Free Men of Anderas II: Dak the Protector by Cheryl Johnson Page B

control of the amulet. The pieces of
the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. He was on the right
track, he knew it and a plan was already forming in his agile mind.
Kierin was telepathic whether by genetic design or crystal
enhancement really made no deference. Her power made her receptive
to the thoughts of others. What would happen if he seduced her in
his mind? All he had to work with was the one kiss they shared in
the bath tent, but he could be very creative. Was it enough to make
her remove the stone?
    With a final inspection of the road, the
meadow and the increasing number of trees for possible ambush, Dak
let his mind slowly ease into the fantasy he was about to create.
He would have to be subtle or she’d know what he was up to and put
an end to the game--and be on her guard for any further intrusions
from him.
    Slow and easy. Not your usual style but how
hard can it be? If it works when she’s not touching her own
crystal. Hell, let’s just see what happens. So, little witch,
what’s your pleasure?
    Dak stroked the cool rock, remembering the
scene Kierin planted in his head aboard the shuttle. Since it was
already part of her memory, maybe he could use it--refine
it--expand on it--without setting off any of her internal alarms
until it was too late. He quickly discarded the idea. That image
was too much, too soon. Slow and easy.
    He smiled when he caught sight of her
stretching her back and rolling her shoulders to loosen muscles
unused to long hours in the saddle. He knew just what she
needed.
    Dak settled Kierin into the cradle of his
legs, taking her slight weight from the saddle onto his lap. She
held the reins, leaving his hands free. Covering her hands with his
own, he stroked his thumbs across her delicate wrists. Sliding his
hands slowly up her arms, he urged her to relax against his chest.
Her hair smelled of soap and sunshine and he filled his lungs with
its fragrance. Using the sensitive pads of his fingers, he sought
the areas tight with strain. With firm pressure, he massaged until
each muscle was once again soft and pliable. From her neck to her
shoulders, his hands healed the healer.
    She rested her head against his shoulder
with a soft sigh. He nuzzled the tender skin beneath her ear,
placing whisper soft kisses along the slender column of her neck
until he could feel the blood pounding through her veins and see
her increased heart rate in the pulse fluttering at the base of her
throat.
    As slowly as he began the fantasy, he eased
them back into the real world, surprised when he realized she was
once again stopped in the middle of the road. The surge of
protective tenderness that washed over him when he saw her confused
expression was completely unexpected--and not entirely appreciated.
He didn’t want to care about her. She was his captor--his owner.
She was keeping him from finding a way home.
    "It will be dark soon. We need to find a
safe place to make camp."
    She blinked several times before he was sure
she was really seeing him in the present and not still caught up in
his fantasy. Every time she glanced in his direction her cheeks
flushed a bright pink.
    "We’re still more than an hour from the
public camp. I don’t think we can make it before it gets dark.” She
glanced at the setting sun and the thick forest only a few miles in
front of them.
    "Why in the name of all the planets do you
stay in a public area? With the bounty on your head, every
greedy bastard for a hundred miles could be waiting for just such
an opportunity to grab you. I’m surprised you’ve managed to stay
alive this long."
    "There’s safety in numbers, and Draagon
doesn’t like witnesses. I admit I’ve been fortunate in that anyone
I’ve happened to encounter has been more afraid of me than of
Draagon. My father and brother …."
    "Are dead. What makes you think Draagon
would refrain from killing a camp full of strangers if they stood
between you and him?"
    Dak’s softly spoken words twisted