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  "Wow, Drystan would love one of those." Adalardo turned his attention back to Jane. She hovered over a table draped with a black cloth, which accentuated the shining metal blades of some very impressive swords and daggers bearing beautifully designed inlay and creatively carved hilts. Jane picked up a three-inch curved blade with what looked liked ancient Kell dragons wound around the hilt. He stepped up closer to examine the weapons.

  "Indeed, fine blades. Did you not say swords were forbidden in your land, Jane?"

  "Not forbidden, just not to be carried around in public. How much for this one?" she asked the short, rounded man, whose bald head seemed to shine in the limited sunlight.

  "Nice choice. Dragon's breath dagger. Three hundred." Jane gave a snort. Adalardo suppressed a smile as he watched her face become passive. She laid the dagger back on the table. "I saw another dealer three stalls over who was selling a very similar blade for only a hundred." The man turned his attention to Adalardo, hoping to sway him on the purchase. "I'm sure your wife doesn't know the value of excellent quality when she sees it."

  "She be not my wife, seller, and knows more of this…" he waved his hand over the table, "…than I." He of course meant the bargaining and not the blades, but the seller did not have to know that.

  Adalardo took a step back to let Jane handle the haggling. The man's rounded face reddened slightly before turning back to Jane. She had folded her arms across her ample chest.

  "Two fifty then."

  "One hundred." She countered.

  "Lady, I can't possibly do it for that."

  Adalardo watched with amused curiosity as she uncrossed her arms and leaned on the table, looking the seller directly in the eye.

  "I'll give you one eighty if you throw in the cleaning kit to go with it."

  "Oh, no way." The vendor reddened even more. Jane casually shrugged and turned away.

  "C'mon, Adalardo, that other seller had better stuff anyway." Adalardo made to follow Jane when the seller hollered for her to return.

  "All right lady, you're killing me here, I'll take one eighty." Jane smiled sweetly at the rounded merchant as she pulled the human currency from her small black bag slung around her shoulder. The vendor wrapped up her purchase.

  "You drive a hard bargain, lady," he grumbled, handing over the wrapped weapon plus a little box. She tucked them into her bag.

  "Lady Jane, you are a formidable force," Adalardo told her as they made their away from the blade sellers table. She gave a laugh.

  "Naaahh, haggling isn't hard when you know what you want. I'm surprised you didn't want anything."

  "It is not blades I wish to shop for."

  "Yes, yes, I remember. You'll have to forgive me. It's a woman thing, shopping. I tend to get carried away. So have you spotted any potential dates? You do, after all, have a height advantage on me." Adalardo let his gaze once again sweep over the women who moved through the long aisles of vendors. There were so many women. He spotted a little blonde woman, but she was pushing a child in a small carriage. He saw several very beautiful rounded ladies who turned to stare then giggle as they passed.

  "There are so many, I do not know."

  Jane was also glancing about. "Go with what feels right, you know, gut instinct." He understood what she was trying to tell him, giving her a nod. "Let's keep moving then. You never know, we might get lucky."

  Chapter Two

  Penny was so caught up in her own thoughts she wasn't paying a lot of attention to where she was going. In her hand she gripped her small, orange, wicker basket, which contained her meager purchase. She pushed through the thickening market crowd. She only wanted to get out and home to enjoy some solitude for a few small hours of Darrel's absence. He would most likely be drunk when he returned. She needed time to prepare herself and to make everything perfect so perhaps for one evening he wouldn't yell.

  Out of habit, her eyes were fixed on the ground instead of where she was walking. Penny suddenly smacked into something solid and bounced backward, letting out a startled squeak as she fell. The back of her head smacked the hard earth. Dazed, Penny blinked up as someone large was leaning over her; two very strong arms were suddenly lifting her up, setting her back on her feet.

  "Oh my goodness, are you alright?" a woman was asking, but all Penny could see was the giant of a man gazing intently down at her with two of the darkest, most intense eyes she had ever seen. He had to be well over six and a half feet tall. He had a huge body builder's frame. He still had a large hand wrapped around her upper arm. Penny felt a strange warmth spread through her at his touch. She was embarrassed by not watching where she had been going, and now she was staring up at a strange, beautiful man.

  "I'm sorry," Penny stammered. "So, so, sorry." She took a step backward; his hand fell away from her. The man's intense gaze kept Penny riveted; she felt the blood suddenly drain from her head, a wave of dizziness sweeping over her; unable to keep from swaying on her feet before the world tilted into darkness.

  ~ * ~

  The woman, who had crashed into him from behind, held him mesmerized. Adalardo spun around and glanced down. The moment he had stooped down, gripped the woman's soft arms to help her to his feet, he knew there was something special and uncommon about this woman. The warmth of their simple contact spread through him like wildfire, surprising and startling him. He could not help but stare at her, amazed and captivated by her beauty. Long, dark red hair, which shone in the daylight, tumbled about her shoulders. Adalardo felt the sudden urge to touch her silky strands. She had long delicate eyelashes the same shade of red as her hair. Her lashes framed her two warm brown, almond shaped eyes. He liked the smattering of small freckles which were scattered across an elegant pert nose.

