____________________

Theon

 

Theon holds Catalina’s hands. “I don’t want to leave you here.”

“I know, but it’s important for us to get past this. And I feel safe here.” She lets out a long breath.

Theon’s lips thin to a grimace. She’s been back a fortnight, but nothing has changed. They hold each other at night, but they do not participate in bed sport. She holds a sadness in her eyes, and even though she says no one violated her, Theon has his doubts.

“You will be here when I get back?”

She smiles, and this time it almost reaches her eyes. “If I’m not, it’s not by choice.”

He doesn’t smile. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I’m sorry.” She squeezes his hands. “And besides, I heard you order everyone to watch out for me.”

“I will be back as soon as I can.”

She stares into his eyes, and for the first time since coming home, she throws her arms around his neck and sears him with a kiss. “Hurry home and be careful. I’ll be waiting.”

Swallowing hard, Theon mounts Coliea, and with one last look, he and Odias head out for patrol.

They ride in silence, and Theon’s mind constantly turns to Catalina. He understands her reasoning—they need to get past this fear that they both share.

They ride all day before they reach the campsite.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how is Catalina?”

Theon barely hears Odias’ question. “What? Oh, no, I am not sure.”

“What do you mean?”

“She remains distant. There’s a sadness in her eyes that I don’t understand. She assures me that no male touched her, but I don’t know. Shena has tried to apologize, explain how things are and why they happened, but Catalina barely grunts, let alone speaks.”

Theon knows Catalina is having a hard time trusting anyone after the betrayal, even though most of it was orchestrated by Tarra.

He also needs to find out what happened, somehow find a way to break down the barrier he feels every time they’re together.

“How are things with you and Shena?” Even though Theon asks, he still can’t take his mind away from Catalina.

“Great!” Odias’ grin is wide and genuine. “We talked about everything. She was terrified of Tarra and felt terrible every time she told a lie or half-truth. Now that everything is out in the open, we have grown a lot closer. She even moved in with me.”

Theon’s head swivels toward Odias. “Really? That is wonderful. I am happy for you, my friend.”

“She said Tarra is worse than ever now that she is banned from topside. The best way to protect Shena is to keep her close by.”

“She blames Shena for being banned?”

“Yes. And you, and Catalina.”

Theon shakes his head. “That female is trouble.”

“I agree.”

They both stretch out. Theon lies with legs crossed and one arm behind his head, gazing up at the night sky. Where is her planet? he wonders as he searches every star visible in the night sky.

Never once has he wanted to travel the stars, but as he lies there, his mind wanders to a place that Catalina described. Machines and buildings above ground without the threat of geo-storms. A place where a storm means water falling from the sky to help the plants grow. A place where there are so many people, you retreat to your rooms just to have some peace.

When he closes his eyes, his sleep is restless. He dreams of a Northern Clan male attacking Catalina, forcing himself on her while she calls out Theon’s name for help. And he does nothing.

Startled from the dream, his eyes pop open, and sweat beads his brow. Not from the sun, but from the nightmare itself. The first rays of light are scattering across the clear sky when Theon hops to his feet. Now more than ever, he is determined to finish his patrol and talk to Catalina. The distance is killing him, and he needs to find out what happened.

Theon cleans up the campsite and has everything loaded by the time Odias rolls out.

“You are up early,” Odias complains as he rubs the sleep from his eyes.

Theon stands at Coliea’s side, fastening the last pack that hangs over her back. “I am ready to finish this patrol and talk with Catalina.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Odias grins over his shoulder and then makes quick work of his own tasks before the two of them head out. As they ride quickly along the boundary, Theon narrows his eyes when he spots someone up ahead. The male stands just on the other side, as though he waits for them.

As they near, rage fills his veins with the sight. Theon grabs his knife, jumps from Coliea, and barrels for the Northern Clan male. “Arrh!” he yells a battle cry as he races toward the other male with his knife raised above his head. He doesn’t care which side he stands on; Theon will kill him either way.

The other male raises his own knife, slowing Theon’s steps, but not by much.

“I am not here to fight you!” The Northern Clan male yells.

“Then die where you stand!”

The male dodges as Theon plunges his knife toward his chest, barely missing his mark. With knives in hand, they circle each other.

