Keilor bared his teeth. "I doubt that is possible." He shook with fury, and when he looked around his room, he did not see the dark, heavy furniture or notice the lack of light. He saw her face, heard her voice calling, come to me, and rage spurred him anew. "Send her away," he told his cousin harshly, slashing his hand through the air. "Send her back to her world."

"That might have been possible, if I hadn't promised Rihlia they could have their tournament."

Keilor's eyes narrowed. "What tournament?"

"It was Rihlia's idea. Jasmine wished to thank her suitors for their gifts, but since she had no money to send gifts in return-" He rolled his eyes.

Both men knew that as her lord it was his duty to pay for her expenses, and he would have rather bought a hundred foolish gifts than deal with the trouble his wife's fine idea would bring. "I immediately arranged for an allowance, but Rihlia would have none of it. She insisted that *Jasmine didn't want to cost me any money'."

He shared a sardonic look with Keilor. Rihlia had no idea what it would cost to hold a tournament worthy of the Haunt. Jayems shook his head in disgust. "By the time we left the others, Rhapsody was already planning to hold the tournament as a prelude to our wedding feast."

Distracted from his ire, Keilor allowed himself to sink into his favorite chair. The leather had worn away on the armrests, but it was still serviceable. He couldn't be talked into throwing it out.

Why was it that all the trouble in their lives of late came in the form of a woman? A woman, he thought angrily, who'd called the undefeated Lord of the Hunt to heel with one phrase from her traitorous charmer lips? Come to me... He closed his eyes at the humiliation of it. How could he insure the safety of what family he had left if the Haunt knew that their Warleader could be brought to his knees by the voice of a woman?

"And what is to be the prize in this *cost nothing' tournament?" Keilor asked bitterly. "A chance to drink wine from the charmer's cupped hands? A sash of scarlet embroidered with her name?"

Jayems laughed without humor. "Nothing so traditional, my friend." He paused, knowing he was about to hear an explosion. "The victor receives a night with Jasmine."

Keilor was on his feet in an instant. "No."

"They will be chaperoned, Keilor. By two of the strongest Haunt I can find," Jayems assured him.

"I said no!" Keilor shouted. The thought of another man being allowed so intimate a time with her, even with others nearby, sickened him. "I will not allow it."

Jayems' eyes hardened. "Who speaks to me now, Keilor? The Master of the Hunt, or the man?"

Stricken, Keilor clenched his fists and turned his back on him, a thing he had never done.

Jayems continued relentlessly. "You speak to me this way, and yet you have made no binding claims on the girl. Why shouldn't I allow this? She needs a mate with all speed, and to find one, I must allow her time with any man of her choosing." He paused to lend his words weight. "Make your claim or stand aside. I've been patient long enough."

Keilor's voice was hoarse with years of pent up anguish. "I will not be bound by a woman." Just saying the words conjured dark memories Jayems closed his eyes; hurting for the man he loved like a brother. "That was years ago, Keilor. Jasmine has nothing to do with it." He softened his voice. "She's nothing like Yesande."

"Nothing?" Keilor growled. "What was tonight?"

Haunt did not tolerate self-pity. Jayems' tone became implacable. "Then bind her to you. Make her ache for you. Seduce the charmer until she is the one waking in the night, crying out your name. But either way, let this now be finished."

Jasmine wandered the halls, long after she should have been asleep. She never noticed when Keilor took the place of her guard, wearing the unadorned black uniform of a lower ranking soldier. Silent, he followed her to the moonlit steps she'd visited before. He watched as she chose a stair and bent one knee, her back against the wall. She stared at the moons for a long time.

"There is only one moon on Earth," she said softly, at last. "It is very strange. It's never really dark here in these Dark Lands. I think I'm homesick." She took a ragged breath, and her head sank down to her knee. "I want to go home," she whispered, sounding very young. She sat there for a long time with her arms wrapped around her knee, her breathing shallow and uneven. "I just want to go home."

Jasmine sat cross-legged on the grass and waited for one of the villi to come to her. All she had to do was sit still until one of the tiny giraffe-like creatures decided she might make a good playmate-or so the morning maid had assured her. No one else had been about, and Jasmine assumed Rihlia and her mom were off on another shopping expedition.

She sighed, rubbed a thumb along her knee and glanced at the villi. Every once in a while one of the black and tan spotted creatures would eye her. They always went back to browsing on their long manger of brush.

