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  SEX ME TENDER

  Children of the Triad – Book 1

  by

  Tianna Xander

  Bonnie Rose Leigh

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Sex Me Tender - Children of the Triad - 1

  Copyright ã 2007 by Tianna Xander and Bonnie Rose Leigh

  ISBN: 1-55410-815-2

  Cover art and design by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

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  Chapter 1

  Arabella, a princess in her own right and great-granddaughter of the Lady Goddess, stood outside Ryo Vanier’s door, her hands trembling. How would he take her news? Aware of the great distress the subject of his true parentage caused him, she hated having to confront him about it. She also knew the mantle of leadership for his people rested heavily upon his shoulders. It was, in fact, bestowed upon him by the Lady Goddess herself. The legend of her blessing had passed down to Arabella from many reliable sources, including her parents, Brandy, Damir and Kaylen. They couldn’t all be wrong.

  She pressed her hands against the cool wood of the door, and looked down past her blue skirts to the floor. She hoped her gift would give her some idea of how to better approach him with this news. After a moment of silence, she sighed. There was no help for her other than to go to the man she’d looked up to all of her life and let the words spill from her lips.

  She only wished she knew how he would react once she dumped the information in his lap. She turned, looking down the long hall on either side of her. She’d hoped her sister Ariella would appear, and help her through this trying time. Nothing appeared in the long corridor other than the two flower laden tables and the large standing time-keeper at the head of the stairs, ticking, ticking, ticking, in the hallway.

  Arabella smiled ruefully. She could always count on her twin to keep her word to stay away. Still, just this once, she wished her sister was a bit more impulsive like some of their friends. She should have known better. Ariella would cut off her arm before breaking a promise.

  Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, lifted her hand and knocked on the closed door. Perhaps, if she was lucky, he wouldn’t be home and she could go get her sister and talk this over with her again. A little moral support would go a long way right now. She didn’t fear Ryo, she merely feared the consequences if he refused to embrace his destiny.

  She was about to happily turn away when no one immediately answered but before she could turn her back, a gruff voice bid her to enter the dark sanctuary of Ryo of Kneese, the Halfling eldest.

  She steeled herself for her task, making sure she would show no signs of nervousness. Arabella didn’t want her anxiety misconstrued as fear. Girding herself for the coming conversation, she turned the knob. The door swung open on silent hinges. He stood behind his desk, his back to the door, staring out over the forest beyond his window.

  “Did you need something, mother?”

  His assumption made her grin. With both of his stepfathers out of town attending a council meeting, and the servants constantly frightened of his gruff demeanor, his mistake was understandable.

  She stepped into the office and noticed his belongings here reflected the gentle man he’d become. Pictures of his family, his step brothers and sisters graced the walls and the surface of his desk. He was a man of deep familial conviction, just as her inner vision had shown. He would lead his people to greatness.

  “Your mother is in her gardens tending her flowers and vegetables.” He spun around at the sound of her voice and Arabella almost smiled at the surprise written on his face.

  Like many great leaders before him, he recovered himself quickly. The mask of indifference he used as a shield carefully settled over his face and he moved around his desk to offer her a chair. His actions, as always, belied his words and expressions. He settled her in the more comfortable chair in the sitting area and took the lesser seat for his own.

  “What are you doing here, Arabella?” He looked back toward the door, as if to see the Dragon guards that accompanied the royal family nearly everywhere. “Where are your guards? Isn’t everyone afraid I’ll corrupt you somehow?”

  She couldn’t blame him for his suspicions. Even after twenty-five years of peace, the people of most all planets invaded by the Hienials watched the Hienial-Halflings with fear and distrust. The bigotry wouldn’t stop until they gathered together and found a world they could call their own. Only then would they escape the fear and mistrust among the others and build the society they were destined to have— a pivotal society that would prove invaluable to their galaxy in the centuries to come. It was as though some believed a stray word or thought would suddenly cause the Hienial-Halflings to turn into the monsters their fathers had been.

  It wasn’t the Hienial’s fault they turned into monsters that raped and pillaged countless worlds, it never had been. Genetic alteration from the evil Banarts turned them into the heartless, ravening beasts they had become.

  Arabella stirred in her seat. She wanted to remind him of that fact, remind him that Hienials were not inherently evil. But she wasn’t here to poke old wounds. Causing Ryo more pain than he already caused himself was not her intent.

  Sitting up straighter in her seat, she folded her hands in her lap, trying to hide her nervousness. He would mistake her trembling as fear and she couldn’t bear to see the pain in his eyes. He’d already suffered so much, too much. And he would suffer more before his work was through. Of that she had no doubt. She’d already seen it.

