Dark Challenge. Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 5

Dayan shook his head, annoyed at the madness of allowing a stranger into their midst. “I will do as you instruct, Darius, but I think this man has somehow beguiled Desari.”

“Why?” she demanded. “Because I am insisting you help with some of the details of our existence? You are not jungle animals, the male defending the pride and that his only requirement. You ought to help out more.”

Dayan raised an eyebrow but refrained from continuing the argument with Desari. “Deal with this,” he said to Darius. “You are the only one who can.” And then he was gone before Desari could retaliate.

Desari was left to face her brother alone. “Do not say anything, Darius. I know something is terribly wrong with me. I do not know what it is, but I feel like I am losing my mind. It is more than just physical discomfort, it is mental as well.”

“Call him to you.” Darius gave the order softly, as was his way. It had no less impact. His voice carried centuries of authority.

She closed her eyes tightly, pressing her hands to her rolling stomach. “I cannot, Darius. Do not ask this of me.”

“I can do no other than demand it of you,” he said. “Call him to you.”

“If I do, he will believe he has the right to my obedience.”

“You are suffering needlessly. Whatever this man has done to bind you to him we cannot undo until we know more.” He forced a gentleness into his voice. “You know I cannot allow you to suffer, Desari. Call him to you.”

“I cannot. Did you not hear what I told Dayan? Women have rights, Darius. We cannot be ruled by men simply because they believe it is so.”

His icy black eyes captured her dark, sorrow-filled ones and held her gaze. “I have always been responsible for you and Syndil both. In this I must insist. I can feel your pain, the chaos of your mind. Do as I bid you.”

“Please, Darius. I do not wish to openly defy you.” Desari was actually biting her fingernails, the strain on her face terrible for her brother to witness. Her other hand nervously tugged its way through the mass of ebony hair cascading around her shoulders and down her back.

“You have done so repeatedly since this man entered our lives,” Darius reminded her gently. “I will tolerate only so much defiance from you, little sister. I realize this is a new experience, one outside our realm of knowledge, but I cannot allow you to suffer. Call Savage to your side.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes and on her long lashes. She sank onto the wooden bench beside the table, hanging her head in defeat.

“There is no need to call me.” Julian’s muscular form solidified beside her, close enough that she could feel his body heat. His arm curved around her shoulders. “I cannot take the separation from you, Desari.” He made the admission without hesitation, uncaring that Darius was within hearing, wanting only to spare her further pain.

“What have you done to me?” There were tears in Desari’s voice as well as her eyes. Her fingers curled into two tight fists so that her nails bit deeply into her palms. Her voice became a tragic whisper. “What have you done that I cannot be without you?”

Julian bent his head to hers, his grip gentle, tender as he pried her fingers open one by one. Very carefully he brought her hands to the healing warmth of his mouth, pressing a kiss into the exact center of each wounded palm. His golden eyes held her dark gaze captive.

Desari could feel the terrible knot in the pit of her stomach begin to melt from his molten heat. Whatever fire lay deep within him ignited a matching inferno deep within her. There was also a peace stealing into her soul and heart, filling the terrible emptiness. She was complete, totally complete again with him so close. Her lungs could work; her heart beat in a strong, steady rhythm.

“I can feel your fear, Desari,” Julian said softly. “There is no need. I cannot hurt you. I am your lifemate, responsible for your happiness.”