It would have been nice to see a little more of the citadel, especially the merchants, but Jasmine never said as much. Sometimes merchants brought their wares to Rihlia's room, but it wasn't the same. Jasmine hadn't bought much.

Even if she could have gone to the bazaar, she didn't want to. Who could enjoy shopping with every male in the vicinity gawking at you? Thinking of males naturally brought Keilor to mind, and she slouched. She hadn't seen him in two days, and tomorrow was the day of the tournament. She wondered if he would avoid the event, and her, altogether, or go just so he could cheer on the victor.

One of the villi lifted its head and stared her, then went back to its browse.

Against her vigorous protest, Jayems had upped the stakes of the tournament, and the entrants now numbered in the hundreds. Not only were the cadets she'd originally wished to thank invited, but several men she'd never heard of had also been asked to join the contest on the second day. The first was reserved for those who simply wished to prove their skill, though Jasmine would be awarding the prize.

The little villi that had stared at her took a step her way. It dropped its head to nibble at the grass as soon as it saw her looking.

Jasmine looked back at her hands.

She hadn't liked it when she'd found out the tournament would be a trial by combat. She didn't want men getting bloody over her.

Jayems had lifted a brow and asked what other kind of tournament there was. When she'd explained she'd been thinking of games, sports, he'd snorted disdainfully and looked back at his guest list. That had been the end of it.

Jasmine felt something soft graze her cheek and looked up to see the little villi. "You are a darling, aren't you?" she murmured, and stroked his silky mane. "Would you like to come home with me?" To her surprise, the little villi reared and whipped his head back and forth.

Alarmed, she looked to her bodyguards, but they seemed unconcerned. The rearing turned to crow-hopping and she scrambled to her knees, prepared to run if the little guy got really rough. In her rush to get up, her feet slipped on the grass, twisting her leg. She crashed to the lawn and bit her lip on impact.

Dazed, she blinked up at the turquoise sky. Two Haunt faces and an inquisitive villi peered down at her. She gave them a weak smile. "Let's just keep this one to ourselves, shall we?"

CHAPTER 14.

"What happened to you?" Rihlia demanded as Jasmine limped into dinner that evening. She was late. Everyone was present, even Keilor, and all conversation came to a halt as they waited for her answer.

Jasmine gave her a rueful smile as she lowered herself into a seat, wincing a little as her sore lip pulled. Feeling mischievous, she lowered her eyes and allowed a shy, satisfied grin to curl the corners of her mouth. "I found a new playmate-he likes it a bit rough." Stunned silence fell on the room.

"J-jas?" Rihlia finally ventured in disbelief, "Are you saying some guy hurt you? And you let him?"

She fought to keep a straight face as she toyed with her chopsticks. "I decided to take a walk on the wild side." She swallowed to force down her laughter. No doubt Rihlia would pick up on the odd note in her voice at any second and demand in on the joke. To her surprise, it wasn't her friend who questioned her.

"Who was it?" Keilor demanded.

Jasmine's eyes flew up, startled into looking at him. Other than noting his presence, she'd intended to ignore the ill-tempered brute. Without thinking, she answered, "I left him in my room."

Keilor was on his feet and to the door before she'd finished saying, "my." Jasmine gaped at the empty doorway. It took her a moment, but she grinned. It became a giggle. The giggle became a full borne laugh the minute Rihlia demanded with suspicion, "What are you up to, Jasmine?"

Jasmine threw her a wicked grin. "My new playmate-" she snickered, "-is a villi."

Jasmine wasn't the only one snickering when Keilor returned several minutes later. He threw her a lethal glance as he took his seat between Rhapsody and Portae.

"How is the little villi, Keilor?" Fallon asked with amusement. "Jasmine's been telling us all about her new companion, Casanova."

Keilor's stare was not amused. "A foolish name for a villi." He took a vicious bite of meat.

"Do you think? I considered calling him Brad Pitt, but now he's happily married, it didn't seem quite right." She smiled slyly at Rihlia. "Besides, he hasn't been nearly as hot since he cut his hair." She glanced flirtatiously Keilor, just to annoy him. "Lost that bad boy look." Something hot leapt in his eyes, and she hastily averted her own. Her stomach clenched with excitement. He was jealous!

"What's got you in such a spirited mood this evening?" Fallon inquired, letting his appreciative gaze linger. "I don't think I've ever seen you quite so radiant."

Jasmine waited until Keilor took a sip of his wine and then quipped, "I'm in love with one of my bodyguards?" One cue, her victim choked and coughed fit to bring up a lung. "No?" she inquired, raising a brow at his glare.