  Adalardo noticed her lips were prettily bowed, complemented by a plump lush bottom lip, which appeared naturally tinted on the redder side of pink. His approving gaze swept over her lush curves that not even the plane brown skirt and top she wore could hide. Adalardo had a sudden vision of her standing beside him on his dais in a flowing Kell gown, the golden crystal crown of the queen upon her head. This woman was the one they had set out to find, his Protected and his future queen.

  "Adalardo quick!" Jane gasped. Adalardo observed the woman's face discolor rapidly as she swayed on her feet. Taking a single step forward he caught her in his arms as she fell. It was a wonder how light she felt; it was very different to any Kell woman he had ever taken pleasure with. He was struck with how right she felt in his arms. Was this the feeling Drystan and Jane were telling him to watch out for? By the moons of Kell, he hoped so.

  "She is unwell; we must take her and heal her." Jane glanced around before picking up a small orange basket the woman had dropped.

  "Can you carry her back to the apartment?" Adalardo noted the worried look in Jane's expression.

  "Do you doubt my strength?" he teased. Jane responded with a snort and a roll of her eyes which always amused Adalardo.

  "I never doubt the strength of a Kell Warrior; let's hurry then, before someone assumes we're conducting a kidnapping."

  ~ * ~

  "She is the one," he told Jane bluntly as he laid the woman down on Jane's bed. Jane's gaze met his. During the short walk back to Drystan and Jane's Earth apartment, the feeling had only grown with each step. It felt right, she felt right in his arms--her warmth, the soft sweet floral scent. Already he was aching, hard, his cock straining against the tight human turrets. He was going to keep her, take her back to Kell.

  "Adalardo."

  Adalardo was weary of the gentle tone Jane was using on him. "I'm sorry but she can't be."

  "Why not?" he demanded, startled by the sudden anger in his tone. By the irate expression on Jane's face, so was she. Jane took the woman's left hand lifting it up showing him the gold band on her finger.

  "This is why, Adalardo. By the looks of it, this lady is married. She has a human Protector." Jane stood up and gave Adalardo's arm a gentle squeeze. "I'll go fetch the healing crystals.
"

  "Bring the ruby also, Jane." It was a command; he disliked commanding Jane, but she had become one of his subjects when Drystan had taken her as his Protected. Jane pursed her lips together in disapproval. But he would not be swayed. He just had to know. "Please," he added for good measure. Jane gave a nod and hurried through the door.

  Denial pounded in the back of his brain. He could not find his woman and not be able to have her. She belonged to someone else. Adalardo ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Damn! Sitting back and watching his subjects take Protected women, one by one, had made him envious, and instead of waiting for Jane and Drystan to bring an unmated woman to him, he had demanded he go search for his own. While Drystan stood in his place back in Kell, he had been none too happy to be separated from his Jane. This search for a woman to call his had been a bad idea after all. For all it had netted him was a woman he could not have.

  A startled gasp made Adalardo glance back to the lovely woman on the bed. She was awake, staring at him, her expression fearful.

  "You are safe, lady," he spoke softly so not to startle her further. He lowered his large bulk down on to the end of the bed, making it dip.

  "Who are you, where am I?" she asked, Adalardo could see her small frame trembling. He wanted nothing more than to be able to pull her into his arms, hold her close, and ease her fears. It took all his self-control not to move.

  "I am Adalardo; you are in the apartments of Jane and Drystan. You were unwell so we brought you here to heal you."

  "H…how long have I been here?" Worry marred her pretty face.

  Jane took that moment to reappear through the door. Seeing the woman was awake, she smiled in kindness.

  "Hi, you're awake. I'm Jane and this is Adalardo. Don't worry, you're quite safe. You passed clean out back at the market. He-man here volunteered to carry you back to my place until you were feeling better."

  ~ * ~

  Penny was confused when she woke up in a strange room to see the most beautiful dark man pacing in front of her. At first she had feared this huge, extremely strong looking man, but as his deep rich husky voice rolled over her, every sense she had relaxed. Deep down Penny knew he meant her no harm.

  Penny glanced at the woman. She was obviously pregnant. This gorgeous man must be her husband. Adalardo, it was not a name Penny had ever heard before; it was exotic and suited him. Penny listened as Jane explained what had happened. Penny felt the heat rise in her face.

  "I'm so sorry to have put you out." She lowered her gaze automatically.

  "Oh, pish posh, it was no trouble at all," smiled Jane. Penny watched as Jane placed three things on the dresser beside the bed: a glass of water, a little wooden box and a small pouch. The pouch sounded like it contained some kind of stones. "What's your name?"

  "Uh, Penny Summerton."

  Jane's smile widened.

  "How are you feeling, Penny?" She handed her the glass of water. Penny sat up and took the water. Sipping it slowly, she still felt slightly dizzy but pushed it aside.

  "I'm okay. Thanks for your help."

  "Any time," Jane replied.

  "Are you married?" Adalardo said suddenly, jolting her attention back to him. Penny swallowed and gingerly set the glass of water down.

