Page 67 of Sun Warrior

“And still—strong damn tea,” Nik said. “Do you want me to carry her down to the Gathering so you can Wash her?”

“Well, no. I was going to do it up here.”

“Don’t. Do it in front of the Clan, and tell them what is happening. They should know,” Jaxom spoke up, sounding more and more like the young man Mari had grown up with. He moved his shoulders, looking uncomfortable. “I know I don’t have any right to speak. I know this is my fault. But the Clan should understand that their men have been infected and are suffering from something much worse than Night Fever. The Clan should know how dangerous they are.”

“And how dangerous are they?” Mari asked.

Jaxom swallowed hard and then met her gaze unfalteringly. “Had Nik not shot me, I would have raped and killed Sora. And I would have enjoyed it.”

CHAPTER 16

With Jaxom walking on one side of him and Laru on the other, Nik carried Sora from the cave, following Mari and Rigel. Jaxom had insisted that he was well enough to join the Clan. Mari had been reluctant to let him, but the more he talked and the more she watched him, the more she realized that he truly was behaving like himself again—a considerate young Clansman who had had a crush on Sora for many winters.

They stopped just outside the circle of light and celebration. Mari touched Nik’s shoulder. “I’m going to speak to the Clan first. Then please bring Sora to me in the center of the circle.”

“May I carry her to you, Moon Woman?” Jaxom asked.

Mari and Nik shared a brief look. “Are you strong enough?” Mari asked.

“It’s just a few feet. Please. It’ll make me feel like I’m doing something—anything—to help.” Then he added sadly, “Plus, I don’t think she’ll ever let me touch her again and this way I can say my own kind of good-bye to her.”

“Okay.” Mari started to walk into the circle but hesitated and turned back to him. “Jaxom, what happened to you isn’t your fault. You’re not responsible for this disease—or whatever it is.”

“But I am responsible for what I did while I had the disease,” Jaxom said.

“There’s a difference between taking responsibility and taking blame,” Nik said.

“You aren’t to blame,” Mari said.

“Okay, I’m not to blame that I was infected, but I am responsible, and I plan on spending the rest of my life making up for what I did.” Jaxom was obviously going to say more, but he was interrupted by Danita’s bright, happy voice.

“Mari! Come dance with us! They’re going to play the Beltane song again because so many of us missed—” Her words broke off as Jaxom turned and the campfires illuminated his face. “No!” she shrieked. The word cut through the trilling melody of flutes chasing drums, and the world went silent as Danita, pale and wide-eyed, seemed to be unable to move.

Mari acted instantly. She motioned for Jaxom and Nik to remain where they were and went to Danita. She took the girl’s shoulders in her hands, moving so that she blocked Danita’s view of Jaxom.

“Jaxom is not dangerous. He has been Washed,” Mari said.

“He was with them! He was one of them!” Tears spilled down Danita’s cheeks, but her voice was strong and sure.

“He was sick. Very sick. With more than Night Fever. But Jaxom is himself again.” Mari flicked her gaze around the circle quickly, searching for Antreas and Bast, but she needn’t have worried. The big feline raced up to them, baring her teeth and hissing angrily at Jaxom while she took a defensive position beside Danita. “Look, Bast is here.”

“Bast?” Danita blinked in confusion, then her hand went down, automatically stroking the Lynx’s head. “Bast won’t let him get me.”

The Lynx growled low in her chest, flattened her black-tufted ears against her skull, and hissed at Jaxom again. Mari felt more than saw the Clansman take a step back.

“I’m sorry, Danita. Goddess, I’m so sorry!” Jaxom said.

“What’s going on?” Antreas raced up, knife drawn and held in a hand that had suddenly grown long, sharp claws.

“Stay close to her.” Mari spoke under her breath. “Jaxom is no danger to any of us, but I’m afraid that won’t undo the damage he’s already done.”

To his credit, Antreas didn’t ask questions or hesitate. He nodded quickly and then took his place on the other side of Danita, crossing his arms and making a show with his body language that clearly said if someone wanted to harm the girl they would have to go through him and his Lynx.

“You’re safe with Bast and Antreas,” Mari told Danita.

“Y-yes.” Her agreement was shaky, but she stood her ground when Mari let loose of her shoulders and faced the crowd that had begun to close the circle around them.

Mari noticed O’Bryan and Sheena and Davis had moved so that they were standing close to Nik, just outside the circle. Captain looked as alert as Bast as he skewered Jaxom with intelligent, angry amber eyes. Even the little Terrier, Cameron, had shed his puppyish playfulness. His ears and tail were up and he stood by Davis’s side, looking every bit the Warrior ready to fight to the death with his Companion.