thefiremargins Page 25

  "I'm fine. I just thought I'd practice one or two of the litanies Dzaka's been teaching me."

  He continued smoothing the oil into her skin, then began to gently knead the muscles at the sides of her thigh. "Which one are you practicing?"

  "Right now? The one for relaxation. Then I'll go on to the one for clear thought."

  He could sense the amusement in her voice. "What's funny?" he asked, beginning to work gently over the scarred area.

  "You, Kaid. You're never just you, are you? Always on duty, holding yourself back. Are you like this in your leisure time too? I don't suppose I'd recognize you if you weren't."

  "People spend their leisure time in different ways, Carrie," he said. "I tend to read, or ..."

  "Sit drinking c'shar in the common room with Garras and the others, if you're not out on the training ground at the new estate," she finished for him.

  "It seems it's a day for people telling me how I should spend my leisure time," he said wryly. "Turn over, please."

  Grabbing the wrap-over front of her robe, Carrie obligingly rolled onto her stomach and laid her head on her folded arms.

  He felt her wince as she moved the damaged arm. "Still paining you?" he asked sympathetically.

  "A bit," she admitted. "And before you ask, yes, I've been doing the exercises!"

  "It takes time," he said, moving her robe so he could reach the back of her thigh. "You know how deep that cut was. It nearly cost you your life."

  "I know," she said, and he could feel the shudder pass through her body.

  "Go back to your litanies," he said. "I'll be a while yet." He knew the rhythm of his massage would relax her, it always did, and within a couple of minutes he could feel her muscles losing their rigidity and becoming supple again under his fingers.

  He stopped to put more oil on his hands and began gently pushing her flesh with his thumbs, rolling them upward one after the other as he worked toward the top of her leg, then back down again. He had to be careful that the pressure he used didn't trigger his claws. That had taken a little getting used to as her skin was much more yielding and soft than a Sholan's. He had to use the more sensitive parts of his fingers so he could gauge more accurately how much pressure was needed.

  The feel and texture of her skin was unlike anything he'd come across. And her scent, already overlying the aroma of the oil and soap, was something he was trying hard to ignore. The preparations seemed to enhance her natural smell, but then that wasn't surprising considering Sashti had blended them specially for the needs of Carrie's human skin. Sashti was a professional, a much sought after professional at that. Her oils and soaps fetched the highest prices around these days, and to have one specially crafted for one's own use said something for the way Sashti felt about Carrie.

  "She's coming over today," said Carrie quietly.

  "I though she might," he murmured, moving to work on the softer skin on the inside of her thigh. "What is it today? Just a social call on you and Vanna?"

  "Mm."

  She was almost purring, he could feel it through her skin. Once the worst of the pain had gone from the newly-forming scar tissue, she'd enjoyed the massages almost as much as he did. It was a time of trust and almost-intimacy between them, probably the nearest he'd ever get to her. He'd tried to work out what it was that pleased him so much and had come to understand it was simply that— her trust, and being able to touch her without her fearing him, giving her pleasure in fact. The feel and sight of her skin— something alien to him as a member of a furred race— was in itself exotic, a fascination that hadn't faded for him, as obviously it hadn't for Kusac— or for Zhyaf, despite the fact that his young Leska, Mara, ran him ragged.

  He stood back, sliding his hands from her leg. "If you'll sit up, I'll do your arm now," he said.

  Carrie groaned. "Just as I was getting comfortable! You pick the worst time, Kaid!"

  He grinned. "You were falling asleep."

  "Rubbish! I was practicing my relaxation litany," she said, sitting up and slipping her left arm free of her robe.

  "Sleeping."

  "No. Relaxing. It shows how well I've learned the litany!"

  "Hmm." Kaid wasn't convinced. He moved round to stand beside her, pouring more oil on his hands. "Here, you hold the bottle," he said, handing it to her.

  "Hey! Careful, Kaid!" She had to grab for it as he let it go, assuming she'd catch it. As she did, she had to pull her injured arm away from him and clutch at her robe to prevent it falling. "I have my modesty to protect, you know."

  His ears flicked back briefly. "Sorry. I forgot," he said, taking hold of her arm as she held it out to him again. He knew she wasn't Sholan, so why did he keep forgetting it? Probably because if she were, he could have approached her. Because she was human, it wasn't that easy for her— or him.

  "Don't worry about it," she said, still clutching the bottle to her chest.

  He reached out and took it from her, putting it on the couch beside her. "I forget sometimes that you aren't Sholan," he said.

  She smiled. "I know. You've told me before."

  He was just finishing as Sashti arrived.

  "I'll wait for you in the main lounge," she said. "I'll get us drinks."

  "I'll be about fifteen minutes," said Carrie, slipping the robe back over her arm. "A quick shower, then I'll be down."

  Sashti waved as she disappeared through the door again.

  "Thanks, Kaid," Carrie said as he helped her down from the couch. "You'll join us?"