She smiled sweetly at Fallon. "Actually, I'm just happy to have a pet of my own. Wiley-" she didn't even need to look to feel the heat of Keilor's glare, "-always had one, and that was fine when we lived in the same place, but now...I find I'm really enjoying it, and Casanova is so sweet." She batted her eyes at Fallon. "Sometimes a woman just needs someone to cuddle with on a lonely night."

Out of the corner of her eye, Jasmine saw Jayems lean back in his chair with an expression of fascination. Rihlia just peered at her as if she'd suddenly transformed into an alien. The rest of the woman remained breathlessly still, waiting for her drama to unfold.

Keilor she ignored.

Fallon's response was everything she could have hoped for. His smile was slow and infinitely sexy. "You might have said as much."

Jasmine very deliberately folded her napkin and stood up. Addressing the table at large, she said, "I really can't wait to introduce you all to Casanova. Would you mind escorting me to my room to get him, Fallon?"

His eyes slid over to gage Keilor's reaction. Fallon rose with a roguish smile. "Anything you desire, sweet Jasmine." He extended his arm, and Jasmine linked hers through it.

The door had barely closed behind the pair when Urseya grinned wickedly and asked, "Do you think they'll be back?"

"You should have a care," Fallon advised, slanting her a shrewd look. "Teasing Keilor can be a dangerous pastime unless you're able to deal with the consequences."

She shrugged. "What can he do? He can't beat me. I think Jayems would be annoyed at that."

He shook his head, chuckling dryly. "I doubt very much that beating you is what he's contemplating at the moment. Or is that what you had in mind?" She said nothing, and they walked in companionable silence until they reached her door. As she moved to open it, she suddenly found herself pinned between it and Fallon's strong arms. He placed a finger on her lips, stilling her protest. "He's watching," he said softly.

Jasmine's breath quickened with the thought of Keilor hiding in the shadows. It could only mean one thing.

Fallon laughed. "Mm," he whispered against her ear, making her shiver with the vibration. "You like that idea. But perhaps..." He placed a small kiss just in front of her ear, and then another, making her eyes go wide, "...perhaps I could make just a small suggestion."

Jasmine's hands came up to press against his chest. He was starting to worry her. Maybe she'd miscalculated. After all, how well did she know this man?

Fallon didn't move. "In the future, if you wish to torment my cousin..." His hand slid up along her arm and she sucked in a breath, "...don't use another man to do it. It's not safe; for you or him." He paused with his hand on her upper arm, a hair's breadth away from her breast, and she held her breath in dread.

He met her gaze with eyes of fire, letting her see the dangerous extent of his desire. "Understand?" She nodded like a robot, and rueful satisfaction filled his eyes. "Good." He gave her a fast, smacking kiss and withdrew. "Go get your villi, woman."

Keilor stepped around the corner the moment she'd scurried through the door. He surveyed his cousin with disgust. "I should rip your lungs out."

Fallon snorted. He leaned against the wall as if it were the only thing holding him up. A sheen of sweat slicked his skin. "Too much trouble. Besides, you should be grateful; had I done as I wished to do-"

Keilor grabbed him by the shirtfront and jerked the dazed warrior nose to nose. "Say it and I will maim you," he warned. His little charmer had put him through enough torment that night.

He set his jaw. Agony had shot through him when she'd declared, no, implied, she had not only taken a lover, but she'd chosen one who abused her. He'd had the sickest feeling of failure and loss, and a grief so fresh that furious searching for the lover had been the only thing to keep it at bay. All of that, only to discover her new *playmate' was a villi! If he hadn't already spoken to Jayems for her hand, he would have right then just to have the right to beat her!

Enunciating very clearly, he said, "I am going back to the others. You will be right behind me. If you are not..."

Fallon sighed and freed himself from Keilor's grasp. He straightened his shirt and smiled wryly. "Rest easy, cousin. I have myself in hand. We'll be right behind you. After all, I am rather fond of breathing."

The first day of the tournament dawned bright and clear. Jasmine was nervous, but excited as well. Today promised to be an event to remember.

Their party, which consisted of Rihlia and Jayems, as well as Rihlia's family, walked out to the stands, which had been set up around the training grounds. They were to be seated in a raised pavilion where they would have an excellent view of the event.

Keilor stood behind the pavilion, holding the reins of a stag. He was dressed in the uniform of the Haunt, with the red symbol of rank above his heart. He was talking to Knightin.

