grazed his arm, he flexed. Her hand slid over the many tribal markings he bore on his skin. She had none but had always envied those who did. They were stories of the person's life, there for all to read and understand. His spoke of power, of leadership, of his ability to heal, drawing upon the planet.

He was tall, much taller than she. He glanced down at her and simply stared for the longest time. "Forgive me if I seem forward, but have we met before?"

“No.” She wanted to tell him who she really was, that she was the same person he'd labored endlessly for years, building an interface so she could appear as a hologram before she'd expended too much energy and ascended. His gift had given her a chance to be around her family.

She wanted to hug him for never giving up on her, for always being there, and for sneaking in late at night and reading her stories from an old volume of tales brought from Earth when the others had first arrived. He was a good man with a big heart.

Christian was the same age as her brother Bradi, but had somehow become something of a father figure to her over the course of her life. She loved him dearly, as if he were truly family.

She knew he'd lost his brother Samson—who had been Bradi's childhood best friend—to Stegian's evil side. That Stegian's demon had controlled Samson's mind until he’d fully broken it, turning him against all those who’d loved him. In the end, Christian delivered the killing blow to his brother. He'd never been the same since.

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