A Forgotten Kitten (Sea-anan Saga Book 2) (35 page)

Areo’s eyes rounded. It pleased him to see she remembered his words were exactly the ones he had spoken their last day together.

“I cursed that wretched day when Oceana exploded.” His eyes filled with tears. “I hated being small and weak, unable to stop Challen from taking you from me. I tried to break free from his grasp, but he wouldn’t let go. He didn’t listen to my pleas. I tried to use my title against him, but he still ignored me. I was dragged, screaming and kicking, to my father’s blast-it ship.”

“You remember?”

Sev nodded. He caressed the sides of Areo’s face as the tears he did not shed that day now fell freely. “My only thoughts were of getting to you and saving you from what was happening. I didn’t care about anything else, or anyone else. Not even the death of my devoted sire affected me as much as the thought of losing you did. But no matter what I said, no matter how hard I tried to run away, Challen kept me from going after you.”

He stared into her soul. “When my ship lifted off, I thought I was going to lose my mind. As I watched Oceana explode on the ship’s giant monitor, I grew cold inside. When we received news that the
Star Gazer
didn’t make it out of Dock One, everything that was alive in me died. I had no reason to believe that you had escaped, so I willingly succumbed to the numbing void that took hold of my spirit.”

Sev sniffed. “When I awoke, I cursed my loss of memory. I wanted to remember my life on Oceana. I never understood why I was
the only one affected by the long sleep. I see now it was a blessing in disguise. If I’d had to live with the memories we created together, I wouldn’t have survived. I never would’ve lived long enough to be reunited with you.”

“I didn’t want to leave you, either,” whispered Areo. “I tried to escape Jugar, but he just flung me over his shoulder and ignored me. Once on board the
Star Gazer,
he dumped me on the bridge where my father was and left. We kept hearing of all the ships unable to escape over communications. Father tried to find out if the
Emerald Tiger
was safe, but we suddenly lost all power. The ship shook because of the earthquakes. Everyone focused on trying to restore power so we could lift off before the building collapsed.”

She caressed Sev’s face and hair. “There was no break between the quakes, and they were intensifying. Fires began erupting on different decks; one started in the engine room. Outside, the docking area was caving in around us. I was so angry at Jugar for taking me away from you and so scared that I would never see you again that I didn’t know what to do. Then I thought of the same thing happening to your ship. I just wanted to be with you.” Her tears fell. “And if I couldn’t be with you in life, then I was going to be with you in death.”

Sev frowned at her, but said nothing.

“I ran to Uncle Challen’s room.” She sniffed. “I knew the Bracelets of Foresight were there. I planned to use the bracelets’ power to blast a hole in the ship so I could get out and find you.”

“Are you crazy?” said Sev. “You know the legend. The power within the bracelets could’ve killed you. Thank Onssa you didn’t do it.”

“I did do it.”

“What!” Sev exclaimed.

“I was getting back to you, one way or the other.”

“Areo…”

“Aunt Carol Ann was in the room. She tried to stop me, but I used my powers on her. While she was dazed on the floor, I grabbed the bracelets and put them on.”

Sev’s eyes grew large.

“When I didn’t blow up, I knew what I had to do. I told Aunt Carol Ann to call the others. By the time my father, godfather Lance, and Uncle Gillian arrived, I had figured out how to activate the power within the bracelets. Docking Bay One finally collapsed. We were all trapped and about to die. My father ordered me to take off the bracelets, but I ignored him and focused my thoughts on getting off the ship to get to you. A gateway of swirling mist and light opened. Once Gillian’s Mage senses confirmed it was a portal, Lance gave the order for everyone to abandon ship and go through it. We all made it off the
Star Gazer.
But that stupid gateway didn’t take me to you.”

Areo gently touched Sev’s cheek. Her fingertips then slowly outlined his lips. “It took me further away, to a place we later learned was a parallel dimension called Sea-anan. Once there, I immediately tried reopening the gateway, but the bracelets had drained me of strength. I felt this horrendous cold in my soul. I just knew something had happened to you. I wanted to die.” She started to cry.

“Ssshhh. It’s all right. It’s over. We both made it. We’re alive, and we’re together.” Sev gently smoothed back Areo’s hair. “I will never let anyone take you from me again. I will never allow myself to grow weak or helpless, permitting anyone to pull you from my embrace. And I will never, ever, allow anyone or anything to come between us again.” Sev took his favorite position between Areo’s soft, white thighs.

Areo’s eyelids fluttered shut.

Sev purred as he brushed his mouth against hers. “And now I will finish what I started, what I had intended to share with you all those years ago, soulmate.”

Taking her lips, Sev swore and confirmed his devotion to Areo. She was his kitten. His princess. Sev wanted to make certain Areo understood the depth of his love and devotion for her. He placed sweet, tender kisses over the length of Areo’s bruised body. He took extreme care not to hurt her, even though a Mage had healed her injuries. He knew her pain lingered, and he did not want to add to it.

Intertwining his fingers with strands of her hair, Sev carefully slipped inside Areo. Their bodies eagerly joined; their souls urgently reunited. While he kissed her, he moved within her wet channel. Closing his eyes, Sev reveled in Areo’s heady moistness. Her vaginal muscles gripped him, stripping him of his strength to keep from climaxing too soon. He pulled out before it was too late.

Sev paved a path of openmouthed kisses down Areo’s torso. His face lowered between her legs. He claimed her with an unfulfilled hunger. This time he would not stop until he knew Areo as thoroughly as he had intended years ago. Sev growled over her small nub, making Areo gasp. Her hips jerked. Sev clasped her inner thighs. He opened Areo wide and leisurely stroked his tongue along the inner folds of pink flesh before languidly sucking on puckered lips while he purred.