  “I’ve had a vision, Ryo. The Hienial-Halflings grow restless. They feel useless and are feared by their neighbors. They all wish for a new leader and a better life. Perhaps even a world to call their own amongst the stars.”

  He turned to look out through the large window, a look of pure longing flashed over his face. “What has that to do with me?” He turned back to her, his expression of nonchalance back on his face. He was a good liar, but not good enough.

  Standing, she leaned forward, grabbed the chain around his neck and pulled the amulet out for him to see.

  “I’ve heard the stories, Ryo. All the children of the triads have heard the stories.” She waved her arms wide. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire galaxy has heard it by now.” She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, partly to prove she didn’t fear him, part for comfort. “The Lady Goddess herself, my grandmother, has declared you the Halfling King. It is time you went in search of your people. They need you. They need your guidance. As the adopted son of a king yourself, you are uniquely qualified to lead them. I know Drace has taught you to rule. He merely prepared you for
this moment.”

  He stood and began to pace his office, scoffing. “What ships do I take, Arabella? What people do I have to help me? Who would be the crews on my ships? I am the only one of my kind here.”

  Arabella glared at him and twitched her skirts. “If you don’t know your parents and friends by now, you never will.” She turned to leave, her face filled with anger. “Ask your father about the fleet of ships built five years ago that sit and do nothing. And ask your friends who will follow you.”

  She walked to the door and stopped. “You will not find your destiny here. It awaits you among the stars, Ryo. It is time for you to begin your search. You have little time to lose. There is a very long journey ahead of you.” She left him then, closing the door softly behind her. She’d barely made it down the hall when Ariella appeared from nowhere and scared a year off her life.

  “What did he say? Will he go? Does he realize the fleet of ships Drace had built are for him?”

  Arabella shook her head. “No. He sits in his office, staring through the window at the grass and trees of the forest behind the house, thinking himself friendless.” She ignored the surprise on her sister’s face. “We must bring the others together. Only together will we be able to show him how important he is to us and how we all admire his strength of character. We all know the capacity for love and forgiveness he holds within his heart. Even if we weren’t the great granddaughters of the Great Goddess, we know of her gift to him. He still wears it like a talisman against the evil he’s so sure is within him.” A tear streaked down her cheek. “He will need us all in the months ahead. The times will be difficult for him. As he searches for his people, he will also search for his mate. I did not want to be the one to tell him he will not find her in this galaxy. Some things are just better left unsaid.”

  The adult offspring of the original six Goddess formed triads met with their friends and others who wished to join with Ryo in his search to find his people. The two sisters called them forth to meet on the dragon home-world. Their parents would settle for nothing less.

  Having finally come to terms with the fact that neither of their daughters had a dragon for a mate, their parents agreed they should accompany Ryo—if for no other reason than to see if their mates resided among the stars.

  They each would have a royal guard escort, of course, along with their younger brothers by two years who would also mate hunt while protecting their sisters. Their other siblings, still under the age of majority, would remain with their parents.

  Everyone knew Ryo, or knew of him. The triad children and their guards would become the crews of the five vessels. His stepfathers had already found a viable home-world for the Hienial-Halflings. In fact, they were quite sure it was the original Hienial home untouched by the Banarts, but still abandoned. A colony already awaited them there protected by the Lioni and Black Bear Clan crests.

  Arabella looked out over the crowded room, tears in her eyes. Each and every one of these people counted themselves Ryo’s friend. Even the guards assigned to their tasks held the utmost respect for him.

  She stepped up to the podium and cleared her throat “Ryo is on his way here He has no knowledge of the reason for this gathering, he knows only that we need his presence. True to his nature, he agreed to come based on our supposed need alone.”

  She met the chocolate gaze of a man who appeared to be with Dare Raden’s son, Michal, and paused. Her throat went dry and her heart began to pound in her chest at his intense stare. Her face burned as she shifted her gaze back to the data pad in front of her. Where was she—what had she just said?

  * * * *

  Merrick Raden stared at the dragon princess, barely able to keep his mouth closed. He leaned over to Michal. “I think I’ve finally found my mate.”

  Michal followed his gaze to the podium. “The dragon princess?”

  Merrick nodded, his body burning with the need to possess the young woman.

  “Congratulations, Uncle.” He slapped the Merrick on the back. “I’d suggest that you’re too old for her, but considering that my father is six-hundred years older than my mother, it’s a moot point.”

  Arabella stood on the side still speechless. She obviously knew there was something between them. She looked on him like frightened mouse. As if he was the dragon and she a frightened rabbit. He watched as her sister gently pushed her aside and began to speak where Arabella left off.