“I am here to extend an invitation, nothing more.”

“And why would you want to do that?” Theon swipes his knife at the male’s side, but the other male jumps back just in time.

“Catalina lives with the Southern Clan, and she has freed us from despotism.”

Momentarily startled, Theon drops his guard a little until he remembers the way she was dressed when he found her. The bruise on her cheek, the look on her face.

He snarls and raises his knife once again. Pointing the tip at the other male, he spits out, “Someone violated her!”

The other male looks confused until understanding shows on his face. “She did not tell you?”

The fact that Theon doesn’t know what the other male is talking about just makes him angrier. No, she hasn’t told him. She hasn’t spoken much about her time with the Northern Clan. But over the past moon cycles, he knows something has bothered her immensely, and he suspects something horrible…

“No,” Theon grounds out. Being left in the dark on such matters grates on his last nerve.

“I am Jove. Catalina saved my life, and I owe her a debt.”

Jove drops his knife to his side, but Theon keeps his pointed at Jove’s throat. He is moments away from slicing it, but Jove has information about Catalina, and that’s the only reason he still lives.

With his knife still pointed, Theon orders, “Go on.”

“She was on her way back to the Southern Clan territory when she happened upon me. My arm was bleeding profusely, and I knew I had met the end, but somehow, she stopped the bleeding. Instead of leaving me there, she killed a graset for us to eat and collected water. The next day, she was off to collect enough water for me before heading back toward the Southern border, but my brothers arrived.”

“And who might they be?” Theon cocks his head to the side and purses his lips.

“Hasan is the eldest and I the youngest.”

Just hearing Hasan’s name sends rage through Theon’s body. Theon shoves his knife toward Jove’s neck, but Jove hurries on.

“Catalina killed my three eldest brothers, leaving me to rule my people.” With a level, unafraid gaze, he adds, “That is the only reason I stand before you unarmed. I owe her a debt.”

Theon reels from the information, his mind racing as he remembers the sad look on her face, the clothes, the bruise. He needs to know.

“How could one tiny female kill three large males?”

“I spoke with her before she left. Someone must have told her about the Jia plant that is deadly to us. She had not only tested it on herself, she rubbed the essence on her hands and forearms. Anyone who touched her died instantly.” Jove shakes his head as he talks about that day. “From what I have been told, Catalina taunted Hasan when he came to the female Commons. Not long later, all three of my brothers were dead, and the reign of tyranny had finally ended.”

“Did he…”

“I do not know.” Jove stares down at his hands before he met Theon eye to eye. “I explained that she did what I could not do. One against three is not possible.”

“And now?”

“And now the females have a choice. They no longer live in constant fear, and even the males seem happier.” Jove smiles as he speaks to Theon. “I have heard rumors of you, and that you rule the topside. You and Catalina are welcome in the Northern Clan territory anytime, and perhaps we can inscribe a treaty.”

“A treaty?”

“Why not?” he shrugs. “It will be the first of its kind.”

Theon nods absently, not yet trusting the situation.

“Just send word if you decide it’s something you’re interested in.” Jove turns his back on Theon and walks away in an unstable truce.

Odias waits by the gamels, but Theon doesn’t speak about what he’s learned. Thoughts of Catalina consume him as he thinks back, remembering that day. Had she killed anyone before?

No.

He remembers when she killed her first animal for food. She would never kill a person. This explains the sadness in her eyes. To hold a person’s life in your hands is a huge burden to bear.

He also remembers running toward her, and with fear-filled eyes, she commanded him to stop, demanding she wash first. Did she still have the Jia essence on her hands and arms? Did she keep her distance to save him?

More than ever, he needs to see her, talk to her, hold her in his arms, and comfort her. Let her know that everything will be all right.

He pushes Coliea to go faster as he and Odias ride, unconcerned with the boundary any longer. There is only one thing he needs to do. One person he needs to see, and Theon is determined to help her through this.

When the Commons come into view, he jumps from Coliea’s back, leaving Odias to put her in the stable.

He runs toward their room and throws open the door.

Nothing.

He runs for the training fields, but doesn’t expect her to be there.

She isn’t.

And then it hits him. Her favorite place to go during the day is the Crystal Lake. And with that thought, he grins as a plan starts to take shape.