Page 47 of Wicked and Wild

Hehad also watched her trying some of theKindredfood.Shehad put a meal cube into the rehydrator and made herself a serving ofk’achik-ston—a meat dish with a fiery hot sauce most frequently served on theBeastKindredhome world ofRageron.

Wraithhad watched her taste it and then make a face and run to the cold unit to get something to drink to ease the burning in her mouth.Hewished he could come out and explain that she needed to pour the pale yellowping-shasauce over the meal to neutralize some of the heat.Buthe was afraid that she would get upset if he suddenly appeared in her food prep unit and started instructing her on how to eatKindredcuisine, so he remained hidden.

Shehad put the rest of the meal back into the cold unit—clearly she didn’t like to waste food but she didn’t feel up to eating any more of it.Wraithwished again that he could talk to her—that he could recommend a meal cube that she might enjoy.Sheneeded to eat, after all, or she would lose her luscious curves and she wouldn’t be anEliteanymore, which would be a damn shame.

Butagain, he couldn’t say anything or let himself be seen, so he just watched her.

Thiswasn’t the first time he’d watched a beautiful woman—when he had first died, he had been obsessed with watching the female that he loved—Mara, the one he had hoped toBondwith.Hehad wanted so badly to comfort her as she grieved for him, but she had been unable to see or hear him.Eventuallyshe had moved away from theMotherShip, going back to theBloodKindredhome world,TranqPrime, where he had first met her.

Wraithhad picked up from various conversations that she hadJoinedwith another male and had several children.Atfirst he had felt angry and betrayed, but after a time reason prevailed.Afterall, he wanted her to be happy and since he was unable to provide for her and protect her, he was glad that she’d found another male who could.

Hehad missedMaraterribly at first, but now over fifty solar cycles had passed since he had heard anyone mention her and he assumed she was dead.Shemust have passed into the afterlife, however, since he had never seen her.Orelse, if she had gotten stuck like he was, she might be still onTranqPrime, which was presumably the place of her death.

AfterMarahad moved out of his life—or death, he supposed—Wraithhad never taken much interest in any other female.Withvery few exceptions,Kindredare monogamous—once a warrior gives his heart to a partner, no one else catches his eye or holds his attention.

ButWraithfound himself intrigued byHanna—morethan intrigued actually.Hecouldn’t seem to stop watching her.Soas soon as she finally fell asleep, he came out from the extremely uncomfortable wall he’d been hiding in and drifted over to her bedside.

Shewas lying on her side with her knees pulled up and her arms folded, her hands tucked under her chin.Itwas a strangely vulnerable, childlike posture and he couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she was and wishing that he could protect her from whatever it was that she feared.

Therewas a slight frown on her lush lips and a little wrinkle between her eyebrows, as though she was having a bad dream.Aftera moment, she began murmuring in her sleep.

“No…no, please!Don’ttouch me…don’t take me there!”

Wraithfrowned sympathetically.Poorlittle female—she really was having a bad time.Hewished he could wake her, but he was powerless to do anything but watch.

Hewanted to see the glowing runes on her forehead, but she had moved so her hair was covering her face.However, after a few moments of muttering to herself, she turned on her back and he was able to see the burning red runes.

Wraith’sfrown deepened as he studied them.Itwasn’t just what the runes said—it was the evil intent he could feel coming from them.Heput out a hand, letting it hover over her forehead to absorb some of the energy.Afeeling of malevolence so strong it nearly burned him came from the curse!Itwas mixed with an oily feeling of greedy lust—a gluttonous hunger to devour the cursed one and digest her for eternity while she writhed in unspeakable pain in the darkness of thePit.

Wraithdrew back his hand, rubbing it against his armor as though he’d touched something unclean—impure.Thiswas no ordinary curse!Andthe creature who had markedHannawas no ordinary demon.Therewas power in the burning letters scratched into her forehead—a stamp of ownership it would be hard to refute if theDarkEntitycame for her.

Wraithshook his head—he wondered if her aunt had any idea how deadly the curseHannacarried was.Ifso, she ought to be more concerned for her kin.Hanna’slife and indeed her immortal soul were in dire danger and it seemed like no one had realized that fact.

Hewisheddesperatelythat he could warn her.Hedidn’t want to see such a lovelyElitedragged to the underworld and tormented for all eternity!Sheseemed so sweet and innocent—she didn’t deserve such a terrible fate.

Atthis point her dream seemed to get worse because she began thrashing in the bed and crying out in a louder voice.

“No…No, please!Don’ttouch me!Leaveme alone!”

Instinctively,Wraithleaned down to shake her awake and end her torment.Heforgot he couldn’t touch her—or anything else for that matter—as he placed his hand on her shoulder and called her name.

“Hanna?Hanna, wake up!It’sa dream—only a dream.”

Atthat point, several things happened simultaneously.

First,Wraithrealized that he could actuallyfeelher under his hand.Herflesh was solid and so was his when he touched her—yes, he was actuallytouching her!Hecould feel the warmth of her body and the softness of her skin.Itwas like a miracle!

Second,Hanna’seyes flew open and she stared up at him with stark terror on her lovely face.

“Who…what…what are you doing in my room?” she gasped, finally getting the words out. “Andwho are you?Howdid you get in here?”

“I’msorry!”Wraithheld up both hands in a gesture of peace. “Ididn’t mean to startle you,Hanna.Youwere having a bad dream.”

“Howdo you know my name?” she demanded. “Howdare you come in here?”Notwaiting for an answer, she reached for the thin golden wire circlet on her bedside table with shaking fingers. “Getout of here—get outnoworI’mcalling my uncle—he’s on theHighCouncil!”

Wraithcould see that he’d made a grave mistake—in trying to ease her anxiety by waking her from the nightmare, he’d made it ten times worse.Shewas frightened of him now and who could blame her?Ofcourse she was scared—being woken from a sound sleep to find a strange warrior she didn’t know standing over her would certainly be frightening.

“I’msorry—please forgive me for scaring you,” he said shortly. “I’llgo now—maybe we can talk later.”

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