Star's Storm: Lords of Kassis Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

happened?” Star asked impatiently.
“What did he do when he saw you?”
    “He didn’t…. at first,” Madas responded with
a glint in her eyes. “Remember, he was in my territory. I knew how
to hunt, track, and remain hidden. I was the best warrior in our
clan and the daughter of the leader. But, I underestimated his
ability to sense he was not alone. He is very good at trusting his
instincts and he had experienced war where I had not. For two days,
we played with each other. He would disappear, trying to circle
around me while I would stay one step ahead of him. I grew to
respect his skills as he came closer and closer to me.” Her voice
grew warm as her memories flooded her. “On the third day, he caught
me. He had set a trap and I walked into it.”
    Star was staring at Madas totally mesmerized
by the story. Her hand reached up to her throat. What must it have
been like to have the huge Tearnat stalking her day after day?
Then, to be caught in a trap, unable to get out. Star could feel
her own pulse increase at the thought.
    “What did you do?” Star breathed out.
    Madas grinned. “I cursed him, fought him,
and fell in love with him,” she said quietly.
    “Yes, but....,” Star grounded her teeth
together. “What did he do?”
    Madas’ cheeks burned with color as she
lowered her head. “He claimed me. Over and over until I couldn’t
think straight. Then, he demanded I take him back to my clan so he
could tell them I belonged to him,” she hissed out softly.
    “How did your mom feel about him?” Star
asked curiously, wondering how her own parents would react to
Jazin’s claim on her.
    “She insisted he prove that he was strong
enough to claim me,” Madas replied looking out the window as she
remembered how frightened she had been. “In my clan, a warrior has
to prove he is strong enough to protect his mate. If he is not,
both die. I was taken during the night to the Death Springs. Gril
had three days to find and rescue me.”
    “What do you mean, you would both die? What
happens at the Death Springs?” Star asked quietly, sensing this was
not a good thing.
    Madas looked intently at Star before she
lowered her eyes. “There is a place in the mountains where the heat
of the planet is closer to the surface. There are springs in this
area where the water boils and nothing can live. My clan uses these
springs as a test. Cages are suspended above the largest boiling
spring and the male or female who is being claimed is placed in it.
For three days and three nights, they are left there alone. If the
warrior claiming them does not complete the journey to the Death
Springs before the light of the fourth day, the cage is lowered
into the boiling water,” Madas explained quietly. “The path to the
springs is deadly. Many warriors have lost their lives trying to
make it. Even then, some have made the journey but did not arrive
in time to save their mate. If they survive but their mate does
not, they are given to the boiling waters for failing to be a good
protector.”
    “But Gril made it,” Star insisted. “He saved
you, otherwise you wouldn’t be here now.”
    Madas smiled. “Yes, he made it. My clan was
not happy that I was claimed by a warrior from outside the clan.
They….” Madas shook her head sadly. “Tell me why you are unhappy,
little warrior. Perhaps I can help you.”
    Star realized there was more to the story of
Madas and Gril but she also realized that she would not get any
more today. They spent the next several hours talking about Star’s
frustration at getting Jazin to realize that she might be small but
she was strong. Madas laughed as she told Star about the night she
was injured. She told her how she had warned Jazin that there were
some forces in the universe he couldn’t control. One of them was
his mate.
    Madas promised that if Star really wanted to
get out for a while, all she had to do was call. Madas would be
more than happy to sneak her out. After all, she was forever