Chapter Thirteen

Ah'Taria

Sebastian released an irritated breath as Kevin paced in front of his bed for the fourth time.  He watched with emotion as Kevin excitedly wiped his hands down his dark blue pants and turned toward him.  "Kaelen is close to breaking," enthused Kevin as he stopped and stared wide eyed at him.

"I still don't understand why you are so invested in Kaelen being with Xara," drawled Sebastian as he leaned his head back on the headboard.  "Kaelen's an asshole that's only nice to that twit he calls a sister."

Kevin chuckled, "You're still made she beat the crap out of you at that sparring match, aren't you?"

"It was supposed to be a friendly match," snapped Sebastian as he pointed to his black eye.  "She punched me in the face without provocation."

Kevin stared at the bruise and shrugged, "I think she was holding back."

Sebastian rolled his eyes and turned away from Kevin's smug face.  "I think she was taking her anger at you out on me," complained Sebastian as he stared at the floral yellow and green wall.

"Oh," chuckled Kevin as he plopped down heavily on the bed.  "I believe you may be right.  But what can I do," shrugged Kevin with a lopsided smile.

"You could let her beat the crap out of you," whined Sebastian as he jumped out the bed and swung open his door.  "Xara what brings you here," he drawled as he frowned at her sheer night robe.  "Let me rephrase that.  What brings you here dressed like that?"

Xara wrung her hands as her eyes darted from Sebastian to Kevin.  Xara stepped forward and leaned in toward Sebastian.  "He told me to come," whispered Xara.

Sebastian lips pressed together as he watched her bosom quiver above the low cut bodice of the black satin nightgown.  Angry he turned to glare at Kevin, "Please tell me you are not about to throw her to the wolf."

Kevin smirked as he eyed Xara, "Of course I'm not going to throw her to the wolf.  I'm going to take her into Kaelen's room."

Sebastian face went blank, "Same difference."

"So it is," smiled Kevin as he walked toward Xara.  "But I believe drastic measures are necessary."

Xara gave a hesitant smile, "Kevin I really do think we should discuss your plan in greater detail."

"You sound like the old scared Xara," jested Kevin with a deadly gleam in his eyes.  "I know that can't be right," he continued as his eye bored into hers.

"N-no," laughed Xara as she straightened her shoulders, pushed her chest out and raised her chin.  "I am not like I used to be," she continued in a harsh voice.  "The previous me was weak and I refuse to be weak again."

"That's the spirit," praised Kevin as he grabbed her shoulder.  "Now let's go to Kaelen's room and see if all that boasting you did the other day is well placed."

Xara glanced over her shoulder at Sebastian and sent him a small, determined smile.

"Stop trying to whore out my cousin," snarled Sebastian as he reached for her hand.  "She's afraid and you keep trying to push her."

Kevin stared at their joined hands and smiled, "I'm trying to make sure she remains safe in the bosom of the Sinclair and Lawson family.  Kaelen is her way in."

"Why? Won't you keep her safe," asked Sebastian unable to comprehend.

Kevin stared at Sebastian with a perplexed expression, "Because I want to go home."

"Isn't this your home," asked Sebastian agitated.

Kevin sighed as he racked his hand through his hair, "I want to return to the outlands.  I'm free to be who I wish to be there."

Sebastian smirked as he released Xara's hand and shook his head in mock sympathy. "Goddesses forbid if you be the you, you really are.  You can go run to the outlands and pretend you’re nice all you like, but we both know the truth."

Kevin lip pouted as he stared with hurt eyes at Sebastian.  "You really don't think I'm a nice person."

"No," scoffed Sebastian with a look that clearly showed he thought Kevin was crazy.  "I can't believe you'd even ask."

Kevin lip started to tremble as he released Xara's hand.  "I'm nice damn it," snapped Kevin as he waved a hand that threw Sebastian and Xara against the wall.  "I could have killed both of you as soon as I laid eyes on you," stormed Kevin as he waved another hand that threw Sebastian against a mirror.  "But I didn't!"   Kevin disappeared from his spot and reappeared in front of Sebastian and lifted him by his bleach blond hair, "Instead I let you live.

"Stop," yelled Xara as she struggled to her feet. "Kevin what are you doing?  Stop!"

Kevin turned and stared cruelly at Xara, "I'm sick of this shit!"

"I'm sorry," cried Xara as she watched him lift Sebastian off the floor by his hair.  "I'll do whatever you want."