  "If you wish. I'll keep Sashti company till you arrive," he said, wiping his hands on a towel as she padded over to the door through to the bathing room.

  * * *

  After she'd left Kaid, Vanna rejoined Jack at the newly installed lab on the Valsgarth Estate. He and Kusac were sitting drinking coffee at one of the lab benches.

  "Well, I like that!" she said, arms akimbo as she surveyed the two seated males. "I go up to the main house for an hour or two, and what do you two do? Nothing, that's what!"

  "Vanna, lass," said Jack, getting to his feet, "we were waiting for your return. See, we even put a real brew of coffee on for you!" He indicated a mobile external heating unit with a glass beaker perched on top of it, the brown liquid contents gently bubbling. "Can I pour you a cup?"

  Kusac turned away, hiding a grin as the rotund Human physician picked up a strainer and, lifting the beaker with a pair of heat-resistant tongs, poured some into a mug for Vanna.

  "The comm is still crunching the data," said Kusac, turning round to pour some whitener into her mug. He looked at his wrist unit. "Another five minutes and it should be done."

  Vanna came over to them, accepting the stool that Jack had vacated for her. "Hmpf!" she said, picking up the mug and tasting the drink. A smile crossed her face. "I'd forgotten it could taste like this," she said, tail flicking with pleasure.

  "The ones from the dispenser units just aren't the same, are they?" said Kusac.

  "Definitely not," she said, holding out a vial to Jack. "There's Kaid's sample. Once you've processed this, we've got a fair selection of DNA to compare with that of the latest ni'uzu victims. Thank goodness, it looks like the epidemic has burned itself out."

  Kusac got down from his stool. "I'm going home now," he said. "Carrie's finished her therapy with Kaid, and Sashti's come to visit. When shall I tell her you'll be back?" he asked Vanna.

  "Oh, for third meal," she said, sipping her drink with obvious pleasure. "I want to get the results from the DNA matching first. I hope to be able to confirm our first findings, that all the telepaths who contracted the mutated ni'uzu have had their Talents enhanced, and that these changes will be passed on to their children."

  "Like us," said Kusac.

  "Yes, and no," said Jack, moving round behind Kusac to take his stool. "You mixed Leskas are still unique. We think some of our Brotherhood members may just be genetically compatible with you, but we aren't sure, which is why we're running a second set of tests."

&nb
sp; "As for all the other telepaths," said Vanna, "we know they're not genetically compatible with you at all. They're still normal Sholans."

  "Father will be pleased to hear that news," said Kusac. "Have we heard anything from the Brotherhood yet? Have they had anyone else down with the virus?"

  "I contacted Lijou," said Vanna, "and he says there are no more cases. Perhaps their isolation in the Dzahai Mountains has kept the virus away from them."

  "They're not that isolated," said Kusac. "We know they have a fair turnover of personnel going in and out on active service, as well as several full telepaths who can't ever leave Stronghold."

  "Perhaps it's taking longer to reach them," said Jack.

  "Perhaps," agreed Vanna.

  "I'll see you both later," said Kusac, turning to go.

  * * *

  "Vanna, lass," said Jack, coming over to join her at her desk. "The results have just come through."

  Vanna looked up at him. "Great! Just in time. If we want to make third meal we'll have to leave in ten minutes. What's it say?"

  "What we more or less expected. It's virtually the same as last time. There are some four or five of our Brotherhood friends who appear to be genetically compatible with the mixed Leskas. What's also interesting is this," he said, leaning over her to point to a section of text. "Seems we've got a couple of people here who're closely related."

  Vanna frowned. "What do you mean? Who are they?" she asked, scanning back up to the top of the results. "No. They can't be," she said, looking up at him. "There's no way they're related."

  Jack shrugged. "It's there in black and white, m'dear," he said. "You yourself told me he's been avoiding giving you a blood sample. I'd say that's why, wouldn't you?"

  "Then he knows about this."

  "Looks like it."

  Vanna folded the paper over and put it down on her desk. "Gods! What do we do about it, Jack?"

  "Only one thing you can do. Take his data out and make sure these results are erased. Just run a duplicate of our first program. Knowledge like this could cause them both a lot of trouble if it got into the wrong hands."

  "Should I speak to him? And what about Kusac? He ought to know."

  "Talk to Kaid, yes, but no one else, Vanna. The information we have is confidential, we can't go telling anyone else. You can suggest Kaid speak to Kusac, but that's all."

  Vanna unfolded the results again, checked through them, then crumpled them into a ball. "Destroy them, Jack," she said, getting to her feet and handing him the ball. "Burn them. I'll see to the comm files now, I'm not leaving it till later. At least we're not linked into the main house comm yet. No one else could have seen this data. Let's keep it that way."

  "Right, m'dear," nodded Jack, walking over to the sink. He put the paper down, then dug in his pocket for a lighter.

