Savage Possession

Temple of Luna 1: Savage Possession
Moira Rogers
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2009 Moira Rogers

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"You're overdue, Rais."

How his cousin managed to pack so much admonition into three words, he'd never know. "Not so terribly, Zahra."

"Three moons." Her white robes swished softly as she walked, a familiar sound in the Temple. "Almost four. Dangerous."

"I know danger, cousin." The far door of the hall opened, admitting the noises and scents of the bathing pools and lush flora in the courtyard. Rais kept his eyes closed and relished the gentle sounds. On the battlefield, nothing blocked out the violence and destruction, the bodies of dead men and wolves alike. Closing one's eyes might eclipse the blood and rent, burned flesh for a few moments, but it left behind either pained screams or dead silence to assault the senses.

Here, at least, peace reigned in the quiet.

Zahra's cuffs jingled as she laid a hand on his arm. "This could well be your last visit. Has your father spoken with you?"

"Yes." Rais gritted his teeth. "He feels my birthday feast would be even more festive if we were to celebrate my coronation as well."

"And is he wrong?" Zahra's bright green eyes glimmered with amusement. "You are nearing the end age, after all."

"End age, my ass." Not yet forty years old, and put out to graze like an elderly cow. "I have plenty of fighting years left in me."

"But your responsibilities are different now. Choose a mate, settle down, start a fami..." The humor in her gaze faded. "And rule, Rais. That is who you are."

"Perhaps." Even if it felt like abandoning the soldiers under his command. Rais changed the subject. "So who am I to see? Lilavati was pleasant."

"Mmm, and she spent a month after your last visit telling the other priestesses you were sure to mate her when the time came to choose your queen."

"Damn." She hadn't been that pleasant. "Not her, then."

"Siobhan?"

Rais called to mind the short, curvy redhead and decided she would do nicely. Before he could answer, the door opened behind them and soft footsteps crossed the floor. It had to be a priestess -- he could hear her robes, for one thing, but more telling was the call of her magic. Unlike his own clan's; unlike it enough to awaken the sleeping beast with a flare of lust.

His cock stirred, and he scrubbed his hands over his face with a groan. "Just get me anyone. And hurry."

The woman behind them cleared her throat. "Zahra, they need you in the infirmary. There was an accident with one of the generators. No one's dead, but at least three workers were injured."

He had a voice now to go with the magic. "Avani." He turned and almost stumbled. She'd been a child the last time he'd visited her uncle's home, no more than sixteen. Now, she was beautiful, fully grown into her lithe limbs and strong features.

And she was nervous. Her gaze touched on his and jerked away, and Rais crossed his arms over his chest. "Do they need me?"

"Arrogant ass." Zahra waved a hand at him as she hurried toward the door. "Avani can help you."

Avani smiled, slow and shy but with a bit of the teasing edge he remembered. "Rais. If you'd like, I could find a room for you to wait in. I'm afraid you're going to find yourself stalked by most of my fellow novices if you don't get out of sight. They've been gossiping all morning."

The edge in her smile coupled with her magic made him even harder, and he tried not to look grumpy. "Let me guess. They all aspire to be my mate."

Her full lips pursed, as if she was trying to hold back a smile. "Of course. Who wouldn't want to sit at your feet and bask in your glory?"

Rais didn't bother to hide his own grin. "Only you, Avani." He offered her his arm and ignored the rush of heat that overtook him. Having her wasn't an option. Even if she'd finished with her training, she was off limits. "Walk with me. How is your uncle?"

"He's well. Enjoying some time with his grandchildren now. My cousins have been quite prolific." Magic brushed over him as she settled her hand around his arm, a softly submissive power that was gentle and eager all at the same time.

Every dominant instinct in him suddenly took far more notice of her. "And what of you? Waiting for a soldier of your own to return from war?"

She lifted her free arm with a put-upon sigh. "You didn't notice? I'm a novice. Still."

He studied the gold bands on her sleeves with a raised eyebrow. "You must be nearly twenty-one by now, Avani. What's holding you back?"

Her cheeks flushed as she studied the floor. "I'm twenty-three. But twenty-two is the average age. Some women just need time to grow into their power."

Or they didn't belong in the Temple, wearing Luna's robes. "You've not had your first warrior, then." He shouldn't have been so pleased by the realization.

"I've had my training," she retorted, a hint of challenge in that soft voice. "I know how to gentle a warrior."

"Not one like me." Rais was shocked to hear the challenge returned in his own words.

She stopped in front of a door and turned, tilting her head back until her gaze met his. "Even a prince is just a man in the dark. Or do royalty have exotic tastes?"

He backed her against the door in a surge of sudden, instinctive movement. "A lesson unlearned, novice. Warriors aren't men, especially not in the dark."