With a twinge of unease, she noticed he seemed to be armed with an unusual number of weapons. An engraved tomahawk hung from his wide black belt, and he had several throwing knives in addition to the gun and long knife the Haunt regularly carried. "What's he doing?"

Jayems answered, "Keilor is Master of the Hunt. Naturally he's overseeing the event, and he'll be opposing the contestants, along with several of the men who will be competing tomorrow."

"Several?" she asked, surprised. "But won't they be outnumbered? You said there are over a hundred cadets in the tournament today."

Jayems snorted. "If they could be tired so easily by mere cadets they wouldn't be in the ring tomorrow. Today will merely be a warm up for Keilor and the rest of your suitors."

A frisson of alarm shook her at his words. "What do you mean, *and the rest of my suitors'?" she demanded, uncaring that they were close enough for Keilor to hear. Surely he didn't mean- Giving her a sexy smile, Keilor answered for her. "Jayems gave me his permission to win you, of course." His smile turned down right scintillating. "Wear something silver tomorrow night, Dragonfly."

She blushed. A little bit scared, and more than a little bit excited, she ground out, "You can't play!" What if he actually won? It was one thing to tease him into noticing her, another for him to be elevated to suitor. That was serious business. She wasn't sure he was ready to belong to one woman. She hadn't had long enough to convince him.

Keilor raised a brow and studied her with lazy possession. "Why not? I did give you a gift, didn't I?"

Jasmine huffed even as her temperature shot up ten degrees. "You don't count!"

With a husky laugh, he flicked a butterfly caress across her lips with his thumb. "I'm the only one who does." He flashed perfect teeth at Jayems, full of good humor. "Your suitors can still have their reward. All they have to do is go through me."

Jasmine stamped her foot, which would have shocked her if she'd been paying any attention. She couldn't name the source of her acute agitation. "Why must you be so difficult?"

He just winked at her.

"This is hardly fair," Jayems told him with a smirk, putting his arm around the seething Jasmine as he steered her firmly towards their family pavilion. "I ought to just hand the girl over to you, gift wrapped."

Keilor grinned as Jasmine twisted futilely in an attempt to turn around and blast him. Telling that she would direct her ire at him instead of Jayems. "Where's the fun in that?"

The cadets had not been warned what to expect during the beginning of the tournament, except to be ready for anything, the Master of Ceremonies announced.

The stands were filled with a restless crowd of thousands. People had traveled for up to a week to see this tournament, and to see the skill of those under Jayems' command. The measure of their warriors was the measure of their strength, and this exhibition was much more than just entertainment.

The only prohibition placed on the men had been no shifting, which had surprised most of them, since the Haunt always fought shifted.

Speculation had run wild over the first command until a rumor had sprung up that Jasmine wouldn't recognize the warriors in Haunt, and she wished to remember the exploits of her favorites. After that all murmuring ceased, and the cadets walked around giving each other sly looks, each more sure than the last that the charmer would wish to remember him.

Jasmine didn't need to know any of that. For her, this was only a day of excitement and thrill, and Keilor intended to make certain it was a day she would long remember.

Nervous and bright eyed, she stood in the pavilion and looked down over the banner-draped guardrail to the regimented soldiers. "I wanted to thank you for the gifts you sent when I was ill." One corner of her lips tilted up, "It was almost worth being so sick if it meant I could look at such beautiful plants and flowers. And those candies!" She shook her head, plainly awed. "I think I'm ruined."

The cadets were forbidden to even smile, but the audience chuckled. "Boys will be boys, I know, or men will be men, but for the sake of your mothers, guys, please be careful out there today." She grinned wryly. "I'd hate to make enemies of half the Haunt population." More laughter. She raised her fist over her head. "May the best man win!" The crowd roared in approval, and she laughed, looked down, and sat.

The games began.

With a roar like thunder, riders burst out of the gates to the left of Jayems' pavilion, charging straight toward the black blocks of cadets. Jasmine barely had time to note Keilor and the commanders move to the far side of the field, leaving the sub-commanders to handle their units. A single shouted command from five different throats caused the ranks to whip out their knives and turn en masse to present a solid wall of resistance to the oncoming hoard. Jasmine barely had time to wonder at the folly of facing horsemen-or stagmen-with nothing but knives when with a zap!, a hundred blades suddenly elongated into three foot lengths of blue light.

"Light sabers!" Jasmine gasped, her eyes enormous.

Jayems' eyes flicked to her briefly. "Energy blades. Blue Death." He returned his attention to the fray.