“Kevin you have three seconds to explain why you have him like that before I run and tell Kaelen," drawled Anthony as he leaned against the door jam. 

"You and your fucking blubbering," snapped Kevin as he released Sebastian and appeared in front of Xara.  "I should have just killed you," he snarled as his finger nail started to extend toward her heart.

"Stop," yelled Sebastian.  "Don't you ever touch her!"  In the blink of an eye he stood in the small space between Kevin and Xara.  He stared down at the fingernail the pierced his shoulder and back at Kevin.  "If you want me dead," he drawled without inflection, "kill me."

Kevin stared down at the finger as blood dripped to the floor. "Damn it," snapped Kevin as he pulled it from Sebastian's shoulder.

Anthony shook his head as he walked into the room. "Is this the iron control I've heard so much about?  I thought it would take more than a child telling you you’re a mean man to make you snap."

Kevin closed his eyes as he tried to rein in his anger. "I didn't mean," he began as Xara dropped to her knees to placed Sebastian's head in her lap.  "Why the fuck did I snap like that," he whispered as he bumped past Anthony.

"I don't know," drawled Anthony as he looked into the room.  "Now she's crying," commented Anthony as he walked quickly behind Kevin.

"It's got to be something in the air," insisted Kevin as he started up the stairs to his lab.  "It has to be something in the air," he continued.  "I haven't behaved like this  in decades," he fumed as he walked toward a table littered with syringes.

"Uh huh," nodded Anthony as he watched Kevin draw blood.  "So you're saying that there's something in the air that's only affecting you."

"Yes," shouted Kevin as he watched the syringe fill with blood.  "What else could it be," question Kevin as he started to pout.

Anthony twisted his lips as he thought over the question.  "Maybe it's the fact that the both people you treat like surrogate sons are stubbornly rejecting the affection you try to dole on them."  Anthony eyes shifted up and to the right as he continued, "But I'm not gonna lie.  That's some very scary affection you're tossing out."

Kevin pondered Anthony's words before he tossed the syringe on the table.  "So you're saying -."

"For the love of the goddess on high," pleaded Anthony as he turned to exit.  "Leave off on Kaelen and Xara for a while and go apologize to Sebastian."

Kevin released a high sigh as he watched Anthony leave.  "Leave off on Xara and Kaelen,” smirked Kevin as he picked up a blue liquid.  "I guess I can ease off for a few days."  Kevin placed a few drops of the blue liquid in a pastri dish before he added several drops of his blood.   He watched as his blood turned black and frowned, "I guess I should go apologize to Sebastian and Xara."  With a sigh he set the dish down and walked back down stairs.

*********

Kaelen walked out of his room and watched as Anthony followed behind Kevin, his voice quiet but harsh.  He tugged his ear before he walked toward the room Sebastian currently resided and scowled when he saw the room's condition.  With a bone weary sigh he walked in and closed the door behind him.

"What happened?"  His eyes swept the room before they landed on Xara as she cradled Sebastian's head.

"Kevin was a little perturbed," replied Xara calmly as he hand gently ran up and down Sebastian's face.  "But I'm sure once he calms down he'll apologize."

"And will you forgive him," asked Kaelen skeptical.

"Of course," responded Xara as she stared blankly at Kaelen.  "You ask as if we have a choice.  We are at the mercy of you Ah'Tarians."

"I'm not Ah'Tarian," snapped Kaelen. "I'm Nah'Bye!"

"Nah'Byians are peaceful people that don't believe in violence," responded Xara calmly as he rubbed Sebastian's hair.  "Explain to me, if you don't mind, your stance on the violence that you see every day?"

Kaelen gaze hardened as he stared at Xara.  "Are you implying that my actions make me less of a Nah'Byian?"

"No," replied Xara with no convention.  "You are definitely what I envision a Nah'Byian male being like."  Xara looked up from Sebastian's still face and stared at Kaelen with a guarded expression.  "But what would I know."

"I have no idea what you'd know," drawled Kaelen as he leaned down to check Sebastian's pulse. "It's strong and steady.  Move so I can put him on the bed," drawled Kaelen.

"I'll do it," responded Xara as she gently laid his head on the floor.

"Move," snapped Kaelen pushing her out of the way.

Xara stood and watched while he picked Sebastian up and place him on the oversized queen sized bed.  "Thank you," mumbled Xara moving to sit on the edge of the bed with Sebastian.