  “Ryo should arrive shortly if he is not already here. We wanted him to see the people ready to follow him, those who call him friend. Everyone here has already agreed to put their own needs aside for a time to help him find his people and build his empire.”

  He watched Arabella as her sister spoke. The graceful movements of her hands as one moved up to smooth back her hair in what he was sure was a nervous gesture. Shameless, he delved into her mind, needing to feel her thoughts against his for a while.

  She watched as Ariella spoke, envious of the graceful movements of her younger sister and her confidence as she addressed the crowd. How Arabella desired the ability her sister had to keep her composure as she stood next to her. He almost growled when he read those thoughts. How could she ever think there was anything wrong with her? She was perfect. The girl knew he was a Savari. Her senses reeled as she wondered who he was and why his mere presence affected her so.

  Ryo surprised everyone, including Merrick’s young mate by stepping up behind them and gently moving them aside until they each flanked him. He found himself suppressing a growl as the other man’s hands grazed over the upper arms of his mate.

  “I heard what my friends have had to say as I entered the building.” He turned to look at each of them. “If you are all willing to accompany me to find my people, I can only count myself lucky. I am in your debt.” The crowd remained quiet as he gazed out over those gathered. “I think I just may be the richest man in the galaxy.”

  He took a deep breath and drew himself up to an impressive height, obviously drawing on the teachings of his stepfather, Drace, ruler of the Lioni people.

  When Merrick felt Arabella’s pride in the young man, he fought the urge to rush the stage and grab his mate from the presence of the other male.

  “We shall leave in five days time. That should give every one of you time to pack, say goodbye to your loved ones and time for me to have the ships that my fathers so generously provided stocked with medical supplies and foodstuffs.” He bowed his head. “I thank you friends. Thank you all.” With that, he turned and left the podium. Merrick had the suspicion the man was near tears at the support and generosity of his friends and family. A good leader would never show such emotions to others. His fathers had indeed taught him well.

  Others began to chatter around him, the room growing loud as Merrick sat staring, his gaze transfixed on Arabella. Her tall lithe form moved gracefully to her sister and they hugged each other crying happy tears. Her red-gold hair spilled around her shoulders, the small plaits on each side woven with ribbons to show her station only accentuated the bright silk of her hair and her body, which was ripe beyond her years. Her mother had the same form when she was younger. She too, attracted him, but not like this. Never like this. This was primal. Hunger and need made his blood boil near to bursting from his veins at one startled look from her.

  Merrick shifted restlessly in his seat in an attempt to relieve the pressure of the hard-on that instantly came to life at the mere sight of her. He closed his eyes, trying to lessen the impact her sudden silence had on him. She felt it, too! The moment her gaze met his she’d become speechless. He couldn’t believe it. After all these years, so many restless nights and when he’d finally given up hope of ever finding the one woman who could stir his blood. He’d found his mate in a mere slip of a girl barely out of the nursery. Still, it didn’t matter. His people aged slowly. Very slowly. And being a prince, another of Dare’s younger brothers, gave him the right and rank to ask for her hand.

  * * * *

  “Do you see him?” A
rabella asked her sister as they stood watching people leave.

  “See who?” Ariella asked, her dark red curls bouncing as she turned to look out over the crowd.

  “The man sitting next to Michal Dare. He’s so intense. So dark…”

  “So handsome.” Her sister laughed. “You know, if he’s a blood drinker, he could very well be hundreds of years old with that old world charm that everyone finds so appealing. It’s too bad there isn’t a mate for me among them.” She sighed. “But with the way he’s looking at you, I wouldn’t be surprised if he asked Papa for your hand when we get back home.”

  Arabella shivered. “Do you think so?” She hoped he would. He was handsome. His dark hair hung over broad shoulders and, when he stood to accompany his companion out of the building, she noticed his lean waist and powerful looking thighs. Thighs that could drive a woman wild with passion as he drove into her again and again… She shook her head. Where had those decadent thoughts come from? Surely she wasn’t seeking a man just for sport.

  You’d better not be, mate. I have already staked my claim. This voyage of ours will only strengthen our bond. Do not think to try to escape me by staying behind. I know you’re heritage. I know it means there could be another mate waiting for you on the worlds we will visit. I’ve waited so long for you, I am willing to share, but I will not give you up entirely. If you stay behind, Michal and I stay behind as well. Would you cheat him out of his chance to find his mate?

  She froze when the words entered her mind. She also knew what it meant. Like it or not, if he could establish mental contact without taking her blood, she was his mate. How old are you?

  His gaze bored into hers as they stood staring at each other for what seemed an eternity. He bowed his head in acknowledgment. At least you do not deny me. Still, it is a rude question to ask a stranger, is it not?