Areo moaned. “Sev, the vibrations. They feel so good.” Her hips moved against his face.

Sev knew she would like it. She had loved it on Oceana, too. He remembered what else Areo liked. Sev drew her hardened nub into his mouth and intensified the vibrations by growling. Areo cried out. She grabbed his head to secure him in place. Her response was the same, and it filled his soul with joy.

Sev released her nub and started probing Areo’s moistened canal with his tongue. Areo’s molten juices tasted better than he remembered. As he expected, Areo eagerly matched his thrusting movements, begging him for more. Sev snatched her swollen nub and furiously growled while flicking his tongue rapidly from side to side. Holding Areo’s thighs apart, he feverishly sought after what was kept from him long ago. Areo cried out, and Sev rejoiced at her lustful cries of completion. His dream had finally come true.

Before Areo relaxed, Sev climbed above her and pushed inside. His strokes were hard and rapid, his hunger primal. Areo begged for more. Memories of their youth filled his head. He got onto his knees, lifted Areo’s hips, and plunged faster, deeper. He continued until his life poured within Areo’s sodden channel, just as he had planned twelve and a half years ago.

Three days later, Miko found Sev in one of the smaller council rooms. Sev was discussing military tactics with a few of Areo’s clan members. They were planning an attack on the Dominion to free Earth. Miko squared his shoulders and approached his former leader, ignoring the others’ curious looks.

He stopped beside Sev and whispered close to his ear, “Can I have a word with you? It is very important.”

Sev gave him a severe look. He could not believe the cat had the nerve to go near him. He returned his attention to the group. “I’m busy.”

“It is very important. Please.”

“Listen, Miko, I don’t have anything to say to you. And there is nothing you have to say that would be of any interest to me, so leave.”

Instead of leaving, Miko took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. He removed the Sword of Power from his waist and placed it on the table in front of Sev. Taking a step back, he knelt on his left knee and bowed his head. “Forgive me for my narrow-mindedness, my stubbornness, and my inability to see the plain truth when placed in front of me. I beg for your forgiveness, Sire. I hope that you will allow me to redeem myself in your eyes.”

Sev was taken off guard by Miko’s behavior. It took a moment for him to find his voice. “What in the blazes has gotten into you?”

Miko tightened his fists. “Reality.”

“Excuse me?”

Jugar asked on behalf of his leader, “What do you mean by reality?”

“I have come to realize that times
have changed.
We can no longer live in the past. I only pray that our race is not destroyed by our conscious choice to change the future. I, also, pray it is not too late for me to rejoin my Seacat family.” Miko met Sev’s eyes uncertainly.

Eyeing Miko closely, Sev made certain his features did not reveal any of his thoughts. “Pureblood or half-blood?”

“Both.”

Puzzled by what could have changed Miko’s mind, everyone in the room began to exchange glances, except for Sev. His sights were locked with Miko’s. An unfamiliar scent mixed with Miko’s reached his nose.

Leave it to a female to change a male’s mind.
He held out his hand in friendship. “Welcome back…brother.”

Standing tall, Miko firmly clasped Sev’s forearm. “Thank you, brother and Sire.”

Jugar happiness showed on his face. He patted Miko hard on his back. “Welcome back, cat. I missed having your gloomy dispositon around.”

Miko spared him a fleeting grin before grabbing Sev’s arm. He spoke in Sev’s ear. “I need to speak with you in private. Something of great urgency has happened, and you need to know.”

Excusing himself, Sev picked up the Sword of Power and strapped it around his hips while he followed Miko to a private section of the council room.

“Sev, I am so sorry. I should have told you sooner. The cameras in your chambers showed Areo’s sister Angelica arriving from Aaren. She was sent to speak with Areo on behalf of Daehog.”

Sev’s eyes shot open.

“He has a proposition for her. He wants to exchange Areo for her imprisoned family members on Aaren. I am so sorry. They left five hours ago.”

Sev’s eyes instantly lit up as he roared. “She will not have to worry about Daehog killing her! When I get my hands on her, I will finish her off myself!” Sev faced his bewildered warriors. “Seacats! Rangers! Prepare for battle! We are heading for Aaren now!” Sev threw Miko a piercing glare before storming out of the room.

Monday, the 6th of February, Year 2023

The Barge

Planet Aaren

“Is she fast?” Miko asked as he walked around the bridge, scanning the equipment with wide eyes.

The Barge,
as it was christened, was a large and formidable aerodynamic ship with huge semitranslucent, grayish sails. The liquid fuel that powered it, used by the Mages for centuries, had been refined and improved by the McCalls as they gained more knowledge during their travels throughout the dimension Sea-anan.

The McCalls housed this new form of liquid energy, which also powered the White Stars, within a cylindrical casing. However, when needed,
The Barge
could be switched over to using Sea-anan crystals, which allowed her to become the fastest ship known to any species.

“It’s as fast as one of our personal escorts. The only ship of this size, that we know of, that can handle such velocities,” Johnny McCall proudly announced.

His mother, Leonora, and several of his siblings had invented the technology used to encase the massive energy within the small crystals and allow the ship’s outer shell to withstand the intense speed.

Sev nodded his satisfaction. “Then what are we waiting for?” he spoke to Challen’s third-born son. “Reaper, we have our queen to rescue. Full speed ahead.” He was hopping with energy and needed an outlet.