  * * *

  When Kusac had returned to the main house, Kaid excused himself to head off for a shower. He stood under the ceiling faucet, ears flattened back, face turned up to it, letting the water stream down over him while the lower jets sent their needles of pressurized water beating against him, massaging the tiredness out of his body. Tilting his head back, he smoothed his hair away from his ears and stretched a hand out for the container of soap.

  At the same moment he realized it wasn't there, he sensed someone else in the room. Pulling his head away from the stream of water, he reached out and grabbed hold of the person, dragging them in beside him and flinging them flat against the back wall. His hand closed over the throat, claws out, his own body kept well back.

  A definitely female Sholan shriek resulted, which he confirmed moments later when he'd dashed the water from his face with his free arm.

  "Sashti! What the hell d'you think you're doing, creeping up on me like this?" he demanded, letting her go. "That's a good way to get yourself hurt!"

  Sashti stood there, the water cascading over her shoulders turning her fur black. The bushy mane of hair was flattened now, clinging in long, wet strands to her face and shoulders, and she was laughing.

  "I was going to offer to join you anyway," she said, one hand going to massage her neck, the other to push her hair aside so she could see him properly. "You've just made it more difficult for you to refuse now."

  Kaid spotted the container of soap lying on the floor and stepped out of the shower to pick it up. "You're welcome to join me," he said, "but don't come in unannounced like that again. If it had been anywhere but here, where I know the security is tight, you might have found yourself getting hurt. Old habits die hard, Sashti, and I'm Warrior trained."

  "I'll remember," she said, holding out her hand to him. "Give me the soap and I'll wash you first."

  He handed her the container reluctantly. It had been a long time since he'd shared a shower.

  "Turn round," she said, and as he did so, she began rubbing the soap into his back. "How's Carrie coming along?" she asked. "She seems a lot more mobile than I've seen her since the Challenge."

  "She's doing fine," said Kaid. "The scars are healing without tightening the skin. I think you'll have to look really hard to find a scar in a few months' time."

  "That's good. Without fur, a scar that would be invisible for us would show up quite badly against her bare skin."

  He was beginning to feel uncomfortable under Sashti's ministrations. What should by rights have been a sisterly wash was beginning to turn into more as her touch across his shoulders and arms became lighter.

  "You must work out every day to keep yourself in such good shape," she said, her voice sounding quietly in his ear as he felt her body touch his.

  "I do," he said.

  "I thought so." It was almost a purr as she stroked her hand across the back of his neck then turned him round to face her. "I've wanted to get to know you better." The soap container was forgotten as she ran her hands across his chest, down to his hips. "We've got a little time to ourselves now," she said, looking up at him. "No one else is coming for a shower before third meal."

  He looked down into her brown eyes, trying not to see someone other than Sashti. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, and with a personality to match. Maybe Garras and Ghyan were right. Maybe she was what he needed, someone of his own age, not a skittish youngling. She was here, and she was asking for him.

  He reached out for her, putting his hand behind her head and drawing her closer with his other arm. Her body pressed against his was warm, and as he laid his face against hers, her mouth closed on his cheek, nipping him gently.

  His fingers clenched in her hair, and as he pulled her face away so he could reach her, he felt the first stirrings of desire. Leaning back against the shower wall, he drew her with him, his mouth reaching for hers, his teeth catching hold of her lip. As he moved on, alternately licking her cheek and nipping it gently, her hands began to slide lower. He could hear his heartbeat echoing inside his head, getting faster, more urgent. Then like a sudden deluge of cold water, he felt it begin to start again.

  Pushing her away, he backed out of the shower, water dripping everywhere. "No," he said, his voice calmer than he felt. "I can't. I'm sorry, Sashti, it isn't you. It's me. I can't."

  He turned, and grabbing his towel from the bench, bolted for the door to the massage room.

  Hurriedly he wiped off the worst of the water before leaving, still rubbing himself dry as he went. In the privacy of his room, he leaned against the door, letting himself slide down it till he sat on the floor, his eyes closed.

  Nothing had changed. He'd felt his control slip, but this time he'd recognized it for what it was, and thank the Gods, had been able to stop in time. Lifting his head, he took a deep breath, trying to control his heartbeat, slow it down to its normal rate. Now he knew for sure he could never be their third, could never pair with Carrie. He couldn't bear to see written on her face what he'd seen on Khemu's all those years ago, and for his own sake, too, he couldn't risk losing control. Another deep breath, then another, and he was ready to repeat the litan
ies that were his mainstay.

  * * *

  Vanna found her sister sitting in her lounge when she returned to the Aldatan household. "Hello there. Kusac said you were here," she said, going over to her and giving her a hug. "Are you staying tonight?"

  "No, I don't think I will," said Sashti, returning the hug. "I want to get back. I saw Carrie and had a nice chat with her, and with Kusac." She leaned down and reached into her bag. "Here you are, the oil I promised you," she said. "Don't let Garras overuse it on you," she grinned, flicking her little sister's ears as she got up and moved toward the door. "I only waited to give you this and say good-bye."