"I want to talk to you."  Kaelen grabbed Xara's arm and pulled her toward his bedroom.  He pushed her into his room and turning briefly to see Anthony exit from Kevin's lab.  He arched an eyebrow and watched as Anthony shooked his head and pointed toward the now closed door with an amused expression. 

"What do you wish to speak to me about," asked Xara playing with the delicate lace there's trimmed her sleeve as  she waited for him to enter the oversized master  bedroom.  Her gaze took in the satin covers that laid rumbled on the bed which sat in the center of the room before it swung  back to Kaelen.

"Don't you know," asked Kaelen as he strolled toward her.

Xara lifted her shoulders and attempt to appear nonchalant.  "I have no clue what you want."  Xara raised her chin as she stared at him, "But I'm sure you'll tell me when you feel like it." 

Kaelen glared at her as he walked past her and sat down in front of the fireplace.  "Xara come sit down," he gritted out.

"Sure," replied Xara.  Her step faltered a little and she shook her head.  "Damn shadow," she whispered to herself; her eyes followed it as it crossed the room.  "Stay away," she continued and placed her hand around the necklace Kevin had given her as protection.

"What," asked Kaelen as he watched her sit down regally across from him.  "I have to ask," he began as he waved a hand.  "Why are you wearing that?"

"To attract you of course," responded Xara as if speaking to a simpleton.  "Do you like it?"

"Yea-No," snapped Kaelen as he glared at her cleavage.  "I find it gaudy."

"I'm sure," smiled Xara as she leaned forward to expose more of her breast to him.  "Did you want me to leave and change," she ran a cotton candy pink fingernail over the sheer material that covered her exposed skin.

"Xara," sighed Kaelen as he closed his eyes and groaned.  "Can you please just tell me what the hell happened in Sebastian's room?"

"Of course," purred Xara as she leaned forward and placed her hands on his knees.  "Kevin and Sebastian had a disagreement."

"Uh huh," frowned Kaelen as he stared down at Xara's hands.  "Would you mind?"

"Yes," purred Xara her hands slid slowly from his knees up his thighs.  "Would you like me to continue?"

Kaelen stared at her with an impassive expression.  "Xara I believe I should send you back to the palace."

Xara fingers froze and she gazed into his eyes.  With a shaky breath she shook her head, "Tell me why you'll have sex with Ruby or any number of other woman and not me?"

Kaelen stared down at Xara's hands as they inched up his thighs and shifted uncomfortable, "Because I have the freedom of choice.  I will choose who I fuck and who I won't fuck and I will not let anyone choose that person for me."

"Ah," smiled Xara as her fingers brushed over his arousal.  "So you're dead set against me as long as Kevin wants us together."

Kaelen pressed his lips together into a tight line watching with thinly veiled interest whilst  her fingers drew shapes on he tip of his arousal.  He canines dropped and he glowered at the pulse in her neck.  "You do know I could kill you without even realizing it," asked Kaelen as her fingers continued to draw shapes.

"You need to relax and let go," purred Xara as she unbuttoned his pants and slid his zipper down.  "Stop worrying so much," she cooed as she reached into his pants and pulled his hard flesh from his pants.  "And let me do all the work."

Kaelen stared partially amused partially pain at Xara, "I think you have a death wish."

Xara gave him seductive smile as she licked her lips, "I can't think of a better way to die."

Kaelen mouth fell open when her lips dropped a small kiss on the tip of his díck.  "I think we need to stop," he groaned as her soft pink tongue darted out to swiped over the precum seeping out.  "Really," he moaned as she licked around the tip.  His fingers tightened on the armrest as her she sucked him into the warm of her  mouth.  "Xara, please," growled Kaelen almost beyond logical thought.

"Beg me some more," she whispered as she dropped to her knees and took him into her mouth.

"Fuck," groaned Kaelen as his fingers entwined in her hair, his hips rising off the seat forcing her to taker more of his length.  "I'm gonna give you one last chance to stop," murmured Kaelen as his fingers dug into her scalp forcing her to take more.

Xara pulled back and stared at him with lustful eyes, "I don't want to stop."

"Good because I probably would have destoryed the house if we stopped right now," groaned Kaelen as he picked her up and walked over to the bed.  "But I don't want to hear your regrets tomorrow."

Xara smirked as she opened the sheer wrap and slid her hand up the satin gown to cup her breast. "From what I saw I doubt I'll have regrets."

A/N  Yes I know...it's a cliffhanger.  My bad but I had a writer's block up into the last minute so the next chapter should be awesome.