  "Yes. Darrel Summerton is my husband. I need to go; I have much to do before he comes home."

  "He must be a man of great worth to have such a fine lady as you, Penny Summerton." The man rumbled. Penny blinked, stunned by his words. Darrel was many things but not a man of great worth.

  "Oh, don't mind him," Jane said, looking sternly at the man. "He's a friend of my husband. I run Ruby Glow matches here in Hobart. We're trying to match him up with some lucky lady."

  Penny glanced from Jane to Adalardo. So Jane wasn't his wife. Why relief flooded through her, Penny had no idea.

  "Oh, yes, I've passed your offices a few times. Thanks for looking after me, but I have to get home." She swung her feet off the bed and stood up then swayed. The man practically jumped to his feet, gripping her shoulders to sit her back down on the bed.

  "You are unwell, we must heal you first," Adalardo insisted with a gentle command. It struck Penny that this was a man who was used to issuing commands and having them followed. There was a kind of regal presence about him. Penny glanced up at him in puzzlement. He had an accent she couldn't quite place.

  "Heal me? Are you a doctor?"

  "What Adalardo means is he wants to make sure you're feeling okay before you go anywhere. You are looking kind of pale," Jane explained.

  Penny glanced around the room for a clock. There was one on the bedside table. Sudden panic ran through her when she saw how late it was.

  "I, I have to go right now," she insisted.

  "If you must, but we will escort you," Adalardo said with a firm resolve.

  "No, no please." She stood up again, moving away before the beautiful big man could touch her again.

  She saw Jane and Adalardo exchange glances of worry. Penny swallowed. Could they guess? Did they know? Her breathing became rapid and panicked.

  "Please, Penny, its okay, calm down. We'll take you home. Believe you me, I will never hear the end of it from the big guy here if he doesn't see you home safely. So please allow us to take you home. I have a car just out front."

  Reluctantly, Penny nodded. She would have to work quickly once she arrived home. Everything had to be perfect, in order to avoid the worst of Darrel's blows.

  Jane smiled. "Alright then, I'll grab my keys and we can go."

  Chapter Three

  Back in the hell realm…

  "You know Nasten, I have grown very fond of my Tamara. I have no wish to be parted from her." The look of terror and betrayal on Tamara's face was hard to bear. Now with his soul back, he felt the burden of her pain deeply. Tuthal had deemed it necessary; she wouldn't have co-operated if he had told her the truth. He felt her pain as well as his own, knowing it was going to be harder for him to win her back.

  He needed Tamara as much as he needed to breathe. From the first moment he had stepped through the portal into Jane's small Earth dwelling and laid eyes on her, he knew the spell he had placed on Jane had worked. Jane had found him his perfect mate and the one he needed to steal back his soul. There was no way he was going to let the soul demon take her. He would steal all the fire from hell itself to make sure she remained his.

  Nasten swung around at the sound of Tuthal's voice. Tuthal acted quickly, never giving the demon time to react. Swiftly, he withdrew his hidden blade and charged forward, slicing through the arm that was gripping Tamara.

  Tamara fell to the ground, and screamed in horror as Nasten's arm was still attached to hers. Nasten fell heavily backwards as Tuthal kicked at him. Nasten roared in fury and pain, realizing he was being betrayed. Tuthal wrenched Nasten's arm off Tamara and pulled her trembling body into his arms. He whipped out his staff, summoning his powers to throw open a portal. Tamara, wide eyed and in shock, stared up at him as he swept her through the portal.

  ~ * ~

  Jane's apartment, Hobart…

  "Holy crap, Adalardo. An incoming portal!" Jane exclaimed, making Adalardo swivel around. Jane was already moving out of the way as the wind started to whip around them. Penny's eyes went wide with bewilderment. Adalardo moved quickly, grabbing her around the waist to hoist her out of the way. He shielded Penny with his body as the swirling red mist began to form.

  Portals that came from Kell and to Earth were blue. Adalardo knew this was not coming from Kell; his body tensed, he reached down, unsheathing his hidden blade, prepared to face whatever came through the unfamiliar portal.

  From the portal jumped Tuthal. A thin gleam of sweat covered his face, from his clothing wafted a scent of ash and smoke. In his right hand he gripped his staff, and his left arm was wrapped around a small, distressed, struggling woman.

  "Oh my god, w... what is that?" Penny exclaimed. Adalardo glanced down to see she was peering around his body at the glowing red p
ortal and the people who had just come through it. The portal folded in on itself and vanished as if it had never been.

  Tuthal glanced at Adalardo then at Jane.

  "Apologies, Jane," Tuthal said.

  Jane had placed her hand on her hips glaring at him. "What the hell do you think you're doing? I though you and Tamara were off on your honeymoon!"

  The woman who was clutched in Tuthal's arm tugged herself free. She was clearly in a daze. She shook her head as if to clear it.

  Adalardo understood this was Jane's older sister, Tamara. Drystan had explained the price of his services to the people of Kell was for Jane to find the sorcerer a protected. Jane's sister was the one chosen for Tuthal.